Free Web NovelChapter 246: Chapter 201: My Unreliable Brothers
Lin Chu: ...
’A slight stirring, a token of my respect.’
...
He hadn’t transferred the money to her yet. It was being used as a bridge loan for now.
「A short while later.」
Zhou Ming arrived at the office with his finance and legal staff, five people in total.
After entering, he casually glanced around. When he saw Lin Chu’s beaming smile, his heart settled a little.
"Please, have a seat."
"Let’s cut to the chase. I want that plot of land in Zeng City. I took a look, and it’s being developed by an independently registered company, so the transfer process should be simple. It’s just a matter of an equity transfer, a straightforward handover, right?"
Lin Chu said, straight to the point.
Zhou Ming let out a long sigh of relief inwardly.
’So direct!’
The transaction process was indeed simple. The main problem with the land was that no one wanted to buy it. The price for mortgaging it to a bank was too low to get any real cash out of it. On top of that, the company had no money for development, and even if they built on it, the houses would be hard to sell.
It was basically a massive, illiquid asset.
Furthermore, the land purchase agreement stipulated that construction had to begin within 24 months, or the land could be forcibly repossessed. Almost a year and a half had already passed, leaving only six months until the deadline.
Of course, these issues were easy to resolve. Any mature real estate company had workarounds. Even just laying the foundation would count as starting construction.
"Yes."
Zhou Ming said with a smile and a nod.
"Alright, let’s draw up the detailed articles of association then. This transaction needs to happen as soon as possible. I’m on a tight schedule. And since we’re friends, I won’t try to bargain you down."
Lin Chu added with another smile.
Naturally, Zhou Ming couldn’t have been happier with this request.
He knew that land prices in Zeng City had recently dropped again—and not by a small amount.
For a moment, he looked at Lin Chu with a complicated expression.
’A white knight.’
’He really is a white knight.’
Zhou Ming knew perfectly well what was going on. ’That business with Lan Yuzheng last time... even though Lin Chu said what he did, he had probably already handled Lan Yuzheng before I even got there. What Lin Chu said was just a way to give me an honorable out.’
’But why would he do all this?’
Zhou Ming still couldn’t figure it out.
He didn’t think Lin Chu was buying the land now to bottom-fish for a bargain. After all, the real estate market hadn’t hit rock bottom yet; it was sure to fall even further.
’So what’s his angle?’
’Is he really just being purely altruistic?’
In his decades of life, Zhou Ming had never seen something so good fall right into his lap.
’It couldn’t be because of... my daughter, could it?’
’Xiaoluan?’
The thought surfaced instinctively, but Zhou Ming quickly dismissed it.
’No, definitely not.’
’Lin Chu’s terrible attitude toward Xiaoluan before didn’t seem like an act.’
’Besides, what kind of man would pay such a steep price just to woo a woman?’
’His daughter was indeed beautiful, but Zhou Ming was certain Lin Chu wasn’t some brainless fool.’
And so, this question continued to weigh on his mind.
But now wasn’t the time to ask questions. He didn’t want to create unnecessary complications.
With the intent to transact confirmed, the finance and legal teams began to work out the specifics.
Lin Chu invited Zhou Ming into the adjoining tea room for a private chat over tea.
"President Zhou, there’s one more thing. I had a look, and Famous Real Estate has three other plots of land, all held by independently registered companies. Why don’t you hand them all over to me?"
"I’ll give you all the money within a month, but I need you to cede the equity first."
"You can’t find the money, so I’ll find it for you,"
Lin Chu said, his tone playful.
’The land, and the corporate equity it represents, are valuable assets, of course.’
’And their price is very high, much higher than a single piece of jadeite.’
’These three plots—two in Guan City and one in Chan City—are worth 380 million, 310 million, and 290 million, respectively.’
’For me, this move is simple.’
’First, I get the equity, then I give it away.’
’Even with just a two-times rebate, the profit will be substantial, provided the initial price is high enough.’
’Of course, the biggest problem is that I don’t have that much cash on hand right now. I have to get the land first.’
Huh?
Hearing Lin Chu’s words, Zhou Ming froze for a moment.
He grew even more suspicious. ’What on earth is he trying to do?’
Lin Chu’s proposal sounded a lot like a scheme to get something for nothing—or, to put it more bluntly, a scam.
But Zhou Ming couldn’t for the life of him figure out how Lin Chu could possibly pull off such a scam.
Besides, from all his interactions with him, Lin Chu didn’t seem like a con artist at all. He wouldn’t do something like that. ’Definitely not,’ he thought.
The only logical explanation was that after getting his hands on these three plots of land, Lin Chu could find someone to buy them at a higher price, allowing him to pocket the difference.
’But in the current economic climate, who would buy them?’
’And at a premium, no less?’
’Prices have already plummeted!’
At this moment, Zhou Ming’s mind raced with wild speculation. He honestly felt like his brain was short-circuiting.
’It’s absurd.’
’Utterly absurd.’
’He’d been in the real estate business his whole life and had never seen anything like this.’
"President Lin, I understand what you’re proposing, but I honestly can’t figure out your reasoning, or how you plan to operate."
Zhou Ming took a deep breath and decided to just ask directly.
After all, there was no one else here.
This was, after all, three plots of land worth nearly a billion.
Once the equity was transferred to Lin Chu, he would have complete legal control. He could do whatever he wanted.
Although there were countermeasures, they would be a huge hassle.
But more than wary, Zhou Ming was curious.
’Have I really fallen behind the times?’
"Haha, don’t ask about that. Don’t overthink it, just give them to me. Or, if all three at once is too much, you can give them to me one by one. We can do it in batches."
"As for what I’m going to do, you don’t need to worry about that."
Lin Chu said nonchalantly, his eyes fixed on him.
’This kind of haggling is so annoying,’ Lin Chu thought. ’It’s like I’m trying to trick him. It completely ruins my image.’
’But this is also a kind of test of trust.’
’If you don’t even have the guts to give me the land first, why should I lend you money?’
’Trust is a two-way street.’
Zhou Ming’s knuckles tapped lightly on the table. He glanced at Lin Chu again, then suddenly changed the subject. "How is Xiaoluan doing at the club these days?"
Lin Chu pursed his lips, unable to suppress a smile. "She’s a real piece of work. Doesn’t even give me, her own boss, the time of day. She’ll jog right past me, give a little wave without saying a word, and just keep going."
Zhou Ming: ...
For a moment, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Of course, he could tell Lin Chu was joking.
And knowing his daughter, that sounded exactly like something she would do.
"Sigh... I should apologize to you on her behalf again. I just don’t understand young people these days. Why don’t you give her a good scolding? I don’t have the heart to do it,"
Zhou Ming said, also in a joking manner.
Lin Chu couldn’t help but laugh.
"Let’s just give her some more time."
"Ah, she’s meeting some friends to play golf this afternoon. We could go and watch them later."
"Hey now, don’t change the subject. Let’s talk about the land. One word: are you giving it to me or not? Just give me a straight answer."
Lin Chu dragged the conversation back on topic.
Zhou Ming... gave a wry smile.
"It’s not a question of whether I’ll give it to you or not. The company isn’t mine alone; there are other shareholders. If we’re selling, that’s an easy conversation. But just *giving* it away? I’d need to call a board meeting for that."
"Of course, I understand you’re not asking for a handout and you have your reasons for wanting the equity first. It’s just that the other shareholders will need some convincing,"
he explained patiently.
Lin Chu laughed and teased, "You’re not very effective, are you? You borrow money in your personal name, but for decisions, you need a collective vote from the company. What kind of boss are you? You’re no different from an employee."
The jab was pretty sharp.
But Zhou Ming had excellent composure. He just smiled and said, "We’ve all been brothers for many years. When people stick together, wealth follows."
Hearing this, Lin Chu understood why Famous Real Estate was just a third-rate real estate group.
’He’s not ruthless enough.’
’The downside is that the company can’t grow quickly.’
’Of course, it has its advantages, too. Morale is high, and the shareholders have all fully enjoyed the dividends of the company’s growth.’
"Fine. I’ll give you three days."
"Get me at least one of the plots."
Zhou Ming laughed, a hint of resignation in his voice, and nodded. "Alright, deal. The one in Chan City, then?"
’The cheapest one,’ Lin Chu thought.
Once again, Lin Chu found him indecisive.
But he decided to just go with it, holding his nose and agreeing.
’One free plot is still a free plot.’
...
...
