Chapter 224: Each with Their Own Calculations

To be honest, Chen Feng was not very familiar with Cai Zhixin. Their previous interactions were all due to buying and selling houses. Now, to say that he would lend twenty million to Cai Zhixin, everyone present was stunned.

It was understandable to partner up on a project to make money, but to just lend him twenty million like that, everyone was a little confused.

Cai Zhixin was also stunned for a moment, forgetting to react.

It was Tao Yaoyang who came back to his senses first and asked with a smile, “You are indeed generous. But how exactly will you lend these twenty million? What’s the interest rate?”

Chen Feng looked at Cai Zhixin calmly and asked, “That depends on how long Zhixin wants to borrow it for?”

Cai Zhixin finally came back to his senses and quickly said, “It’s best to borrow it for a year. You all know that for this kind of official project, the repayment can sometimes be a bit slow.”

Chen Feng nodded, “A year is no problem. My interest is not excessive. As long as you pay me back twenty-five million after a year, how about it?”

A loan of twenty million, with an interest of five million a year, was really not much. In the private sector, it was already considered low interest.

Tao Yaoyang asked with a smile, “Then do you need any collateral?”

Chen Feng shook his head, “I don’t need any collateral. As long as Brother Tao is a witness on the loan contract.”

Tao Yaoyang glanced at Cai Zhixin and saw his pleading expression, so he smiled and nodded, “Alright. I’ll be this witness.”

“Thank you, Brother Tao! Thank you, Chen Feng! I’ve made a friend of you. If you need anything in the future, just let me know.”

Cai Zhixin’s face was full of joy. He poured himself a glass of juice, stood up, and toasted Chen Feng, “Chen Feng, I’ll toast you with this glass of juice. Thank you again. I’ll drink it.”

After saying that, he drank the full glass of juice in one gulp.

They hadn’t ordered any wine before. On the table was only the fruit juice brewed by this restaurant, which was sweet and sour and very delicious.

Chen Feng didn’t put on airs. Seeing this, he also picked up the juice in front of him, stood up, and said with a smile, “You’re too polite. I’m not lending it to you for free. I’m charging interest. I’ll drink it too.”

After drinking this glass of juice, Chen Feng didn’t say much more and sat down. His attitude made Cai Zhixin even more satisfied and grateful.

This time, he was at the end of his rope. After his divorce, his father had basically cut off his financial supply and let him fend for himself. He could only rely on his previous savings and real estate to live.

In addition, after several struggles in the stock market, his assets had shrunk rapidly. That was why he had thickened his skin and begged Tao Yaoyang, his boss whom he had paid respects to, to find a profitable project, and then he had sold a house at a great loss to raise money.

But Tao Yaoyang had already told him that he could help him find a project, but he had to find a way to get the operating funds himself. So, after getting Tao Yaoyang’s consent, he planned to pull in Chen Feng, this big gold master.

Tao Yaoyang’s selling of the house before was just a side matter. At the same time, of course, it was also to test Chen Feng’s financial strength.

Seeing that Chen Feng bought his house without even blinking, it certainly proved his strong funds. In addition, he was an outsider with no foundation. Of course, the two of them were willing to bring him into their circle.

It wasn’t that they planned to cheat Chen Feng. After all, this society now emphasized cooperation and win-win, not eating alone.

Especially when they couldn’t figure out the other party’s true background, cooperation was the most in line with everyone’s interests. And how many of those who ate alone had a good end?

Besides, Chen Feng had strong funds. Even if it didn’t seem like he had any foundation on the surface, who knew if there were powerful people behind him?

In this day and age, for anyone who was truly rich, who didn’t have a few powerful relatives, friends, or backers behind them?

So, for such a big gold master, it was best not to offend him if they could.

Moreover, the other party was not a fool, and not so easy to cheat. In addition, Tao Yaoyang was still thinking of raising funds for his fund. He certainly didn’t want to offend this big gold master, Chen Feng, for the time being.

So, Tao Yaoyang also planned to take this opportunity to help Cai Zhixin contract the project, and at the same time let Chen Feng get some benefits, and also let Chen Feng see some of his own energy.

After Chen Feng had tasted the sweetness this time, it was considered that he owed him a favor. Then, the next time he wanted to pull him into his fund company, it would probably be much simpler.

This was Tao Yaoyang’s calculation from the beginning.

As a second-generation rich kid, he had accumulated a huge fortune by “starting from scratch” over the years, not just by relying on his family’s connections. The most important thing was that he was capable, bold, meticulous, and good at calculating. At the same time, he was not very greedy and understood the principle of sharing benefits.

In this way, his business could be done for a long time and stably, without making enemies everywhere.

Cai Zhixin didn’t know that Tao Yaoyang wanted to raise funds from Chen Feng to invest in his fund. He had always thought that his big brother was doing this entirely to help him, and he was very grateful.

As for whether Tao Yaoyang would lend him twenty million like Chen Feng, Cai Zhixin was not very concerned. Because this project mainly required a large initial investment and a lot of advance funds. In the later stage, it didn’t actually require too much funds.

And if he was really short of money in the later stage, would Tao Yaoyang, as the introducer, middleman, and behind-the-scenes beneficiary, stand by and watch? Certainly not.

Besides, at that time, he would have a legitimate reason. If he really went to beg his old man, his old man would definitely help. After all, he was his old man’s biological son.

And Chen Feng was not so tactless as to ask Tao Yaoyang if he would also lend twenty million to Cai Zhixin.

The reason was simple. Even an outsider like him had lent twenty million to Cai Zhixin. Would Tao Yaoyang, as Cai Zhixin’s big brother, not lend? Not to mention, he had just sold a house and received 22 million.

This meal could be said to be a happy one for both the host and the guests.

At least Tao Yaoyang and Cai Zhixin were very satisfied.

It was already evening, and the bank was closed, so it was not good to handle large transfers.

So, Chen Feng arranged to meet Cai Zhixin at the bank tomorrow morning.

This meal lasted until almost nine o’clock in the evening before it ended.

Finally, when they were about to leave, the owner of this private restaurant personally came over to greet them. Tao Yaoyang was very good at being a person and acted as an introducer to get Chen Feng a membership card here.

To get a membership card here, you had to be introduced by an existing member, and the quota was limited.

The annual membership fee started at 200,000. Ordinary members were 200,000, and VIP members were 500,000.

Ordinary members could only book a banquet here a week in advance. VIP members could book three days in advance, and supreme members could book at any time. Tao Yaoyang was a supreme member here, and now there was no quota for supreme members.

Chen Feng was very critical of the membership system here. However, after eating the food here, when he ate at other places, not to mention that the grade was much worse, the taste was also the same.

And this ancient architectural courtyard was said to have been the residence of a prince before, and it was a cultural relic protection unit. Ordinary people could not enter. This was style and grade.

In addition, with the special ingredients and the ancestral Xiuzhou cuisine cooking skills, it was no wonder that some rich people came to patronize. More importantly, this place was secret and quiet enough, which was convenient for rich people to bring some people with special identities here to consume, talk about business, and enhance their friendship.

Chen Feng didn’t have this need, but the taste of the food here was indeed the best he had ever eaten. Chen Feng was not short of money, and Tao Yaoyang had kindly introduced him, so he didn’t hesitate much and directly swiped a million to get a VIP card here. 500,000 of which was the annual membership fee, and the other 500,000 was the money paid in advance.

In this way, Chen Feng also experienced the consumption of a real rich person.

After leaving this ancient building, they went their separate ways.

Wu Mengting drove, and Chen Feng and Sun Xiaorui both sat in the back.

“Brother, are you really planning to lend twenty million to that person?”

Not long after the car started, Wu Mengting, who had been holding it in for a long time, finally spoke up.

Chen Feng nodded, “Of course, it’s all settled. Besides, I can earn five million in interest in a year. Why not earn it?”

“Aren’t you afraid that they will team up to cheat you? What will you do if the other party doesn’t pay you back then?” Wu Mengting asked with concern.

Chen Feng smiled confidently, “They really have no intention of cheating me this time. The project they mentioned should be real. When Cai Zhixin makes money, he himself said at least twenty or thirty million. How can he be short of my five million? Besides, with this loan contract in black and white, it’s impossible for him to go back on his word. I can totally sue him in court. This is a society ruled by law.”

“Is that project real? Are they really so kind?” Wu Mengting still didn’t quite believe it.

Chen Feng smiled and nodded, “It’s real.”

At first, Chen Feng was also very suspicious that this was a trap and that the two of them were trying to cheat him. But later, he immediately thought of his mysterious sixth sense that could “warn in advance.”

At that time, his sixth sense did not warn him at all. On the contrary, it vaguely made him feel that this project was really profitable.

But Chen Feng was really not very interested in this profitable project. Instead of working hard to participate in this project, wasn’t it more fragrant to trade stocks easily?

However, the other party had good intentions after all. If he didn’t appreciate it, he would really offend these two local snakes.

Especially Tao Yaoyang, this boss-level figure. Although Chen Feng didn’t know his specific family background, Cai Zhixin, a famous local rich second generation, was so subservient in front of him. In addition, with the No. 8 villa in Red Villa Bay, could he be simple?

Chen Feng was not afraid of him, but there was no need to offend him. Besides, the other party had always been polite to him, sold him the No. 8 villa at a low price, and even treated him to a meal.

So, Chen Feng came up with this idea of lending money. First, since he felt that this project was profitable, he was not worried that the other party would not repay the money if he lent it to Cai Zhixin. On the contrary, he could earn a sum of interest. Second, it was also considered making friends with two local snakes. Whether it would be useful in the future or not, it was definitely better to be friends than enemies.

Of course, the most important thing was that Chen Feng now looked at money very lightly. It was only twenty million. Besides, if he lent it out, he would also get interest, so he wouldn’t lose out.

“I still don’t believe the other party can be so kind.” Wu Mengting was a little stubborn and didn’t believe it. “If this project is so profitable, why would they pull you in since you’re not related to them?”

Chen Feng explained patiently, “This is actually very simple. Cai Zhixin is short of money, and Tao Yaoyang’s identity makes it difficult for him to get directly involved. And I have money, and I’m an outsider. They can control me very well. To put it simply, if they partner with someone else, they’re afraid of the news leaking, and they’ll have to share a portion of the profits. But with me, it’s different. For example, if they partner with someone else, they’ll have to give up 50% of the profits under the same conditions. But with me, they only need to give up 30%, or even less.”

Sun Xiaorui reminded him, “That Cai Zhixin told you before that the profits would be split fifty-fifty.”

Chen Feng smiled, “What he said at that time might be true. After all, he was eager to pull me in. But people’s hearts are unpredictable. When I really invest the money, I don’t know anything about the project, and it’s impossible for me to keep a close eye on it. He has ways to cheat me. For example, by over-calculating the costs and under-calculating the profits. In addition, I think he meant that I had to contribute at least 70% or 80% of the funds to get a fifty-fifty split. With other partners, it wouldn’t be so easy to get away with.”

The two women were a little enlightened.

Wu Mengting said with some injustice, “I knew they weren’t so kind. They just think you have money and are easy to control, so they planned to pull you in. And there may be other calculations. That Tao Yaoyang looks insidious and cunning. We should have less contact with people like him in the future.”

Chen Feng smiled and agreed, “You’re not wrong. Tao Yaoyang looks like a calculating person. But this kind of person is from an extraordinary background, is good at calculating people, is handsome, and has money. He’s really a favorite of heaven. Unlike me, a farmer’s son, who has experienced the harshness of society since I was a child, and only through hard work and good luck have I achieved this little achievement.”

“Is it very hard for you to make money now?” Wu Mengting couldn’t help but complain.

Sun Xiaorui didn’t say anything, but she also deeply agreed in her heart. It was really too easy for Chen Feng to make money now.

“It’s very hard. Do you think it’s easy to make money from stock trading? Every time I choose a stock, I have to use countless brain cells. In addition, I have to secretly establish some unspeakable interpersonal relationships, which is also very hard and troublesome.”

“Alright, alright. You’ve worked hard.”

After Wu Mengting said this perfunctorily, she didn’t say anything more and drove silently.

The next day, at around nine in the morning, Chen Feng came to the nearby bank as promised. Under the witness of a lawyer and Tao Yaoyang, he signed a loan contract and transferred twenty million to Cai Zhixin.

After receiving the money, Cai Zhixin was immediately happy and said he wanted to treat them, but Chen Feng managed to refuse.

And Tao Yaoyang also smiled and invited Chen Feng, saying that there was a high-end gathering in their circle tomorrow, and there would be some business tycoons and some celebrities and socialites attending. If Chen Feng went, he would have someone send him an invitation later.

But in the end, Chen Feng directly said that he was not interested in this kind of gathering and would not go.

Although Tao Yaoyang was mentally prepared, he was also a little stunned. He had said it so clearly. This was a high-end gathering, with business tycoons, celebrities, and socialites attending, but Chen Feng still didn’t go.

Tao Yaoyang could only smile bitterly and say, “Chen Feng, you can’t be like this. You’re a person with some assets now. You can’t just stay at home and be a homebody all day, right? Participating in more gatherings like this and getting to know more powerful people will only be good for you, not bad.”

Chen Feng said very frankly, “I don’t like to make too many friends. I just want to live my own little life. I appreciate your kindness.”

Tao Yaoyang was really impressed. He could only shake his head slightly with a complicated expression, then waved his hand at him and turned to leave.

---

(End of chapter)