Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

next day

Bai Jianbo and Fan Guotao, each accompanied by their secretary, parked their cars on the street outside the Peace Hotel. Fan Guotao looked miserable, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly. He was looking at the agreement he had hastily completed overnight. Bai Jianbo had called him last night, asking him to prepare the agreement for today's use, which had driven Fan Guotao to the brink of despair.

"Secretary, can Chen Zaidong really accept this agreement?"

Bai Jianbo didn't even glance at it before saying, "Whether he can accept it or not is not important. What's important is that we let Chen Zaidong know that Shanghai Automotive can bring him more benefits. Let's go."

The four got out of the car and walked into the Peace Hotel. They took the elevator to the eighth floor. Chen Dong's room was easy to find because there were bodyguards on duty at the door at all times. Zhang Tiejun, who was on duty today, nodded politely when he saw that the visitor was Bai Jianbo, and then knocked on Chen Dong's door.

Chen Zaixing opened the door. The two brothers were having breakfast provided by the hotel. When they saw Bai Jianbo, Chen Zaixing was taken aback for a moment before stepping aside to make way for him. "Secretary Bai, why are you here so early? Have you eaten? Want to have something with me?"

Chen Dong, who was sitting on the sofa eating porridge with chopsticks, pointed to the empty seat next to him and said, "Secretary Bai, sit down and have some. It was just delivered not long ago, eat it while it's hot."

"No, no, Zai Dong, we've already eaten before we came," Bai Jianbo and Fan Guotao waved their hands repeatedly. They were a little embarrassed when they came in and found that Chen Dong and the others were having breakfast.

It was almost nine o'clock. Bai Jianbo thought he had figured out that Chen Dong and the others would have finished breakfast and chat in their room by now, but he was wrong. To avoid embarrassment, the two of them had no choice but to go to the window and look at the river view.

Chen Dong and Chen Zaixing continued to eat their breakfast leisurely, not rushing through it just because Bai Jianbo and Fan Guotao had arrived. They ate for almost half an hour, and Bai Jianbo and Fan Guotao's legs were almost numb from standing.

Chen Dong finally finished his breakfast, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and smiled at Bai Jianbo and the others, saying, "Secretary Bai, Director Fan, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Come and have some tea."

Chen Dong said he was sorry, but there was no embarrassment in his tone. Chen Zaixing cleared away the dishes and chopsticks, piled them aside, and waited for the hotel staff to come and clean them up. Then he sat on the sofa and took out a cigarette to offer.

"Secretary Bai, why are you here so early today? Is there something you need?" Chen Dong took out a white porcelain teacup and started rinsing it with boiling water, preparing to brew tea. There was no way around it that there were no Gongfu tea sets used in Tuocheng, so he had to brew a large pot of tea instead.

"Comrade Zai Dong," Bai Jianbo said with a smile, "I'm here today with Lao Fan to represent Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and we'd like to renegotiate the equity issue with you."

Chen Dong placed the white porcelain teacups in front of Bai Jianbo and Chen Dong, and replied with a smile, "Secretary Bai, don't you know? We have already reached an agreement with Director Yang of the Municipal Government on the shareholding structure. Once it is approved at today's Standing Committee meeting, Xiaochi will be able to sign a contract with the Shanghai Municipal Government."

Bai Jianbo's smile froze. Fan Guotao spoke first, "President Chen, we at Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) won't accept the 20% offer from the city!"

"From the very beginning, it was Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) that was in contact with you regarding this project. The city government suddenly intervened without any effective communication with SAIC. Their offer of 20% is too low."

Chen Dong was amused. He looked at Bai Jianbo and Fan Guotao, then turned to Chen Zaixing, who was also laughing out loud at Fan Guotao's words. "No, Secretary Bai, Director Fan, what's going on between the Shanghai Municipal Government and Shanghai Automobile? Why are you all telling different stories?"

"I just finalized a preliminary agreement with the municipal government yesterday, and now your Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) is turning around and telling me that the 20% offered by the municipal government is too low," Chen Dong said, leaning back on the sofa, lighting a cigarette, and asking Bai Jianbo, "Then, Secretary Bai, I'd like to ask you, how much do you want?"

"It's still 30% as we agreed in our initial negotiations," Bai Jianbo said through gritted teeth. "That's Shanghai Automotive's bottom line."

Chen Dong didn't reply, slowly smoking. Bai Jianbo was in a state of turmoil, but he had to pretend to be calm. Chen Zaixing sat to the side, looking at Bai Jianbo and then at Fan Guotao with a playful expression.

After finishing the cigarette he was holding, Chen Dong stubbed it out and looked at Bai Jianbo, saying, "Secretary Bai, if your Shanghai Automotive insists on 30%, then Xiaochi will have no choice but to sign a contract with the municipal government, which only wants 20%. It's unreasonable for Xiaochi to have to give up an extra 10% of its equity just because your Shanghai Automotive disagrees."

Bai Jianbo opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then swallowed it back. Chen Dong's words had really put Shanghai Automotive in a difficult position. One side offered 20%, and the other offered 30%. Of course, they weren't stupid; they would definitely choose the option that was more advantageous to them.

If Bai Jianbo were in Chen Dong's shoes, he would also choose the agreement proposed by the municipal government. It can only be said that Gao Yueming is more trouble than he's worth. He interfered at the last minute and ruined the whole project.

"President Chen," Fan Guotao said, seeing that Bai Jianbo was still silent, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "The municipal government provides the land, while Shanghai Automotive provides the people. Land is static, but people are dynamic. Once the engine plant is built, it needs workers to do the work, technical experts to oversee the process, and a management team to operate it. These are things that the municipal government cannot provide."

Chen Dong looked at Fan Guotao with a "Are you kidding me?" expression. "Director Fan, these days, I don't even need to give up that extra 10%. Just 5% of the shares, believe it or not, there are plenty of machinery factories all over China willing to come to Shanghai to cooperate with Xiaochi."

"Forget skilled workers, I could have as many engineers as you want, believe it or not!"

Fan Guotao got anxious. "President Chen, that's not how it works. Look, both of our companies have signed engine supply authorization agreements. This cooperation should follow the principle of first come, first served."

"Yes, it's all about first come, first served. I initially offered you, Shanghai Automotive and the municipal government, 30%, but you disagreed and it was put on hold. Then the municipal government came to me and said they only wanted 20%, which I gladly accepted. I wasn't wrong, was I, Director Fan?" Chen Dong said, spreading his hands.

"Mr. Chen, look..."

Chen Dong reached out to stop Fan Guotao, who was about to continue persuading him. "Secretary Bai, Director Fan, this isn't the first time we've cooperated. Let me make this clear: Xiaochi is a company that highly values ​​its reputation. We've already reached a preliminary agreement with the municipal government. Just because your Shanghai Automotive suddenly comes over and says you disagree, I can't just go and tell the municipal government that we have to renegotiate!"

"If I really did that, Snapdragon's reputation in the business world would plummet. I'm sure you wouldn't dare cooperate with a company that would so easily overturn an agreement. Don't you agree?"

"Mr. Chen, that makes sense, but we need to address each specific situation individually!"