Chapter 68: Net Worth Surpasses 100 Million

Selling a truckload of thirty tons of watermelons below market price still earned over twenty thousand. Chen Yang was shocked by the astonishing return rate of the primary agricultural products market.

Of course, he also knew this profit period wouldn't last long. The trait of domestic merchants is to follow trends. As soon as the ordinary people's agricultural products supermarket business booms, many imitators appear, starting a vicious cycle of competition.

So Chen Yang strongly agreed with Shen Anna's view: seize the primary market before everyone fully reacts. He didn't dream of monopolizing the whole Dongjiangsheng; securing some quality resources would be enough.

As for having Zhao Xiaoli buy a storefront, besides laying out the whole Xingcheng, the more important point is to reduce shop operating costs. In the future, the real economy will be beaten by the online economy, and high rent is a key factor. Chen Yang didn't want to be strangled by rent.

Chen Yang bought the storefront and rented it to the Ordinary People's Agricultural Products Lifestyle Supermarket for operation. This not only yields stable rental income but also allows flexible adjustment of rental strategy based on the supermarket's profitability.

If the supermarket operates well, business thrives, and profits are abundant, Chen Yang can earn even more rental income from it.

Even if the supermarket incurs losses, Chen Yang need not worry about suffering huge losses. He can appropriately lower the rent according to actual conditions, helping the supermarket cut operating costs, ease pressure, and increase its chances of weathering the crisis.

In short, as long as the shop is his own, Chen Yang can cleverly cope with any fluctuations in the supermarket's operation and remain invincible.

For the Qing Net poverty-relief and agriculture-aid activity, Chen Yang plans to appropriately add some locally distinctive agricultural products. Compared to regular vegetables available on the market, specialty products, especially scarce mountain goods, are more likely to attract everyone's buying desire.

After discussing with Liu Qingqing, Chen Yang launched a one-month essay contest on the Qing Net forum titled 'Exploring the Beauty of Mountain Products, Savoring Nature's Gifts'.

To attract more participants, he set up one first prize of 5,000 yuan, three second prizes of 3,000 yuan each, ten third prizes of 1,000 yuan each, and fifty special participation awards of 100 yuan each.

Additionally, Chen Yang called Lin Wei to ask if she could find Xu Li to help, inviting several well-known senior editors and writers from Dongjiangsheng to serve as final judges for the event.

Lin Wei's reply came quickly. She said Xu Li agreed to help coordinate and would also provide Chen Yang with some specialty agricultural product photos from Qingshui City.

Chen Yang then added the agricultural products from the photos to the essay contest content, giving creators a clearer direction and inspiration.

After the essay contest launched, many netizens from other counties and cities in Dongjiangsheng who came to Xingcheng to develop eagerly participated, bringing a new wave of traffic to Qing Net.

After Chen Yang suffered a minor loss, he also formally began considering selling the shares of Xingcheng Heavy Industry.

After all, he now needs money in many places. General Manager Wang's land costs ten million, the startup capital for the Ordinary People's Agricultural Products Trading Co., Ltd. also needs ten million, and Zhao Xiaoli's purchase of a shop conservatively estimates over thirty million.

The company has officially started operations; besides finding a suitable office location, it needs to buy vehicles. Apart from the commuting car he and Shen Anna use for work, a batch of small delivery trucks must be prepared. These are estimated to cost several million.

Besides that, the rental fees for long-distance product transport, warehousing storage costs, and workers' wages are also substantial expenses.

Nevertheless, even short on funds, Chen Yang insisted that Su Mingyue sell the shares at no less than 18 yuan, because he knows 18 yuan is not the ceiling after Xingcheng Heavy Industry's restructuring; it should eventually break 20.

Su Mingyue has been eating poorly and sleeping badly these days, dreaming that Xingcheng Heavy Industry's shares turned green. Meanwhile, the main party Chen Yang remained calm and even comforted her. Now Chen Yang finally loosened up, she felt relieved and immediately forwarded the news to the company's senior management.

The senior management of Xingcheng Securities was also waiting for Chen Yang's news. They had long suspected Chen Yang of having insider information and secretly bought some shares of Xingcheng Heavy Industry. Although most people thought Xingcheng Heavy Industry could reach an even higher position, after collective discussion they still decided to follow Chen Yang's lead.

Xingcheng Securities' large-scale sell-off quickly caught investors' attention. After all, the main architect of Xingcheng Heavy Industry's turnaround was Xingcheng Securities' heavy capital intervention.

"What the heck? Xingcheng Heavy Industry has problems again?"

"I don't know; I placed a ten-lot limit-up order with a try-it-out attitude, and the trade succeeded instantly."

"Upstairs, I placed a fifty-lot buy order at 18 yuan, and it also succeeded instantly."

"Holy cow, I wanted to sip some soup following the trend, but didn't expect to become a leek (i. e., get harvested)."

"Don't rush; institutional dumping isn't necessarily bad news—it could mean they've made enough and are fleeing early. If there really were bad news, it would directly hit the daily limit down."

"Everyone, don't worry; I've already consulted insiders, and Xingcheng Heavy Industry has no problems."

Market enthusiasm ran high; although Xingcheng Securities caused a ripple, it still couldn't stop investors' frenzy, and Xingcheng Heavy Industry ultimately closed at the daily limit up.

For Chen Yang, the subsequent trend of Xingcheng Heavy Industry no longer matters. This trade earned him 120 million, making him a bona fide multimillionaire.

"Chen Yang, which stock are you planning to buy next?" Su Mingyue was very happy; after selling Chen Yang's and Liu Shijie's shares, she received a commission of 42,000 yuan, and her position changed from ordinary clerk at Xingcheng Securities to business manager.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Chen Yang reminded Su Mingyue, "Wasn't Xingcheng Heavy Industry your recommendation?"

Su Mingyue stared blankly for a while. She had always thought Chen Yang had insider information, and the company's senior management had kept feeding her the same message. She never expected Chen Yang to actually just follow her advice and pour all his money in……

"Then I'll go study first." Su Mingyue suddenly felt the weight on her shoulders immense; having just made a good start, she couldn't afford to ruin her reputation.

After hanging up Su Mingyue's call, Liu Shijie's phone rang. "Chen Yang, which stock are you buying next? This time I plan to invest more."

"I don't know; I'm also waiting for Su Mingyue's recommendation. However, I must remind you that the stock market carries risk—not every investment yields a return."

"……, how much are you planning to invest this time?"

"Twenty million. And you?"

"Then I'll just keep ten million to play with."