"What project?" Yusuf Zuck’s spirit was piqued at once, although he was already quite wealthy, when compared to some people, it still wasn’t enough, especially the Nash family, which was a behemoth. To shake the foundation of the Nash family or to bring them down would require a astronomical amount of wealth.
Therefore, he needed to continue making money; any opportunity to earn was exciting to him.
"Let me ask you first, what do you think is the most lucrative business these days?" Everest Zuck asked with a chuckle.
"The most lucrative business? Arms, drugs, oil, real estate, and so on—there are a lot!" Yusuf Zuck responded.
"There’s another one, the pharmaceutical industry is also a highly profitable sector!" Everest Zuck continued, "Although the state has been regulating drug prices, the cost of producing the drugs themselves is incredibly low. Some drugs cost only a few cents to make, but they sell for tens or hundreds of dollars!"
"What do you mean, brother?" Yusuf Zuck squinted and asked.
"I know of a pharmaceutical company in Inner Mongolia that, due to quality issues with its drugs, was exposed by the media. Overnight the factory was on the brink of closure. Now the person in charge of that factory has come to the capital hoping to find a way to recover. He is also raising money and, through some connections, has come to me."
"After listening carefully to his explanation of the drug quality issues, it’s not his fault. The problems originated from the raw materials and were also due to factory quality inspectors who colluded internally and externally, which led to his heavy losses. Now those quality inspectors have been arrested, and he himself was detained for over a month before being released. Upon his release, the factory was paralyzed. The drugs produced by the factory were being returned by retailers, and he had to repay them. Thus, he is out of working capital, and banks are knocking on his door demanding payment. One could say he’s besieged on all sides and in a desperate situation!"
"This person sought me out also because I knew a remarkable individual from Inner Mongolia years ago, who is also a master of internal martial arts, considered a friend within the circle. He knew I still had some influence in the capital, so he told the factory owner to come to me for help."
"What kind of help can you provide? Lend him money or something else?" Yusuf Zuck asked curiously.
"Lending money is an option, but there are also other avenues we could pursue. For example, I could get a few media outlets to positively report on the whole incident and portray the factory owner’s struggle. Essentially, guiding public opinion through television, the internet, and other news media to create a favorable narrative. Once public sentiment turns positive, the company can be revitalized!"
"So, what are you implying by telling me this? Do you want me to lend him money or to invest in his pharmaceutical company?" Yusuf Zuck inquired.
"Invest, of course. He started the company from scratch and owns ninety-nine percent of the stock, with the remaining one percent belonging to his wife. My point is, if you have some spare cash, it wouldn’t hurt to invest in his company. Who knows, in a few years, it could bring you a pleasant surprise!"
"Then why don’t you invest yourself?" Yusuf Zuck asked with a hint of suspicion.
"I don’t have enough money," Everest Zuck replied with a wry smile. "I may look prosperous, with a large house and luxury cars, but that’s just for show. Between divination and feng shui consultation, there’s only so much I can earn, and my money is already earmarked for other purposes, so I don’t have much in savings!"
"How much of the company’s stock is he willing to offer?" Yusuf Zuck queried.
"Forty percent of the shares in exchange for two hundred million Renminbi!"
"Two hundred million? That’s not much!" Yusuf Zuck nodded, finding the amount to be no pressure on him at all.
"Of course, the initial situation is that there might be losses, so don’t expect it to make money for you," Everest Zuck cautioned. "Of course, even if it doesn’t turn a profit in a few years, and the factory ends up closing, selling the factory building, patents, and equipment should allow you to virtually recoup the two hundred million investment. We could include this point in the contract."
"Talking about whether the investment can be recouped in a few years is premature. The main point is, if I do invest, I want a majority stake—at least fifty-one percent. Of course, I could refrain from participating in the factory’s operations, but I must hold a majority share. Otherwise, I won’t invest in an enterprise that is losing money and has such an uncertain future," Yusuf Zuck stated.
"I’m afraid they might not agree to that," Everest Zuck said, frowning.
"If they don’t agree, then forget it." Yusuf Zuck shrugged; he wasn’t about to assume the risk of throwing money into a pit only to end up with nothing.
He wasn’t a good person, so either he didn’t invest in the pharmaceutical factory, or if he did, he had to own a majority share. But once he owned a majority, he would probably put even more into it, like advertising for the medicine, airing it on CCTV during the prime time slot, where just a few seconds cost hundreds of millions. So he had zero interest in a mere forty percent stake.
"I’ll arrange to meet with him tomorrow, and you two can talk it over," said Everest Zuck indifferently. Though he saw potential in the pharmaceutical factory, he couldn’t let Yusuf Zuck suffer a loss. Follow current novᴇls on novel(ꜰ)ire.net
"Alright, I’ll be here promptly at ten tomorrow morning. Also, if it really works out, then you’ll have to help me suppress any negative news about the pharmaceutical factory, dealing with the media, spinning public opinion, that sort of thing. And once the factory stabilizes, I’ll pick a medicine to advertise and revitalize it. Then you’ll have to help me with the connections to advertise. Of course, money talks—I’m not short on cash!"
"How much did you make this time in Las Vegas?" asked Everest Zuck suddenly.
"Uh... how did you know?" Yusuf Zuck was taken aback for a moment.
"You’re burning down someone’s casino out of the blue; there must be reasons other than your girlfriend being killed, right? What were you doing in Las Vegas? Four casinos targeted you, which caused your girlfriend’s misfortune. Why would they target you? Even a fool could guess you won money there and probably got the big four casinos pretty upset."
"Not much, just a few billion US dollars!" Yusuf Zuck laughed.
"A few billion? US dollars?" Everest Zuck couldn’t help but gasp, but then he gave a wry smile and shook his head, saying, "Here I am asking you to invest in a pharmaceutical company—what’s the point? With the rate you make money, if you’re ever out, just go gamble and that’s that!"
"That’s not the right way, and if I went back to America now, I’d likely get arrested on arrival. So I can’t go back there for a while!"
"Right, you’ll meet with the factory director yourself tomorrow, and speaking of which, are you really not considering the matter I mentioned earlier?" Everest Zuck asked suddenly.
"What matter?" Yusuf Zuck asked, puzzled.
Everest Zuck gave a bitter smile, "Taking over my position."
"Let’s not mention that; I’m not interested in the slightest."
"The porridge is ready." While they talked, Faye Webb finished cooking the porridge and also prepared some vegetables and pickles, bringing them all to the table.
"If you’re not interested, then I guess I’ll have to let Faye Webb take over," Everest Zuck said, watching Faye Webb busy herself.
"What’s the use of telling me that? What does it have to do with me?" Yusuf Zuck cursed.
"But I was planning to give Faye Webb to you."
Yusuf Zuck couldn’t help saying, "Is she your female slave, to be given away?"
Everest Zuck shook his head with a smile, "Don’t you want to train in internal martial arts? I was thinking she could teach you."
"That could be arranged, but there’s no need to give her to me. Hmm, I’ll just make time to come over every day, and she can teach me then," Yusuf Zuck replied.
Everest Zuck scratched his chin, "Hmm, you’re right. From now on, you two can coordinate that between yourselves. Faye Webb knows all about the internal martial arts techniques, principles, and insights I’ve cultivated."