Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 408 You Should Take a Break
No one was in a hurry to make decisions about things that happened in the fall, so they didn't make them in the spring.

However, the negotiations went very well.

Chen Xuebing's proposed Shikumen villa plan covers 188 Shikumen courtyard units in Jing'an Villa, Zhangjia Garden West District, Jinghua New Village, Siming Village, Lantang Leather Shoe Factory, Jinfuli, and Taifuli.

These units are either connected or independent, and there are also 11 units that cannot be moved, including cultural heritage sites and former residences of celebrities such as Xu Zhimo and Hu Die.

The remaining 177 units range in size from a minimum of 200 square meters of building area (300 square meters of usable area) to a maximum of 500 square meters of four-story above-ground luxury villas with a usable area of ​​over 900 square meters.

Chen Xuebing gave a general total: 70,000 square meters of land area, which is just enough to create 70,000 square meters of property building area.

In other words, if sold at an average price of over 10, one could recoup 70 billion.

Excluding the 30 billion yuan construction and renovation costs, they can recover more than 40 billion yuan.

It's much more than everyone imagined. The original value of this land worth around 118 billion yuan was mostly in the 80,000 square meter commercial plot on Nanjing West Road, where the value was over 100,000 yuan per square meter. At first, everyone thought that Chen Xuebing was only aiming for the commercial land on Nanjing West Road. The Shikumen renovation was just a bundled project. It would be good if he could deliver on his promise to Shanghai and make a small profit.

According to Chen Xuebing's calculations, the profit is quite substantial, but marketing will require some effort.

There's also the underground parking lot, which is a guaranteed return. A Shikumen building can accommodate three distributed underground parking lots. Since the open-cut method is not used, it reduces ground subsidence and the impact on the foundations of adjacent buildings, pipelines, and roads. It also does not need to comply with the "Setback Limits for Underground Buildings" for each floor. It can accommodate about 7 square meters, which is valued at about 10-20 billion yuan in people's minds.

The commercial plots on Nanjing West Road are subject to the restrictions of the "Underground Building Setback" regulations, but the deep foundation pit can excavate at least three underground levels, which will be another huge parking lot.

This creates economies of scale.

If an in-house team is established, the parking spaces in the two adjacent commercial districts of Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road can be operated by the team. Several parking lots can raise parking prices together, inflating the value of the parking spaces before reselling them, which may create very considerable additional returns in the future.

The final calculation shows that the total investment in land acquisition and construction will be approximately 180 billion yuan, and the initial investment of 50 billion yuan can generate a 10% capital occupation fee over two years.

The later investment and operation of this project will be handled by Gu'an, which means that this 50 billion investment quota is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

In addition, although Mr. Chen seems to be very wealthy, this is, after all, a follow-up investment of 130 billion yuan. The stock market can't have such a good run every year, right? So everyone has some doubts about whether he can come up with such a large sum of money to complete the development.

However, if Chen Xuebing fails to hold on, the existing shareholders will have the opportunity to acquire his shares at a lower price with priority, which could potentially lead to even greater profits.

If land prices drop significantly during this period, everyone can ask Chen Xuebing for a refund and leave.

You can advance to attack and retreat to defend.

This is a good business deal. Everyone has more or less set an investment amount in mind, and then we'll see how Chen Xuebing implements it.

On her way back, Ren Ying received a call from Bi Yaxiong, and then called Wu Jiesi, read out a name, and asked him to verify it.

"Cheung Kong has withdrawn from the bidding for the Chenghua plot, and may have replaced it with a shell company in Singapore."

Ren Ying spoke, her expression not good.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Xuebing said, "They've changed their strategy; they don't want us to drag them down."

“I guessed that was the case too,” Ren Ying nodded.

The auction in Chengdu was scheduled for the 25th, and Chen Xuebing asked her to go.

During this period, she obtained some on-site videos of Cheung Kong's auctions. She repeatedly watched and compared the auction methods of Cheung Kong's successful bids for BJ Royal Garden and Shanghai High-End Domain with those of the Chengdu Consulate site and Shenzhen Bao'an Center site, which they failed to bid for. She hoped to judge their psychological price by observing their on-site reactions.

She noticed that the initial bid and the final bid seemed to be 15% apart, and once that was exceeded, the bidder stopped bidding.

Although bidding ultimately depends on merit, adjusting bidding strategies can potentially save money, which is also a chance to demonstrate her value.

Of course, this is just speculation, but now that the other party has changed, it means that this speculation is probably no longer valid.

For Chen Xuebing, Cheung Kong has already withdrawn, so even if he wins, he won't be able to avenge his previous failure in the auction, which is also a regret.

The other party, on the other hand, doesn't need to be burdened by the image of being the richest person; they can make flexible offers and withdraw flexibly depending on the situation.

Chen Xuebing raised his eyebrows, but then smiled and said, "Alright, let's save face. It's just to show the suppliers that they're doing this to avoid being forced to pay higher prices. It means they're feeling insecure and might be changing their strategy to raise our prices. So, we'll only bid two rounds, 20 billion and 21 billion, with large price jumps. We'll stop after the second bid. If anyone bids again, even if it's just one round higher, we won't take it. We'll make them carefully consider whether anyone will take over each time they raise our prices."

Ren Ying frowned.

But 21 billion is indeed the greatest value of this land at present. If there is still room for premium, it would be unless "the Long March auction regains face".

She could only nod again. But she was somewhat unwilling to accept such a blunt way of bidding. Although it had some deterrent effect, it meant there was no room for maneuvering to save money.

Seeing her like this, Chen Xuebing smiled and comforted her, saying, "Generals study the enemy for months before a battle, but once on the battlefield, everything depends on the enemy's actions. No matter how meticulous the plan is, if the enemy's first move is wrong, you have to abandon it completely. You have to learn to accept sunk costs."

Ren Ying laughed: "Since I started working for you, I've long since learned to accept sunk costs."

Chairman Chen's thinking is so unpredictable that she often acts on her whims and wants to do things immediately, constantly disrupting her work schedule. Now she's used to having several backup plans.

Chen Xuebing glanced at her, then said, "Go back to Chongqing for the May Day holiday. I've been busy all the way during the Spring Festival this year. It's a rare holiday, so go home and rest for a few days."

"And you?" Ren Ying asked in return.

“Qilin will be online during the May Day holiday, how can I take a break?” Chen Xuebing said, then suddenly remembered that he would be in Shenzhen at that time. Since it wouldn’t be too hot during May Day, he added, “How about this, can you help me make an appointment with my mom to bring Chen Xuejin to Shenzhen for a few days?”

After he finished speaking, the air seemed to freeze.

Ren Ying's eyes turned strange.

Chen Xuebing slapped his forehead and gave a dry laugh.

The phrases “make an appointment” and “my mom” are indeed quite strange when put together.

Immersed in work for long periods of time, even when I got home I would talk to Xin Mengzhen about work, and my language system became a bit rigid.

"You should really take a break," Ren Ying said seriously. "By the way, Qingyue might go to Hong Kong during the holiday, right? Should I ask her to go ahead and make plans with her?"

She drew out the last syllable of her sentence.

The previous "let's make an appointment" was abrupt, but Ren Ying used it again here.

She was using this method to remind Chen Xuebing of his recent unfamiliarity with Yang Qingyue.

This is the only thing she can do for Xiao Yang now.

Chen Xuebing, who associates with big shots every day, could easily pick up on this subtle, deliberate implication. He chuckled and said, "You'll have to make the appointment."

Then I told the driver to turn around and go to Pudong, not to work overtime, and to go back to Renheng Riverside City.

Ren Ying finally couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Chen Xuebing also gave him a slightly provocative look.

I can go wherever I want, just hold it in, okay?

Around 10 o'clock, Chen Xuebing was forced by Xin Mengzhen to have a face mask applied to him and lay stiffly on the big bed.

Xin Mengzhen leaned against the headboard and read a book, but it wasn't a professional book. It was a foreign novel, and not the English version, but a direct translation, which made it easier to read.

She knows how to adjust herself.

"Well," Chen Xuebing moved his mouth, hesitated for a moment, and then said bluntly, "No, it's not May Day. I plan to go to Shenzhen in a couple of days. I have some things to do there, and I'll also spend some time with Yang Qingyue. I'll come back after May Day."

During this period, he would come back here whenever he had free time, and even when he didn't come back, he would talk to Xin Mengzhen on the phone quite often at night.

He wanted to be direct so that Xin Mengzhen wouldn't be unable to reach him by phone. He didn't want to hang up on Xin Mengzhen, nor did he really want to hide things from Yang Qingyue; it was exhausting.

"Hmm." Xin Mengzhen seemed rather indifferent.

Chen Xuebing immediately pressed his advantage: "My mom and Chen Xuejin also happened to be visiting Shenzhen."

He felt he'd better inform her first, lest Yang Qingyue post a photo with her mother and Xin Mengzhen see it.

Playing alone versus playing with family has different meanings.

At this point, he realized that Xin Mengzhen wasn't truly indifferent, so he immediately added, "Chen Xuejin misses you a lot. She even cried last time. During the summer vacation, I'll have someone bring my mom and Chen Xuejin to Shanghai, and I'll arrange for you two to meet."

Xin Mengzhen's expression remained unchanged, but she did not speak.

Chen Xuebing clearly sensed that the atmosphere was off, and said again, "Yang Qingyue and I really didn't do anything. You are my first time."

This was the only thing he could offer Xin Mengzhen.

"Hmm." Xin Mengzhen turned a page of the book in her hand, but realized she hadn't finished reading the previous page. She also noticed her absent-mindedness, so she turned back to the previous page and tried to focus on the text, but found she couldn't concentrate anymore. She became somewhat impatient with Chen Xuebing's incessant chatter. Her delicate brows, which had just been freshly applied face cream and looked as if they had been rinsed with water, furrowed slightly.
"Okay, go to sleep now."

Chen Xuebing, peeking out from behind the face mask, secretly observed her complexion. With a hint of uncertainty, he turned to touch her warm abs, his fingers tentatively stroking them. Feigning exhaustion, he said:
"Alright, alright, since you've invited me so kindly, I'll go to the battlefield even if I'm exhausted today, and sleep with you."

Xin Mengzhen's lower abdomen contracted slightly, then she sighed. "Go to sleep, take off your face mask and wash your face!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, and you still say you're not jealous." Chen Xuebing chuckled shamelessly, "I'll pay you your dues before I go to Shenzhen, pay a lot, okay?"

These words made Xin Mengzhen put down her book immediately, turn her face to the side and say seriously, "Do you think that you and I are just paying taxes?"

Chen Xuebing thought to himself, "It's all over."

"How could that be?" He immediately looked at Xin Mengzhen, a hint of fervor in his eyes.

A woman's firm lower abdomen can indeed evoke some unique tactile sensations.

But no matter how much he teased her, Xin Mengzhen just stared at him.

Chen Xuebing felt energized and took off his face mask, tossing it aside.

The woman's expression finally softened.

Chen Xuebing smiled, and suddenly a downpour began.

4 month 19 day.

Wulongbei Town, Dandong Suburbs.

The crew of the TV series "Assembly" was on the main battlefield of the "Wenhe Battle".

The actors were preparing for a long, bloody scene amidst the ruins, while Feng Xiaogang stood on a small hill not far away, looking for a signal.

After the background noise cleared on the other end of the phone, he said into the phone, "I know, I know, big boss, but I'm filming right now! No matter how big a boss you are, can't we talk after I'm done and back at the hotel?"

Wang Zhongjun's earnest voice came from the other end: "Old Feng, this time the boss has invested in the business. He wants theater photos, and he needs them immediately. His website is launching tomorrow, and everyone in the conference room is waiting. Here's what I'll do: I've given your number to General Manager Chen. He'll call you right away. It's a number ending in five 1s. Please answer it."

"Hey, don't do that! You know I'm bad at dealing with my boss!"

"Tsk tsk, Lao Feng, President Chen is different. He called you personally. This is your opportunity, do you understand? His fund has a rate of return that not just anyone can afford to invest in."

"I'm not short of money, why are you telling me this? I can treat my family to a nice restaurant without feeling the pinch!"

"Hey, don't you want to upgrade your Audi A6 to a luxury car? That 'XZ Girl' oil painting you bought cost 100 million, what a waste! Do you know how much return you get if you invest it with Boss Chen? He makes five times his initial investment in a year! His clients earn three times their initial investment!"

"Three times??" Feng Xiaogang pondered.

"Alright, Mr. Chen will give each actor 100,000. Make arrangements for them to go to a nearby hotel to use the internet and support Mr. Chen's new website. Oh, and Mr. Chen will make a separate arrangement for Deng Chao, giving him 200,000. He said he's good at creating buzz. Haha, Mr. Chen seems to think highly of him. You have to talk to him about arranging for him to work with Bingbing this year. We'll hype it up, and we'll give him more resources in the future, but the contract period will have to be extended by two years."

Wang Zhongjun hung up after speaking.

Feng Xiaogang stared blankly at the phone for a moment, then five 1s came through. He answered and shouted:
"Hey, Mr. Chen?"

It was a bit noisy on the other end, but the voice was very gentle: "Director Feng, hello. Mr. Wang told you, right? We're planning to invite the 'Assembly' crew to participate in the website's promotion."

"I've heard! I'm making arrangements!" Feng Xiaogang readily agreed, but then regretted it, unsure how to broach the subject of the fund Wang Zhongjun had mentioned, fearing that the other party would hang up immediately after he agreed.

We should try to make things difficult for them indirectly.

The other person said directly, "Regarding the Long March Fund, Mr. Wang plans to invest ten million. It's not a lot of money, and I can't just put it into the fund separately. I gave him an account number, and I'll send it to you later. You can transfer as much as you want. Oh, and add a note. I'll have someone handle it for you. I won't take any commission. Once you've made money, put aside fame and fortune, do a good job as a director, bring revenue to the company, and cooperate with the company's listing."

The other person spoke casually, yet it seemed to offer him a chance to change his life.

Feng Xiaogang's expression turned serious. He swallowed hard and asked cautiously, "Mr. Chen, how much can we earn?"

"Well, we don't make any promises, but if the market is good, it should triple by the end of the year."

three times.

The echoes of Feng Xiaogang's voice still lingered in his ears.

He works tirelessly, filming one movie a year and earning 1200 million yuan.

If you want to earn another 1200 million, you'll have to weather another year of storms.

If you want to earn another 1200 million, you'll have to weather another year of storms.

In that circle, no matter how much money you have, it triples by the end of the year.

This is capital, it's so damn tempting.

"Okay, Mr. Chen, I will get the job done." Feng Xiaogang straightened up.

As soon as the other end of the phone hung up, he ran down the mountain like the wind and entered the film crew.

"Hey! Stop fussing! There's a website promotion, let's all take a group photo!"

"Hey!" Zhang Hanyu chuckled as he approached. "Man, you've also bowed down for a pittance?"

"What the hell are you saying!" Feng Xiaogang said, blushing. "This is the company's new boss! He's giving everyone a 100,000 yuan red envelope!"

Upon hearing this, Liao Fan also came over: "Your company gives out red envelopes, right? I didn't get one, did I?"

"Yes, yes!"

"Hey! There's one for me, right?" Ren Quan, who had just finished filming, came over and said with a strange smile, "Male actors get 100,000, how much do female actors get?"

Feng Xiaogang glared at him: "Don't talk nonsense! The new boss is a good person! He has no such intention! Regardless of gender or status, everyone gets 100,000! If he had such intentions, why would he be giving out red envelopes to our monk-themed film crew?"

"Wow!" Zhang Hanyu clapped his hands. "This boss is so generous!"

"What a great boss!" Liao Fan exclaimed.

Capital is something we both love and hate, but if you add a little bit of a friendly smile, you'll attract more supporters.

"Hey, Zhao Erdou!" Feng Xiaogang called out.

"Here you are!" Deng Chao, who had joined the crew early, ran over.

"Your red envelope has doubled! Two hundred thousand! The boss likes you, so please help promote it."

"Huh?" Deng Chao was a little confused. Seeing the strange looks in everyone's eyes, he said blankly, "That's impossible! I don't know the boss! Did you include Sun Li's share too?"

"No, the boss said you can do things."

"???"

Shenzhen, SEG Plaza.

17:00
Weibo Project Special Meeting Room.

Chen Xuebing hung up the phone and tapped on the table.

"The production team for 'Assembly' is all set. For the celebrities, you can directly contact Wang Zhongjun. He will cooperate. After the Weibo account goes live tomorrow, once we reach 10,000 registered members, we will immediately arrange for SP vendors to send out photos of the production team. We must let everyone know that the information we can get here is different from other news platforms."

Everyone in the conference room was energized.

"Okay Chairman!"

After that, everyone started discussing their responsibilities, and the meeting room became noisy again.

Chen Xuebing nodded in satisfaction and walked over to Yang Qingyue, who was sitting in the corner.

"Let's go, what do you want to eat?"

Yang Qingyue said with some concern, "Why don't you rest for a while? You rushed over by plane early this morning and have been busy for so long... If you're hungry, I'll go buy you something to eat."

He promised to finish his work by noon and accompany her to visit the school in the afternoon, but he kept having things to do and couldn't leave. He's been busy until now.

Seeing what he was doing all day at the company, and what he was doing when he didn't reply to her messages, made a concrete image of himself in her mind.

Chen Xuebing smiled and took her hand.

"It's okay, let's go. I'm not tired of being with you. I need to take a break from time to time."

----------

(As the title says, I'm taking tomorrow off to rest.)

(End of this chapter)