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

"Is it really like this?"

Yin Mingyue murmured repeatedly, her clear eyes filled with confusion and worry.

The cutthroat competition in the business world, the strained and broken cash flow, the cold-blooded word "cold and dry"... these icy words and Lu Yang's almost cruel prediction were like fine needles pricking her innocent heart.

She couldn't understand the intricate calculations and trade-offs involved, but she knew her husband wouldn't lie to her.

Lu Yang's brother has never made a mistake in his business acumen and judgment.

She lowered her head, her slender fingers habitually smoothing out non-existent wrinkles on Lu Yang's suit jacket. The gesture carried a sense of dependence, but also a hint of imperceptible pleading.

"Honey," her voice was as soft as a feather, tinged with a cautious probing, "then...this time, could you...help my sister?"

Previously, due to a minor conflict between the sisters, she did not immediately step forward to stop her husband from causing trouble for her sister, which led to the failure of her sister's first business venture. This time, her sister finally succeeded in her second business venture. If it fails again, can someone as proud and strong-willed as her sister really withstand these successive blows?

Lu Yang stopped and turned around, his deep gaze falling on Yin Mingyue's worried face.

He reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, his warm palm patting her back soothingly.

“I’m sorry, Mingyue.” His voice was deep and clear, with an undeniable determination. “I can’t help her. The business world has its own rules. Mingzhu Electric’s current situation is the result of the power struggle among various parties and her own strategic choices.”

Yin Mingyue's shoulders slumped slightly, and her eyes instantly filled with tears.

Lu Yang felt his wife tremble slightly in his arms, lowered his head and kissed the top of her head. His tone softened, but remained firm: "However, if she ultimately decides to sell the company, as a business acquirer, I can consider taking over. I can even offer her a more favorable price than the Li family, so that at least she can leave unscathed and not end up with nothing."

His words were both to comfort his wife in his arms and based on cold, hard business considerations.

On Lu Yang's strategic map, Mingzhu Electric Appliances, this lucrative target, has long been marked.

If we can acquire it, we can instantly gain complete control of this crucial electrical appliance retail market in Hunan Province.

For the Li family alliance, Mingzhu Electric Appliances served as a flank barrier against Guomei's attack from the southwest direction for Sulin Electric Appliances. However, for the Century Group-Guomei alliance led by Lu Yang, taking over Mingzhu Electric Appliances would be tantamount to inserting a sharp knife into the core territory of the Li family and Sulin. This would not only effectively dismantle the Li family alliance's coordinated combat capabilities but also achieve a "central breakthrough," coordinating with Guomei's all-out encirclement and suppression from the southwest and Century Electric Appliances' all-out attack from the core cities, thus completely isolating Sulin Electric Appliances.

At that time, the scales of victory will irreversibly tip in his favor.

The headquarters of Mingzhu Electric Appliances is located on the banks of the Xiangjiang River.

Three months.

It's only been three months.

The ambitious expansion plan had only just begun to take shape in the neighboring province when the shadow of a broken capital chain loomed over Yin Mingzhu's heart like a real dark cloud.

Outside the office's large floor-to-ceiling windows, the Xiangjiang River flows ceaselessly, yet it cannot wash away the anxiety in her heart.

Lu Yang guessed correctly once again.

HK$5000 million in financing seems so insignificant and vulnerable in the face of the enormous money-devouring beast that is cross-regional expansion.

Shop renovation, staff recruitment, advertising, inventory buildup... every expense is like a bottomless pit.

The market in your province has barely opened up, and the funds on the books are already flashing a glaring red light.

Retreat? Yin Mingzhu's nails dug deeply into her palms.

If we choose to retreat at this point, abandon expansion, and turn to conservative operations, then all previous investments, team morale, and the small market share we've managed to secure will be lost.

What's even more terrifying is that her opponents will never give her a chance to breathe.

Guomei Appliances, eyeing the market with predatory intent, will immediately launch a full-scale counterattack, while Lu Yang's Century Home Appliance Plaza will seize the opportunity to expand its presence in the central city area, using Xingcheng as its base to create a pincer attack on her from both inside and outside.

By then, let alone expanding outwards, even holding onto the Hunan province stronghold—the last stronghold—will be a huge question mark.

There is no way forward, and no way back.

Left with no other choice, Yin Mingzhu had to bite the bullet and launch the second round of financing.

However, the market's reaction was like a bucket of ice water, chilling her to the bone.

Long after the news was released, apart from the Asian Film and Television Fund controlled by the Li family, the market was in a suffocating silence.

There may be potential investors watching from the sidelines, but the intimidating power of the Li family's vast business empire and the formidable strength of the home appliance alliance led by Lu Yang's Century Group have made everyone weigh the risks and fear becoming cannon fodder in this battle of giants.

No one is willing to place a bet easily at this time.

Yin Mingzhu's decision to exclude the Li family fund as the lead investor has now become an invisible shackle on her financing path, trapping her in place and leaving her to watch helplessly as the funds gradually run out, her heart burning with anxiety.

Just then, the Li family came knocking on the door again.

This time, the person who came to visit was not Li Zeju, the eldest son of the Li family and the businesslike head of the Asian Film and Television Fund, but the second son, Li Zekai, who has risen to fame in the fields of technology and investment and is known as "Little Superman".

Li Zekai's arrival carried an air of arrogant confidence, mixed with a barely perceptible eagerness.

He had suffered losses under Lu Yang before, and this time he finally managed to persuade his father, Li Ka-shing, to let his company, PCCW, take the lead in this investment in Mingzhu Electric.

With a confident smile on his face, he offered Li Jiaxin a way out: "President Yin, I understand your concerns."

"You don't trust the Asia Film and Audiovisual Fund? Are you worried about losing your voice?"

"Okay, I'll give you face and show my sincerity."

"How about I, Li Zekai, lead this round of financing with my personal Yingke Electronics?"

"We can discuss the management rights privately."

He deliberately emphasized the word "individual" in an attempt to create a false impression of greater equality and flexibility.

Looking at the dashing and sharp-eyed second young master of the Li family, Yin Mingzhu felt nothing but deep weariness and vigilance.

At this time, after a period of expansion and difficulties, Mingzhu Electric's valuation was forcibly pushed up to 200 million RMB.

Yin Mingzhu holds 65% of the shares.

According to the original plan, she only intended to release 14% of the new shares to raise about 30 million to solve the immediate problem.

However, Li Zekai's appetite went far beyond that.

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes filled with a sense of pressure, and looked at the beautiful female entrepreneur in front of him: "President Yin, if I may be frank, 14% of the shares is a drop in the ocean and cannot solve the fundamental problem."

"I think you need a more thorough solution."

A smug look appeared on his lips: "Our Yingke Electronics hopes to acquire more than 40% of the shares this time. Don't worry, you and the management team can still retain 25%, which is enough to demonstrate your influence on the company."

More than 40%?

Yin Mingzhu's heart sank suddenly, and a surge of anger at being completely plundered welled up inside her.

This means that as long as this pretty boy cooperates with his family, the Li family will gain absolute control of Mingzhu Electric Appliances, and Yin Mingzhu will be completely reduced to a puppet working for the Li family!
This isn't financing; it's outright extortion! "Impossible!" Yin Mingzhu refused decisively, her voice as cold as ice. "Young Master Li, I cannot accept this condition. Mingzhu Electric Appliances is the culmination of my hard work and dedication; it's not a commodity to be sold off!"

The atmosphere of the negotiations instantly plummeted to freezing point.

The smile on Li Zekai's face disappeared, and his eyes turned sinister.

He hadn't expected the woman in front of him to be so tough.

In order to win her over, or rather, in order to regain some ground against his old rival Lu Yang, Li Zekai offered an even more outrageous bargaining chip.

He lowered his voice, his tone almost condescendingly seductive: "Mr. Yin, why be so stubborn? Business alliances and betrayals are commonplace. If you agree to my proposal, I might offer you a more secure guarantee… I'm currently unmarried, and my relationship with that Japanese girlfriend in the media is just a fling; our feelings for each other are weak. I can break up with her anytime."

He paused, staring intently at Yin Mingzhu, then looked her up and down before saying, "If you agree, I, Li Zekai, can marry you. With the status of the second young mistress of the Li family, plus the foundation of Mingzhu Electric Appliances, it would be a win-win situation, wouldn't it be perfect?"

He thought the other party would agree.

Because if she marries him, this financing will be a matter of one's own people financing another's own people, and as long as she has his support, she can continue to hold onto her position as the female president of Mingzhu Electric Appliances.

And he was able to gain both wealth and people in one fell swoop.

The other woman's beauty, coupled with her current wealth, still made her seem rather shabby compared to Young Master Li.
When he thought that this woman was the former fiancée of the man he hated to the core, the bastard she had abandoned, and the woman he could never have, a sudden surge of passion welled up inside him.

I can't wait to see that guy's face when he finds out he's married to the woman he can't have.

I must say, this is a great idea.

Unfortunately, this temptation of "getting both money and people" did not sway Yin Mingzhu. Instead, it was like the most disgusting slime, making her feel a strong sense of nausea and humiliation.

She stood up abruptly, her face ashen, pointed at the door, her voice trembling slightly with anger: "Second Young Master Li, what kind of person do you take me, Yin Mingzhu? Please stop with your despicable thoughts! Get out! Take your terms and get out of here! Let me tell you, even if Mingzhu Electric goes bankrupt and is liquidated tomorrow, I will never accept a single penny of your Li family's secondary investment! You think the Li family can pluck the fruits of my hard work without lifting a finger? Keep dreaming!"

Li Zekai's face turned pale and then red from the sudden rebuke and the merciless order to leave.

He suddenly stood up and glared at Yin Mingzhu with a cold look in his eyes.

finally,
Nothing was said.

He snorted coldly and walked away.

Although the other party's resolute decision surprised him, he knew that staying would only bring him further humiliation.

As for using force?

This is the mainland.

This meticulously planned "recruitment" and "marriage" has completely failed.

Li Zekai's defeat naturally drew a furious outburst from Li Ka-shing.

This business tycoon lost his patience and directly summoned his steady eldest son, Li Zeju: "There's no need to play the financing game with her anymore. Go to the mainland yourself, negotiate the acquisition directly, use money to buy her an offer she can't refuse!"

Soon, a formal acquisition offer from CK Asset Holdings Limited was placed on Yin Mingzhu's desk.

The wealthy Li family offered a valuation as high as 300 million RMB!
Compared to the market's estimate of 200 million, the premium is as high as 50%!

This means that Yin Mingzhu's 65% stake instantly became worth nearly 200 million RMB.

As long as she signs her name, financial freedom is within her grasp, enough to ensure she has no worries about food and clothing for the rest of her life, far away from the bloodshed of the business world.

The enormous numbers shocked Yin Mingzhu.

She sat in her large office chair, the bustling night view of the Xiangjiang River outside the window now blurred in her eyes.

She was bewildered.

Continue to resist?

Refusing to sell?

Mingzhu Electric's debt ratio of over 80% is like a cold, venomous snake coiling around her, while the relentless pressure from competitors makes her feel like she has thorns in her back.

With funds depleted and no access to financing, facing both internal and external troubles, the company is highly likely to head towards bankruptcy and liquidation.

At that time, she would not only lose everything, but also be burdened with huge debts, falling into a deep abyss.

Accept the acquisition?

He left with 200 million?

This seems to be the most "wise" choice, allowing her to protect herself and even gain wealth that is unattainable for ordinary people. However, the price is that she has buried her beloved Pearl Appliances, into which she has poured all her heart and soul, and handed it over to the Li family, who have schemed against and pressured her...

Caught in this suffocating dilemma, as Yin Mingzhu's fingertips unconsciously traced the gold-embossed acquisition offer, her heart was in turmoil—

Jingle bell bell bell…

On the desk, the personal cell phone, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly rang sharply without warning.

Yin Mingzhu's heart skipped a beat, and her gaze abruptly fell on the screen.

A number was flashing on the screen.

A number she knew to the core, yet had deliberately kept sealed away in her heart for a long time.

A number that represents countless complex entanglements, loves, and hates from the past.

It’s Lu Yang.

She stared at the name, unconsciously holding her breath.

The ringing grew louder and louder, sounding particularly jarring in the empty and oppressive office, as if striking her most vulnerable nerves.

The few seconds of silence felt like an eternity.

Finally, Yin Mingzhu took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and stretched out her slightly trembling fingers to press the answer button.

On the other end of the phone came Lu Yang's calm, emotionless voice, cutting straight to the point without any pleasantries:

“I’ve heard about everything. Sell the company to me.”

"I'll also contribute 200 million."

"You are handing over full control of the company."

"You and your team can take this money and start another business." (End of Chapter)