Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 191 All Forces Gather
"The Huadi Dynasty high-end hotel project built by Chichuan Group fills the gap in high-end tourism reception facilities in the county. Together with the opening of the new Longshui Lake hot spring tourism products, it further enhances the tourism reception capacity of Dazu County..."

“I have investigated Dazu. Last year, its industrial growth was strong, accounting for 42.99% of GDP, with a growth rate of 15.2%. The comprehensive economic efficiency index of industrial enterprises was also very high. Why didn’t they bring your metal processing plant project here? Don’t they need the money?”

"The planning for the Zhongxian Industrial Park has already begun. The construction of the shipbuilding industrial park and the chemical industrial park is in preparation for the park's establishment in 2006..."

"Zhongxian County is primarily an agricultural area. I see that your industrial park has attracted several pharmaceutical and battery companies, and your determination to transform is commendable. The Three Gorges Reservoir area needs a model of a distinctive industrial cluster. However, you lack a secondary industry base. Don't be overly ambitious. Looking at your park's category list, it's too cluttered."

"Our county's Shuangxing Shoe Factory..."

"I think you should go back and think it over carefully before coming back."

Maotian Cement Plant in our county

"Your Pengshui tobacco industry is a traditional pillar industry, in addition to agricultural and sideline product processing. Now you want to engage in mining development. Well, the technology content is not high, and if you have the resources, it's not a conflict. But you need to think carefully about where the problems lie in these industries, and whether your infrastructure can provide the conditions for external sales."

In the morning, each county had about 10 minutes to introduce their respective projects.

Leader Huang listened with his arms crossed the entire time, without looking at any documents, demonstrating a very deep understanding of the data.

If you can offer suggestions, then do so; those suggestions will likely reflect your initial stance. If you don't offer any suggestions at all, then it's basically a no-go.

Chen Xuebing sat very close to the podium, and throughout the entire session, only four words came to mind:
force majeure.

It is indeed beyond one's control to disagree with such a powerful figure.

If he were to argue with Leader Huang, he would likely gain nothing.

After listening for three hours, he was almost convinced, wondering if using limited funds to develop the economy of the entire county outside the city would be a better plan.

—If he weren't a reborn person, he might agree.

But he knew very well that, based on what he had heard about the state of these companies and industries, very few of them would be able to succeed in later generations. Most of the money invested would be wasted, or even lead to debt.

However, judging from Huang's answers and past actions, he could sense that Huang was clearly more interested in the restructuring of state-owned enterprises.

Structural reforms are driven by large-scale investment, leading to state-owned enterprise restructuring, capital operations, and industrial upgrading.

According to this theory, BOE's solution should not be ignored.

It's probably really due to financial considerations.

So much effort
We'll have to try.

The next day, the sky was clear and the air was clear.

The municipal government's project discussions entered a heated phase, with the 18 counties each displaying their unique abilities, studying their competitors' and their own projects, contacting familiar municipal leaders to explain the advantages of their projects, and some even directly contacting the powerful Chongqing Capital.

District Chief Hong privately offered his opinion to Leader Huang, hoping that the leader would carefully consider BOE's proposal.

An Audi A6 was parked leisurely in the airport parking lot. The two people in the car had been very busy lately, but they had been waiting all morning.

Around noon, a flight from Shenzhen finally arrived.

Chen Xuebing received a call and took Lu Xiaochun to the arrival gate to pick her up.

Kan Zhidong, who was walking towards us, was dressed particularly carefully today.

Wearing a black suit and a yellow tie, and with his hair always casually drooping when we met, he surprisingly sported a side part today, making him look incredibly energetic.

A young man in a blue suit and black-rimmed glasses approached him, chatting with him. He had a slight smile on his face, which carried a hint of nonchalance and confidence.

Chen Xuebing was wearing a gray overcoat and a matching gray suit today, and Lu Xiaochun always wore a meticulously tailored suit.

Of the four men, only Chen Xuebing could be described as handsome, but the four men of different ages attracted countless glances from those around them, even a group of flight attendants passing by on their way home.

A man's handsomeness is not just reflected in his appearance. The combined aura of these four men exudes a kind of aloofness and wealth that alienates the masses.

An irresistible flavor.

"Young man, you have a good eye!" Kan Zhidong patted Chen Xuebing on the shoulder and laughed, then pointed to the young man in the blue suit and said, "I've vetted you, this professional manager. You're very capable, have a good international perspective, and a bright future!"

"He's the Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer for Citibank China, you don't need to praise him."

Chen Xuebing smiled and shook hands with Cai Zhijian: "You must have had a long journey."

Cai Zhijian only transferred from Hong Kong to Zhuhai and then arrived in Shenzhen last night. He met up with Kan Zhidong early this morning and flew to Chongqing. It was a long journey, but he didn't look tired at all. That's the advantage of being young.

Despite being only 28 years old, his professional experience earned him Kan Zhidong's respect.

When facing the young chairman who offered him a million-dollar salary, Cai Zhijian was more serious than before: "I have always wondered why Mr. Chen does not develop his investments in Shanghai or Shenzhen. It turns out that he has such a big strategy in Chongqing. The government-guided fund has a bright future in mainland China. If it can be put into operation, the next step is to use it to develop, and the entire group will definitely be able to enter the fast lane. With such a long-term vision, I have great confidence in the company."

Chen Xuebing thought to himself, "I hadn't thought that far ahead, don't misunderstand." He smiled and said, "It's not just that, there are other reasons."

Lu Xiaochun, who was standing next to him, was more interested in Kan Zhidong and took the initiative to shake his hand: "Mr. Kan, I've heard so much about you."

"Mr. Lu, it's an honor to meet you! I think we met last year. You visited Southern Securities, right? I'm quite familiar with your General Manager Yang! I heard that Bosera can help raise 500 million yuan? That means there's still hope of negotiating with Chongqing!"

Kan Zhidong's words made Lu Xiaochun hesitate for a moment, but she still nodded.

Actually, the 500 million was a condition he negotiated with Chen Xuebing personally, but it was also for the company's benefit. The higher-ups had agreed, and they would need to use some of the company's connections. They said it was Bosera's help, so there was no problem with that.

Chen Xuebing didn't actually value the 500 million yuan that Lu Xiaochun helped him raise.

As the fund's returns gradually increase and Changzheng Capital gains a reputation, coupled with the guaranteed returns and transparency of private equity funds, its fundraising capacity will far exceed 500 million yuan.

This is the key reason why he dared to participate in this big project.

But right now, everyone is more inclined to believe that Bosera's name is what helped him raise 500 million.

Furthermore, private funds are one thing, but whether the government is willing to take on debt is another.

The principle of this leverage is that central and local funds are combined, then private financing is used, and finally a bank loan is obtained on a one-to-one basis, from 15-2 billion to 3-4 billion, and then to 7-8 billion.

The investee company, BOE, then used this packaged investment project worth seven or eight billion yuan to obtain loans from their local banks.

This step is a bit more difficult, as corporate loans cannot obtain such a high ratio. However, as long as BOE obtains more than 35% of the financing, plus some of the company's own funds, an investment of more than 10 billion yuan can be achieved.

After all this, the bulk of the money is still in the bank.

Therefore, both the investor and the investee must actively utilize their creditworthiness to reach an agreement.

The core issue lies in the city's attitude.

As Chen Xuebing pondered this, he looked at Kan Zhidong, who, like the Vice Mayor Huang, came from the Shanghai circle.

"Mr. Kan, are you acquainted with Vice Mayor Huang?"

"We used to have some dealings with each other a long time ago." Kan Zhidong recalled with his hands behind his back: "When we established Shenyin Securities, it was the only securities firm in Shanghai. He was the director of the Shanghai Economic Information Center, and we had some working interactions. Later, he was transferred to Huangpu as the deputy director of the management committee, and we had less contact. He rose quickly, becoming the deputy secretary-general of the municipal party committee and the director of the economic commission. Now, I don't know if he even recognizes my old face."

He said this and sighed.

When Chen Xuebing told him about this, he actually wanted to give up as well.

After all, local affairs are very complicated. In addition to profit considerations, there are also political objectives. Chen Xuebing has no background, and it is unknown who will be credited for the achievements he has made. If he wants to simply get this done, it is probably not enough to rely on the support of District Chief Hong alone.

However, abandoning the establishment of a guiding industry fund in Chongqing does not mean abandoning the project; there are other options.

If he broadens his horizons, he should be able to find a local government that needs him more or provides him with more support.

He conveyed this meaning over the phone before departing for Chongqing.

Chen Xuebing thought about this matter in a simpler way. In his previous life, Shenzhen gave up the project, and Shanghai did not take the offer. Moreover, the other party had sufficient funds and might not need him. If it were other places, he would have to travel back and forth, which would be beyond his capabilities.

When he was reborn, he was full of ambition and felt that he should expand his business to the whole country. However, after more than a year of running between Shenzhen and Chongqing, he has been feeling tired from time to time.

With Chongqing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and perhaps Beijing in the future, the company's main resources are distributed in these four locations, which is sufficient.

Bringing projects to our doorstep is definitely the best option.

"Let's give it a try first," Chen Xuebing said to Lao Kan.

Kan Zhidong pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Okay, let's give it a try. But we don't need to be subservient. There are still many places in China."

Chen Xuebing smiled. "Okay."

In the afternoon, the Audi A6 appeared at the city hall.

Four men and one woman got off the bus, all of them exuding a strong presence.

Ren Ying was unwilling to stop. During this period, she realized the company's rapid development and knew her own shortcomings. She had been studying and planned to take the entrance exam for the 06 Chongqing University Master of Business Administration program. Chen Xuebing appreciated this attitude and supported her, giving her enough freedom. She was allowed to not participate in non-essential matters and was entitled to a full-time salary.

At this moment, she returned to Chen Xuebing's side, got out of the passenger seat, and opened the car door for the three passengers in the back.

Kan Zhidong, who came out from the back row, patted himself off, somewhat speechless.

"You stingy kid! How can you be so stingy? Such a big project, and the whole company only has one car? And the chairman even drives it himself! How are people going to believe in your capabilities when you're out negotiating business? You need to pay more attention to appearances!"

Chen Xuebing put on the long overcoat he had taken off while driving and chuckled.

"There are too many people here, so I have to drive myself! It's just a car! I'll buy one! Okay? I'll buy one of those stretch Lincolns you have in Shanghai! By the way, what kind of car does Mr. Cai like? I'll get you one too!"

With the recent stock market boom, Chen Xuebing has been speaking very generously.

Decorating one's image is indeed an important matter; sometimes, one's assets need to be shown off to others.

If his car were a Rolls-Royce Phantom, even if he didn't receive any special treatment in Chongqing, at least in a county like Pengshui, he wouldn't be unable to even see the Party Secretary.

Cai Zhijian, who has always lived in Hong Kong, doesn't care much about these things. He got out of the car and said with a smile, "I don't need a company car. If the company can afford it, let's buy an Alphard. It will be more convenient to receive clients and discuss business."

The Toyota Alphard is a hatchback MPV that was launched in 2002. It is very comfortable and is known as a "nanny car" in Hong Kong. Many celebrities have bought this car.

For business people, private cars are for personal use, maybe to pick up friends, but business vehicles are needed for business meetings. The Alphard's features are the basic symbol of a company's entry-level status.

“That car must be hard to buy, right? It seems like it’s only sold in Singapore.” Lu Xiaochun thought for a moment and said, “For business purposes in mainland China, a Buick is fine.”

Chen Xuebing clicked his tongue. He had ridden in quite a few MPVs, and the Alphard was indeed in a class of its own in the MPV world. After modifications, it would probably cost over a million yuan.

If he were reborn and couldn't buy an Alphard, he would have opted for a Buick Century or a Mercedes-Benz V-Class as a second choice.

The current Buick GL8 is not a viable alternative to the Alphard at all. Its seven seats are cramped and stuffy, and the comfort is far inferior. Even a modified minivan would be better.

"Alphard it is, I'll try to get two."

Chen Xuebing waved his hand and led his men into the government building.

It was 2:30 p.m., and the meeting room in the classroom really felt like a classroom.

Leader Huang had planned this meeting room in advance.

Fairness, impartiality, and transparency.

And it must be done according to his development plan.

This is both a support program and a guide for the direction of economic development.

He and a group of experts sat on the stage, while people from the eighteen counties sat together, discussing improvements or planning to notify other companies to modify the support projects. It was like a classroom assignment, where each student had to submit an answer that would satisfy the teacher.

As for the young man who came with District Chief Hong yesterday, Leader Huang said he would discuss it and might be responsible for part of the investment. People from several counties have also inquired about him, and the information they got is that he is a newcomer to the financial industry, owns a financial company, and only helped write the project proposal. Now Yuzhong District has no chance. Leader Huang's words yesterday were probably just polite words to save face.

That young man didn't come again today. Perhaps he knew his own limitations and the outcome, so everyone just laughed it off.

Hong Tianyun was also present at the meeting. He played a crucial role in the project application process. Leader Huang had given him a unique spot among the nine districts in the city, and he could also recommend a company to come and receive investment and inspection.

Just a few minutes ago, he received a text message, and now he keeps glancing toward the door.

The door suddenly opened.

The five people entered one by one.

The man at the head of the group had a hearty smile and a loud voice. He reached out and walked onto the stage.

"Secretary-General Huang! It's been a long time!"

A brief silence fell over the meeting room, and Huang, the leader on the stage, also seemed somewhat bewildered.

"I am Mr. Kan from Shenyin Wanguo Securities!"

Kan Zhidong introduced himself, and the surname "Kan" was not common. Leader Huang finally reacted and stood up to shake hands.

"Mr. Kan? Long time no see! Aren't you in Shenzhen?"

The last time Mr. Huang heard of him was at Shenzhen Capital Group.

"Haha, I haven't been in Shenzhen for a long time! I worked at Southern Securities for two years and then retired! The one you submitted for your government-guided fund plan was reviewed and signed by Wei Wenyuan from the Shanghai Stock Exchange! Didn't Director Liu tell you?"

Kan Zhidong's words were indeed accusatory.

I signed off on the proposal that you submitted, endorsed by experts, and it was approved by the higher-ups, but you rejected it.

Leader Huang glanced at District Chief Hong with a questioning look.

District Chief Hong looked at Chen Xuebing with a complicated expression.

He was an outsider to finance and not familiar with Shanghai. He didn't know Kan Zhidong, but he knew that Chen Xuebing had an expert help and signature when he was making the plan. He didn't expect that this expert and Leader Huang were old acquaintances.

When the project was submitted for approval, Director Huang was not present. He didn't even look at the original proposal; he only looked at the electronic version.

He then understood why District Chief Hong's application report had been approved so smoothly, with little questioning from above.

It turns out this young man really put in the effort, bringing in two seasoned financial veterans, Kan Zhidong and Wei Wenyuan, for help.

These two men organized the first generation of securities businesses and were considered prominent figures by some senior leaders, holding a high position in the industry. Leader Huang also showed a polite smile.

"I really didn't know! We've come all this way, what is this?"

Kan Zhidong's purpose has already been revealed in his words.

He was pretending not to know.

"Leader Huang."

At this moment, Chen Xuebing, who had remained silent for two days, finally stepped forward and said:
"Mr. Kan was someone I invited to assist me, and he is also a member of my team."

As he spoke, he pointed to the other two people:
"This is my company's president, Cai Zhijian, formerly a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the Big Four accounting firms, and chief strategy officer at Citibank."

"This is my fundraising partner, Lu Xiaochun, Vice President of Bosera Funds' Shanghai office and flagship fund manager."

“Yesterday, Director Huang revised my proposal. Perhaps he felt that my company was inexperienced and lacked professionalism, so I could only come over after my people arrived. I hope Director Huang will carefully consider the previous proposal.”

The area below was completely quiet.

Only a few people know what the original plan was.

However, all those who came were county officials, or at least deputy officials with the rank of "Du" (a high-ranking official in charge of administrative duties). They were very composed, and no one spoke.

Leader Huang frowned.

"I already explained this yesterday. There are tasks every year. The bad debts of more than 1,000 companies in our city have just passed a difficult hurdle. We need to reduce the overall corporate debt ratio."

"But you also said that this is an important opportunity, and Document No. 38 clearly states that the funds will be directed towards investing in high-tech industries..."

Chen Xuebing looked down and frowned, saying, "There's only one camera company down there that's somewhat related to semiconductors, but those are sunset industries. This... isn't that a bad idea?"

“If Leader Huang reconsiders, I am willing to cooperate with Yufu Capital.”

In his last sentence, Chen Xuebing had already filled in the missing bit of meaning: any credit is yours.

Leader Huang put his hands behind his back and fell into deep thought.

After a while, he strolled to the door.

"You guys come with me."

(End of this chapter)