People in the Republic of China era began to rise from industry.

Hearing Lin Yi's sarcastic words, Fan Zhongxu shook his head with a wry smile: "If that's the case, then it's fine."

"The worst-case scenario is that it's said that the Military Commission is investing, but in the end, all the shares end up in someone's pocket."

"They're not incapable of doing something like this."

Fan Zhongxu has experienced many ups and downs in the business world.

Although I mainly worked in Northeast China before, being in this circle means I have access to all kinds of information.

It's not uncommon for people in Nanjing to use their power to interfere in the handicraft and commercial sectors.

Song Wenchang is just one of them.

The Chen brothers, like Kong Yongzhi, were not much better at eating than Song Wenchang.

This doesn't even include other officials, big and small.

Anyone with even a little standing in the Jinling State Palace would almost certainly try to get involved.

Once they gain controlling interest, as long as the profits are promising, they will eventually kick everyone else out.

This is also why he stubbornly refused to agree to Song Wenchang's offer to invest in the alkali plant.

Now, they've set their sights on metallurgical plants.

Moreover, it was done in the name of the Military Commission.

This is even more serious than when Song Wenchang coveted the alkali plant.

Lin Yi curled his lip in a cold smile and asked, "Isn't this something you can't refuse?"

"There's simply no way to refuse."

"The metallurgical plant is under the jurisdiction of the National Government. If we refuse, it wouldn't be difficult for them to take over or even shut us down, just by using the pretext of military secrets."

"At that time, I'm afraid public opinion won't support us either."

For the sake of the country, he was generous with other people's money.

Some intellectuals in the public sphere are capable of such actions.

Especially at this critical juncture, the mere accusation of not supporting military development is enough to make Fenghua Metallurgical Plant despised by thousands.

"Then let's talk."

Lin Yi nodded and smiled, "However, the metallurgical plant's valuation cannot be decided by them."

"Let's negotiate based on the estimated value of 500 million."

Upon hearing Lin Yi agree, Fan Zhongxu's mood plummeted to rock bottom in an instant.

It can only be assumed that Lin Yi was helpless in this matter.

But when he heard Lin Yi's valuation, he was completely stunned.

His eyeballs almost fell to the ground.

Downstreet, standing to the side, had the same expression.

Five hundred million?!

"Is that a bit much?"

Fan Zhongxu nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

"Then let's make it two hundred million, that's settled."

Lin Yi smiled like an old fox, "We'll just list some data later, and we can brag as much as we want."

"For example, according to our plan, this year's output should reach 3,000 tons, and next year it should be expanded five times to 15,000 tons."

"Everything is going well, and we aim to reach 40,000 tons the year after next."

Special steel is extremely expensive.

The price of a ton of crude steel is now over 500 yuan.

The price of imported special steel has recently risen to over 800 yuan.

Forty thousand tons sold for 32 million.

Theoretically speaking... a valuation of 200 million can only be used for speculation in the stock market.

Talking about investment is still too high a goal.

However, Lin Yi had no intention of reaching an agreement and naturally wanted to ask for an exorbitant price.

Now, what he needs is to stall for time and then proceed at his own pace.

Let's show these Nanjing gentlemen what real business acumen looks like!

"By the way, let's tell Yu Xingmin about this before we start negotiating, and see what he thinks."

"To put it bluntly, we should try to get him to give up his shares first."

Originally, Lin Yi also planned to use the method of increasing capital and expanding production to force Yu Xingmin to give up his shares.

This saves us a lot of trouble.

We can use this opportunity to take back the shares directly.

This guy is short-sighted and conservative in his actions.

They absolutely cannot withstand the intimidation from Nanjing.

Fan Zhongxu has a decent business sense.

At this point, I gradually began to appreciate its flavor.

Although he didn't know that Lin Yi had already come up with a foolproof plan, he believed that if this matter was delayed, a turning point might eventually come.

"Okay, I'll go find Yu Xingmin now."

After Lao Fan left, Lin Yi picked up the phone again and notified his partners to come and divide the spoils.

Several drinking buddies from the banking industry arrived one after another, faster than the last.

Only Miss Sheng Qi was too proud to leave, saying she couldn't get away and invited Lin Yi to the Sheng Mansion for a chat...

Considering they would be investing in stocks together, Lin Yi agreed.

I first booked out the New World Hotel with my drinking buddies, had a couple of drinks, declined the group activities, and then, carrying my Citibank checkbook, arrived at the Sheng Mansion under the cover of night…

In the double-height hall, two women with flowing hair, dressed in theatrical costumes, were singing opera.

Miss Seven sings: "The promise at dusk is uncertain, do you know if his heart is like mine?"

Meng Qianyu stepped forward: Miss.

Seventh Miss: Who are you?

Meng Qianyu: It's me!

Seventh Miss: Matchmaker, there's a thief!

Wu Ma, dressed as a maid, spoke in an old-fashioned tone: Who is it?

The style of the story changed so quickly that Lin Yi, who had been watching with great interest, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Several pairs of eyes turned towards them.

Even at her advanced age, Aunt Wu couldn't help but blush with embarrassment.

She was just chiming in.

This excerpt from *The Romance of the Western Chamber* doesn't include any lines spoken by her character, Hongniang.

"I'm so sorry, I really apologize."

Lin Yi clasped his hands together and apologized repeatedly.

He couldn't help but glance at Wu Ma again, and then laughed again.

The Seventh Miss gave him a reproachful look and said to Meng Qianyu, "You spoils the fun, I'm not singing anymore."

"Then I won't sing."

Meng Qianyu responded, glanced at Wu Ma who looked utterly hopeless, and pursed her lips as well.

"sit down."

The Seventh Miss gestured for Lin Yi to sit down and said with a smile, "I never expected this matter to go so smoothly."

"Thank you for your hard work during this period."

"Fortunately, I did not disgrace my life."

Lin Yi said politely.

The word "hard work" is simply out of the question.

After things started, besides giving instructions to Liu Jing and Jing Zhizhong, the other thing he did was become friends with Tony.

As he spoke, Lin Yi took out his checkbook.

"Miss Seven, you should also know the price of industrial alkali at that time."

"The price has dropped too drastically."

"So we didn't spend all our money, and the overall rate of return wasn't as good as we expected, only a little over 70 percent."

"As per our agreement, Miss Seven will receive 60% of the profits."

Miss Sheng smiled and said, "A 60% return in less than 20 days is already quite remarkable."

Then, she changed the subject, looking at Lin Yi with a smile and asking, "Besides giving money, I didn't do anything else."

"In the end, the money I prepared wasn't even spent, yet I'm still being offered such a high return. Don't you think that's unfair, Mr. Lin?"

"...If Miss Seven feels bad about it, she can give me a management fee from the profits."

Lin Yi readily agreed.

He couldn't possibly let a woman flirt with him.

"You think beautifully."

Miss Seven glared at him, then smiled with a hint of smugness, "I also contributed to this matter. The warehouses at the harbor terminal, the trains that transported the goods before, and the ocean shipping that we are currently negotiating are all my businesses."

"Things have gone so smoothly that no one has dug you out yet. Doesn't that count as a credit?"

Lin Yi remained silent.

It's not surprising that the Sheng family's businesses have expanded into railways, shipping, and seaports.

It is perfectly reasonable for a family with a deep-rooted heritage to control such a valuable foundational industry.

Given her status as the Seventh Miss Sheng, it's impossible for her to flaunt her family's wealth in front of me for no reason.

He thought about it for a moment, but was unsure.

I'm too lazy to think about it anymore.

He asked directly, "Seventh Miss, please speak plainly."