Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 172 A shining debut
Shanghai Exhibition Center, Shanghai Hall.

The lights were bright, and the atmosphere was extremely lively.

A stage, six rows of long tables covered with white tablecloths, set with cutlery and wine glasses, nearly two hundred seats, almost all of which were occupied.

All four interview rooms on one side were lit up, with a financial tycoon sitting in each one being interviewed. Reporters were waiting for their rooms nearby. It was bustling with people coming and going, all wanting to take a look. The people being interviewed were being publicly executed.

In this environment, a group of people entering the hall from the registration area still attracted a lot of attention.

A young man in a casual suit, with his hands in his pockets, walked in alongside Kan Zhidong, the founder of Shenyin & Shenzhen Capital Group, and Wei Wenyuan, the first general manager of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, chatting and laughing.

"It was something that could have been resolved with a phone call, but you insisted on making the two of us come all the way here to see you off. If I hadn't arrived early today, I really wouldn't have had the time. I have other meetings upstairs this afternoon!"

"Hey, that's perfect! People come and go in the capital market like a revolving door, and things are always new. You still have work to do, so you need to show up more often so the market won't forget you!"

"Haha! You little rascal!" Kan Zhidong laughed and waved his index finger at Chen Xuebing. "You look down on this old man, don't you? Tell me, what brings you here today? What business do you want to discuss? For the sake of cooperation, I'll introduce you!"

Chen Xuebing was right about one thing: Kan Zhidong is currently in the midst of the Southern Securities bankruptcy crisis. The more this is the case, the more he needs to stand out in public and introduce Chen Xuebing to others, which is also to prove that he is still mentoring younger generations and that his progress has not stopped.

Of course, the prerequisite is that the junior must be qualified.

Chen Xuebing's numerous titles are definitely enough to qualify him for among young people.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuebing's eyes scanned the room.

the other side.

Zhang Yuzhong and Xin Mengzhen stood around a long table, looking troubled.

The person sitting there is Guo Guangchang, chairman of Fosun Group.

“I’ve already said that you should talk to the management of Nanjing Iron & Steel Group about this matter. Although we are the major shareholder, Nanjing Iron & Steel Group does not belong to us alone. Fosun has its own plans, and Nanjing Iron & Steel Group has its own intentions.”

Guo Guangchang frowned and spread his hands.

He personally explained a few words, which was already giving face to the two alumni and the other company.

"President Guo..."

Before Zhang Yuzhong could say anything more, the Fosun management team members accompanying him raised their hands.

"You should go find Chairman Xiao of Nanjing Iron & Steel Group."

Zhang Yuzhong's face was grim, and he exchanged a glance with Xin Mengzhen.

Xin Mengzhen didn't expect this investment to be so difficult. It was clearly a share issuance by Nanjing Iron & Steel and an investment by Boshi Investment, but the other party remained silent, as if they didn't lack investors at all.

Looking for Nanjing Iron & Steel Union...

I've already looked for it.

The company only had 1000 million shares, and that was the result of the company's top executives personally contacting Nanjing Iron & Steel Union.

The company told them to come directly to Fosun in order to try and secure another 500 to 1000 million shares.

Faced with this complicated situation, Xin Mengzhen could only step aside and say to Zhang Yuzhong:
“The timing might be wrong. Guo Guangchang seems to be talking to someone. I told him to wait a while, but you insisted on coming to say hello. Why don’t you call President Lu for help and see if you can find a middleman to introduce us?”

She was already dissatisfied with Zhang Yuzhong, and now she's passing the buck very smoothly.

Zhang Yuzhong felt as uncomfortable as if he had eaten shit.

"The current share price is 2.7 yuan. Even if we manage to get 10 million shares, it's only 27 million yuan. That's a discount of 2.7 million yuan, and there's a one-year lock-up period. We have to call President Lu for this. How are we supposed to get our commissions? It's no wonder President Lu is furious!"

After saying that, he remembered something, patted his head, and seemed to have a sudden realization: "President Lu told me before that he wanted me to help you more with the Fosun matter. Your family... did President Lu tell you anything?"

He had just been telling Xin Mengzhen to clarify her position, but now that they were facing difficulties, he remembered everything, including that he was the one who was supposed to be assisting.

He certainly didn't want to assist a newcomer, so he didn't mention what President Lu had said.

But now that he knows her grandfather is an investor in the company, he fully understands that President Lu must have asked her to use her connections.

Upon hearing this, Xin Mengzhen was so angry she wanted to hit someone.

President Lu did indeed tell her that Guo Guangchang had recently become very close to a Hong Kong investor who deals in large-scale currency exchange and was preparing to make overseas investments. If things went wrong, he suggested that the Hong Kong investor make a phone call, and things might be easier to discuss.

They also gave her the specific names of the middlemen and companies.

My grandfather worked in export trade in Hong Kong for many years, so it's very likely that we can get in touch.

But she has tolerated Zhang Yuzhong until now, and even Chen Xuebing's failure to enter the venue, she has endured it all, just because she doesn't want to mention this matter.

I just joined the company, and my first order requires me to contact my grandfather. What will I do in the future?
If it has to be like this, she'd rather not do it.

"President Lu didn't say anything to me. If you want to fight, then fight. If you don't want to fight, I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now."

Xin Mengzhen coldly uttered a sentence, but did not turn and leave as she pleased, glancing at Guo Guangchang's direction out of the corner of her eye.

She couldn't just give up like that; otherwise, it wouldn't just be a matter of commission, but also a difficult situation to explain when she got back.

Zhang Yuzhong didn't want to make this phone call, which would inevitably get him scolded.

The two were locked in a stalemate when someone nearby suddenly pointed in a direction and started discussing something.

"Is that Kan Zhidong?"

"Yes! It's President Kan! He actually came too!"

"Wasn't he not on the guest list?"

"Since we're already here, who cares! Southern Securities, big news! The news hasn't been officially announced yet! Finally, we've got a real deal! This is mine!"

A reporter hurried over there with a camera.

Not to be outdone, another group quickly followed.

People from over there were also walking through the crowd.

Zhang Yuzhong glanced in that direction and froze.

"Your boyfriend?"

Xin Mengzhen, who was anxious and had no time to pay attention to anything else, turned her head when she heard this and saw Chen Xuebing walking towards her with a faint smile.

Chen Xuebing seemed to have seen her long ago, and gave her a look.

She was somewhat delighted and wanted to go up, but the bespectacled man next to him had a commanding presence. He waved the reporters away and said sternly, "No interviews for now!"

Some people sitting around the long table also stood up to greet him.

"Old Kan!"

"long time no see!"

The bespectacled man responded to each question, but his steps didn't falter. He walked straight to Guo Guangchang's side and said with a smile:

"Mr. Guo! I heard you've struck it rich again! I haven't even had a chance to congratulate you on Zhaojin's Hong Kong listing yet!"

Guo Guangchang, who was having a lively conversation with the person across the table, stood up when he saw the newcomer and shook hands with him with a big smile.

"Hey! Godfather! Long time no see. Your information network is still as good as ever. Oh? I, the major shareholder, only just found out, and you already knew?"

"Hahaha…"

Kan Zhidong's laughter was extremely domineering: "There's nothing in the securities market that I don't know!"

The people around them couldn't help but be drawn to these words. Who was talking so arrogantly?
Upon seeing that it was Godfather Kan, those who knew him fell silent.

I asked around among the strangers, but they all fell silent.

Shenyin & Wanguo Securities, Shenzhen Capital Group, and Southern Securities.

Okay, you have your reasons for being arrogant.

"Let me introduce you! Chen Xuebing, a rising star in the financial market and chairman of Gu'an Group! He just launched the first publicly funded private equity fund in Southwest China, and it raised a good 1.55 million yuan! He's currently working with the Chongqing government as a fund advisor!"

Kan Zhidong explained that Chen Xuebing smiled and extended his hand. He truly envied Guo's development path: Fosun Real Estate, pharmaceuticals, Nanjing Iron & Steel, Zhaojin Mining, and even future ventures in tourism, retail, and banking… and that Atlantis Hotel in Hainan, costing 100,000 yuan a night…

When it comes to the variety of businesses, this one truly encompasses everything from birth to old age, sickness, and death.

However, Chen Xuebing was very eager to challenge him, wanting to see who could excel at the same breadth of knowledge.

On the other hand, I also want to learn from him how to manage such a complex company after creating it.

Guo Guangchang couldn't help but be surprised by the young face. While shaking hands, he exclaimed, "Truly, new talents emerge in every generation! So young! Young man, how old are you?"

Faced with this somewhat condescending question, Chen Xuebing chuckled and said, "President Guo isn't old either."

Guo Guangchang laughed loudly: "Hahaha...that's right, I'm only thirty-eight! We're all young!"

Chen Xuebing really wanted to retort, "I'm only half as good as you."

Unfortunately, I need someone's help.

"Mr. Guo, can we talk about the Nanjing Iron and Steel Group?"

The meeting was about to begin, and Chen Xuebing got straight to the point.

Guo Guangchang paused for a moment, then turned his head to look for the two Fudan alumni from earlier.

The two were not far apart.

Xin Mengzhen was quite surprised.

Zhang Yuzhong was completely stunned.

He knew what a big shot Kan Zhidong was, and now he also knew who Chen Xuebing was.

The first publicly funded private equity firm in Southwest China…

He was one of the culprits behind the short selling of Baosteel warrants, causing Mr. Lu to lose tens of millions of yuan in private equity funds!
What was it called... the Long March!
He's actually Xin Mengzhen's boyfriend!

He gripped his phone tightly, eager to call President Lu.

But it seems like the other party is actually helping them.

Not far away, Chen Xuebing followed Guo Guangchang's gaze and saw Zhang Yuzhong with a strange expression. He didn't pay any attention to it, but just gave Xin Mengzhen next to him a wink.

He had seen Xin Mengzhen and the others being rejected from afar.

Although he was helping Xin Mengzhen, it was only a second-hand relationship. He wasn't even on solid terms with Kan Zhidong, so it wouldn't be appropriate for him to bring her along when talking to Guo Guangchang. They could only talk alone.

Guo Guangchang turned back, somewhat conflicted.

But out of respect for Kan Zhidong, he nodded.

Fosun executives knew that although they were still discussing Nanjing Steel, the situation was different from before. They stood up shrewdly, and Chen Xuebing sat down next to Guo Guangchang.

The two spoke in hushed tones.

They didn't talk for long. After two or three minutes, Chen Xuebing nodded, stood up, and shook hands with Guo Guangchang.

"Thank you for your help, Mr. Guo."

Guo Guangchang waved his hand: "No trouble at all. Who are you asking for?"

Chen Xuebing then pointed at Xin Mengzhen, who hadn't moved an inch, and said with a smile, "My girlfriend."

"Oh!" Guo Guangchang looked at Xin Mengzhen again, his expression becoming much warmer. He even nodded at her and praised her generously: "Not bad! You managed to win over such a beautiful junior from Fudan University! Back in our year, she would have been the campus beauty. Young man, you have a bright future!"

Chen Xuebing didn't reply: "You flatter me, Mr. Guo. I won't bother you any longer. Please continue with your work."

"Okay, then you explain this to my junior for me!"

"Ok."

Chen Xuebing abruptly ended the pointless conversation, nodded politely, and walked towards Xin Mengzhen.

Guo Guangchang was a sociable person, and the two could chat for a long time. But just because someone was being polite didn't mean they wanted to continue being polite. There was nothing altruistic about it, and their statuses were not equal, so there was no point in chatting any longer.

Chen Xuebing's abrupt departure left Guo Guangchang, who was usually quite annoyed by dealing with strangers, feeling that the conversation was somewhat unfinished. He took a deep look at Chen's retreating figure and had a sudden intuition.

He might be a very capable young person in the future.

……

ten minutes later.

A well-done steak was served at each seat on the long table, and the director of the GWY Financial Research Institute gave a passionate and generous speech.

"Shanghai has become one of the major regions for financial institutions in my country, with more than 300 foreign-funded and Sino-foreign joint venture financial institutions currently operating in the city..."

Chen Xuebing sat next to Xin Mengzhen, intently working on the steak on his plate.

He cut it into strips, tasted it himself, nodded, and then moved his plate to Xin Mengzhen's side.

"It's not bad, I'll have a couple of bites."

Xin Mengzhen looked around before whispering, "Where's President Kan?"

Chen Xuebing pointed the knife in his hand upstairs: "He and General Wei went upstairs. It seems there was some leader there. They came all the way from Shenzhen to pay their respects."

"What's your relationship with him?" Xin Mengzhen was still in shock.

"Cooperative relationship, enjoy your meal."

Chen Xuebing treated her like a daughter, cutting up her portion and placing a few more pieces in front of her.

Xin Mengzhen heard the words "Help me explain to my junior sister" and knew that Chen Xuebing had not succeeded in his negotiation. She was a little anxious at first, but seeing his unhurried manner, her thoughts slowed down and a sense of relief welled up in her heart.

"I suddenly realized you're quite handsome."

Her expression was somewhat playful.

"He's deliberately looking this handsome."

Chen Xuebing laughed and said, "After all, I can't be handsome for long before I have to leave again. If I'm not handsome enough, I'm afraid you'll change your mind."

Just now, when Kan Zhidong left, he reminded him to expedite the government-guided fund project, otherwise things might change.

With the bull market slow in coming and company expenses increasing, he felt a heavy weight on his mind.

There's a lot going on. I can only take a few days to enjoy my romantic time before I have to go back to Chongqing to keep an eye on things.

Therefore, he cherished every meal he had with Xin Mengzhen and treated her with utmost tenderness.

The two ate a few ordinary pieces of beef with great enjoyment. Strangers across the table cast envious glances at the couple, and a camera from a nearby television station kept glancing at them, intentionally or unintentionally.

Zhang Yuzhong, standing to the side, felt extremely uneasy, but dared not interrupt.

Only after Xin Mengzhen finished eating did she cautiously lean forward and ask, "President Chen... what exactly happened? Can you tell me?"

Chen Xuebing handed Xin Mengzhen a tissue, wiped his own mouth, and then slowly said:

"There's no use in rushing. You haven't even understood the background of this share issuance. Nanjing Iron & Steel Group and Fosun jointly established Nanjing Iron & Steel Union, a holding company that wants to increase its stake in Nanjing Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. from 60.6% to around 66%. Of the 100 million shares issued this time, nearly half have already been reserved by their own shareholders. Nanjing Iron & Steel Union is controlled by Fosun. This matter involves the absolute control of state-owned assets by private enterprises, so they don't want to publicize it. The remaining half is for a few institutions with good relationships, including you. Giving you 10 million shares is already quite a lot."

Upon hearing this, the two suddenly realized what was happening.

The share of 100 million has been reduced to 50 million, and it seems unlikely that it can be won over again.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Xin Mengzhen's eyes, but she quickly concealed it and smiled, "That's fine, at least I'll have something to report back to."

"Not urgent."

Chen Xuebing smiled and said, "After all, this is your first business deal. How can you just walk away like this? Show me the information on your competitor later, and I'll have someone study it."

(End of this chapter)