Chapter 22: I Shall Deliver My Kin

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Given Yang Chen’s circumstances, it was already absurd enough that he wanted to buy a property. What was even more outrageous was that he had chosen Weicheng Chen One—a development that had been left unfinished!

“Wait... Chairman Yang, my dear Chairman Yang, are you sure you didn’t misspeak? Weicheng Chen One is an unfinished development!” Huang Wei said, utterly bewildered.

Yang Chen replied with a smile, “I’m a grown man. Could I really get the name of the property wrong when I’m buying a house?”

Gao Ya immediately followed up, “You’re not planning to use the ten billion yuan pooled by our banks to buy it, are you?”

“Give yourself a round of applause. You guessed right,” Yang Chen said with a grin.

The five investment advisers could no longer sit still. The banks had pooled ten billion yuan for Yang Chen so he could continue making money in the stock market, not so he could invest in other projects.

Even if they took ten thousand steps back and assumed he really did want to invest in another project, he still should not be buying an unfinished development. The Four Seas Group already had countless unfinished projects of its own that had yet to be resolved. And now he wanted to use the remaining seven billion yuan to help another company through its crisis?

“I object! Although I know you’re unlikely to accept my opinion, I still have to clearly state my opposition!” Zhao Jing said at once.

The other investment advisers also immediately voiced their opposition to Yang Chen using the money to buy an unfinished development. Compared with that, they were far more supportive of Yang Chen continuing to gamble in the stock market.

Yang Chen smiled. “All my investments are gambles anyway. When I get a feeling, I buy. You can express your objections, but in the end, I’ll make the decision myself.”

Chen Xi immediately said, “I think Chairman Yang must have his reasons for daring to play it this way. We only need to support him quietly. If he makes money, he’ll surely give us better benefits. If he loses money, he won’t make us bear the responsibility.”

Yang Chen applauded her. “Not bad. You really are the secretary I chose—you understand me perfectly. I’ll help you move later. You can move into the villa too.”

Chen Xi nodded. “All right. Thank you, Chairman Yang.”

The five investment advisers exchanged glances, worry written all over their faces.

Since they could not persuade Yang Chen, they still had to report the matter to their respective bank presidents according to procedure.

“Hello, President Li. Chairman Yang wants to use that money to buy Weicheng’s unfinished development...”

“He actually wants to buy the unfinished Weicheng Chen One development.”

“We voiced our opposition, but he insists on buying it.”

...

The investment advisers separately explained the situation to their respective bank presidents. That way, if Yang Chen’s investment lost money, the presidents could not blame them. This was the hardship of being an employee: they did not seek credit, only freedom from blame.

Before long, Li Jun, president of the Industrial and Commercial Bank, called Yang Chen.

“Hello, Chairman Yang. Your stock trading was going so well. Why have you stopped? We pooled the money so you could make a name for yourself in the stock market,” Li Jun said.

Yang Chen replied with a smile, “Making money in the stock market is too slow. I want to make a quick profit.”

“What? You’re telling me that you’re buying an unfinished development to make a quick profit? You’re really something else! Real estate investments have long turnover cycles. If you pour the little money you have left into this, who knows how long you’ll have to wait before recovering it. And the worst part is that you picked an unfinished development. You may never get your money back. I really don’t understand. The Four Seas Group already has so many unfinished projects, so why are you buying another company’s unfinished development? What exactly are you thinking?” Li Jun asked, completely baffled.

Yang Chen burst out laughing. “My good boy, don’t panic. If you knew the reason, you could make quick money too. Let’s not focus on the process. Didn’t we agree to judge heroes by their results?”

At that moment, Chen Tao, president of the commercial bank, also called. Yang Chen simply hung up on him, then sent a group message to all the creditors.

“Presidents, don’t be nervous. I have a feeling this investment is definitely going to make us a fortune.”

Wang Baoguo of the Agricultural Bank: Chairman Yang, why don’t you think it over again? There’s really no saving Weicheng Chen One. I asked around with the government departments, and there’s no progress at all. Wouldn’t it be better to use those seven billion yuan to gamble on stocks? Why throw it into an unfinished development?

Gao Han of Urban Construction: What? Chairman Yang, you’re planning to buy Weicheng’s unfinished development? Are you doing charity?

Li Kang of the City Investment Group: Chairman Yang, if you want to do charity, buy Yuehu Tianzhu, developed by our City Investment Group. It has enormous potential for appreciation. I guarantee it will be delivered on schedule and to the highest standards. There’s no need to buy Weicheng’s bargain property!

Xu Yumin of Ningde Battery: Chairman Yang, we’ve only just begun to see a little hope. Don’t put it out again. I passed Weicheng’s development this morning and saw the owners protesting their rights. They can’t even escape, yet you’re rushing headlong into it.

...

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Yang Chen had no time to explain anything. He remained steadfast in his belief that results were all that mattered.

The car could not get any closer to the unfinished development. Traffic police had already imposed road restrictions, and the desperate, furious roars of the homeowners could be heard from several hundred meters away.

For most people, buying a high-end commercial residence meant sinking the wealth of several generations into it. Some even had to shoulder thirty-year mortgages. If the development was left unfinished, they still had to keep making payments. Anyone caught in such a situation would collapse.

Chen Xi pulled over. Yang Chen got out with the six beautiful women and walked toward the development.

A traffic officer immediately asked, “Are you homeowners here to protest too?”

Yang Chen shook his head. “We’re here to become homeowners.”

The officer froze. After carefully considering the meaning of Yang Chen’s words, he stared at him in shock. “You’re here to buy a property?”

Yang Chen smiled. “That’s right. I saw that this development was left unfinished, and I couldn’t bear to watch so many homeowners’ hard-earned money go to waste. As fellow citizens, I couldn’t stand by. I specifically borrowed several billion yuan from the banks to rescue them. I’m going to buy this unfinished development and provide Weicheng with the funds needed to resume construction and deliver the homes.”

The several traffic officers stared at Yang Chen in a daze. Was there something wrong with this man’s head?

The five investment advisers were speechless as well. There was not a single honest sentence in this man’s mouth.

One of the officers gave a wry smile. “That’s a first. I’ve lived for decades, and this is the first time I’ve seen someone rush to buy an unfinished building and jump straight into the fire.”

Yang Chen crossed the cordon and smiled. “As the saying goes, if I don’t go to hell, who will? To save these poor fellow citizens, what’s the harm in sacrificing myself?”

Yang Chen turned around, held his head high, and strode toward the sales office. Chen Xi followed after him with a giggle, while the five investment advisers trailed behind helplessly.

“Chairman Yang, you’re quite the smooth talker. You stunned them all,” Chen Xi whispered.

“Haha... There’s no good way to explain it anyway, so I just made something up,” Yang Chen replied.

Before long, they arrived at the sales office.

The sales office had already been smashed by furious homeowners protesting their rights. The police had formed a human barricade to hold back the angry crowd, while a police inspector tried to persuade everyone to remain calm and express their grievances through lawful means.

The disheveled manager and his subordinates hid behind the police. It was obvious that they were genuinely terrified.

Yang Chen called Chen Xi and the others aside and quietly instructed them, “Put your acting skills to use and encourage the homeowners to keep making a scene. I’m going to negotiate the price with their manager. Until I give you a signal, keep it up. But don’t get physical. Just cry a little and talk about how miserable you are.”

Huang Wei hurriedly replied, “But we didn’t buy homes here.”

Yang Chen tapped her on the forehead. “Why is that little head of yours so slow? With so many people around, how would they know whether you’re really aggrieved homeowners or not? I told you to act. Don’t you understand what I mean?”

Huang Wei rubbed her forehead. “Oh, I get it. Go easy next time. That hurt.”

“I’ll be gentler next time. I’m going in now. When you see me walk into the sales office with Weicheng’s manager, start making a scene. Understood?” Yang Chen said.

The six women nodded.

Chen Xi sincerely intended to follow Yang Chen’s instructions. The five investment advisers, however, were unwilling from the bottom of their hearts. But their bank presidents had told them to cooperate with Yang Chen as much as possible, so they could only agree reluctantly.

After finally squeezing his way inside, Yang Chen waved at Weicheng’s vice president, Zhou Wenchang, and shouted, “President Zhou, I want to buy a property!”

The entire scene immediately fell silent. Everyone’s eyes turned toward Yang Chen.

Just listen to that: the words “buy a property” had somehow appeared in a place like this.

Zhou Wenchang hurried out from behind the police. In complete disbelief, he asked, “What did you just say, sir? You want to buy a property?”

Yang Chen nodded with a smile. “That’s right! What, don’t you sell properties here?”

Zhou Wenchang immediately nodded again and again. He stepped forward, clasped both of Yang Chen’s hands, and said, “We do, we do! This way, sir. Let’s go inside and discuss it!”

The police inspector immediately said, “Young man, are you from out of town? This development has been left unfinished. Buying a property here now would be no different from throwing your money into the water!”

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Zhou Wenchang hurriedly stepped forward. “Oh, come on, Officer Li, you can’t put it that way. We finally have someone with money... I mean, someone who appreciates the value of this place. You can’t scare him away. Please help us maintain order while I go inside and have a proper discussion with this discerning gentleman.”

Yang Chen smiled. “Thank you for the warning, officer. I simply want to buy an unfinished property.”

The officer shook his head helplessly, thinking that even the kindest advice could not save someone determined to court disaster.

Zhou Wenchang hurried back, seized Yang Chen firmly by the wrist, and dragged him toward the sales office, terrified that Yang Chen might turn and run.

At that moment, Chen Xi shouted loudly, “A plant! He’s definitely a plant! How despicable! Instead of solving our problems, Weicheng hired someone to deceive us! Weicheng, give us back our hard-earned money!”

When Zhao Jing and the others saw Chen Xi begin her performance, they had no choice but to follow suit.

“Weicheng, give us back our hard-earned money!”

“Weicheng, give us back our hard-earned money...”

Led by the six beautiful women, all the protesting homeowners began shouting along.

“Weicheng, give us back our hard-earned money...”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Yang Chen’s mouth. Their acting was surprisingly good. They had stirred up the atmosphere at once.

Yang Chen and Zhou Wenchang arrived at an office on the second floor, where the situation below could be seen through the glass wall.

Yang Chen immediately took out his business card and bank card and placed them on the desk. Zhou Wenchang hurriedly picked up the business card with both hands and glanced at it.

He then excitedly clasped Yang Chen’s hands again. “Oh, so you’re Chairman Yang, the new chairman of the Four Seas Group! I’m Zhou Wenchang, vice president in charge of marketing at the Weicheng Group. It’s an honor, an honor.”

Yang Chen smiled. “No need for formalities, President Zhou. Let’s get straight to business. You know the situation at the Four Seas Group. They gave me a sum of money and told me to make enough profit to repay thirty trillion yuan in debt. How could that possibly work? If I had that kind of ability, I wouldn’t have been tricked by Wang Sihai into becoming the legal representative of the Four Seas Group for one million yuan and taking on such an enormous burden. So I’ve decided to throw caution to the wind. I’m going to use all this money to buy your unfinished properties. If they won’t let me have a good life, then nobody gets to have one.”

At that moment, Chen Xi began shouting again downstairs.

“My grandparents, my parents, and my maternal grandparents emptied all their savings to help me buy a home in Weicheng. Now the development is unfinished and they can’t deliver our house. They’re all so furious that they’ve been hospitalized. I spent the entire night taking care of them at the hospital, and came here to protest as soon as dawn broke. If they don’t deliver our home, the seven of us will all die! We’ll set ourselves on fire right here!”

Zhao Jing and the others were stunned. Did she really have to commit that fully to the performance?

If they had not known Chen Xi so well, they might have believed every word of her nonsense.

“Good grief, she’s really going all out. What do we do?” Huang Wei whispered.

“She’s gone that far. If we don’t do something, Chairman Yang will definitely find an excuse to criticize us. Come on, then. It’s just a contest to see who has the saddest story. Who can’t do that?” Bai Zhi said.

The five investment advisers then joined in and began wailing about their misfortunes.

“My parents gave me every last bit of their burial savings just so I could scrape together the down payment. Then the development was left unfinished, and I still have to repay the mortgage. I haven’t eaten meat in more than half a month. You’re really leaving us no way to live!”

“I work during the day and spend my nights drinking with customers at nightclubs. I sacrificed my very soul, and all I got in return was an unfinished home. How am I supposed to live?”

“...”

Yang Chen nearly burst out laughing. Each story was more outrageous than the last.

“President Zhou, it looks like your development really has ruined a great many lives. Everyone bought your properties because they trusted the Weicheng brand, and this is what happened to them,” Yang Chen said with a smile.

Zhou Wenchang replied awkwardly, “There was nothing we could do. The real estate industry has entered a harsh winter. No one is having an easy time.”

Yang Chen nodded with a smile and then said, “That’s precisely why this seven billion yuan is so important to you. It might bring your entire company back to life in one stroke. I’m a straightforward man. Sell it to me at half price, and I’ll give you the full seven billion yuan.”