While Zhao An was enjoying his wonderful sexual encounter with the pregnant Qian Yuling, the other three major families held an emergency meeting. They could withstand the financial crisis, but the other families might not, especially those in manufacturing. If raw materials couldn't be supplied, they would be affected. As for assigning blame, those families were already bankrupt; what could they possibly do?
"Immediately withdraw capital from overseas markets, especially Europe and America. Halt any other businesses that can be halted; don't invest any more money. Also, pay close attention to raw materials; stockpile the necessary orders," Huang Yu stated at the family meeting. These were suggestions from the team's financial analysts.
This financial crisis came very suddenly, caused by a massive sell-off of stocks and futures. Investigations revealed that every family was involved. However, when questioned, those involved claimed to know nothing, either deeply hidden or genuinely unaware.
This was perplexing. The current issue wasn't identifying the mastermind, but rather how to deal with the situation.
Panic selling of stocks and futures by a large number of investors led to a severe decline in company profits. A listed company's profitability depended entirely on its stock price; actual business transactions were merely a facade. Everything was geared towards boosting the stock price; the more shares a company held, the more financing it could secure.
Finance was originally meant to serve the real economy, but now the tables had turned. Those involved in finance either paid billions in tuition fees or made a fortune.
"We've already started stockpiling raw materials. Iron ore won't be affected, only sales will be a problem," a family member responded.
"Then send people to negotiate and secure orders. There will always be business. The hotel industry's performance will definitely be sluggish, so we'll focus on the domestic consumer market. Try to secure orders from overseas markets as much as possible; if we can't get them, we'll shift resources back to the mainland." Huang Yu knew very well that making money from foreigners was difficult. The financial crisis mainly affected Europe and America; the wealthy might suffer less, but the middle class and ordinary people were devastated. Those businesses there are mostly on loans. No business means no income, and company layoffs mean no income either. Bankruptcy is the least of their worries; those who can't handle the pressure might just jump off a building.
The Bai and Lin families are in the same boat. Zhao An didn't even inform them, nor was there any need to. The Bai family wanted to win him over, but not many within the company thought highly of him. Mediocre people are always jealous of geniuses because the arrival of a genius would take away some of their profits.
Zhao An had no interest in being someone's lackey; he just wanted to live a comfortable life. The logistics industry controlled a road network and had built a mature transportation system. He just needed to build a good platform. He only needed to cooperate with the largest logistics company and then launch community group buying. People could buy almost anything on the new platform, mainly everyday items like meat, fruits, and vegetables.
A circle would be formed around the community; people would simply go to a designated place to pick up their goods.
This model still needed some minor adjustments and negotiations, but it was definitely profitable. Compared to food delivery, which is more profitable, the boom period for the food delivery industry is over. Although the income is still good, what follows is only criticism, and Zhao An isn't stupid.
At the Bai family meeting, Bai Qingyang, as the heir, was speaking again. In such occasions, the heir should speak more and demonstrate their abilities to maintain order. By showcasing their talents, subordinates will be willing to follow, knowing that following them can be profitable.
The same strategy was to shrink industries, especially overseas ones, and withdraw in a timely manner. Most overseas investments were in hotels and KTVs—these industries generate quick profits. Building factories is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and there's no guarantee of success. It's better to invest in faster-profit industries, which often involve some degree of shady dealings like gambling and prostitution.
"Strange, how could a financial crisis suddenly erupt like this? There wasn't a single sign."
"Right? I invested five million, and now I can't withdraw it. This is truly terrible; I've lost all my savings."
"Five million? You call that feeling the pinch? What if I had fifty million stuck? Would I jump off a building?"
"I've already lost five hundred million in futures and haven't even said a word, and you're already feeling the pinch?"
Everyone was whispering amongst themselves. This crisis had affected everyone. With overseas markets struggling, those capitalists would definitely come to grab their share. They had no interest in saving the market, but making money off the opportunity was something they were very interested in.
Bai Qiuqin, wearing light makeup, was incredibly beautiful. She wore a tight-fitting dress, her large breasts filling it out, and a small vest over it, making her look very fashionable. The dress reached her thighs, and her long, slender legs were encased in flesh-colored stockings, making her fair skin even more alluring. Her fair, delicate toes were adorned with purple manicures, exuding an air of mystery, a mysterious yet alluring nobility. The slender heels of her strappy high heels entwined her perfect feet, exposing large expanses of her fair skin – a sight that would excite any foot fetishist. Beautiful legs, delicate feet, and high heels – the combination showcased the ultimate in feminine sensuality.
"Any hints from Zhao An? Qiu Qin, wasn't he also involved in the stock market before?" Bai Qingyang inquired. His relationship with Zhao An was decent, but only moderate; he'd tried several times to arrange a meeting but had been unsuccessful. He knew Zhao An wasn't busy, but rather unwilling to meet. He had time to play around with women and have sex, but no time to chat and boast. What could one say? He was simply a lecherous man, a lecher who would neglect his career for the sake of beauty. Such a person should have quickly ruined the family business, but with the addition of Qian Yuling, a strong woman from the previous generation, the company group is very stable, as solid as a mountain, allowing Zhao An to have more time to play and have fun. This is extremely absurd, outrageously absurd!