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

The decisive signing ceremony at the headquarters of Yongle Electrical Appliances in Shanghai seemed to have sprouted wings, instantly piercing through the mist over the Huangpu River and flying in all directions.

When the press release announcing that "Century Home Appliances and Yongle Electric Appliances have reached a cross-shareholding strategic alliance" was officially released, not far away in Jinling, in the chairman's office of Sulin Electric Appliances headquarters, Zhang Jingxi's hand holding a teacup suddenly trembled, and the scalding tea splashed onto the expensive mahogany table, spreading a dark water stain.

The newspaper in front of him prominently featured a photo of Lu Yang shaking hands with Zhou Minyi, the head of Yongle, on the front page, with an eye-catching headline: "The Home Appliance Retail Industry Undergoes a Major Change, Encirclement Finally Complete! The Century-Guomei-Yongle Iron Triangle Locks Down East China, and Suzhou's Neighbor City is in Danger!"

"It's over... the last piece of the puzzle... is complete!" Zhang Jingxi felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his vision went black.

His painstakingly built Sulin was originally the undisputed king of home appliance retail in East China, relying on the prosperous Yangtze River Delta region.

The Li family's involvement once made him feel that having a powerful backer would be beneficial, allowing him to withstand Wang Yuguang's Guomei and the mysteriously rising Century Home Appliance Plaza in Pengcheng.

But now?

The other party swiftly swallowed up Dazhong, Mingzhu, and Sanlian. Now, even Yongle, which is nearby and has always had an ambiguous attitude, has been won over by the open scheme of "cross-shareholding". This has formed an "ambush" on all sides of Suzhou from the north (Beijing Dazhong and Guomei), the west (Hunan Mingzhu), the east (Shanghai Yongle), and the south (Shenzhen Century)!
Besieged on all sides?

No, this is a complete trap, surrounded on all sides, utterly locked up in this corner of Jinling!
Su Lin truly became that chess piece on the chessboard, surrounded and isolated with no one to help.

A tremendous panic gripped Zhang Jinxi's heart.

He suddenly stood up and paced anxiously in the spacious office.

Regret gnawed at him like a venomous snake: Why did he accept the Li family's investment in the first place? Why did he get involved in this mess? If only... if only he had been more proactive like Yongle, and aligned himself with the Century Group sooner...

The moment the thought arose, he bitterly extinguished it.

late!

It's too late!

He had long been firmly branded as part of the "Li family camp".

Given the decisiveness and ruthless attitude shown by that Pengcheng man towards the Li family, even if Zhang Jinxi were to kneel down in Pengcheng to beg for forgiveness and offer up Su Lin's controlling stake, that young "electronic demon king" probably wouldn't even give him a second glance.

On that person's chessboard, there is no longer a need for an "isolated piece" that was once on the opposing side and whose value has been almost completely extracted.

"Prepare the car! To the airport!" Zhang Jingxi almost roared at his secretary, his voice trembling and cracking. "Contact the Li family in Hong Kong immediately. I need to see Mr. Li Ka-shing! Now!"

He must save himself! He must grasp at this last possible straw!

On the flight to the port city, Zhang Jinxi was pale, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the churning sea of ​​clouds outside the window, his mind in turmoil.

Sitting next to him was Li Zeju, who had rushed over to "accompany" him after hearing the news.

The eldest son of the Li family had a face so dark it could drip water. The news of Yongle's defection had dealt a heavy blow to the Li family, completely disrupting their strategic plan of "consolidating the foundation and launching surprise attacks".

Sulin, this last bridgehead, is already in grave danger.

"Mr. Zhang, please calm down." Li Zeju tried to soothe him, but his voice betrayed a hint of exhaustion and frustration. "Father has already made up his mind. Su Lin is our common ground, and we will not give up easily. The most urgent task is to launch the second round of financing. Our Li family will continue to lead the investment to ensure..."

"Financing?" Zhang Jinxi turned his head sharply, looking at Li Zeju with a mocking gaze that bordered on despair. "Young Master Li, financing? Will the money we raise belong to Zhang or Li?"

He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging resentment. "To be honest, according to my original plan, for this second round of financing, I intended to first exclude capital related to your Li family from being the lead investor! At most, I would leave you with a symbolic follow-on investment share! Why? Just to preserve my rights as the founder, so that I wouldn't be swept out by you big capital firms and become a puppet!"

Li Zeju's face stiffened at the sudden bluntness, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes, but more so an embarrassment at having his thoughts exposed.

He suppressed his anger and patiently advised, "Mr. Zhang, times have changed! Now that the Century Alliance is at our gates, we should be working together. What's the point of distinguishing between us? Is the struggle for control more important than Su Lin's survival? The mainland home appliance market is booming, and the pie is still growing. As long as we persevere..."

"Enough!" Zhang Jinxi interrupted him roughly, his voice teetering on the edge of collapse. "No matter how big the pie is, what does it have to do with me? Persist? With what? By having your Li family keep injecting capital, then gradually diluting my shares until they're completely gone? And finally being kicked out like a stray dog?"

He gave a bitter smile. "Young Master Li, I, Zhang Jingxi, understood these principles from day one of my business ventures! Otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen the home appliance retail industry! But the current situation is that if I 'insist' on following your Li family, my only fate will be to slowly bleed to death, ultimately losing everything! Rather than that, it's better to..."

He didn't finish speaking, but the resolute look in his eyes said it all.

The atmosphere in the cabin plummeted to freezing point. The two remained silent the entire way, with only the monotonous roar of the plane's engines, as if foreshadowing the impending storm.

Arriving in Hong Kong, in the study of the Li family mansion on Deep Water Bay Road.

Behind the enormous rosewood desk, Li Ka-shing sat upright, his gaze unfathomable.

The eldest son, Li Zeju, stood to the side, his face still grim.

Zhang Jinxi didn't bother with pleasantries, and didn't even pay attention to the intrigued gaze of Li Zekai, the second son of the Li family. With a do-or-die attitude, he went straight to the point: "Mr. Li, you are the richest man in Asia and a role model for Chinese entrepreneurs, while I, Su Lin, am just a local regional home appliance chain. We can't compete with you big capitals. When you gods fight, we are not even worthy of sitting at the table."

Zhang Jinxi's voice was hoarse with excitement. He stared intently at Li Ka-shing, "Now that things have come to this, I won't beat around the bush anymore. You should withdraw your shares. I, Zhang Jinxi, will sell everything I own and return your investment, principal and interest, at the current market price!"

The study was deathly silent.

Li Zeju's breathing became noticeably heavier, and anger surged in his eyes.

Li Ka-shing remained expressionless, but a barely perceptible glint of cold light flashed deep within his world-weary eyes.

He slowly put down his cigar, spoke calmly, his voice low but like a heavy hammer blow to Zhang Jinxi's heart.

"Things haven't reached a dead end yet, and Mr. Zhang is already so scared?" Li Ka-shing leaned forward slightly, his invisible pressure from his long-held position spreading out. "Since Mr. Zhang thinks Su Lin is a burden, can't play this capital game, and thinks my Li family is a burden... then how about this, you withdraw all your shares, and my Li family will buy them at the current market price."

Boom! Zhang Jinxi was struck dumb, frozen in place.

His original intention was to "return the goods" and regain control in order to fight for a glimmer of hope (he would do anything to get Su Lin to join the domestic electrical appliance retail alliance led by that person in Pengcheng, even if the chances were slim), but he never expected that the other party would turn around and "take over completely"!
This completely disrupted all his plans!

Li Zeju suppressed his anger and earnestly advised, "President Zhang, your father is right. The mainland home appliance market is like the rising sun. People's wallets are getting fuller, and demand will only grow larger. The pie is expanding rapidly. If you persevere, there will be no real losers. Why give up so easily now? The Li family will fully support you. We will overcome this difficulty together!"

Zhang Jinxi understood these principles perfectly well.

He is one of the pioneers in this industry!

While it's easy to understand, reality is harsh. Continuing to "endure" means needing astronomical sums of money to fight against the overwhelming competition from the Century Alliance, and the source of funding can only be more deeply tied to the Li family.

This is tantamount to completely and permanently handing over Su Lin's control!
As the founder, he would be reduced to a high-level employee of the Li family, or even a pawn that could be replaced at any time! Rather than being a puppet in the shadow of the Li family and slowly dying in the encirclement and suppression of the Century Alliance, it would be better to... make a clean break!
A crystal-clear, almost ferocious thought arose in his despair: Sell! While Su Lin's foundation and brand in East China still held value, he would sell for a good price. He would withdraw with real cash! With substantial funds in hand, and given Zhang Jinxi's abilities and market insight, the mainland was paved with gold; he might be able to start anew and make a comeback. It was far better than being crushed to pieces between these two behemoths, ultimately ending up with nothing.

“Fine!” Zhang Jingxi suddenly raised his head, his eyes no longer hesitant, only displaying the ruthlessness and decisiveness of a businessman. He said to Li Ka-shing with unwavering resolve, “Since Mr. Li has this intention, I, Zhang Jingxi… am willing to take the money and leave!”

The negotiations then entered their most intense phase:

price.

Zhang Jinxi knew this was the last chance, so he offered an exorbitant price that was "slightly higher than the current market valuation, but still within the limits of what the Li family could afford."

Li Zeju's expression changed drastically. He argued forcefully, listing the predicaments Su Lin faced, the huge risks in the future, and the fatal pressure brought by the Lu Yang Alliance, trying to push the price down to the lowest possible level.

Zhang Jinxi, however, refused to back down, insisting that Su Lin's brand value, loyal customer base, and logistics network accumulated over many years in East China were core assets that were difficult to replicate. The two sides engaged in a heated exchange, and the atmosphere became tense at one point.

Finally, Li Ka-shing, who had been listening silently, slowly raised his hand to stop his eldest son's argument.

His deep gaze lingered for a moment on Zhang Jinxi's resolute face, as if he could see through his true intention to cash out and leave, and seek another way out.

"Let's set a fixed price."

Li Ka-shing's voice was calm and decisive, "Six hundred million Hong Kong dollars, in cash. Take your money and leave Su Lin." He paused, his tone suddenly turning cold, carrying an unquestionable command.

"But, Mr. Zhang, you must leave me your core management team, whom you personally trained, intact and complete!"

"Sulin's operations cannot be disrupted."

Six hundred million!

This number made Zhang Jinxi's heart skip a beat; it far exceeded his initial expectations!

Although it's still short of the price he offered, given the current predicament of being surrounded by enemies, this is already the "panic premium" that the Li family can offer, exceeding the "reasonable market price," which is enough to support his grand ambition of starting a new business!
"Deal!" Zhang Jinxi said without the slightest hesitation, almost gritting his teeth as he uttered the two words.

Leaving the team was painful, but compared to the 600 million in cash and complete freedom, he was willing to pay the price.

The agreement was drafted and signed at an astonishing speed.

The news was like a depth charge, triggering a tsunami in the financial circles of mainland China and Hong Kong.

Media headlines focused on "Li Family's Sky-High Acquisition of Su Lin", "Zhang Jinxi Cashes Out 600 Million Yuan and Leaves, Becoming a New Generation of Cash King", and "Li Family Makes a Heavy Investment in the Future Amidst the Siege of the Century, Striving for Invincibility".

As if overnight, the headlines of all financial media outlets were dominated by this explosive news, and its impact even overshadowed the aftershocks of the recent formation of the World Union.

Newspapers, television, nascent portal websites, and even street gossip were filled with amazement, analysis, and endless speculation about the deal.

Zhang Jinxi's name has never been mentioned as repeatedly as it is now, as the "King of Cash." In the late 1990s in mainland China, a huge sum of HK$600 million in cash was enough to dazzle anyone.

The Li family's audacity in taking over the company amidst this century-long alliance's encirclement has redefined many people's perception of the resilience of this richest Chinese man.

Shenzhen, the top floor of the Century Group headquarters building.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the vibrant and dynamic scene of this young city unfolds.

Inside the office, however, there was a tranquility that contrasted sharply with the hustle and bustle outside the window.

Lu Yang has just finished an internal strategy meeting.

Secretary Lu Nini walked in with light steps, placed a summary of all the relevant major reports on his large mahogany desk, and reported softly: "Mr. Lu, the financial pages of Hong Kong and the mainland are in an uproar. The Li family has taken over Su Lin with 600 million in cash, and Zhang Jinxi is completely out of the game."

Lu Yang's gaze lingered on the eye-catching title of the briefing for only a moment, and then a very faint smile appeared on his lips, as if he understood or simply found it amusing.

He leaned back slightly against the wide leather chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the smooth tabletop.

A soft laugh, short and ambiguous, broke the silence in the room.

He picked up the briefing, his gaze sweeping over the figures analyzing the Li family's intentions, calculating Su Lin's value, and marveling at Zhang Jinxi's cash-out. Yet his eyes remained calm and unwavering, as if he were not seeing a massive change that could alter the landscape of home appliance retail in East China, but merely an expected, even somewhat mediocre, business move.

"The Li family..." Lu Yang put down the briefing, his tone carrying an almost condescending calmness, "It seems they really can't bear to completely leave this big cake."

He looked up at Lu Nini, his eyes clear and resolute: "Let them stay put. With this restless 'catfish' around, stirring up the waters from time to time and waging price wars, the market won't become stagnant and calm. A lively market is good, and ordinary people can benefit more from it."

He paused, and the faint smile at the corner of his mouth seemed to widen a bit. "Consider it... a long-term benefit we're giving to our consumers."

Lu Nini carefully noted down her boss's instructions.

She knew Lu Yang's strategic vision well. Since the boss said the Li family was a "catfish," it meant that in the boss's mind, the Li family's Su Lin electrical appliance retail group had been downgraded from a strategic threat to a controllable tactical opponent.

However, Lu Yang's tone shifted abruptly, his previous casual banter vanishing instantly. His gaze sharpened and became focused, his voice deepening: "As for the Zhang father and son..."

He lightly tapped the eye-catching headline on the briefing about Zhang Jingxi cashing out 600 million yuan. "This 600 million yuan in cash is no small amount. Especially on this fertile land beneath our feet, there's gold everywhere and opportunities at every turn. This money is enough to pry open a sizable pie."

He leaned forward slightly, looking directly at Lu Nini, his words carrying an unquestionable tone: "Nini, your next key task is to keep a close eye on the movements of this 'Cash King'."

Having left the home appliance industry in a quagmire and now holding a large sum of money, where will Zhang Jinxi set his sights next?

Should we go to Beijing to find connections and connections?
Or should we head south to the special economic zone and develop real estate?
Or... have you set your sights on some emerging industry?

Be sure to report any unusual activity to me immediately.

“Understood, Mr. Lu,” Lu Nini replied immediately.

Just then, the internal phone on Lu Yang's desk rang.

Lu Nini answered the phone, listened for a few minutes, then covered the receiver, her expression slightly grave as she turned to Lu Yang: "President Lu, it's a call from Jiangxi Province... My brother said... the teaching building project... seems to have encountered some resistance..." (End of Chapter)