Chapter 73: A Straightforward Person

To get Jinxiu Group to help him, a single low-price contract certainly wouldn't be enough.

Moreover, there was absolutely no need for Jinxiu Group to get dragged into the muddy waters of the siege and sniping that Zhengxin Shipyard was facing.

Xu Shuyun didn't owe him any favors, and the low-price contract was a matter of one being willing to offer and the other being willing to accept.

Zheng Qian did indeed want to befriend Xu Shuyun using the contract with Jinxiu Group, but he wasn't trying to pursue her or harbor any other ulterior motives.

He simply believed that Xu Shuyun had a talent for business, but just had a poor starting hand. If he provided a little support, she might become a great assistant in the process of Zheng Qian building his business empire.

Facing Zheng Qian, Xu Shuyun was actually a bit worried. It was truly beyond her expectations that a man of similar age to her could possess such great courage and financial resources.

For an ordinary young man, they would either be struggling in a strange place or living off their parents at home, yet Zheng Qian was focused on his career.

Xu Shuyun worried that besides having some designs on her, Zheng Qian also had other intentions for Jinxiu Group by investing in it.

She had heard many business stories from her father. One legendary tale involved a certain capital tycoon who used only 2 million to annex a company with a market value of 30 million, kicked the founder straight out of the company, and was still operating it steadily to this day.

In business, this technique is called the "Butcher Method," using a sum of money as a knife to chop your company into pieces, and finally introducing huge capital to annex it, leaving the founder with no recourse.

"Good, President Zheng really is a straightforward person, so I won't dawdle either."

"How much money can you put up?"

Xu Shuyun originally planned to fly to the Imperial Capital or Demon City to contact a few investment institutions and raise some funds. Since Zheng Qian had approached her twice to discuss this matter, there was no harm in talking first; if they couldn't reach an agreement, so be it.

The most important things to consider in financing are three points.

1: How much money the investment institution can provide.

2: The reputation of the investment institution within the entire industry.

3: The level of trust the investment institution has in you.

This seems important, but in reality, it isn't; the latter two points are the main ones.

If the reputation and trust level are both OK, then money is actually not an issue.

However, capital investment demands huge returns.

Jinxiu Group was founded by Xu Shuyun's father single-handedly, so unless it was an absolute last resort, financing was the worst option.

Moreover, the Xu family had been operating in Yebai for a long time. They might have some connections and resources, knowing some bosses and capital, but to help their own Jinxiu Group fully transform, it was completely impossible.

Therefore, they had to find big capital and big institutions like those in the Imperial Capital or Demon City.

But once in those first-tier cities, the Xu family's network of connections seemed quite inadequate. Why would someone give you money?

Yebai? Jinxiu Group?

Sorry, I've never even heard of it.

To get money in that circle, there are only two paths.

1: Know a big shot or tycoon in the circle who is willing to put up money and endorse you.

2: Become a leek for capital. If the transformation fails, that goes without saying; if it succeeds, the lion's share has to be split with the capital.

But Zheng Qian was not an investment institution. Since he wanted to buy shares as an individual, it was negotiable.

"How much money do you need?" Zheng Qian asked calmly.

Jinxiu Group had always been considered a medium-sized enterprise. For such an enterprise to transform, it would only involve small-scale changes, and the main business would remain unchanged, so it didn't need that much money.

As long as it was within 200 million, Zheng Qian could accept it.

"One hundred million for 40% of the shares," Xu Shuyun said tentatively.

"Fine, prepare the contract."

Xu Shuyun: ???

That's it?

Jinxiu Group's actual total market value was only 70 or 80 million. Giving Zheng Qian 40% of the shares was to test whether he wanted control of Jinxiu Group and whether he intended to use the "Butcher Method" on it.

With Zheng Qian agreeing so readily, Xu Shuyun became even more suspicious.

One hundred million, just like that?

This was not a small sum.

For an ordinary person, having 100 million would mean achieving financial freedom and entering a retirement lifestyle.

Zheng Qian was even more ruthless than she had imagined.

"This... is that it?" Xu Shuyun was extremely surprised.

When JD and TX discussed business, Old Liu and Old Ma appeared in person, and they still talked for more than half a year.

Although she and Zheng Qian were not those kinds of internet giants, it shouldn't have been this fast.

Zheng Qian seemed to understand Jinxiu Group very well; otherwise, it wouldn't have been possible to be this fast!

"Uh, that's it." Zheng Qian didn't want to waste time; he had already made his plans in his heart.

"Just as you said, one hundred million for 40% of the shares."

Zheng Qian didn't want to waste time. Right now, Zhengxin Group was like an ant on a hot pan and couldn't afford to drag things out.

But being too straightforward would also make Xu Shuyun suspicious.

"However, you must agree to one condition."

Xu Shuyun sighed inwardly.

As expected, what was meant to come would eventually come.

Zheng Qian's straightforwardness came with a price.

"What condition?"

Xu Shuyun had already guessed that Zheng Qian wouldn't invest 100 million in her so easily; if there were no additional conditions, it would seem a bit fake.

From knowing each other to talking business, counting everything, Zheng Qian and Xu Shuyun had only officially met three times.

She had already made up her mind that as long as Zheng Qian's request wasn't too excessive, she would agree to it.

...

The next day.

Jiyuan Woodworking Chairman's office.

President Ma Wencheng held a notification letter from Jinxiu Group, his whole body trembling with anger.

Bang!

President Ma Wencheng slammed the notification letter onto the table fiercely.

"Hmph! What kind of trick is this Xu Shuyun playing? How dare she cut off the supply!"

"President Ma, please don't get angry. President Xu said that raw timber is in short supply all over the country, and she was forced to do this," the curvaceous secretary quickly advised.

"Short supply, my foot! Do you know how many tons of raw timber Jinxiu had stocked in their warehouse in the first half of the year?"

"This is clearly aimed at me!"

President Ma Wencheng was so angry at Xu Shuyun's actions that his blood pressure skyrocketed. He took a bottle of blood pressure medication from the drawer and took some, only then feeling a bit better.

No, he couldn't let Xu Shuyun carry on like this.

"Tell the driver, Xiao Wang, to prepare the car. We're going to Jinxiu Group. I want to find Xu Shuyun and ask her clearly."

Jinxiu Group meeting room.

"Where is President Xu? Why hasn't she finished yet?"

"Sorry, President Ma, President Xu hasn't finished her meeting yet. Please wait patiently..."

Wait?

Wait, my foot!

President Ma Wencheng had been waiting in the meeting room for a full two hours without even seeing a shadow of Xu Shuyun; there was only a female secretary here to fob him off.

This was clearly a sign that she didn't want to see him!

Waiting any longer would be in vain.

"Stop waiting, let's go!"

President Ma Wencheng felt that waiting any longer would be in vain.

"President Ma, take care..."

President Ma Wencheng wasn't heading home; instead, he drove straight to the Xu residence.

He really didn't believe in this nonsense. He, the dignified head of Jiyuan Woodworking, wouldn't be ignored just because some little girl said she wouldn't see him.

Fine, since Xu Shuyun didn't want to see him, he would go directly to find Elder Xu.