December 22, Friday afternoon.
Kunming, Changshui Airport.
When the plane landed, the clouds outside the window were burned into a golden red by the setting sun.
Zhao Chen glanced at this strange land through the porthole window and said nothing.
Su Wantang sat next to him, still flipping through the unfinished book in his hand.
Chen Xi is organizing files in the back row, Zhang Qingxue is replying to emails, and Liu Mingyu is at the back with his eyes closed to relax.
These people have been with him for a whole year.
When I walked out of the arrivals hall, the person picking me up was already waiting there.
It was not the driver, but Cheng Jiaxun himself. He was wearing a dark blue jacket and stood at the front of the crowd. The moment he saw Zhao Chen, he hurried up to meet him.
"Chairman Zhao! It's been a hard journey!" He held Zhao Chen's hand with both hands and shook it vigorously.
Zhao Chen smiled, "President Cheng came to pick him up in person. That's so polite."
Cheng Jiaxun shook his head. "That's right. Chairman Zhao came from afar, I must pick him up personally."
He glanced at the person behind Zhao Chen and added:
"The hotel has been arranged. Let's have a simple dinner tonight and sign the contract tomorrow."
Zhao Chen nodded. "Listen to Mr. He's arrangements."
In the evening, Kunming is a hotel banquet hall.
The scale of the reception banquet is more than one level larger than the "casual dinner" mentioned by Cheng Jiaxun.
There were five tables in the banquet hall, and they were full.
In addition to the senior management team of Yunnan Agriculture Group, there are also some prominent local figures in Yun Province--
Retired old leaders from the province, officials from the Department of Agriculture, provincial branch presidents of several banks, and bosses of several large breeding companies.
He Zuxun invited half of the political and business circles of Yun Province.
Zhao Chen was arranged in the main seat next to Cheng Jiaxun. Su Wantang sat on his right, Chen Xi and Zhang Qingxue sat at the next table.
Liu Mingyu was sitting together and had already started exchanging business cards with local elites.
Cheng Jiaxun stood up and picked up the wine glass. "Everyone, today's glass of wine is for the distinguished guests who have come from afar - Henglong Group Zhao Chen Chairman Zhao!"
Everyone stood up and their glasses were raised.
Zhao Chen also stood up, had a drink with Cheng Jiaxun, signaled to the audience, and drank it all in one gulp.
Applause broke out.
Cheng Jiaxun sat down and leaned close to Zhao Chen's ear:
"Chairman Zhao, today these people are all Yunnan can talk to on the ground. From now on, Yunnan Agriculture's affairs will have to be taken care of by them."
Zhao Chen nodded. "Mr. Cheng is interested."
After three drinks, the atmosphere became warm.
As the most popular young talent in the country, people from Zhao Chen kept coming over to propose toasts, and he responded to them one by one, politely but not overly warm.
Su Wantang sat next to him, occasionally holding a glass for him, and occasionally reminding him softly to eat something to cushion his stomach.
Chen Xi was surrounded by several bank presidents at the next table, and they were all talking about due diligence.
Zhang Qingxue and Legal Director of Yunnan Agriculture were quietly discussing the details of tomorrow's signing in the corner.
Cheng Jiaxun picked up the wine glass again, this time without toasting, just took a sip, and then looked at Zhao Chen:
"Chairman Zhao, I have been waiting for this day for a long time."
Zhao Chen looked at him. "Mr. Cheng, after signing the contract tomorrow, the money will arrive in the account. Yunnan Agriculture's matter is Henglong's matter."
Cheng Jiaxun's eyes turned red, he didn't say anything, he just drank another drink.
Eight o'clock in the morning the next day.
The signing ceremony was held at the same hotel where Feng Yan was received yesterday.
This time it was held in their largest banquet hall.
The rostrum was covered with red velvet cloth, and the background board read
"Henglong Group Strategic Investment Yunnan Agriculture Group Signing Ceremony" are the big words.
The audience was full of people - almost all the faces that had attended the feast yesterday were here.
The media's long guns and short cannons were mounted on both sides, and flash lights appeared one after another.
Cheng Jiaxun walked onto the stage and stood in front of the microphone.
He wore a dark gray suit today, which was much more formal than usual.
Her hair was combed meticulously, but there were bruises under her eyes from staying up late.
"Dear leaders, distinguished guests, and friends from the media, good morning."
His voice was a little hoarse, but very steady.
"Today is a day worth remembering for Yunnan Agriculture Group."
He paused, his eyes swept across the audience, and finally landed on Zhao Chen.
"A month ago, we at Yunnan Agriculture were still sprinting for an IPO.
Everyone felt that listing was a matter of course. But everyone knew the result - Public Offering Review Committee failed."
The audience fell silent.
Cheng Jiaxun's voice trembled slightly. "That period was the most difficult day since I started my business.
Bank loan withdrawals, Suppliers collections, workers' uneasiness... all the pressures came over at once.
I have looked for many people and talked many times, but no one is willing to help us."
He paused for a moment, as if to calm down.
"Only Zhao Chen Chairman Zhao, only Henglong, extended a hand when we were in the most difficult time."
He looked at Zhao Chen, with gratitude and something inexplicable in his eyes.
"Chairman Zhao not only gave money - 390 million, 20% of the shares.
More importantly, he gave up his right to vote."
There was a low discussion in the audience.
Cheng Jiaxun continued, "In the capital market, trust is never unreserved.
When investors invest money, they have to invest in Board of Directors, they have to send people to manage the finances, and they have to intervene in the operation.
This is a matter of course."
He paused and raised his voice a little. "But Chairman Zhao is different.
He gave us money, gave us voting rights, sent only one financial officer Deputy Director, and left only one Board of Directors Seat.
What does this mean?"
He looked at the audience. "It means trust. Unreserved trust."
His eyes were red and his voice was choked.
"I, Cheng Jiaxun, have been in business for decades and have met various investors. But people like Chairman Zhao are the first."
He took a deep breath and tried to calm his voice:
"Chairman Zhao trusts me, trusts Yunnan Agriculture. I, Cheng Jiaxun, will keep this trust in my heart.
From today on, Yunnan Agriculture will lose its color as a family business and we will standardize our operations.
Chairman Zhao's money will be used wisely by Yunnan Agriculture. Within three years, I will double or quadruple Yunnan Agriculture's performance!"
The audience burst into applause.
Cheng Jiaxun turned around and bowed deeply to Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen stood up and bowed to him.
The host came to the stage. "Now, please give a speech by Henglong Group Chairman Mr. Zhao Chen."
Zhao Chen walked onto the stage and stood in front of the microphone. He did not take the manuscript, but just looked at the people in the audience.
"Everyone, Mr. He just said a lot, and I heard it all. But there are some things I want to add."
He paused.
"Mr. Cheng said that I helped Yunnan Agriculture. This is wrong."
The audience fell silent.
Zhao Chen said, "Yunnan Agriculture is able to get to where it is today, not because of me, but because of Cheng Jiaxun Mr. Cheng, Yunnan Agriculture's team, and all of you here.
I just made an investment at the right time."
He smiled, "This investment is not charity, it is business.
I am optimistic about Yunnan Agriculture's team, optimistic about Yunnan Agriculture's model, and optimistic about Yunnan Agriculture's future.
I believe that in three years, five years, or ten years, this investment will bring me huge returns."
He looked at Cheng Jiaxun: "Mr. Cheng just said that trust is the greatest support for partners. I agree with this. But I also want to add--"
His voice became louder. "Trust is also confidence in one's own judgment.
I dare to invest in Yunnan Agriculture because I believe in my own vision. Mr. Cheng dares to take this money because he believes in his ability."
He looked at everyone in the audience:
"So, today it's not about who is helping the other, it's about two people and two companies coming together because they recognize and appreciate each other."
He paused. "The next step is to move forward together. The road is still long, but I am not in a hurry. I believe Mr. Cheng is not in a hurry either."
He bowed slightly to the audience. "Thank you everyone."
The applause rang out again, more enthusiastic than before.
Zhao Chen rarely shows up and speaks publicly even less.
But he has undoubtedly become the first person of the younger generation in the industrial and commercial field.
As you can imagine, today, whether it is Financial Media or gossip, everything is boiling down every day.