“It seems you haven’t given up, Old Wang!” Huang He chuckled. “Alright, I’ll listen to you. I’ll pay off the loan, then continue to borrow from you. Tell your opponent that the two of us have an unbreakable relationship!”
“Really!” Director Wang’s hand trembled slightly as he looked at Huang He in surprise. He hadn't expected Huang He to agree so readily. He thought it would take a lot of persuasion and bargaining.
“What’s real and what’s not? Your interests and mine are intertwined. Without you, Old Wang, supporting me during my most difficult times, there would be no Jiangnan Group today. Now that you’re in trouble, of course I have to help you no matter what!” Huang He said with a smile.
“Then why did you deliberately go to meet that Zeng from the Agricultural Bank? Weren’t you trying to provoke me?” Director Wang snorted, though there wasn't much anger in his tone.
“That was because I didn’t know you were already being targeted! I thought we would have to continue our battle of wits, and you might agree to my demands!” Huang He laughed.
“Then I’m very curious, what are your demands this time?” Director Wang asked, his curiosity piqued.
“First, I want to get 1 billion US dollars, and then go to the United States to acquire some companies,” Huang He stated.
“What? You want to buy American assets?” Director Wang’s hand trembled again. “You have the nerve to buy American assets?”
“Why? What’s so incredible about that?” Huang He sneered.
“Of course. Right now, it’s Americans investing in China. I’ve never heard of any Chinese people investing in American companies, buying American assets and companies!” Director Wang said.
“It’s just that you haven’t heard of it, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible!” Huang He smiled. “If Americans can buy assets in our country, why can’t we do the opposite and buy American companies? It’s fair trade, legal trade, isn’t it normal?”
“Magnificent! Only you, Huang He, would say something like that. There are very few entrepreneurs in China who would dare to say such things!” Director Wang gave him a thumbs-up, then patted his chest. “Don’t worry, although I can’t guarantee I can help you get a 1 billion US dollar loan, I’m at least 70% sure.”
“That high!” Huang He was surprised.
“Heh heh, do you know why I’ve been marginalized?” Old Wang said with a forced smile. “It’s not because the person above me is about to step down, and they think I’m easy to bully.”
“That’s right, he indeed no longer has the power to control me. However, he still has the ability to approve a 1 billion US dollar loan. As long as your Jiangnan Group meets the qualification requirements and can guarantee a turnover of over 3 billion RMB annually, there’s a 70% chance of approval.”
“But this requires using a lot of influence. The person above me is about to step down, and he needs to help someone ascend to take his place, to help him enjoy his twilight years.”
“Actually, it’s my own greed that led me to this situation. The person above me tried his best to help me get an opportunity to be promoted to the provincial head office, but I was tripped up halfway. Although I did reach the head office, I was assigned to the logistics department. That person was furious. He used so much of his social capital and influence, only to be intercepted midway. He must have been unwilling!”
“To avoid the sunk cost invested in me being wasted, he will definitely try his best to help me. Moreover, I can use this opportunity to readjust the responsibilities of the deputy director. I don’t believe the head office would dare to keep me, someone who has tied up a 1 billion US dollar loan, in the logistics department. They wouldn’t dare!” Director Wang said with a grin.
“Brother, this matter benefits all three of us. You get the money, I get a chance to turn things around, and the person above me can use me to enjoy his retirement. So, there’s a 70% chance of success!”
“Then, shall I offer you a chance to break through to the provincial level within three years and go to the head office in Beijing?” Huang He asked with a smile.
“Clatter!” Old Wang’s chopsticks froze in his hand, and he looked at Huang He in astonishment.
“Eat, I’ll explain!” Huang He picked up his chopsticks gently. “This is the first time I’m telling anyone other than myself. This is my biggest plan for Jiangnan Group, and my biggest plan for the entire domestic network. Once this plan succeeds, I will become the King of the Network, and Industrial and Commercial Bank will become the King of Banks!”
“What exactly are you planning to create?”
“Something called Jiangnan Wallet,” Huang He said with a smile, and then began to elaborate on his plan. Director Wang initially wore a smile of indifference, but the more he listened, the more his facial muscles twitched, and eventually, his hands trembled so much he could barely keep them steady on the table.
“Can this thing of yours succeed?” Director Wang swallowed hard after Huang He finished speaking. “If it fails, you’ll be ruined.”
“Ruined is an exaggeration. At most, I’ll go back to 2001, and you’ll just go back to logistics, or be laid off early. As long as you don’t break the law, no one can send you to jail!” Huang He laughed. “But if it succeeds, then you and I will no longer be people that anyone can bully. If future historians write about this, we will both be recorded in history!”
“But this is too difficult, really too difficult. Even the person above me probably can’t achieve this!” Director Wang shook his head.
“Achieving it all at once is naturally impossible, but we can use the power of dripping water to wear away a stone and achieve it slowly!” Huang He smiled. “I remember that only China Merchants Bank has activated online payment functions nationwide. And other banks are also secretly preparing for online banking, aren’t they? What you need to do is find a way to launch the Industrial and Commercial Bank’s online banking ahead of schedule, and simultaneously open the corporate end functions, allowing corporate accounts to transfer funds quickly with customer accounts through your Industrial and Commercial Bank. This shouldn’t be too difficult, right?”
“We can try this!” Director Wang gritted his teeth and said, “You’re right, if this succeeds, both of us will be remembered in history. I’ve already been relegated to logistics, so what do I have to fear? I’ll go to Beijing tomorrow and have a good talk with my former leader.”
“Okay, I’ll await your good news!” Huang He nodded. “But don’t feel too much pressure. Whether this succeeds or not, we are united, partners for life!”
“Heh heh, kid, just don’t find other people to drink with and scare me again!” Director Wang glared at Huang He. The two of them smiled at each other and continued drinking until around 11:00 PM, when they prepared to leave.
“Are you paying today?” Huang He looked at Director Wang.
“Why? You’re too arrogant! What logic is there for a bank director to treat entrepreneurs to a meal!” Director Wang’s eyes widened.
“We’re having dinner together, and I’m afraid some people already know. If I pay, won’t you be leaving yourself open to being exploited?” Huang He said calmly. Director Wang obediently took out his wallet and painfully paid the 1200 yuan for the meal, using his credit card and signing the receipt.
“We should go back separately!” Director Wang said somewhat guardedly.
“Did you drive?” Huang He asked.
“Yes, I did!” Director Wang nodded.
“Then take a taxi or a bus back,” Huang He said.
“Why?”
“Don’t drink and drive, don’t drive after drinking. Don’t you understand this principle?” Huang He rolled his eyes at Director Wang. Director Wang felt utterly dejected.
“Then my car can only be parked here?”
“Yes, you can come back tomorrow to pick up your car!” Huang He chuckled, got into his own car, and left.
Well, Huang He had his own driver, so he didn’t need to drive.
——————————
The next day, Director Wang flew directly to Beijing. About ten days later, the two met again. Judging by Director Wang’s radiant face, it was clear that the matter had been successfully resolved.
Another week passed, and Jiangnan announced the early repayment of its 1 billion yuan loan to Industrial and Commercial Bank. Of course, this money was temporarily borrowed from other companies. After the 1 billion US dollars was released, Huang He directly repaid the debt in dollars.
Dollars are hard currency, and these lending companies were eager to accept repayment in dollars.
The very next day, a new loan agreement was signed, borrowing a total of 1 billion US dollars in foreign exchange, setting a new record for private foreign exchange loans in China, leaving everyone who heard the news dumbfounded.
A loan of 1 billion US dollars, equivalent to over 8 billion RMB. Was Jiangnan’s Huang He out of his mind to borrow so much money? And Industrial and Commercial Bank had the nerve to lend it to Huang He. Was there some under-the-table dealing involved?
Soon, the China Banking Regulatory Commission announced an investigation, but quickly followed up by announcing that the entire loan process was reasonable, legal, and compliant, with no issues. Thus, the matter subsided, and people became even more curious about what Huang He intended to do with the staggering 1 billion US dollars in foreign exchange.
However, no one knew that on October 5, 2002, Huang He and his team flew directly to the United States.
It is worth mentioning that because Hu Jing had only recently joined the team and had not yet had time to obtain her passport and US visa, Leng Zhiruo accompanied Huang He to the United States this time.
As for Jiangnan Commercial, its senior executives managed their respective affairs, with the young secretary Wang Danrou overseeing them in the interim.
When this news reached Brother Xiao Ma, his expression became extremely complicated. Because of Jiangnan Commercial’s booming performance at this time, even though Jiangnan Commercial had not yet been listed, the market widely believed that its potential was at least in the tens of billions.
And the unfortunate Tengda, its current valuation had not yet broken 1 billion, because their market was being squeezed too severely by oo. They could not be compared to the Tengda of history.
So when Brother Xiao Ma learned that his former spy of a sister-in-law was now a top executive in a company valued in the tens of billions, and even temporarily held the company’s reins with more funds than himself, his feelings were incredibly complex.