Chapter 147: Acquisition and Transformation

Early morning.

After Lu Chen went downstairs, it was still the same old three things.

Newspaper, Cigar, coffee.

However, today's newspapers were all about a certain company and the explosion of financial innovation.

There was simply nothing about Crown.

But this was also within Lu Chen's expectations.

"Sir, a businessman has come looking for you, saying he was introduced by Professor Li, and he wants your help."

Butler Wang walked in and bowed slightly.

Lu Chen was stunned for a moment, and after a few seconds, he spoke softly.

"Please, bring him in."

He crushed out the remaining half of his Cigar, stood up, and straightened his suit.

A few minutes later, a middle-aged man with a somewhat familiar face walked in.

"Chairman Lu, hello, my surname is Zhang."

The middle-aged man shook hands with Lu Chen while briefly introducing himself.

"I am in the textile industry. I bought some stock yesterday... sigh, I want to turn over some capital from you."

"Boss Zhang, sit down first. No rush, let's talk slowly."

Lu Chen reached out to invite Boss Zhang to sit on the sofa, then nodded slightly at Butler Wang.

He did not rush to speak, but first handed him a Cigar, and only after Butler Wang served the coffee did they start to chat slowly.

Boss Zhang poured out his grievances, saying he had essentially bought in at the most expensive time.

He had even owed quite a few favors just to "get on board."

And now, just a few days after holding it, it had exploded.

It really made Lu Chen feel a bit uncomfortable deep down.

He even thought to himself, if he hadn't been so impulsive yesterday and insisted on bursting the bubble, perhaps this boss would still have had a chance to get out.

After a long while, Lu Chen sighed.

He could not save everyone, and perhaps he couldn't even save a single person.

"Boss Zhang, I know about your situation. However, I have a better plan now; I don't know if you are willing."

"The two of us will form a new joint venture company. I will help you take on all the debts, and I will take over all the machinery, equipment, and workers in your factory."

Lu Chen took a puff of his Cigar, paused, and then continued.

"I will offer you an annual salary of 200,000, plus 5% of the annual profit of one workshop. Although it cannot compare to your previous income, you are also clear about the current situation in Xianggang, Boss Zhang."

Boss Zhang was stunned for a while, and after a long time, he spoke softly.

"Chairman Lu, you..."

Boss Zhang sighed, and after another moment, he sighed softly again.

"Thank you for giving me a way to survive. Otherwise, I would really be bankrupt. I originally planned to pay the employees' wages and mortgage the equipment to see how much I could pay you back..."

Lu Chen also sighed slightly.

"Boss Zhang, let's call you Old Zhang. It's not that I don't want to give you more, it's that the whole situation in Xianggang is in chaos right now. I expect many bosses you are familiar with will be just like you..."

Lu Chen patted Boss Zhang and called for Butler Wang.

"You and Secretary Shen calculate Boss Zhang's debts and the workers' wages, and hand everything over to Manager Zhao to help Boss Zhang settle them."

After a few seconds, he looked at Boss Zhang.

"Old Zhang, I'll have to trouble you a lot recently. My Textile Factory has just been built, and you are more familiar with this business, so please help get the factory running first."

Over the next few days, Lu Chen saw many different bosses introduced by Professor Li, Chairman Shi, Elder Sun, Elder Wang, and other old gentlemen.

However, they all had one common trait: they were still thinking about the employees in their factories.

But Lu Chen's industries were now incredibly diverse, covering almost every aspect of Xianggang. Although some factories were still weak and could not even satisfy the internal needs of Xianggang, they had already become a comprehensive commercial entity.

It could be said that in just these few days, Lu Chen had spent about 300 million in Hong Kong dollars.

Although it didn't seem like much, it was enough to save these dozen or so bosses!

More importantly, Lu Chen's actual hidden monthly expenditures were already approaching 300 million Hong Kong dollars.

This also forced Lu Chen to reorganize the group, as every company now involved different businesses and even overlapped with each other.

It was like a fatty who had eaten too much; they were starting to clash with one another.

Lu Chen had Butler Wang drag Zhao Chenhui back to the Zhuangyuan.

Although the suit on this guy was still neat, it had a faint odor, and even his dark circles were incredibly heavy.

"Old Zhao, although the group is expanding rapidly now, look at what you, the person in charge, have become."

Lu Chen paused, then spoke softly.

"Don't go anywhere. Go to a room and sleep right now. We'll talk about other things after you wake up."

Zhao Chenhui walked into a room somewhat reluctantly, didn't even close the door, and fell asleep directly on the bed.

Lu Chen felt a bit amused but also a bit heartbroken as he watched. He had a servant help tidy up for Zhao Chenhui, and only then did he close the door.

"Boss, a killer was caught at the original Zhuangyuan."

Chen Mo walked over silently and said in a low voice.

"The trap we designed worked, but the killer committed suicide by taking poison; we didn't have time to stop it."

Lu Chen's expression instantly turned gloomy.

"Alright, I know."

Then he looked up at Butler Wang.

"After General Manager Zhao wakes up, give this document to him. It contains the group structure I've drafted. If there are no issues, proceed according to this. If there are problems, have him come find me after he's finished reading it."

Only then did he look toward Chen Mo.

"Follow me."

After Chen Mo followed Lu Chen back into the study, Lu Chen spoke softly.

"Have you investigated which faction it is?"

"We hired the most capable forensic pathologist in all of Xianggang for the body, but there are no leads at the moment."

Chen Mo said with some helplessness.

"However, we did find some clues regarding his car; it seems to have come from Miss Luosha's side."

"It wouldn't be Luosha, but I will have Luosha's side help look into it."

Lu Chen silently took two puffs of his cigarette before speaking softly.

"Keep your investigation results confidential; absolutely do not let anyone else know. Forget it, destroy all investigation leads. As for those in the know, make them all shut up—give them some money and send them to Piaoliang Guo for further studies; Xuan Hua is short on people there anyway."

Then he looked at Chen Mo, nodded, and continued smoking.

After a long while, he spoke softly.

"The assassin this time wasn't here for an assassination, but was a suicide operative meant to make us distrust Luosha's side."

Lu Chen paused slightly before speaking softly.

"I still have 22 billion pounds yet to settle with Luosha; even if she wanted to kill me, she would have to take the money back first."

Upon hearing this number, Chen Mo stared blankly at Lu Chen, his mouth wide open.

After a long while, he looked at Lu Chen as if looking at a monster.

"Boss... are we making that much money? Why does it feel like we've been spending money the whole time..."