“Yangzi, come over and sit down,” Lv Liang said as Guo Xuyang walked in.
“I’m here to toast everyone first. There are a few tables of people from the 4S shop over there, and I need to go over in a moment,” Guo Xuyang said.
“You go toast over there first, and drink when you come back,” Lv Liang was about to shoo him out upon hearing this.
“Since you’re here, have a couple of drinks. Thanks, everyone, for showing up. We haven’t gathered like this in a long time. My first cup is for all of you,” Guo Xuyang said, tipping his seven-ounce glass into his mouth.
“Still so straightforward. Has no one been drinking with you lately?” Pi Xiaoqian said, also finishing his drink.
“If no one’s drinking with you, tell me. I can drink every day without getting bored.”
“What are you thinking? Yangzi is already a father of three. How can he have time to drink with you? He can’t even finish washing diapers,” Wu Youzhi said with a smile.
“Him? You think he’s that diligent? Don’t you know he’s hired several pretty young girls to specifically take care of the children?” Pi Xiaoqian said.
“I think the intention is not just about drinking. I wonder what other frivolous thoughts he has,” Lv Liang added another jab.
“Am I that bad in your eyes?” Guo Xuyang loudly complained.
“Brother Liang sees through the essence of things. He’s spot on,” Pi Xiaoqian said.
“It’s over. My glorious image is ruined by people like you,” Guo Xuyang pointed at the two of them.
“I think Brother Liang is right. Your intentions weren’t pure when you hired those young girls,” Xiao Yu added from the side.
“Otherwise, why are they so beautiful?”
“Captain Xiao, we shouldn’t judge people with colored glasses, should we? When I hire caregivers, of course, I’ll find people who are pleasing to the eye and refreshing. Why would I look for ugly ones that make people lose their appetite?” Guo Xuyang argued.
“Yangzi, if you didn’t have any ulterior motives, why would Xiao Xi guard those pretty young girls like a thief every day?” Pi Xiaoqian said with a grin.
“Really? I haven’t noticed,” Guo Xuyang replied.
“I noticed it within a few days of arriving. Are you pretending to be foolish or feigning ignorance?”
“Stop talking nonsense and ruining my glorious image,” Guo Xuyang raised his wine glass.
“Come on, everyone, don’t just pick on me. This drink is for our everlasting friendship. Cheers.”
“I like to hear that. If the relationship was distant, who would bother telling you the truth?” Pi Xiaoqian added a jab after finishing his drink.
“Alright, I can’t argue with you. I’ll take my leave first. You guys drink for a while. After I’ve toasted over there, I’ll come back to discuss the first half-year’s profit distribution with everyone. I’ll call Xia Li and Xiao Yun over later,” Guo Xuyang said and turned to leave.
“Fatty, is what you said true?” Wu Youzhi asked.
“What’s true?”
“About Yangzi hiring those young girls.”
“We’re just teasing him. He did hire a few young girls, and they are very pretty. They are mainly to take care of these little treasures and those giant pandas. I heard he wants to open a maternity care center and put all these people there.”
“He also wants to build a manor. He just talked to me about it for a while,” Cheng Xiuping said.
“Build a manor? Won’t that require a lot of space?” Wu Youzhi said.
“Yes, he’s worried about the space. He’s talking to me about finding a location,” Cheng Xiuping replied.
“It’s true, finding such a large piece of land in the provincial capital is really not easy.”
“I do know of a place. There’s a prime piece of land to the east. If he can acquire it, it would be perfect for building a manor,” Lv Liang said.
“Where?” the others looked at him curiously.
“Below the villa where he lives, there’s a village, isn’t there? The area is large enough, and the population isn’t too much.”
“Yangzi has mentioned this. His idea is the same as yours,” Cheng Xiuping said.
“You haven’t considered the difficulties of demolition. The more places like this, the higher the price they demand. And high prices aren’t the biggest problem. The biggest problem is that there are people with ill intentions, what we call 'stubborn residents.' If you encounter one, the manor project might be shelved, and the impact would be extremely bad,” Cheng Xiuping said.
“Then what should we do? Do you have any good ideas?”
“I don’t have any good ideas, but I know of several idle factory buildings. These factory buildings have been listed as non-performing assets.”
“You mean buying these factory buildings?” Lv Liang asked.
“Yes. Several of these factory buildings cover hundreds of acres, which is more than enough for building a manor.”
“What’s Yangzi’s opinion?”
“Yangzi does want to acquire these factory buildings. However, these factory buildings are state-owned assets, and approval from higher authorities is needed. This requires certain connections.”
“Aren’t you the local big shot here? Can’t you handle it?” Lv Liang said.
“I got this big business by relying on my old man’s influence. Now, people have changed generation after generation. I don’t have any deep connections with the big boss in charge of industry,” Cheng Xiuping said.
“What about letting Boss Jiang help?”
“Of course, that’s not a problem. But you know, official matters are all about exchange of interests. If Mr. Jiang speaks up, the other party will approach him, and it will be difficult for Mr. Jiang. You should know that Mr. Jiang’s current position is quite sensitive,” Cheng Xiuping said.
“Then what should we do?”
“Yangzi said he’s thinking of a way. He seems to know the daughter of that big boss.”
“Daughter? How old is she? Could there be that kind of relationship?” Pi Xiaoqian’s eyes lit up when he heard this.
“What are you thinking? If that were the case, would he still be worried? He’d just ask the girl to talk to her dad. They probably aren’t very familiar with each other. Otherwise, Yangzi wouldn’t have remembered the big boss’s daughter so late,” Cheng Xiuping said.
“President Cheng, why do I feel like you’re changing?” Lv Liang blurted out. “Who do you call a big boss? You haven’t even called those people in the capital big bosses.”
“There’s no other way. We have to bow our heads when we’re under someone else’s roof. We are asking for favors, so we must lower our posture. Those people in the capital are old man’s friends, so there’s no need to call them big bosses,” Cheng Xiuping explained.
“Everyone says businessmen pursue profit, but I don’t think you are like that,” Lv Liang said.
“Why do you say that?”
“Didn’t you give all of Yangzi’s industries to him?”
“That’s right. What about it?”
“Don’t you feel a pang of regret?”
“It’s a lie to say I don’t feel regret. But what Yangzi gives back to me far exceeds these industries I gave him. Not to mention, regarding the profit distribution we’re talking about today, if it’s one hundred billion, I’ll get about ten billion. Which of the industries I gave him can give me such a return?”
“It does seem like that’s the case.”
“I think the greatest luck in my life is meeting Yangzi. Although I felt regret at the time, now I’m truly very fortunate. If it weren’t for Yangzi, who knows what would have happened to these industries.”
“You know, ever since I met Yangzi, I’ve found that past problems are no longer problems,” Lv Liang said.
“Of course. You’ve achieved success in both love and career,” Pi Xiaoqian said, looking at him.
“Aren’t you the same?”
“Right, I’ve found that Yangzi is truly a lucky general. Come, let’s toast to this lucky general,” Pi Xiaoqian raised his wine glass.
“To our friendship, cheers,” everyone said in unison.