Chapter 2120

Zhang Hua hadn't expected the car logo to be so important: "We really must hire professional designers to design it."

Shen Mingsheng said thoughtfully: "We can advertise in newspapers, periodicals, radio, and television, and offer high bonuses to collect car logo designs nationwide. In this way, our Zhonghua Automobile will be famous nationwide before it's even built."

Zhou Andong glanced at Shen Mingsheng, unable to help but sigh inwardly: people who can succeed might have luck, but there is absolutely no such thing as a fluke.

"This method is good." Zhou Andong nodded in agreement: "And the prize shouldn't be too stingy; it must be high. The higher the bonus, the greater the sensation it will cause. As for whether we can select a car logo and whether we will use it, we'll talk about that later."

Li Zhou swallowed the food in his mouth and said somewhat excitedly: "This idea is good. Let's set the bonus at 50,000."

Zhou Qiangli said with great disdain: "Brother Dong already said we can't be stingy. You're making such a big fuss and only offering 50,000? Can you do any better?"

"You think 50,000 is too little?" Li Zhou hummed: "How much do you want to give?"

In this era, 50,000 was really not a small amount; for the vast majority of people, it was a huge sum.

"It has to be at least 100,000." Zhou Qiangli lit a cigarette and leaned back: "The more the bonus, the greater the sensation caused, and our Zhonghua can get wider attention."

"That's right!" Zhou Andong nodded in agreement: "President Shen, what do you think?"

Shen Mingsheng smiled slightly: "Chairman Zhou offered a million-yuan reward for collecting evidence of someone's crime. Naturally, we can't offer too little for collecting car logo designs."

Young Master Pu said generously: "Let's make it a million too."

Zhang Hua and the others were stunned, the muscles on their faces twitching. A million! They were genuinely heartbroken.

But thinking about it again, this was a big deal. Never mind a million, even two million had to be paid if necessary.

"Then that's it, the bonus is one million." Seeing that no one objected, Zhou Andong said: "From individuals to groups, from elementary school students to university students, from workers to farmers, from officials to experts and professors, including Xiangjiang, Macau, and Taiwan—there are no restrictions. Everyone can participate."

The eyes of the few people Zhang Xuan brought over lit up. After exchanging glances, they started calculating in their hearts.

A million wasn't a small amount for them either. Since anyone could participate, why not give it a try?

What if they were lucky enough to win the bonus? Even if they didn't, it didn't matter; it would just take up some spare time.

Zhang Yihao picked up a lamb skewer that had already gone cold and slid it off in one go without caring at all.

"Leave the matter of advertising through the media to me."

"Can do!" Zhou Andong picked up the iced black tea beside him and took a sip: "Starting from August 1st, ending on New Year's Day."

Zhang Hua hesitated for a moment and said: "Leave the matter of poaching experts from BAIC to me, but don't hold too much hope. I'm not confident."

Zhou Andong looked at Zhang Hua: "Do you have acquaintances at BAIC?"

Zhang Hua scratched his head: "I have a buddy whose father is the deputy chief engineer of the BAIC Power Research Institute. He often complains to me that many companies are trying to poach his father with high salaries, but that old stubborn man just won't agree.

But from his words, I learned a situation: eight years ago, after BAIC introduced the Jeep, because sales were so good, they kept expanding production scale and introducing equipment, so the funds invested in the research institute became less and less, and for a time, it was even stopped.

If it weren't for the institute's leadership going to the factory director's office to slam the table and curse, demanding funds, the institute would have disbanded by now. So I thought I'd try; what if I could poach him?"

Zhou Andong laughed: "When you see your buddy's father, just say that although our Zhonghua Automobile has just been registered, we have a special fund of one billion for engine research.

As long as he agrees, once our research institute is built, this one billion in special research funds will be transferred to the institute's account immediately."

Zhang Hua's spirit was instantly lifted: "If that's the case, the chance of success is already half."

"Hmm!" Zhou Andong nodded: "As for the salary, 200,000 starting for deputy senior rank and above, 50,000 starting for intermediate, and a monthly salary of 1,000 starting for assistant engineers and technical personnel."

Zhang Hua laughed: "With this, I'm even more confident. Even if my buddy's old man doesn't agree, I can poach others."

"Alright!" Zhou Andong sat up straight and raised his wine bottle: "Let's have a toast to the takeoff of our automobile career."

"Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses, and even Zhang Xuan and her group were no exception, following along to clink glasses.

With this, Zhonghua Automobile was officially established with a total investment of 3.6 billion RMB. Qiu Dongfang invested 2.16 billion, holding a 60% stake; Zhou Andong personally invested 360 million, holding a 10% stake.

Jinghai Holdings, established by Young Master Pu and Zhang Hua and the others, invested 432 million, holding a 12% stake; Shen Mingsheng invested 648 million, holding an 18% stake.

Actually, Zhou Andong didn't want to invest personally, but Young Master Pu, Zhang Hua and the others, and Shen Mingsheng had already borrowed quite a bit from the bank, yet there was still a gap, so Zhou Andong filled it.

Although they acquired Qiguan Automobile, apart from the license and some research data, the equipment was too old, and many parts still relied on manual craftsmanship.

Therefore, this Zhonghua Automobile of theirs was truly starting from nothing right now. Factory buildings had to be built, equipment had to be purchased; this 3.6 billion really wasn't much.

Seeing that the matters were mostly discussed, Zhou Andong asked Zhang Xuan: "Have you found the bank office building?"

"Found it."

Zhang Xuan had been eating grapes the whole time; a whole plate of grapes had been eaten by her alone.

"Tang Lin provided it. It's in Dengshikou, the location is excellent, five stories in total. I've contacted the 365 Decoration Company; after all, charity begins at home."

Zhou Andong smiled: "Very good, the rent can cover some interest."

Zhang Xuan also laughed along: "That's exactly what Tang Lin said. He also said that as long as we open a branch, he will provide the office building, preferably using the rent to cover all the interest.

In addition, we have also completed the docking with the People's Bank of China. In the future, all the cash of our bank must be placed in the vault of the People's Bank of China."

Zhou Andong nodded. This was normal; one couldn't build a vault just because they were doing business in the capital, build another vault when doing business in Shanghai, and build vaults when doing business in other cities—that was too unrealistic.

At this time, Zhang Xuan sighed: "It's just that it won't be easy to get the business up and running. After all, a Xiangjiang bank is too unfamiliar to the common people, and the level of trust is too low."

"It's fine!" Zhou Andong picked up a cigarette and lit it: "Deposit and withdrawal business needs to be done slowly; this takes time. Once the common people are familiar with us and trust us, the business will naturally increase.

As for now, let's do corporate business first. The business of Qiu Dongfang's branch, Yuxi Real Estate's Beijing project department, the property management company you mentioned, Dalianfa, and Jinghua Electric, which hasn't opened yet, will all be handed over to the Overseas Trust Bank."

"Can do!" Zhang Xuan said thoughtfully: "Before I return to Xiangjiang, I will say hello to some friends; I can definitely pull in a batch of clients.

Also, Zhongbao. Construction Bank was Zhongbao's most important cooperative unit, but after such a big blunder, it has been eliminated. Now, several other banks are competing for this big client, Zhongbao.

We are shareholders, after all. Even if we can't swallow all the meat, they have to give us half. As for the remaining half, let the other banks fight over it."