Chapter 71: I’ve Come to Repay, Not to Borrow! [Part Two]

“Director Wang, there’s a gentleman named Huang here to see you!” In the deputy director’s office of GS Bank in WZ City, Wang De was frowning over a financial report when his secretary came in with the message.

“If he’s not someone I know well, I don’t want to see him. Can’t you see I’m busy?” Director Wang replied irritably.

“But you’ve met this person once before,” the secretary said in a low voice.

“Meeting once doesn’t make us close, does it?” Director Wang glared at his secretary. “Xiao Xu, you know how critical things are right now. Vice Director Liu and I are only a few tens of millions apart. Do you understand what your priorities should be?”

“Yes, which is why I came to tell you personally—the visitor is Chairman Huang from Jiangnan.”

“Chairman Huang? Huang He!” Director Wang’s hand trembled noticeably. He immediately said, “Quickly invite Chairman Huang in—no, I’ll go greet him myself. And as for you, brew a pot of my Biluochun tea from Dongting Mountain and bring it to my office.”

“But Director, that’s your—”

“Enough talk, just go brew it!” At Director Wang’s urging, the secretary hurried off to make tea. Director Wang straightened his attire, put on his professional smile, and bustled out to personally welcome Huang He into his office.

“Director Wang, your enthusiasm is enough to startle me!” Huang He greeted him with a broad smile.

“Not at all, not at all. You’re my most valued patron; of course I must look after you!” Director Wang’s smile grew even broader as he led Huang He to a seat. “To what do I owe the honor of your visit today, Chairman Huang?”

Huang He laughed. “What else could bring me here but to repay my loan? Frankly, I’m embarrassed—it’s already been three months since your bank’s loan came due. I know this has placed you in a difficult position and forced you to take some risks for me. I can’t delay any longer, so I’ve come to settle my debt today.”

“The first installment of 84.5 million—I’ll pay it all off today. I haven’t brought cash, as the hundred million is already sitting in your bank’s account. We can simply handle the paperwork directly,” Huang He said with a smile. So, he was here to repay his loan.

“But I already told Secretary Leng that I’d come by in a few days to discuss this. Why trouble Chairman Huang to come in person?” Director Wang sounded a bit anxious. The money was already in GS Bank’s account—what was he so worried about?

“I just don’t see the need to wait for the deadline,” Huang He replied with a grin. “If I have the money, I ought to repay the loan. After all, Jiangnan Group isn’t short of funds these days! In fact, we’ve found our golden goose, and within a year, I estimate we’ll be able to repay the full 350 million loan ahead of schedule. That way, Director Wang, you won’t have to—”

“No, please, there’s no need to repay early!” Director Wang exclaimed in alarm.

“What? Is there a problem with early repayment?” Huang He was surprised.

“It’s not that… it’s just… the situation is complicated. There’s really no rush. You should use this capital for greater things, for the expansion of your business. Isn’t that a better use?” Director Wang replied with a forced smile.

“But my leather business is running smoothly, and both the equipment and the market are in place. I really don’t have anywhere to invest such a large sum!” Huang He shook his head. “I’d better just pay off the loan. Having so much debt makes me uneasy. I’m here to repay, not to borrow more!”

“Chairman Huang, that’s not quite right. Look at Delixi Electric—the largest electrical company in Wenzhou. Last year, they borrowed three billion from the bank to enter the logistics and waste management sector.”

“And Aokang Shoes, your peers, also took out several hundred million to buy prime-time advertising on CCTV and expand their market.”

“Red Dragonfly Group did the same, investing billions in marketing and national TV ads!”

“And the real estate firms are even more aggressive—their bank loans are three times their total assets, and they’re still out acquiring land nationwide!”

“Even my third aunt, who knows almost nothing about business, mortgaged all her property to buy an apartment in Shanghai, hoping to drive up housing prices and increase the net worth of Shanghai residents!”

“Look around—every entrepreneur and even individuals across the country are borrowing to grow. Why are you in such a hurry to repay?” Director Wang reasoned earnestly.

“You make a good point! Actually, there is an industry I have my eye on,” Huang He nodded.

“Then you should go for it! With an entrepreneur of your caliber at the helm, success is guaranteed!” Director Wang encouraged him immediately.

“It’s just that the entry cost for this industry is rather high, and the initial investment is substantial. I estimate it’ll take about five to six hundred million to get started. Now is the best time to enter—miss this window and the opportunity may be lost forever. But I really don’t have the funds.”

“Well, perhaps I should just settle my loan and stick to the leather business. Maybe I shouldn’t overthink things,” Huang He hesitated.

“Chairman Huang, how could you let such a golden opportunity slip away?” Director Wang’s eyes lit up. “You said yourself, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. If you pass it up, you’ll regret it forever!”

“But I don’t have that kind of money…”

“I do! I can lend it to you!” Director Wang replied with a wide grin.

“You’ll lend it to me?” Huang He was stunned, then shook his head vigorously. “That can’t be. I haven’t even repaid the 350 million I already owe—how can I borrow more?”

“It’s fine. As long as your payments with us are current and your company’s monthly cash flow meets our requirements, GS Bank can provide you with further loans—there’s no issue at all!”

“Let me see. Over the last three months, your monthly inflows reached 150 million; that’s 600 million per year. This kind of volume is the largest in all of Wenzhou. With these figures, I can easily approve a three-year loan of 500 million for you. Since you’ve already borrowed 350 million, that leaves another 150 million available. How does that sound?” Director Wang offered confidently.

“That won’t do!” Huang He shook his head repeatedly. “That would mean my debt would rise from 350 million to 500 million. I can’t accept that—absolutely not!”

“But you already owe 350 million, and owing 500 million sounds more impressive, doesn’t it?” Even Director Wang seemed unconvinced by his own argument.

“Then owing a billion would sound even grander, wouldn’t it?” Huang He retorted. “Director Wang, as I said, I need five to six hundred million. If you only give me 100 million more, what can I do with that? I’d be stranded halfway, neither advancing nor retreating. That’s suicide!”

“Or, perhaps you’d consider lending me a billion?” Huang He asked tentatively.