2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 215 Returning Home in Wealth
Just like last year, Tan Jincheng's family is spending the Spring Festival in the countryside this year.

After much consideration, Tan Lihua decided not to drive the BMW 3 Series back, feeling that it would be too conspicuous.

Last year he had a Passat, and today he's got an Audi A6, which is already outrageous enough. If he drives the BMW back, he'll probably be the one who suffers after his son leaves.

"Dad, I'll buy you a car after the New Year," Tan Jincheng said casually, sitting in the back seat and teasing Xiao Jinyue.

Last year, Tan Jincheng got Xiao Jinyue a child safety seat, but she was too young to sit in it then. This year, she can barely sit in it. Xiao Jinyue keeps moving around in the car and seems a little restless. Tan Jincheng is trying to soothe her.

Tan Lihua, who was gripping the steering wheel with both hands, was clearly tempted, but still said reservedly, "No need, I don't usually go back to the countryside. I just ride an electric scooter to work in the city, so I basically don't need it."

Zhang Suzhi, sitting in the passenger seat, clearly saw Tan Lihua's expression and couldn't help but laugh, "Your dad wants it but is too embarrassed to say so. But you don't need to buy it. You have plenty of money in your Taobao stores. We can buy it ourselves if we want."

With a child, the family definitely needs a car. It would be much more convenient to buy things or go to the hospital. Moreover, now that we've moved out of the residential compound, a car is definitely more convenient than an electric scooter for commuting in windy or rainy weather.

"Keep that money. I still have plenty of cash on hand. Dad, what kind of car do you want? Pick any car under 100 million, even an imported one is fine. I'll get it for you after the New Year."

Tan Lihua glanced at his wife in the passenger seat, and seeing her nod, he replied, "It doesn't need to be that expensive. Too expensive would be ostentatious. A Passat is good enough."

"That's easy. We'll pick one up when we get back to the city after the New Year. Consider it my New Year's gift to you."

"You said you have a lot of money, where did you get so much money? Shouldn't factory owners be short of money?" Zhang Suzhi asked curiously.

Since her son started his factory, Zhang Suzhi has learned a lot. As someone who works for a state-owned enterprise, she knows much more than the average housewife. Moreover, her husband's cousin also runs a factory, which is often short of money.

"I was often short of money in the first half of the year. Sometimes I would have a terrible headache thinking about where to get some money. But things got better after October. In October, I transferred most of the shares of the company that Pengya and I co-owned to Pengya. Now he is the boss of that company."

"Later, the Beicang District government invested in my company. I personally made a lot of money from these two cash-outs, so I'm not short of money now. I'm even planning to buy a villa. I'm looking at some now, and I'll bring you guys to live there once it's ready."

Zhang Suzhi didn't understand these so-called equity transfers and cashing out, but she knew that her son was not short of money. What made her curious was how much money her son actually had.

How much money do you have right now?

Tan Lihua, who was standing nearby, also perked up his ears. Zhang Suzhi couldn't help but scold him, "Drive carefully. The whole family is in the car."

Tan Lihua pursed his lips but did not refute.

"Strictly speaking, the company's money can't be considered mine. I currently have about 1000 million yuan in hand. In addition, Pengya owes me 2000 million yuan, and there are some stocks and other things that I haven't even calculated."

"What do you mean by Pengya owing you 2000 million?" Zhang Suzhi asked, somewhat puzzled.

“The company I used to partner with him in was Jinpeng Trading. Before October, I was the boss and he was a minority shareholder. In October, I was short of money, so I sold the company to him. The 2000 million yuan debt came from the sale of the company.”

The final payment Jinpeng Trading made to Tan Jincheng was actually enough, but Tan Jincheng wasn't short of money at the moment, so there was no need for him to drain Jinpeng Trading's cash flow.

In the early days of the business, both the money in the company's accounts and Zhang Xupeng's personal savings were at Tan Jincheng's disposal. Just based on the fact that he lent Tan Jincheng the money to buy a house instead of buying one himself, and the room price increased by several hundred yuan a year later, Tan Jincheng had no reason to rush him to buy it.

"How can there be so much? 2000 million is too much, isn't it? You're not asking for too much, are you?" Tan Lihua couldn't help but ask.

Neither Tan Jincheng nor Zhang Xupeng told their families about this matter. Their families only knew that they were still doing business together. At first, the four of them didn't even understand the equity structure of FlashTech.

Tan Jincheng smiled and said, "Not much, Dad. Don't underestimate Jinpeng Trading. In terms of profitability, Jinpeng Trading will be no worse than Shanchi Technology for at least the next eight years. Foreign trade profits are very high. In 05, our export volume exceeded 2200 million US dollars, which is more than 1.8 million yuan, and our net profit was more than 7000 million yuan."

"Oh, right, I also have an electronics export company. Although it has only been established for more than half a year, its performance is not bad and it can earn a lot of money. However, there are no dividends, so it cannot be considered my money for the time being."

Even with the global financial crisis of 08 and the appreciation of the RMB, as long as we are still in a globalized market, our products have a natural advantage because they are cheap, so export business will not be difficult.

Telling her parents all this was simply because she wanted them to gradually accept her wealth, which was much better than telling them all at once how much money she had. "So you're a real multi-millionaire now?" Zhang Suzhi asked, her eyes wide.

She didn't understand much about company valuations, but she understood the concrete numbers in her bank account.

"Yes, we are genuine millionaires, so you can spend as you please and don't need to be too frugal. If you want to live in a villa, you can buy one in Yicheng, and I will pay for it."

"As for Jin Yue, you don't need to worry about her. When she's a little older, I'll bring her to Ningbo and let her live the life of a rich young lady there," Tan Jincheng said, pinching little Jin Yue's cheek.

After being comforted by Tan Jincheng, Xiao Jinyue was no longer as anxious as she had been when she first got into the car. At this moment, she was playing with the parts on the child seat.

If in their past life Tan Jincheng was more like an older brother to Tan Jinyue, then in this life, psychologically speaking, Tan Jincheng sees Tan Jinyue more like a daughter, after all, he had children in his past life.

"She's lucky; she's been born into a good life." Zhang Suzhi looked back at the harmonious brother and sister in the back seat and couldn't help but sigh.

"Maybe Jin Yue is a lucky star who brings good fortune to our family, which is why my business has been so successful."

“Now that you mention it, it really makes sense. Things have gone much smoother for our family since Jin Yue was born,” Tan Lihua nodded.

"Right? That's why we need to take good care of our little baby. In two years, you can take her to Beicang. Then, Dad, you can figure out a way to retire early and go there to live out your retirement."

To be honest, it's not impossible. Although selling boxed lunches in his previous life was hard work, he earned a lot of money and didn't encounter any major troubles. Even after the divorce, Tan Jincheng was still someone with a car, a house, and savings.

Perhaps, Tan Jinyue's birth was truly a blessing for Tan Lihua's family, especially for Tan Jincheng?
"Not bad, not bad. I was lucky and made a little money." Zhang Xupeng replied to the relatives sitting around him, trying to suppress a smile.

Awesome, so awesome! It's absolutely awesome! You guys laughed at me for the past two years, and now I finally have a chance to show off. No wonder Xiao Tan likes to brag in front of me. This feeling is fucking awesome!
Last year, the relatives who used to criticize me during New Year's visits now look at me completely differently this year when they see me driving home in an Audi A6, dressed smartly.

Unlike Tan Jincheng, his family went back to the countryside yesterday. Many employees of the petrochemical plant actually have relatives in the countryside, or they themselves come from rural areas and moved to the city through education and job assignments, thus escaping their status as farmers.

Tan Lihua and Zhang Guolong both changed their destinies through education.

Last year, Zhang Guolong's family did not return to their hometown for the Spring Festival, but this year, at Zhang Xupeng's urging, they also returned to the countryside.

"There's no festive atmosphere in the city during the Spring Festival; it's much more fun in the countryside."

Actually, he mainly wanted to come back and show off. Although he made money last year, he didn't buy anything new for his home, and he was penniless. To be honest, he didn't have much money in his pocket. Back then, the 6 yuan renovation fee that Tan Jincheng gave Zhang Qingliang was paid in installments.

Like Tan Jincheng, Zhang Xupeng also faced a lot of criticism the year he graduated from high school; in some ways, he faced even more criticism than Tan Jincheng.

Although his academic performance was not as good as Tan Jincheng's, he was usually the one who took the lead in doing most of the bad things. He had been mischievous since childhood, and Zhang Xupeng also wanted to find an opportunity to prove himself.

This year is the best opportunity. I have a car and a house, and I have more money in my pocket. It's time to go back to my hometown and shut up my relatives.

Although not comprehensive, most of the time, as long as you have money, those who previously criticized you will change their opinions. Zhang Xupeng, who has been in the business world for more than a year, understands this principle very well.

In Ningbo, Zhang Xupeng lives mostly in the shadow of Tan Jincheng. Even now that he is very wealthy and has become the de facto boss of Jinpeng Trading, in many people's eyes he is still the Zhang Xupeng who got ahead thanks to Tan Jincheng, whose good luck is enviable.

Zhang Xupeng never denies these things, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to show himself. He also wants to shine in front of others, earnestly develop the children's clothing market, strive to be a real boss, and make the company's business more comprehensive.

It was his idea to go back to his hometown for the Spring Festival this year. He just wanted to have some fun, clear his name, and also stop his parents from worrying about the various rumors about him. Judging from his parents' attitude, it's clear that the suggestion to go back home for the Spring Festival resonated with them.

"The essence of human nature is the same for everyone." Zhang Xupeng couldn't help but recall what Xiao Tan had once said.

(End of this chapter)