A century-old wealthy family that rose from Shanghai

Chapter 108: Fight for the Commercial Daily

He Xiangdong brought the financial personnel of Changjiang Car Dealership and Zhou Xinggao to Chen Guangliang's office.

"Boss, in the past ten days, we've taken in a total of 10200 yuan in funds, involving 302 people. We've stopped accepting funds. Here's the bank receipt for the funds."

After listening to the report, Chen Guangliang nodded with satisfaction. Now Changjiang Car Dealership has a special "finance", so the fundraising this time is under the responsibility of He Xiangdong and the finance department, and Zhou Xinggao is responsible for supervision.

In this way, some risks can be avoided, and this is what a formal enterprise should do.

"It seems like everyone trusts us very much!"

"Yes, after all, they are not confident in keeping the money in their own hands, and they don't know how to deposit money in a bank, so when they hear about the 15% annual interest rate, they rush to save."

To be honest, the additional 10200 yuan is better than nothing for Chen Guangliang. He has other means to obtain more funds.

However, considering everyone's enthusiasm and financial security, Chen Guangliang decided to open up ten days for savings, with an annual interest rate almost twice that of the bank.

Of course, for Chen Guangliang, this money will not be lost, and he can choose to invest in the "taxi industry" or "newspaper industry".

Next, Chen Guangliang said, "I'm planning to build a brick and wood structure for the Yangtze River Vehicle Dealership here, so I need to move to another place to work temporarily. I happen to have land nearby. Brother Zhou, you can organize people to build a temporary house later. We'll be moving there for more than two months."

It's really too cheap to have a straw hut as the base. After all, it's a medium-sized car dealership, collecting more than 10,000 yuan in rent every month!
Therefore, Chen Guangliang planned to let Changjiang Real Estate organize and build eight brick and wood houses here to be used as the headquarters base of Changjiang Car Dealership.

Including other minor work, it only cost about 3000 yuan.

"Okay, it's very quick. We can build a temporary house in half a month at most."

After some arrangements, everyone returned to their respective posts.

Although Zhou Shoujuan did not agree to help Chen Guangliang, he introduced him to Fang Jiaobo, and they met in a teahouse.

Fang Jiaobo used to be the vice president of the Hainan General Chamber of Commerce and had been re-elected for four terms. In addition, he was also the vice president of the Ningbo Shanghai Association, so he could be considered a real big shot.

Of course, it is still a little worse than the president of the Ningbo Shanghai Association, Yu Qiaqing, and the vice president, Fu Xiaoan.

It is equivalent to Yu Qiaqing and Fu Xiao'an being at the "boss level", while Fang Jiaobo is at the "professional manager" level and is a practical talent.

As soon as they met, Fang Jiaobo said enthusiastically: "We have another great talent in Ningbo!"

If Fang Jiaobo had not heard that the other party was a fellow Ningbo native, he would not have shown up in person this time and would have sent an assistant to reply.

Chen Guangliang quickly said, "I don't deserve it. People like Mr. Fang and Mr. Yu are the real pride of us Ningbo people."

Fang Jiaobo took the initiative to invite Chen Guangliang to sit down, then took a look at him and thought to himself, he is indeed young!
If this person were the son of a wealthy family, he would be praised to the skies. Recently, Changjiang Real Estate invested in two new lanes on Yuyuan Road, totaling over 80 buildings. Isn't this a testament to their ability?
What's more, they used the method of "making money out of nothing" and it is said that they only invested a few thousand dollars.

Of course, it is not easy for people who start from scratch, and the things involved are more complicated!
"Your Happy Home and Sunshine Home projects are doing really well and are now a hot topic in the Shanghai real estate community. Last time, 'Brother Ade' said at the Ningbo Shanghai Association's headquarters that if he had known real estate was so easy, he wouldn't have spent so many years investing in such a small amount of real estate in Shanghai."

As one of the largest landlords in Shanghai, Yu Qiaqing said this was a bit "excessive".

Chen Guangliang said modestly: "It's all because of lack of money that we have to come up with this way to develop real estate."

Fang Jiaobo nodded and didn't continue the conversation. Instead, he spoke directly, "Before you, someone had already wanted to buy the Commercial Daily brand and equipment from me. I can also tell you that this group of people is Hong Yanbin, the former assistant manager of the Commercial Daily, and Huang Chunsun, the former advertising director of the Commercial Daily. They are both interested in buying it. And do you know who Hong Yanbin is?"

Chen Guangliang was stunned. Since someone had already bought it, why did Fang Jiaobo need to meet him in person?

Of course, he still shook his head in cooperation!

Fang Jiaobo said, "He is Du Yuesheng's disciple, and his most favored disciple."

Disciples do not mean just his subordinates. They could also be businessmen, intellectuals, or even government officials who are his disciples.

Chen Guangliang had never heard of Hong Yanbin, and he was probably an unknown figure in history.

Chen Guangliang said: "Since Mr. Fang has already promised someone else, I was just overthinking it!"

Fang Jiaobo said, "It's not that I agreed to it. I offered them 20000 yuan, but they haven't raised the money yet. So, I'll give them three days to decide. If they still don't give me the money, I'll consider negotiating with you."

"Row"

Seeing that Chen Guangliang really dared to agree, Fang Jiaobo was a little surprised. Then he talked to Chen Guangliang about the situation of "Business Daily".

Chen Guangliang also listened carefully and did not give up completely.

At the end of the conversation, Fang Jiaobo took the initiative to say, "By the way, Guangliang. You are now quite successful in the Shanghai business community. Would you like to join the Ningbo Shanghai Association? I can be your introducer."

Chen Guangliang was somewhat familiar with this hometown association. Located near Buliufang, across from the Grand World on Aiduoya Road (now Yan'an East Road), it housed the Ningbo Merchants General Association, a renowned Shanghai club. It was open all night, offering gambling, drinking, and even gambling. This club was a gathering place for Ningbo's prominent merchants residing in Shanghai. Membership required introductions from two members and a membership fee of over 100 yuan. Fu Xiao'an, Xie Hengbi, Yuan Ludeng, Yu Qiaqing, Fang Jiaobo, and other prominent merchants would spend their free time there.

There are certainly benefits to joining in, namely the network of personal connections.

Today, Chen Guangliang has indeed achieved some success, mainly because he is good at real estate management and is being emulated by businessmen in the real estate industry.

"Thank you, Mr. Fang." "Why are you being so polite? This is the home of our Ningbo merchants. If you don't come, who will?"

Hong Yanbin and Huang Chunsun came to Fang Jiaobo's mansion. They were invited, but they both understood what was going on.

"You two, someone has also taken a fancy to the machinery and equipment of the Commercial Daily and is planning to buy them to publish a commercial newspaper. However, I am keeping them for you two and have not agreed to it. However, I cannot stand their relentless pursuit, so I say that if you don't take them away within three days, you will have to sell them to him." Fang Jiaobo said kindly.

Hong Yanbin, the shipping section chief of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company and a prominent protégé of Du Yuesheng, immediately asked, "Who is that person? Seeing the collapse of the Commercial Daily, he's planning to repeat the same mistake. Could it be some celebrity in the newspaper industry?"

Fang Jiaobo smiled and said, "No, he's just a fellow from Ningbo. He's been doing some real estate and car business, and he's only recently become popular. He's a young, fearless young man."

Hong Yanbin's mind flashed quickly, and then he said, "Is it a real estate developer named Chen Guangliang?"

Fang Jiaobo was stunned. He thought that this could be guessed. He smiled and said, "Yes."

Hong Yanbin responded, "I just saw some newspapers recently and randomly picked them up. I didn't expect my guess to be correct. This is strange. He went from being a car dealer to a real estate developer. Why would he choose to do this good business and get involved in this messy newspaper business?"

At this time, he had not yet raised enough funds to acquire the "Business Daily"; now that a competitor had arrived, he would need three days to raise enough funds, so he naturally felt a little resistant.

Fang Jiaobo said, "He feels that he has the ability to run this newspaper well, so it's perfectly normal for him to come and negotiate!"

Hong Yanbin immediately shot back, "Mr. Fang should introduce me to someone one day. Since he's so confident, maybe he can give me some pointers!"

Obviously, there is something behind this!
Hong Yanbin and Huang Chunsun were both very aware of how difficult it would be to continue publishing the "Business Daily". There was a shortage of economic talents, and at that time they might have to narrow the scope of professional economics.

Fang Jiaobo asked Yan Hou, and laughed: "Even if you don't say it, I will help you introduce it. People also said that if you take over the Commercial News, they also hope to learn from you."

It wasn't a learning experience at all. Chen Guangliang just felt that the business run by Hong Yanbin and Huang Chunsun would soon go bankrupt, so he planned to take over the opportunity.

Of course, Fang Jiaobo, Hong Yanbin and others didn't know what he meant.

Hong Yanbin said, "Okay, I'd like to get to know young people like this too."

It was still a bit difficult for Hong Yanbin and Huang Chunsun to collect 2 yuan in three days.

Huang Chunsun was just a newspaper editor and used to receive a senior manager's salary; Hong Yanbin was just the shipping section chief of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company and was just a senior employee.

It’s not that the two of them can’t get together, it’s just that time is tight.

So, Hong Yanbin decisively came to the Du Mansion on Huagenei Road (later Ninghai West Road).

Ninghai West Road was built in 1926. Two years ago, in 1924, Du Yuesheng, although already fully grown, had not yet spread his wings and soared into the sky. This led him to accept a gift from Huang Jinrong: one of the two completely similar houses on Huagenei Road in the French Concession.

The Du Mansion is close to the Zhang Mansion (Zhang Xiaolin), where Du Yuesheng's first, second and third wives lived. The fourth wife, Yao Yulan, was married this year, but she did not live in the Du Mansion.

"Yanbin, why are you looking for me in such a hurry?" Du Yuesheng had a friendly smile on his face.

This is his usual style, and also because Hong Yanbin is one of his most respected disciples.

Although Hong Yanbin was only a shipping section chief of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, he was one of Du Yuesheng's staff and could advise him on many matters.

"Mr. Du, I'm here to borrow money from you. We've been eyeing the Commercial Daily lately, but Uncle Fang Jiao has only given us three days to raise the funds. We can't come up with anything in a short time, so we came to you!"

Du Yuesheng said cheerfully, "I take it as a small matter. No problem! You know me. I love intellectuals and investing in newspapers. How about giving me a share?"

Hong Yanbin said happily, "That's great. But to be honest with you, Mr. Du, I lack confidence in relaunching the Commercial Daily. After all, professional economic talents are hard to come by."

"It's just a little change, but I believe it can be done!"

Hong Yanbin nodded, and then he took the initiative to explain why he had to raise all the funds within three days!

Du Yuesheng also said with some interest: "I think I've heard of this Chen Guangliang before. Yes, I learned about him from Gu Zhuxuan. And the founder of Changjiang Real Estate mentioned in the newspaper recently is him!"

Hong Yanbin chuckled and said, "It's him. He's even more active in running a newspaper than I am. He said he wanted to get to know me and learn how to run a newspaper from me."

"Haha" Du Yuesheng laughed.

Hong Yanbin asked, "What are you laughing at, Mr. Du?"

Du Yuesheng pointed at Hong Yanbin and said, "Yanbin, you really don't know what you're doing. People who want to get to know you and learn from you are just pretending. I guess they are just waiting for you to fail so that they can take over at a lower price."

Hong Yanbin's face suddenly turned red, and he said angrily: "If I can't do it, how can he? He is really young and ignorant of the immensity of the world!" After all, he still has many connections, including Huang Chunsun, an old newspaper owner, and he plans to hire the former editor-in-chief Zhang Jinglu as the editor-in-chief.

What does this young man have?
Du Yuesheng then said with a smile: "Then let's get to know each other!"

Hong Yanbin also returned to normal and said, "Of course. I want to see if things will really develop as he imagined!"

In fact, he also reflects a lack of confidence.

(End of this chapter)