Chapter 23: Go Back and Wait for Your Value to Rise

"What, fifty percent off? No... Chairman Yang, we’re all business people here. You can’t just kick a man when he’s down!" Zhou Wenchang protested.

Yang Chen smiled and replied, "I’m not kicking you while you’re down; I’m helping you. Aside from me, who else is willing to put up 700 million to assist you right now? That’s how business works. Sometimes, you’re just a few hundred million short of the liquidity needed to keep the company running; without it, you’re just waiting for bankruptcy and liquidation. I’m going to spend this money regardless, so if you don’t want it, I’ll just head over to Poly and Vanke."

As Yang Chen stood up to leave, Zhou Wenchang hurriedly grabbed him. "No, no, no, Chairman Yang, please, don’t be hasty. Let me make a call to our chairman and ask for instructions. Is that alright?"

Yang Chen nodded and sat back down.

Zhou Wenchang rushed out to call Chairman Li Changqing, reporting that Yang Chen wanted to use 700 million to buy their unfinished properties.

Li Changqing jumped up in excitement, immediately asking, "Are you pulling my leg? You’re sure it’s Yang Chen, the 'Scapegoat' from the Sihai Group?"

"I’m sure! I’ve seen his business card. Besides, he brought his bank card; we can just see if the transfer goes through, can't we? The critical issue is that he wants a fifty percent discount. I didn't dare agree, so I’m calling you for instructions," Zhou Wenchang said.

Li Changqing replied instantly, "You must agree! A fool wouldn't take 700 million for unfinished property. But fifty percent off is a bit steep; our gross margin is only about thirty percent. Try to negotiate it up to sixty percent, but if you have to, settle for fifty. Regardless, we must secure that 700 million. If you let him walk away, I won't forgive you!"

Zhou Wenchang quickly replied, "Understood, Chairman. I know what to do."

He hung up and returned to the room with a beaming smile.

Yang Chen reached for his bank card as if to leave, and Zhou Wenchang quickly intercepted him. "Chairman Yang, where are you going?"

"Look, the protesting homeowners outside are about to storm the place. They think I’m a shill for you, and I’m going to get beaten up. That would be a huge injustice for me. I’m not buying anymore; I’ll go check out Poly and Vanke. The risk here is too high," Yang Chen said.

"No, no, no, fifty percent! Fifty percent, let’s sign immediately! If you go to the other two, they’ll just raise the price on you! Come, come, let’s sign right now. I have the contracts and the seal right here," Zhou Wenchang said, pulling Yang Chen inside, terrified that he might actually leave.

Yang Chen knew how to keep the upper hand; Zhou Wenchang didn’t even dare to negotiate, granting the fifty percent discount immediately.

Zhou Wenchang brought over floor plans and building layouts for Yang Chen to choose from, then ran off to fetch a crate full of contracts. Today was going to be a massive deal.

After looking them over, Yang Chen said, "Give me all seven buildings in the second phase that haven't hit the market yet. I’m just throwing money away, so I don't need to pick and choose. Don't bother calculating prices based on unit quality or floor levels; let’s just call it 100 million per building. Deal?"

Zhou Wenchang did a quick mental calculation of the floor area and prices, then nodded with a smile. "Deal! Chairman Yang is decisive, and we won’t drag our feet either. All seven buildings are yours."

Yang Chen tossed the brochure onto the table. "Sign!"

Outside, chaos had erupted. The angry protesters were rioting again. Chen Xi and the others, having received word from Yang Chen, had retreated to a safe distance to watch the show.

"I really don't understand, what could possibly be Chairman Yang's reasoning for buying these unfinished properties?" Huang Wei asked, puzzled.

Zhao Jing replied, "This project is a lost cause. Weicheng has a debt-to-asset ratio of ninety percent and can no longer secure financing. It’s destined to be an unfinished project. That 700 million is basically money down the drain."

Bai Zhi sighed. "Sigh... we can only hope Chairman Yang’s luck extends to the real estate market, otherwise... sigh..."

Chen Xi comforted them with a smile. "Everyone, no need to be so pessimistic. I believe Chairman Yang wouldn't be stupid enough to throw 700 million into the water. He must have inside information that we don't know about, and he can't easily disclose it, which is why he’s so persistent and you’re so worried. We’re just employees; we should just do our jobs and not worry so much."

Chen Lan laughed. "You’re the one with the clear head. We really do worry too much, which is why we’re always so on edge."

Gao Ya added, "But we can't help it. If he really loses it all, the branch manager will surely scold us, and our careers might be over."

Just then, Li Changqing, the chairman of Weicheng Group, arrived at the scene to maintain order. He had previously been afraid to show his face for fear of the angry homeowners. But things were different now—with Yang Chen having spent 700 million on their properties, he had leverage and a justification, emboldening him to bring a dozen security guards to appease the crowd.

Li Changqing shouted, "Everyone, be quiet and listen! I am Li Changqing, Chairman of Weicheng Group. Through my strong connections, I have finally found a major client. He has spent 700 million buying many of the units in our second phase. Think about it: would someone with 700 million to spare be stupid enough to buy unfinished property? At the very least, with this 700 million, our company can resume normal operations. Please, don't worry too much; we will definitely resume construction and deliver the homes."

The homeowners immediately erupted in curses.

"Bullshit! Do you think we’re all idiots? You think we’d believe that?"

"Don't think you can hire a shill to put on a show and trick us into backing down."

"If you don't solve this problem today, no one is safe! My family’s life savings are in this. If these houses aren't delivered, I’ll die right here!"

Li Changqing, desperate, had no other choice. He blurted out, "I’ll be honest with you all: the one who bought our property is Chairman Yang Chen, the new head of the Sihai Group. He used start-up capital from the bank to buy our project. Do you think he’s stupid?"

The homeowners grew even more agitated.

"If he wasn't stupid, why would he be a 'scapegoat'?"

"Exactly! No one with a normal brain would take over as the legal representative of the Sihai Group!"

"Talk is cheap! Call him out here to face us!"

"Yes, make him come out and face us!"

Li Changqing had no choice but to ask Yang Chen to step in and prove it. Just then, Zhou Wenchang arrived, pushing a cart loaded with seven large boxes full of contracts.

Zhou Wenchang said excitedly, "Chairman, this is Chairman Yang. Chairman Yang, this is our group’s chairman, Li Changqing."

Li Changqing hurried forward to shake Yang Chen's hand. "Chairman Yang, a pleasure, a pleasure. Your reputation precedes you; I’ve heard so much about you. Seeing you in person today, you truly are a hero among men."

Yang Chen smiled. "Chairman Li, don't mock me. I’m just a scapegoat. You two carry on; I’ll be going now."

Li Changqing grabbed his arm. "Chairman Yang, wait, please. Look, these homeowners don't believe we can solve the problem. Could you please put in a good word for us? I beg you."

Yang Chen smiled. "Oh, no problem at all."

Yang Chen walked up to the protesters. "Everyone, I am Yang Chen, Chairman of the Sihai Group. I have indeed bought seven buildings here; these boxes are filled with the contracts. Oh, and the payment vouchers are here too. I’ll show them to you."

One man shouted, "Who are you kidding? The Sihai Group's own projects are unfinished. If you have money, why not use it to resume your own work instead of coming here to buy Weicheng’s unfinished mess? Do you think we’ll believe that?"

Yang Chen replied with a smile, "The Sihai Group’s projects are unfinished because of Wang Sihai’s poor management; that has nothing to do with me. I need to invest and make money so that the Sihai Group's projects can resume, which naturally means I need high-return projects. It’s too hot to be standing out here shouting. Everyone, just go home and wait for the value to go up."

An elderly man shouted angrily, "Value going up? My daughter-in-law refuses to marry my son because this house is unfinished. I just want the house delivered; I don't care about the value!"

Yang Chen smiled. "Sir, then I should congratulate you on a double celebration. The value of the house is about to rise, and your son has seen the true colors of a woman who doesn't love him."

Li Changqing thought to himself, *My goodness, he is truly worthy of being the man who dared to take on three trillion in debt. His mental fortitude is immense; I wouldn't dare say something like that so casually.*

Just then, a motorcade consisting of Mercedes-Benz business vans and Red Flag sedans pulled up.

"Beep-beep..."

Everyone turned to look.

The motorcade stopped, and the drivers rushed to open the doors.

Stepping out of the Mercedes were Ms. Huo Qiuyan, Chairman of Poly Real Estate, and Mr. Yu Hongliang, Chairman of Vanke Real Estate. From the Red Flag stepped Huang Zhenhua, the Mayor of Jiangcheng.

"Why is Mayor Huang bringing those two here? Could it be..." Li Changqing muttered, then looked at the smiling Yang Chen in shock.

*Oh no, it seems I’ve fallen into a trap.*