Chapter 514: Driving a Wedge Between Zhu Junhao and Zheng Weimin

Chen Yang had long guessed that Zhu Junhao was short of money, so he was eager to retrieve the building‑materials order for East River New City.

Chen Yang had Zhu Junhao take over Zheng Weimin's project to test him, to see whether the other side valued loyalty more or money.

Seeing Zhu Junhao hesitate, Chen Yang said directly, "Chairman Zhu, if it's a money problem, I can greet the bank and have them give you some financial support."

Zhu Junhao's eyes lit up at the words, but he soon frowned. He sighed and said, "Chen Yang, to be frank, the only thing I can mortgage to the bank now is the Zhixin Group. Moreover, it's an empty shell drained by Woyou Ju, and I can only act as a middleman in the building‑materials trade."

"After my brother‑in‑law assigned the International New City order to other building‑materials firms in Xingcheng, I can't even continue as a middleman. How could the bank possibly give me a loan…"

Chen Yang patted Zhu Junhao's shoulder, smiling encouragingly: "Chairman Zhu, if you can secure Zheng Weimin's project, I guarantee the bank will give you a loan."

Zhu Junhao's face instantly broke into an excited smile. He proudly told Chen Yang, "I know you want to get revenge on Zheng Weimin. But as long as you can get me a loan, I'm willing to help you achieve that."

Chen Yang didn't hide his actions, even teasingly asking Zhu Junhao, "What, you two aren't buddies anymore?"

Zhu Junhao immediately spat out angrily: "That bastard teamed up with Wang Haifeng to report my company for tax evasion, nearly landing me in jail. Even letting him go bankrupt wouldn't ease my hatred."

Chen Yang couldn't be bothered to judge how much of his talk was performance; his goal was simply to drive a wedge between Zhu Junhao and Zheng Weimin.

Once personal interests are at stake, even relatives may turn against each other. Moreover, their relationship might not be as solid as Zhu Junhao claims.

Since Zhu Junhao was tempted, Chen Yang immediately called and arranged a meeting with President Zeng of Xingcheng Bank at the Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company.

Hearing it was a loan for Zhu Junhao, President Zeng hesitated. He said to Manager Chen in a tactful tone, "Our bank has recently invested in many projects and funds are a bit tight. Why not have Chairman Zhu try the big four banks instead?"

Zhu Junhao hadn't held much hope either, but after being refused outright by President Zeng, he suddenly felt his dignity badly harmed. He instinctively snapped, "You Zeng, don't act like you're doing me a favor. Believe it or not, I'll have my brother‑in‑law shut down all your bank's projects."

President Zeng had long known of Zhu Junhao's ill repute, but he had dealt plenty with Sun Changqing and well understood the character of the Xingcheng mayor. He said evenly, "Chairman Zhu, all our bank's projects are legal and compliant. Even if you summon Mayor Sun, we have nothing to fear."

Seeing President Zeng unafraid of him, Zhu Junhao snorted coldly and turned to Chen Yang, complaining, "Chen Yang, are you playing me? Finding someone like this to discuss business?"

Chen Yang urged him not to rush, then told President Zeng, "Old Zeng, do me a favor and lend Chairman Zhu two hundred million. If the Zhixin Group isn't enough collateral, we can also include Chairman Zhu's new investment project in the collateral. If that still isn't enough, I'll guarantee part of it myself."

Seeing Chen Yang willing to guarantee, President Zeng's attitude changed at once. He smiled and said, "If Chairman Zhu is willing to put up the new project as collateral, I'll have my people scrape together some funds—maybe we can rustle up two hundred million."

Upon hearing that, Zhu Junhao instantly turned haughty. "You Zeng, with that attitude just now, I don't even want to borrow."

President Zeng, too, knows how to bend and yield; he immediately replied with a smile, "Chairman Zhu, I was just unaware of the rules. Please, as a magnanimous person, don't hold my small fault against me."

Zhu Junhao wanted to keep scolding, but Chen Yang held him back.

"Chairman Zhu, Zheng Weimin urgently needs money; if you dawdle, someone else might snatch it up and you'll regret it."

Zhu Junhao heard that and immediately composed himself. If he could take all four ongoing projects of Zheng Weimin's real‑estate company, he could at least recoup the over‑hundred‑million loss he'd suffered before. He would not allow this heaven‑sent fortune to be snatched away by others.

Thus, Zhu Junhao quickly reached an agreement with President Zeng.

President Zeng also kept a safety net, demanding that Zhu Junhao obtain the transfer agreement for Zheng Weimin's project before the loan funds would be deposited into his company's account.

Zhu Junhao didn't mind. With the agreement he could make a comeback; without it, even if the bank refused the loan, he'd lose nothing.

After the agreement was reached, Zhu Junhao left satisfied.

After watching Zhu Junhao's back disappear, Chen Yang wore a solemn expression and warned President Zeng, "Chairman Zhu is hardly scheming, but Zheng Weimin is full of tricks. If you don't want this loan to run into trouble, you must scrutinize the assets of Zheng Weimin's project very carefully."

Although President Zeng had never lent to Zheng Weimin's company, he also knew that after Deputy Mayor Zheng fell from power, the other side's company had exposed many problems.

He didn't quite understand and asked Manager Chen, "Since you think Zheng Weimin has problems, why are you still letting Chairman Zhu take over his project?"

Chen Yang smiled, "Having problems doesn't mean the project lacks investment value. I'm just worried you'll become the sucker, so I'm giving you a friendly heads‑up."

"Thanks for the reminder, Manager Chen. I'll carefully audit their accounts and make sure no petty person can exploit a loophole in the state." After saying thanks, President Zeng left with a solemn face.

Two days later, Chen Yang received another call from President Zeng.

"Manager Chen, thanks to your tip, this guy Zheng Weimin is truly dark—he hid a hundred‑million debt. After we produced the evidence, Chairman Zhu went straight to blows with him."

Chen Yang feigned concern, saying, "President Zeng, Chairman Zhu, are you hurt?"

President Zeng replied, "Chairman Zhu and Zheng Weimin each suffered only minor scrapes, nothing serious. However, this deal probably can't go through."

Chen Yang feigned regret, saying, "What a pity—those few projects of Zheng Weimin still have prospects. Can't you sit down calmly, talk, and renegotiate the price?"

President Zeng sighed, "I'd like to talk, but Chairman Zhu won't have it. He's already sued Zheng Weimin for fraud in court."

Chen Yang laughed, "Your contract isn't signed yet and the money hasn't changed hands, so a fraud charge would be hard to make stick. Why don't you persuade Chairman Zhu to calm down a bit?"

"All right, I'll go persuade him again," President Zeng said helplessly. "If Chairman Zhu insists on suing, our bank can only temporarily abandon this cooperation."

Chen Yang comforted President Zeng a few words, then hung up.