Brilliant Years 1991

Chapter 186 The Real Cao Sheng

Spent the whole day shopping with my sister-in-law.

Of course, from Song Yuhua's perspective, she must have felt that she had accompanied Cao Yukun for a whole day.

It doesn’t matter, I’m quite happy.

In fact, the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, but it is still a bit hot, especially in the two or three hours at noon, the sun is quite scorching, but it is still bearable, not to the point where it is too hot to do outdoor activities. As she walked around, she soon discovered that compared to those famous national attractions, Cao Yukun seemed more interested in strolling in the hutongs.

So I walked around the hutongs in the afternoon.

The alleys also seem to be cooler.

She didn't know where she borrowed a camera from. Before setting off, Cao Yukun discovered that she had prepared seven or eight rolls of film. Along the way, she was indeed taking pictures of him non-stop.

From time to time, she would meet tourists holding cameras, and she would immediately go over and ask them for help to take a photo with them.

In the bright sunshine of mid-September, Cao Yukun stood there with his hands behind his back, looking unique in his own way. She stood next to Cao Yukun, and she had a bright smile in every photo.

I feel that she is much happier than Cao Yukun.

I went to eat roast duck at noon, and in the evening I had to take Cao Yukun to Donglaishun to eat hotpot.

Everything is just as she wished.

By the time we started eating dinner, it was almost seven o'clock.

The atmosphere was just like that during the day, the two of them ate and chatted casually, and she would laugh from time to time at something Cao Yukun said - it felt like they had known each other for more than half a year, but all the words they had said before were not as much as today. And much more.

Today she is light, happy, cheerful, cute, youthful and bright.

Not very elegant.

After dinner, she suggested taking a walk to help digest the food, and Cao Yukun nodded in agreement.

So we walked slowly towards Jianguomenwai Street, chatting as we walked.

She began to talk much more than during the day.

She talked about her university life, her good friends, and her former roommates, and from time to time she reflected on her own cold personality and unsociability. She talked about the changes in the capital in recent years, what it was like when they first entered the school in 1987, and how different parts of the capital have changed drastically now, and so on.

It was estimated to be ten stops away - Cao Yukun was already a little confused. She had no idea where the two of them were, how far they were from Jianguomenwai Street, and she couldn't even figure out if she was going in the right direction - she seemed to finally feel a little tired.

Suddenly, at some point, her pace slowed down, and soon she stopped.

The smile disappeared from his face.

After being silent for a long time, she raised her head again, with a smile on her face, looking satisfied, and suddenly said to Cao Yukun: "Yuqian is my sister. I know better than anyone that she is a good girl."

"Ah."

Cao Yukun nodded.

She hardly mentioned her family or her sister at all throughout the day.

But at this time, she smiled, so gently, "As for you, even if you like to play, you should at least consider her thoughts and don't embarrass her."

Cao Yukun looked at her steadily for a long time before nodding and saying, "Okay."

The ones who are considered sister-in-law must be Huang Jiaying and Xie Xiaoyu!
Maybe my brother-in-law also mentioned Hu Zihong... It doesn’t matter, this is what I mean.

She was speaking up for her sister.

It's understandable.

Moreover, this was probably the first time in a long time that she acted like an older aunt and talked seriously with Cao Yukun about Song Yuqian - which was rare.

Seeing Cao Yukun nod his head in agreement, she laughed again and said, "Actually, I don't really believe you! If you say you can make 100 million or 1 billion in the future, I will believe it without hesitation. But if you say you should stop flirting with girls, I still don't really believe it even if you promise me. ... But ... Yuqian will be a good wife."

She looked at Cao Yukun deeply and said, "Don't let her down."

This time, Cao Yukun said nothing.

Just staring at her.

They stared at each other for more than ten seconds. Finally, she looked away and smiled.

First she smiled sweetly, then shook her head and smiled bitterly.

Then she said, "Let's take a taxi. We should all go back."

It's already ten o'clock at night, of course it's time to go back.

Cao Yukun nodded again and said, "Okay!"

She had already walked to the side of the road, ready to stop a car at any time, but Cao Yukun suddenly turned his head to look at her, "How about..."

"Huh? What?"

She turned her head and looked over.

Cao Yukun pursed his lips and said, "Forget it."

"okay."

She also looked away.

But three seconds later, Cao Yukun said, "Actually, you can consider staying in Hongkong for a while, just to have some fun, or just to broaden your horizons, anyway..."

He turned his head and found that she was also looking at him.

Their eyes met again.

She smiled, lowered her head, and after a moment, shook her head and said, "Forget it."

"it is good."

…………

First, I sent her back to the hotel where she was staying.

After returning to the Jianguo Hotel, Cao Yukun entered the room. He was too lazy to take a shower for a moment, so he threw himself on the sofa, sat there and lit a cigarette.

But before he finished his cigarette, the waiter knocked on the door and handed him a note, saying, "Sir, you received four calls today, all from Hongkong. Because the phone in your room couldn't be reached, the caller asked our service desk to inform you in time after you return."

"The number the other party left and the time of the call are all recorded here for you."

Cao Yukun quickly thanked him and took it.

Oh my god...they are all calls from the company!

Cao Yukun frowned and wondered what could have happened in the company that would make them so anxious that they called him four times a day?

The key point is that there is definitely no one in the company at this time.

But he went back and picked up the phone and called Hong Kong's company.

The call was picked up within a second. It was a man's voice. When Cao Yukun asked, he found out that it was a young man working in the clerical position. From his impression... he was not tall and thin, and seemed to have graduated from a Chinese university. He had a very low sense of presence in the company.

Anyway, Cao Yukun didn't remember his name before, but he remembered it this time: Zhou Xingbin.

When Cao Yukun went out, it was useless to carry his mobile phone with an empty red number because it could not roam, but he could neither give it to Zhou Aimin nor to his old aunt, so he usually left it in the office.

Zhou Xingbin said that today Jin Zhijian and Jin Sheng called Cao Yukun's mobile phone and learned that Cao Yukun was not in Hongkong. So they asked Zhou Xingbin who answered the phone to contact Cao Yukun as soon as possible and ask him to call him back.

Upon hearing this, all the tiredness from a whole day's stroll and the regret of wanting to reach out but not having the courage to do so were suddenly thrown away by Cao Yukun.

After praising Zhou Xingbin for waiting in the office late at night for him to call back, and for regarding his boss's affairs as more important than his own workday, Cao Yukun hung up the phone and looked at the time. Although it was already past half past ten, he still dialed the number of his big brother Jin Zhijian.

It didn't take long before the call was picked up.

But the elder brother's voice was a little dry. Maybe he had already gone to bed and was woken up again. "Hello, is that A Kun? Haha, I knew that you would be the only one who would call at this time."

"Haha, sorry to bother you. I just got back to the hotel and just found out you were looking for me."

"Well, come back as soon as possible. HSBC has agreed to follow your plan and we can continue the discussion."

Cao Yukun was stunned for a moment, then replied: "Okay!"

After chatting for a few more sentences, Cao Yukun didn't even ask what exactly happened, how the big brother talked about this matter again, what the other side said, and so on. He didn't ask a single question. He just apologized again for disturbing the big brother's rest, and then hung up the phone.

But after hanging up the phone, he suddenly lost his composure.

As expected.

I have to say that the situation of Aijia Electric Appliances is right there. Unless there is someone like me who has strong confidence in turning this electrical appliance manufacturing company from loss to profit, and even has a clear positioning and plan for its future development direction, no one will be willing to take over this business.

At least no one would offer such generous conditions as what he offered to HSBC!
It's a debt of over 80 million. I personally promise you that I will pay you back in the future. Who dares to agree to this condition? Just for this, I'll let you give me those shares for free. Isn't it a bargain for you?

"Good! Good!"

After saying "OK" twice in a row, Cao Yukun excitedly walked back and forth in the room for a full half minute before stopping. He subconsciously took out a cigarette and wanted to light it - but suddenly he was stunned.

After thinking for about three seconds, he finally shook his head.

…………

Early the next morning, Cao Yukun caught a plane and returned to Hongkong.

He went to see the big brother Jin Zhijian first, and when they sat down to talk in detail, Cao Yukun learned that the three issuing banks had a routine meeting yesterday at noon. After the meeting, HSBC's big boss Pu Weishi went to find Jin Zhijian specifically, mentioned the problem of Aijia Electric Appliances, and said that HSBC was looking forward to meeting with Mr. Cao again to continue discussing the plan he had proposed.

Well, knowing this is enough. As for the rest, Cao Yukun can guess it almost by himself, without even Jin Zhijian's explanation - HSBC must have tried many methods and contacted many interested people, but on the one hand, the pit of Aijia Electric Appliances is too big, and no one can fill it completely for HSBC. Secondly, in the eyes of Hongkong people, the electrical appliance manufacturing industry is indeed not profitable and is even regarded as a sunset industry.

Externally, there is the impact of Japan's developed electrical appliance manufacturing industry. Internally, the electrical appliance market in Hong Kong has long been saturated. As for new markets, although the mainland has recently made some achievements in reform and opening up, it is too poor. In another ten or twenty years, there will not be many household appliances that their people can afford.

As for the capital market, ten or twenty years? Come on, even one year is too long!

Hongkong’s local capital cannot do this job.

Then just contact that mainland guy later!
Although HSBC's Asia General Manager Eldon was displeased when he refused, and even failed to follow the most basic etiquette and see the guest off, that did not prevent them from coming back to have a second contact with Cao Yukun at this time - business! Everything is business!
Then get in touch and talk.

When they met again this time, Cao Yukun felt that the attitudes of everyone from Elton to HSBC had changed drastically.

It seems that after sufficient trials and contacts recently, they have completely understood that the Aijia Electric Appliances deal is really difficult to handle - after only one meeting, the two parties almost decided on the general direction of cooperation on the spot, and the rest are basically all details.

Ah Hao is always keeping an eye on the promotion and sales of Qinyuan brand plum juice in Lijiaopo. It would be difficult to transfer him back in a short time. However, the commercial services in Hongkong are extremely developed. Law firms and accounting firms have all been involved. By the way, Zhou Xingbin was directly promoted to be responsible for this matter.

Inventory check, asset inventory, account audit, etc., it is obviously impossible for Cao Yukun to do these things personally. Even if the money is enough, Hongkong's lawyers and accountants have always had a good reputation, but after all, he still needs someone from his own family to keep an eye on it.

Zhou Xingbin is very suitable.

And you won’t know until you use it. You will find that although this guy doesn’t look very smart, he is very serious and hardworking in his work.

So Cao Yukun let him do it more freely.

As for people, you always have to give them opportunities to show their abilities, only then will you know whether they are useful or not.

Facts have proved that when it comes to big things, big situations, and big systems, the comprehensive qualities of the person in control are too high. It is hard to say whether he is suitable or not, but for things at this level, Zhou Xingbin is enough.

Of course, he is only responsible for doing specific tasks. For external contacts, Cao Yukun is still qualified.

In the case of Aijia Electric Appliances, HSBC took the vast majority of the profits, but this was not just a problem for them - it was mainly for the other creditors, and HSBC certainly did not want them to benefit for nothing. So, while HSBC was talking to Cao Yukun and going through the asset audit process, it was also repeatedly convening meetings to demand that other creditors of Aijia Electric Appliances must also come up with a portion of the money for the sake of the security of their claims. HSBC could not be allowed to give away shares for nothing to save everyone's claims.

There are some people here that Cao Yukun must meet.

Instead, I got to know several Hongkong bankers at once - of course, there was an acquaintance among them, the chairman of Wing Lung Bank, Lin Liangjun.

In the end, under HSBC's strong integration, other banks and financial companies that held a total of about 120 million Hong Kong dollars in debt to Aijia Electric Appliances were forced to agree to subsidize HSBC with a total of million Hong Kong dollars according to the proportion of their respective debts in order to facilitate this matter and maintain the safety of the debt.

Cao Yukun flew back to the Hong Kong Air Force on the morning of September 9 and officially contacted HSBC on September 17.

On Thursday, September 9, the two parties officially signed the contract.

Cao Yukun acquired 57% of Aijia Electric Appliances' shares from HSBC for one Hong Kong dollar.

Subsequently, Aijia Electric Appliances changed its name and resumed trading on the Hongkong Stock Exchange. The company was renamed Joyoung Electric Appliance Co., Ltd., with Cao Yukun as the chairman of the board of directors. A total of four people were selected by creditors including HSBC and Wing Lung Bank to serve as non-executive directors on the board of directors of Joyoung Electric Appliance Co., Ltd. to oversee the company's decision-making operations and financial status until the company's financial crisis and bankruptcy crisis were completely resolved.

Once the transaction information was released, although the transaction price was not disclosed, all the major newspapers and tabloids in Hong Kong were full of flattery, and HSBC also received widespread praise from Hong Kong shareholders.

In short, in order to save the interests of shareholders, HSBC has tried its best!
Once a company goes bankrupt and delists, and once it enters the process of asset liquidation, debt claims will be the top priority. By that time, shareholders will inevitably gain nothing!

Now, HSBC would rather sacrifice its own interests and stabilize the situation. It also found a buyer for the company and temporarily preserved the survival of this listed company.

In order to prove the wisdom of HSBC's business decision and to truly reassure the majority of shareholders, once HSBC's baton was waved, the news about Cao Yukun, the "golden finger of business operation" and his previous brilliant record in selling plum juice were quickly publicized by media large and small in the market - the miracle is that this approach really works.

Once Joyoung Electric resumed trading, its share price quickly stabilized and even rebounded slightly.

When the new week opened, the company's stock price stabilized at more than 1100 cents per share, and its total market value once again stood firmly above million, approximately million - although compared with the company's market value of more than million at its peak more than half a year ago, it is now considered terrible, but after all, the shell has remained stable.

Well, Cao Yukun’s business card needs to be remade again.

This time, the version can be printed with the title of Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hongkong Joyoung Electric Appliance Co., Ltd.

The stock code should also be indicated above to indicate that this is a red-hot listed company.

…………

Busy and chattering.

Since returning to Hongkong, Cao Yukun has hardly been idle.

Acquiring a listed company with heavy debts and complex debt relationships is not a small matter, not to mention that Cao Yukun had almost no experience in this regard.

Everything from asset audits, debt checks, legal audits, interpersonal and personnel matters is very tedious.

Fortunately, Cao Yukun has a good brother in Hongkong. The good brother points out the key human resources and checks the important key nodes. What is particularly important is that with the good brother watching there, those deceptive means and mechanisms are generally not used for his sake.

In short, he was busy for a week, so busy that he didn't even have time to spend with his woman, but in the end, he managed to hold on.

Smooth acquisition, smooth resumption of trading, smooth acquisition and smooth takeover.

all the best.

Mr. Cao became the boss of a listed company, the real Mr. Cao.

(End of this chapter)