Business hadn't slowed down, but it was the first time an investor had come knocking.

After chatting with the young man named Fan Chen, Chen Linzhi discovered they were quite compatible on certain issues, such as the transfer of manufacturing from Brazil, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and other places to the low-price haven of China, and the future necessity of making money by selling in volume.

After Fan Chen left with the information, Chen Linzhi returned to his desk and calmly asked Roger, "What do you think of him? If he really gives me a good offer and wants to buy some of my equity, should I agree?"

Roger had worked for more than ten years and had contact with countless people. He considered himself to have a good eye for people and decisively shrugged his shoulders and replied, "He's just an enthusiastic bookworm without any real business experience. Are you planning to sell your equity directly, instead of absorbing some capital to expand your business again?"

"...If the companies can be clearly separated, it's possible. Once other shareholders help me manage the affairs of the trading company, I can free up more time and energy to focus on other things, go to Silicon Valley and Wall Street to research new businesses. Maybe that's more suitable for me."

The transnational trading business had many trivial matters, consuming time with busywork. It hardly mattered whether Chen Linzhi, the boss, was sitting there, waiting for his employees to send him documents to sign.

With his bargaining chips recently increased, Chen Linzhi's mind began to stir. He tried to find some more profitable businesses, rather than sitting in the office bored, waiting for his employees to deliver documents for him to sign.

In addition, Fan Chen had extensive connections and sufficient funds, and he didn't seem like the type to cause trouble. At the moment, Chen Linzhi was weighing the pros and cons, considering whether he should really introduce such an investor to cooperate in running United Trading Company.

It was still up in the air, and there was no point in overthinking it for now.

Even if Fan Chen really made a good offer, Chen Linzhi had to consider the situation of the private equity fund. He had been shuffling assets around, and the house had also been bought in the company's name.

If he really sought cooperation, some things would need to be spun off, and it wouldn't be a one- or two-day process. Chen Linzhi planned to first ask how to transfer the money from the company's account to his own name, or to another company.

American tax law was quite complex, with both federal and state taxes, and the situation varied from state to state. He had to consult a professional accountant to find the most cost-effective method.

Since he had started considering these things, it actually meant that Chen Linzhi was inclined to seek cooperation. After more than half a year of accumulation and development, it was time to try to take another step forward, striving to expand the private equity fund company, or to invest in stocks, or become an angel investor.

…

Fan Chen was careful and cautious, obviously valuing Chen Linzhi's company, but afraid that he would suffer losses before even starting business if he offered too high a price.

In the following week, he contacted Chen Linzhi three times, and they had already discussed the Hong Kong branch, the ownership of the funds on the books, and the handling details of the Pacific Heights mansion. As for the San Francisco United Private Equity Fund, apart from the registration expenses being paid from the United Trading Company's account, the two were not deeply connected, and a contract could separate them.

Chen Linzhi chose a relatively good entry time. As the Group of Five finalized the official signing date, arranging the location at the Plaza Hotel in New York, the U.S. dollar began to depreciate continuously, while the Japanese yen soared. This led Fan Chen to hesitate and wait and see, while the money belonging to the San Francisco United Trading Company's account increased at an alarming rate.

In just one week, Chen Linzhi raked in more than four million U.S. dollars.

This was even when his principal was too small, and the brokerage firm was unwilling to take risks, forcibly freezing his account funds as collateral, making it impossible to bet everything. Otherwise, he could have earned even more in this round of opportunity.

The short sellers couldn't stop, and there were many examples of falling below the liquidation line. The trading volume was too large, the data processing was not timely enough, and liquidations occurred from time to time. In order to control the risk of customer default, the brokerage firm made more demands on the collateral funds for high leverage, making it impossible to bet everything. Facing foreign exchange futures contracts worth hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars, no one was willing to take the risk.

The financial pages of newspapers such as *The Wall Street Journal* and *The New York Times* had recently revealed more news, such as the fact that the agreement was strongly promoted by the Japanese Ministry of Finance during the negotiation process. This department was currently in charge of Japan's financial affairs.

The reason was that the Japanese economy was overheating, and they felt that the appreciation of the yen could help Japan expand its overseas markets, acquire European and American companies to establish joint ventures, promote Japanese companies to go overseas, and complete their global layout.

The cost of Japan's processing and manufacturing industries was too high, and the industry had already shifted overseas. The appreciation of the yen could indeed provide a lot of help, mainly to large conglomerates and the wealthy.

Chen Linzhi had no layout in Japan, but tasted the sweetness because he held a large number of Japanese yen futures contracts. The feeling of making quick money was so exhilarating that he felt like he was ascending to heaven. Often, as soon as he opened his eyes in the morning, the value of the contract had increased.

However, the small depreciation of the U.S. dollar had an obvious impact on the multinational trading company, and shipping prices followed suit.

Fortunately, the U.S. dollar depreciated quickly, and the RMB depreciated even faster.

In May, one U.S. dollar could be exchanged for about two yuan and eighty-five fen, but by the beginning of September, even with the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar depreciating, remittances from official channels could be exchanged for nearly three yuan.

This led some smugglers to become even more anxious to exchange their money for U.S. dollars. Factory Director Ma repeatedly urged Yin Zhe to exchange one U.S. dollar for six yuan and twenty fen. Chen Linzhi directly settled all the payments for the goods, making another fortune from it.

Confusedly reaping profits from all sides, the speed of growth of his capital was like riding a rocket, rising steadily. It was true that the richer you were, the richer you became. Using money to make money was simple and easy, and the taste was wonderful.

And all he had done was buy a batch of Japanese yen futures contracts in advance, and then hold them in his account. In just one month, he had already pocketed more than five million U.S. dollars...

——————————

Chen Linzhi had already lived such a carefree life before, but suddenly crossing the threshold of millions, it was inevitable that his life would become more extravagant.

Thinking of celebrating, he asked the company to help organize a grand party, inviting some friends and executives to attend, including all those from the private equity fund company.

The location was arranged at his house. Zhao Bailu, Newman, and others also came. Anastasia, who was far away in Arkansas, was recently busy flying all over the world, and only congratulated him with a smile over the phone.

Yu Luoqi came to join in the fun and happened to meet Fan Chen. The two gathered together to chat. Chen Linzhi, as the host, was busy receiving guests and couldn't take care of them for a while.

Standing at the door of his house, Chen Linzhi was talking to a brown-haired woman at the moment.

She was an employee of Universal Music Group, serving as Chen Linzhi's agent. They had spoken several times on the phone before, but had never met.

Tonight.

The female agent named Leia handed Chen Linzhi an envelope and told him, "Your second royalty check is my gift. I originally thought you would be very satisfied with the numbers on it, but now that I see this beautiful house, I doubt my previous opinion. I didn't expect you to be so rich."

Chen Linzhi opened the envelope, took out the check and read it, then silently stuffed it into his pocket, and said with a smile, "Believe me, I am very satisfied. Has my album become a hit? Why are you giving me so much money..."

Chapter 1 Investor