From abandoned baby to CEO

Three days later, Sun Xue convened an executive meeting.

When she proposed the idea of ​​acquiring Chengtou Construction, the conference room exploded.

"Mr. Sun, are you crazy?"

Wang Ke was the first to stand up and object. "That's a bottomless pit! We've worked so hard to turn the company around, and taking on this mess will only drag us down! I'm firmly against it!"

Financial Director Li Qian then added, "I've looked into the financial situation at the Urban Investment Corporation. I have a friend who works there, and I heard they're close to 100 million in debt! They haven't been paid in months, and they still have over 300 employees, most of whom have limited skills and are relatively elderly. If you take over, the labor costs will be overwhelming. Mr. Sun, I think you must carefully consider this matter and not act rashly, otherwise it will be a disaster..."

"Also, the cultural integration of the two companies will be a big problem," Pei Shaojie said, shaking his head. "We have a startup culture, efficient and flexible; they have the style of an old state-owned enterprise, with redundant staff and insufficient tasks. If we force them together, I'm afraid there will be constant internal friction. This is definitely not alarmist, but we still need to treat it with caution..."

Wang Ke angrily said, "Mr. Sun, we're doing well now, why are you suddenly thinking of acquiring a company like this? Your idea is really puzzling to me! Tell me, what exactly are their advantages that you're interested in? Aren't you jumping into a fire pit?"

The voices of opposition came one after another, and every word hit the mark.

Sure enough, just as Sun Xue had expected, no one supported her decision.

"I understand everyone's concerns." Sun Xue took a deep breath and could only tell the real reason:

"This acquisition is not a purely commercial decision. Vice Mayor Wang has been very helpful to us over the years. Now that she's asking, it's hard for me to refuse."

Wang Ke shook his head: "Boss Sun, the company doesn't belong to you alone. It concerns the interests of all our employees. You can't let everyone take this risk just for personal favors. It's too selfish of you to do this!"

These words made Sun Xue's heart sink.

Yes, Wang Ke’s criticism is reasonable. What right does she have to use the future of all employees to repay a personal favor?

"Mr. Sun, I have never raised any objection to the projects we acquired before, right?" Wang Ke asked impatiently.

Sun Xue nodded.

"Because we invested very little money, and it will bring us a huge return in a year, we can acquire more projects like this. But with a company like Chengtou Construction, we will only invest a large amount of cash and may not see a return. Don't you understand such a simple question?"

Pei Shaojie looked solemn, "Boss Sun, I agree with Boss Wang's opinion. You need to be more rational about the acquisition."

"Let's stop here for now." Sun Xue waved her hand tiredly, "I will seriously consider everyone's opinions."

That night, she came to the National Games venue alone to relax.

Under the night sky, the sports venue looks like a work of art, which is the result of nearly a year of hard work by her and her team.

She recalled every detail of the construction process: to meet the deadline, Wang Ke led the team to work day and night, finally developing a new construction plan. She herself worked without rest for three consecutive months; to ensure quality, they repeatedly tested every material and optimized every process; on the day of the project's completion, the team members were so excited that they almost cried...

"Are you still here to inspect the work so late?" A familiar voice came from behind.

Sun Xue turned around and saw Deputy Mayor Wang walking towards her with a smile.

"Deputy Mayor Wang? How come..."

Sun Xue was so surprised that she couldn't recover for a long time!

"I just happened to be passing by, so I got off the bus and took a walk..." Vice Mayor Wang looked up at the stadium. "This stadium is not only the pride of our city of Quanzhou, but also a symbol of the city's spirit."

Deputy Mayor Wang looked at Sun Xue with a smile, "It tells us that as long as we dare to think and act, everything is possible..."

Sun Xue didn't know how to answer for a moment, she understood the hidden meaning of Vice Mayor Wang's words.

The two walked side by side on the trail outside the venue.

"Xiao Sun, how are you thinking about the Urban Investment and Construction Project?"

Sun Xue told the truth: "Company executives are unanimously opposed."

"That's to be expected." Deputy Mayor Wang nodded. "From a business perspective, they're right. But Xiao Sun, do you still remember your original motivation for starting this business?"

Sun Xue was silent for a moment: "Remember, be an entrepreneur who contributes to Quancheng City and set a good example for young entrepreneurs."

Deputy Mayor Wang paused. "That's right. Excellent entrepreneurs shouldn't just focus on short-term profits. Although Chengtou Construction is struggling now, it has a forty-year history and has accumulated a wealth of skilled personnel and expertise. If it were to close down, not only would 300 employees lose their jobs, but it would also be a significant loss to the urban construction sector."

She pointed to the old town in the distance and said, "Look, those old buildings from the 1980s are many of their masterpieces, and they're still standing strong. Isn't it worth giving a business like this a chance to be reborn?"

Sun Xue looked in the direction that Vice Mayor Wang pointed. The old city was quiet and peaceful in the night, and the buildings that had weathered the storms were still standing.

"Deputy Mayor Wang, I understand."

They talked a lot that night, and when they parted, Sun Xue already had an idea in her mind.

The next day, she called another executive meeting, and this time, she was even more prepared.

"I know everyone has concerns about the acquisition of Chengtou Construction, and I completely understand that," she said straight to the point. "But after careful consideration, I have decided to move forward with this acquisition."

There was an uproar in the conference room.

"Please listen to me first."

"I've done a detailed analysis and planning. First, although Chengtou Construction is nearly 100 million yuan in debt, it has three core values: First, it possesses a special-grade qualification for general contracting of construction projects, which is crucial for us to undertake large-scale projects in the future. Second, it has 80 acres of industrial land in the old city, which is ideally located and can be transformed into a creative industry park. Third, it has dozens of experienced craftsmen, whose skills are priceless."

Sun Xue elaborated on her turnaround plan: retaining core technical personnel, encouraging early retirement, and natural attrition; developing idle land into a cultural and creative industrial park; and leveraging Kramer's international influence to create a high-end architectural brand...

"I admit that this will put a lot of pressure on us in the short term," Sun Xue said sincerely.

"But in the long run, this acquisition will help Xuehua Construction complete its transformation and upgrading. More importantly..." She paused, "the value of a company is not only reflected in its profits, but also in its responsibility to the industry and society."

Wang Ke still frowned: "Mr. Sun, the plan sounds good, but it is too difficult to execute."

"I know."

Sun Xue nodded and continued, "So I won't force everyone to agree. I've decided to make the acquisition in my personal name first, so as not to affect Xuehua Construction's operations. I'll consider merging with Xuehua after Chengtou Construction turns a profit."

Everyone was stunned for a moment...