72: Pure crushing
In the auction hall, the dust had settled.
Huang Xingguo's fat face was now the color of pig liver; it was hard to tell if it was from anger or if he had shouted himself into oxygen deprivation just now.
The shareholders beside him were looking at him with such resentment that they were practically on the verge of cursing his mother.
At this moment, Lin Chuan stood up with a beaming smile and even cupped his hands in a respectful gesture toward Huang Xingguo.
“Director Huang, how generous!”
Lin Chuan's voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for the surrounding circle of leaders to hear.
“Only Director Huang has this kind of vision!”
“Even though this parts factory was a bit overpriced, who did the money go to? It went to our government!”
“Our parts factory still has hundreds of worker brothers waiting for their wages!”
“By paying an extra ten million plus, you're contributing to the country and bringing warmth to laid-off workers!”
Lin Chuan gave a thumbs up, his face full of admiration, acting as if it were the real deal.
“This is what they call the first to get rich leading those who follow!”
“If you don't dedicate yourself, who will?”
“Director Huang, such entrepreneurial social responsibility! I must learn from you!”
As soon as these words came out, the city leaders who had felt the situation was a bit awkward suddenly had their eyes light up.
This was quite the high praise to bestow!
It spoke directly to their hearts!
The city's finances were indeed stretched thin right now, with money needed everywhere; this extra ten million plus was simply like sending charcoal in a snowstorm!
The leader, Director Wang of the Investment Promotion Bureau, immediately walked over with a face full of smiles and tightly shook Huang Xingguo's fat, trembling hands.
“Oh! Mr. Lin is absolutely right!”
“Factory Director Huang, your level of awareness is indeed high!”
“An outstanding entrepreneur like you, who cares for the country and the workers, is a role model for our Harbin!”
“I'll definitely submit a report to the city later; we must give you an award!”
“You truly have the big picture in mind! A good man, a truly good man!”
“Uh... I...”
Huang Xingguo felt a sweetness in his throat; he was about to spit out a mouthful of blood.
He wanted to say he had been set up!
He wanted to say his heart bled for the money too!
But facing the Director's enthusiastic face and the cheers from the surroundings, he could only swallow the bitter pill whole.
He even had to squeeze out a smile that looked worse than crying:
“Ah, yes! It's what we should do, what we should do...”
This was the definition of being sold out and still helping the seller count the money, then saying thank you afterward!
At noon, the buffet at the Zhaoshang Hotel.
They called it a buffet, but it was actually just the large-pot meals typical of that era, with four dishes and one soup.
Fried pork segments, sautéed potato, green pepper and eggplant, Mushu pork, and stewed tofu with Chinese cabbage.
Though the dishes were decent, everyone was so preoccupied with the thrilling drama from earlier that they had no appetite.
Lin Chuan had just sat down in a corner with his tray.
The Nokia in his pocket rang.
“Hello? Third Brother!”
From the other end came the loud voice of his second brother, Lin He, excited and slightly trembling.
“I did it too! I succeeded too!”
“Just as you said, right on Zhongyang Street, that old Supply and Marketing Cooperative building, the commercial space on the first and second floors!”
“Four hundred square meters! I've secured it all!”
“The paperwork is just finished! The keys are in my hand!”
“Third Brother, that location is truly great, people coming and going constantly.”
“Do you think we should hang the sign and start tomorrow? We can make money as soon as we stock the goods!”
Lin Chuan took a bite of a steamed bun, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
His second brother was in a hurry to make money and prove himself.
“Second Brother, don't rush.”
“Haste makes waste.”
“For that shop, don't be in a hurry to stock up yet.”
Lin Chuan's gaze grew deep.
What he had in his mind was the famous Pang Dong Lai model from the future.
In this era where counter-service was still the norm and shop assistants acted like bosses.
If he created a high-end supermarket with service-first principles and its own self-operated brands, wouldn't that be a total dimensional strike?
“Renovate the interior first.”
“I want to do open-shelf self-selection, and we need our own deli and bakery sections.”
“We're not just resellers; we're building a brand.”
“I'll have someone send the specific blueprints and plans to you later. Just follow those. If we're going to do this, we'll make it the first of its kind in Harbin!”
After hanging up, Lin Chuan was in high spirits.
The layout was unfolding step by step... Two o'clock in the afternoon.
The second half of the auction began with a murderous atmosphere.
Everyone sharpened their focus, especially Huang Xingguo, who had been roasted over the fire earlier.
His beady eyes were fixed intently on the stage.
He was waiting!
Waiting for the Second Glass Factory!
That was also a very important large factory!
He had to take it.
Only by securing this factory and monopolizing the market could he earn back the ten million plus he lost this morning!
“Next! Auction item: Ice City Second Glass Factory!”
“Starting price: Eight million!”
The auctioneer had barely finished speaking.
Before Huang Xingguo could even reach out.
“Ten million.”
Chen Jiacheng didn't even look at the other bidders, simply throwing out a round number.
The room fell silent once again.
This was what you called presence!
Blocking the path for most people right from the start!
Huang Xingguo's hand froze in mid-air, neither raising it nor putting it down.
Ten million... he had just spent sixteen million five hundred thousand on that broken parts factory!
That was all liquid capital!
Now in his pocket, at most, including public funds he could misappropriate, he only had six or seven million left.
How could he follow this?
Even if he added the money pooled by the surrounding shareholders, it barely reached ten million.
But the bidding had only just begun!
“Old Huang... let it go...”
The shareholders beside him were truly scared now. They had been fleeced in the last round; if they followed again, they'd lose even their underpants.
“Exactly, we don't have any more money.”
Huang Xingguo's hand shook for a long time before finally dropping weakly.
That sense of despair was like being strangled by the neck.
He had originally wanted to block the source of glass jars for the Canned Food Factory, but now that they had their own factory, they were completely free.
“Sold! Congratulations, Mr. Chen!”
As the gavel fell.
The Second Glass Factory went to Lin Chuan.
Huang Xingguo slumped in his chair, but though defeated, he wouldn't admit it and continued to act tough.
He turned sideways, his fat face twitching, and gritted his teeth as he spoke harsh words to Lin Chuan:
“Hmph!”
“Don't get happy too soon!”
“So what if you have this Second Factory?”
“My Jiufu Factory is a major one! My production capacity is twice yours!”
“And I have established channels and old customers!”
“Who are you going to sell the glass you produce in that broken factory to?”
“When it piles up in the warehouse and can't be sold, I'll see who you go crying to!”
“Fighting me? You're still a bit too green!”
However.
Lin Chuan didn't even look him in the eye.
He just smiled faintly, a smile that carried a chill that made one's spine tingle.
“Is that so?”
“Director Huang, I hope you can still be this tough in ten minutes.”
“Next item!”
The auctioneer's voice suddenly rose an octave, sounding exceptionally excited.
“This is also a key asset restructuring project promoted by the city!”
“North City Thermal Power Plant!”
“This is the core unit responsible for power and heating for the entire industrial park!”
“Due to a business transition, it is now open to social capital!”
“Starting price: Four million!”
Boom—!
As soon as these words were said.
Huang Xingguo felt his head buzz as if he'd been hit with a blunt club.
North City Thermal Power Plant?!
That was the lifeblood of his Jiufu Factory!
A glass factory is a high-energy-consuming enterprise; the furnaces can't stop for a single moment!
He relied entirely on this Thermal Power Plant for electricity and gas!
If this thing fell into someone else's hands... especially Lin Chuan's... Huang Xingguo snapped his head around, just in time to see Lin Chuan's half-smiling gaze.
At that moment, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice hole, cold from head to heel!
“Quick! Pool the money!!”
Huang Xingguo frantically grabbed the arms of the shareholders beside him and shook them.
“How much money is left?! Bring it all out!!”
“We must take this factory! Otherwise, we're dead!!”
It was truly a matter of life and death!
The shareholders also realized the severity of the problem.
Without electricity, the molten glass would solidify in the furnaces—that would be a ruined furnace! The entire factory would be scrapped!
Several people rummaged through everything, putting up bankbooks, mobile phones, and even watches.
“I only have this million plus left!”
“I pooled some too, five million in total now!”
“I can still get a few hundred thousand!”
“Over six million, that's the limit!”
While this side was in chaos.
Over there.
Chen Jiacheng elegantly raised his paddle.
“Four million one hundred thousand.”
He bid just above the starting price, sounding quite casual.
“Four million five hundred thousand!!”
Huang Xingguo was bidding with his very life savings, his voice shrill like a ghost's wail.
This was all the money he had!
If Lin Chuan's side added just a little more, he would be completely finished!
“Four million six hundred thousand.” Chen Jiacheng followed up.
“Five million!!!”
“Six million!”
“Seven million!”
Huang Xingguo stood up, his eyes bloodshot; this was a gambler's final desperate throw.
Once this seven million was out, he would have to sell his house or even borrow money.
After shouting this, his whole body was shaking.
“Any more? Any more?”
The auctioneer called out from the stage.
The entire room was watching this side.
Chen Jiacheng glanced at Lin Chuan.
Lin Chuan nodded slightly and even leisurely picked up his teacup for a sip.
Chen Jiacheng pushed up his glasses and raised the paddle again.
The voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a bullet, accurately hitting Huang Xingguo's heart.
“Seven million... and ten thousand.”
Huang Xingguo looked left and right: “Do you guys have any more money? This Thermal Power Plant absolutely cannot fall into their hands.”
“Old Huang, we don't have any left either! You spent too much on the first factory. Why did you have to provoke that Hong Kong Businessman for no reason?”
“Haven't you heard? The boss behind them has a building worth hundreds of millions. How can our little bit of money compete with them?”
“Them bidding ten thousand more is just to humiliate you. It's useless to add more; we can't beat them!”
“You, Old Huang, just had to stir up trouble. Now look what happened!”
“Dammit, we shouldn't have let you be the factory director in the first place! It's over, it's all over now!”
“Once the Thermal Power Plant is in their hands, you'd better go over and beg for their forgiveness, or we'll all be eating dirt from now on!”
“Bastard!”
“Thud!”
Huang Xingguo slumped onto the floor, knocking over his chair.
Ten thousand.
Just ten thousand more.
It seemed like just a tiny bit.
But that was the killing blow!
Huang Xingguo had no options; this Hong Kong Businessman was just too damn rich. No matter how much they bid, the other side would bid more.
A complete dimensional strike!
It was over.
It was all over now.
Raw materials were cut off, and now even the power and energy source were held in someone else's hand.
In the future, even if he wanted to use a single kilowatt of electricity, he'd have to see Lin Chuan's mood!
How was this competition? This was purely washing his own neck and stretching it out for someone to chop!
“What a sin!!”
Sitting on the floor, Huang Xingguo didn't care about face anymore; he beat his chest and stomped his feet, tears streaming down his old face.
His cloudy eyes were full of regret.
He hated it!
He hated himself for listening to his idiot son!
He hated himself for trying to show off for some bullshit Zhang Yaoyao!
Of all the people to provoke...
Why did he have to provoke this Lin Chuan, who looked harmless but actually ate people without spitting out the bones?!
Now look what happened.
Forget being the Glass King.
Even this business he'd built up by catching the right trend was going to be ruined in his hands!