"I agree with Sister Xueer. As long as we secure returns, Overseas Chinese Company has plenty of experience we can learn from."
"The problem is that most of the land parcels they keep acquiring are still being developed, so last year the company posted almost zero operating revenue."
"With zero revenue they still lost close to 260 million, and the group's total debt is nearly ten billion."
Jiang Cheng looked at Chen Xueer and Zhao Linger. "Real estate is a business with a long capital-recovery cycle. Just obtaining the permits and working out the designs takes months, and that's before construction even starts. By continuously buying land, Overseas Chinese Company is putting huge strain on its cash flow."
Chen Xueer nodded. "Right now the model does look fragile. Still, when they transfer equity they impose one special, non-negotiable requirement."
"The agreement states we must pay 734 million as the base price and assume 4.449 billion in debt."
In other words, we'd have to fork out about 5.183 billion in total to acquire 49 % of Overseas Chinese's Fengtai crown-jewel project."
Zhao Linger went on, "They bought the land for 8.9 billion two years ago, so 5.138 billion today isn't an unreasonable valuation."
Jiang Cheng glanced at his balance. After hoarding so many houses in Great Britain, he'd spent nearly nine billion.
Right now his account still held a touch over nine billion.
If he invested 5.138 billion in the Fengtai King plot, he'd still have more than four billion left.
But he still had at least fifty Hope Primary Schools waiting to be built.
According to his earlier budget, each school would cost five million.
Four billion would more than cover it.
Besides, he still had a Sons and Grandsons Card in his pocket that he hadn't used.
Even so, Jiang Cheng—who'd thought he could coast—suddenly felt he ought to keep making money.
After all, without loans or partners, ten billion in cash wasn't as bottomless as it sounded when you actually wanted to build something.
"All right, let's invest!"
With Jiang Cheng's green light, Chen Xueer nodded. "Since you've decided, Chairman Jiang, I'll arrange talks with them."
"But I hear Overseas Chinese isn't talking only to us. Through industry contacts they've approached several other developers—Tailong Real Estate, Shenghe Real Estate, all of them seasoned investors."
Chen Xueer frowned. "And those companies are keen on Fengtai King. If everyone has deep pockets, there's no guarantee our Stars Group will win the bid—especially since we've zero experience in property development."
Jiang Cheng nodded. "Stars has been around less than three months. We're already expanding fast; steady growth is enough. Don't force it."
After settling that, he turned back to Chen Xueer. "Did you start the process for the Hope Primary Schools we talked about last night?"
Chen Xueer nodded. "In this morning's meeting I asked IT to assign two people to compile the data."
Jiang Cheng opened his Social Media Platform and checked the thousands of messages in his inbox.
"Go through every private message and comment, filter them, verify, and draw up a list of schools—like the one in Changyi—that need to be rebuilt."
Hearing this, Zhao Linger said, "Chairman Jiang, you're really rebuilding that many Hope Primary Schools? When Sister Xueer told me this morning, I couldn't believe it."
"Do I look like a con man?"
Zhao Linger waved her hands. "A Handsome Guy like you might be a scumb— I mean a male god. No way you're a fraud."
Jiang Cheng glanced sideways at her. "Ling'er, I think you misunderstand me. We should find time to bare our… no, to have an open and honest talk."
Seeing Jiang Cheng getting cheeky again, Zhao Linger muttered, "Hmph, Chairman Jiang, you have no idea—every girl in the office likes you, and on Social Media Platform women call you 'hubby.' With so many wives, what are you if not a scumbag?"
"Oh? Why do I smell jealousy?"
Seeing her little thoughts exposed, Zhao Linger quickly changed the subject: "Actually, my grandma is from the Daliang Mountains. I went there a few times with my mom for the holidays—it's really backward!"
"From my earliest memories, the kids there were always dirty, barefoot, with no pretty dresses—so pitiful. Even my grandma's house had no water heater; I could never take a shower whenever I visited."
"When I was little I hated going there. Not only was there no good Winter Solstice food, every day was just vegetable porridge. My mom would always hand out the snacks I brought to the neighbor kids, and I'd cry in frustration."
Recalling this, Zhao Linger looked genuinely aggrieved.
Watching Zhao Linger's delicate cheeks pucker in protest, Chen Xueer couldn't help laughing: "Ling'er, you just said those kids were pitiful—why so wronged over sharing a few snacks?"
At that, Zhao Linger's face twisted in embarrassment. "I didn't understand back then, and I was always hungry and still growing."
"You're clearly a foodie. You can't stand anyone eating your stuff. This morning when I ate your last cream puff you were fuming."
"Hey, I'm not a foodie! I'm still a twenty-something baby, and I'm still developing—I need lots of energy..."
As she spoke, Jiang Cheng's gaze drifted once more to her rather outrageous curves.
"But after I grew up I realized how hard those kids have it. I grew up in a big city with every treat and toy, yet even now, years later, I hear many homes still burn kang stoves, and the schools there are in terrible shape."
With that, Zhao Linger walked over and sat beside Jiang Cheng, tugging his arm and wheedling, "Chairman Jiang, since you're rebuilding, could you also rebuild the Hope Primary School in my grandma's village?"
Enjoying the soft pressure of her arm, Jiang Cheng nodded thoughtfully. "Seeing how much you care, I'll put you in charge of the project. During construction I'll make time to visit Hope Primary Schools around the region, and you can come with me."
Zhao Linger had been about to refuse outright.
After all, statistics were boring and tedious—she wanted no part of it.
But hearing Jiang Cheng say he'd take her traveling, she nodded like a pecking chick and patted her full chest. "No problem, leave it to me. I'll handle it perfectly."
Jiang Cheng's eyes flicked to her bouncing front and smiled inwardly.
If she really came along, he was sure he'd have her handled perfectly too.
Aware that Chen Xueer was beside them, Jiang Cheng quickly looked away.
Just then the phone on the table rang; Jiang Cheng picked it up.
Qin Fen's voice came through at once.
"Old Jiang, what're you up to?"
"At the office."
"Haven't had dinner yet?"
"Nope."
"Perfect. A new Huaiyang Restaurant just opened by the Huangpu River—let's try it?"
"Sure, set it up!"
"Deal, I'll send you the address."
After hanging up, Jiang Cheng turned to Chen Xueer as if remembering something. "Right, contact Social Media Platform and have them delete all my news except the Hope Primary School items."
Chen Xueer blinked. "Which news do you mean, sir?"
Jiang Cheng gave Zhao Linger a meaningful look.
"The ones that make people mistake me for a scumbag."
Zhao Linger grinned awkwardly. "Chairman Jiang, I was joking. Besides, all your hot searches are about being rich and handsome."
"Exactly those—delete them all. I don't like being so high-profile. I don't want any photos or videos of me online."
Her words reminded him: a good man avoids excessive publicity.
Jiang Cheng had no desire to be gawked at and filmed wherever he went, like Wang Congcong.
Where's the fun in that?
Showing up somewhere only to be pointed at and turned into trending news.
And if today he's with Zhou Ying, tomorrow with Qiao Yinyin, the day after with Wang Yuyan—he'd be exposed at once.
How could he keep multiple threads running then?
Chen Xueer nodded understandingly. "Understood, I'll arrange the deletions right away."