How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 153

Three Years Later, I Can Finally Show Off in Front of Yang Chen: What’s Wrong with a Ride-Hailing Driver Having Some Money?

After a while, Zhang Xiang called Yang Chen to report on the negotiation with Cheng Dalong.

Cheng Dalong was willing to give the remaining business of Longmei International Hospital to Chenjun Medical Equipment Co., Ltd., and compensate Longmei International Hospital with a total of 100 million yuan in compensation. This was in exchange for the Haicheng Longmei International Hospital Group not pursuing his actions of obtaining orders through bribery and other means, as well as deliberately selling defective equipment and colluding with foreign technicians to defraud Longmei Hospital of maintenance fees.

Zhang Xiang checked Cheng Dalong’s assets, including deposits, real estate, wealth management, etc., which totaled about 200 million yuan. This meant that even if he sold everything, he would still owe the Longmei Hospital Group about 30 million yuan.

This was within Yang Chen’s expectations. Cheng Dalong would definitely choose this option, because it was essentially paying to avoid a much bigger disaster.

If he refused to settle privately and went to court, he would not only face jail time but also be liable for breach of contract damages, which would be far more costly.

After all, Longmei International Hospital was a product of capital cooperation between China and the United States. Longmei International Hospital would definitely have the upper hand over Cheng Dalong in court.

Moreover, once a lawsuit was filed, Longmei International Hospital could apply to freeze all of Cheng Dalong’s assets, effectively crippling him.

Yang Chen had already anticipated every step Cheng Dalong would take.

However, Cheng Dalong made a request: Yang Chen must be present when signing the business transfer agreement.

This made Yang Chen suspicious. Why did Cheng Dalong specifically ask for him to be there?

Yang Chen immediately told Zhang Xiang, “Tell him I don’t have time. He and Cheng Junjun can sign it. There’s no need for me to be there. Make sure he understands that he has no right to make demands and can only obey our requests!”

Zhang Xiang immediately replied, “Understood! This is just his request. I haven’t agreed to it yet. If Mr. Yang doesn’t want to see him, then I will reject him outright.”

Cheng Dalong had only one thought in his mind: to kill Yang Chen.

He felt that Yang Chen was the root cause of all his problems. Without Yang Chen, Cheng Junjun wouldn’t be so ruthless, and he wouldn’t be in his current predicament, with his “family ruined and his life in shambles.”

Cheng Dalong bought a lot of insurance every year, and his parents were the beneficiaries.

He imagined that if he and Yang Chen died together in a traffic accident, the insurance company would pay a huge sum of money to his parents.

With this money, Zhang Hailing would no longer argue about having an abortion and divorce, and would definitely obediently give birth to his son.

Unfortunately, Yang Chen was unwilling to meet him, so his plan had to be postponed to another opportunity.

The fact that he designated his parents as his insurance beneficiaries showed that he didn’t value his daughter. He felt that his parents would not harm him, and the compensation given to them would not be spent by another family. He didn’t want his future son-in-law to potentially spend that money.

Cheng Junjun was right. The grandparents were merely puppets acting in the open, while the real mastermind was Cheng Dalong.

At 3 PM, the stock market closed.

The Longlian Supermarket Group shareholders’ meeting then began.

As a major shareholder, Yang Chen proposed a motion to increase capital to acquire “Hi Gou No. 1 Store + Binhai Import and Export Trading Company.” After the acquisition, Longlian Supermarket would adopt a different approach and attempt to revitalize its business through overseas purchasing.

In the future, they could also explore opening stores in major cities abroad and selling domestic products there.

This strategy was bold but aligned with the country’s policies.

The government was increasingly encouraging cross-border trade, promoting both the sale of domestic goods abroad and the import of foreign products.

Therefore, following this direction, even if it wasn’t entirely successful, it wouldn’t be a misstep.

This strategy was initially proposed by Pu Chunhua and finalized by Yang Chen, so the other shareholders naturally had no objections.

Anyone familiar with the stock market knows that when a listed company is involved in major positive events such as asset acquisitions, the stock price generally experiences several consecutive days of limit-up [daily price increase limit].

Therefore, the shareholders would undoubtedly pass this proposal unanimously and unconditionally.

Regardless of whether it ultimately succeeded, a surge in the stock price would always provide a tangible opportunity to cash out, right?

The proposal to increase capital was passed, but the specifics of the increase still needed to be discussed.

Yang Chen’s goal was to increase his shareholding ratio from 35% to 51%, thereby becoming the controlling shareholder.

Therefore, he would definitely participate in the private placement and acquire at least 16% of the total share capital.

Pu Chunhua felt that this time would definitely be a success. He believed that if they achieved significant results in the future, the company’s stock price could increase tenfold.

Therefore, he also wanted to participate in the private placement and even proposed to cover the entire private placement with Yang Chen.

Seeing how confident the two of them were, the other shareholders also wanted to take a gamble and secure a portion of the shares.

After repeated discussions, the final plan was finalized.

The current total share capital of Longlian Supermarket Group was 1.5 billion shares, and the stock price was 3 yuan/share [approximately $0.42 USD].

Hi Gou No. 1 Store was valued at 1.6 billion yuan, and Li Lianxiong requested 800 million yuan in cash, with the remaining 800 million yuan exchanged for shares in Longlian Supermarket Group.

Binhai Import and Export Trading Company was valued at 1 billion yuan.

This meant that 1.8 billion yuan needed to be raised this time. At a price of 3 yuan/share, that equated to 600 million shares needing to be issued.

The 800 million yuan that Li Lianxiong requested to exchange for shares could be exchanged for approximately 267 million shares at a price of 3 yuan/share.

In summary, a total of 867 million shares needed to be issued this time, bringing the company’s total share capital to 2.367 billion shares.

Yang Chen needed to ensure that his shareholding reached 51%, which meant he needed to hold 1.207 billion shares.

Currently, he held a total of 525 million shares, meaning he needed to acquire 682 million shares in the private placement.

Of the total 867 million shares issued, Yang Chen would acquire 682 million shares alone, and the remaining portion would be divided among the other shareholders.

At a price of 3 yuan/share, Yang Chen needed to pay 2.046 billion yuan for 682 million shares.

After deducting the valuation of 1 billion yuan for Binhai Import and Export Trading Company, Yang Chen still needed to prepare 1.046 billion yuan to complete his controlling plan.

There were still 800 million yuan in Yang Chen’s personal account. The rent and property fees for the next quarter of the Mashang Hai Shang Financial Building would all be collected. After deducting miscellaneous costs and expenses, and paying taxes, about 50 million yuan could be obtained.

The money to acquire the resort had not been paid yet, and 200 million yuan was needed there as well.

Yang Chen suddenly realized that he couldn’t make ends meet without mortgaging the Financial Building.

Two days later, Zhang Yang called Yang Chen.

Chen Liang had arranged everything, and everyone would go to Jinshan Resort tomorrow to hang out.

It was mainly the old acquaintances from the Foreign Liaison Department, a total of a dozen people.

Chen Liang was clearly trying to do Yang Chen a favor by including him.

Yang Chen agreed and said he would definitely go tomorrow.

Then Zhang Yang called Chen Liang back.

Zhang Yang: “Brother Liang, Brother Chen said he will definitely go tomorrow.”

Chen Liang: “Well, A Yang, good job. See you tomorrow.”

Hanging up the phone, Chen Liang walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out at the Bund [a waterfront area and a protected historical district in Shanghai] in the distance. He was filled with pride, as if the entire city of Haicheng was at his feet.

“Three years, I have waited for three years, and finally waited for the opportunity to get my revenge! I am now the vice president of Shengjin Investment Bank’s Haicheng branch. I can finally win against you!” Chen Liang said to himself.

As the vice president of Shengjin Investment Bank, Chen Liang’s annual salary was as high as 5 million yuan. The company also provided him with a Porsche Cayenne as a company car, as well as a beautiful female secretary. Most importantly, the girlfriend he was dating from the University of Finance and Economics was the daughter of Liang Xiuyun, the president of Shengjin Investment Bank’s Haicheng branch.

He was definitely at the peak of his life.

Very few people his age had achieved this much on their own. He was indeed very successful.

Anyone who had achieved this much at the age of twenty-five or six would be arrogant.

During college, Chen Liang lost to Yang Chen four times. Now that he was so successful, his desire to get some payback from Yang Chen was understandable. Anyone would want to defeat an opponent who had defeated them multiple times, right?

“This time, I not only want to win, but also win spectacularly. I will return all the embarrassment of losing to him four times before!” Chen Liang muttered again.

Then, Chen Liang poured a glass of red wine, looked at the Bund in the distance, and took a sip. He felt like an ancient emperor.

…

Yang Chen got up early, told Yu Shishi a few things, and then drove to Jinshan Resort.

Jinshan Resort is located at the border of Haicheng and Jiacheng, but it still belongs to Haicheng.

There is a small mountain there called Jinshan, hence the name Jinshan Resort.

From a scenic and feng shui [a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the surrounding environment] perspective, this was a good place with mountains and water, a good place for both the living and the dead.

It was about 80 kilometers away from the center of Haicheng City. Chen Liang had stipulated that everyone must meet before 9 o’clock, which was part of his plan.

Traveling 80 kilometers by bus or public transportation could take until noon with multiple transfers.

Therefore, to arrive before 9 o’clock, everyone would either have to drive or take a taxi.

Chen Liang could then assess everyone’s financial situation based on their mode of transportation.

After all, he was a graduate student from the State University of New York, so he considered himself intelligent.

Before showing off, he needed to gather information. If someone was more successful than him, he wouldn’t show off. He would only show off if he was sure that everyone else was less successful than him.

Living like him must be exhausting, having to carefully plan before showing off.

Unlike Yang Chen, who could show off whenever he felt like it.

Planned showing off wasn’t impressive. Being able to show off spontaneously was truly impressive.

Not wanting to drive there empty, Yang Chen accepted a ride-hailing order.

The passenger was a very sassy-looking girl with big breasts, a thin waist, and a curvy butt. Her oval face and long legs, combined with a tight-fitting outfit, perfectly accentuated her figure.

The women Yang Chen had met before were all traditional and gentle, but this was the first time he had met such a sassy girl in person.

After more than ten minutes, the passenger put down her phone and asked with a smile, “Handsome guy, are you a full-time ride-hailing driver?”

Yang Chen nodded with a smile and said, “Yes! Don’t worry, I’m definitely professional.”

The female passenger: “Haha… I can see that you have very good driving skills, so I’m definitely relieved. Do you ever think about taking a break and enjoying this beautiful country while driving every day?”

Yang Chen: “I haven’t thought about it yet. I’m still young, and now is the time to make money. I’ll save enjoying life for when I retire in the future.”

Female passenger: “But have you ever thought about it? When you retire and enjoy life, you will have very few things to enjoy. You can’t eat much, you can’t drink much, you pant after walking a few steps, and you are powerless even when you see beautiful girls. How can you enjoy life?”

That made sense.

Yang Chen smiled and looked back at her, saying, “Beauty, that’s insightful! It’s not easy to come to this world, so you should indeed appreciate all the beautiful aspects of life.”

Female passenger: “Haha… that’s right. My name is Fang Yingqi, what’s yours?”

Yang Chen: “Yang Chen.”

Fang Yingqi: “Yang Chen? That name sounds familiar, I seem to have heard it somewhere.”

Yang Chen: “Like Zhang Wei, it’s a common name. Dozens of people will respond if you call it out, so it’s not surprising that you’ve heard it.”

Fang Yingqi: “Haha… that’s not what I meant, I really heard it somewhere. Let’s add each other as friends, and maybe we can travel together in the future. I need a safe and reliable male travel buddy to accompany me to experience the Sichuan-Tibet line [a popular scenic route in China] and purify my soul in Tibet. I’ve had this plan for a long time, but I haven’t found a suitable partner. This journey is almost like Tang Sanzang’s [a central character in the novel Journey to the West] pilgrimage to get Buddhist scriptures, and there will definitely be many dangers. It’s too unsafe without a strong and reliable man to accompany me. I can tell at a glance that you are a very reliable and strong man. And… I’ve really seen your name somewhere, and more than once, but I just can’t remember where.”

It was probably when Yang Chen caught the fugitive that she saw it on the news.

Yang Chen joked, “I admit that I’m strong, but I can’t admit that I’m safe and reliable. When I meet a beauty like you, I may sometimes be very dangerous. After all, who can guarantee that their rationality will always overcome desire?”

Fang Yingqi laughed and said, “You’re very direct. Other people pretend to be gentlemen, but they are secretly thinking otherwise. I don’t know if you are secretly thinking otherwise, but you are much more honest than them.”

It’s good to be handsome; explicit words are called honesty, but if you’re ugly, you’re considered perverted.

The two chatted happily for two hours and arrived at Jinshan Resort.

After adding each other as friends, Fang Yingqi got out of the car and left.

The two had already agreed that when Yang Chen had time, they would travel the Sichuan-Tibet line together.

Yang Chen found a parking space, parked the car, and got out to meet the others.

After entering the resort, Yang Chen called Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang: “Hello, Brother Chen, where are you?”

Yang Chen: “I just came in, where are you?”

Zhang Yang: “Brother Chen, wait for me at the door, I’ll come pick you up.”

A few minutes later, Zhang Yang ran over with a smile.

“Brother Chen, let me tell you something.” Zhang Yang pulled Yang Chen to a deserted place.

“What’s the matter, so mysterious?” Yang Chen asked with a smile.

Zhang Yang: “Chen Liang came prepared this time, driving his Porsche Cayenne, with his female secretary, showing off his work, income, etc. I’ve also heard about the rivalry between you two in school. I’m worried that he specially planned this gathering and may deliberately make things difficult for you.”

Yang Chen: “He wouldn’t be so bored, would he? Specially organize a gathering to show off in front of me?”

Zhang Yang: “It’s hard to say. Anyway, he has already subtly shown off in front of us. When you go over later, he will definitely show off again. The main thing is that other people seem to be very flattering to him. Pay attention to your words and actions later, otherwise you may be targeted by them.”

Yang Chen: “Hehe… A Yang, I’m very happy that you came to tell me this. I’m already here, and there’s no reason to turn around and leave. Let him show off if he wants to, I won’t lose anything. Let’s go.”

The two went to meet the main group.

The people who came today were all Yang Chen’s subordinates in the Foreign Liaison Department back then: Deputy Minister Chen Liang and Zhou Yu, staff Zhang Yang, Chen Qunyang, Wang Feiya, Zhang Yunyun, Liang Zhentao, and Wu Guandong.

Therefore, as soon as Yang Chen arrived, everyone quickly came up to greet him.

“Brother Chen, you’re here!”

“Wow, Brother Chen, I haven’t seen you in a few years, you’re even more handsome than before!”

“Hehe… as expected of my dream lover back then, he’s still as good as ever.”

“Brother Chen, looking at your current clothes, you must be a company executive now.”

“With Brother Chen’s ability, it’s normal to be a company executive. It would be surprising if he wasn’t.”

…

Yang Chen said with a smile, “Hello everyone, long time no see. Chen Liang is more socially adept than I am, and he even organized a gathering for everyone.”

Chen Liang raised his head and puffed out his chest, reached out to shake hands with Yang Chen, and deliberately showed off his Rolex.

“Minister, I’m a little overwhelmed by what you said. I’m a little overstepping my authority. I hope the old minister won’t take offense.”

Looking at Yang Chen’s bare hands and the clothes he was wearing without any visible brands (Yang Chen was wearing clothes personally tailored for him by Louis Vuitton’s chief designer, Hilta Belles, without any labels), Chen Liang couldn’t be happier.

Yang Chen replied with a smile, “You did a good job. This kind of thing should be the responsibility of your deputy minister. In the past, you and Zhou Yu were responsible for organizing activities at school, and I only needed to direct. It’s still the same as before, isn’t that great? Why would I take offense?”

Zhou Yu said with a smile, “It’s different now. Brother Liang is now the vice president of Shengjin Investment Bank’s Haicheng branch, driving a Porsche Cayenne, with a secretary, an annual salary of 5 million, and his girlfriend is the president’s daughter. He’s simply a winner in life.”

Chen Liang said with a smile, “What is this? Brother Chen’s achievements must be higher than mine. Brother Chen, where are you working now?”

At this time, Fang Yingqi’s voice came over.

“Yang Chen, what a coincidence, I see you again. I finally remembered who you are, the star driver on the Bilibili [a Chinese video sharing website] platform, the one who helped the police catch the fugitive. Right?”

When everyone heard that Yang Chen was a Bilibili driver, they couldn’t help but laugh.

Zhang Yang looked shocked. How could his idol be a Bilibili driver?

He felt that his worldview was collapsing.

He had assumed that Yang Chen must be a company executive now, and even if he wasn’t as successful as Chen Liang, he wouldn’t be doing too badly.

But…

How could he be a Bilibili driver?

Yang Chen replied generously, “I didn’t want to reveal it, but you remembered it.”

Fang Yingqi: “Haha… I knew there was a reason why I felt safe with you, it turns out there’s this aspect. Well, you’re busy, I won’t bother you. Oh, by the way, when are you going back?”

Yang Chen: “In the afternoon.”

Fang Yingqi: “How about you pick me up at three o’clock in the afternoon?”

Yang Chen nodded and said, “Okay! Three o’clock in the afternoon, we’ll go back together.”

Fang Yingqi waved with a smile and turned away.

Chen Liang was overjoyed and thought to himself: “Three years! Three years! Do you know how I’ve spent these three years? Today, everything is finally back! He’s just a ride-hailing driver. Haha… I’m laughing to death. The talent that teachers and classmates unanimously favored is actually just a ride-hailing driver. God, you’ve finally opened your eyes and let me have the last laugh! Haha…”