Chapter 165: Chapter 108: The Conspiracy Strikes
Having discovered that there were no issues with the Company’s funds, Yan Fei said, “Pingping, I’ve decided to purchase that Unfinished Building and use it as our Company’s future Headquarters.”
Lu Pingping frowned and said, “Although that building is sturdy, its cost is too high and doesn’t comply with the cost-control principle. Plus, while its main construction has been completed, it hasn’t been fitted out at all. After buying it, we would need to keep investing money into it, driving its cost even higher. I always feel that this isn’t necessary and it’s simply too wasteful.”
Recently, Yan Fei had been living a life of life and death. During his time in Japan, he even slept with one eye open, so he took safety very seriously. In choosing the Company’s Headquarters, he also made safety a top priority. He couldn’t fully trust those ordinary buildings, for fear that one day they might be set on fire or bombed. He might not even have time to react before getting killed. Staying in such a sturdy building, at the very least, would give him enough time to respond to danger and not end up a confused ghost.
Yan Fei said, “Pingping, I know the cost of this building is a bit high, but it’s still acceptable for us at present. And since its main construction is already finished, but yet to be decorated, it’s convenient for us to plan the interior design. Don’t you want to arrange the Office Building you work in according to your own wishes?”
Upon hearing Yan Fei’s seductive suggestion, the previously opposed Lu Pingping started to feel tempted. Women are naturally inclined to beautify things, not only themselves but also their rooms. A building that is ready for Lu Pingping to design and plan could satisfy all her dreams about house design and planning.
Seeing that Lu Pingping was somewhat tempted, Yan Fei quickly struck while the iron was hot and said, “Only such a sturdy building can protect our safety. Have you forgotten about that time when the Japanese barged into our Office intending to take us away?”
After being reminded by Yan Fei, Lu Pingping suddenly recalled the scene where Hideo Oogawa almost kidnapped her and Yan Fei, which instantly sent a shiver down her spine. She hastily said, “I understand. Since you building so much, let’s go ahead and buy it!”
Yan Fei said, “Then we must have someone contact the Shanghai Municipal Government as soon as possible to submit our purchase proposal and then enter the negotiation phase. I hope to acquire the building in the shortest possible time and start the design and renovation work. It’s July now, and I hope we can move into this building by the end of this year.”
Lu Pingping said, “Whether we can move into this building by the end of the year largely depends on the efficiency of the Government. But I’ll do my best, and hope everything goes as planned! By the way, do we need to take out a loan from a bank to buy this building?”
Yan Fei shook his head and said, “It’s better for us not to take out bank loans. It’s not that I’m worried about high bank interest rates, but that I don’t trust them. Bank loans always require something as collateral, right? What’s the most valuable thing in our Company? The first thing is definitely the Weight Loss Cookies formula, which we can’t put up as collateral. The second would be the Company’s shares. As soon as we request a loan, the bank will definitely want our shares as mortgage collateral, and they’d assess the value of these shares according to their own standards. If our Company’s development remains smooth and cash flow is abundant, then sure, everything’s fine, the bank won’t give us trouble because we can bring them huge benefits. But if something goes wrong with our Company, the bank might immediately reduce the assessed price of the mortgage collateral and then pressure us to add more collateral or repay the loan right away. If that happens, our Company might end up being devoured by the bank. So I’d rather our Company develop slowly than seek financing from others, borrow money, or take loans from banks.”
As an expert in management and well versed in the workings of capital, Lu Pingping grew anxious after listening to Yan Fei and said, “Fei, I understand your concerns, and the situations you described do happen in reality. But in business, it’s important to share benefits, and monopolizing is the last thing we want. If we don’t bring the banking consortium into our circle of interests, they will stand by when we need their help in the future or even kick us when we’re down. You should realize how powerful interest groups