2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 632 Dawn's Response

Li Xianjin made an emergency flight to Ningbo on April 23.

He only has two days left. On the 25th, Tan Jincheng is going to the Shanghai Auto Show to cheer on his company's exhibitors and, incidentally, create some news topics.

Weilai's booth in Shanghai still featured a combination of sports cars and pickup trucks, while the Pajero was displayed at the Mitsubishi booth.

The combination of sports cars and pickup trucks looked rather shabby among the exhibitors. The booths of companies like BYD, on the other hand, were much larger and looked much more impressive, like a sea of ​​cars.

Among independent brands, Weilai still has a long way to go.

"Mr. Li from Shuguang is coming over today, would you like to go pick him up?"

Tan Jincheng and Gu Qingqing woke up around 7 a.m.

Gu Qingqing attends school during the day and returns to Beicang at night. Liu Suman picks her up and drops her off every day in her red sports car, making a very stylish trip between Beicang and the school.

That striking red color has now become a scenic feature on the campus of Ningbo University.

"No need, just have Zeng pick it up."

While getting dressed, Tan Jincheng continued, "I still have to take Jinyue to kindergarten. Actually, I also have a test drive to do today, which will delay my business."

Everyone here is a CEO of a privately-owned listed company. FlashTech's market value is several times higher than that of Shuguang Auto, so there's really no need for Tan Jincheng to personally pick him up.

"Wouldn't that be impolite? After all, he's a senior."

"There's no such thing as politeness or impoliteness. He's been dragging this out for over a month, trying to influence me with external forces. The fact that I agreed to meet him is already a big favor. Don't underestimate your husband's current status."

The group company already employs more than 7000 people. Once the Weilai Beicang factory is fully operational, the number of employees will exceed 10,000. Moreover, the company is not a sunset industry, but an emerging industry that Guo Jia is strongly supporting.

In terms of net worth, Tan Jincheng, with his billions, is already firmly in the top 100.

Let alone in 2009, even in 2019, not just anyone could get Tan Jincheng to personally take over a company of this size. In any era, the leaders of companies that can solve employment and tax revenue issues are all very powerful.

In ancient times, a million skilled craftsmen would be highly regarded by any local government or even the imperial court.

"Alright, whatever you want, but don't be too arrogant."

Gu Qingqing added a reminder: Shuguang Auto had delayed Tan Jincheng for more than a month this time, and she could tell that he was a little angry. The first thing he paid attention to when he made time was this matter, and he even took the initiative to handle it himself.

"I understand. Be careful on the road, you and Sister Liu."

The family structure of the Tan family is really peculiar. The two elderly people retired before they reached retirement age, and the second generation even includes a college student and a kindergarten child.

Whenever Tan Jincheng is home, he is responsible for taking little Tan Jinyue to school.

Compared to his parents, he was much more likely to gain recognition at school. Whenever he dropped off his daughter, Tan Jinyue, at school, he would receive special attention from the teachers.

Pretending to be weak while actually being strong? Playing it safe? Not a chance.

Li Xianjin took the earliest flight, marking his return to the city after at least five years.

Having no time to appreciate the city scenery, Li Xianjin headed straight for Beicang in a vehicle arranged by Zeng Jixiang after getting off the plane, thinking all the way about how to negotiate with Tan Jincheng.

To be honest, he was not familiar with Tan Jincheng at all.

The last time Tan Jincheng went to Shandong for inspection, he only gave him a perfunctory reception and then handed the matter over to the company's staff. Now it seems that he was really too arrogant at the time.

Li Xianjin has been working longer than Tan Jincheng is old. Shuguang Auto was founded in 1984. Having been in business for decades, Li Xianjin doesn't really believe the impression Tan Jincheng gives in the media.

Based on his own experience of being targeted twice, Li Xianjin's impression of Tan Jincheng is that he is a cunning and ruthless young man.

They quietly accumulated shares in the listed company. The first time they raised their stake, they claimed it was a financial investment and that they had bought too much, but they quickly increased their shareholding to 8.2% and even notified Shuguang. You're telling me this is a financial investment?

They established a joint venture factory with Mitsubishi in Changzhou and wanted to use their shares to acquire the Changzhou Huanghai Automobile Industrial Park.

To acquire a car factory with an annual production capacity of 6000 medium and large buses for just over 1 million yuan is undeniably ruthless.

"Secretary Zeng, what has your boss been busy with lately?"

After pondering for a moment, Li Xianjin couldn't figure out how to deal with such a thoughtful young man, so he decided to try to get some information from Zeng Jixiang.

Tan Jincheng didn't come to pick him up personally, but he didn't really think there was anything wrong with it. In terms of seniority, he could be Tan Jincheng's grandfather, but in terms of status, he really wasn't qualified for Tan Jincheng to come and pick him up personally.

Unless Shan Dong's leaders come with him, he has considered using Shan Dong's resources and connections. Although Shuguang Auto is now a private car company, no city is willing to have its industry moved away by others.

But that's precisely where the problem lies. Tan Jincheng's previous investment style had earned him a good reputation. He always fulfilled his investment promises wherever he went, investing exactly what he said he would.

Especially during the acquisition of Changfeng Group, this guy was incredibly shrewd and left a lot of benefits for all parties. Not only did he leave Xiangcheng with a complete vehicle manufacturing base, but he also managed to get a factory with an annual production capacity of 100 million electric vehicles.

The city investment company not only received a sum of cash, but also a 7.5% stake in the new company. Now, the value of that 7.5% stake has increased from the initial 1.5 million yuan to 6 million yuan, and only half a year has passed.

As for the original Changfeng Motors, Tan Jincheng was quite generous. In addition to letting them continue to use the Cheetah brand, he later transferred the Yongzhou property to them at a low price, giving them a place to stay.

The local government, the urban investment company, and the original manager have all been well-connected, which is why Shan Dong is not in a hurry to step in.

What if the other party really does acquire Shuguang, leaving many benefits for Shan Dong's side?

“Our boss was quite busy recently, but he had some free time a few days ago. Besides paying attention to the World Expo, he was also preparing to go to the Shanghai Auto Show.”

Tan Jincheng knows that the World Expo to be held next year will be quite successful. Flash Technology and even Weilai Auto want to get some of the advertising resources. Boss Tan has also asked the company to make preparations in this regard.

"Is Secretary Zeng not very old?"

"Mr. Li, you can just call me Xiao Zeng. I'm 27 years old this year."

"Haha, Zeng is President Tan's personal secretary. Not many people dare to call you Little Zeng. You're 27, which is quite young and promising. Are you married?" Li Xianjin never even thought about asking about Tan Jincheng's information. If he could get information about his boss so easily from the personal secretary of a billionaire, then that secretary wouldn't need to work anymore.

But chatting is always fine; Northeasterners are not afraid of chatting at all.

"It'll be soon, we're planning to get married this year," Zeng Jixiang said with a smile.

"Even a seventh-rank official is inferior to a prime minister." Li Xianjin was right. Very few people dared to call him "Little Zeng" anymore. Of the boss's original secretaries, he was the only one who had remained in the position, but his status was no lower than that of the others before him.

Sun Yuming was the first employee of Flashpoint Technology, no doubt about it. His predecessor, Zhao Xinyi, is now the head of the purchasing department at Flashpoint Technology, wielding the power of life and death over suppliers.

He was the boss's chief steward, and compared to the previous two, he actually had more power. He knew many of the company's trade secrets, and he was the one who issued many of the boss's specific instructions.

"Congratulations, Mr. Zeng! What does your fiancée do?"

"Your fiancée also works in one of the boss's businesses, right, Mr. Li from Orange Technology knows that?"

When talking about his wife, Zeng Jixiang's smile deepened. The campus love of the post-80s generation is purer, but they also face the situation of breaking up after graduation. Before meeting their boss, they really didn't have the confidence that they could eventually be together.

Coming from Hangzhou to Ningbo for work wasn't initially the best choice for them. Besides their relationship with Gu Yanning, the main reasons were the good pay and the opportunity to be together.

No one expected that such a decision would change the lives of the two of them.

"I know, you two are both young and promising. I've heard that your company is mainly staffed by young people?"

"Pretty much. Our company is indeed quite young. In the words of our boss, when we first started the business, many experienced employees looked down on him as a young boss."

"Haha, then they missed their chance to make a fortune. Flash has been developing too aggressively in recent years."

Li Xianjin felt bitter inside. Zeng Jixiang's words were loaded with meaning. Wasn't it also his initial underestimation of Tan Jincheng that led to his current passive situation?

As they chatted, Li Xianjin relaxed considerably. Although he couldn't glean much information from Zeng Jixiang, Li Xianjin had his own way of judging people.

To be able to serve as a boss's full-time secretary and manage the president's office, regardless of his abilities, his personality must certainly be somewhat similar to the boss's.

People with impatient personalities are unlikely to be compatible with people with calm temperaments at work. From his observation of Zeng Jixiang, Li Xianjin was able to glean some insight into Tan Jincheng's personality, and he didn't seem to be as bad as he appeared.
"Don't worry, Mr. Li. Our boss is actually very easy to talk to, and our company's business philosophy is to cooperate for mutual benefit."

After escorting Li Xianjin to his office on the top floor of the Flashpoint Building, Zeng Jixiang whispered a reminder: Li Xianjin had been trying to chat with him the whole time during the more than one-hour journey, and he knew perfectly well that the other party wanted to find out some information.

The insignificant reminders not only helped Li Xianjin relax, but also allowed the boss to better handle the situation.

"Thank you, Secretary Zeng."

Li Xianjin smiled, thanked him, and pushed open the door to enter.

Hearing the commotion, Tan Jincheng quickly got up from his computer desk to greet them. He had just checked the news on his computer and was surprised to find that Shuguang Auto, which was not supposed to have made an announcement, had actually issued one.

Upon opening it, it turned out to be a suspension notice from Shuguang Auto due to a major event?
It seems the other side wasn't completely unprepared. Damn, the suspension of trading was far too arbitrary. No wonder the A-share market is such a mess.

However, it is indeed reasonable to call it a major event, since it involves the sale of a subsidiary.

Tan Jincheng quickly stepped forward, extended his hand, and said warmly, "Mr. Li, welcome. I'm so sorry I couldn't pick you up from the airport in person."

Li Xianjin was born in 1946 and is now 63 years old, making him one of the oldest entrepreneurs that Tan Jincheng has dealt with.

These people usually worked in the system or state-owned enterprises before they became wealthy, and then they went into business. As for the process, those who know, know.

They weren't as sensitive to market competition as Tan Jincheng. They were born in a specific era, and doing business wasn't too difficult for them; initial capital accumulation was quite easy.

Like when they acquired the Shandong Automobile Factory.

He habitually relies on social connections to handle many things, and only steps in when those connections are temporarily insufficient.

Tan Jincheng's unconventional tactics were truly difficult for him to handle, and suspending the company's stock trading was a last resort.

He's not stupid. Although he said something last night telling ByteDance not to buy anymore, such a verbal promise is completely invalid. Otherwise, ByteDance wouldn't have raised its bid twice in the past month.

With trading suspended, no one can operate anymore. If we keep bothering Tan Jincheng for another two days, he probably won't have time to acquire shares from other institutions.

"President Tan looks younger than he does on TV. It's truly remarkable that he has achieved so much at such a young age."

Li Xianjin looked Tan Jincheng up and down. This billionaire, who was 39 years younger than him, had short hair, was dressed casually, had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and looked youthful and energetic, just like a college student.

"Not at all, it's just that we've been fortunate to live in a good era. We still have to learn from seniors like you. Please sit down, I'll make you some tea."

Li Xianjin smiled without saying a word as he watched the two busy young men, while simultaneously surveying the office.

The office on the top floor was extremely large, but the simple decoration and black and white color scheme did not show any luxury. Li Xianjin nodded imperceptibly.

Taking Zeng Jixiang's teacup, Li Xian took a sip and said, "The tea is good."

"Really? I got it from a leader in the district. I don't usually drink tea, but if Mr. Li likes it, I'll have Zeng pack it up and take it back for you."

"Then this old man will not stand on ceremony. May I ask what Mr. Tan usually drinks?"

"I drink coffee more often, this thing is convenient and quick."

Zeng Jixiang has quietly withdrawn, leaving only an old man and a young man exchanging veiled remarks in the office.

Upon arriving here, Li Xianjin roughly understood that this young man was just as rumored, emphasizing efficiency in his work. Originally, Li Xianjin was planning to chat for a while longer, so he changed his strategy accordingly.

"If Shuguang refuses to accept ByteDance's negotiations regarding Huanghai Automobile, I wonder how President Tan will handle his shares?"

Li Xianjin was really unwilling to accept that Huanghai Automobile could be acquired for just over 1 million yuan.

(End of this chapter)