Chapter 658: Want Priority Procurement Rights? Fine! Increase the Order to 1.5 Billion US Dollars

Dusk settled heavily, and the waters of Swan Lake were the first to darken.

The weeping willows on the bank lost their daytime verdancy, becoming inky silhouettes when viewed from afar.

A massive LED screen on the department store building scrolled through advertisements, while fashionably dressed young people walked by, laughing and chatting with Kawangka Milk Tea in hand.

Chen Yansen pulled his gaze back and adjusted his shirt cuffs. Luzhou Prefecture was just ahead, at the next intersection.

He had originally come to Luzhou just to attend the unveiling ceremony for the group’s headquarters, but being part of this world meant that certain social obligations were unavoidable.

For example, he had to meet with Jin Junhua, the chairman of Rongshida. After all, half of the Orange E1 electric fans had been delivered to customers on time thanks to Rongshida’s manufacturing assistance.

Then there was Xu Minggang of Xin City International. As the contractor for the Senlian Headquarters Building, it was only natural that they should meet as well.

A moment later, Lao Huang turned the steering wheel to the right and parked the car in a spot in front of the hotel.

Luzhou Prefecture was a typical antique-style Huizhou building with blue tiles and white walls. The evening breeze rustled the wind chimes on the eaves, creating a crisp, clear sound.

Inside the banquet hall, Xu Minggang pulled out his phone. Catching sight of a message from his assistant, he quickly stood up and started walking out, his stern face instantly breaking into a brilliant smile.

Xu Xiangdong of Huazhang Liquor Store was with his daughter, chatting with Shi Yuzhu, the Chairman of Giant Group and Vice President of the Huian Chamber of Commerce. “President Shi, this is my daughter, Xu Jiujiu, the founder of Magic Camera.”

“A strong father has an equally impressive daughter. Boss Xu, you’ve really raised a fine daughter.” Shi Yuzhu raised his red wine glass and gently clinked it against Xu Xiangdong’s, his tone full of praise. “Magic Camera gained over a hundred million downloads worldwide in just four months. Among young entrepreneurs, Miss Xu is definitely a front-runner.”

In his opinion, Xu Jiujiu’s capabilities were not to be underestimated.

A hundred million downloads was no small number. Many internet companies that had been around for over a decade still hadn’t broken that figure in total users.

“Thank you for the high praise, President Shi, but among the young entrepreneurs of Huian Province, Chen Yansen is the truly incredible one.”

Xu Jiujiu responded with poise and grace, her words both polite and humble.

Influenced by her father, she had grown up seeing and hearing about such things, and she appeared perfectly at ease in these kinds of business settings.

“Chen Yansen? You couldn’t find another young person to compare with him, not just in this country, but in the entire world.”

Shi Yuzhu gave a wry smile and shook his head.

Last year, the overseas media had called Zuckerberg the “Lighthouse Country’s Chen Yansen,” but no one was saying that this year. Apparently, they felt the gap between the two was too great, and Zuckerberg was no longer worthy of the comparison.

Forget young entrepreneurs like Xu Jiujiu—even he himself, in terms of wealth and influence, was far from being Chen Yansen’s equal.

Moreover, after the debut of the Deep Blue Battery, a host of research institutes in classified fields were chasing after Deep Blue Technology to pay for patent licensing fees. One could only imagine the weight he carried in the minds of the higher-ups.

One only had to look at the Yanjing Internet Conference in mid-August, where Chen Yansen was invited to be the first speaker, to understand the importance of Deep Blue Technology.

Shi Yuzhu knew perfectly well that Giant Group was just a gaming company. It held little value for the nation or its people and was simply no match for Senlian Capital.

That’s why he quit while he was ahead, retreating to the background early on to live a semi-retired life of feasting and leisure.

Just then, Xu Jiujiu caught sight of Xu Minggang walking toward the exit out of the corner of her eye. Her heart stirred; she knew Chen Yansen had arrived.

Everyone noticed Xu Minggang’s movement. Some followed him immediately, some hesitated, while others remained in place, looking completely unruffled.

「Elsewhere.」

The moment Chen Yansen got out of the car, he saw Xu Minggang striding purposefully toward him. His voice arrived before he did: “President Chen!”

As he got closer, Xu Minggang lowered his voice and added, “Junior Brother Chen, it’s not easy getting a chance to drink with you. Tonight, no matter what, we’re not going home sober.”

“I waited in Xucheng for over half a year and never saw Brother Xu come looking for me with a bottle. Don’t tell me you have a problem with me?”

Chen Yansen shook Xu Minggang’s right hand and teased him with a smile.

“Junior Brother Chen, you’re dropping four billion on your new headquarters. I had to stay in Luzhou to keep an eye on the project’s progress for you, didn’t I? I wanted to go, I really did, but I just couldn’t get away.”

Xu Minggang shrugged, offering up the pleasantry.

“President Jin, President Liang,” Chen Yansen said, greeting Jin Junhua of Rongshida and Liang Zhirong of Jinghuai Motors respectively.

“President Chen!” Jin Junhua and Liang Zhirong nodded in response.

“This is Chen Baoxian, the chairman of Qiaqia Food; Shang Xiaobo from Honglu Steel; Yu Zhuyun from Huahuan Investment…”

Xu Minggang held onto Chen Yansen, introducing everyone to him one by one.

This group covered a range of industries, including food, building materials, investment, real estate, and home appliances. Out in the world, every single one of them was a fabulously wealthy tycoon.

Yet at this moment, they were like elementary school students, lining up to greet Chen Yansen one by one.

The group spent a good ten-plus minutes just at the entrance. By the time Chen Yansen walked into the banquet hall, the clock on the wall was pointing to exactly six o’clock.

Xu Minggang led Chen Yansen to a seat at the main table. Across from them, Shi Yuzhu took the initiative to speak. “President Chen, I’ve heard so much about you.”

“President Shi, I should be the one saying that. A pleasure to meet you!”

Chen Yansen replied.

‘In his memory, every time he turned on the TV as a kid, he would see those brainwashing “Brain Platinum” commercials. It was incredibly annoying.’

Shi Yuzhu gave an embarrassed laugh. He could vaguely sense the subtext in Chen Yansen’s words but didn’t take it to heart.

To him, in the health supplement market of over a decade ago, as long as you dared to jump in, you could basically just pick up money off the ground.