Chapter 62: Dinner Table Business Strategy

Xu Chen laughed and raised his glass to clink with Xu Zhiquan.

Xu Zhiquan paused thoughtfully before adding,

“If State-run Bright Machinery Factory really can’t keep afloat and offers us the chance to buy it, funding will be our biggest hurdle.

I’ll start figuring something out right away.

No more Audis or Mercedes for now. Every penny coming in has to be saved!

We still have to bid on those sapling contracts. We need to find ways to win even more of them. Luckily, a few projects are starting to take shape…

But a dying camel is still bigger than a horse. Taking over a bankrupt state factory is a huge challenge, and we’ll have to import production lines and so on.

I’ve got a few friends who can lend us some money.

We can also use the factory and land as collateral at the bank…

It’s just a question of whether it’ll be enough.”

Xu Zhiquan sipped his coconut juice and said,

“Naturally, the biggest issue is whether Bright Machinery Factory will even be put up for sale and if we’ll have a shot at it…

It looks like we need to meet with Boss Huang again to see what intel he can give us.”

Xu Chen smiled and stayed silent.

Having been reborn, he was certain there’d be a chance to snatch up Bright Machinery Factory.

In his last life, after the factory’s collapse and restructuring, it was bought by a private firm in the Provincial Capital.

That company never ran it properly—they only wanted the buildings and land.

Mentioning Boss Huang, Xu Chen reminded his father,

“Dad, Uncle Huang getting arrested last time doesn’t give me much confidence…”

Xu Zhiquan waved him off: “Don’t worry! I won’t dare do business with him again.

Aside from some bad habits, he’s crooked in business. I had no choice but to work with him before.

We won’t get involved in future deals, but he can still be a resource for information…”

Xu Chen chuckled and said,

“Dad, don’t stress too much.

If the factory deal falls through or the electric-vehicle path doesn’t pan out, I have other backup plans.”

Xu Zhiquan laughed heartily:

“Rest easy, Mr. Xu Chen!

I have a strong feeling the Bright Machinery Factory and the EV venture are doable!

Right now, the pressure is just about lining up the funds in advance.

I’d estimate we need at least several million in cash…

It’s a huge burden—not guaranteed to succeed.

I’ll put my mind to it first!”

Xu Chen suddenly remembered something and said,

“How’s Third Uncle doing on his end?”

Xu Zhiquan frowned and replied,

“Your Third Uncle’s already jumped into that pit!

He’s won the bid for Bright Machinery Factory and came home yesterday showing off.

He’s practically ready to parade in front of our house with drums and firecrackers…”

Xu Chen: “…”

Xu Zhiquan sighed,

“I knew the factory tender was a trap, but I couldn’t talk him out of it.

If I tried, he wouldn’t thank me. He’d think I was sabotaging him and might stab me in the back…

So let him be.

I can’t control his fate, and he won’t let me.

Ever since our family split, he never treated me like a real brother, always guarded, always scheming against me…

Let nature take its course!

Besides, he and I have been cut off for years.

If he fails because of the factory, it won’t drag our family down.

”

Xu Zhiquan’s face fell as he spoke quietly.

Clearly, talking about Third Uncle still stirred his resentment.

Back when Third Uncle fought the family split, it left a deep psychological wound for Xu Zhiquan.

Xu Chen lowered his head to sip his drink, turning over schemes in his mind.

Maybe there was still money to squeeze out of Third Uncle…

…

Father and son worked efficiently—over one meal they mapped out the Xu family’s next ten years of business layout.

Xu Chen suddenly asked,

“Dad, has your East Morning Star company been registered yet?”

Xu Zhiquan had just finished the bill and was packing his wallet:

“It’s done, and I’ve registered every industry category we could under your instructions.”

Xu Chen grabbed a pen from the table and scribbled on the blank margin of a newspaper, tore it off, and handed it to Xu Zhiquan:

“Dad, go ahead and register these trademarks under East Morning Star Company in advance.”

Xu Zhiquan glanced at them: 【Chenfeng Technology】【Chenfeng Electric Vehicles】…

【Ice Power】【Chenfeng Ice Power】…

【Ran Bing】【Ran Bing Sports】…

He smiled in admiration:

“My son really is my business mentor. I never would’ve planned all this ahead.

These names you came up with—no way I’d think of them.

”

He studied them more closely: “Chenfeng EV, Chenfeng Ice Power… those are for the electric vehicles, right?

But what’s ‘Ran Bing Sports’?”

Xu Chen gave a mysterious smile:

“The time isn’t right yet.”

‘Ran Bing Sports’ was naturally meant for Xie Bingran.

In his last life, after Xie Bingran rose to fame, international sports brands courted her to be their Asian ambassador.

But Xu Chen felt that instead of having her endorse a foreign brand, he’d build a national sports label for her.

While the EV plan held huge potential, it also carried massive execution risks.

The financial strain and operational difficulty were significant.

Xu Chen’s idea: if the EV track stalled, launch ‘Ran Bing Sports.’

Riding Xie Bingran’s rise in athletics, they’d build a nationwide national sports brand—a solid alternative.

Just like Jordan or Li Ning…

Compared to EVs, ‘Ran Bing Sports’ offered more flexibility and easier execution.

A two-year head start or delay wouldn’t matter much.

But if you miss the critical window for EVs and other manufacturers seize scale and market share, it’ll be hard to catch up.

So, if possible, have Dad test the EV manufacturer first.

Of course, no need to explain all this to Xu Zhiquan now.

If the Bright Machinery acquisition hits a snag, they can plan specifics later.

But the ‘Ran Bing’ trademark can be registered in advance, ready to go at any moment.

Besides, the ‘Authorization and Equity Agreement’ Xu Chen signed with Xie Bingran was tailored for ‘Ran Bing Sports.’

Sports brands—especially athletic apparel—don’t require high tech thresholds.

Nike and Adidas are actually produced by factories in Fujian Province under OEM contracts.

If they launch ‘Ran Bing,’ they’ll mainly rely on Xie Bingran’s own influence.

In modern terms, it’s the fan-economy model.

So the ‘Ran Bing Sports’ brand grants Xie Bingran 35% equity, with 65% held by the Xu family’s company.

In theory, Xie Bingran could hold 50%, but Xu Chen figured he’d be too shameless…

Of course, this also counts as Xu Chen’s repayment to Xie Bingran.

After all, that endorsement contract—the Servitude Contract—cost him nothing to secure.

Based on Xie Bingran’s future worth, it’d be worth millions without question.

Now that Xu Chen and East Morning Star Co. can’t front tens of millions in endorsement fees, they’ll use ‘Ran Bing Sports’’ future dividends and profits to pay her.

After all, Xu Chen never intended to truly exploit Xie Bingran’s value for free.

One must always be decent.

Especially since it’s Xie Bingran…

The ‘Ran Bing Sports’ brand isn’t urgent right now.

Let Dad focus on the EV venture first…”