Chapter 444 - 275: The Disenchanted Man

Chapter 444: Chapter 275: The Disenchanted Man

Meek and mild with strangers, but a bully at home.

A fool who only knows how to throw his weight around at home.

’Even if it all goes to hell,’

’you still shouldn’t act like a dog.’

In that respect, even Zhuang Yingcheng was better than him.

Those investment firms didn’t mess around. Once you take their money, you’ll be lucky to escape without being sucked dry. It was even very likely you’d be replaced entirely.

He wouldn’t have many good years left.

"Heh, that kid... I even slapped him... Anyway, forget about him. You should get going. Bye."

Lin Chu waved with a smile, ending the conversation and pulling open his car door.

You Shaoqiang waved goodbye.

’I actually knew about this. Hearing Lin Chu bring it up again, I suddenly feel a sense of camaraderie.’

’Good slap!’

’I wanted to slap him too!’

’Fucking idiot!’

...

On the way back, Lin Chu lit a cigarette. As the wind blew past, he considered what You Shaoqiang had said about the "get-rich tip"—using his massive fan base to stir up some waves in the financial markets.

Objectively speaking, the idea was quite appealing.

After all, he’d heard of figures who could command a legion with a single call, people with titles like "Commander of the Suicide Squad" or "King of Retail Investors."

The problem was, this kind of thing came with risks.

All sorts of rules and regulations.

So, he couldn’t just do it for the thrill.

Otherwise, however much fun he had at the start, however wild it got, the trouble later would be exponentially worse.

No one could protect him!

Not even Jesus!

Exhaling a long plume of smoke, Lin Chu shook his head and smiled.

These "restrictions" were, in fact, one of the reasons he couldn’t find a goal for himself right now. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

’Adrift.’

’Utterly adrift.’

It was like an invisible chain, keeping him from truly letting loose.

All he could do was travel, eat and drink, chase women, and play cards.

’But that isn’t so bad, either.’

’I should just lay low and digest my gains for a few years.’

...

「That afternoon.」

Lin Chu went to see Duan Wuzhuang.

His company primarily dealt in local specialty products from Yunnan Province. They sold whatever was profitable: Jadeite, silverware, ethnic clothing, ham, traditional Chinese medicine, tea...

The range was extremely broad and miscellaneous, like a big general store.

But it made good money, with an annual profit of several tens of millions.

At least locally, he was considered a person of some standing.

Duan Wuzhuang treated Lin Chu’s visit with extreme importance, to the point of being almost obsequious.

He had barely slept the previous night, using all his channels to verify Lin Chu’s power. He had finally confirmed it: this man was a "dragon crossing the river"—a powerful outsider.

Forget the old saying about mighty dragons not being able to crush local snakes.

In today’s society, ruled by law, the best way for a mighty dragon and a local snake to coexist was to join forces and grow bigger and stronger together.

’Of course, whether we team up isn’t my call to make.’

’It’s up to Lin Chu.’

After all, the man was here on vacation. Whether it was investing, promoting products, or even casually offering a bit of guidance and giving him a golden opportunity—none of that was his main purpose. It all depended on his mood.

If he was in a good mood, he might do it on a whim.

If he was in a bad mood, the whole thing would fall through.

Having been immersed in the business world for decades, Duan Wuzhuang was crystal clear on these social nuances.

What he understood even more clearly was...

To Lin Chu, money and business were probably not important at all.

Instead, the main thing that could tie Lin Chu down right now was that daughter from the Bai family.

’I have to find a way to create an opportunity.’

"Well, our company is mainly looking to expand its sales channels. The local market is only so big, and the high and low seasons are very distinct. To make a steady profit, we have to go online and share our good products with friends all over the country."

"President Lin is an expert in this field, hahaha. I was hoping to learn a thing or two from you."

"Here, please have some tea. Try this. I picked it myself from the mountains in ’03. It’s an old-growth Banzhang, aged for 21 years now. It’s at the peak of its third transformation period for tasting."

Duan Wuzhuang’s tea-brewing technique looked quite professional, and the bowl of tea before him was particularly enticing.

Lin Chu took a sip and immediately felt a surge of "tea energy." It powerfully filled every cell in his body, making him shiver instinctively.

’Huh?’

For a moment, he was genuinely impressed.

"Good tea."

"Hahaha, of course! It’s completely natural. The environment back then was so much better than it is now. This tree was already considered a thousand-year-old ancient tree back in the day."

Seeing that Lin Chu was satisfied, Duan Wuzhuang continued his introduction with a cheerful smile.

"Find me a batch of cost-effective tea, and I’ll sell it for you. What’s the commission?"

Lin Chu glanced at him and said casually.

For him, this was a trivial matter.

Hearing this, Duan Wuzhuang was stunned.

He never expected Lin Chu to be so straightforward. He’d thought it would take a lot of back-and-forth, but this pleasant surprise had come too suddenly.

"Fifty percent. That’s the market rate."

"You’re a big boss, a top streamer. I can give you sixty percent."

Lin Chu: ...

He looked at him with a calm expression, but inwardly, he couldn’t help but scoff.

’The profit margin is so damn high!’

’I’m sure that even after giving me sixty percent, he’ll still have plenty of profit left over.’

’Selling something that costs twenty yuan for two hundred.’

"Alright, it’s a deal then."

"Prepare a batch for my personal use. I want the best, the same quality as this one."

"For the ones we sell online, let’s cap the price at two hundred. You have to guarantee the quality."

"For now, start by preparing ten thousand gift boxes for me. Three cakes each of raw and ripe Pu’er, plus a set of silverware and a three-year-aged ham. I’ll use them as employee benefits. Give me a price."

After a moment’s thought, Lin Chu laid out the plan in a few swift strokes.

’We’ll start with one collaboration.’

’Later, the top-tier tea can also be sold through LC Retail’s channels.’

After all, these would be his personal selections.

Even if other people had different tastes and didn’t necessarily like it, if he thought something was good, there was definitely no problem with the product itself.

After listening to Lin Chu, Duan Wuzhuang’s face blossomed into a wide smile.

He was filled with nothing but awe.

’A real tycoon!’

’A true tycoon!’

He’d agreed to the business partnership so readily, and he was even placing an advance order for employee benefits!

This one order—tea, silverware, and ham, ten thousand sets—was a deal worth twenty to thirty million, even at cost!

After discussing these matters, Lin Chu left.

Once he was out of the company building and in his car, he casually gave Bai Weiwei a call.

"I’ve placed an order with Old Duan. Ten thousand gift boxes for employee benefits. I need you to oversee it for me, act as a temporary procurement manager."

As he said this, a faint, almost imperceptible smile played on Lin Chu’s lips.

"What are you buying?"

Bai Weiwei asked in a calm tone.

"Tea, silverware, and ham. Ten thousand sets. The total value should be in the tens of millions. I’ll let you take a three-percent kickback as a fee for your trouble."

Lin Chu continued with a smile.

’It’s normal for a temporary procurement manager to get a little something on the side.’

’As long as the quality is there, I don’t really care.’

Bai Weiwei took a deep breath. "Okay."

She wasn’t particularly happy.

Nor was she unhappy.

She could understand that this was Lin Chu’s "reward" to her, as a big boss would give.

Or perhaps, it was a test.

If she handled it well, and if there were no ties between them in the future, then this would just be his way of paying for their encounter.

If she somehow messed it up, he would still be the one to foot the bill, but they would most likely have no contact in the future.

This was the typical mindset of the wealthy.

Settle everything with money.

’Of course, if I get blinded by greed during the process, get ideas I shouldn’t have, and try to climb into his bed... well, that would be an unexpected bonus for him.’

Thinking this, Bai Weiwei’s lips turned a little pale, and a self-deprecating smile appeared.

’He... has become completely rational and clear-headed.’

Bai Weiwei didn’t think this was wrong.

Because, in the end, Lin Chu did have a brief period of wavering at the beginning.

In fact, it was her own rationality that had triggered his, turning him off.

It was like two people boxing. You throw a punch, I throw a punch. It’s fair. You absolutely can’t complain that your opponent hits too hard just because you can’t take a hit and are weaker.

And from a monetary perspective, he was already being very generous.

Who could say money wasn’t important?

...

...