ORCBRB – Chapter 84
Chapter 84
The start of the semester was imminent. On the last day of February, Sang Shi'an was no longer the little assistant to Jian Corporation's upper management, nor did she have the halo of the Sang family's eldest daughter. Like countless students dreading the new term, she was desperately rushing to finish her winter break homework—two papers assigned by Professor Xu.
The same advisor was always stricter with graduate students than with undergraduates. Sang Shi'an had asked Jian Cenyu about the papers, only to learn that Jian Cenyu had finished them in the first week of the break.
Sang Shi'an could only cry to Su Ningyue. To her immense relief, Su Ningyue had completely forgotten the topics of the papers, which gave Sang Shi'an a small measure of psychological comfort.
She wrote her papers until four-thirty in the afternoon, when a sudden clap of thunder sounded outside. Sang Shi'an looked at the abruptly changing sky, and her heart began to beat uncontrollably fast, making her feel very uncomfortable.
She had a feeling that something was about to happen.
After checking the weather alert, Sang Shi'an sent Jian Cenyu a WeChat message: [What time do you get off work today? Should I come pick you up?]
Jian Cenyu called her back. “An'an, there's a thunderstorm coming. Close the doors and windows tight, and don't go out for now. I might be home a little late. It's not convenient to order takeout in this weather, so if you get hungry, have some snacks to tide you over, okay?”
Jian Cenyu spoke quickly, and greetings of 'Junior CEO Jian' could be heard constantly from the other end of the line. Sang Shi'an paused and asked, “Did something happen at the company?”
“It's Jian Zhenyang,” Jian Cenyu said. “The latest shipment from the oil mine he's operating in Europe has been intercepted by the government there.”
Another clap of thunder exploded outside the window. Sang Shi'an stood by the window, gazing at the distant Jian Corporation building. Having the oil transport halted was just the first step. Soon, prohibitive policies would be enacted, causing Huaxing to lose its entire investment, which also meant Jian Zhenyang would be completely out of the game.
Although she had previously only heard a probabilistic rumor from her European contacts, now that it was actually happening, Sang Shi'an found she wasn't as expectant as she had imagined.
Huaxing was backed by Jian Corporation. No matter how different it was from Jian Corporation's pharmaceutical business, any problem with Huaxing would affect the entire Jian Corporation.
Fortunately, Huaxing's stock price had already experienced a major upheaval before, so retail investors' expectations weren't high. Most of those still willing to buy Huaxing shares were greedy gamblers who believed the oil mine had infinite value and that Jian Corporation would bail them out no matter what problems arose. They completely ignored market signals, acting with reckless confidence.
For these people, Sang Shi'an could do nothing to help. After all, the stock market was fundamentally a capital market used for short-term gambling.
After hanging up, Sang Shi'an glanced at the heavy rain that had yet to fall, wanting to go out, but ultimately restrained herself.
Jian Corporation must be in internal turmoil right now. Jian Zhenyang would surely demand that Jian Corporation clean up Huaxing's mess before Europe enacted the relevant laws. She wouldn't be of much help if she went over now.
Sang Shi'an thought for a moment and called her mother to consult on related legal matters.
Meanwhile, at Jian Corporation.
Before the meeting, Jian Zhenyang had already caused a scene in Jian Zhihuan's office. It wasn't just Jian Zhenming; Jian Zhenyang's entire family had come.
Jian Zhihuan had been against Jian Zhenyang's plan to develop the European oil field from the beginning. Energy and mineral resources were always highly profitable, but the resources were far away in Europe, with too many uncertain factors. Moreover, Jian Corporation had never invested in this area before. If it weren't for Jian Zhenyang's forceful persuasion about the benefits, coupled with the old master's support, Huaxing would never have existed.
Jian Zhenyang's expression was extremely ugly, but this time he was the one asking for help, so he could only analyze the pros and cons in a low voice: “The oil shipment has been intercepted, and we can't deliver on our orders. The breach of contract fees alone will be enough to put Huaxing in deep trouble. When the stock market becomes volatile, the situation will only get worse.”
Jian Zhenming coveted Jian Zhenyang's position and had been frequently trying to impress the old master lately, causing Jian Zhenyang a lot of trouble. But the Huaxing project also concerned his own interests, so at this moment, he wholeheartedly spoke up for Jian Zhenyang: “Second Uncle, you don't need Jian Corporation to give Huaxing money. You just need Jian Corporation to be willing to act as a guarantor.”
Because of the successful completion of the first phase of the pharmaceutical reform, many banks were now proactively approaching Jian Corporation for cooperation. For a project led by the government and dominated by Jian Corporation, as long as they could lend out the funds, they were guaranteed to receive interest on time—a surefire profit.
This was also Jian Zhenyang's plan. As long as Jian Corporation was willing to act as a central guarantor, this shipment issue for Huaxing could be quickly suppressed.
“Use Jian Corporation as a guarantor or use the pharmaceutical reform as a guarantor?” Jian Zhihuan suddenly slammed his hand on the conference table. “Back when the first phase of the pharmaceutical reform needed financing for expansion, Jian Corporation had to specifically allocate funds to stabilize Huaxing's stock price. So many banks refused to work with us then. If Shengyu Corporation hadn't lent a helping hand, Jian Corporation, having messed up the pharmaceutical reform project, would have had to declare bankruptcy by now. Oil mines, oil mines, do you still remember that Jian Corporation is a pharmaceutical company?”
Jian Corporation's predicament in January wasn't as dire as Jian Zhihuan described. It was just a lack of funds, which would have forced them to share core interests with other companies, and Jian Corporation would have completely lost the initiative in the project.
Jian Zhenyang's father said, “Second Brother, of course I know what our Jian family built its fortune on. But when a faster way to make money presents itself, why can't we participate?”
Jian Zhihuan looked at him coldly. “Is Huaxing's oil mine making money now?”
His older brother fell silent again.
Jian Zhenyang glared at his mediocre father, who had been silenced by a single sentence. He leaned on the conference table and stressed to the crowd, “It's just a guarantee, how could it involve so much? As long as we buy this batch of oil from somewhere else to fulfill the order, I can postpone the delivery of subsequent projects. We'll recover quickly.”
“Is it just this one shipment?” Everyone has their own specialty. Most of the senior executives present didn't understand the oil industry, but someone raised a doubt. “Young Director Jian, things have come to this point, don't hide it from us anymore. The reason customs gave for seizing the oil is crystal clear. In a few days, when the news reports it, the whole country will know. Do you think this is just about one project?”
Immediately, others chimed in, “I also think Europe's attitude is a bit unusual.”
“Yeah, yeah, if Huaxing's oil mine isn't profitable, we should just shut it down. Even if we wanted to invest, the entertainment industry is so lucrative right now, why not invest in that? Why did you have to go all the way to Europe? I thought it was strange from the beginning.”
Jian Zhenyang clenched his fists. Europe's distant location naturally had advantages that were beyond the reach of these people. But he couldn't wait any longer. He had already heard some rumors and had to tie Huaxing firmly to Jian Corporation, otherwise the situation would become even worse.
“This isn't what you all said when we were deciding to invest in the Huaxing project. Professional assessment reports were produced one after another, stating that Huaxing's oil field could provide capital for Jian Corporation, so that Jian Corporation wouldn't have to be at the mercy of bankers. You all agreed to it back then. What, are you denying it now?”
The few who had just objected fell silent at Jian Zhenyang's words. Just as Jian Zhenyang was about to continue his persuasion, Jian Zhihuan suddenly spoke up, “Zhenyang, I can't help you with this.”
“Second Uncle!” Jian Zhenyang looked at Jian Zhihuan in disbelief.
It was well known that Jian Zhenyang's previous success at Jian Corporation was partly due to the old master's instructions and partly due to the indulgence of Jian Zhihuan, the CEO. Out of consideration for family ties, Jian Zhihuan would never openly refuse his requests.
But he never expected Jian Zhihuan to embarrass him like this at such a time, as if he were meeting his Second Uncle for the very first time.
“Europe has only released some ambiguous rumors. If Huaxing goes under, Jian Corporation will be implicated too!”
Jian Zhihuan's usual gentleness was gone, his attitude resolute. “Zhenyang, you're young and naive, I don't blame you. Jian Corporation has been in my hands for twenty years. I cannot risk the entire company's reputation for your project.”
After speaking, Jian Zhihuan stood up from the head seat of the conference room, followed by Jian Cenyu, who hadn't said a word since entering.
The moment the conference room door closed again, Jian Zhenyang's furious roar and the sound of things being thrown could be heard from inside.
Back in Jian Zhihuan's office, Jian Zhihuan pointed to a seat, his expression grave. “Is there really no room for negotiation with Europe?”
“That's the EU's internal affair. How could I, a Chinese citizen, have access to classified information?” Jian Cenyu looked at Jian Zhihuan's deeply furrowed brow and sighed softly in her heart, unable to bear it. “But Dad, you should still have the legal and public relations teams make preparations early.”
Jian Zhihuan had only been probing, but hearing Jian Cenyu's words, he was startled. “Will it really get that bad?”
Jian Cenyu countered, “Europe has always relied on plundering resources from other countries. The United States has been fighting in the Middle East over oil for years without stopping. Dad, why would Europe sell such valuable resources to us?”
Jian Zhihuan frowned deeply. “At the time, Zhenyang said he got this land from someone else. The other party had been on good terms with him for years, but couldn't come forward because of a less-than-reputable background, so they transferred the land to him.”
“Less-than-reputable... don't tell me he got it from some mafia?” Jian Cenyu didn't know the origin of the land, and hearing Jian Zhihuan's mention of it, she was instantly alarmed.
She feared that the yet-to-be-enacted European laws were not even the worst-case scenario.
“Dad, the seizure of Huaxing's goods can't be hidden. Plus, this might only be Europe's initial policy. When the news fully breaks, the market's opinion of Huaxing will definitely affect Jian Corporation. This is a critical period for the pharmaceutical reform, and Jian Corporation must avoid such negative press as much as possible.”
Hearing Jian Cenyu's clear and logical analysis, Jian Zhihuan immediately guessed she already had a plan. So he asked, “Then what do you think we should do?”
“Cover the losses for this shipment for Huaxing, and at the same time, delist and deregister Huaxing's public status as soon as possible.”
Jian Zhihuan immediately rejected Jian Cenyu's proposal. “That's not possible. Jian Zhenyang and my older brother's family will never agree. They've invested so much money into it; the losses from delisting would be too great.”
When the Jian family assets were divided back then, Jian Zhihuan received the most shares and became the CEO of Jian Corporation, while Jian Zhenyang's father received funds and real estate corresponding to the value of the shares he lost out on.
As far as Jian Zhihuan knew, more than half of that money had been invested in Huaxing's oil mine, which was why Jian Zhenyang had no spare funds at the beginning of this year and was forced into the predicament of selling his Jian Corporation shares.
“This is the best thing Jian Corporation can do right now.” Jian Cenyu placed her hand over the back of Jian Zhihuan's and squeezed it twice. “Dad, once the pharmaceutical reform project stabilizes, my focus will return to my anti-cancer drug research. I just want Jian Corporation to be well. This has nothing to do with the right of succession.”
Jian Zhihuan's lips moved twice. “What... what do you mean by that?”
“Dad, perhaps with the pharmaceutical reform project, you all think I'm suited to be the successor of Jian Corporation, and I've been adapting to this life. But from the day you sent me to study at Oxford, Jian Corporation was destined to be at odds with my dream. Between scientific research and Jian Corporation, I can only focus on one. That's why I hope Jian Corporation can return to its roots and become a purely pharmaceutical company.”
These words had been swirling in Jian Cenyu's mind for a long time. Sometimes, late at night, they would torment her, making it difficult to choose. Sang Shi'an only thought she was having sleepless nights because of company business, but that wasn't it.
But in fact, from the moment she entered Yanjing University's finance program and started taking over work at Jian Corporation, the deeper she got, the more certain she became that she couldn't manage both scientific research and the company. She could use her research achievements to bring the pharmaceutical reform project to Jian Corporation, and she could use Jian Corporation to provide sufficient funding for her research. They seemed like two mutually beneficial things, but that was only temporary.
Before Jian Cenyu said this, Jian Zhihuan could have found countless reasons to oppose delisting Huaxing. But when Jian Cenyu proposed giving up her position as his successor, Jian Zhihuan felt an unprecedented panic.
“Cenyu, Dad knows you've been wronged in many ways before, but now that Huaxing is in this situation, as long as we resolve this, no one can threaten you. Don't say such angry words to Dad.”
Jian Cenyu shook her head and said, “Dad, actually, many foreign companies have already started using a professional manager employment model, including giant corporations in America and Europe. Even Bill Gates, once the richest man in the world, only has one percent of Microsoft's shares left, but that doesn't affect Microsoft's development. It will have a more suitable manager to lead it to glory.
Jian Corporation will always be Jian Corporation. No matter who leads it, the equity and the Jian family name will not change. But the prerequisite for this operating model is that Jian Corporation must first clean up the nepotism within the company. Otherwise, it's all just empty talk.”
At this point, she smiled lightly, elegant and composed, as if she had already thought it over a thousand times. “And as for myself, you can laugh at me for being complacent, but I'm only twenty-four, and I've already developed an effective drug that inhibits the growth of cancer cells. In the future… Dad, I have my own ambitions too.”
Jian Zhihuan opened a drawer, took out the cigarettes he had quit long ago, and with a trembling hand, tried several times to light the lighter, but failed.
Jian Cenyu walked over, took the lighter, and crouched down to light it for him. The white smoke that drifted up after the tobacco ignited quickly blurred Jian Zhihuan's vision. He said to Jian Cenyu, “I'll just have this one. You go sit back down. Let Dad think, let Dad think it over carefully.”
Jian Cenyu acknowledged him, walked around the desk, and sat back down opposite Jian Zhihuan.
Just as Jian Cenyu had said, many foreign companies had long since implemented the professional manager model. The founding family holds the equity, and no matter who sits in the CEO's chair, their interests are not affected.
But in China, in the minds of the older generation, a company should be inherited by one's own children, as it represents social resources and power. Jian Zhihuan was the victor among his generation, and he was well aware of the difference in social respect he had received over the past twenty years compared to his defeated siblings.
But Jian Cenyu's situation was very special.
She didn't need the halo of Jian Corporation. If the inhibition rate of her anti-cancer drug could truly reach her written projections, countless companies would flock to her seeking cooperation. Fame and fortune would be trivial.
But Jian Corporation couldn't do without her. Just like securing the core position in the chamber of commerce and obtaining the core resources for the pharmaceutical reform project, Jian Corporation hadn't contributed much. Jian Corporation was just a pharmaceutical company that could be replicated with enough money, albeit one with a more mature management system than other emerging pharmaceutical companies.
What Jian Cenyu needed was a stably developing Jian Corporation, and the transformation brought by the pharmaceutical reform project could allow Jian Corporation to maintain this enviable stability for the next ten years, or even longer.
When the cigarette between his fingers had burned down to the end, Jian Zhihuan looked out the window. The sky had completely darkened, and the rain had stopped. Everything seemed to have changed.
He turned his gaze back and began to study the daughter opposite him. He saw features similar to his own, saw the composed demeanor he had single-handedly cultivated, and saw the ambition he had lost for many years, an ambition that had only existed in his youth.
After a long while, Jian Zhihuan spoke. His hoarse voice made him realize that in the twenty years he had been in charge of Jian Corporation, he seemed to have become the kind of detestably pedantic elder he had disliked in his youth.
“If you complete your research in the future, will you come back?”
Jian Cenyu smiled and said, “Dad, I never thought of leaving Jian Corporation. Just like with the pharmaceutical reform project, I will attend any event that requires my presence as usual. But if you're asking about the position of CEO of Jian Corporation, if one day I have fulfilled my dream, or if Jian Corporation needs me, I will of course not shirk my duty.”
Jian Zhihuan suddenly realized that he seemed to have always been using his paternal authority to demand things of Jian Cenyu, yet had rarely asked this daughter what she wanted.
It seemed he was still a very derelict father.
He closed his eyes, as if in a long, drawn-out compromise. “Let's do as you say. Jian Zhenyang was rejected today; he'll definitely bring reinforcements tomorrow. In the meeting, I will use my authority as the CEO of Jian Corporation to demand that Huaxing be delisted.”
When Jian Cenyu got home, she realized it was already eight o'clock at night, and she hadn't brought dinner back for Sang Shi'an.
She was about to take out a food delivery app to remedy the situation when she heard voices coming from the kitchen. Jian Cenyu was a little surprised. She put down her bag and walked over.
“Is it beaten enough like this? Should I beat it a little longer? I saw online that people use an egg beater to make it foamy.”
“Fine, but what about these black tiger prawns? I'm supposed to grab them with my hands to wash them? Are you kidding me?”
Sang Shi'an was on a video call with someone. From the voice, Jian Cenyu gathered it was that close friend of Sang Shi'an's.
In front of Sang Shi'an were piles of meticulously packaged ingredients, which must have just been delivered from the supermarket.
Jian Cenyu listened for a while, surprised that Sang Shi'an was actually trying to make noodles herself.
“No, no, I really can't grab them. Can't I just not wash them? Farmed seawater isn't poisonous, maybe the tap water is more—” As Sang Shi'an leaned down to look at the prawns, she was splashed in the face with water. Just as she was about to turn and look for the tissue box, a tissue was handed to her from the side.
She looked up and saw Jian Cenyu, extremely surprised. “When did you get back? How come I didn't hear anything?”
Jian Cenyu cupped Sang Shi'an's chin with one hand and carefully wiped the water from her face with the other, saying softly, “I just got back. You were on a video call, so you didn't hear me.”
She looked at the ingredients. “What made you decide to cook?”
She hadn't even turned on the stove yet, but the kitchen was already a mess, with water splashed everywhere—some from the black tiger prawns, some from Sang Shi'an washing vegetables.
This was not quite the 'loving dinner' Sang Shi'an had imagined Jian Cenyu coming home to. Sang Shi'an subconsciously tried to block the view and said, “I bought these for Su Ningyue. She asked me to help her prepare the ingredients; she needs them urgently for tomorrow.”
The video call hadn't been disconnected. Su Ningyue immediately retorted loudly from the other end, “Senior Jian, little Sangsang was trying to make you a loving dinner! She wanted to make you happy and said she was going to be a gentle and virtuous little wife—”
Sang Shi'an hung up the video call with a blank expression, her face bright red.
Facing Jian Cenyu's meaningful gaze, she forced herself to remain calm and asked, “My friend is pretty thin-skinned, isn't she? She doesn't even dare to admit it.”
Jian Cenyu held back her laughter. All the worries and anxieties from Jian Corporation seemed to vanish in an instant. She mimicked Sang Shi'an's tone and said, “Mm, she does seem very easily embarrassed.”
Sang Shi'an: …
Sang Shi'an's face turned even redder.
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