Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

The equity structure of Dazhong Electronics is actually very clear.

There are only three major shareholders.

The largest shareholder is founder Zhang Dazhong and his team.

The second largest shareholder is the Asia Film and Audio Foundation.

The third largest shareholder is Lenovo Holdings Group.

In fact, ever since Lu Yang led Century Group to announce its entry into the electrical appliance retail industry, with the continuous increase in the investment ratio of Century Home Appliance Plaza projects, new Century Home Appliance Plazas have been opening in many first-tier megacities across the country, including provincial capitals, and new stores have been opening from south to north. Zhang Dazhong of Dazhong Electrical Appliances has already felt the pressure to survive.

The changes in equity structure mentioned above are the result of its first attempt to find a major backer.

However, the results were still not very good.

Later, a second plan to curry favor with a powerful figure emerged.

It's just a shame.

The plan was never realized.

The reason for the difficult birth happens to be related to the current financial crisis. In order to make trouble for Lu Yang, Li Zekai, the little superman who was in charge of Yingke Electronics in Hong Kong, decided to abandon the Asia Audio-Visual Foundation led by the Li family and use Yingke Electronics under his own name as the main body to acquire 45% of the shares of Dazhong Electronics, becoming the new major shareholder of Dazhong Electronics. He then joined forces with Lianxiang, a PC giant in mainland China, to launch a sneak attack from behind.

At the time, he had even prepared the HK$500 million needed to acquire these shares.

However, he suddenly received a phone call from his father, Li Ka-shing, in Hong Kong, which forced him to suppress the matter.

Forced by circumstances, he dared not disobey his father's decision, so he cleanly and decisively chose to betray his ally. Instead of spending the money on the expansion of Dazhong Electronics in mainland China to launch a sneak attack on Lu Yang, he directly took short-selling measures against his ally Lianxiang in the capital market.

He wanted to take advantage of the situation to make a fortune and recoup the slight losses he incurred from breaching the contract.

That's why Zhang Dazhong of Dazhong Electronics was almost ready to sell the company and become a professional manager.

But because of this breach of contract by Little Superman, he was severely tricked and is now stuck in a difficult situation.

He couldn't move up. Although Zhang Dazhong and his team were still the largest shareholder of Dazhong Electronics, the previous tripartite cooperation had already caused Zhang Dazhong and his team to lose absolute control of the company. If the representatives of the Asian Audio-Visual Foundation, led by the Li family of Hong Kong, cooperated with the representatives of Lianxiang, they could completely sideline Zhang Dazhong and his team at the board meeting.

Most importantly, even at such a high cost, Dazhong Electronics' development is still far behind that of Century Home Appliance Plaza, which is currently expanding rapidly in the south, and Gome Electrical Appliances and other peers in the southwest.

He couldn't bring himself to sell the company. Zhang Dazhong wanted to sell it and lead the team that had started the business with him to achieve financial freedom, saying, "Let's quit." But after the incident where Yingke Electronics' "Little Superman" breached the contract, almost no one dared to take over.

When Zhang Dazhong suddenly received Lu Yang's call, he almost burst into tears of joy.

In a private room of a club in the capital, the aroma of tea wafted through the air, yet it couldn't dispel the lingering dust of a settled transaction.

Lu Yang put down his purple clay teacup, the bottom of which gently tapped on the rosewood tea tray, producing a crisp sound.

Across from him, Zhang Dazhong, the founder of Dazhong Electronics, finally relaxed his tightly furrowed brows, his eyes filled with a mixture of relieved exhaustion and a complex longing for future financial freedom.

His rough fingers rubbed the still-wet ink on the equity transfer agreement on the table, and the heaviness seemed to shift as he signed it.

"Mr. Lu, thank you." Zhang Dazhong's voice was a little hoarse, filled with indescribable emotion. "To be honest, I never expected that it would be you... who would step in after all this."

He recalled how, after being betrayed by the second son of the Li family, the company fell into a quagmire, with shareholders holding it back, development stagnating, and competitors squeezing it out. That suffocating feeling almost kept him awake at night.

Lu Yang's phone call was like a ray of light in the darkness, even though it came from a former adversary.

"Mr. Zhang, you flatter me." Lu Yang smiled slightly, a gentle smile that carried the confidence of someone in control of the overall situation. "The market is ever-changing, and cooperation is mutually beneficial. Dazhong Electronics' foundation in the northern market is a resource that Century Group values ​​highly. Century Home Appliance Plaza needs partners like Dazhong to grow the pie together, rather than wasting time on pointless internal friction."

He didn't use the word "acquisition," but instead used the word "partner," which made Zhang Da feel a little better.

After all, Dazhong was a company he had built from scratch, like a child he had raised. He was reluctant to part with it. If the other party hadn't promised him that even if he sold his shares, he could still retain his current position and hold an important role in the Northern Branch of Century Electrical Plaza, which would later be renamed Dazhong, he certainly wouldn't have so easily agreed to sell his shares in Dazhong Electrical.

Lu Yang's secret operation had a clear objective: to acquire all the shares of Zhang Dazhong's team in one fell swoop!
Therefore, I don't mind making some more concessions.

He even promised Zhang Dazhong that if the other party performed well, he would be entitled to receive a portion of the listed company's shares as a reward once Century Home Appliance Plaza met the listing requirements, thus achieving financial freedom and realizing his life's value once again.

Look, this pancake is big and round.

Lu Yang made the promise without any pressure.

Having won over the founder of Dazhong Electronics, it means that as long as Century Group acquires the remaining 20% ​​stake from Lenovo Holdings, it will be able to control Dazhong Electronics with an absolute majority (65%), even if the Asia Audiovisual Foundation objects.

At that time, the Li family will have two choices: either gracefully sell their shares and exit at Lu Yang's asking price, or watch helplessly as their capital is diluted by the capital increase and they are eventually kicked out.

Clearly, Zhang Dazhong agreed so readily because he saw through the inevitable outcome under this shareholding structure. Rather than continuing to struggle between the Li family and Lianxiang, he decided to take advantage of Lu Yang's determination to win and secure the best possible "landing" price for himself and his team.

Lu Yang's decisiveness and financial strength became his only way out of his predicament.

Just as Lu Yang and Zhang Dazhong were having a heart-to-heart talk and completing the crucial handover, the atmosphere inside the headquarters building of Lianxiang Holdings Group was completely different.

The heavy mahogany door to the president's office was tightly closed, but the assistants in the corridor outside could feel the oppressive atmosphere emanating from inside.

Liu Zhi stood with his back to the door, in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling scene of Beijing.

The city lights outside the window were already on, their neon lights flashing, reflecting on his gloomy face, but without any warmth.

He had just seen off the representatives from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Wei Shu, the aggressive yet subtle female president of the Century Group.

The heated debates at the negotiating table still echo in my ears.

The "concessions" proposed by Wei Shu on behalf of Lu Yang were like poison coated in honey.

Giving up on acquiring a stake in Lianxiang Holdings Group?

Instead, they only want to acquire a stake in the listed company, Lianxiang Group?

Even “fair” pricing?
It sounded like a concession, but Liu Zhi knew that this was just a smokescreen used by Lu Yang to reveal his true intentions after it faded.

"President Liu, our boss always likes to do things in two ways. The shares in Lianxiang are just icing on the cake. What's truly a lifeline for President Zhang is what's going on. They've already reached a very pleasant agreement." The young and beautiful female CEO's seemingly casual yet incredibly precise "reminder" was like a cold dagger pressed against his Achilles' heel.

The other party was clearly telling him that her boss, Century Group, wanted to order Dazhong Electronics.

Whether Lao Liu agrees or disagrees is irrelevant.

Adding flowers to brocade?

Charcoal in the snow?

Liu Zhi sneered inwardly; this was clearly a blatant threat!
That kid Lu Yang had already bypassed him and dealt with Zhang Dazhong directly!

The value of the 20% stake in Dazhong held by Liu Zhi changed instantly.

It was no longer a bargaining chip to negotiate with Zhang Dazhong and the Li family foundation, but had become a hot potato: either sell it to that kid Lu at a "fair" but absolutely no premium price in exchange for his "support" at the listed company level and his status as an "ally" against the Li family father and son; or completely break ties, refuse to sell, and even turn around and inform the Li family father and son, completely tied to the Li family's boat, becoming the Li family's pawn in the fight against that kid, a dog wagging its tail and begging for mercy.

Liu Zhi's fingers tapped unconsciously on the cold windowpane, his inner balance tilting repeatedly under immense pressure.

Sell ​​it to Lu Yang?

It's like handing over the electrical appliance retail outlets they've built (even though they're not very useful) to their biggest potential competitor, effectively crippling themselves.

In the future, Lu Yang may really be holding us back in the PC channel.

The reputation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences may not always be useful in the business world, especially when facing a "barbarian" like Lu Yang who doesn't play by the rules and has an equally powerful background.

Refusing to sell, instead turning to the Li family? He had just experienced the ruthless methods of this young man, who had now become a mortal enemy of Lu Yang.

The Li family father and son?

Those are truly greedy crocodiles; cooperating with them is tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin, and in the end, you will likely be devoured without a trace.

Moreover, the National Academy of Sciences clearly favors bringing in Lu Yang to check and balance the Li family. If it were to openly side with the Li family, it would be tantamount to directly defying the superior's wishes, with unimaginable consequences.

“Driving a tiger to devour a wolf…inviting a wolf into the house…now, I’m almost losing even the right to make a choice!” Liu Zhi closed his eyes in pain, Wei Shu’s last meaningful smile flashing repeatedly in his mind.

Time waits for no one, and that kid surnamed Lu won't give him much time to hesitate.

Ultimately, a deeper fear of the Li family, obedience to the will of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the urgent need for Lu Yang as a "strong ally" to temporarily stabilize the situation overwhelmed all resentment and worries about future risks.

"That's it!" Liu Zhi suddenly opened his eyes, a resolute weariness flashing in them. He turned around and pressed the internal intercom button, his voice hoarse with a sense of resignation: "Notify the heads of the legal department and investment department to come to my office immediately. Regarding our share of Dazhong Electronics... we are preparing to initiate the sale process. The buyer is... Pengcheng Century Group."

Almost at the same moment, a thousand miles away in Hong Kong, inside a luxurious mansion on Victoria Peak, the atmosphere was like a volcano about to erupt.

"boom!"

A priceless Qing Dynasty imperial kiln teacup shattered on the carpet in front of Li Ka-shing, scattering emerald green tea and porcelain shards, much like his out-of-control rage.

"Trash! They're all trash!"

This business tycoon, known for his profound composure, was now ashen-faced, his chest heaving violently, and he could no longer maintain his usual calm.

He had just received an urgent report from the most secretive channels in the capital: Lu Yang had not only secretly taken down Zhang Dazhong, but even that old fox Liu Zhi couldn't withstand the pressure and agreed to sell the 20% stake in Dazhong held by Lianxiang Holdings!

"Father! That old scoundrel Liu Zhi! How dare he betray us!" Li Zekai, standing to the side, was even more furious, his handsome face contorted with extreme anger.

Dazhong Electronics!

This was supposed to be a key piece in his plan to target Lu Yang and at the same time put Liu Zhi in a bad light!
He even prepared HK$500 million for the acquisition!

If his father hadn't forcibly suppressed his plans during the most turbulent time of last year's financial crisis, citing "too high risk, cash is king, and we can't let people misunderstand that the Li family has become traitors," he would have already taken over Dazhong and, together with Lianxiang, taught that mainland boy surnamed Lu a lesson!
The results of it?
He was forced to break his promise to Zhang Dazhong and instead shorted Lianxiang in the stock market in an attempt to make some compensation, but he never expected that Lu Yang would benefit from it in the end!

The feeling of being fooled and outmaneuvered almost drove him mad.

"His actions weren't betrayal, they were stupidity! They were cowardice!"

Li Ka-shing's voice was as cold as a knife, and his eyes were so sharp they could pierce through one's heart.

"They were manipulated by that young upstart Lu Yang! For the sake of short-term peace, they handed over the very thing that could have held their opponent hostage! Bringing Lu Yang into the board of directors? They're digging their own grave!"

He turned abruptly, staring at the dazzling night view of Victoria Harbour outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the light of which seemed incredibly blinding at that moment.

"What a young upstart... What a brilliant tactic of feigning one move while secretly advancing another! What a brilliant move of undermining the enemy's strength! This young man isn't after the empty name of Lianxiang Holdings; he wants real distribution channels and a bridgehead for the northern market of home appliance retail chains!"

Li Zekai rushed to his father's side and said urgently, "Father, we can't let this go. We must fight back! We must immediately increase our holdings in Lianxiang stock and teach Liu Zhi and that Lu guy a lesson at the board meeting. And Dazhong too—our Asia Audio-Visual Foundation is still the second largest shareholder! We…"

"Enough!" Li Ka-shing interrupted his youngest son sharply, taking a deep breath and forcing himself to calm down.

Anger solves nothing.

"A counterattack? Of course we must retaliate! But no more of this kind of petty skirmish!"

His eyes gleamed with a shrewd and dangerous light. "With Century Group acquiring Dazhong, it's like acquiring the last crucial piece of the puzzle for integrating the national electronics retail industry."

What will be his next goal?
Is it Gome? Or Mingzhu? Or…is his real ambition to use retail outlets to control upstream manufacturing and brands?

He paced slowly, each step seemingly a carefully calculated chess move.

"Does Liu Zhi think that bringing in Lu Yang will help keep us in check?"

"Hmph, he's opened Pandora's box!"

“This young man’s appetite is bigger than ours combined. Notify your elder brother that our representatives at the Lianxiang Board of Directors and the people at the Asia Audio-Visual Foundation should immediately activate the emergency plan. In addition, use all resources to keep a close eye on this young man’s every move in Shenzhen and Beijing!”

"He swallowed Da Zhong; let's see if he has the appetite to digest it. This battle has only just begun; what's the rush? If your older brother were here, he wouldn't be as impulsive as you..."

The night in the port city was shrouded in the overwhelming rage and chilling murderous intent of the Li father and son. (End of Chapter)