But Pan Yingchun was still unsure and said anxiously, "But I don't know how to talk to them. Can you teach me what to do first, then what to do next? At least you have to tell me about the work for these three days, otherwise I won't feel confident when I enter the factory."
Yu Fengmian couldn't help but roll her eyes. Losing interest in driving, she simply turned the key off the engine. After thinking for a moment, she said, "You should know that a new broom sweeps clean. I think your first move should be ruthless. Have your subordinates immediately change the business registration; Shang Kun's name should no longer be listed. As for the rest, you should get to the bottom of things and see who you can use. The best way is to start by enforcing discipline. Go through the factory rules one by one. Keep those who comply, and educate those who don't, see if they ultimately submit. If not, don't use them. Everyone makes mistakes. Once they've made a mistake, you've got leverage over them, and you can manipulate them as you please. Be strict from the start to establish your authority. Everyone knows you, knows you were a housewife before and have never managed a factory, and they all want to work under you. So you can't let them succeed, otherwise they'll ride roughshod over you, and you'll have a hard time."
Pan Yingchun exclaimed in approval, and then, in a moment of self-importance, said, "That's right, I'll just go there first thing tomorrow morning, stand at the gate and see who's late, catch them one by one, and let them get to know me too."
Listening to Pan Yingchun's profuse thanks on the other end of the phone, Yu Fengmian gave a few more instructions before hanging up. She rested her chin on her phone for a moment, thought for a while, then chuckled coldly and drove home. Was it so easy for a new broom sweep clean? Everything had its limits. She was sure Pan Yingchun wouldn't be able to find the right balance; if she was too forceful, she'd surely turn the factory into chaos. It would be a mini-Cultural Revolution. Hmm, only by indulging her whims and letting her show off, and by catering to her desires, would Pan Yingchun be completely oblivious to her actions. She thought of Shang Kun's hypocritical boasting at the dinner table about how he was doing it for his ex-wife's sake, keeping the winning bid a secret. Who was he hiding it from? His little schemes were easy to guess. He simply knew Pan Yingchun wasn't capable enough, and would eventually be forced to lower the price and return the factory to him. But she'd have to ask Yu Fengmian first. Such prime land—who wouldn't want it? This is a golden opportunity. She only needs to stand by and wait for Shang Kun to sabotage Pan Yingchun's factory and drive down the selling price. After that, Shang Kun won't have a say in what happens next; she should be the one to reap the benefits. Of course, she will also cater to Pan Yingchun's foolish ideas when appropriate and help Shang Kun sabotage the business, like in that phone call just now.
Things progressed beyond Fengmian and Shangkun's expectations. By mid-December, Pan Yingchun had completely ruined the factory. The skilled workers, generally proud and arrogant, couldn't tolerate the whims of a young woman and left one by one. Most went to other companies under Shangkun's name, while some joined Lin Weiping's company. Lin Weiping's factory successfully completed its trial run in early November and went directly into trial production. The workers who participated in the construction received generous bonuses for completing the project ahead of schedule. The employees of Lin Weiping's former workplace, who had previously been indifferent, began to have their minds stirred. Who wouldn't want to work in a company with clear rewards and punishments? Furthermore, after the management was taken over by the second wife and her relative surnamed Mao, costs increased significantly, and almost every product produced resulted in a loss. The frontline workers saw this most clearly. Seeing the company's bleak future, they all came over with just a little help from Lin Weiping, no longer demanding wages or benefits, only wanting to maintain their previous salaries. Lin Weiping's plan had now been completely successful. However, the new sales staff brought in a lot of business, and production couldn't keep up. They were still short-staffed. Just then, Pan Yingchun's company was in turmoil, so she simply did Shang Kun a favor and took over most of the staff. The new company opened to great fanfare and quickly established itself in the industry, making a name for itself: Triumph.
Seeing this situation, Shang Kun discussed the land price with Lao Wang and called Pan Yingchun's younger brother out to discuss it. At first, Pan Yingchun was stubborn and refused to admit that there were problems with the factory. Shang Kun sighed and said, "Although we are divorced, we have been married for more than ten years, and we also have a son. How could I abandon your sister? I have roughly calculated it for you. You haven't paid your workers' wages for two months. That's not a big amount. But you haven't received payment for the goods you recently shipped. If it drags on, it may become bad debt. The factory doesn't have money to buy raw materials now, so production can't get going. When the next supplier sees that you are no longer useful, it will be even more difficult for you to get your money back. We don't want to end up with nothing on the books but actually being insolvent."
This hit a nerve with Xiao Pan. It had been true lately; a lot of money had been leaving, and some of the departing workers were coming to their office every day to cause trouble, demanding their wages and compensation. Some were even following them to their homes. His sister, Pan Yingchun, was terrified, having to do several breathing exercises at home before daring to go to work. She had completely lost the authority she had as a wife. The siblings both regretted their past arrogance, their refusal to accept Shang Kun's installment payment, and their insistence on keeping the factory. When they tried to collect their money, they encountered the same awkward situation Shang Kun had described—he didn't even give them a second glance. Yu Fengmian had said that this was Shang Kun's circle; he could make their factory live or die at will, as long as he made arrangements with the next owner. The siblings had cursed Shang Kun fiercely for this for over a night. But now, Xiao Pan found Shang Kun's words reasonable, and his attitude seemed quite agreeable. She was unsure whether to maintain her initial deep-seated hatred.
Shang Kun, seeing his vague explanations, understood the situation and said, "I'm worried about your future livelihood. Your sister doesn't know how to make money, and my son will need cash most in the future. It's not good to not have some savings. I think it's better if I buy the factory, and your sister can keep the money in the bank. As long as she doesn't fall for scams, doesn't speculate in stocks or futures, she can live a peaceful life. She has a house and a car; she could never spend all this money in several lifetimes. What do you think? It's better than being chased by debt collectors now, right? And with cash on hand, she can be as powerful as she wants, which is better than having to ask me for money before. Besides, there aren't many people willing to take over such a large factory. It's only because I'm so eager to buy it that I can't bear to part with the empire I've worked so hard to build. If you think it's a good idea, we can talk about the price now. Tell your sister the specific amount and see what she thinks."
Xiao Pan felt these words hit the nail on the head. From his words, it was clear he was genuinely considering his sister's best interests, which was exactly what the siblings had been longing for these past few days. Indeed, such a large operation was rare in the entire city, and even if someone could take it on, starting it up would be difficult considering they weren't in the same industry. Xiao Pan hadn't considered these things before, but he had come to a deep understanding after recently helping his sister, Pan Yingchun, manage that factory. He hesitated for a moment, thinking that regardless of whether his sister agreed or not, hearing Shang Kun's price would be worthwhile. At least if he didn't sell to Shang Kun, he would have a better idea of what to expect when selling to someone else later. So he said, "How much do you think you can get? Tell me, and I can talk to my sister about it."
Shang Kun knew that Xiao Pan was at least tempted. These past few days had been tough, and these two people who were used to a comfortable life must have wavered. It seems that he guessed correctly. He chuckled, “I’ve done a rough calculation. This land isn’t big, only about forty acres, because it was acquired when I first started my business. However, since the surrounding area has been developed, the land price has increased significantly. I discussed it with a friend, and we estimate it to be around forty to fifty million. Let’s set it at forty-five million. The equipment and factory buildings are still in operation, but they’ve depreciated considerably. Aside from me, whoever wants them probably won’t take them, so I’ll put two million for them. That makes a total of forty-seven million. But there’s something I need to say upfront: when I handed over this factory to you, it was profitable. Now, you’re responsible for paying off your debts, worker wages, and severance pay. You should be able to cover that with the money I’m giving you. I’ll take over the accounts receivable at 80% of the original price. Others might not dare to take it on; they’re not in the industry and wouldn’t know how to collect the debts. Payment will be in cash, with an initial payment of ten million, to be paid in full within three months. I don’t think anyone will offer a better price than mine. Go home and discuss it with your sister, and carefully consider my opinion.”
Sending off his former brother-in-law, Xiao Pan, meant the matter was over for the time being. What followed was beyond his ability to resolve through connections and manpower; he could only rely on his past understanding of Pan Yingchun to make a guess. While guessing, he still had to wait and see how things unfolded. It was truly fate. Both were women, yet Lin Weiping was meticulous in her actions and resourceful, while Pan Yingchun had somehow managed to turn a perfectly good factory into a complete mess. Even without her intervention, the situation wouldn't have been so dire. It seemed that regaining control would require considerable effort. He could see that the Triumph Company's personnel were now divided into three factions: one was the founding members of the preparatory office, who had already established their own power base and secured many high-ranking positions; another was the group Lin Weiping had personally recruited from the company, basking in the pride of being part of the emperor's family; and the third was those who had fled from Pan Yingchun, currently the weakest but the largest in number. Lin Weiping was merely playing the peacemaker, only intervening when things escalated significantly. Shangkun admired this very point: those in power are always most afraid of their subordinates uniting as one, forming an ironclad group, which makes them easy to be sidelined. Therefore, when managing his subordinates, he would occasionally sow discord among them. As long as their infighting didn't affect their work, it would only benefit him, because when they fought, they all hoped to seek strong external support, the strongest of which was, of course, the leader above them. In order to achieve victory, they had to be willing to cede territory and pay reparations, allowing the leader to drive them within reasonable limits.
Thinking of Lin Weiping, it had been several days since they last contacted each other, so she couldn't help but take out her phone to call her. "Xiao Lin, it's not like I've already given you all the investment funds and all the working capital, and now you're just ignoring me? It's been weeks since we last met. You haven't even called. We should at least meet up, right? I don't dare ask you for reports anymore, so let's meet up. Today is Friday."
Lin Weiping laughed on the other end of the phone, "How could I dare? I'm on business trips every day. President Shang, you said you'd only give six million, and I'd have to figure out the rest myself. I have no choice but to leave you, who's been squeezed dry, and cling to the coattails of other well-off companies. I'm in Tianjin right now, negotiating money with XX Company in North China. I won't be back until tonight. My flight is at 8 PM, and I'll leave again Monday morning."
“It’s so late coming back, you won’t be able to get a taxi from the airport. You should stay in Tianjin for a few more days. No need to rush back and forth. If anything goes wrong here, I’ll take care of you.” But Lin Weiping said, “It’s not that I’m worried about problems. The ISO quality certification internal rehearsal is scheduled for Saturday. How can I not be there? I also need to give a mobilization report. This can’t be delayed. It has to be done by the end of the year. Otherwise, if we don’t have this certificate when we go to bid, they won’t even pay attention to us.” Shang Kun thought for a moment and said, “That’s true. You can’t miss this. There’s just one thing I don’t understand. What do you need the money for at the North China XX Company in Tianjin?” Lin Weiping said, “I’ll talk about it when I get back. How about we have dinner together tomorrow night? I’ll explain it to you in detail.”
Last month, the test run was successful, and Shang Kun was overjoyed, so he held a small celebration party. However, he was the only one present. Lao Zhou and Lin Weiping knew Shang Kun's role in the matter. During the party, Shang Kun only mentioned that everyone should toast to Xiao Lin's company's successful test run, and didn't say much more. Of course, his joy was still evident on his face, which led Lao Wang to misunderstand and ask, "Why are you so happy that Xiao Lin's test run was successful? Are you so happy because Xiao Lin will have time to go out and have fun in the future?" Shang Kun just laughed and said, "Nonsense, nonsense," without saying anything else. It must have looked very ambiguous to others. Even Lao Zhou was egging him on and forced Shang Kun to drink a few glasses of wine. Whether it was because Shang Kun was happy about the successful test run or something else, he surprisingly drank them down without hesitation, which seemed to further confirm Lao Wang's point of view.
Lin Weiping was puzzled and somewhat annoyed by Shang Kun's attitude. After thinking about it at home, she realized there were only two possibilities. One was that Shang Kun actually had another girlfriend but didn't want anyone to know, so he was using her as a shield to prevent his ex-wife from harassing that girlfriend. Lin Weiping, being strong and capable, unfortunately became his target, making their weekly Friday meeting a double benefit and providing him with ammunition. However, she couldn't rule out another possibility: perhaps Shang Kun had developed feelings for her over time. But this possibility seemed truly bizarre to Lin Weiping. She always knew that men preferred gentle, considerate women, and that men generally didn't treat her, a shrewd and capable type, like herself, as a woman. She couldn't understand why Gong Chao had chosen her. And Shang Kun had just divorced, just gotten rid of his supposedly hot-tempered wife. Wouldn't he forget the pain of his past and fall for someone even more formidable? He couldn't help but consider that if he married her and then divorced her, he wouldn't be in a good position.
So in the days that followed, Lin Weiping secretly maintained a slightly distant relationship with Shang Kun. She wouldn't call him unless absolutely necessary, and even when she did, she would only relay messages through Lao Jin in the finance department, avoiding direct contact as much as possible. Whether Shang Kun noticed or not, she couldn't discern anything from his earlier phone call. But this man was too shrewd; it was hard to say whether he had other intentions. So Lin Weiping casually hinted at her return time. If it really was the second scenario, shouldn't Shang Kun be considerate of her difficulty getting a taxi home in the cold night, and personally pick her up from the airport despite the biting December wind? We'll see.
Chapter
fifteen
Xiao Pan returned to the factory and immediately pulled his sister into the office, closing the door and saying he needed to talk to her. Pan Yingchun initially thought he had gotten money. However, the moment Xiao Pan uttered his first words, Pan Yingchun snapped back, "What? You still call him brother-in-law? What kind of brother-in-law is he? He says he wants to buy the factory, what good intentions could he possibly have? Now he has money, but why didn't he have any cash during the divorce? You believe someone like that? I'd rather sell everything I own than sell to him!"
Xiao Pan was scolded by his sister and scratched his head sheepishly. But thinking of their current predicament, he still risked his life to advise her: "Sister, don't get so angry. People say business is business. You've already sold it, and you're going to get a good price. What difference does it make who you sell it to? The old saying goes, 'Fight for pride, not for money.' If he offers that price, you can negotiate with him. Make sure he offers a higher price before you sell it to him. He's so keen on his own company that he'll grit his teeth and buy it. Wouldn't that be a way for you to take advantage of him? He's practically offering himself up. Why not take advantage of him? It'll be a good way to vent your anger. What's wrong with that?"
Pan Yingchun sat back in her executive chair, propping her chin up and thinking for a long time before finally saying, "What you said makes sense. He's one of us, after all, and he'll think of me. Tell me, what was his offer?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Pan quickly relayed Shang Kun's detailed account. Usually, he would embellish it, but this time, with tens of millions of dollars at stake, he dared not make any mistakes and, unusually, didn't add or omit anything. Pan Yingchun was already stunned when she heard forty-five million, and hearing him add another two million made her even more overjoyed—and in cash, plus he'd take over her uncollectible receivables, even if it was only a 20% discount. She was stunned for a long time before muttering, "I don't believe it. This guy isn't that kind. It must be more than that. No, I have to go ask someone else."
Xiao Pan quickly offered a suggestion: "Sister, I think the bulk of this deal is in the land price. Why don't you go ask Yu Fengmian, who works in real estate? She must know the price of land in this area. If she says it's that price, then you can agree."
Pan Yingchun's eyes darted around, and she slapped the table, laughing, "Brother, you've done a great job this time! I'll reward you handsomely after it's done. Hmm, I'll go ask now, but should I go in person or call? I'll call. Yu Fengmian is such a good person; I feel really guilty talking to her in person." Without further ado, she picked up the phone and dialed Yu Fengmian's number. Hearing Yu Fengmian lazily reply "Hello," she couldn't help but put on a fawning smile and whispered, "Fengmian, are you busy? Look, I'm bothering you again, but who else can I ask? Don't be impatient."
Yu Fengmian was extremely impatient with her, but considering that the revolution was not yet successful and comrades still needed to work hard, she could only frown and try to be as gentle as possible, saying, "What are you talking about? We're relatives. If you encounter a problem, who else would you ask if not me? Don't be so formal. Just tell me what's wrong. I'll definitely help you if I have a solution." She had been coveting Pan Yingchun's factory land for a long time, and had invested so much effort in it. How could she bear to give it up? She had dealt with even the most troublesome people, let alone a housewife.
If Pan Yingchun were even slightly more worldly-wise, she would have already sensed the coldness in Yu Fengmian's tone. However, after more than a decade of living the glamorous life of Mrs. Shang, her ability to manipulate others and read people's expressions had long since atrophied. Previously, she only had to be mindful of Shang Kun's moods; now, after some events, she had to consider Yu Fengmian as well. "Fengmian, could you help me estimate the value of the land where my factory is located?"
Yu Fengmian knew immediately that Pan Yingchun was on the verge of collapse and planning to sell the factory. She was secretly pleased, but her tone remained nonchalant. "Why are you planning to sell the factory? Good, Shang Kun will be furious when he hears this. Has someone approached you? Who's so quick to pick up on things that have caught on? Hmm, give me a rough estimate, and I'll inquire within the industry to see if the price is reasonable." She didn't need to guess to know that Shang Kun wanted to buy the factory, but Yu Fengmian didn't say it aloud. Even a fool has some sense; if she was too eager and Pan Yingchun saw through her, and if Pan Yingchun acted impulsively, she'd be forced to back down.
Encouraged by her polite manner, Pan Yingchun quickly replied, "Yes, yes, you know my skill level. Managing such a large operation, I'm embarrassed to bother you every day. I haven't been able to sleep for days. Today, someone wanted to buy the factory, and I thought I shouldn't force myself to stay. I'll just grit my teeth and sell it. Besides, the price they quoted sounds good, but I'm an amateur, so I should ask you first." As she said this, a sudden idea struck her. She secretly raised the price slightly to see if Yu Fengmian would find it reasonable. If she agreed, she could then negotiate with Shang Kun. "The price they offered me was 55 million for the land, 2 million for the equipment and factory buildings, I'll take on the debt, and I'll sell it to them at 80% of the accounts receivable. Cash payment, 10 million upfront, to be paid off in three months."
After hearing the long list of prices, Yu Fengmian understood perfectly. Who would be willing to take over Pan Yingchun's receivables? Only Shang Kun, who was manipulating things behind the scenes. He believed that once Shang Kun took over, these debts would be recovered quickly. Yu Fengmian had already calculated the price of this plot of land thoroughly. Hearing the price, he felt that Shang Kun had treated his predecessors fairly well; this price was quite generous, and he hadn't really taken advantage of their misfortune. This was strange. Had he stopped being a shrewd businessman this time? It was almost unbelievable, but it was also hard to say. His son was being raised by Pan Yingchun, and it was best to be wary of Yu Ping'er. Besides, he could afford this amount of money; it was much more profitable than giving Pan Yingchun half of all his assets. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Cousin, tell me the truth, did Shang Kun ask you to buy this factory? I don't think anyone else would take over your accounts receivable. Because these were all tricks he trained, and who knows how much shady stuff is involved? Only he could be sure of getting the money back."
Although Pan Yingchun had considered selling the factory to Shang Kun, she was still unwilling to mention Shang Kun's name. Seeing that Yu Fengmian had seen through her in a few words, she knew that she could no longer hide it. If she continued to hide it, it would be a sign that she did not trust him. How could she dare to offend Yu Fengmian at this time? So she hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, it's that scoundrel Shang Kun."
Yu Fengmian chuckled coldly on the other end of the phone, saying, "It really was him, just as I expected. I knew he wouldn't be willing to lose the empire he worked so hard to build, and he would definitely try every means to take it back. I can't be sure if he did something to your factory, but there must be a reason why you're struggling to survive. Okay, I won't waste any more words. Tell me how many acres your factory is, and I'll calculate it." She already knew the area of Pan Yingchun's land by heart; she already had the floor plan and had drawn up plans on it more than once, but she pretended not to know it at this moment to avoid arousing Pan Yingchun's suspicion.
Pan Yingchun was enraged by her words. Yes, even without Yu Fengmian's words, she could sense that someone was sabotaging things; otherwise, why would everything be going wrong? People usually like to find an excuse when they make a mistake, and if that excuse comes from someone else, they accept it even more readily, forgetting the actual situation. Pan Yingchun was certainly one of them. She said bitterly, "I know it's him playing tricks, but what can I do? I'm just a woman; I don't know anything about management. I can only leave it to fate. But if I don't sell to him, who else can I sell to? Who can take on such a large plot of land? By the way, this land is forty acres."
Yu Fengmian gave a low hum and said, "Wait for me a moment." He casually looked at a document on the table, gave his instructions, and then picked up the microphone and said, "I just did a rough calculation. This price is just about right. It's about the same price on the market."
Pan Yingchun was both delighted and furious. She hadn't expected this dilapidated factory to be so valuable. Selling it and putting the money in the bank would ensure a comfortable life for the rest of her days. But Shang Kun, that scoundrel, was truly despicable. He had secretly added ten million, and Yu Fengmian had told her it was just a mediocre market price. It was clear he was trying to cheat her without any conscience. Seeing no response from her on the other end, Yu Fengmian called out "Hello" several times before Pan Yingchun snapped out of her daze. She gritted her teeth and said, "Okay, thank you, Fengmian. I will definitely raise the price to the absolute limit and won't let that scoundrel get away with it."
Although Yu Fengmian saw that the effect had been achieved, it was of no benefit to her, so she had no choice but to strike while the iron was hot, saying, "However, there's something I know won't hear, but I still have to tell you. You sold the company to Shang Kun, but have you thought about the future? Have you thought about what people will say about you? People see you fighting tooth and nail in court and using all sorts of tricks to win a good factory, and suddenly it's back in Shang Kun's hands. Those who know will say there's nothing they can do, that Sister Pan is incompetent and can only hand it back to Shang Kun, which is already not nice; those who don't know will say even worse things, 'Oh, didn't they get divorced? Did Sister Pan not be able to stand the cold bed and hand the factory back to her ex-husband, and now she's secretly doing something else? If she knew this would happen, why did she get divorced in the first place? It's really despicable. In this way, even if you get a lot of money, you won't have the face to show your face in the future. Who won't point fingers behind your back? Cousin, just take what I said as idle talk, don't take it to heart. It's hard to say, maybe people will see you have money and will be eager to fawn over you, and you'll still be successful in the future."
Upon hearing this, Pan Yingchun was instantly enraged and stunned for a long time before she came to her senses. She thought about how Yu Fengmian's words, though rough, were all reasonable. She herself had always been proud and arrogant; when had she ever tolerated others' gossip? If things really turned out as Yu Fengmian said, how could she face anyone? She might as well just kill herself by running headfirst into a pile of money. Seeing her face turn pale and then ashen, Xiao Pan quickly brought her a glass of warm water. Pan Yingchun took it, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly raised her arm and threw the glass and water at Xiao Pan, angrily saying, "You idiot, what a mess you've made! I almost fell into that scoundrel Shang Kun's trap. I knew he had no good intentions. Get out of here, you useless piece of trash!" Xiao Pan was hit for no reason; although it hit her chest and didn't hurt much, she was soaking wet and very conspicuous. She thought of storming off in anger, but how could she leave like this? Wouldn't she be laughed to death by the people below? He could only endure it, find a towel to dry his clothes, and sit quietly in an inconspicuous place.
Yu Fengmian heard everything clearly on the other end and knew that the scheme had succeeded, so she said gently, "Oh dear, it's all my fault. I saw you get so angry for no reason. Don't be angry. Why don't you just not sell it to Shang Kun and find another buyer? It's only a matter of time. Don't be angry. There's always a way out. You can't ruin your health by getting angry."
Pan Yingchun had been having a run of bad luck these past few days, filled with resentment and barely managing to get through the days. Now, reminded of how Shang Kun had framed her, she was furious, old and new grudges surging into her heart. Just as she was feeling utterly stifled, Yu Fengmian gently touched her, and tears streamed down her face, and she burst into a wail. Seeing her opportunity, Yu Fengmian quickly said, "Don't go, I'm coming right away," hung up the phone, and left with a smile on her lips. The weak are the most irrational; if not now, when?
She drove herself there as fast as she could, and arrived at Pan Yingchun's office. She saw Xiao Pan huddled in a corner, her eyes lighting up with anticipation when she saw her. Pan Yingchun had just stopped crying and was only sobbing silently. When she saw her enter, she rushed over and hugged her tightly, crying bitterly until she finally managed to quiet down.
Seeing success within reach, Yu Fengmian, though her clothes were stained with tears, remained unperturbed. She patted Pan Yingchun like she was comforting a child, saying, "Don't cry. Now that I'm here, we have three people. Three cobblers together can form a Zhuge Liang. Don't rush, let's discuss it properly. Also, why are you angry with your brother? Brothers fight tigers together, fathers and sons go to war together. In critical moments, only your own brothers will think of you. How could you drive him away? Little Pan, listen to me, don't be angry with your sister. She's been in a bad mood these past few days, so just be lenient with her."
Pan Yingchun wiped away her tears with the back of her hand like a child, and said, "What can I do? That thief was right, who would dare to take over such a big business? Besides, he somehow managed to tamper with it, and those who wanted to buy it backed out after seeing his vicious face. Who else can I sell it to? I really can't hold on any longer. Ah Feng, you have a lot of money, so please buy this factory. I'll be grateful to you for the rest of my life. Since you're not in this line of work anyway, you can just destroy the factory and build houses. Aren't there already many residential areas around here? Only if you take over will this thief be able to catch you. Please, do me a big favor."
Yu Fengmian said, "Nonsense, this is industrial land. To convert it to civilian use, the procedures would be numerous and troublesome, requiring connections. Besides, I can come up with the money, but not within Shangkun's timeframe. You know it's almost Chinese New Year, and funds need to be recouped. Where would I get that much cash on hand? Moreover, if I were to take over, the equipment and workshops would be unwanted, preferably just empty land. I would also need to set aside money to demolish the buildings and dispose of the equipment, so I'm not very willing to buy your equipment and factory buildings. Furthermore, I have no idea about those accounts receivable, so I can't take them over. I know you're short on cash right now, so how about I lend you some money to get through the New Year?"
Pan Yingchun hurriedly said, "I appreciate your kindness, Ah Feng, I'm begging you to buy this factory. I'll agree to any conditions. You don't want the workshop and equipment? Fine, you just won't pay the two million. We'll sell the dismantled parts as scrap to cover your relocation costs. I'll give Shang Kun a bigger discount on the accounts receivable. He won't want to miss out on this money. If he doesn't take it over, humph, I'll take my son on a trip during the Spring Festival so he won't see it. There's only one payment date, and I really can't delay. I want to get this money to do something, so I need it quickly. If you really can't do it, I'll have no choice but to sell it to Shang Kun. I've thought it through. If I lose this factory, even if it's not to Shang Kun, I'll be too ashamed to go out. I'll have to immigrate. My son's education will be better then. Please help me think of something. I'm practically offering myself up for sale."
Yu Fengmian stared at her for a long time before saying, "Wouldn't that be too unfair to you? How could I possibly take advantage of you?"
Pan Yingchun hurriedly said, "I'm so grateful that you're willing to take on this. It's more important than anything else that I won't be humiliated in front of that scoundrel Shang Kun. A tree needs its bark, and a person needs their face. Even if I live abroad in the future, I can't lose face now. Ah Feng, does that mean you agree?"
Yu Fengmian pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, although I'm really short on cash. You don't know, I just started a project, invested a lot of money, and it won't be available for sale until the middle of next year. It's all borrowed from the bank. But what's our relationship? Your business is my business. Let's settle it like this. Bring your lawyer to my place within three days to sign the contract, and I'll give you the initial payment of ten million. You absolutely must bring a lawyer. This is such a large transaction; you've never handled anything like it before. We're brothers, so it's best if you spend a little money to hire a lawyer to take a look."
Pan Yingchun sighed and said, "You said that, which shows you're on my side. What else can I say? Ah Feng, I really don't know how to thank you enough. You're truly my savior."
No sooner had Yu Fengmian left than Xiao Pan ran to his sister's office after seeing her off, exclaiming in surprise, "Sister, you added a full ten million to her bill! Even with discounts, it's still five or six million more. How did you come up with that? I'm truly impressed!"
Pan Yingchun stood at the window, pointing at the departing car, and said, "I've figured it out these past few days. None of those who make big money are pushovers. There's only so much money in the world, and everyone's holding onto it tightly, unwilling to give it away. How can they possibly get so much? It's all because they're greedy. Do you think Yu Fengmian is so kind? I was so desperate a while ago, did she even come? I begged her, but she wouldn't come, just spouting nice platitudes to brush me off. Look at her today, I didn't even call her, and she came to my door on her own. Why? Isn't it because Shang Kun wants to buy my factory, and she..." "She's getting anxious, which means she's had her eye on this land all along. She said converting industrial land to residential land is so difficult, but she's been doing it for so many years, she knows everyone inside and out, what can't she do? She's just trying to drive down my price. I was wondering why she helped me so much after my divorce, giving me advice and helping me get this factory. Turns out she had this planned all along, knowing I couldn't manage it and would sell it to her. I only realized it after hanging up the phone. Ugh, they're all heartless and ruthless. Don't blame me for being vicious too."
Xiao Pan was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses and said loudly, "Sister, I didn't know you were such a pushover. I was dumbfounded by what you said to Yu Fengmian earlier. If we had prepared beforehand and given you a few days to learn from your brother-in-law, you definitely wouldn't be like this now. You have the talent, but your brother-in-law has buried it."
Pan Yingchun was very pleased to hear this. Having gotten rid of the big burden, she felt incredibly relieved and laughed, "You rascal, you can't stop talking! Who's your brother-in-law? Call him a scoundrel! Humph, once I get the money, I'll take our son and immigrate with you, so he won't ever see his son again. By the way, little brother, right now I really want to see that scoundrel Shang Kun's disappointed face when he can't get the factory, but I don't want to see him. Go tell him for me that we sold the factory to Yu Fengmian, and since he offered a high price, we're sorry to him. Tell him to find a better factory. Also, talk to him about the accounts receivable and tell him to accept them. Tell him what I said; if he doesn't accept them, I'll take our son on a trip during winter break, so he won't see his precious son during holidays. Don't worry about anything else; when that scoundrel gets angry, he won't show anything else, just his ears will turn red. You must pay attention to his ears, remember that!"
Xiao Pan was overjoyed to hear this; he also wanted to see his usually arrogant ex-brother-in-law's dejected expression. He readily agreed and left immediately. Pan Yingchun didn't want to stay any longer either. Anyway, the place was going to be sold and razed to the ground. What did it matter if something was stolen? Besides, it wasn't hers that was stolen. She felt relieved, and sleepiness washed over her. She had been exhausted these past few days, and now that the burden was lifted, she wanted to go home and get a good night's sleep.
Chapter
sixteen
After Lin Weiping got off the plane, while waiting for his luggage, he kept looking out through the glass partition, but Shang Kun didn't seem to be there, which made him slightly disappointed. But it's okay, it's better if the superior-subordinate relationship isn't too complicated, it's more comfortable to be a person.
Stepping out of the lobby, a gust of cold wind swept in. Although he had just returned from the north and endured far worse cold, Lin Weiping still shivered. Looking around, he saw no cars ahead and was about to turn right to find a taxi when a car slowly pulled up. Lin Weiping recognized the car even with his eyes closed—it was the Mercedes Shang Kun had lent him for a while. Apparently, many people knew him, and he was afraid of being seen picking up a girl and being gossiped about. It certainly wasn't to show off or anything. Well, what's done is done; he got in.
It was warm as soon as she got in the car, and a song with a quirky tune, a bit Beijing-style, was playing—it was very pleasant to listen to and had a certain charm. Shang Kun didn't help her open the door or put her luggage in; instead, he sat there watching her do it herself. Lin Weiping thought to herself: It's better if you don't do it for me, otherwise I won't know where to put my hands and feet, it's too uncomfortable. After Lin Weiping was settled, Shang Kun laughed and said, "These days, the world is upside down. Whoever has the money is the boss. In this cold weather, whenever you, Boss Lin, say you're going home, I'll be waiting for you on time, not a penny late."
Lin Weiping laughed upon hearing this. This guy was so good with words; he could make something flat and hard seem round, effortlessly defusing the awkwardness of picking her up at the airport. But he was probably still a little embarrassed inside, otherwise he wouldn't have made a sarcastic remark right away—it was probably a way of trying to balance things out. Glancing sideways, she saw him with only one hand lightly resting on the steering wheel, seemingly quite relaxed, his fingers moving rhythmically to the music. She said, "President Shang, what song is this? It's so nice." As she spoke, she expertly opened the small glove compartment, only to find a jumbled mess of things inside, but no box.
Shang Kun, eager to change the subject, quickly said, "I don't know who sang it. The driver left it in my car, and I thought it sounded nice, so I didn't return it." As he spoke, his eyes darted to the sequence number displayed on the screen. Just then, the song finished, and Lin Weiping, without any hesitation, put the song back on and played it again. "What do you mean by borrowing money in Tianjin? I need the money these days. Can you help me see if I have any chance?"
Lin Weiping said bluntly, "Let's not talk about that now. Let's talk about why I've been rushing around like this. The bidding for that major project starts after New Year's Day, and you've messed up the winning company's situation. Won't that affect your personal reputation and jeopardize our success? If all my hard work turns out to be for nothing, I'll be furious." This was Lin Weiping's honest opinion. He had been so tired these past few days, but he still persevered, mainly because he had a clear goal in mind.
Shang Kun knew that Lin Weiping's sharp eyes were definitely scrutinizing him, but what hadn't he seen in his life? Was he afraid of being seen that way? He pretended nothing was wrong and said, "Don't worry, it won't affect you. I've already made arrangements. Today is the biggest turning point in things; the situation is starting to become clearer. If you're patient enough to listen, we can find a place to have a late-night snack and exchange information. Tell me your reason for going to Tianjin too. How about it?"
Lin Weiping was really impatient to listen. Eating late-night snacks so late, and it wasn't even past midnight yet? But it concerned the big picture, so he couldn't ignore it. He could only nod in agreement. Besides, he had already considered the physical and mental exhaustion, so he scheduled the ISO internal audit for tomorrow afternoon, allowing time to sleep in. He then pointed a few times, playing the song again. Shang Kun merely glanced at the numbers again, saying nothing.
Lin Weiping felt an unnatural tension between the man and woman, especially one who seemed to have a somewhat ambiguous relationship, sitting side-by-side in the small carriage. He could only make small talk, glancing at Shang Kun and saying, "We subordinates are generally good at reading our superiors' expressions before we act. Seeing how cheerful Mr. Shang looks today, we're mostly relieved. I'm catching a flight from Tianjin to Beijing and then to the airport; I only ate a few preserved plums and a packet of green beans on the plane. When we have a big feast and Mr. Shang settles the bill, I'm sure he won't make a fool of himself."
Shang Kun joked, "What are you afraid of? You have so much money in your hands now. If you just nod your head, I'll treat you to meals every day and I won't even have time to flatter you. Just say the word today, whether you want abalone or bird's nest, it's fine."
Lin Weiping knew he was joking, and laughed back without caring, "That's not good at all. We're all in this business. We may not know much else, but we know that we can't go all in when the wind blows. We just need a few small shrimps and fish. White rice is cheap, so we can have a few more bowls. Otherwise, when Boss Shang is taking out his money, he'll feel bad about it. If he settles accounts later, I won't be able to afford to sell it all."
They quickly found a restaurant. Shang Kun knew the place well; some of the waiters recognized him, indicating this was one of his haunts. They sat down, and as usual, Lin Weiping ordered what he liked. This time, however, Shang Kun didn't insist on ordering his own food. Strangely, perhaps he was already full and didn't care. Once seated, Shang Kun got straight to the point: "If this factory were still in my ex-wife's hands, I would still have to bear the consequences if anything went wrong. But from today onwards, this trouble will be handled by Yu Fengmian. My former brother-in-law came to see me today specifically to tell me about this, saying that his sister sold the factory to Yu Fengmian for a high price. Yu is also a well-known figure in this city, so I won't worry about them anymore."
Lin Weiping was puzzled. She suspected things couldn't be that simple. How could Shang Kun so easily relinquish a factory that held a significant position in the production chain, especially one with a promising future? What about the factory he'd won with so much effort? Would Yu Fengmian continue production at the factory? Probably not. From what Old Wang had said at dinner the other day, the land for that factory seemed to be a valuable asset. Other questions were too sensitive to ask, but focusing on the land should be a good approach. She then asked, "If Yu Fengmian takes over that factory, I doubt she'll have the energy to manage it, right? Or will she immediately demolish it and build a new building? If so, shouldn't you change the name of your bid? At least the name of the client or the contractor should change."
Shang Kun smiled mysteriously, "That's a good question, but the answer isn't what you're thinking. She will definitely run this factory."
Lin Weiping thought for a moment and said, "I understand, you've rigged things. Although I don't know how, the main players will definitely be you and Lao Wang, no doubt about it. You'll get the factory, and Lao Wang will get the good land that Yu Fengmian supposedly snatched away. And both will be at low prices."
Upon hearing this, Shang Kun was inwardly full of approval and said, "No wonder Old Wang keeps talking about you, saying he absolutely has to invite you to the opening party of his newly built four-star hotel. You know him very well. Yes, we did pull some strings, but to be honest, we originally intended to do it through the factory's management. However, before I could even make a move, my ex-wife's management achieved better results than our intervention. The original plan was to present the acquisition proposal to her next month, but seeing the factory I built up in such a state was heartbreaking, so this morning I arranged to meet with my former uncle to talk to him. What are your thoughts on this move?" As he spoke, he looked at Lin Weiping with great interest, wanting to see how she interpreted it.
Lin Weiping was enjoying both her meal and her conversation. The opportunity to hear two top experts from different fields teaming up against another top expert was rare, and she figured it would be good to learn from their experience. It was just a little strange, though. What did Shang Kun mean by telling her such a secret? If he was really pursuing her, he shouldn't be so unromantic. Only when he asked did she reluctantly look up from the table and say, "Testing me? If I could guess the every move of two top experts, I wouldn't be working for you anymore."
Shang Kun laughed, "See, whoever has the money has the most power. I can't even ask them a question now. Don't be suspicious, I don't mean anything by it. I just want to use you to check if there are any loopholes in our plan. As they say, the bystander sees most of the game. Don't think I'm testing you. If I were testing you, I wouldn't be doing it now. Even if I found out something wrong, I can't do anything about it. You're the boss now." He laughed after saying that, making things clear in a few words and also teasing Lin Weiping a bit more.
Lin Weiping considered for a moment and said, "I'm thinking, the reason you didn't wait for her factory to go bankrupt, but waited for her to come begging before making your move, is partly because, as you yourself said, you couldn't bear to see your hard-earned business destroyed, but the main reason is probably to lure Yu Fengmian out, right? I believe she's been watching the factory's operations closely, waiting for the right moment to strike. But if you make your move first, she won't dare not back down, fearing that if you take the factory, she'll have gained nothing. I don't think she'll be too suspicious. I believe she put in a lot of effort and didn't get it easily. The more difficult it is, the less suspicious she'll be. But is it really okay for you to treat a woman like this? At least give her a way out. I even suspect that you two have a very powerful backup plan that will make her disappear completely from the city's real estate industry."
"What makes you think that?" Shang Kun asked in surprise.
Lin Weiping said, "You two big shots will do anything for profit, especially not for big profit. If it were just a small matter, would you be so serious? Why would you make so many moves? Yu Fengmian has so much wealth, she can't afford to be messed with like this. I think she's going to be in trouble."
Shang Kun laughed, "According to Lao Wang's estimate, Yu Fengmian's assets are around fifty to sixty million. She's agreed to buy that factory for fifty-five million, to be paid in three months. The actual market value of the land where my factory is located should be around that, but you know how difficult it is to get a plot of land approved these days. Even if you buy that land and don't develop it, just holding onto it for a few years is a huge profit. So Yu Fengmian is definitely determined to get it. Lao Wang understands her, and it seems he was right. Originally, to lure her into buying the land, I quoted my ex-wife a slightly lower price to make it easier for her to act. I thought Yu Fengmian was interfering in my divorce, and Pan Yingchun must be using her as a strategist. Now that I'm offering her a lot of money, how dare she make the decision? She'll definitely ask Yu Fengmian. Sure enough, I talked things out with her brother this morning, and the result came out this afternoon. But I don't understand why it went up by ten million. It certainly wasn't Yu Fengmian who had a change of heart and added it. It turns out everyone has a trump card they can use."
Lin Weiping remained silent; this was her boss's private matter, and she shouldn't interrupt. Shang Kun ate a few bites of food and continued, "Three months from now, Yu Fengmian should have no personal funds left. She'll be relying on bank loans to keep things running. Old Wang's analysis is that she'll use this factory as collateral for a loan to maintain the initial development of the land she snatched from him. Then, once the paperwork is complete and she gets the sales certificate, she can raise a large sum of money from the buyers. With houses selling so well right now, she shouldn't have any trouble raising that money. So, before the houses can be sold, she absolutely must keep the factory running; otherwise, the bank will recall the loan, and her cash flow will immediately dry up."
Lin Weiping said "Oh," understanding dawned on him. So, Yu Fengmian was determined to fulfill the contract she won to keep the factory running. If she performed well, there was nothing to complain about; if not, it meant her cash flow would be in trouble. If her cash flow was disrupted, her projects would have to stop, and the banks would immediately notice and recall their loans. She would then be left with no cash and would have to sell her belongings. But would Shang Kun and Lao Wang, so determined to win, allow her to fulfill the contract well? Obviously not. Therefore, it was conceivable that they would act in two ways: first, by causing problems during the contract fulfillment process at the factory Yu Fengmian had accepted; and second, by having Lao Wang sabotage Yu Fengmian's new construction site. Whether it was a two-pronged approach or a specific plan, these two powerful figures would undoubtedly have meticulously planned it. It seemed Yu Fengmian had no choice but to fall into their trap and surrender. But could there be any changes? Wasn't Shang Kun worried that she might blurt out the truth, creating further complications?
Yes, this was Lin Weiping's biggest question. She simply didn't understand, utterly didn't understand, why Shang Kun would tell her this. Wasn't he afraid she would ruin their plans? It couldn't be as simple as him having feelings for her. A seasoned businessman like him knew best what could be said and what couldn't, unless his plan required Lin Weiping's cooperation. What could it be? Lin Weiping's mind raced, putting herself in the situation and replaying the thought process in her mind, and then it all became clear. Yes, most of the original workers who left the factory that was about to belong to Yu Fengmian were now working for her company. For Yu Fengmian to start production and fulfill the contract she won, she definitely needed skilled workers and technicians. If the personnel couldn't be found, she might take another route, or she might pay the initial payment but delay the remaining payment, thus escaping the arrangements and control of Shang Kun and Lao Wang. And in order to get the factory up and running, Yu Fengmian would definitely spare no expense to bring these workers back, because her profit source wasn't in this factory. To secure the loan, she could make some limited concessions on wages. If she wanted to retain these workers, she would have to offer them commensurate wages, but that required Shang Kun's approval. Judging from his current attitude, he wouldn't approve it. It seemed he needed Yu Fengmian to start work so he could easily take advantage of her. That's why Shang Kun had humbled himself and personally picked up Lin Weiping from the airport today—he needed her help. But was this request so easily agreed to? Agreeing meant that around the Spring Festival, half of the skilled workers would leave after receiving their wages and year-end bonuses, leaving her with no one to work. But could she refuse? Lin Weiping knew very well: no. The fact that Shang Kun was willing to explain the reasons to her showed that he valued her and cared for her. No, it was more like he was giving her a heads-up, preventing her from sacrificing another already secured benefit for another. After all, Kaixuan was also an asset to him; he valued Kaixuan's livelihood.
Yes, this is his asset. Don't assume you can ignore him just because he wasn't involved in management recently, and don't mistake her handling of everything for being in charge. Even if Shang Kun gives Lin Weiping a lot of authority, she's still just working for him. He has the right to order her around, to order Kaixuan around. His meaning today also shows that he needs Lin Weiping to make sacrifices, but he doesn't want to see Kaixuan suffer as a result; otherwise, there would be no need to risk leaking the entire plan to her. Lin Weiping asked herself, "Do you dare disobey?" You can't disobey. Then do you dare to recklessly cause production problems at Kaixuan? No. Lin Weiping knew, honestly, that the biggest pressure wasn't from Shang Kun, but from herself. She left her original workplace with the sole purpose of making a name for herself in the industry and among her acquaintances. She has achieved some success now, but if setbacks occur in a month or two and production cannot continue, needless to say, the second wife will be the first to ridicule her mercilessly, and the workers who came with her will undoubtedly be shaken. The biggest danger is that her reputation in the industry will be ruined, and she will have no credibility to continue working in the industry.
Thinking of this, a wave of fatigue washed over her, making her feel dizzy. She instinctively supported her forehead with one hand. Looking down, she saw her handbag on another chair, where a medical record detailed her hospital stay in Tianjin due to exhaustion, where she had received an IV drip. Alone, in a foreign land, she had sat there for an hour, staring blankly at the empty IV bag, before finally finding the night shift nurse to remove the needle, holding the nearly empty bottle in her other hand. What was the point of all this exhaustion? After much thought, her heart turned completely cold.
Shang Kun, who was sitting opposite her, first noticed Lin Weiping's lowered eyebrows as she pondered, but he didn't think much of it. However, he soon saw her face turn pale, her whole body seemed to have lost all strength, and she limply supported her head with her hands. He was shocked and hurriedly called out, "Xiao Lin, what's wrong with you? What's wrong?"
Lin Weiping raised her head slightly and said, "Take me to the hospital." Shang Kun helped her into the car and sat down. She used her remaining strength to open her bag, took out her medical records from Tianjin and gave them to Shang Kun. Then she closed her eyes and sat back in the chair without saying or moving.
Chapter
Seventeen
Patients have certain privileges; they can keep their mouths shut if they don't want to talk, and even keep their eyes closed, ignoring what others say. Lin Weiping watched Shang Kun busy himself with her eyes half-open, feeling that he deserved his fate. Once she was helped to the injection room, she had even more reason to close her eyes and rest. The palpitations and shortness of breath quickly passed, but she didn't know if her complexion had returned to normal. Sitting idly, bored, Lin Weiping couldn't help but think about the conversation she had over dinner earlier. Oh well, whether she liked it or not, it was a done deal. She just really needed to think about what to do next.
She now owns a contracted dock, but that depends on her current position for survival. If she offends Shang Kun, and he takes away her entire share, the dock's operation will be difficult. Therefore, whether considering her reputation in the industry or her current vested interests, she cannot do without Shang Kun. If anyone wants to leave after the Spring Festival, let them go. Knowing this in advance is already lucky; at least she's prepared. She might as well start a large-scale recruitment drive now, under the pretext of the upcoming second phase of the project. How much can a few workers earn? The impact on profits is much smaller than shutting down a line. The most urgent task is not anything else, but ensuring her reputation and status in the industry. Profits can be pursued later; even if there are losses, Shang Kun will take the lion's share. With this framework in place and this volume of operations, within six months, suppliers and banks will be coming to her for help. That will be the time for Lin Weiping to build her own empire.
Yes, I must endure it now. If I can endure it for a while, the future will be bright. Thinking of this, Lin Weiping opened her eyes and looked at Shang Kun sitting next to her. She saw that Shang Kun was staring intently at her, so she turned her eyes away embarrassedly and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Mr. Shang. I already have low blood sugar, and I've been traveling around these past few days. I just couldn't hold on any longer."
This was the first time Shang Kun had served someone like this since becoming an adult. Seeing Lin Weiping's pale face, her usual energy seemingly drained, filled him with guilt, and he knew his heart ached for her. Considering Lin Weiping's workload over the past six months, even a man of steel might not have been able to keep up. And she had done so exceptionally well. "Exhausted" was the perfect word to describe her. While waiting for her to receive the IV drip, Shang Kun calmly reflected. Needless to say, Lin Weiping had already pushed herself to her limit. Although he hadn't explicitly stated his intention to have her cooperate in dealing with Yu Fengmian, someone as intelligent as Lin Weiping must have already understood—it was undoubtedly a huge burden for her. But what if he changed his mind now and gave Lin Weiping a way out? Other options had been considered beforehand, but this one was the best of the best and truly irreplaceable. Shang Kun couldn't help but weigh the options. If Lin Weiping collapsed from exhaustion, how much of a blow would it be to Kaixuan? How much would that amount to in monetary terms? Is this loss negligible compared to what was gained from Fengmian?
But every thought was repeatedly interrupted by the slightly drooping eyelashes on that pale face. The poor little woman, how much weight she carried on her narrow shoulders. Even someone as resilient as her would eventually collapse. Was I pushing her too hard? But before I could think further, Lin Weiping spoke softly. Still sleepy and unable to think clearly, I blurted out, "Don't take what we said at the dinner table to heart. Taking care of your health is the most important thing. It was my fault for not understanding your workload. I'll try my best not to reassign your staff, so you can focus on securing the bidding contract."
Since Lin Weiping had already made up his mind, he decided to put on a nicer front to gain even more points: "President Shang, don't worry. I experienced low blood sugar during my college entrance exams too. It's fine as long as I get a good night's sleep. Today, President Shang trusted me so much and told me about such an important matter without any reservations. Now that I know, I can't help but take it seriously. It's alright, I'll arrange everything. This is different from money matters, so I don't need to worry too much. As long as we keep the original team in place before the Spring Festival and get the ISO certification, the recertification is in a year. Even the newest staff can memorize it. Besides, not all the people from the factory have reached the main positions yet. Compared to the equipment, they are still relatively new. At worst, our production progress will be slightly slower, and the company will stagnate for a few days at most. It won't collapse, President Shang, please rest assured."