Nominal: My senior brothers are all big shots

The two returned to the old house. Qi Tongwei skillfully turned on the power switch and switched on the lights. Under the dim light, the furnishings in the main room were simple and tidy.

A square table, a few chairs, a portrait of Mao Zedong and a faded New Year's picture hanging on the wall. In the corner, on an old-fashioned wooden cabinet, sits a 21-inch color television.

"Are you staying here tonight?" Qi Tongwei asked.

"Okay." Lin Feng nodded and said, "I'd like to stay here for a few days."

"Okay," Qi Tongwei said. "Then I'll go back to the provincial capital tomorrow. Call me whenever you want to come back, and I'll come pick you up."

"No need to trouble yourself, I can go back by myself."

After washing up, the two brothers lay down on the old-fashioned carved wooden bed. The bed frame was hard, and the quilt smelled of sunshine.

The next day, in the tea room of the Shanshui Manor, Qi Tongwei and Gao Xiaoqin sat facing each other.

Gao Xiaoqin poured Qi Tongwei a cup of aged Pu'er tea with elegant movements.

"Director, Dean Chen Qingquan called this afternoon." Gao Xiaoqin gently pushed the teacup towards him. "He said the judgment on the equity dispute of Dafeng Factory has been drafted. Shanshui Group won the case and can legally acquire 100% of the equity of Dafeng Factory."

Qi Tongwei did not accept the teacup, but instead took out a kraft paper folder from his briefcase and placed it on the tea tray.

"Don't issue a verdict yet," Qi Tongwei said calmly.

Gao Xiaoqin paused, "Why? We've waited so long, isn't it all for this verdict?"

"Because this verdict will cause us a lot of trouble," Qi Tongwei said, opening the folder and pulling out the first page of the document.

"Xiaoqin, let's start from the beginning. You have a share pledge agreement signed by Cai Chenggong, using 100% of Dafeng Factory's shares as collateral to borrow 50 million from you, right?"

"Yes." Gao Xiaoqin nodded. "The contract has all the necessary paperwork and has been notarized."

"How can Tsai Chenggong have the right to mortgage 40% of the shares held by the employees of Dafeng Factory?" Qi Tongwei pulled out another page. "This signature of the workers' representative was obtained by Tsai Chenggong. These workers don't recognize this signature now."

Gao Xiaoqin frowned. "But legally..."

“Legally, we can certainly win,” Qi Tongwei interrupted her. “Chen Qingquan ruled in our favor, there’s absolutely no problem with that. But what happens after we win the case? Will the 1,200 workers accept this verdict? Will Chen Yanshi accept it? Will Secretary Sha Ruijin accept it?”

The tea room quieted down, with only the bubbling sound of boiling tea.

"What does the director mean?" Gao Xiaoqin asked tentatively.

"My cousin Lin Feng came up with a plan for me." Qi Tongwei turned to the third page of the document. "A plan that can shut everyone up and bring us both fame and fortune."

Gao Xiaoqin leaned forward slightly. "How so?"

"As a first step, we're giving up the workers' equity."

Gao Xiaoqin's eyes widened. "What? That's forty percent..."

"Let me finish." Qi Tongwei gestured for calm. "We not only don't want the workers' shares, but we also want to help them clarify their shareholding interests. At the same time, we also need to make them understand the responsibilities that shareholders need to bear."

Qi Tongwei took a flowchart out of the folder and spread it out on the tea tray.

"Look, this is the whole process." Qi Tongwei's finger moved across the diagram. "First, as the major shareholder holding 60% of the shares, you convene the Dafeng Factory shareholders' meeting. The meeting has only one agenda item: to discuss the resettlement of Dafeng Factory's employees."

Gao Xiaoqin carefully examined the flowchart. "Employee placement issue?"

"Dafeng Factory is currently facing bankruptcy, which means it will have to deal with the issue of employee resettlement," Qi Tongwei said. "At the shareholders' meeting, you propose a motion to use all of Dafeng Factory's assets to resettle the employees. And Dafeng Factory's most valuable asset right now is its 120 acres of industrial land."

"Although the land is currently only worth 50 million, everyone knows that because of the unified planning of the Guangming Peak project, the land will be worth 1 billion. This is one of the main reasons why Cai Chenggong and the workers have been making trouble."

"I know, but Dafeng Factory's bankruptcy is inevitable, so the issue of employee resettlement needs to be resolved first." Qi Tongwei turned to the next page.

"To resolve employee resettlement issues. According to the national Labor Contract Law, companies that dissolve or lay off employees are required to pay economic compensation. N+1, calculated based on the employee's actual salary and length of service."

Gao Xiaoqin quickly did the mental calculations: "1,200 people, average tenure of 15 years, average monthly salary of 4,000... that's close to 100 million!"

"That's right." Qi Tongwei nodded. "So your proposal should be: Dafeng Factory should use the remaining value of its land to pay for employee resettlement expenses first. Any shortfall should be borne by all shareholders in proportion to their shareholdings."

Gao Xiaoqin's eyes lit up. "So, if I hold 60% of the shares, I'll bear 60% of the resettlement costs. And if the workers hold 40%, they'll bear 40%?"

"Yes," Qi Tongwei said. "And here's a key point—workers can choose to use their shares to offset their share of the resettlement costs."

Qi Tongwei took a sip of tea and continued to explain, "Let's do the math. Assuming the total resettlement cost is 100 million, you will bear 60 million, and the workers will collectively bear 40 million. And the workers' equity value, calculated based on Dafeng Factory's net assets, is approximately 20 million."

Gao Xiaoqin continued, "So, in reality, the workers need to pay an additional 20 million yuan in cash to keep their shares?"

"That's right," Qi Tongwei said, "but do you think those 1,200 workers can raise 20 million in cash?"

Gao Xiaoqin shook her head. "Impossible. That's not right. Those workers who hold shares will wait until the land of Dafeng Factory is converted into commercial land before they solve the employee resettlement problem."

"Hehe, well then, that's not something we need to worry about. After we finish handling our 60% of the work, we'll let the workers go find the employee stock ownership group for the rest. Even if they appease the workers, converting industrial land to commercial land requires a transfer fee. Do you think those employee stock ownership workers can raise that amount?"

"So the end result is that most workers will choose to give up their shares and leave with the resettlement compensation," Qi Tongwei said. "The few who want to retain their shares can't afford that much money. At this point, you, as a major shareholder, can exercise your right of first refusal to acquire the shares they gave up at a reasonable price."

Silence fell in the tea room once again. Gao Xiaoqin's fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the tea tray, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.

"In this way..." Gao Xiaoqin slowly began, "Although I paid 45 million yuan in resettlement fees, I will eventually get nearly 100% of the shares. Moreover, the whole process is legal and compliant, the workers made their choice voluntarily, and no one can find fault with it."

"That's not all." Qi Tongwei turned to another page of the document. "The most exciting part is yet to come. After acquiring full equity, we will develop this land legally and compliantly."

Gao Xiaoqin perked up. "How do we develop it? Once the industrial land is converted into commercial land, these workers and Cai Chenggong will definitely cause trouble."