Small western-style house, reception room.
Chen Cheng had already figured it out before he came, how big the pot was, that much rice he should cook.
2 billion is not a small amount for him now.
According to the current pool of funds and daily interest rate, it would take Chen Cheng about 55 days to gather that much money.
"Mr. Chen, has Mr. Jin come back yet?" Hoshino Mika sat anxiously beside.
Chen Cheng glanced at the time, it was almost one o’clock in the afternoon.
"He should be back soon."
Hoshino Mika took a deep breath, "Mr. Chen, I really appreciate that you introduced me to Mr. Jin."
"No need to be so polite, but in the end, it still depends on Mr. Jin’s decision."
Just as he finished speaking, footsteps could be heard from outside the door.
Both of them turned towards the door, and the moment Hoshino Mika saw Jin Baogen, she stood up first.
Jin Baogen locked his eyes on Mika’s face and then showed a faint smile, "Please, have a seat."
He also sat down, "I didn’t expect that I would meet someone from the Xingye family, and it turns out to be Xiong Yi’s granddaughter."
Jin Baogen opened the topic first.
Chen Cheng seemed to understand the origin of that photo of Mika now.
Hoshino Mika bowed slightly, "Mr. Jin, I apologize for rushing here; the situation is quite urgent, and I hope you can help me."
Jin Baogen crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair, "Let’s hear it, what’s the situation?"
Mika handed over the iPad which Chen Cheng hadn’t checked, and she outlined the difficulties the company was facing as well as the reasoning behind the need for funds in detail.
"Mr. Jin, Xingye Products had a stable clientele and a good reputation in the banking sector, and business was proceeding quite smoothly."
"But due to the influence of the US Dollar on the yen, the interest spread has widened, and this has increased our inflation pressure."
"And the most direct impact on the banking sector is on our mining production."
Mika spoke word by word: "Mining costs keep rising, including labor, equipment, and energy costs."
Her manner was very sincere,
"The bank loans are about to come due, and the company’s current cash flow can’t cover it. If we can’t get funding in time, the banks we work with will take drastic measures, not only severely tarnishing our reputation in the banking sector but potentially causing a halt in our mining operations, plunging the entire Xingye Products into a deep crisis."
Head low, she said, "Therefore, Mr. Jin, I earnestly ask for your help."
Jin Baogen glanced at Chen Cheng, and instead of making an immediate decision, he said:
"The first time I met your grandfather was when I was twenty-nine."
Mika lifted her head, placing her hands on her knees, quietly listening.
"Back then, he was in his prime, ambitious, leading Xingye Products to break through barriers in the market."
A nostalgic look appeared in Jin Baogen’s eyes, "His decisiveness and wisdom left a deep impression on me."
After a pause, Jin Baogen continued: "Now seeing you hustling for your family business, I feel quite moved."
His gaze deepened, "But, little Mika."
Jin Baogen said, "In my entire life, I have never engaged in equity trading, so this matter carries too much risk for me."
Mika quickly spoke, "Mr. Jin, the fixed income of Xingye Products..."
Jin Baogen raised a hand, "Mika, let me finish."
Mika straightened up.
"I understand your urgency and also know the past glory of Xingye Products. But today’s situation is different from the past, the market is unpredictable, and the risks are hard to estimate."
"I also have numerous projects in operation here, and the funds are already allocated; it’s really hard to mobilize 2 billion at this moment."
Jin Baogen said composedly: "Furthermore, although your grandfather Xiong Yi and I knew each other, in the business world, emotions often cannot influence decisions."
"If I rashly agreed to help you, it wouldn’t only be irresponsible to myself but also to you. If this investment fails, it would push Xingye Products deeper into the abyss."
"So, little Mika, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but I am really powerless."
After hearing this, Mika’s eyes teared up, her lips quivered slightly, yet she also realized the reasoning in Jin Baogen’s words and found herself unable to object.
After a moment of silence, she stood up, bowing deeply,"Mr. Jin, I’ll take my leave first."
Jin Baogen also stood up, "I am sorry, Mika. I couldn’t help you."
"You’re too kind, Mr. Jin."
As they left the small western-style house, Hoshino Mika walked ahead, head lowered.
Chen Cheng walked beside her, recalling Jin Baogen’s words—clearly a reluctance to help, rather than financial constraint.
Chen Cheng turned his head, "What is it?"
"Do you have an old saying here?" Hoshino Mika stopped.
"’When people walk away, the tea turns cold’?" Mei Xiang asked.
Chen Cheng, with one hand in his pocket, said, "Mr. Jin, he too has his own difficulties. With the current situation, 2 billion isn’t something most people can produce."
Mei Xiang shook her head, "I came to Beijing thinking I could get help from Mr. Jin, but instead..."
A breeze blew by, messing up Mei Xiang’s hair, her appearance becoming even more haggard.
She looked up at Chen Cheng, "Mr. Chen, can you help me?"
Until now, Chen Cheng hadn’t understood Wen Shulin’s intention in arranging this.
He said, "Why don’t you go directly to Shulin? Isn’t the CGG payment faster?"
Mei Xiang pursed her lips, "If CGG contributes this 2 billion, the nature of it changes."
Mei Xiang explained, "CGG’s capital injection would lead to a series of complex commercial and legal issues. Moreover, it could affect Xingye Products’ independence and reputation in Japan itself. We would prefer to find a more low-key, purely financial source."