Chapter 107: Zhao Neng: Mr. Zhang, Please Acquire It!

Chapter 107: Zhao Neng: Mr. Zhang, Please Acquire It!

Faced with the man's angry expression, Zhao Neng hurriedly put on a smile and asked, "Brother-in-law, what do you mean by that?"

He had been able to secure those lands smoothly thanks to his brother-in-law, Zhu Tai. Even if he was being scolded, he didn't dare to get angry, unless he wanted to stop doing business in You City.

Zhu Tai, however, angrily pulled out his phone and threw it in front of Zhao Neng. "You still don't know what's going on? Look at this video!"

Zhao Neng immediately picked up the phone and watched the video. It was the one posted by the financial blogger, and his face instantly changed.

He had been so focused on the Liyuan Farm that he hadn't paid attention to this video.

The key was that this financial blogger seemed to have a grudge. He hadn't provoked anyone, so why would he post such a video? Wasn't he just trying to get Zhao Neng into trouble?

"Now do you understand how serious this is?" Zhu Tai asked, his tone harsh.

He was starting to regret helping Zhao Neng through his connections because of his wife.

Now, because of this video, his uncle was being grilled in the public eye.

Zhao Neng, of course, knew the consequences of the public backlash.

However, he quickly said, "Brother-in-law, this financial blogger is just grabbing onto our current lack of success. Once we pick up momentum, his words will be meaningless. After all, we haven't been caught doing anything illegal."

"Moreover, our camping site project is ready to open. This project will definitely be a huge success. Who says others can't do the same thing? As long as I can make it work."

"Do you have confidence?" Zhu Tai asked, frowning.

"Brother-in-law, don't you trust me?" Zhao Neng asked with a smile.

"Zhao Neng, this is your last chance. Otherwise, you'd better think about how to wrap things up." Zhu Tai finally nodded, gave a warning, and left.

Zhao Neng knew exactly what his brother-in-law meant.

If this didn't work out, he wouldn't have the courage to continue.

The Liyuan Farm was too strange. He had planned everything perfectly, but he couldn't compete with them. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation in his long business career.

So, this was his last shot.

His assistant quickly prepared the plan and handed it to Zhao Neng.

"Start the promotion immediately and spend 1 million on boosting it," Zhao Neng signed off and immediately instructed.

Soon, the promotional video for Kai Lin Investment's camping site went viral.

Zhao Neng saw the speed at which it became popular and knew the 1 million wasn't wasted.

Now, there should be many tourists booking their campsite, right?

But his assistant rushed in, "Mr. Zhao, it's not good. Our promotional video went viral, but only three people booked our campsite. And the booking system hasn't had any activity for half a day."

"How can this be, even though it's viral?" Zhao Neng couldn't believe it.

The assistant quickly explained, "Mr. Zhao, it's because Liyuan Farm's camping site is also promoting!"

"Isn't that good? It should bring more traffic to us?"

"They are now limiting the number of visitors to 5000 per day, and only those who book the camping site can purchase tickets to the flower sea and bamboo maze."

"What?" Zhao Neng hurriedly took out his phone and found Liyuan Farm's social media account.

Sure enough, he saw their latest post:

"Due to special circumstances, Liyuan Farm will temporarily only accept 5000 visitors per day, and only those who book the camping site can purchase tickets to the flower sea and bamboo maze..."

"They're crazy, not making money?" Zhao Neng's face turned very ugly.

Limiting the number to 5000 a day meant they were turning away a large number of potential visitors, which was a huge loss.

At least several hundred thousand a day, right?

He hadn't expected Liyuan Farm, with their small capital, to be willing to take such a hit.

But if this was the case, he wouldn't get the traffic he needed for his camping site.

What was he supposed to do now?

"Finished."

Zhao Neng realized that in this special online situation, he was facing a serious problem.

Liyuan Farm's latest announcement video went viral, and many tourists were complaining:

"They're only accepting 5000 visitors. I saw the promotional video and tried to book, but it was already full."

"I also tried to book when I saw the video, but I didn't get a spot."

"It seems the online rumors about Liyuan Farm being targeted are true. I just saw the promotional video for Kai Lin Investment's camping site!"

"I saw it too, but no one is booking their campsite. Clearly, they don't have the ability to compete with Liyuan Farm!"

"That campsite is right next to Liyuan Farm. If not for the dirty tricks, that land would have been left for Liyuan Farm to develop, right?"

"..."

With the discussion heating up, the financial blogger's video gained even more traction, with more people tagging the relevant departments of Ming City and Min Province.

This time, the relevant department in Ming City had to issue a statement: "In response to the online discussions about You City, our department has taken note and will conduct an investigation to provide a satisfactory response to everyone!"

Lin Muxue saw the announcement and quickly found Zhang Lin. "Mr. Zhang, look at this announcement from Ming City!"

After watching it, Zhang Lin smiled. "It looks like Kai Lin Investment is in trouble. By the way, how is our camping site doing?"

Lin Muxue explained, "The 5000 spots are all booked. Visitors should start arriving this afternoon."

Just as Lin Muxue predicted, the camping site welcomed its first batch of guests in the afternoon.

Chu Xin had long been eager to visit the Liyuan Farm to see the flower fields and explore the bamboo maze. However, the lack of accommodation had always been a hindrance.

This time, her luck finally turned. She saw a promotional video for the camping site and immediately grabbed a ticket, dragging her boyfriend along.

As they entered the camping site, Chu Xin was immediately captivated by the beautiful surroundings.

"I didn't expect the scenery here to be so stunning," her boyfriend praised.

Chu Xin couldn't agree more.

Not just her, but all the tourists who arrived at the campsite were clearly enchanted by the scenery, showering it with compliments.

Fu Yao, who had been assigned to oversee the camping site, had been diligently working on it, fixing any issues. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride when she heard the tourists' praises, after all, the design was her creation.

The tourists' positive reviews of the camping site didn't just stay as words. Many of them, after settling in, posted videos online, recommending the Liyuan Farm camping site.

This further increased the popularity of the Liyuan Farm camping site.

Especially the next morning, after a good night's rest, the high quality of sleep led many tourists to recommend the camping site even more.

Some even claimed that such a quality of sleep was a blessing for insomniacs, and with so many positive reviews, it became a trending topic.

Zhang Lin saw this trending topic early in the morning.

He knew it was due to the farm's +1 sleep quality attribute.

Naturally, he also saw two other trending videos related to Liyuan Farm.

One was titled, "Kailin Investment's camping site and Liyuan Farm both opened today, but Kailin only welcomed 5 guests. Why did the city of You Cheng lease such a large area of land to them?"

The other was, "Ming City's department has sent investigators to You Cheng to check for any irregular transactions in this matter."

Zhang Lin knew that after being plagued by Kailin Investment for so long, this day of reckoning was finally here.

Kailin Investment had leased so much land, surrounding Liyuan Farm, and it was clear that someone had influenced the Agricultural Bureau.

Now, with the current situation, it was uncertain if the person who influenced the bureau would face consequences, but Zhao Neng was definitely in trouble.

What made Zhang Lin even happier was receiving a call from Huang Tao early in the morning: "Zhang Lin, your skincare cream workshop is finished today. Let's go and inspect it together."

"Sure, I'll be at the farm waiting for you!" Zhang Lin was confident in Huang Tao's work; he was not the type to cut corners, so the project was bound to be excellent.

Indeed, during the inspection, the workshop was completed to a high standard, and even the two oil presses were set up.

Zhang Lin signed the inspection contract and paid the final installment for the factory and the machines.

Even among close friends, it's important to be clear about financial matters, so they followed the proper procedures.

"Feel free to call me anytime if you need anything!" Huang Tao said with a smile before leaving.

"Definitely will," Zhang Lin nodded in response.

Some things didn't need to be said; he would definitely prioritize projects for Huang Tao in the future.

Both of them understood the arrangement.

After seeing Huang Tao off, Zhang Lin called Liu De and Zhang Yuan.

"Boss!" Liu De greeted.

"Mr. Zhang!" Zhang Yuan greeted.

They both respectfully acknowledged him.

Zhang Lin instructed Liu De, "The workshop is now complete. Arrange for someone to press the rapeseed oil, and then I'll have Zhang Yuan teach you the process for making the skincare cream."

"Sure, Boss!" Liu De responded promptly.

Zhang Lin then turned to Zhang Yuan and said, "I plan to establish a farm specialty department. Since you are familiar with the skincare cream project, I want you to head this department. I'll discuss it with my senior."

Zhang Yuan's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Mr. Zhang! I'll do my best!"

As an employee, she naturally wanted to seize good opportunities and advance her career. She hadn't expected such a chance to come so soon.

She now felt that her sister's decision to join Liyuan Farm was indeed the right one.

Zhang Lin nodded. "Alright, I'll hand over the relevant matters to you. You should also contact Lin Mengyao to help you recruit two more people. The staff Liu De arranges will also be under your supervision."

He then called Lin Muxue to inform her about the promotion. Naturally, he wanted to keep her in the loop.

Lin Muxue smiled warmly. "Mr. Zhang, I have no objections. In fact, Zhang Yuan is well-suited for this role. She is meticulous and patient."

She was speaking from the heart.

She had brought her team to Liyuan Farm, and she hoped they would advance and receive raises, proving that her decision was the right one.

With the farm's current status, it was easy for the operations department to hire more people if needed.

After informing Lin Muxue, Zhang Lin received a call from County Chief Liu.

Usually, Zhao Han would handle communications with him, so this sudden call from County Chief Liu must be about something important, likely related to the recent online developments.

Answering the call, he heard County Chief Liu say, "Mr. Zhang, I need to bring someone to see you and discuss a matter. Are you available now?"

"Of course, I'm always available for you, County Chief Liu!" Zhang Lin responded with a smile, then hung up and returned to the office center.

Shortly after, County Chief Liu arrived with someone Zhang Lin recognized—Zhao Neng.

However, Zhao Neng looked visibly dejected and unwell.

"Mr. Zhang, you should recognize this person!" County Chief Liu said with a smile as they entered Zhang Lin's office.

Zhang Lin looked at Zhao Neng and said with a smile, "Of course I remember. Mr. Zhao, the CEO of Kai Lin Investment, gave me some valuable advice at a business conference. I benefited a lot from it!"

"..." Zhao Neng’s face twitched when he heard this.

Was this a slap in the face?

Back then, he thought he had the upper hand and could easily win the deal, but he ended up being completely outmaneuvered. Today, he came here with a sense of humiliation.

But now, he didn’t want to argue. He said dejectedly, "Mr. Zhang, I’m here to admit defeat. I’ve invested in 40,000 acres of land, with a rent of 60 million yuan. I’ve also invested 75 million yuan in a camping site and 25 million yuan in a flower sea, with normal operating costs of 50 million and 20 million yuan, respectively. I hope Mr. Zhang can acquire these businesses!"

Zhang Lin looked at Zhao Neng as if he were a fool and said, "Mr. Zhao, when did we ever bet? What are you talking about admitting defeat? Besides, these businesses are of no use to me. Your camping site is a mess, how can I operate it? As for your flower sea, it’s another mess. I’d have to open it for free to attract tourists, and even then, they might not come. And those 40,000 acres of land, my Liyuan Farm doesn’t need that much land right now."

This made Zhao Neng quite angry.

After all, he had put a lot of effort into these projects.

Liu Xian, who had been listening, felt that Zhao Neng was acting foolish and reminded him, "Mr. Zhao, if you’re here with sincerity, let’s talk business. If not, I’ll leave. After all, I’m only here on behalf of the Secretary."

Zhao Neng sighed. His brother-in-law’s uncle couldn’t come, and he was busy dealing with people from Ming City.

If things went badly here, he would be in a terrible position, especially since his businesses were still in You City.

"Mr. Zhang, how about a 50% discount, 65 million yuan?" Zhao Neng gritted his teeth and gave a number. Even if his camping site and flower sea were undervalued, he couldn’t lower the price any further.

Zhang Lin waved his hand and said, "Mr. Zhao, you didn’t hear me clearly. Your businesses are of no use to me. 40,000 acres of land? When would I develop it? I can’t afford to pay rent for it. You should handle it yourself!"

Zhao Neng’s face turned black.

But he couldn’t argue. If the situation weren’t so dire, he wouldn’t have to do this.

Liu Xian then said with a smile, "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zhao, how about this: Mr. Zhang can lease the land, and the county will provide support with a year of free rent. Mr. Zhao, you can make a further concession. What do you think?"

The last two words were spoken in a very neutral tone.

Zhao Neng’s brows furrowed.

He understood what was being implied and gritted his teeth again. "40 million yuan, no less!"

40 million yuan was indeed a low price. Kai Lin Investment had invested so much in the land and two projects, and now it was being sold at a discount.

While the camping site and flower sea were useless to Kai Lin Investment, they would be useful to him. He could connect the two areas with a road, divide the camping site into high-end and regular zones, and increase the price of the flower sea, offering a 50 yuan ticket that included both flower seas.

This could still be a thriving business.

So, he smiled and said, "Mr. Zhao, I can acquire your businesses for the sake of Mr. Liu, but my farm’s account is short of funds. I need about ten days to raise the money!"

Zhao Neng was about to grind his teeth to dust. Could he really wait ten days and still take such a huge loss?

He needed to settle this today.

He had no choice but to say helplessly, "Mr. Zhang, you can sign an IOU and pay when you have the funds!"

This was completely unreasonable.

He was already selling at a loss, and now the other party wouldn’t even pay in full, and he had to be humble.

Damn it!

"Then let’s do as Mr. Zhao suggests," Zhang Lin said with a full smile.

After that, things were simple. With the county’s guarantee, Liyuan Farm and Kai Lin Investment quickly signed the relevant contracts. Liyuan Farm paid 20 million yuan upfront and owed another 20 million yuan, acquiring Kai Lin Investment’s camping site, flower sea, and the 40,000 acres of land.

After signing the contract, Zhao Neng left without a word.

He felt that every word he said would make him bleed internally. His heart was bleeding.

After Zhao Neng left, Liu Xian smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang, now that you’ve taken over the camping site and flower sea, you need to take care of the 200 employees. Their salaries should be the same as those of your farm."

This was his main concern.

After all, 200 jobs were at stake.

Zhang Lin smiled and said, "Mr. Liu, don’t worry. Having these employees saves us a lot of trouble!"

"Then there’s no need to limit the number of tourists, right?" Liu Xian asked.

"I think we can start accepting 15,000 tourists from tomorrow," Zhang Lin replied, giving his assurance.

Adding a camping site and a flower sea, receiving 5,000 more tourists was no problem.

Liu Xian was very satisfied with the outcome. By sacrificing Zhao Neng’s interests, he had solved You City’s problems. The secretary would be safe, and wouldn’t interfere in this area again. Liyuan Farm had taken a big bite out of the pie and grown even larger, increasing its capacity from 10,000 to 15,000 tourists.

It’s worth noting that You City had many tourist attractions, but last year’s average daily visitors were only 20,000.

In other words, one Liyuan Farm was almost equal to all of You City’s attractions combined.

After seeing Liu Xian off, Zhang Lin immediately called Lin Mengyao and others to a meeting. Now that they had taken this big bite from Kai Lin Investment, they needed to make the necessary arrangements.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end