I'm in the county town, and you say I'm a big shot?

Chapter 492 Many things to do after the New Year

This year, the Lunar New Year falls in early February, and Fang Qingye was particularly busy during the Spring Festival.

Besides her own relatives, there were also relatives from Bai Ou's maternal family. Especially this year, the first year of her marriage, the new son-in-law came to visit, and he had to go to Bai Ou's uncles and aunts to pay New Year's greetings. He often had to visit several families in a single day.

Fortunately, neither of them are currently employed, so they don't necessarily have to go to work on the eighth day of the first lunar month, and they still have plenty of time.

Of course, Fang Qingye would not forget Xia He, who was thousands of miles away.

Since Xia He went to the United States, they have had very little contact with each other.

Xia He's domestic mobile phone number was suspended and could no longer be reached, but she hadn't given him her overseas mobile phone number.

Thank goodness for WeChat.

The two occasionally chatted on WeChat, mostly via text or voice, and Xia He refused to video chat.

The conversations were simple. Every time Fang Qingye asked her how things were in New York, Xia He would reply that she was doing well, that work was busy but fulfilling, and that he didn't need to worry about her. She also reminded him to contact her less in the future.

Fang Qingye understood that she was worried that if Bai Ou found out, it would affect their marital relationship.

But Fang Qingye felt guilty, thinking that Xia He went to America to stay far away from him so as not to affect his family.

The more Xia He did this, the more uncomfortable Fang Qingye felt.

Bai Ou went to her parents' home today and hasn't returned after dinner. Fang Qingye went to her grandparents' house in the nursery for dinner and was alone when she got home.

Standing on the second-floor balcony, looking at the cool night sky, Fang Qingye decided to send Xia He a WeChat message.

On New Year's Eve, they exchanged New Year's greetings via WeChat. Fang Qingye specifically asked where Xia He was now and whether she was going back to China for the New Year, but Xia He did not reply.

This time, we directly connected via WeChat video chat.

The call connected after a while, but the other party was still on voice.

"Xia He, what's wrong? You don't want to video chat anymore?" Fang Qingye asked.

"No, I'm at work right now, so it's not convenient. Qingye, is there something you need?" Xiahe asked on the other end of the phone.

"Nothing much. Did you go back to China for the Spring Festival?" Fang Qingye asked.

"No, the branch has just been set up, and many things are still not in order. The work is still being adjusted, so I did not come back."

"It's hard work, isn't it?"

"Pretty much. You know how banks are, they're always busy. I'm used to it." Xia He's voice was calm, without any emotional fluctuation.

"When are you going back to China to visit your family?" Fang Qingye asked again.

"I can't really say, maybe when I'm less busy? Okay, I have something urgent to take care of right now, let's talk when you're free."

"Okay then, I won't disturb your work anymore, bye-bye. Oh, by the way, send me your US phone number."

The other party did not reply and quickly ended the voice chat.

Fang Qingye stood silently for a while, then put her phone in her pocket and sighed deeply.
In the office of the vice president of the New York branch, Xia He also sighed softly.

She knew she was running away, but it was the only way. Continuing to entangle herself would be bad for everyone. Let everything go with the wind.

Thinking of this, she subconsciously touched her slightly protruding belly.

After the Spring Festival, all the New Year's greetings were over. Bai Ou went to work in Shanghai, while Fang Qingye stayed in Nanxin, where she worked at Jinghai Bank and also had business with Huacheng Development Company.

Sales and construction of the two properties in Jinghai city are progressing smoothly. After the Spring Festival, Luo Yan discussed with the management team the plan to bid for a plot of land in Suzhou to continue building a high-end residential community.

Fang Qingye expressed her support but will not be specifically involved in this work.

Real estate is not a key focus of Fang Qingye's business empire, nor is it even part of the industrial chain he is planning, so he doesn't need to devote too much attention to it.

Moreover, the management team, represented by Luo Yan, is outstanding, so Fang Qingye completely relinquished control and focused his main efforts on Jinghai Bank.

Financial reports from the various companies he controlled were also sent to his email in batches, after being reviewed by Tuofang Company, of course. Although he had invested in many companies, only a few actually generated profits.

Dajiang Company, the earliest investor, has maintained a slight surplus in its finances every year. However, when signing the investment contract, Fang Qingye promised not to demand dividends for five years, and this year is only the fifth year.

Moreover, Dajiang Company is preparing to launch a second round of financing to expand its R&D scale and explore the market, and Fang Qingye will definitely participate.

Ele.me, ByteDance, and Zhiyun Technology have all recently undergone investment or financing and are still in the development stage, with profitability a long way off.

Tomorrow Cube's investment in the US stock market is performing well. Last year, its net profit was US$1.3 million, equivalent to RMB 8.2 million. According to regulations, 30% of the profits, or RMB 2.46 million, are turned over to its parent company, Topway Technology. This is Topway Technology's largest single income from its holding company.

Jinghai Bank achieved a net profit of 6800 million yuan last year, marking a strong start after its restructuring. According to the signed contract, 50% of the net profit will be handed over to the shareholders each year, and Tuofang Technology will receive 2720 million yuan in revenue.

Huacheng Development Company's net profit last year was 1.6 million yuan, with a net profit margin as high as 23.1%, which is the highest among all real estate companies in Nanxin. This is mainly because developing high-end residential projects can generate profits.

With 50% of the shares to be transferred to the parent company, Topway Technology will receive 66.6% of the shares, amounting to approximately 5300 million yuan in revenue.

Compared to the unassuming Yuxiang Natural Gas Company, it has become a cash cow. The company now holds a monopoly on natural gas operations in Nanxin and Wuyang counties. Last year, its net profit reached 1.4 million yuan, with 70% going to the parent company. However, Tuofang Technology only used one-third of the shares, earning 2900 million yuan in revenue.

Yuxiang Natural Gas is currently competing with Jinghai Zhongtong Gas Company for the gas operating rights in Haidong County.

Fang Qingye looked at the financial statements and was in a good mood.

Another thing is the plan to invest in Brazil with Qiao Yongfeng.

Before the Spring Festival, when the two exchanged New Year's greetings over the phone, Qiao Yongfeng mentioned this matter. He said he had already sent his assistant and staff from the company's New York office to Brazil for an on-site investigation, and would decide on the next steps based on the investigation results.

"Get ready, get your visa for Brazil, and we'll go together."

Fang Qingye agreed.

The formalities have been completed, and we are now waiting for Qiao Yongfeng's reply.

However, Fang Qingye has been busy with something else these past few days.

Song Dahai and Chen Meimei are getting married soon.

Last year, when he got married, Song Dahai served as the deputy general manager, busy with everything. This time, for his good friend's wedding, he certainly couldn't just sit back and do nothing. He was also appointed as the deputy general manager, in charge of the wedding car pick-up and drop-off.

This afternoon, Fang Qingye was at Song Dahai's villa discussing vehicle arrangements and dispatch with Li Le, Shi Yong, and a few others when her cell phone suddenly rang. Fang Qingye took it out and saw that it was Qiao Yongfeng calling, so she went outside to answer it.

"Qingye, my assistant has returned from Brazil with some good news," Qiao Yongfeng said on the phone.

Fang Qingye and Qiao Yongfeng were a bit too naive back then.

After careful investigation, Qiao Yongfeng realized that buying soybeans directly from Brazilians was not an easy task.

First, the division of labor in Brazil's soybean industry is very clear:
Farmers are only responsible for planting, while sales are handled by grain merchants. Between farmers and grain merchants, there is a soybean platform that functions similarly to agricultural cooperatives in China. Brazilian farmers borrow materials on credit from the soybean platform during the planting period, and then sell the soybeans back to the platform after they mature to balance their accounts and make a profit. To this end, the platform has established a complete industrial chain layout that integrates soybean procurement, storage, logistics and export.

"The four major grain traders have now monopolized the vast majority of Brazilian soybean sales. If our country's enterprises want to get involved in the Brazilian soybean trade, they will find it difficult to compete with them, whether in terms of financial support or influence in the international market."

"Then tell me the good news?" Fang Qingye was surprised to hear that there was no good news.
Suddenly, something occurred to me: "You've got your eye on that so-called soybean platform?"

"Yes, that's it! Last year, affected by the economic crisis, Brazil's domestic economy declined, and soybeans suffered from drought for two seasons, resulting in reduced production. The chain reaction caused many soybean platforms to suffer serious losses, many employees were laid off, and tens of thousands of soybean farmers lost their stable sales platforms. Among them, the sales platform in Londrina, Brazil, was facing bankruptcy and was preparing to sell to other countries."

"I've heard that the four major grain traders are taking a wait-and-see approach to the complex investment situation. I think this is an opportunity for us!"

"Yes, that's true." Fang Qingye nodded.

"So I want to get there as soon as possible, I'll leave the day after tomorrow," Qiao Yongfeng said in the end.

"Huh? So soon? Nanxin, I have a good brother who's getting married in three days. I'm the deputy general manager and I'm busy with the arrangements. The earliest I can get him to get married is after the wedding."

"Also, a college classmate of mine at the Shanghai Banking Regulatory Bureau is getting married and asked me to help him borrow a wedding car," Fang Qingye said.

Qiao Yongfeng hesitated for a moment on the other end of the phone: "Well then, I'll go and find out what's going on first. You can come back after you've finished your business. Anyway, an acquisition isn't something that can be decided in a day or two."

"Then I'll trouble you, Brother Qiao. I'll be right there as soon as I'm done!"

(End of this chapter)