Chapter 387 - 254: Money, Oh, Money, Some Die of Drought, Others Die of Flood

Chapter 387: Chapter 254: Money, Oh, Money, Some Die of Drought, Others Die of Flood

Zhang Peng had another meeting yesterday and reached a preliminary agreement, but there was simply no more room to negotiate on the price.

They’re a state-owned enterprise, so they’re holding firm. It’s a flat 2.5 billion, not a penny less.

"It’s a done deal. That’s the price. Otherwise, they’d risk being accused of letting state assets devalue, and it would never pass their internal audit."

Zhang Peng sounded a bit resigned, as if he’d failed to do his job properly. But there really was nothing he could do.

"Alright, 2.5 billion it is. Ask them when we can sign the contracts and finalize the paperwork."

Lin Chu said, cutting straight to the point.

Lin Chu couldn’t wait to see the LC Building appear on the map of Peng City.

"Okay."

Right there in front of Lin Chu, Zhang Peng quickly made the call, speaking with the other party in a serious, professional tone for a few minutes.

The call was connected to the car’s speakers via Bluetooth, so Lin Chu could hear everything clearly.

They could do it anytime after Monday.

They were just waiting for their top executive to return from a business trip to personally attend the signing and transfer ceremony.

Lin Chu: ...

’Fine.’

’It’s only three or four days, anyway.’

’I can afford to wait.’

After finishing that topic, Zhang Peng grinned. "Brother Chu, your follower count broke ten million. Isn’t it time to start promoting products? I checked just now while I was waiting for you. It’s exactly 10.01 million. You’ve told a great story these past few weeks."

"Give me a couple of days. Just a couple more. Once you get lazy, you lose all motivation."

"You son of a bitch. A real heartless capitalist, squeezing even me like this?"

Lin Chu retorted with a laugh, lighting a cigarette.

’Everything has come too easily for me. I don’t have anywhere near Zhang Peng’s drive.’

Zhang Peng laughed. "Hahaha... Didn’t you just take a break in Xiangjiang?"

"A break? My ass. My mind never stops."

"Do you know the price of freedom? It’s being on high alert, always."

"Every time I go out, there’s a goddamn motorcade. Four cars, front, back, and on both sides, just to make sure some rogue dump truck doesn’t take me out. You know that feeling? One minute, you’re at a party with someone, and the next—*poof*—they’re just gone?"

"It was a fucking brush with death."

Zhang Peng: ...

"Alright, alright, you’re the boss. You take your break."

"Heh, I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of being poor."

"If I die, there’s always the next life. But if I don’t get rich in this one, I’ll be taking that regret to my grave," he said, laughing to lighten the mood.

Lin Chu replied, "You’re not rich enough already? Trying to become the next Li Jiacheng?"

Zhang Peng let out a laugh. "Not exactly. I can’t be number one. At best, I can be number two."

He said it with a smile, but Lin Chu still sensed something that could only be described as ambition.

’He’s more ambitious than I am.’

’Of course, that might just be because of our different circumstances.’

"If you’re going to aim for something, aim to be number one. Go for it. I’ll be the man backing you up."

After a moment’s thought, Lin Chu decided it was no big deal.

’If he wants to rise, then I should give him the platform and opportunity to do it.’

’I need a few heavy hitters working for me, after all.’

’Zhang Peng is still young, but he’s already showing that kind of potential.’

"Hahaha... Don’t, don’t mess with me, man. That’s scary. I just want to be good at managing up... and giving you a little push now and then..."

Lin Chu: ?

For a moment, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’Managing up, my ass!’

"Get the hell out of here. Instead of managing me, you should be opening new branches. There are still over three months left in the year. I’ll set a small goal for you: Hang City, Shanghai, and Rong City. All three are hubs for internet celebrities and fun places to be. Get them set up for me, got it? Next year, we’ll go inspect them together."

Lin Chu chided him with a laugh.

’Just get out there and charge ahead for me!’

"Sure, no problem!"

"Great minds think alike. I’ve already sent people to scout locations in those cities. I even added an extra one to my plate—Shen City. So it’s four cities, not three, haha... Just you wait. The spark of LC Media is going to set a fire in every provincial capital in the country."

Lin Chu clicked his tongue, then broke into a smile and nodded.

’What an overachiever!’

’But... what the hell, let’s do it!’

...

「Over the next few days」 Lin Chu focused on one main thing: spending money.

Yang Huixian’s company was absorbed into LC Retail for 100 million in cash plus 1% of the group’s shares.

He finalized the transfer of 20% of Shield Company’s shares from Yuan Fang, at a cost of 1.2 billion.

And then there was the acquisition of the LC Group headquarters building for 2.5 billion.

He was spending money like it was going out of style.

But even with all that spending, including various transaction costs, he had spent just under 4 billion. He still had 6.7 billion left over.

...

「September 12th.」

It was a bright, sunny morning.

The company headquarters building was officially handed over, and everyone began to move in.

「At that moment.」

Standing in the CEO’s office on the top floor of the LC Group Building, Lin Chu watched as workers hoisted the enormous LC Group sign into place. A rather serious problem was weighing on his mind.

’Where the hell am I going to spend all this money?’

’It’s not that I have anything against money, or feel like I *have* to spend it.’

’But leaving it to sit in a bank account feels pointless.’

"Hey, uh, take this down. To celebrate the official launch of the group today, September 12th, inform all our subsidiaries. Every single employee gets a 10,000-yuan bonus. Let’s have everyone celebrate and share the joy."

Lin Chu said suddenly, a smile on his face.

It was a completely random thought.

But when you had this much money, you could be impulsive. He just felt like it.

’It’s better to share the happiness than to enjoy it alone, right?’

Gu Jiayan was in the office, arranging various small decorations. The office space for the LC Charity Fund had been set for the second floor, and it was more or less decided that she would be in charge of it. Today, however, she was still helping him furnish his office.

Hearing what Lin Chu said, she froze for a second before a brilliant smile spread across her face.

’So... uh... generous. And grand.’

’Handing out bonuses at the slightest whim.’

’And the company had just spent 2.5 billion on the headquarters building.’

"Alright. I’ll send out the notice now and have the finance department bring the documents over for your signature."

Gu Jiayan said with a smile.

"Mm."

"For the orphanage, get the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts ready, and add a ten-thousand-yuan cash packet for each person as well," Lin Chu added.

Gu Jiayan: ...

"How are they supposed to spend the money from those packets! They don’t even have bank cards! Let’s just keep it in the foundation’s accounts for now. There will be plenty of things to spend it on in the future."

"It’s not that I’m reluctant to give it to them. It’s your money, anyway. It’s just... um, you know, like a mother holding onto her kid’s lucky money for safekeeping."

Her face was filled with a fond, motherly smile.

Lin Chu couldn’t help but laugh.

"Tsk... You really are a woman brimming with motherly love. To be honest, my own mother passed away when I was young, so I always wanted a mom like you... Mommy, I’m hungry."

Gu Jiayan: ?

Her face instantly turned bright red.

’We’re in the office! Stop being such a flirt!’

...

...