Chapter 119 Having dinner with Chen Yan
Song Yilin asked, puzzled, "Your Lijiang Group is your own, isn't it?"
Chen Yan lit a cigar, not caring whether Song Yilin would mind, and began to puff out smoke: "Yeah, I can't even do what my own group can do, let alone such a large group like the Xu Group, with so many shareholders and so many branches. They can't do it either. The Xu Group has a legacy from their ancestors. I don't deny that Xu Qingmin is a very capable person, but with the foundation his father gave him, it's much easier for him to build it up than for me."
She knew that the Xu Group had been passed down for three generations, and Xu Qingmin's dream was to make the Xu Group a century-old enterprise, but she also knew that it would be difficult.
The Xu Group has now entered a period of stable development. In addition, the Xu Group is an established real estate company. The real estate industry has been in a slump in recent years. Since Xu Qingmin took office, he has been transforming the company. Although there have been some results, the company has entered a new period of stagnation.
However, the money earned during this period of stagnation still makes it the number one enterprise in Jianghai City.
However, if she wants to build the Xu Group into a century-old enterprise, she needs to make a breakthrough. The automotive industry may be the breakthrough point for the Xu Group. Therefore, she cannot let the Xin'ao Group go out of business.
Song Yilin calmly asked Chen Yan, "So you think I shouldn't confront them head-on?"
"It's not that you don't want to, but that you absolutely cannot do that. The Xu Group represents the capital of Jianghai City. If you play like that in Jianghai City, they won't dare to attack you like that. But you are a 4S store, and your stores are all over the country. That's how capital works in this world."
They all knew that they could offer more benefits to their employees if they earned a little less money, but their thinking was about how to hire someone to do their work at the lowest possible cost. So, they figured, "Go ahead and give other employees more benefits; it's all the same."
Xu Qingmin probably knew that what she did would have this result, but he still didn't stop her from doing it.
Xu Qingmin is spending money to help her grow and see things more clearly.
Looking at the disabled person downstairs, Song Yilin asked, puzzled, "Do you do charity work to protect yourself?"
Chen Yan laughed loudly: "Song Yilin, you are also a smart person. Almost everyone thinks that I did that to protect myself, but that's not it. I did it to survive. I had to survive first before I could take care of them. I am an orphan. Our village was in the epicenter of the earthquake. Almost half of the village died. Of the remaining people, there are a few who are normal and this group of disabled people in front of me."
Song Yilin was shocked. Sure enough, you can't judge a person by their appearance.
"But Mr. Chen, your hands weren't clean from the very beginning."
Chen Yan exhaled a puff of his cigar, his eyes glazed over, and looked at Song Yilin with a hint of starlight in them: "President Song, you've lived in an ivory tower since you were a child, and you don't know how hard it is for us people who venture into the world. That's why I envy Xu Qingmin, who was able to build his current business empire so cleanly. If I hadn't done that, look at those people downstairs, they would have had no way out. I know that I did a lot of things that broke the law during the early expansion, and I know that one day I will be in jail."
Humans are truly complex creatures. Chen Yan did everything he could to protect the disabled people in his village, but he also did a lot of bad things, including harming and disrespecting women.
Hearing the sorrow in Chen Yan's words, Song Yilin couldn't offer any words of comfort. She already knew that many people who accumulated wealth, besides having connections and absolute luck, did things that weren't exactly honorable.
But today she has witnessed the true face of capital.
"Mr. Chen, the sooner you atone for your sins, the sooner you can start afresh."
Chen Yan's smile reached his eyes, though there was a hint of bitterness in them: "I want to too, but if I go in, what will happen to everything I've worked so hard to build, and to the disabled people downstairs? I wasn't joking when I said I wanted to give Lijiang Group to President Song."
Song Yilin stared wide-eyed at Chen Yan in disbelief. Xu Qingmin had said that Chen Yan approached her with this purpose in mind, but she was surprised that he said it so frankly.
"Mr. Chen, you overestimate me. I don't have the ability to help you protect Lijiang Group."
Chen Yan said with certainty, "No, you have this ability. You were taught by Xu Qingmin step by step."
It turns out he knew everything; he must have been investigating her all along.
He seemed to know that he was about to go inside.
"Mr. Chen, you're joking. I'm Xu Qingmin's fiancée. We'll get married when I get back from this business trip. I'll help you manage your Lijiang Group. You don't need to worry about me, I don't."
When she heard her say she was getting married, a hint of sadness appeared in Chen Yan's eyes.
When Song Yilin checked again, she had already disappeared.
Perhaps she's overthinking it.
"Mr. Chen, it's getting late, I should head back."
Chen Yan abandoned his carefree attitude: "Since you're here, let me treat President Song to a meal."
Song Yilin instinctively refused: "No need. Since I've come all this way, I should have a meal with my employees."
Chen Yan looked slightly hurt: "President Song, aren't all those industry unspoken rules I told you today worth having a meal with me?"
Song Yilin closed her eyes. She really didn't want to go. She and Xu Qingmin were getting married soon, and she wanted to keep her distance from men like that. Xu Qingmin cared a lot about that.
But she really couldn't refuse.
She thought for a moment, then took out her phone to tell Xu Qingmin, but as soon as she did, Chen Yan pulled her away.
Chen Yan drove so fast that she kept her hand on the handle the whole time, not giving her a chance to use her phone.
Song Yilin almost vomited as soon as she got out of Chen Yan's car.
Chen Yan tossed the car keys to the valet and pulled her into the restaurant.
Song Yilin struggled to get her hand out.
"Mr. Chen, please let go of me. Be mindful of your behavior."
Chen Yuanyuan glanced at her hand, then put on that nonchalant smile again: "Sorry, I'm starving. Let's go eat together."
After sitting down, Song Yilin wanted to tell Xu Qingmin that she was going to have dinner with Chen Yan, but she only said it after she had already sat down and was about to eat, which felt a bit like acting first and informing later.
He raised his phone, then thought about it and put it down again.
But I still felt a little uneasy.
Chen Yan called out to the people to order food. After he ordered a few dishes, he handed them to Song Yilin to order. Song Yilin ordered a dish that was a little cheaper than the one Chen Yan ordered.
She knew this was Chen Yan's rule.
A short while later, Chen Yan had a vintage red wine served.
This simple dinner party suddenly took on a different meaning.
"Mr. Chen, we're just having a simple meal, there's no need for such expensive wine."
"This is the wine I keep at this restaurant, so you don't need to feel pressured."
Then, they even called over a violinist to play.
There haven't been any live performances in restaurants for many years.
Even if it's a marriage proposal, it would be very awkward if someone were playing the violin next to you while you were eating.
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