Chapter 460: Driving a Wedge

Lin Wei finally agreed to let Zhang Linlin work in the Investment Promotion Department of Qinghe Building.

After all, Zhang Linlin has no emotional foundation with Chen Yang, and she is right under his supervision, so the chance of any mishap is very small.

After Chen Yang finished assigning tasks to Zhang Linlin, Yexin called him back to Xingcheng.

In the conference room of Xinghui Financial Investment Company, Chen Yang met Lei Ze, the vice chairman of Wuyou Ju.

"Chen Yang, I am Lei Ze, pleased to meet you!"

"Chairman Lei, pleased to meet you!" Chen Yang shook hands with Lei Ze. Although it was their first meeting, Chen Yang had long heard of his name in his previous life.

Lei Ze is the chairman of Dongjiangsheng's first listed paint limited company. He enjoys great fame in Dongjiang's business circles. Unexpectedly, he is also a shareholder of Wuyou Ju.

After Chen Yang and Lei Ze exchanged greetings, Yexin began speaking: "Chen Yang, Chairman Lei's company makes industrial anti-corrosion paint. They came this time to discuss cooperation on Dongjiang New City with you."

Chen Yang felt strong aversion toward Wuyou Ju's shareholders, but since the person was introduced by Yexin, he still had to give face.

"Chairman Lei, the Dongjiang New City project is all outsourced by me. For cooperation matters, you should talk directly to the contractor; the effect might be better."

Lei Ze said with a smile: "General Manager Chen is the investor of Dongjiang New City; your words carry more weight than mine."

Chen Yang curiously asked Lei Ze: "Chairman Lei, I am currently at odds with your Wuyou Ju. Is it appropriate for us to discuss project cooperation now?"

Lei Ze waved his hand, with a solemn expression, and said: "General Manager Chen, Wuyou Ju is Wuyou Ju, I am I; they cannot be lumped together. Moreover, I have opposed their actions against you from the beginning."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang guessed that the other party might have already been won over by Yexin.

In that case, he had to give them at least some face.

"Chairman Lei, if you are truly interested, I will let the contractor know to prioritize your company's paint."

Lei Ze expressed his thanks repeatedly. He told Chen Yang: "General Manager Chen, you need not worry too much about Wuyou Ju's affairs. Not every shareholder wants to be at odds with you. They merely remain silent due to the power behind Wang Haifeng."

Chen Yang already knew from Yexin that Wang Haifeng was the main person responsible for targeting him. But he did not know Lei Ze well and could not tell whether his words were sincere or just pleasantries, so he responded politely:

"Chairman Lei, if everyone were as reasonable as you, the investment environment in Xingcheng would be much better."

Lei Ze laughed heartily and said: "General Manager Chen, rest assured, everything will be fine."

Chen Yang returned the smile again.

After Lei Ze left, Chen Yang asked Yexin: "Big Sister, is Chairman Lei reliable?"

Yexin quickly shook her head and said: "They are all shrewd people who won't act unless they see a rabbit; it's not that easy to make them defect."

"I introduced him to you precisely to drive a wedge between them. If some people gain benefits while others do not, those people will surely end up quarreling."

"Moreover, those who gain benefits will certainly try to stop others from sabotaging the project."

"In that case, the resistance to your project will be much smaller."

Chen Yang gave Yexin a thumbs up and couldn't help praising: "Big Sister, I wouldn't have thought you were a reincarnation of Zhuge Liang; you could come up with such a brilliant scheme."

Yexin looked at Chen Yang and said: "Helping you settle this matter also comes with a condition. Regarding the investment in Dong'an, you need to add at least another two hundred million yuan."

Chen Yang immediately began to plead poverty: "Big Sister, where would I get any money? Look, the funds for my Dongjiang New City project are all bank loans."

Yexin snorted coldly: "Don't think your operations in the US stock market are unknown to gods and ghosts; Lan Qiyun has been watching you closely. She told me that your funds there still amount to at least a hundred billion yuan."

Chen Yang's heart gave a jolt. He had concealed his US stock market operations quite well, yet he hadn't expected Lan Qiyun to discover them. "Big Sister, Lan Qiyun must be mistaken; there's no way I have that much."

Yexin pointed at the securities department's door and told Chen Yang: "If you don't admit it, I'll have Lan Qiyun come confront you."

"Forget it. It's just two hundred million; I'll invest it." Chen Yang sighed helplessly. It seemed that from now on, he would have to keep his stock trading low-key.

If this continues, his identity as the richest person will probably not stay hidden.

"How about investing a few more hundred million?" Seeing Chen Yang readily agree, Yexin couldn't help wanting to squeeze out more funds.

Chen Yang retorted unhappily: "My brother-in-law is only a deputy mayor; you're being too high-profile, careful not to provoke others' jealousy and have them deliberately trip you up."

Yexin huffed: "Whoever dares to trip me up, I'll make them unable to even walk away with their belongings."

Seeing Yexin unwilling to listen, Chen Yang also grew too weary to waste further words.

The pressing matter remained resolving the issue with Wuyou Ju.

Two days later, under Chen Yang's mediation, Lei Ze's Three Flowers Paint Company, Zhu Junhao's Junhao Building Materials Company, and Liu Shijie's Yangguang Real Estate Company formally signed a cooperation agreement.

Chen Yang also kept a trump card, summoning reporters from Dongjiang TV, Xingcheng TV, and Xingcheng Life Channel to conduct a live on-site report.

Thus, Lei Ze's and Zhu Junhao's interests became completely tied to Chen Yang's.

At the same time, Chen Yang had the Legal Department send a lawyer's letter to Wang Haiyang, accusing him of illegally buying and selling the property rights of houses pending demolition.

After a day of court hearings, the court ultimately ruled that Wang Haiyang's purchase and sale contract with the demolition households was illegal.

Chen Yang did not attend the trial, but he heard that Wang Haiyang's face looked extremely grim after the verdict was announced.

The day after the trial ended, Chen Yang's bodyguards discovered suspicious strangers appearing near Jiangmen Island.

Considering that Du Yue'e was still staying at Jiangmen Island to give birth, Chen Yang dared not be careless; he directly called Chen Bing, asking him to have the officers of the Jiangmen Island precinct investigate the strangers' background.

At the same time, Chen Yang also called Lin Jianguo, asking him to arrange personnel to pick up Du Yue'e and her mother and bring them back to Qingshui City.

Although Xingcheng's medical conditions are better than Qingshui's, when danger arises, safety is paramount.

Lin Jianguo obviously also attached great importance to Du Yue'e's matter; that very night he had Lin Feng lead a team to rush to Jiangmen Island.

"Chen Yang, why don't you come back to Qingshui City with us? Lay low for a while, and return after Chen Bing finds out the results." After helping Du Yue'e pack her luggage, Lin Feng earnestly advised Chen Yang.

But Chen Yang refused.

At this time, if he hid back in Qingshui City, the Wuyou Ju shareholders who had originally leaned toward him would surely swing back to Wang Haiyang, meaning that his and Yexin's efforts over this period would be wasted.

After Lin Feng took Du Yue'e away, Chen Yang placed a call to Sun Changqing.

"Mayor Sun, is it still timely for me to withdraw from the Dongjiang New City project?"