How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 260

The Great War (1)

After the ten banking institutions that accepted Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry’s gold pledges confirmed the gold was fake, they immediately issued public announcements.

Although each bank worded it differently, the core message was the same.

First, there were no conflicts of interest between them and Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry.

Second, all the gold had undergone instrument and water suspension testing, confirming its authenticity. They were unaware that Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry used metals like tungsten, iridium, and lead to create the jewelry, thus evading the standard tests.

Third, they were willing to actively cooperate with relevant departments in investigating and collecting evidence.

Fourth, they had reported the case to the police, accusing Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry Co., Ltd. of fraudulently obtaining mortgage loans with fake gold.

…

From these statements, it’s clear the banks wanted to absolve themselves of responsibility and place all blame on Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry.

Moreover, the banks concealed a crucial point: they had used that gold for secondary mortgages and wealth management products with other financial institutions and trust companies.

While Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry appeared to defraud banks of 30 billion yuan with 85 tons of fake gold, the funds leveraged by this gold actually amounted to 90 billion yuan.

The logic is simple: if Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry, controlled by the Jiang family, repurchased the 85 tons of gold at the current price, the banks could repay the other financial institutions, who could then redeem the wealth management products for their customers.

Now that the gold was proven fake, if Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry couldn’t repurchase it at the current price, the banks couldn’t repay the other financial institutions, and those institutions couldn’t redeem the matured wealth management products.

This was a chain reaction; a problem at the source would inevitably cause widespread consequences.

If the amount was small, the banks could cover it.

However, this involved a 90 billion yuan liability. The banks were state-owned; the state couldn’t allow them to absorb such losses.

Therefore, the pressure fell entirely on the Jiang family.

However, the Jiang family had a backup plan.

Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry was a limited liability company. If the Jiang family couldn’t repay the money, they could declare bankruptcy and liquidation. After mortgaging and selling all assets, the shareholders would only need to repay debts up to the registered capital of 500 million yuan.

Of course, this was the ideal outcome. However, they now faced banks and multiple financial institutions, in a major case involving 90 billion yuan. Even Yang Chen would be implicated if he couldn’t resolve it.

As expected, just as Jiang Zhengtian was about to order a default, relevant department heads contacted him directly.

The departments’ attitude was clear: as the major shareholder of Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry with a 90% stake, the Jiang family must repurchase the 85 tons of fake gold at the current gold price.

After the repurchase, their crime of defrauding the bank’s funds with fake gold could be treated leniently.

Originally, Jiang Zhengtian wanted to bargain and repay the original 30 billion yuan.

But the department heads refused.

Because the banks had used this gold for secondary mortgages, and trust companies had turned it into wealth management products, all calculated based on the current gold price.

If the Jiang family repaid only 30 billion yuan, the banks and trust companies would have to absorb the increased value of the gold. That was impossible.

In just three days, gold had broken through 400 yuan/gram, and Wall Street predicted it would continue to rise in the next six months, potentially exceeding 500 yuan/gram.

However, those wealth management products and mortgage loans had only 15 trading days left until maturity. Failure to redeem them by then would trigger a financial collapse, something the Jiang family couldn’t solve by selling assets and paying compensation.

Moreover, the Jiang family would be committing fraud and disrupting financial order, involving a 90 billion yuan financial case. All relevant personnel could face the death penalty multiple times over.

Jiang Zhengtian had no choice but to urgently sell everything and request the banks and the China Securities Regulatory Commission [a government agency responsible for regulating the securities market] to release the 27 billion yuan in funds as soon as possible.

At this time, the Ning family intervened.

Ning Wuque and Ning Shaoqing visited the department heads with generous gifts, requesting they deliberately delay the release of funds for 2-3 days.

With the current gold price surge, it could easily reach 500 yuan/gram in three days.

Delaying for 2-3 days procedurally was possible, so the heads accepted the Ning family’s request.

Three days later, the Jiang family sold everything and raised 42 billion yuan.

By then, the price of gold had reached 480 yuan/gram, meaning the Jiang family needed 40.8 billion yuan to redeem the 85 tons of fake gold.

However, another problem arose.

Because the mortgage and redemption maturity date was 12 working days away, and the gold price continued to rise, the Jiang family wanted to redeem immediately, but the banks and trust institutions refused. They insisted on waiting until the maturity date.

At this point, more than 80 people, including Jiang Zhengtian, were detained awaiting prosecution.

The 12 trading days passed quickly, and the gold price reached an exaggerated 525 yuan/gram. After 3 PM, the banks demanded the Jiang family redeem the gold.

To redeem at this price, the Jiang family needed 44.625 billion yuan, but they had only raised 42 billion yuan, leaving a shortfall of 2.625 billion yuan.

The banks transferred the money directly. The remaining 2.625 billion yuan would be recovered by auctioning off the Jiang family’s ancestral home and other real estate.

Soon, the police and other departments issued a public announcement explaining the progress of the 30 billion yuan gold fraud case.

In short, there were two main points.

First, Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry had compensated 42 billion yuan according to the current price, and the remaining 2.625 billion yuan would be repaid through subsequent auctions. The impact was within a controllable range and wouldn’t cause systemic risks.

Second, Jiang Zhengtian, the actual controller of Jinling Phoenix Gold Jewelry, had been arrested and brought to justice, along with all relevant personnel.

At this point, the Jiang family, which had thrived in Jinling City for decades, was completely destroyed.

The Ning family benefited the most from the Jiang family’s demise.

As expected, the Treasure Pavilion building was auctioned off, and Ning Shaoqing bought it.

After completing the formalities, Ning Shaoqing called Yang Chen.

Ning Shaoqing: “Brother Chen, I’ve taken down the Treasure Pavilion! We can open our jade gambling shop here.”

Yang Chen: “Haha… that’s great. The Hai City side is also ready. I’ll have the goods sent over from Southern Myanmar. Let’s open both stores on June 6th.”

Ning Shaoqing: “Okay! Prepare as soon as possible. We’ll open on June 6th.”

Yang Chen named the jade gambling shop Starlight Pavilion. He held 67% of the shares in both the Hai City and Jinling stores, with the remaining shares distributed among other partners.

No one in Jinling City opposed the opening of Starlight Pavilion, but the situation was different in Hai City. Tang Chengbiao was the first to oppose it.

Tang Chengbiao arranged a meeting with Yang Chen, Xue Yinong, and other shareholders of Starlight Pavilion for a face-to-face negotiation.

Tang Chengbiao’s attitude was clear and firm: he wouldn’t allow Yang Chen and the others to open the Starlight Pavilion jade gambling shop next to Emerald Square.

He even threatened that if they insisted, the Tang family would retaliate at all costs.

Yang Chen’s attitude was equally firm: “If Mr. Tang thinks the Tang family can scare us, you’re mistaken. Starlight Pavilion will open as scheduled on June 6th. If the Tang family causes trouble, we’ll retaliate at all costs.”

Tang Chengbiao sneered: “Okay! Since we can’t agree, there’s nothing to discuss. We’ll see who has the last laugh.”

He left angrily with his men.

Yang Chen got up, stretched, and said to Xue Yinong and the others with a smile: “Don’t worry about him. The Tang family won’t really cause trouble.”

Xue Yinong: “I heard the Tang family’s patriarch recently changed the ownership of many properties, transferring the legal person and equity to Tang Chengbiao and Tang Chunlai. Tang Chenghu’s position as head of the family is precarious. Even if he remains a figurehead, it’s useless. Tang Chengbiao probably feels he and his son are about to control the Tang family, so he’s so arrogant.”

Yang Chen: “I guessed this would happen. Tang Chenghu is too soft-hearted. He can’t blame others.”

Qiu Tian: “Brother Chen, should we summon overseas mercenaries to warn Tang Chengbiao and Tang Chunlai?”

Yang Chen: “Not yet. The Tang family has military connections. Let’s avoid provoking them. Unless necessary, don’t use overseas mercenaries. Alright, go back. I’m going to drive.”

The others nodded and said goodbye.

Yang Chen’s Jianghuai car had been modified with bulletproof and explosion-proof features. Ordinary weapons couldn’t damage it. It was a veritable iron box.

Around eleven o’clock, Yang Chen dropped off a passenger and was about to grab another order when a middle-aged man hurriedly got into the car.

Passenger: “Brother, hurry to the high-speed rail station!”

Yang Chen: “I’m sorry, sir, I’m a ride-hailing driver, not a taxi. You have to place an order through the Didi platform [a ride-hailing app].”

Passenger: “I’ll charter the car for 100 yuan, without going through the platform, okay?”

Yang Chen shook his head: “I’m sorry, no! Without the platform, I’m driving an illegal taxi, which is against the law. I drive to pass the time, and I don’t want to break the law for such a small amount. Either call a car through the platform, or get out.”

Passenger: “Why are you so rigid? Fine, fine, I’ll place an order.”

The passenger quickly placed an order. The platform pushed it to Yang Chen based on proximity.

Only then did Yang Chen drive him to the high-speed rail station.

Soon after, the passenger’s phone rang.

He answered impatiently: “Don’t call me now. I’ve already run away. If I stay, the construction unit will make me bear the compensation. I’m running first, and after they pay, I’ll find a chance to come back and argue. I definitely won’t pay. Just say you were operating the excavator for the construction party and didn’t deliberately cut the cable. They won’t make things difficult for you.”

Excavator Operator: “But they said they told you in advance there was a national defense cable there, but you didn’t tell me! Now the construction representative says they won’t bear the compensation and want us, the contractors, to bear it. Now that you’ve run away, I’m finished! I’ve worked for you for half a year and only received 10,000 yuan in wages. You owe me wages and want me to take the blame. That’s not okay!”

Passenger: “I just forgot to tell you about the national defense cable. Just insist you didn’t know it was there, and I’ll insist I didn’t hear the warning. We must push the responsibility to the construction party, or we’ll all go to jail and can’t afford the compensation. Understand?”

Excavator Operator roared: “Zhang Fengming, stop joking! Do you think the law is a child’s play? If I lie with you, the punishment will be even more severe. Come back quickly, or I’ll call the police!”

Passenger: “I can’t go back! I’m already on the high-speed rail!”

He hung up.

Yang Chen advised: “Sir, you can’t escape this. It’s better to face it.”

Passenger: “Do you think I don’t want to? I don’t have the ability! I used all my money to get this project. I thought I could make a fortune, but this happened. That’s a national defense cable, and the losses are calculated by the second. I can’t afford it. If I disappear, they’ll seek compensation from the construction unit. After the compensation is paid, I’ll use connections to come back and admit my mistake, promising to repay the debt slowly. This is my only way. If I stay, I’ll either pay or go to jail. The construction party can’t lend me so much money.”

Yang Chen: “To be honest, I don’t understand your reasoning. But that’s not important. You can’t escape this. Don’t be silly and go back.”

Passenger: “Alright! Stop nagging and just take me to the high-speed rail station.”

‘I’ve never seen such a stupid person. How stupid do you have to be to think like this?’

However, this had nothing to do with Yang Chen. He had given humanitarian advice and didn’t need to be too involved.

Yang Chen took the passenger to the high-speed rail station.

Unfortunately, the fastest train to his hometown was sold out.

He tried to get on the train first and buy a ticket later, but was rejected.

He had two choices: wait 40 minutes for the next train, or hide in another city.

40 minutes was too long, so he chose to hide.

He queued to buy a ticket.

While queuing, he gave Yang Chen a bad review.

“Garbage driver, just one minute short. If you hadn’t made me place an order online and wasted that minute, I would have caught the train! If I’m harmed by you, I’ll curse you for life!”

As soon as Yang Chen left the station, the Didi platform sent a bad review notification.

Subsequently, the system issued a reminder.

“Congratulations, Master, for receiving a bad review. The system rewards Master with quantum chip technology, effective immediately. In addition, the blueprints will appear in Master’s bedroom. Please store and keep them safe.”

Instantly, countless chip-like objects appeared in Yang Chen’s mind, along with circuits and skyscraper-like structures.

Then, everything returned to normal.

Now Yang Chen could guide a professional team to develop quantum chips.

Yang Chen sorted out the knowledge and had an accurate understanding of quantum chips.

In simple terms, it uses different quantum states hitting the substrate to process information.

This chip manufacturing technology has a significant advantage for Dragon Country [a common reference to China], bypassing the need for lithography machines and allowing direct production with quantum technology.

The biggest problem currently plaguing Dragon Country’s chip technology is high-precision lithography machines.

Currently, Dragon Country can only produce 90nm lithography machines, and more advanced ones are unavailable.

But once Yang Chen announces the quantum chip technology or applies it to actual use, Dragon Country can eliminate lithography machines and become a world-leading chip power.

Someone once said that solving the lithography machine technology would warrant exemption from prosecution for any crime, with the entire country’s support.

Now that Yang Chen has more advanced quantum chip technology, he would be forgiven even for murder and arson, with the entire country pleading for him.

So, does Brother Chen need to fear the Tang family’s military background?

Such a good technology must be implemented quickly. The sooner it’s commercialized, the sooner Yang Chen can become the richest man.

To do research, you must first build a research base.

You can’t have researchers working in Yang Chen’s house every day, right?

Yang Chen remembered Chenjia Village.

The municipal government wanted to demolish Chenjia and Lijia Villages to build a chip research base.

However, some villagers asked for too much money, forcing the government to abandon the demolition and instead demolish the steel factory’s family building.

The villagers of those two villages are still causing trouble, but it’s useless.

If Yang Chen wants to demolish their houses now, they wouldn’t dare ask for exorbitant prices, right?

They might even accept less compensation due to the previous lesson.

They’ve already lost one opportunity and won’t lose a second, right?

However, such a large project requires application to the municipal government, especially for research bases, which need approval.

The problem is that the government is already building a chip research base. Building another one opposite it would be a waste of resources and wouldn’t be approved.

So, Yang Chen decided to apply for land for a comprehensive scientific research base, not just a chip research base.

Chip research would be one project, along with controllable nuclear fusion.

Although these projects are currently absurd, Yang Chen is personally funding the research and doesn’t need national funding, so the government would likely allow it.

He envisioned forming a company, Chenguang Technology Group, to own the scientific research base.

The equity distribution would be:

Yang Chen: 67% (absolute control).

Hai City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission: 10%.

The remaining part distributed to Xue Yinong and others.

Although this would distribute some profits, Yang Chen would save a lot of trouble.

The municipal government wouldn’t hold back on policy approvals, right?

Land use, loans, etc., would also be arranged first?

When the products are commercialized, the Hai City government could help put them on the market faster?

This world isn’t just about good products quickly occupying the market. Policy obstacles can ban even the best products.

So how to clear these obstacles?

Distribute a portion of the profits.

Although Yang Chen isn’t old, he’s seen the experiences of many business tycoons.

Investigations and fines of hundreds of billions or trillions. If that profit had been distributed, would this still happen?

To be a person, you must be sensible.

For Yang Chen, there are many ways and industries to make money. As long as he can be a hands-off shopkeeper, he’s willing to distribute profits.

Yang Chen called Yu Shishi and asked her to make a more sumptuous dinner. He wanted to invite Xue Yinong and Qiu Yuhong home for dinner.

At seven o’clock, Yang Chen returned home.

Xue Yinong and Qiu Yuhong were waiting in the living room.

They heard the car and came out to greet him.

Qiu Yuhong: “Mr. Yang, you’re back.”

Xue Yinong: “Achen, you’re back.”

Yang Chen walked over with a smile: “I’m back. Let’s go in and talk.”

Although Yang Chen invited them, Qiu Yuhong and Xue Yinong brought good wine, such as Moutai [a type of Chinese liquor] and Romanée-Conti [a prestigious Burgundy wine], both red and white.

Yang Chen didn’t plan to drive, so he opened the wine and drank with them.

After eating and drinking, Yang Chen invited them to the living room to chat.

“I called you here to discuss a project. I plan to build a super-large scientific research base, specializing in high-end technologies for the future, such as chips, engines, controllable nuclear fusion, etc. The investment will be very large and continuous. The return is uncertain. There may be no return for a long time, or there may be a return soon. Once there is a return, even if only one project succeeds, we’ll make a fortune. As always, I’ll prioritize giving you a share. If you’re willing, follow me. If not, I won’t force you,” Yang Chen said.

Xue Yinong said without hesitation: “If you do it, I’ll do it. Even if you research spaceships, I’ll follow you.”

‘Damn, is this life and death together?’

Yang Chen laughed: “Aren’t you afraid of losing your dowry with me?”

Xue Yinong: “That’s good, if I lose it all, I don’t have to marry and can play with you for life.”

Qiu Yuhong thought: ‘I can’t stand it anymore. Can’t one of you confess? This haziness makes me uncomfortable.’

Then, Qiu Yuhong said: “I’ll always follow Mr. Yang. For any project, Mr. Yang can just do it. You don’t need to ask us. We’ll definitely follow.”

Yang Chen nodded: “That’s enough. Let me reveal a bit. I’ve found an expert in quantum chips. After listening to him, I think it’s reliable. If we’re lucky, we’ll soon overcome the quantum chip technology. This technology can bypass the lithography machine, and we can achieve self-production of all chips. Foreigners will beg to buy our chips because they’re more efficient, energy-saving, and cheaper.”

Xue Yinong: “I knew you couldn’t have suddenly wanted to build a scientific research base for no reason. You already have a clue. Then there’s even less to say, we must follow up.”

Qiu Yuhong: “Mr. Yang, just tell us what to do.”

Yang Chen nodded and told them his plan.

Xue Yinong and Qiu Yuhong understood and will start working on it tomorrow.

The construction can be handed over to Xue Yinong and Qiu Yuhong. After approval, it can be handed over to Haicheng Jinjiang Development, controlled by Yang Chen and Xue Yinong, to build it.

Yang Chen needs to find a reliable quantum science research team and teach them the quantum chip technology.

But where to find such a team?

And there’s a realistic problem.

After teaching them such high-end technology, can he guarantee they won’t leak it and will never betray him?

This seems more difficult than building the base.

But where to find such a team?

And there’s a very realistic problem.

After teaching them such high-end technology, can he guarantee they won’t leak it and will never betray him?

This seems more difficult than building the base.