Chapter 65: Jin City’s Top Ten Outstanding Youths
Chen Yiyang plans to have Zhao Qiankun and Zhou Jianjun continue to find fruit farmers to sign contracts. Save as many as possible when the time comes.
As long as he can live with his conscience, it’s fine.
So, in the afternoon, he called his secretary Shen Yifan to meet someone with him.
The lawyer from Yida Law Firm he had previously arranged to discuss contract-related matters with Huang Yuqiu.
"I’m Zhang Yida." A man in his thirties with an average look enthusiastically greeted Chen Yiyang.
Chen Yiyang was previously wondering why the name of the law firm was so odd.
Now it seems, it’s simply named after this lawyer himself.
"Have a seat." Chen Yiyang invited Lawyer Zhang Yida to sit down.
Zhang Yida had arrived yesterday, but Chen Yiyang asked him to go find Zhou Jianjun to draft a fruit purchase contract, so they didn’t get to meet.
Zhang Yida’s professional competence is unquestionably solid. He quickly communicated the contract details with Chen Yiyang.
Chen Yiyang felt this person was quite reliable.
Just unsure about his character.
After seeing off Zhang Yida, Chen Yiyang turned and looked around.
The little accountant was fiddling with her phone’s photo album.
Chen Yiyang, with his good eyesight, directly saw that the little accountant’s album contained several secretly taken photos of Zhang Yida.
"Why are you sneaking photos of him?" Chen Yiyang asked, puzzled, "Does he look like a wanted criminal?"
"Not a wanted criminal exactly. Boss, I mentioned before that I grew up in an orphanage, right?"
"Yes, what about it?" Chen Yiyang thought to himself when he first found out the little accountant was an orphan, thinking maybe she also had some sort of system hack like in stories.
In novels, the protagonist with a system is often from an orphanage.
But he himself is the exception with both parents.
For this reason, after having some money on hand, Chen Yiyang transferred hundreds of thousands to his parents back home, asking them to move to an elevator-equipped place closer to the hospital to prevent accidents.
"Look." The little accountant showed Chen Yiyang a photo of a physical picture taken with a phone.
The photo’s background was at an orphanage, with a group of children taking a group photo at the back, several adults standing at the front.
Among the adults in front, one looked like a younger version of Lawyer Zhang Yida.
"This is a photo taken during my middle school years. Those standing in front, apart from our headmaster, were alumni who left the orphanage and continued to donate to us; I found his ear familiar earlier and checked the photos for comparison — turned out to be him."
Chen Yiyang hadn’t expected that Zhang Yida, who looked quite accomplished, was indeed an orphan.
But his attention soon shifted to other people in the photo.
"Which one is you, I can’t see." Chen Yiyang tried to find the little accountant.
"The one with short hair on the far left." She pointed.
Chen Yiyang took a look.
A thin, stick-like little girl, slimmer than the current little accountant. No wonder he didn’t recognize her.
"The orphanage’s communal meals were too unpalatable back then, I didn’t eat much."
"So when did you become plump?" Chen Yiyang pinched the little accountant’s cheek.
The collagen and baby fat were full.
"During university, I guess. Our orphanage had its own elementary, middle, and technical secondary schools. After middle school graduation, if you had good grades, you could attend high school outside,
living in the dorm during the weekdays. But the high school cafeteria meals were unappetizing, so it was only after entering university that I started gaining weight."
"I was quite financially well-off during college." The little accountant said, proudly raising her chin, "The government would subsidize me monthly, I could receive all kinds of scholarships at school, and since my grades were good, I also got scholarship awards."
"So you evolved into a foodie then?"
"Exactly." The little accountant, getting excited, patted her iron prosthetic leg, "That day, I was greedy and craving fried skewers on the road, only to be hit by a car. A whole bag of skewers, I took one bite of rice cake, then the rest got knocked flying, it pissed me off."
"You’re impressive." Chen Yiyang gave her a thumbs-up, then suddenly realized something was off.
"I recall others saying you had a disease that required amputation."
After saying this, he saw the little accountant awkwardly covering her face.
"You wouldn’t happen to feel too embarrassed to admit limb loss due to food, so you tell people it was due to disease, right?"
Then he saw the little accountant shyly nod.
"I knew it, those diseases requiring amputation usually take half one’s life. How is it that except for one leg, you’re otherwise thriving."
While chatting with the little accountant, Chen Yiyang suddenly got a call on his phone.
It was from Secretary Wang, the one who added him the other day.
The caller asked Chen Yiyang’s current location. After Chen Yiyang disclosed it, Secretary Wang called again half an hour later, asking him to come to the roadside.
A low-profile old Passat was parked there.
After Chen Yiyang approached, the car door opened, and the person inside gestured for Chen Yiyang to get in.
"Here are the registration materials for the selection of our city’s Top Ten Outstanding Youths; take them back and fill them out. Then submit the materials at this location."
Secretary Wang handed Chen Yiyang a file folder.
Chen Yiyang hesitated a moment before reaching out to take it.
Because he suspected he might be in trouble.
If a leader offers you benefits, they’re rarely free.
"Recently, there’s been widespread panic among Jin City’s fruit farmers about not being able to sell their produce, have you heard?"
"I’ve heard." Chen Yiyang answered truthfully, "I’ve sent people to sign contracts in the name of Luzon Dried Fruit and Vegetable Factory, not sure if it will have an effect."
"I heard that contracts are being signed in your name, that’s why I came to find you."
Secretary Wang looked at Chen Yiyang and said, "Here’s the situation. Linghui had some internal issues. My communication with Linghui wasn’t very satisfactory."
Secretary Wang was quite skillful in her speech.
What does it mean when Linghui had some internal issues? Isn’t it just Linghui causing a stir to clean out minor shareholders?
What does ’unsatisfactory communication’ mean? Previously, Jin City brought Huang Yuqiu to invest in a juice factory, effectively selling Linghui Juice, which depended on the local market to survive.
Now Linghui’s major shareholders want a cut; they certainly won’t give the city this face now. Once they’ve had their fill, they’ll make amends and appease, but certainly not now.
"Since the current issue stems from market-induced panic spreading, the municipal government isn’t in a good position to resolve it. After all, market issues should be addressed by the market itself."
Secretary Wang had hinted enough.
Chen Yiyang, holding the materials, thought for a moment and then said,
"In a while, I’m opening a store. On the opening day, I will announce along with Boss Huang donating a share of 1872’s China Merchants Steam Navigation Company’s stocks to the country and China Merchants Bank."
"Such significant matters, the municipal government will definitely send representatives to attend then." Secretary Wang placed her hand on Chen Yiyang’s firmly.
Agreed.
With this assurance, until Chen Yiyang’s wealth reaches billions, his personal safety won’t be at risk.
So, after seeing Secretary Wang off, Chen Yiyang got out of the car and waved to call the little accountant over.
"What’s up, boss." Shen Yifan came running, curious.
"Help me get in touch with your friend Natasha, meet tonight."
"No way, boss, she’s my only buddy." The little accountant covered her face, "After you sleep with her, how will I ask her and Sister Yuning out to dinner?"
"Don’t let your mind fill with dirty thoughts, it’s serious business." Chen Yiyang wanted to slap the little accountant’s head in frustration.