hotmtlnovel Chapter 9 Retreating to Advance
Chapter 9 Retreating to Advance
Zhao Xiankun glanced at him, his gaze deep, but he didn't say anything. He simply shifted his gaze back to Lin Chen.
"You're Mingyu's nephew, which means you're one of us." His tone was calm, but his words were clear. "Several of my old friends say you're very capable. At such a young age, you've become a partner at Jingshi Capital and managed several large projects. I heard that you were also the one who spearheaded Jingshi Capital's investment in Digital Technology this time."
"Uncle Zhao, you flatter me. I was just lucky to have caught the opportunity," Lin Chen said calmly.
"Luck is also a part of ability," Zhao Xiankun said. "If you can always be lucky, then it's not just luck."
"Your uncle had always disagreed with the group going public, but now he's changed his mind and agreed to it. I should thank you for that."
"Chairman, I've come here today to apologize to you. Over the years, I've been obsessed with past achievements, only caring about my own little corner of the business and neglecting the interests of the group. I bear an unshirkable responsibility for the group's current predicament!" Wang Mingyu suddenly stood up and bowed to Zhao Xiankun in apology.
"This Tianke Anju project was originally a great thing, especially important for our group's image; it was a great opportunity to enhance our reputation. However, I failed to fulfill my supervisory and management responsibilities, resulting in such a serious accident that even required you, Chairman, to personally apologize. I am truly ashamed!"
"What are you doing, Mingyu? The group's problems aren't just one person's problems; they're all our problems. We already discussed the housing project at our last meeting. It was an accident, an accident that no one wanted to happen. No one is responsible, so how can you be blamed? Sit down, Mingyu." Zhao Xiankun quickly stood up and helped Wang Mingyu up, then gestured for him to sit down. He was inwardly somewhat surprised and uncertain; Wang Mingyu's sudden outburst, especially in front of his nephew, was truly unexpected.
He knew Wang Mingyu better than anyone; they had known each other for decades. He knew Wang Mingyu was composed, experienced, and had high emotional intelligence; he was adept at dealing with people and winning over clients. Over the years, he had outwardly been subservient and respectful, always referring to Wang as "Chairman."
However, he secretly used his power to procure supplies to exploit the top-tier subsidiary, enriching himself and cultivating his own power, and had long wanted to replace him.
The reason he had tolerated Wang Mingyu all these years was because the group had been developing smoothly, and he was confident he could control it. However, in recent years, the construction industry as a whole has declined, with profits plummeting. The group, seemingly still stable and prosperous with numerous businesses, is actually teetering on the brink of collapse. Without reform and innovation, the group will be eliminated by society. A group of 30,000 people is like 30,000 families; if it collapses, how many people will be killed? Zhao Xiankun clearly cannot withstand it!
Wang Mingyu spoke again: "Chairman, I have thought about it carefully. In the past few years, I have been in charge of the group's procurement, but I have not fulfilled my responsibilities. I have decided to give up the right to procure materials. I ask the chairman to select a more capable person. I hope the chairman will accept my apology. I will also explain and apologize to all shareholders at the board meeting."
Zhao Xiankun hesitated, but Wang Mingyu's relinquishment of the group's purchasing rights was exactly what he wanted. He had long wanted to find an opportunity to reclaim Wang Mingyu's purchasing rights. Although Wang Mingyu's voluntary concession this time was unexpected, the result was good. It just disrupted his plans and left him indecisive.
But he reacted quickly, exchanging a few polite words with Wang Mingyu and reminiscing about their decades-long friendship. He made no mention of Wang Mingyu's earlier apology.
Lin Chen watched the two old foxes putting on a show, inwardly full of admiration. His idea was to feign retreat; Wang Mingyu would not only relinquish the group's procurement rights but also resign as vice president at the board meeting. Of course, before leaving, he needed to clean up the mess left over from the past years. Lin Chen would assign professionals to handle these matters, ensuring no one could find fault with him. He believed the people in the group were eager for him to leave quickly, to avoid any further complications.
In this way, Wang Mingyu can stay out of it, without having to personally charge into battle, and he must always be vigilant, as he could easily fall into someone else's trap if he is not careful.
With Wang Mingyu voluntarily withdrawing from the center of power, Yinghai Group will not develop smoothly or reform successfully; instead, it will exacerbate conflicts. This will make it easier for Lin Chen to manipulate the situation, and Zhao Xiankun will agree to Jingshi Capital's entry. Others will no longer be wary of someone who has withdrawn.
We are just waiting for the right time to take control of Yinghai.
Compared to everything else, Lin Chen thought the most difficult thing was to persuade Wang Mingyu, but he didn't expect that his uncle trusted him so much and agreed after only a few days. This made Lin Chen happy and also made him feel more affectionate towards Wang Mingyu.
Now he wanted to strike while the iron was hot and further dispel Zhao Xiankun's wariness. While Zhao Xiankun was deep in thought, he winked at Wang Mingyu.
Wang Mingyu understood, and then said to Zhao Xiankun:
"Chairman, I have been short-sighted over the years and failed to see the general trend of development. I have been hindering you from pushing the group to go public because of my selfishness. If it weren't for Xiao Chen's wake-up call, I would have continued to make mistakes."
"Mingyu, I'm really glad you've come to this understanding, but we can discuss the procurement later. The group still needs your help."
Zhao Xiankun smiled slightly, then turned his gaze back to Lin Chen: "Then, Mr. Lin, tell me, is it possible for Yinghai to go public now?"
Lin Chen remained calm and composed, speaking slowly and deliberately: "Chairman Zhao, you're too kind. Just call me Lin Chen. As for whether we can go public, my answer is yes. Yinghai's scale, qualifications, industry standing, and historical performance are all sufficient. In Shanghai and nationwide, Yinghai is one of the leading companies, meeting the stringent requirements for a main board listing."
Zhao Xiankun didn't interrupt, listening quietly. His fingertips rested lightly on his knees, his posture relaxed yet his attention focused—a posture of earnest listening.
"But whether it can be listed, whether it can pass the review smoothly, whether it can increase the valuation, and whether it can stabilize the stock price after listing are all other things." Lin Chen's tone remained calm.
Zhao Xiankun's eyes flickered slightly; these words struck a chord with him, as he himself was unsure about these issues.
"Mr. Zhao knows more about Yinghai's internal problems than I do."
Zhao Xiankun's face remained expressionless; he simply nodded slightly and said, "Continue."
"Going public is essentially a complete internal restructuring," Lin Chen said calmly. "We need to clarify the accounts, the assets, the responsibilities, and the personnel. Who will be promoted and who will be demoted, who will advance and who will retreat, who will hold power and who will delegate power—all of this must be decided once and for all."
He looked up and met Zhao Xiankun's gaze.
The living room fell silent instantly. Only the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze outside the window could be heard. Wang Mingyu held his teacup, his fingers slightly clenched, a gentle smile on his face.
Zhao Xiankun remained silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled softly.
His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty:
"The seas must not be thrown into chaos."
"A single hair can move the whole body. If it moves, some people will panic, some will make trouble, and some will sabotage. If such a large group is thrown into chaos, it's not just a matter for a few people, but for tens of thousands of employees, dozens of projects, and the entire industry."
"I need to think about it carefully."