Chapter 208: Lu Xinghe's Principles

Siguo Hotel.

Zheng Qian arrived as promised.

In a high-end private room, he saw Lu Shanshan and Leader Lu Xinghe.

"Zheng Qian, you're here!"

Upon seeing Zheng Qian, Lu Shanshan walked over with a smile to greet him. "Let me introduce you; this is my father."

"Hello, Uncle Lu. I am Zheng Qian."

Leader Lu Xinghe was clearly hesitant for a moment.

He... was this young?

"Dad, I forgot to tell you, he is my university classmate."

"Oh, oh, a university classmate!" Leader Lu Xinghe shook hands with Zheng Qian.

After taking their seats and eating a few bites, Zheng Qian went straight to the point.

"Uncle Lu, I heard from Shanshan that you have some bidding projects on hand, is that right?"

Leader Lu Xinghe nodded. "Indeed, there are some bidding projects that haven't been made public yet."

The bidding projects in his hands had actually been made public half a year ago. Many people had set their sights on the abandoned winery, coveting that business license.

A state only allowed four winery business licenses, but if one accepted an abandoned or closed-down winery from him, the state would grant an additional business license.

These projects included a lumber processing plant, a glass manufacturing plant, and a farm tool production plant. Except for the winery, these were all sunset industries.

If a winery was managed well, it could recoup its costs in three months.

Many people were only interested in the winery; they wouldn't even ask about the other plants facing elimination.

These projects were, in the hands of Leader Lu Xinghe, essentially a mess.

His principle was this: as long as someone was willing to take over those three sunset factories, they could get a winery, with the business license included as a bonus.

Zheng Qian understood; it was essentially a bundled sale.

The other three factories were state-owned enterprises on the verge of bankruptcy, founded in the seventies or eighties. However, the state dared not let them close down; once they closed, they would have to pay out massive amounts in resettlement funds.

That winery had also long been abandoned; the machinery and such had long been hauled away and sold.

The only thing of value was the business license.

"Let me be frank with you: three factories, one hundred million per factory. If you can guarantee they won't go bankrupt for two years, the winery is yours for free," Leader Lu Xinghe said candidly.

"How about it? Can you accept that?"

Before Zheng Qian arrived, Lu Shanshan had heard him briefly explain the conditions for converting state-owned enterprises to private ones, and she felt they were too harsh.

People only wanted a winery, yet he insisted on making them take over three unrelated, bankrupt factories. Her father was a man who stuck to his principles; no matter what was said, he couldn't be swayed.

Zheng Qian was a businessman; he would certainly calculate the numbers. Even she felt this deal wasn't worth it; how could Zheng Qian easily agree to it?

But regardless of whether Zheng Qian could accept it or not, this was all Lu Shanshan could do to help.

She was feeling very anxious now, constantly observing Zheng Qian's expression.

No wonder these projects had been sitting in Leader Lu Xinghe's hands for so long without being sold; this was the reason.

A winery was highly profitable, but one had to sink in 300 million first, take over three bankrupt enterprises, and continue to operate them at a loss afterward.

It sounded like a losing deal no matter how you looked at it.

Three hundred million just for a winery business license. It certainly made many people shy away.

However, for Zheng Qian, this couldn't really be considered a mess.

Although it was a bit expensive, it could still be put to use.

The lumber processing plant could be completely handed over to Chang Dashan or President Ma Wencheng to manage; the two of them had dealt with wood for most of their lives and would certainly be able to handle it well. He didn't ask for profit; just breaking even was fine.

The glass processing plant was a bit troublesome, but it was said that Xu Shuyun had recently started trying her hand at these types of projects, so it could serve as practice for her. Even if it lost money, it didn't matter; she could gain some experience.

Effectively, Zheng Qian would be getting a winery for free.

After a moment of thought, Zheng Qian agreed.

"Fine, three hundred million it is."

Leader Lu Xinghe thought he had misheard.

So straightforward?

"Won't you consider it a bit more?" Leader Lu Xinghe hadn't actually intended to have a serious negotiation with Zheng Qian when he came this evening; if he could accept it, fine, if not, so be it.

If these projects rotted in his hands, then so be it; in any case, he would absolutely not sell state-owned assets at a low price.

But he hadn't expected Zheng Qian's speed in agreeing to be so surprising.

"No need to consider it."

"Our Qianhe Group is fully capable of taking over these three factories and guaranteeing they won't go bankrupt within two years, but will instead turn a profit."

Zheng Qian waved his hand, and 300 million was spent.

"Good!"

"You are truly someone destined for great things!"

Leader Lu Xinghe involuntarily applauded for Zheng Qian.

"Tomorrow, send someone to my office, and we'll handle the relevant documents and procedures directly. How about that?"

"No problem."

Even Lu Shanshan hadn't expected this matter to go so smoothly.

This also indirectly showed just how much Zheng Qian needed this winery, to the point of sparing no expense to take over three bankrupt enterprises.

"Hahahaha, come, let's drink!"

"Before, Shanshan told me to lower the conditions and cut you some slack. Now looking at it, where would we need to cut any slack!" Leader Lu Xinghe laughed.

Lu Shanshan also laughed awkwardly along with them.

Zheng Qian didn't say much; this matter could barely count as a merit for Lu Shanshan.

Considering she was so sincere and had helped him with a small favor, he wouldn't hold the withdrawal of investment against her.

After the meal, Zheng Qian didn't stay long and left Siguo Hotel directly.

On the way home.

"By the way, Shanshan, how are things between you and Tang Xingyu? Has there been any progress?"

Lu Shanshan never dreamed that her father would actually ask her about these private matters.

"There's no progress; we are just ordinary university classmates. Dad, don't talk nonsense."

"How long has it been, and you still haven't laid your cards on the table?"

"If there's no progress, then don't bother with it. I think Zheng Qian is quite good, and he's quite a match for you. Why don't you try pursuing him?"

Leader Lu Xinghe sat in the passenger seat, speaking with the smell of alcohol on him.

Lu Shanshan: ???

"Dad, what are you saying? You've had too much to drink, right?"

"Don't you know your father's alcohol tolerance? I didn't have many drinks just now."

"What I mean is, you're at the age to get married. You've been with Tang Xingyu for so long, and you're still just ordinary friends. How will that work?"

Leader Lu Xinghe had supported Lu Shanshan dating Tang Xingyu since her freshman year, but it had been three or four years since graduation, and there had been no progress. Their relationship remained stuck at the level of ordinary friends; how could that do?

He had heard that Tang Xingyu's family situation was very good, and his uncle was in charge of legal and political affairs in Qilu.

But judging by that meal just now, Zheng Qian's performance was actually not bad at all; one could even say he was more outstanding.

Tang Xingyu's future was indeed quite good, but by the time he achieved success and held high power, he would be at least forty—that is, more than a decade away.

Zheng Qian was in his twenties and already held the position of Chairman of the Qianhe Group. Give him ten more years—no, give him five more years—and Leader Lu Xinghe didn't even dare to imagine what he would become!

"Dad, are you just going to let your daughter throw herself at someone?"

"Look at you, saying that. When did I tell you to throw yourself at him? I just said you could try to get in touch with him."

"Hmph, you clearly didn't say that just now. Asking me to 'get in touch with him'—isn't that just the same as throwing myself at him?" Lu Shanshan said irritably while driving.

She admitted that Zheng Qian was truly outstanding now—outstanding beyond her imagination, leading their generation by more than ten steps.

But Lu Shanshan just couldn't bring herself to throw herself at him. Back in university, she had been a goddess who captivated the whole school, although she was quickly surpassed by Song Qingli, who was a year below her.

Lu Shanshan had been pampered since childhood, with suitors following one after another. Deep in her bones, the word "pride" was already engraved.

"Sigh, daughter, you don't understand."

"Whether he can even set his sights on you is another matter, and you're here worrying about your pride."

"Do you know how sought-after this kind of man is in society? How many women with better abilities than you and wealthier family backgrounds are throwing themselves at Zheng Qian?"

Lu Shanshan was left speechless by Leader Lu Xinghe's retort.