coobybook Chapter 506 - 226: Preparing for the Charity Auction (Part 2)
Chapter 506 - 226: Preparing for the Charity Auction (Part 2)
Wang Wangdu, crying, replied: "He wasn’t lost, he... he’s gone. The hospital called to say that during the morning rounds, the old gentleman had already passed away. The body was cold and stiff; he had been gone for quite a while."
Yang Chen felt a weight in his chest, unable to breathe freely, and said: "Alright, I understand. I’ll head over there immediately to take a look."
After hanging up the phone, Yang Chen exhaled deeply and hurried to the hospital.
At the hospital, Guo Minghai’s body had already been moved to the morgue.
Yang Chen was still unwilling to accept it until he saw it with his own eyes.
According to the doctor, Guo Minghai passed peacefully without any disturbances. The nurse checked on him just after four and he was still breathing, but during the morning shift change, they found he had already grown cold.
With a disease like this, the remaining life expectancy is usually between 2 to 10 years. Guo Minghai had managed to last 12 years, which was already a medical miracle. Passing at any time was professional and normal.
When Yang Chen saw him clear-minded yesterday, perhaps it was the legendary final glow before death.
Dammit, if his efficiency had been a bit higher, Yang Chen would have been able to transfer Guo Minghai to Longmei Hospital yesterday. He would have commanded the medical staff to guard him 24/7 without pause, ensuring he’d never have grown cold without anyone noticing.
However, if he had transferred Guo Minghai to Longmei Hospital yesterday, according to the promise he made to the City Government, he would have lost everything he had.
You could only say everything was fate.
Yang Chen felt terrible and didn’t take his car out for drives, opting instead to go home and sleep.
For three consecutive days, Yang Chen didn’t leave his house, staying in his study to paint. He ate, drank, and slept in there.
Yet, in a way, it’s for the best. Now his paintings could sell for ten million each. He painted over a dozen pieces in those three days, which is essentially like creating over a hundred million out of thin air—not bad, huh?
Guo Minghai had no children or siblings, so his funeral had to be organized simply by Yang Chen, Wang Wangdu, the Hai City Government, and a few close companions who came after hearing the news.
They didn’t even host guests. After a few of them quietly paid their respects, the body was sent for cremation, and then laid to rest in the plot he had chosen long ago.
After the funeral, Yang Chen stayed at home for another two days to recover his spirits.
Yang Chen got up early, planning to start work earlier.
At that moment, the travel enthusiast Fang Yingqi, who had been out of touch for a while, called.
Fang Yingqi: "Hey, Yang Chen, when will you be ready to join me on the Sichuan-Tibet adventure?"
Yang Chen: "I’ve been very busy lately, no time to go. Are you heading out?"
Fang Yingqi: "Not yet. If you’re not ready, who would I go with? For a girl like me, it’s too dangerous to go alone. Guess I’ll have to wait until you’re good to go. But are you free today? The weather looks nice. How about a hike together?"
That sounds like a good idea. Breathing some fresh air might lighten my mood.
So, Yang Chen agreed.
He quickly shaved, took a shower, changed clothes, and set out.
Just as he was leaving the villa, Zhang Lijun called from Southern Myanmar to report on the situation.
Everything over there is settled. The new force completely obeying Zhang Lijun has been established and is now taking in the remnants of General Chasan’s forces.
Those are outlaws, just looking to survive. They don’t care who their leader is.
But precisely because of this, Yang Chen found them particularly unreliable.
Yet, they had to be recruited because they were all outlaws, unable to hold legitimate jobs. They could only sell their lives. If Zhang Lijun’s force didn’t take them in, they would join other factions. Why leave another group with a strong force, right?
So, recruitment was necessary, but Yang Chen reminded Zhang Lijun to ensure Bangcai didn’t heavily rely on them, to remain vigilant against them. They could be used as cannon fodder but shouldn’t hold important positions or carry out significant tasks.
Chasan was eliminated, and the area where Jia Ye Mining was located was covered by Zhang Lijun’s newly established force. Jia Ye Mining’s chairman, Li Jianan, obediently handed Zhang Lijun the shares that belonged to Li Dengfeng and DiDi, plus some more. Zhang Lijun now holds 35% of Jia Ye Mining’s shares, second only to Li Jianan’s 51%, with the remaining 14% spread among a dozen other shareholders, each holding such small amounts they could be ignored.
It truly is a place ruled by the ruthless. Yang Chen’s initial plan was correct; it wasn’t about negotiating until they were properly subdued.
Although Zhang Lijun now only holds 35% of the shares, considerably less than Li Jianan’s 51%, Zhang Lijun has the manpower, so Li Jianan must follow his lead.
To put it simply, Li Jianan is just a puppet of Zhang Lijun.
But Zhang Lijun cannot return just yet; it’s time for the second phase of the plan.
Since it was still early, Yang Chen called Qiu Yuhong to pick up Buffett and Gates from the hotel for a meeting at the Shield Security Group.
Buffett: "Wow, Mr. Yang, we meet again. How are you?"
Gates: "Didn’t expect to meet so soon. Hello, Mr. Yang, it’s a pleasure seeing you again."
Yang Chen shook hands with them, welcomed them to sit, and asked, "So, what do you think about my security group?"
Buffett: "Cool! Very cool! I didn’t expect Mr. Yang to be a major shareholder of the Shield Security Group; it really surprised me."