Chapter 228: A Hundred Million Loan

In the private room of the Hao Yun Lai Restaurant, Zhou Xiaoping, president of Xingcheng Bank, nodded with satisfaction after reading the financial report of the Old Hundred Citizens Agricultural Products Trading Company prepared by Chen Yang and Shen Anna.

A company established less than three months ago already has monthly revenue exceeding twenty million. Moreover, September's revenue was double that of August. If they also opened branches in prefecture-level cities, this figure could at least double again.

"President Chen, how much funding are you planning to borrow this time?"

Chen Yang did not involve himself in the company's specific affairs, so he turned his head to ask Shen Anna beside him: "What amount do you think is appropriate to borrow?"

Shen Anna extended two fingers toward Zhou Xiaoping.

"Two hundred million?" Zhou Xiaoping frowned slightly; the market value of the Old Hundred Citizens Agricultural Products Trading Company hasn't even reached two hundred million—this appetite is too big. "General Manager Shen, your step is a bit too large!"

"President Zhou, you misunderstood. I meant twenty million." Seeing Zhou Xiaoping misunderstand her, Shen Anna hurriedly explained.

"Dongjiangsheng has fourteen prefecture-level cities; investing less than two million in each? Are you being too cautious?" Zhou Xiaoping had just worried that Shen Anna was too greedy, but now he felt her vision was too narrow.

Shen Anna spoke frankly: "President Zhou, twenty million is actually already a lot. Our chairman mainly came to discuss this business with your bank out of face for Mr. Luo, his classmate. In fact, the company just borrowed fifty million from another bank recently, so funds are not tight."

Zhou Xiaoping gave Luo Zhikai a meaningful look. This guy's social circle is truly impeccable, just his vision is poor. If they had chosen Chen Yang earlier, their bank wouldn't have been saddled with Zhang Group's bad debts.

Seeing his direct superior looking at him, Luo Zhikai thought he was going to be praised and slightly lifted his head.

However, Zhou Xiaoping soon shifted his gaze back to Shen Anna.

"General Manager Shen, as far as I know, your company's investments in Xingcheng have exceeded fifty million. It's impossible to be hesitant at such a crucial time of outward expansion. I think fifty million is a reasonable figure."

Shen Anna was still reluctant: "President Zhou, our chairman has already laid out shops in all prefecture-level cities. The company actually only needs to spend on labor, cold storage rental fees, and delivery costs. Twenty million in funds is actually sufficient."

Zhou Xiaoping hadn't expected Chen Yang to use a personal account to purchase storefronts for the branches of the Old Hundred Citizens Agricultural Products Trading Company; he was a bit surprised. This would indeed cut costs by at least half.

However, for a bank president to personally handle this and only be asked for a twenty-million quota is too embarrassing.

At that moment, Ailun, manager of Xingcheng Bank's investment banking department, interjected: "President Chen, President Shen, since you are expanding fully within the province and have been renting others' cold storage, wouldn't the cost be huge? Have you never considered building your own cold storage?"

Shen Anna somewhat understood; they thought her loan quota was too low and kept trying to raise it. So she handed the decision to Chen Yang: "Boss, what do you think?"

Chen Yang would love to build a cold storage for the Old Hundred Citizens Agricultural Products Trading Company in every city. After all, their business scope includes not only physical stores but also more important online sales.

Currently, the internet in Dongjiangsheng is not yet fully widespread, and online shopping is still a new term. But in another two years, once other large e‑commerce platforms also rise, the situation will be completely different. Once online sales volume increases, the importance of having cold storage will become evident.

President Zhou, Manager Ailun, our company will surely guarantee at least one large cold storage of over ten thousand square meters in each prefecture-level city in the future. However, the company is still in its early stage; rashly building too many cold storages would be overly ambitious. President Zhou, you were just worried that our steps were too big, weren't you? I actually share the same view.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiaoping's face turned rather embarrassed. Ailun, seeing the situation, quickly said: "President Chen, from a long‑term perspective, building our own cold storage is very necessary. If you think building one cold storage in each city is a bit overly ambitious, you can build fewer. First guarantee one cold storage for every three to four cities, then expand further as needed once the company is on track."

Chen Yang thought for a while and felt Ailun's suggestion was a viable strategy. He then said: "Our company currently has only one cold storage. To guarantee one cold storage for every three cities, we would need to build at least four more. Based on the investment cost of our cold storage in Xingcheng, fifty million in funds would probably not be enough."

Ailun felt a secret joy upon hearing Chen Yang finally relent, and his gaze instantly shifted to Zhou Xiaoping. After all, his job duty was merely to successfully negotiate this deal; the final authority to approve it still rested with this high‑ranking superior before him.

And when Zhou Xiaoping heard Chen Yang dismiss the fifty‑million loan as too little, a deep‑seated, hard‑to‑contain joy welled up inside him. He unhesitatingly raised his right hand, waved it grandly in the air, and shouted loudly: "No problem! As long as your company promises that sixty percent of the borrowed funds will be used specifically for cold‑storage construction projects, our bank can provide you with a loan of one hundred million."

"Alright, then one hundred million it is!" Chen Yang was also very pleased with Zhou Xiaoping's decision. With this money, the cold‑storage construction issue would be resolved.

Shen Anna helplessly rubbed her forehead. The company had only been open for three months and already owed a loan of one hundred fifty million—this is simply outrageous!

At this moment, she somewhat regretted letting Chen Yang make the decision.

However, Chen Yang was not worried at all. After the discussion concluded, he happily raised a toast to Zhou Xiaoping.

After eating and drinking their fill, Chen Yang voluntarily took the bill.

After Zhou Xiaoping and his party left, Shen Anna began to complain to Chen Yang.

"Boss, our company has only been open for three months; many businesses are still immature, so there's no need to invest so much money in building cold storage, right?"

Chen Yang laughed: "Once the online sales platform is officially accepted by the public, you'll know the importance of cold storage."

Seeing Chen Yang still immersed in the dream of the online sales platform, Shen Anna couldn't help but pour cold water on him: "What if the public doesn't accept the online sales platform? Wouldn't those cold storages just be built for nothing?"

Chen Yang said very firmly: "Online sales will only replace physical sales to become the mainstream in the future. Don't believe me? Just wait and see."

Seeing Chen Yang full of confidence, Shen Anna also couldn't help but ask curiously: "Then how long will we have to wait?"

"Not long..." Chen Yang thought and said: "At most three to four years."

"If it really is as you say, then that would be acceptable." Shen Anna actually also had high hopes for the online sales platform, but Chen Yang's loan amount was too large, and she worried she couldn't bear it.

"Boss, why not first borrow fifty million to build two cold storages? One hundred million is really too much; the annual interest is no small amount."

Chen Yang encouraged her: "Anna sis, just go ahead and do it with confidence. I'll handle the money problem."