“Director Gao, Sanshui Group only spent 60 million to acquire all the equity of Dafeng Factory. Regardless of the reasons or consequences, it cannot change the fact that the value of the land owned by Dafeng Factory far exceeds 60 million.”
“If all the equity of Dafeng Factory belonged to Cai Chenggong, and did not involve the 1300+ employees of Dafeng Factory, it would be a simple economic dispute. I would not intervene, and let the legal process take its course.”
“However, this involves the livelihoods of 1300+ employees of Dafeng Factory, and the legitimate interests of many employee shareholders. It is a political event, and I cannot ignore it.”
“You should know that Dafeng Factory organized a ‘factory protection team’ to resist your forced demolition. This is a sign of a potential violent group event. No one will be able to bear the responsibility when that happens.”
“As the saying goes, ‘Don’t try to eat a whole elephant in one bite.’ In my opinion, it is more important to conduct business steadily for the long term than to pursue short-term profits of tens of millions. You are a businessman, and you should understand the principle of ‘harmony breeds wealth.’”
Li Dakang said with a serious expression. He was telling the truth. Gao Xiaoqin was not a good person, and Cai Chenggong was not a good guy either. If it hadn’t involved 1300+ employees, he would not have intervened in this matter.
The business world is full of deceit and treachery. As long as it is not illegal, there is no need to judge it based on morality. If everything were to be measured by moral standards, what would we need laws for?
Cai Chenggong sought a 60 million bridge loan from Sanshui Group and got tricked by them. It was his own fault. Why did he withdraw funds from Dafeng Factory to invest in coal business?
Gao Xiaoqin, being the sharp woman she was, quickly grasped the key point of Li Dakang’s words, and asked, “Secretary Li, you said ‘short-term profits of tens of millions.’ Forgive my ignorance, but I don’t quite understand.”
She understood what Li Dakang meant. The so-called “long-term profits are more important than tens of millions of short-term gains” did not mean opposing Sanshui Group’s acquisition of Dafeng Factory, but rather an indication that she should pay tens of millions to settle this matter.
“As long as Sanshui Group is willing to put in another 60 million, I guarantee that Dafeng Factory will be demolished immediately. This 60 million is not for me, the city government will not take a penny.”
“50 million will be used for employee resettlement subsidies. After all, you’re demolishing their factory, you can’t offer no compensation, right? The other 10 million will be used to build a new Dafeng Factory.”
“Have District Chief Sun allocate a new piece of land for Dafeng Factory to build a new factory. This way, the employees will get resettlement subsidies and will keep their jobs. What reason would they have to resist the demolition?”
Li Dakang said. What he proposed was actually the solution in the original drama. However, in the drama, it was the Jingzhou City government and the Guangming District that bailed them out, not Sanshui Group.
The original character’s approach was unacceptable to Li Dakang. To develop the Guangming Peak project, the finances of Jingzhou City and Guangming District had been drained. They could not afford to cover this expense.
Sanshui Group should foot the bill. The land owned by Dafeng Factory, while not worth tens of billions as some would exaggerate, is definitely worth several billion. Sanshui Group should be responsible for this expense.
Gao Xiaoqin looked troubled. “Secretary Li, a few million is fine, but 60 million is too much. You don’t know, Sanshui Group has many shareholders. It is not just my business.”
On the one hand, Gao Xiaoqin was reluctant to pay 60 million to appease the employees of Dafeng Factory. On the other hand, she was subtly reminding Li Dakang that the true owner of Sanshui Group was Zhao Ruilong.
Others might not know who was the real mastermind behind Sanshui Group, but Li Dakang had no reason not to know. He was once Zhao Lichun’s secretary, and Zhao Lichun had always shown Li Dakang a lot of favor.
Without Zhao Lichun’s promotion and support, how could Li Dakang have risen so fast? He was only in his fifties and had already become a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hanzhong Provincial Committee and the Secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Committee.
As the saying goes, “Never forget those who helped you draw the well when you’re drinking from it.” Li Dakang couldn’t be so ungrateful. Zhao Lichun had just been transferred out of Hanzhong, and Li Dakang was already targeting Zhao Lichun’s son, Zhao Ruilong’s business?
“Right now, the land owned by Dafeng Factory is worth many times 60 million. I believe you know this in your heart. Procrastinating will result in significant time costs.”
“The most crucial point is that if a violent group event occurs, not only will you be unable to bear the responsibility, all the shareholders of Sanshui Group will be held responsible.”
“I’ll repeat what I said earlier. Don’t try to eat a whole elephant in one bite. Business is about ‘harmony breeds wealth’. Harmony in business can lead to more earnings and greater stability than taking shortcuts and chasing quick gains.”
“The other shareholders of Sanshui Group should understand this. If they don’t, you should persuade them and make them understand.”
“Also, please tell the other shareholders of Sanshui Group. I am the Secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Committee. In this city, I will not allow any chaos!”
Li Dakang’s words were powerful and forceful. Gao Xiaoqin hinted at Zhao Ruilong, and Li Dakang responded in kind. He knew that the force behind Sanshui Group was the Zhao family, but there was no room for negotiation.
Gao Xiaoqin was exasperated. “Secretary Li, you don’t know, we’ve already given the resettlement funds to the employees. It was 35 million. Cai Chenggong didn’t pay the resettlement funds to the employees, hence the situation.”
Li Dakang knew about this, but feigned surprise. “Is that so? Cai Chenggong is so bold, he dares to embezzle the employees’ resettlement funds? Isn’t he afraid of getting beaten to death by the employees?”
Gao Xiaoqin shook her head. “Cai Chenggong is very audacious. For money, there is nothing he won’t do. Secretary Li, if you don’t believe me, I can provide evidence.”
Li Dakang said, “Alright, have someone deliver the evidence to me later. However, you still need to pay the 60 million I mentioned, just consider it the purchase price of the 40% equity owned by the employees.”
Gao Xiaoqin cautiously said, “Secretary Li, I am more than willing to cooperate with your work, but 60 million really is too much. I don’t have the confidence to persuade the other shareholders.”
Li Dakang said calmly, “Then I also lack confidence in persuading the employees of Dafeng Factory, and I lack even more confidence in persuading my own conscience. I can guarantee that Sanshui Group will not be able to demolish Dafeng Factory.”
Gao Xiaoqin put away her smile, and her tone became cold. “Secretary Li, not demolishing Dafeng Factory will also be detrimental to you. The Guangming Peak project you have high hopes for will be a bit anticlimactic, don’t you think?”
Dafeng Factory was located within the Guangming Peak Scenic Area and was an important part of the Guangming Peak project. Leaving the factory there would make the Guangming Peak project look like a failed project, no matter how you look at it.
This was one of the reasons why Gao Xiaoqin dared to challenge Li Dakang. It was not only because the mastermind behind Sanshui Group was Zhao Ruilong, but also because the Guangming Peak project needed Sanshui Group.
Li Dakang laughed. “How can it be anticlimactic? That’s impossible! The land owned by Dafeng Factory, forget about 60 million, there are many investors willing to pay 200 million or even 300 million!”
Gao Xiaoqin’s face grew even colder. “Secretary Li, don’t forget, Sanshui Group owns all the equity of Dafeng Factory. If you want other investors to develop it, the shareholders of Sanshui Group might not agree!”
Li Dakang had a mischievous smile on his face. “Does Director Gao mean that I should have a chat with Chen Qingquan about him learning foreign languages at Sanshui Villa? We can also talk about how deep his relationship is with Sanshui Group?”
Gao Xiaoqin’s face turned pale. She looked at Sun Liancheng, who was standing beside her, looking straight ahead, and then at Li Dakang. Suddenly, she broke into a smile. “Secretary Li, why don’t I go back and talk to the shareholders first, and then give you an answer?”
Li Dakang’s expression changed, his mischievous smile turned into a relieved smile. “No problem, Director Gao, go back and discuss with the shareholders, gather opinions from the other shareholders, and then give me your answer.”
This matter was beyond Gao Xiaoqin’s control. After all, it was a huge sum of 60 million. It required Zhao Ruilong’s approval. Li Dakang knew this, so he readily agreed, giving Gao Xiaoqin the opportunity to discuss it with Zhao Ruilong.
As for Zhao Ruilong, this greedy, arrogant, and self-righteous scion of an official family, his first reaction was definitely to disagree. It didn’t matter if he disagreed. He should come to Jingzhou and face a reality check. After facing the consequences, he will naturally learn his lesson.
Zhao Ruilong’s reaction was as Li Dakang expected. When he received Gao Xiaoqin’s call and learned that Li Dakang was actually demanding Sanshui Group to pay 60 million to appease the employees of Dafeng Factory, Zhao Ruilong was furious. “How dare he?”
Gao Xiaoqin said, “Secretary Li must be in a difficult position. After all, there are 1300+ employees at Dafeng Factory. It’s not easy to suppress a riot. Li Dakang is very insistent. Should we just pay the 60 million?”
“Pay what?!” Zhao Ruilong roared. “If it wasn’t for my father’s promotion, Li Dakang would be nothing! How could he be a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hanzhong Provincial Committee and the Secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Committee? I’m coming to Hanzhong right away!”
Zhao Ruilong wanted to see if, when he went to Jingzhou in person, Li Dakang would still have the face to ignore his father’s previous kindness and ask Sanshui Group to pay 60 million.
…