Chapter 94: Who Decides the Shareholders?

In the morning, when Su Cheng went to the Feed Factory to drive out and deliver goods, he forgot to take his water cup. His wife, Chen Xiulan, quickly took the water cup and brought it to the Feed Factory.

After Su Cheng drove away, Chen Xiulan chatted with Li Sheng’s wife for a while in the factory.

It was during this chat that Li Sheng’s wife casually asked why she had suddenly paged their child studying in the county town yesterday and whether anything had happened at home. At the time, Chen Xiulan didn’t think much of it and briefly explained the recent situation their family had encountered regarding contracting land to Li Sheng’s wife.

This was originally nothing; it was just rural womenfolk chatting idly.

But during dinner, Li Sheng just listened to his wife mention the matter of Su Cheng’s family in passing. As a shrewd businessman, Li Sheng immediately and keenly smelled the scent of profit.

Politely inviting Li Sheng to sit, Su Cheng took out the Hongtashan cigarettes from under the tea table — the kind he usually couldn’t bear to smoke — offered one, and started chatting with Li Sheng. Su Chunfeng, seizing the opportunity of making tea and pouring water, rather impolitely sat down with a smile on his face, pulling over a chair to listen to the conversation between the two elders.

Li Sheng didn’t mind this much and amiably chatted with Su Cheng about feed transportation, how the customers were doing, whether there were any complaints, and so on…

However, very soon, Li Sheng asked Su Cheng about leasing and contracting land in Pingyang City.

Su Cheng knew he was straightforward, not very eloquent, let alone capable of lying to deceive someone as astute as Li Sheng. Moreover, he really couldn’t clearly explain many issues regarding land contracting. So, Su Cheng simply laughed and said, “Brother Sheng, I really can’t explain this matter clearly. Let Xiaofeng tell you… he and his Third Maternal Grandfather were the ones stirring things up in the middle of it. Xiaofeng, tell your uncle about the specifics of the land we want to contract? Your uncle is a real big boss, has seen the world and knows a lot. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can just ask your uncle.”

These were words Su Chunfeng had previously reminded Su Cheng to say.

Using Chen Xian as a shield!

Hearing this, Li Sheng felt somewhat puzzled. Xiaofeng’s Third Maternal Grandfather, wasn’t that the former deputy secretary of the Municipal Party Committee who retired last year? — He had heard his own wife mention that Su Cheng’s family had such a relative. Therefore, Li Sheng immediately realized that if this land contracting matter was related to Chen Xiulan’s third uncle, then it really wouldn’t be easy to get involved.

Thinking about it, given Su Cheng’s circumstances and mindset, how could he possibly think of leasing dozens of acres of land on the outskirts of the city for development?

Although he believed he had guessed some of the inconveniently-stated inside story, Li Sheng still somewhat unwillingly smiled and said, “It must cost a lot of money, right?”

“Exactly, sigh.” Su Cheng sighed.

Su Chunfeng pursed his lips, inwardly scolding his father for interrupting. However, this kind of thing couldn’t be hidden forever anyway, so he put on an air of smugness and said, “No problem. My Third Maternal Grandfather said he can help get a loan.”

Third Maternal Grandfather again…

Li Sheng felt a headache coming on, but then he thought, perhaps this wasn’t a bad opportunity to get in touch with the upper echelons of the city. Thinking this, he spoke quite generously and righteously to Su Cheng, “Hey, if the shortfall isn’t too large, why take a loan? You’d have to pay such high interest. How about this? Just take some from me first. We can’t come up with a huge amount, but for three to five hundred thousand, based on the good relationship between us old brothers, even if I have to scrape it together from here and there, I’ll get it for you.”

“This…” Su Cheng felt rather awkward. Li Sheng had no intention of discussing this kind of matter with Su Chunfeng, who was just a half-grown kid.

“I say, little brother,” Li Sheng took a cigarette and lit it, saying seriously, “For such a big business, one or two people can’t shoulder it alone. How about you consider it, talk to your wife’s third uncle, and see if I can become a shareholder? If we really lose money, I definitely won’t blame you.”

For a moment, Su Cheng didn’t know how to respond.

Su Chunfeng spoke from the side, “Right, Dad, why don’t you talk properly with my Third Maternal Grandfather and let Uncle Li Sheng also become a shareholder? Uncle has money!”

“Exactly, exactly,” Li Sheng said happily, thinking this kid Xiaofeng was really good.

“Well, then… I’ll go talk to him in a couple of days…” Su Cheng nodded in agreement, though he couldn’t help feeling puzzled inside — why had Xiaofeng agreed to this?

After some more casual chatter, Li Sheng reminded them a few more times about investing and becoming a shareholder, then left with a smile, saying goodbye.

Only after seeing Li Sheng out the courtyard gate did Su Cheng turn back, bolt the gate, return inside, and furrow his brows as he said to Su Chunfeng, “Xiaofeng, why did you agree to him? Li Sheng might talk like he has a lot of money, but actually, he’s also saddled with a pile of bank loans right now.”

Su Chunfeng smiled and said, “Is my Third Maternal Grandfather a shareholder?”

“No, he isn’t.”

“Whether he is or isn’t, we can’t tell Li Sheng.” Su Chunfeng scratched his head and gave a sly smile. “Similarly, whether my Third Maternal Grandfather is willing to let Li Sheng become a shareholder — that’s for my Third Maternal Grandfather to decide, we don’t have a say. But since our neighborly relationship is so good, we should at least help pass the message along, right?”

Su Cheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and lightly swatted Su Chunfeng on the head. “Where did you, little brat, get such crafty ideas?”

At that moment, Chen Xiulan came out from the inner room and said quite guiltily, “Sigh, it’s all my fault for talking too much. I shouldn’t have told Zhichao’s mother about these things.”

“It’s nothing, people will find out sooner or later anyway,” Su Cheng waved his hand dismissively.

“Hmm.” Su Chunfeng nodded and instructed, “Mom, keep this in mind from now on. Don’t say my Third Maternal Grandfather is involved in this, and don’t say he isn’t either… just let others guess for themselves.”

Chen Xiulan shot her son a reproachful glare. “I know, you little rascal!”

…

For this family, which had just escaped economic hardship less than two years ago, still not particularly well-off financially, and which, because they bought a freight truck before the New Year, was still carrying tens of thousands in bank loans — the thought of suddenly investing several hundred thousand or even a million to do business obviously put immense pressure on Su Cheng, the family’s pillar.

But his son’s series of startling thoughts and actions made Su Cheng feel increasingly confident inside.

Now, he had already transformed that pressure into motivation. Before things were finally settled, he would continue to single-mindedly make money by running freight — earn a little now, and the debt they’d have to bear in the future would be a little less.

The next day, when he drove out to deliver feed, he also dropped off his son, Su Chunfeng, by the side of South Ring Road in Pingyang City.

Watching the freight truck driven by his father go into the distance, Su Chunfeng paced back and forth beside that stretch of wasteland, dozens of acres large, for a long time. After considering many things, he then took the bus to Chen Xian’s home in the city.

Now retired and at home, Chen Xian, having experienced great ups and downs, and having been guided out of his depression during the most difficult time by Su Chunfeng’s mixture of sarcasm, mockery, and blunt talk, had long since recovered. He no longer coveted power or high positions. Every day, he and his wife went out for walks, practiced Taijiquan, went fishing, stayed home reading books, practiced calligraphy, and occasionally had their granddaughter over to play with. He lived a leisurely and peaceful life, quite enjoying the pleasures of a leisurely retirement.

Today, however, he did not accompany his wife for a walk in the park. He stayed home alone, waiting for Su Chunfeng and his father to arrive.

Unexpectedly, only Su Chunfeng came alone.

“Grandad, are you home alone?” Su Chunfeng very politely looked left and right, acting very much like a careless, restless half-grown kid.

“Hmm,” Chen Xian smiled. “So you don’t need to act naive. Be more relaxed.”

“Look at what you’re saying…” Su Chunfeng cheerfully opened the bag he was carrying, took out the contract documents, and handed them to Chen Xian. “You look at these first. I need to make a phone call.”

Chen Xian picked up the contract documents and began reading them carefully.

Su Chunfeng walked over to the phone by himself and dialed his home number. “Mom, I’m at my Third Maternal Grandfather’s house. Ah… yes, there’s something. There might be two female classmates coming to look for me at home later. I completely forgot about it when I left. If they come, could you please explain it to them properly for me?”

“Still those two girls?”

“Hmm.”

“Alright, I know.”

Hanging up the phone, Su Chunfeng thought for a moment, then made a call to Zhang Lifei’s house — just as he expected, Zhang Lifei had indeed gone out after breakfast.

Putting down the phone, Su Chunfeng sat on the sofa with a bitter smile.

Last night and early this morning, he had been completely preoccupied with thinking about contracting and leasing that dozens of acres of land. As a result, he had completely forgotten about his weekend meeting plans with Zhang Lifei and Wang Haifei. Given Zhang Lifei’s personality, wouldn’t she be seething with anger and go to school to confront him?

After a while, Chen Xian finished looking over the contract documents and said calmly, “Xiaofeng, overall, the contract doesn’t have major issues. However, the contracting price and the share ratio for both parties need further negotiation.”

“Oh.” Su Chunfeng then said, “From what it says here, it seems to involve quite a few departments. Isn’t that too complicated?”

“That’s unavoidable,” Chen Xian smiled. “Did you think it was like two families exchanging turnips and cabbage?”

Su Chunfeng scratched his head and gave an embarrassed smile. Then he looked seriously at Chen Xian and said, “Grandad, there are still some issues with the funding. If the contract is finally signed and the contracting matter is settled… could you, sir, please help inquire about getting a loan from a bank here in the city? The rural Credit Cooperative can’t lend out too much money.”

“That’s no problem,” Chen Xian readily agreed.

With him pulling strings and having such a large piece of land as collateral, the bank naturally wouldn’t have any reservations about the loan.

“And one more thing…” Su Chunfeng grinned. “I think you, sir, being retired and at home now, is really a waste of talent. How about the two of our families invest together? It has nothing to do with the Erdaokou Town government. Just between our two families’ shares, you, sir, can take twenty percent!” Su Chunfeng boldly held up two fingers.

Chen Xian could, of course, hear the slightly stingy little calculation in Su Chunfeng’s mind. He waved his hand and smiled. “I’m old. It’s not convenient for me to be involved in your affairs. If you and your father find dealing with government departments too cumbersome and don’t understand that aspect very well, I can have your cousin help you with these things. She’s a top graduate from the Capital City University of Political Science and Law, and she has worked in government departments. She’s quite familiar with various work procedures and legal knowledge regarding agreements and clauses… In the future, your father will be the big boss. Just pay your cousin a salary.”

“My cousin isn’t working yet?” Su Chunfeng asked, puzzled.

“She works at a private enterprise. She can resign anytime,” Chen Xian smiled.

Su Chunfeng immediately spoke as if it were the most natural and generous thing. “Then that’s easy. If a capable person like my cousin is willing to help, we’ll pay the salary, and we’ll give that twenty percent share to her too!”

Chen Xian smiled and neither agreed nor disagreed.