The second update is here. [The third update will be quite late, so everyone can read it tomorrow.] Like the rise of many powerful families, the Yang family’s growth was parasitic, feeding off the body of a state-owned enterprise until it matured, which was also the moment that SOE collapsed. When it finally took shape, the newly formed Tongyuan Nonferrous not only bled one massive state-owned enterprise dry but also used its corpse as soil for further germination, taking root and thriving vigorously upon the remains.

If one were to pull out the old account books, it would become evident that the entire Tongyuan Nonferrous was a parasite of that era, a plump maggot thriving beneath rotting flesh. So, when Wang Zhuo uttered the words "old account books," Yang Jian and Yang Ru were instantly struck dumb, both minds simultaneously conjuring the same chilling thought: factional infighting! Digging up old ledgers is a nuclear option for any political figure; who doesn't have some past event that can’t withstand scrutiny?

If someone truly wanted to press the issue, very few could withstand such an attack. This is why, generally speaking, bringing up old account books is ineffective against high-ranking officials—it’s called the passage of time. But then again, if someone is determined to use that against you, to trap or ruin you, it signifies that the opponent already possesses an undeniable, winning advantage; thus, no one can truly escape this reckoning!

Wang Zhuo’s words terrified Yang Jian and Yang Ru. They weren’t afraid of Wang Zhuo himself, but rather, they perceived a struggle on a much higher plane. A thousand-mile dike crumbling because of a single ant hole—the downfall of great men often stems from a seemingly unrelated triviality.

Could this be a signal of a factional purge?! Zhuang’s swordplay aimed at Pei Gong—they assumed Wang Zhuo’s ruthless move was targeted at Yang Yujiang! Wang Zhuo wanted precisely this effect.

Seeing their momentum plummet, he asked with satisfaction, "Are you two already scared off?" Yang Jian glanced at him, momentarily speechless. Yang Ru, unwilling to show weakness, arched an eyebrow and retorted, "Then why don’t you try? If you intend to control the shares of Tongyuan Nonferrous, you will pay an unbearable price!" "I have prepared fifty billion.

Do you think that’s enough?" Wang Zhuo calmly picked up the teapot and refilled his cup. Yang Jian and Yang Ru were both shaken, exchanging a quick glance and nodding subtly—this figure matched the family's estimations. "Fifty billion is certainly not small," Yang Ru said coolly, shaking his head.

"However, based on the premium, your funds won't give you much of an advantage in purchasing shares. We only need to mobilize ten billion to absorb a block of stock, and we can secure our controlling stake. [ ]" Glancing at Wang Zhuo, Yang Jian added, "You don’t actually think we can’t produce those ten billion, do you?" "I believe you can produce it," Wang Zhuo smiled, completely unfazed.

"But don't forget, your ten billion also comes at a premium, so the shares you can buy won't secure much more than a fragile grip on control. What if I add another ten, or twenty, or thirty billion? The total market cap is only about ninety billion now...

I don't believe the Yang family can raise that much money. What will you use to compete with me?" "Another thirty billion?" Yang Ru scoffed repeatedly, as if hearing the world's biggest joke. "Wang Zhuo, we haven't underestimated you, but don't blow your trumpet too loud.

We know your financial situation perfectly well. Where would you find three hundred billion?" "Miss Yang, Madam Liu," Wang Zhuo said leisurely, crossing his legs. "Since you admit you haven't underestimated me...

let's be perfectly clear today. When you return, you might want to inquire about the latest news concerning me, and then perhaps help me figure out how to conjure that three hundred billion you think I’m merely boasting about." Seeing Wang Zhuo’s composure, Yang Ru and Yang Jian exchanged glances, feeling increasingly uncertain. "When you go back, don't forget to wire some money to Liu Jieming.

Expenses are very high in England; don't let him run short on food or clothing," Wang Zhuo said meaningfully, looking pointedly at the two siblings. "Public security in the country has been poor lately; there have been many robberies and assaults. Tell him to just stay put over there for now, to avoid any danger if he returns home too soon." In China, Liu Jieming handled road and bridge construction projects.

While not considered one of the Yang family’s top operatives, he managed billions in project funds annually. However, ever since his plot to harm Wang Zhuo failed, he had kept a low profile, rarely going out, and frequently traveling abroad to evade Wang Zhuo's potential sudden retaliation. A chill ran down Yang Ru’s spine.

This was Wang Zhuo’s formal warning. Liu Jieming's movements were indeed under Wang Zhuo's surveillance. If Liu Jieming dared to return to China shortly after Wang Zhuo issued this statement, he would likely face fierce retribution!

The conversation proved fruitless, but the siblings hadn't come entirely empty-handed; at least they knew Wang Zhuo’s objective. Moreover, they had a very serious piece of intelligence that needed to be relayed immediately—it concerned the "official hat" resting on Yang Yujiang's head. Even if Wang Zhuo was just bluffing, they had to take it seriously and could not afford any carelessness.

After dropping some perfunctory pleasantries, the brother and sister left, weighed down by their concerns. Wang Zhuo smiled inwardly as he watched their car depart from the third-floor window. The whole talk of 'uncovering the scandal and cutting off the Yang family's rear path' was merely a lie he fabricated to frighten the siblings—a classic case of 'worry breeds disorder.' A simple deception had thrown them into disarray.

In reality, Yang Yujiang’s backing remained stable after this round of appointments; the only issue was his age reaching the limit for the next term, leaving him with neither the capacity nor the desire to stir up trouble. That was why Tai Xue had specifically instructed him to give the Yang family a warning, allowing Wang Zhuo to borrow authority to scare these younger members of the Yang family, Yang Jian and Yang Ru. However, even if this was a lie, the Yang family might still be terrified, and Yang Yujiang might not be immune to fear.

If Wang Zhuo was a fly, Tongyuan Nonferrous was an egg with a crack; Wang Zhuo could easily deceive them, but the Yang family could not afford to take that risk! If Wang Zhuo succeeded in gaining controlling shares, the consequences would be unimaginable! Upon returning to their hotel, the siblings conferred.

Yang Jian immediately rushed back to the capital to report the matter to his uncle, while Yang Ru stayed behind temporarily to react according to circumstances. As for the latest news regarding Wang Zhuo, Yang Ru didn't even need to dig deeply to find it. As if overnight, countless news reports about "Life Fangdan" flooded the internet and domestic print media.

After a mass trial event in the United States, this new product received overwhelming positive feedback, with two of the highest-rated national television stations even creating special features and running continuous follow-up reports on the event. A flower blooming inside the wall spreads its fragrance outside—Life Fangdan hadn't made much noise domestically, but it had ignited the opposite shore, the United States of America, becoming explosively popular! In the US, there were already many entertainment programs centered on weight loss competitions, reality shows, and boot camps, boasting a substantial and stable viewership.

Weight loss had long evolved into a culture, a tradition, a lifestyle in America. When Life Fangdan made its powerful debut, it immediately attracted the attention of media professionals with keen senses, focusing intensely on this novel phenomenon. Hype?

For Wang Zhuo, genuine, organic word-of-mouth was the best publicity; he didn't even need to guide it. In his words, "What is mine, no one can take away." He possessed that confidence. The short-term market would inevitably see supply fail to meet demand, so he might as well treat this as a form of scarcity marketing!

After reading through the articles—some praising, some questioning, some conservative, some sensational—Yang Ru understood. Wang Zhuo wasn't just launching a common diet pill; he was leveraging a whole new economic ecosystem! Just as Wang Chao Wuliang drove global alcohol sales upward, causing grain, meat, and even fuel prices to rise rapidly, this was a cascading multiplier effect.

What Life Fangdan was now poised to do was reshape the food industry landscape: junk fast food might flourish as patrons no longer feared weight gain, fat-centric restaurants would face bankruptcy, the sales ratios for clothing, pants, shoes, and hats would shift, and even the number of specialized seats for overweight people in parks and on airplanes would decrease! Perhaps it would result in another period of widespread upheaval, similar to what followed the rush for Wang Chao Wuliang. And Wang Zhuo, the one creating this massive effect, while bringing salvation to hundreds of millions of overweight people, wasn't just earning a fortune; he could practically command the winds and rain!

Perhaps others might wonder: however profitable Life Fangdan might be, generating wealth isn't an instantaneous process. Yet, Wang Zhuo’s acquisition of Tongyuan Nonferrous shares needs to happen within one or two months, at most one fiscal quarter. Any longer, and the momentum might be lost.

No matter how impressive Life Fangdan is, it couldn't possibly earn him three hundred billion in such a short timeframe, right? Never mind three hundred billion; even ten billion is out of reach. But Yang Ru, born into a prominent family with deep ancestral knowledge, and having years of experience in commerce, understood the methods all too well.

The simplest approach: Wang Zhuo could pledge a portion of the regional operating rights for Life Fangdan to investors or wealthy magnates, securing a huge sum of money. He wouldn't even need to use the North American agency; plenty of rich individuals would eagerly hand over their cash. Pledging equity rights is a straightforward operation.

For example, Wang Zhuo could assign the ten-year operating rights for Japan a value of one yuan and pledge it. If, within the agreed time, he repaid that one yuan plus the stipulated interest, he could reclaim the rights; if he failed to repay, it would be equivalent to selling the ten-year rights to the other party at that price. This agreed-upon time frame could be a month, a day, or a year.

Given the American enthusiasm for Life Fangdan, some tycoons would likely be interested even in the African rights! Once Yang Ru grasped the source of Wang Zhuo's confidence, she was completely stunned. In that light, Wang Zhuo didn't even regard Tongyuan Nonferrous with much importance.

With his current financial base, raising capital required no borrowing. She had initially thought he was just a fat pig, but he turned out to be a giant elephant—the difference in magnitude was too vast! The family she prided herself on was simply not in the same weight class as Wang Zhuo...

Yang Ru sat frozen on the sofa, her composure deeply unsettled. It now appeared that for Wang Zhuo, the benefits derived from Tongyuan Nonferrous were not proportional to the trouble it caused. He had far more lucrative ventures; there was absolutely no need for him to engage in such "industrial layout" maneuvering in a traditional sector.

This entire upheaval was purely for revenge, venting anger, and causing irritation! (To be continued. Want more?

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