Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 175 A Bond of Steel?

"You're not usually in Shanghai, are you? I need to come and keep her company!"

"Is it safe for a young girl like her to live alone?"

"Besides, I'm from the bride's family! I have my own room at Mengzhen's house, with several sets of blankets and sheets!"

"Fine, you wouldn't buy these anyway, so I'll bring them myself! But you'd better make sure the renovations are done well!"

"I need a treadmill, a hanging plant on the balcony, a small sofa in my bedroom, and Wi-Fi...you know what a router is? There has to be internet at home! Oh, and air conditioning, preferably central air conditioning. Let me tell you, you absolutely have to install central air conditioning while we're renovating. The place I rented couldn't have it installed, so I bought one, and it takes up so much space."

"By the way, do you like dogs? If you do, I'll buy a Schnauzer for Mengzhen. We both love them, and they don't shed. I can walk them for you free of charge."

After Lin Huixiang finished speaking, she looked at Chen Xuebing with hopeful eyes.

Chen Xuebing: ...

Xin Mengzhen couldn't hold back any longer: "Sister Huixiang! You like it, right? Your landlord won't let you keep it, but you can't let him keep it either. Besides, Schnauzers are especially afraid of being alone. When no one is home, they bark very loudly, and the neighbors will complain!"

"Oh, I'm not busy. I'm usually home, so I won't let it bark. Just imagine, I'm at home with a dog waiting for you. When you come home, it will jump up to you, and if you call it, it will come over and wag its short tail. Isn't that nice and heartwarming?" Lin Huixiang tempted.

Xin Mengzhen's lips curled slightly as she listened, but she immediately suppressed it.

Seeing that smile, Chen Xuebing thought to himself that he had no choice but to buy this dog.

He coughed once: "Lin Huixiang."

"what."

“I’ve discovered a career that’s perfect for you. Even if your family runs out of money in the future, you can still live the life you want through this career.”

"Ah."

"You can become a nanny for a rich man's family. While the rich man goes out to work hard to make money, you stay at the rich man's house, holding the rich man's dog, facing the sea, with spring flowers blooming. Moreover, you can choose the apartment type and the dog. If you don't like it, you don't have to go."

"Not bad!" Lin Huixiang said with a smile, "Chen Fuhao, I've set my sights on your company. How much salary will you pay me?"

Chen Xuebing sighed.

"Just tell me straight, are you planning to live here and freeload during your university years?"

"Are you kidding me? I'm just freeloading..." Lin Huixiang immediately got angry, but then she fell silent when she met Chen Xuebing's amused gaze.

“The apartment my dad rented for me is too old, and I have to climb stairs. All the rentals in Shanghai are old apartments, and they don’t have all the amenities. I’m not going to rent it anymore. The lease is due in three months. You need to hurry up with the renovations. I have a lot of stuff and nowhere to move it.”

After saying that, he turned his head and looked at Xin Mengzhen pitifully.

"Mengzhen, I want to get a dog..."

Xin Mengzhen was in a bit of a dilemma, after all, she hadn't bought the house, so she could only turn her head and give Chen Xuebing that look.

"Living is not a problem, but you will have to do some work."

Chen Xuebing took out his wallet from his pocket, pulled out a card, placed it on the rotating glass of the dining table, and turned it to face Lin Huixiang.

"There's still over 70 in the card, password 125408. You'll accompany her during the renovation. I only have one request: don't let her spend any money. If she runs out of money, tell me and I'll transfer it in. Once the house is finished, I'll give you a show-quality Schnauzer."

He was also worried about the renovation.

Someone has to keep an eye on things. Xin Mengzhen is busy, and she insists on paying for it herself. Fortunately, with Lin Huixiang around, she definitely won't let Xin Mengzhen spend any money.

This girl doesn't earn money easily. As for the letter of complaint he handed over, Xu Jin has already made a phone call, and the company in Beijing replied that they want 100,000 yuan.

This is the initial fee for them to handle their business.

Xin Mengzhen probably won't earn 100,000 yuan after completing this order.

Instead of making her bear the pressure of earning money for renovations, it's better for him to just pay for it himself.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, before Xin Mengzhen could even respond, Lin Huixiang slapped her hand on the bank card.

"Deal! But I don't want a purebred Schnauzer. I prefer small pet Schnauzers, they're very cheap. I'll use the money from buying the dog to treat Mengzhen to something nice, okay?"

"No problem," Chen Xuebing smiled.

"Mr. Chen is very generous. I'm starting to approve of you."

The two of them chatted back and forth, and happily reached a deal.

"Sister Huixiang!" Xin Mengzhen frowned and stared at Lin Huixiang.

Lin Huixiang was unmoved by any persuasion and simply put the card into her bag: "It's no use you keeping an eye on me. He's your boyfriend, and this is what he should spend."

Xin Mengzhen turned her head and gave Chen Xuebing a death stare.

"It's no use you staring at me."

Chen Xuebing held a crab leg, playing with it intently.

This crab probably never dreamed that its little legs could be used to poke the flesh of its own thigh.

"By the way," Lin Huixiang said, changing the subject when Xin Mengzhen persisted, "Chen Xuebing, are you still in contact with Yang Qingyue?"

Chen Xuebing paused, looked up at Lin Huixiang, and, noticing she didn't seem to be referring to anything specific, wondered if Xin Mengzhen had said something to her. He asked in return:

"You know Yang Qingyue?"

"Of course I know her. She came to Guangzhou with her father the year before last. Mengzhen was in her second year of high school at the time and was attending tutoring classes. I happened to be home for vacation, and I took her out to play. Mengzhen said that you and she were classmates. You two met through Yang Qingyue, right?"

"Oh..." Chen Xuebing relaxed: "Yes, it's been a while."

"She's so cute, Mengzhen. Invite her to Shanghai sometime, let's hang out together. And invite Chen Xuebing too. Chen Xuebing, she's your matchmaker, you should treat us. Let's eat here then!"

Lin Huixiang's words made Chen Xuebing tense up again.

But seeing her still looking at the dishes on the table with lingering interest, Chen Xuebing was momentarily unsure whether she was focused on Yang Qingyue or the meal itself.

“Matchmaker…” Chen Xuebing recalled Yang Qingyue’s smile and felt very uncomfortable with this title. He chuckled and said, “Aren’t you Xin Mengzhen’s family member? Help me steal her household registration book. Once we get our marriage certificate, you’ll be our matchmaker. I’ll treat you to three days of meals, including Wang Baohe’s.”

Lin Huixiang had originally harbored a desire to test him.

As she said, Yang Qingyue was a beautiful and cheerful girl. When Xin Mengzhen talked about how she met Chen Xuebing, she noticed Yang Qingyue's special role in the story.

But Chen Xuebing's words completely disrupted her train of thought.

"Only three days? You want me to steal your household registration book? Then you might as well prepare to support me for the rest of my life. I definitely can't go back home. You can prepare ten million euros and find a European family to foster me there!"

Seeing her shouting and yelling, Chen Xuebing grinned and said, "Okay, I'll come to you when it really matters. Don't go back on your word."

As he spoke, his smile gradually calmed, a faint sense of regret lingering in his heart.

During this trip to Shanghai, Xin Mengzhen and he have already reached this point.

It seems he really has no reason to provoke Yang Qingyue.

That apartment in Shenzhen, that quiet and cozy room, that bed that was the most comfortable he had ever slept in, the one where he wanted to fall asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

Before leaving for Shanghai, he went there and cleaned it very thoroughly. Yang Qingyue seemed to have slept on that bed, because there was a large Stitch figure next to the bed.

Yang Qingyue knew he didn't like pink, so all the dolls he bought were blue.

The faint fragrance from the doll welled up in his heart from the depths of his memory.

If I don't disturb it, will it still retain that smell after a long time?

As Chen Xuebing was deep in thought, a hand touched the back of his hand.

"Are you full?"

"Oh, I'm full." Chen Xuebing composed himself and turned to say calmly.

He didn't want Xin Mengzhen to notice even the slightest thing.

But Xin Mengzhen leaned close to his ear and whispered, "You and Qingyue can just date normally. I believe you." I believe you.

Chen Xuebing is under immense pressure.

……

……

After three days of waiting for news, we officially began our shameless and carefree couple life.

Lin Huixiang lent her BMW Mini to Chen Xuebing. This car is currently the most popular among young women, bar none.

He would drive this car to pick up and drop off Xin Mengzhen at school and the company, and they were together all the time.

He only thinks about four things every day: one day, three meals.

On the morning of November 25th, Chen Xuebing woke up groggily. After several days of hard work, he felt incredibly energetic. He reached out and touched his surroundings, intending to get up early and conquer the world.

The bed was empty, the blankets were torn and twisted, and there was no warmth around it.

He got up and looked around; there was a note, a bottle of milk, and bread on the bedside table.

[President Lu received news that those two companies withdrew and asked me to come over. I haven't had breakfast for several days. Eat up, sweetie~()]

Chen Xuebing looked at the round pig's head, smiled, got up, stretched, and went to wash his face and brush his teeth.

"Ah... still eating breakfast? Breakfast has already run away!"

To save time, I simply took a shower.

When I came out, my phone was vibrating.

Upon picking it up, I saw it was Xin Mengzhen.

"Hey?"

"are you awake?"

"woke up."

"My... my boss, Mr. Lu, wants to speak with you."

Chen Xuebing was taken aback for a moment, then his expression returned to normal.

"Okay, give him my number."

"Ah."

"Oh, right, I'm going to go find Lin Huixiang to return the car later. Now that the results are out, I plan to take the afternoon flight back."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, both of them breathing with reluctance.

"How about I stay for two more days?" Chen Xuebing changed his mind.

"No, you have so much to do, just go back today. Don't return the car yet, I'll have Lin Huixiang come to the hotel, and we'll drive you to the airport."

"Ok."

Chen Xuebing hung up the phone and waited quietly for the other end to call back.

This time, the phone rang for seven or eight seconds before he answered it.

"Mr. Lu, hello."

A calm laugh came from the other end: "President Chen, we've never met, yet I've witnessed your methods twice."

Chen Xuebing also laughed.

"Baosteel got a negative return, Nanjing Steel got a positive return. We've already made the money back for you, so you don't need to keep it in mind, right?"

"It's just that the methods used were somewhat dishonorable."

"Heh, regarding the Baosteel matter, since you know who I am, your methods weren't exactly honorable either. By the way, when my company opened, weren't those reporters you hired?"

"No, the rules of revenge in the capital market are that you should go back to where you came from, not use these methods. It seems that Mr. Chen has offended someone, and not even someone in the industry, but someone from outside the circle. There aren't many people who have the ability to get information from CITIC. I know one, surnamed Xu, who is also at Baosteel."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuebing understood the situation.

At the same time, I felt a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex feeling of mixed emotions, including sighs and reflection

You really can't underestimate the intelligence capabilities of these "insiders." The veil of the stock market is transparent to them; anyone can lift it and take a look.

If given the opportunity, I would still like to start my own securities company.

Unfortunately, when he left Kan Zhidong that day, he tentatively mentioned Southern Securities, showing his covetousness for the company that had been the top underwriter in the country just a few years ago.

Kan Zhidong, however, bluntly stated that he shouldn't even think about it.

The company has embezzled customer deposits and other personal debts totaling 8 billion yuan, and institutional debts totaling 12 billion yuan, creating a 20 billion yuan hole. Its internal structure is also in a mess, making it difficult for Guoxin and CITIC to take over. Only direct takeover by China Development Bank or China Construction Investment Corporation could lead to restructuring.

He was speechless and left feeling embarrassed.

Since his rebirth, no matter how big the business, he has never lacked the courage to try it. These days, many things can be done by getting on the bus first and buying the ticket later. Getting rich is just a matter of leverage, but the premise of participating is that there must be profit to be made.

"Mr. Lu, what brings you here? Please speak frankly."

"You know about the special steel plant in Chongqing, right?"

Chen Xuebing raised his eyebrows: "This year's largest bankruptcy case in the country. I grew up in Chongqing, how could I not know about it?"

His administrative director, He Yue, came from the administrative office of the special steel plant.

When he was a child, the special steel plant was a hot commodity in Chongqing. It was a pioneering enterprise that the central government had named. It was the first to break through foreign blockades and produced high-quality steel for China's first satellite, carrier rocket, warship, fighter jet, nuclear fusion, and many of its achievements won the National Invention Award.

It was also known as the Second Steel Plant.

There's also a folk rhyme: "Little sister, little sister, grow up quickly, grow up and marry into the No. 2 Steel Plant, eat meat every three days, and get a shoulder every five days."

Unfortunately, in the mid-90s, they encountered a foolish factory manager who bought a bunch of useless equipment, incurred a lot of debt, and accumulated huge interest payments. The situation got worse day by day, and they officially went bankrupt this year.

"Since Chongqing Iron & Steel acquired Chongqing Special Steel, it may be undergoing restructuring. I see that Baosteel, Nanjing Iron & Steel, and General Manager Chen have all been involved. Are you interested in participating in Chongqing Iron & Steel's investment?"

Mr. Lu's laughter made Chen Xuebing's lips curl into a smile.

I fucking want to get involved with Nanjing Steel?

Wasn't this the one you sent to my girlfriend?

"Mr. Lu, if you want to invest, just contact them directly. My fund deals in the secondary market and only trades on the stock market. Why would you need to contact me?"

"Your Chongqing government has its own plans, and Yufu Capital is leading the restructuring. I've heard that you have cooperation with the government in terms of industrial funds. Surely you have some connection? ... I plan to have Xin Mengzhen as the person in charge to participate in this project and cooperate with you on this investment. After our research, the profits will definitely be substantial. What do you think?"

"Fuck..." I almost blurted out a vulgar curse.

Chen Xuebing quickly recalled that Zhang Yuzhong must have overheard something and reported it to him.

"President Lu, do you know what the background of Yufu Capital is? It was established by the mayor himself! It's a company that specializes in restructuring state-owned enterprises, affiliated with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission!"

"It's all about human effort. I've witnessed Mr. Chen's methods this time, and I think you should have a solution. Don't worry, whether we succeed or not, I will take good care of Xin Mengzhen."

Chen Xuebing quieted down.

Holy crap, they really have a knack for working with steel.

Is it truly fate?

"Alright, I understand. I'll find out more first."

(End of this chapter)