Chapter 149: The Acquisition Edge

Xu Zhiquan took the mouse and flipped through the report files on the computer:

We must press our advantage.

“From tonight on, it’s my turn to buckle down… I need to memorize this document inside and out!”

Fang Jun: “A few pages are still unfinished. Xu Chen and I will work overtime tonight to get it all done.”

Xu Chen thought for a moment, then spoke up:

“You’re right, we need to keep pushing forward…”

“From what I see, it’s almost a sure win, but not completely safe.”

“Changsheng Chemical is basically out, but Fengrong Commerce is still a major competitor.”

Xu Zhiquan nodded:

“Exactly.”

“After today’s meeting, Wu Yongming’s secretary chatted with me privately.”

“Fengrong Commerce’s acquisition bid is much higher than ours—maybe not even in the same league.”

“But that’s all we can do now. We have to consider the costs for the old factory renovations and production setup, so we can’t raise our bid any further.”

“Another point: Fengrong Commerce likely has some strong connections behind them…”

Xu Chen pondered for a bit, then continued:

“The report content basically meets the demands from the Review Committee and the City Center, while highlighting our main strengths.”

“We still need to find a way to add some unexpected surprises…”

“Surprises?”

Xu Chen: “Even small ones will do.”

“An unexpected bonus point, no matter how minor, might tip the scales in a big way…”

……

……

The communication meeting on the 13th was scheduled at the Mechanical Factory.

The organizing committee, considering various factors, arranged a minibus to pick up all the participating company personnel and take them to the Mechanical Factory.

At 9:30 in the morning, Li Rui drove Xu Zhiquan, Xu Chen, and Fang Jun to the bus gathering point.

Yang Congxin was still an employee of the Mechanical Factory, so his status was special, and he didn’t join for this meeting.

But when Xu Zhiquan and the others got out of the car, they spotted Director Yang standing by the roadside, smoking.

“Director Yang?” Xu Zhiquan called out.

Director Yang turned his head and walked over with a smile, offering a cigarette to Xu Zhiquan.

He lit the cigarette for Xu Zhiquan before saying:

“President Xu, I’m joining you for the presentation today.”

“I’ve thought it over for two days and submitted my resignation to the Mechanical Factory yesterday…”

Xu Zhiquan paused for a moment, then burst into laughter and clapped Yang Congxin on the shoulder with a big hand:

“Welcome aboard officially!”

Yang Congxin adjusted his black-framed glasses:

“Working on this plan with you all has given me a lot of confidence!”

“Even though the Mechanical Factory’s outcome isn’t decided yet, I feel that following you and Teacher Xu will be way more fulfilling than staying there!”

“With your and Teacher Xu’s skills, even if we don’t get the Mechanical Factory, we can definitely pull off the Electric Vehicle Factory!”

“I’ll be set joining you, Old Yang…”

Xu Zhiquan shook Yang Congxin’s hand:

“You’re too kind, Director Yang. You’re our technical expert now!”

“Without you, we couldn’t get the Electric Vehicle Factory off the ground!” ……

An staff member approached:

“President Xu, is your group all here?”

Xu Zhiquan: “All set!”

“Then let’s board the bus!”

……

Xu Zhiquan and his group of four boarded the bus and saw that it was already occupied by some people.

“President Xu” kept a low profile, quietly leading Xu Chen and the others to the back seats.

Fang Jun sat next to Xu Chen and glanced ahead, whispering an introduction:

“Those few up front on the left are from Changsheng Chemical.”

“The ones behind them in suits are from Fengrong Commerce.”

“And the group on the right is from Xixi Cultural Tourism…”

……

The minibus rumbled toward the Mechanical Factory.

As they passed through a residential area, a wave of discussion erupted in the bus, with everyone looking to the left.

Xu Chen glanced outside and saw banners hanging on the walls of the opposite neighborhood:

“Love the Country, Love Home, Protect Our Homeland!”

“Protect Our Children and Grandchildren, Oppose the Chemical Factory!”

“Legally Voice Demands, Reasonably Resist the Chemical Factory!”

……

Xu Zhiquan and the others exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of intrigue.

The people from Changsheng Chemical at the front, just from their backs, looked like they were wearing faces of utter dismay.

Meanwhile, the group from Fengrong Commerce sitting behind them seemed happier than anyone else.

After the first round of the ‘intention communication meeting’ a few days ago, Changsheng Chemical and Fengrong Commerce became the Review Committee’s top picks—this was basically an open secret.

Now, with Changsheng Chemical facing public backlash, Fengrong Commerce had the win in the bag.

……

The minibus entered the Mechanical Factory grounds, and everyone lined up to get off.

The official ‘acquisition bidding meeting’ was set for 1 PM.

The first couple of hours in the morning were for the Mechanical Factory to give the four candidate companies a tour.

Of course, another reason was to wait for the leaders from the City Center and the Review Committee to arrive after lunch…

Xu Chen stepped off the bus and looked around.

This state-owned Mechanical Factory, decades old, was spacious, neat, and orderly.

Even facing bankruptcy, it still exuded a stern sense of discipline.

A heavy air from the ‘planned economy’ era seeped from every blade of grass, brick, and tile in the factory grounds.

Yang Congxin and Fang Jun, as former employees, knew the place like the back of their hand.

Xu Zhiquan had visited multiple times a few months ago for the Mechanical Factory’s parts bidding, so he was familiar too.

Only Xu Chen was visiting for the first time and found it all quite fresh.

“Hello, leaders. I’m Zhao Qingming, an employee from the factory. You can call me Old Zhao or Director Zhao.”

“I’ll be guiding you on a tour of the Mechanical Factory this morning!”

A short, stocky middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses stood before the group, his face beaming with a smile.

Zhao Qingming spotted Yang Congxin and Fang Jun from afar and looked puzzled.

He smiled at the group and said, “Please wait a moment, leaders!”

He walked over and asked:

“Director Yang, didn’t you resign yesterday? Why are you back at the factory?”

As he spoke, his brows furrowed with clear wariness and hostility.

Before Yang Congxin could respond, Zhao Qingming turned to Fang Jun and said coldly:

“And you, Fang Jun!”

“How dare you show your face here? We’re in this mess because of you!”

Though Zhao Qingming spoke quietly, everyone around heard it and couldn’t help but turn their heads.

Fang Jun kept his expression blank and unapproachable, not saying a word, just giving Zhao Qingming a cold stare.

Zhao Qingming’s accusation referred to how Fang Jun had exposed the Mechanical Factory’s financial issues, leading to its bankruptcy and all that followed.

In Zhao Qingming’s view, if Fang Jun hadn’t blown the whistle, the factory might have limped along a bit longer…

Xu Zhiquan, with a cigarette in his mouth, stepped forward and said with a smile:

“You’re Director Zhao, right? I’m Xu Zhiquan from East Morning Star Co.”

Zhao Qingming paused, composed himself, and replied with a forced smile:

“Nice to meet you, President Xu. Sorry you had to see that.”

“These two are former Mechanical Factory employees who somehow sneaked in!”

“We have strict access rules—they’re not allowed in anymore!”

He looked around, ready to call someone to escort them out.

Xu Zhiquan still wore his easygoing smile and said:

“Director Zhao, Fang Jun and Director Yang are now leaders in my company.”

“They’re here with us to discuss acquiring the Mechanical Factory.”

Zhao Qingming was stunned, blinking in confusion as he processed it.

Xu Chen couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

Xu Zhiquan was clearly playing it up, calling them “company leaders” and saying they were here for acquisition talks to needle Zhao Qingming.

Once Zhao Qingming figured it out, his face turned an ugly shade.

Xu Zhiquan smiled and offered him a cigarette.

Zhao Qingming: “No, thanks…”

Xu Zhiquan laughed:

“Director Zhao, why don’t you lead us on the tour? Fang Jun hasn’t been here in a while—you can show him around!”

Fang Jun: “……”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xu Chen nearly laughed out loud.

Old Xu could be quite ruthless when he wanted to.

Yang Congxin glanced at Fang Jun, his expression full of amusement.

The people from the other three companies didn’t know the full story, but from the conversation, they pieced together what was happening.

Two former employees from the Mechanical Factory had returned as “leaders” for the acquisition talks.

And this Director Zhao clearly harbored resentment toward them but now had to play nice…

Zhao Qingming’s face flushed red and pale, leaving him speechless.

The four companies here today were all major players.

He was assigned by factory leadership to host them and give the tour.

Who could’ve guessed that Fang Jun and Yang Congxin had switched sides to the “big bosses”?!

As Zhao Qingming stood there awkwardly, Yang Congxin sighed and said:

“Director Zhao, back in the factory, we were all caught up in office politics and backstabbing—that’s how we ended up like this…”

“Fang Jun and I have both left, so let’s not make things harder for each other.”

“We’re both familiar with the place, so no need to trouble you.”

“We can show President Xu around. What do you think?”

Zhao Qingming hesitated, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and managed an awkward smile.

He looked up at the tall Xu Zhiquan and said:

“President Xu, you can follow Director Yang on the tour!”

“Lunch is set for the cafeteria at 11:30—just head over then.”

“The afternoon meeting starts at 1 PM in the main conference room; Director Yang and Fang Jun can guide you there…”

Xu Zhiquan: “Thanks, Director Zhao. You go ahead with your duties!”

Zhao Qingming gave an awkward smile and turned to leave.

“Follow me, leaders. I’ll start by showing you our exhibition hall and introducing the glorious history of our factory…”