Chapter 657

Cheng Xiao Xiao finally agreed to Chen Yang's invitation and officially became the person in charge of Laobaixing Financial Investment Company in Dongjiangsheng.

Chen Yang arranged a temporary office for her in the Laobaixing Building and let her build her own management team.

A couple of days later, Chen Yang was summoned by Provincial Party Secretary Cheng Hua for questioning.

"Chen Yang, how is your shoe company doing?"

"Secretary, the phase one and two factories are already built; we just need the dormitories to be finished before we can officially start production."

"I heard Comrade Kong Jie say that your company plans to hire ten thousand workers—are you boasting?"

"Secretary, ten thousand workers is our target; we should be able to reach that scale within three years at the latest."

Cheng Hua nodded satisfactorily. He wouldn't believe that anyone else could run a ten‑thousand‑person enterprise in a fourth‑tier city, but this young man is different—he has outstanding vision, extraordinary courage, and a talent for creating business miracles.

What impressed him even more was that Chen Yang not only knows how to make money, but also has a strong sense of social responsibility.

Laobaixing Agricultural Products Trading Company has spent the past three years dedicated to helping Dongjiangsheng's farmers start their own businesses. According to statistics submitted from various regions, over a million farmers have seen their lives improve thanks to the company's support.

Moreover, Chen Yang not only assists farmers but also enthusiastically funds patients suffering from fatal illnesses—he puts up two billion yuan at a time.

Such a pure‑hearted person suddenly got mixed up with his own good‑for‑nothing niece. This left Cheng Hua puzzled.

"Chen Yang, do you think our Xiao Xiao is capable of getting things done?"

Chen Yang had already guessed that Cheng Hua would ask that, and he immediately replied, "Secretary, whether Miss Cheng can handle the job will only be known after she actually does it."

Cheng Hua sighed and said, "My niece has been willful and selfish since she was little; nobody can control her. She's been out of work for years since college, just hanging out with the offspring of the big‑family compounds."

He paused there, his expression turning serious. "Chen Yang, you'd better be careful. If you let her manage your company and something goes wrong later, don't come crying to me."

Chen Yang laughed and said, "Secretary, my money doesn't blow in from the wind. If she really can't do the job, I'll certainly make timely adjustments."

Seeing that Chen Yang was already prepared, Cheng Hua felt a bit more at ease. He then suddenly asked seriously, "Chen Yang, you're not dating our Xiao Xiao, are you?"

Chen Yang hadn't expected Cheng Hua to think the same way about Xiao Xiao; he smiled wryly and said, "Secretary, I already have a girlfriend. She's also in Xingcheng, handling the affairs of the Laobaixing Foundation."

Cheng Hua instantly pictured a vibrant, graceful beauty in his mind and couldn't help but remark, "I was wondering how the miss of the Lingnan Chu Family ended up in Xingcheng—now I see she's your girlfriend! Not bad, you two are truly a match made in heaven."

Upon hearing that, Chen Yang quickly expressed his thanks.

Next, Cheng Hua asked about the progress of the IPO applications for Laobaixing Agricultural Products Trading Company and the Meat Industry Company, as well as the post‑reorganization operations of Tianqi Pharmaceutical. Chen Yang answered each point, and after chatting for about an hour and a half, Cheng Hua finally let him leave.

After returning to the Laobaixing Building, Chen Yang decided to personally inspect Cheng Xiao Xiao's preparations.

Since Cheng Hua places great importance on this niece, he couldn't allow her to just drift along under his supervision.

However, as he approached the temporary office of Laobaixing Financial Investment Company, he heard Cheng Xiao Xiao and a man talking inside: "Xiao Xiao, could it be that Chen Yang is just trying to curry favor with your uncle? Handing over a company worth tens of billions to you so casually—you've got guts."

"Yu Wenlong, what do you mean? Surely I, the young lady, can't make a name for myself relying only on my own talent?"

"Heh, if your brother were taking the president's seat, I'd have nothing to say. You and I have known each other since we were kids in split‑crotch pants. As for disparaging remarks, I won't go there. I just feel a bit sorry for Chen Yang—he's actually made such a huge sacrifice just to flatter Secretary Cheng."

"Yu Wenlong, are you itching for a fight again? The old lady brought you here to help, not to listen to your snide remarks. Say another word and I won't be polite."

"Okay, okay, I'll shut up—but since you called me over, you'd better give me a flashy position."

"What position do you want?"

"You're the president, so I ought to be a vice president too!"

"Hmph, with your slacker attitude, you're hardly vice‑president material. Better start as my personal assistant."

"What? A personal assistant? Cheng Xiao Xiao, you're not going to bully me like that. I'm not doing it."

"Yu Wenlong, stand right there……"

Chen Yang heard hurried footsteps approaching, stepped back a few paces, then walked forward slowly, and happened to meet Cheng Xiao Xiao and Yu Wenlong coming out the door.

"Manager Cheng, is this your new colleague?"

"Chairman, his name is Yu Wenlong, a childhood friend of mine. I want him to be my personal assistant."

"Cheng Xiao Xiao, I haven't agreed to be your personal assistant."

"Director Chen, if Cheng Xiao Xiao can be president, then I, Yu Wenlong, should at least get the vice‑president post."

Chen Yang carefully sized up Yu Wenlong—1.75 meters tall, dressed in brand‑name clothes, decent enough looking. The only thing that bothered him was the guy's red rooster‑comb hairstyle.

Being able to hang out with Cheng Xiao Xiao shows Yu Wenlong's family background is certainly not ordinary. This left Chen Yang wondering what kind of family would allow him to sport such a trendy hairdo.

To learn more about him, Chen Yang told Yu Wenlong, "I made Cheng Xiao Xiao president because her uncle is Provincial Party Secretary Cheng. Having her handle external affairs will smooth the progress of many company projects. Brother Yu, what qualifications do you have for wanting to be vice president?"

Yu Wenlong stared blankly. He had just been mocking Chen Yang in front of Cheng Xiao Xiao for sucking up to Secretary Cheng, never expecting the other side to admit it so openly.

"Cheng Xiao Xiao's uncle is Secretary Cheng; my uncle is Provincial Party Deputy Secretary Yu. How's that—am I qualified enough to be vice president?"

"More than enough, absolutely! But…" Chen Yang sighed and said, "Deputy Secretary Yu once had a grudge with my ex‑wife's maternal grandfather. If you come work for me, the old man might not be pleased."

Yu Wenlong had long heard about that decades‑old grudge and said dismissively, "That's just the older generation's feud—what does it have to do with us?"

"Besides, you're divorced now, so you're no longer part of the Hu Family. My uncle couldn't possibly take it out on you."

Seeing that Yu Wenlong didn't mind his background, Chen Yang readily agreed to his request to become vice president.

As long as Yu Wenlong works at the Ordinary People's Financial Investment Company, his relationship with that Deputy Secretary Yu whom he hasn't met yet should improve somewhat.