Video Editor

Just as Ningyuan Capital was thriving and its investment portfolio was expanding, bad news suddenly came: Jianguo Group had run into trouble.

On Tuesday morning, Suning was holding an investment decision meeting to discuss an investment in a quantum computing project.

Suddenly his phone rang; it was his sister, Su Qing, calling.

"Su Ning, Dad's in an accident, come to the hospital quickly!" Su Qing's voice was choked with sobs.

Su Ning's heart sank: "What's wrong?"

“Dad…Dad collapsed and is in the ICU now. The doctor said…it’s an acute myocardial infarction,” Su Qing said, her voice choked with emotion.

Su Ning immediately stood up: "Which hospital? I'll be there right away."

"Huashan Hospital. Come quickly, the doctor says the situation is very dangerous..."

When Su Ning arrived at the hospital, Su Qing, Su Ming, and several senior executives from Jianguo Group were waiting outside the ICU.

"What happened?" Su Ning asked Su Qing.

“Dad was having a board meeting this morning when he suddenly said his chest hurt, and then… then he collapsed.” Su Qing’s eyes were red and swollen. “He was rushed here and underwent emergency treatment for an hour, but he’s still not out of danger.”

Su Ming stood to the side, his face pale, without saying a word.

He was no longer as arrogant and domineering as before. After all, he wasn't stupid; he knew that without Su Jianguo, he was nothing.

At this moment, a middle-aged man in a suit walked over. He was General Manager Liu of Jianguo Group. "President Su, the Chairman is... in a state of extreme anxiety."

"What do you mean?"

General Manager Liu sighed: "The group has recently run into a big problem. Our iron ore project in Brazil has run into trouble."

"The Brazil project?" Suning remembered this project; it was Jianguo Group's largest overseas investment in recent years, amounting to over two billion yuan.

“Yes.” Mr. Liu lowered his voice. “Our mine in Brazil was recently found to be in violation of environmental regulations by the local government. They will be fined and ordered to suspend production for rectification. That’s not all. Our partners are also in trouble. They are suspected of bribing local officials and are now under investigation. If they are convicted, our investment may be completely lost.”

Su Ning's expression changed: "Why are you only bringing this up now? It's such a big deal."

“The chairman has been trying to handle this himself and didn’t want us to tell you,” General Manager Liu said with a wry smile. “For the past two months, he’s been going to Beijing every day, trying to find connections and solutions. But the situation is getting worse and worse. This morning at the board meeting, several major shareholders pressured him, demanding that the chairman take responsibility, and some even suggested removing him from his post. In a fit of anger, the chairman…”

Before he could finish speaking, the doctor came out of the ICU.

"Who are the family members?"

“I am his daughter.” “I am his son.”

Su Ning and Su Qing stepped forward at the same time.

"The patient has regained consciousness, but their condition is still unstable," the doctor said. "It was an acute myocardial infarction. Although the rescue was timely, the heart has been severely damaged. They need to rest and absolutely cannot be stimulated. In addition, we recommend coronary artery bypass surgery as soon as possible."

"Is the surgery risky?" Su Ning asked.

“Any surgery carries risks, but given Mr. Su’s current condition, the risks are greater if he doesn’t have the surgery,” the doctor said bluntly. “You two should discuss it and decide as soon as possible.”

……

When Su Ning entered the ward, Su Jianguo had just woken up, with tubes inserted into his body and a sallow complexion.

“Dad.” Su Ning walked to the bedside.

Su Jianguo glanced at him, his voice weak: "You... why are you here? Isn't the company... isn't the company busy?"

"No matter how busy the company is, nothing is more important than you." Su Ning held her father's hand. "General Manager Liu told me about the Brazil project."

Su Jianguo closed his eyes and sighed, "It was my fault... I misjudged the situation. I was too hasty, trying to make more money while iron ore prices were rising, and then..."

“This is not the time to talk about this,” Su Ning interrupted him. “You should focus on getting better first; the surgery is necessary. I’ll handle the company matters.”

"You're going to handle this?" Su Jianguo opened his eyes. "How are you going to handle this? A hole of over two billion yuan, and shareholders are pressuring us to step down..."

“I have a way,” Su Ning said firmly. “Trust me this once.”

Su Jianguo looked at him with a complicated expression.

This son, who was just an ordinary high school student two years ago, is now the founder of a multi-billion dollar fund.

Maybe... he really does have the ability?
"Okay, give it a try." Su Jianguo finally relented. "But remember, don't push yourself. If it really doesn't work out... just accept the loss. Money can be earned back, but you can't afford to get hurt."

"I know."

……

As soon as he left the ward, Su Ning immediately took action.

He first called Chen Xi: "Chen Xi, have you heard about the Jianguo Group?"

"I've heard about it; it's all over the industry," Chen Xi said. "President Su, what can I do for you?"

“Two things,” Su Ning said decisively. “First, use all our connections to find out exactly what’s going on with the Brazilian project, who’s behind it, whether the partners are involved in any shady dealings, and what the local government’s attitude is. Second, prepare funds; if things go wrong, we may need to inject capital.”

"Understood. I'll arrange it right away."

Then, he called Zhang Yuan: "Zhang Yuan, can you get your hands on the legal documents and contracts of Jianguo Group?"

“Yes, Jianguo Group is an affiliate of ours and has the authority to access this information,” Zhang Yuan said. “What do you need?”

"We've compiled all the contracts for the Brazilian project, including investment agreements, cooperation agreements, and government approvals. The focus is on identifying any loopholes, breach of contract clauses, and the possibility of holding anyone accountable."

"Okay, I'll take care of it right away."

Then he called Wu Kezhi again: "Mr. Wu, please keep an eye on Hanxin Materials. I have some family matters to deal with recently, so I may not be able to attend to it."

"Don't worry, Mr. Su, I'll take care of things here," Wu Kezhi said. "Just let me know if you need any help."

Finally, he sent a WeChat message to Su Qing and Su Ming: "Sister, Su Ming, I'll take care of Dad here. You two go back and rest first, and come back tomorrow. I'll handle the Jianguo Group matter, so don't worry."

After sending the message, Su Ning sat on a bench in the hospital corridor and took a deep breath.

Ningyuan Capital was in a period of rapid development, and this sudden incident disrupted all of its plans.

But he had no choice.

His father fell ill, and the family needed him to step up.

A two billion dollar deficit, shareholder pressure, company crisis...

These are things I must face myself.

Although it's difficult, I believe I can handle it.

……

The crisis facing the Jian Guo Group is indeed quite troublesome.

However, the first thing they did was to take action. First, Suning had Chen Xi thoroughly investigate the Brazilian project.

Chen Xi mobilized all of Ningyuan Capital's overseas connections...

Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have branches in Brazil, as well as several local law firms and consulting companies.

A week later, the report came out.

“President Su, the situation is more complicated than we imagined,” Chen Xi said in a video conference. “Jianguo Group’s partner is indeed suspected of bribing local officials. But that’s not the key point. The key point is that an Australian mining company is behind this. They want to acquire the mine at a low price, so they reported the partner and pressured the local government to investigate thoroughly.”

"An Australian company? Which one?"

Rio Tinto Mining.

Suning understood that this was an industry giant cleaning up the battlefield, and smaller players were being used as sacrificial lambs.

"Then what do we do?"

“There are two options,” Chen Xi analyzed. “First, confront Rio Tinto head-on, go to court, and put pressure on them through the Chinese embassy. But that would be time-consuming, costly, and have little chance of success. Second, negotiate and sell the mine to Rio Tinto, but the price would be driven down significantly.”

Su Ning thought for a moment: "Is there a third option?"

“Yes.” Chen Xi pulled up a map. “We found that the mine’s reserves are 30% larger than previously estimated. Furthermore, we discovered associated minerals nearby, containing rare earth elements. If this news is released, the valuation will double.” “Does Rio Tinto know about this?”

"They probably don't know this; it's the latest exploration result."

Suning's eyes lit up: "Then let's use this as leverage to negotiate with Rio Tinto. We won't sell the mine, but we can cooperate in its development. They provide the technology and management, and we provide the mining rights, with profits split."

"Will they... agree to this?"

“Give it a try,” Suning said. “Contact Rio Tinto and tell them we want to develop associated minerals. If they’re willing to cooperate, we can give up some of our rights. If not, we’ll do it ourselves and become competitors.”

Of course, Suning can't rely entirely on these Australian wolves.

Immediately afterwards, Suning personally dealt with the shareholder's pressure to resign, knowing that internal stability was essential before external threats could be addressed.

Jianguo Group has several major shareholders who have always had opinions about Su Jianguo's management.

When the Brazilian project ran into trouble, they joined forces to demand that Su Jianguo take responsibility and even wanted to elect a new chairman.

Suning had Zhang Yuan compile detailed information on all shareholders, including their backgrounds, shareholding ratios, interests, and weaknesses.

Then he talked to them one by one.

The first one is Mr. Wang, who holds 15% of the shares and started his business in real estate.

"Uncle Wang, I heard you have a problem with my father?" Su Ning asked bluntly.

"It's not that I have any objections, it's that I'm worried," Mr. Wang said politely. "The Brazil project lost two billion, the group's stock price dropped by 30%, and we shareholders suffered heavy losses."

“What if I could recover the losses, or even increase the value of the project?” Su Ning asked.

How can I win him back?

"The reserves of the Brazilian mine have increased by 30%, and there are also rare earth associated minerals. I have already been in talks with Rio Tinto about a joint development project, and if it goes through, the valuation will at least double."

Mr. Wang was stunned: "Really?"

“You can send someone to verify,” Su Ning said. “But before that, I hope you will support my father and the stability of the group. If we change the leadership now, the cooperation will definitely fall through, and the losses will be even greater.”

After hesitating for a moment, Mr. Wang nodded: "Okay, I'll give you a month. If it's really as you say, I guarantee I'll support Mr. Su."

The second is Mr. Li, who holds 12% of the shares and has a state-owned enterprise background.

Suning's negotiation strategy was different: "Mr. Li, I know your son is studying in Australia and wants to work for Rio Tinto. If this cooperation goes through, I can recommend him; I have connections at Rio Tinto."

Mr. Li's eyes lit up: "This..."

"Furthermore, Jianguo Group is undergoing a transformation, moving towards high technology. Several projects invested in by Ningyuan Capital, such as photoresist and industrial robots, can synergize with the group's business. The future growth potential is huge, so it's not worthwhile for you to exit now."

After a slap followed by a sweet treat, even General Manager Li was persuaded.

The third one is the most difficult to deal with. He is Mr. Sun, who holds 18% of the shares, and has a grudge against Su Jianguo.

Suning laid it out on the table: "Mr. Sun, I know you have your own companies outside and are using Jianguo Group's resources to take on private jobs. If this gets out, what do you think the other shareholders will think?"

Mr. Sun's expression changed: "You're actually threatening me?"

“This isn’t a threat, it’s a reminder,” Su Ning said calmly. “It’s best if everyone can make money peacefully. If you support my father and the Brazilian project makes money, everyone will benefit. If you try to cause trouble, then it’ll be a fight to the death.”

Mr. Sun stared at Su Ning for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth: "Fine, you're ruthless! But I'd like to see how you solve this problem."

"Don't worry! I definitely won't let you down, Mr. Sun."

Finally, the funding issue also needs to be addressed.

Although the Brazilian project has the potential to be revitalized, the group is currently facing a tight cash flow, with a deficit of 2 billion yuan to fill and bank loans to repay.

First, Ningyuan Capital contributed 500 million yuan as a bridge loan.

Second, Jianguo Group sold some non-core assets, including a logistics park and two commercial land plots, raising 800 million yuan.

Third, strategic investors were introduced. China Investment Corporation (CIC) is interested in the cooperative development of the Brazilian mine and is willing to invest 1 billion yuan for a 30% stake.

“CIC is a national team. Their involvement not only solves the funding problem but also enhances the project’s credibility,” Chen Xi said. “Moreover, they have dealt with Rio Tinto before and can help with negotiations.”

"Okay, finalize it as soon as possible," Suning decided.

……

A month later, all the problems were solved.

Regarding the Brazilian project, Jianguo Group and Rio Tinto reached a cooperation agreement for development, with Rio Tinto contributing technology and management, and Jianguo Group contributing mining rights, with each party holding a 50% stake.

The associated minerals will be separated into a joint venture, with CIC holding 30%, Jianguo Group and Rio Tinto each holding 35%.

All the major shareholders were appeased; they not only stopped causing trouble but also increased their investment.

After the 3.3 billion yuan was gradually allocated, it not only filled the financial hole but also provided the capacity to advance other projects.

Even more surprisingly, thanks to its cooperation with Rio Tinto and CIC, Jianguo Group's stock price not only recovered its losses but also rose by 20%.

When Su Jianguo heard the news at the hospital after his heart surgery, he was so excited that he almost had another seizure.

"Dad, please don't get agitated." Su Ning pressed him down. "Just focus on getting better. I'll take care of the company."

"Su Ning, how...how did you do that?" Su Jianguo couldn't believe it.

“It’s not difficult,” Su Ning said. “It’s about finding the key points and tackling them one by one. The key to the Brazilian project is the associated minerals, the key to the shareholders’ pressure is their interests, and the key to the funding problem is credibility. Once these are resolved, everything else will naturally fall into place.”

Although Su Ning spoke lightly, Su Jianguo knew that his son must have stayed up a lot of nights and worried a lot during this past month.

"You've worked hard." Su Jianguo patted his hand. "I underestimated you before. Now I see, you're better than me."

"Please don't say that," Su Ning laughed. "I still have a lot to learn from you."

The news sent shockwaves through the industry.

"Such a huge crisis for Jianguo Group, and Suning resolved it in just one month? That's incredible!"

"I heard that he negotiated with Rio Tinto and managed to turn a seemingly hopeless situation into a successful one. He also brought in CIC. His operations were surprisingly sophisticated for someone his age."

"Ningyuan Capital is now at its peak, and Jianguo Group has also been revived. This Suning is incredible."

Even Li Shensi called Su Ning: "Su Ning, well done. Your skills are even better than your father's back then."

"Uncle Li, you flatter me. I was just lucky."

“It’s not luck, it’s ability,” Li Shensi said. “I have high hopes for the Jianguo Group and will hand it over to you from now on.”

Su Ning didn't respond to that; he wasn't ready to take over yet, as he was too busy with Ningyuan Capital's affairs.

But at least, Suning proved one thing: when the family needs him, he can definitely step up.

And it's topped very nicely.

This crisis not only resolved the problems of the Jianguo Group, but also solidified Suning's position in the business world.

In the past, when people talked about him, they referred to him as "Su Jianguo's son" or "a rich second generation".

Now, he is Su Ning, the founder of Ningyuan Capital, the savior of Jianguo Group during its crisis, and a leading figure in the field of hard technology investment.

This status was earned by Suning through its own strength.

And there's still a lot I need to do next.

Ningyuan Capital needs to continue expanding, Jianguo Group needs to transform and upgrade, and there are still so many post-investment projects to manage...

However, Su Ning could sense that his dungeon travel was nearing its end, and perhaps one day the system would descend again and arrange for him to go to the next brand new dungeon world.

Suning, however, didn't care about these things and focused on doing things perfectly.

...(End of chapter)