"Yes, Chairman, there's no point asking him. As an individual entrepreneur who just started in the country, what money could he have for investment? If it weren't for your kindness in allowing him to participate due to pity, he wouldn't even be qualified to be here for this meeting."
The black-haired youth joined in. Although he realized Zhang Liunian might be different from what he thought, it didn't change the fact that the other was just a country bumpkin with no money or power.
It was just that this country bumpkin seemed to have some luck to have reached their presence.
Chen Jiayuan was somewhat helpless as these two helpers became more and more outrageous. He hadn't intended to talk about Zhang Liunian's affairs, but they persistently believed Zhang Liunian had no money. How could this work?
Was he really going to not let Zhang Liunian participate? That wouldn't do. The reason he invited Zhang Liunian today was precisely for the money he had, and he wouldn't let him off easily.
However, this Zhang Liunian seemed unappreciative. He had been so obvious, yet the other was still considering it. What was there to consider? They could settle everything; he just needed to invest.
Furthermore, he himself had said the automotive project was feasible, but when it came to investing and providing money, he remained silent. Wasn't this playing him for a fool?
Although annoyed, Chen Jiayuan couldn't show it. Helplessly, he could only give a signal to his own people. They immediately understood and spoke up:
"Little Huang, you've truly misjudged Comrade Zhang Liunian. He's not a pauper. Yesterday, when the government acquired land, he received ninety million. If he doesn't have money, then very few of us here are wealthy."
"What? Ninety million?" Little Huang Mao was shocked. He looked at Zhang Liunian with disbelief. Seeing his calm expression and no outward reaction, he still couldn't believe Zhang Liunian had ninety million.
In fact, Zhang Liunian's net worth had long surpassed a hundred million, but only Chen Jiayuan knew this. Since he didn't want others to know, he hadn't disclosed it.
"Impossible, how could he have ninety million? If he had such a substantial net worth, he wouldn't be so obscure or so low-key.
Besides, it's rare to find a businessman in the country with a net worth of ninety million. How could he be involved?"
The black-haired youth also didn't believe Zhang Liunian had that much money. Even he, a second-generation rich kid, couldn't easily come up with such a large sum. Why should this country bumpkin, who looked the same age as them, have it?
"Exactly. Don't we know the situation here? When we first arrived, there were fewer than five people who had a net worth of a million.
If it weren't for them improving their situation a bit in the last two years, there would be even fewer. For him, an individual entrepreneur who just arrived, to earn ninety million from land, isn't that a bit too ridiculous?"
Seeing his good brother back on the same side, Little Huang Mao excitedly continued to deny Zhang Liunian's net worth.
It seemed only this way could they feel better.
Seeing them like this, Chen Jiayuan, while not wanting to embarrass them, had to say a few words for Zhang Liunian, thinking about making everyone accept Zhang Liunian's investment.
"It's true. Yesterday, several of us attended the land acquisition meeting and personally witnessed him exchange a piece of land worth hundreds of thousands for ninety million."
Boom!
Chen Jiayuan's personal testimony confirmed that Zhang Liunian had indeed earned ninety million overnight, instantly shocking everyone present.
They had heard some about yesterday's events, that someone had received the lion's share, tens of millions, but they hadn't heard who it was or the exact amount.
Little did they know, the person in question was standing before them today, yet they had mocked him as a destitute poor man. This was a huge blow to their pride.
After all, even for them, Hong Kong businessmen, to casually produce ninety million wasn't easy. It wasn't that they didn't have a net worth of ninety million, but their money was tied up in houses and industries, and they didn't have that much liquid cash on hand.
This was also why they were collaborating with so many people on one project. It was because they were all in the same boat. None of them could casually pull out ninety million; otherwise, they wouldn't need partners, and one person could handle all the project development.
It was only now that they finally understood why the chairman had invited a domestic individual entrepreneur to their meeting. It turned out the chairman wanted the ninety million from Zhang Liunian for investment.
Indeed, if they could secure Zhang Liunian's ninety million, they wouldn't need to seek external business partners. They could directly undertake the entire commercial chain and other projects.
However, Zhang Liunian had just said he needed to consider it, indicating he hadn't yet decided to invest with them.
"How can that be? It's impossible..." Little Huang Mao still didn't believe Zhang Liunian had so much money, muttering impossibilities.
Unfortunately, no one paid attention to what he was saying now. They were all stunned by Zhang Liunian's net worth and, at the same time, understood the chairman's thoughtful intentions.
"So we truly judged him by his cover. We were wrong. I apologize to Comrade Zhang Liunian for my earlier disdain." The black-haired youth, being adaptable, immediately changed his accusatory stance upon realizing Zhang Liunian was even wealthier than them. He turned to apologize.
Seeing him act like a man, Zhang Liunian felt like saying "you're amazing," but recalling how this person had previously taunted him, he merely gave him a faint glance and did not reply.
The black-haired youth could tell he was still angry and could only apologize again, solemnly.
Little Huang Mao watched his good brother yield so quickly and apologize to the country bumpkin they had looked down upon. His face immediately darkened: "Little Hei, what are you doing? Did he just get lucky and get a sum of money? What's so great about that? You don't need to apologize to him. We did nothing wrong."
The pride of them, Hong Kong businessmen, couldn't tolerate such subservience. The black-haired youth's actions would only make the other Hong Kong businessmen look down on him.
The black-haired youth was also aware of the consequences of his actions, but he still wanted to apologize because Zhang Liunian earning ninety million overnight from a single piece of land indicated he wasn't a simple man.
Nor was he like those with narrow vision and no courage that they were familiar with in the domestic business associations. Therefore, the other deserved his apology.
After all, apologizing wouldn't cost him anything; he wouldn't lose a limb. As for losing face, let it be so, because face wasn't worth much anyway.
If Zhang Liunian knew what the black-haired youth was thinking, he would surely say that this was the mindset of a truly wealthy person, because the wealthier people become, the less they care about saving face.
Face is often what ordinary people and the middle class value most.
"Little Huang, we truly judged him by his cover and made a mistake. Saying sorry won't cost us anything.
How about you also apologize, so we can resolve the conflict and get to know each other again?" The black-haired youth knew he was the one who started this and felt somewhat guilty towards his brother, so he wanted to pull him into apologizing together to clear the air with Zhang Liunian and start anew.