51. Enterprise, Home! (Please vote for recommendations!)

"Back already?"
Zhang Peng was sitting in front of the computer watching a movie. When he saw Chen Ling return, he greeted him.
Chen Ling glanced around. "Yuan Hui isn't back yet?"
"No, no idea where he went. Who cares," Bao Zhenhai replied while chatting on QQ, a silly grin plastered on his face.
"Is that Huanhuan No. 2?" Chen Ling teased.
"Not this time," Zhang Peng unexpectedly spoke up for Bao Zhenhai. "It's a junior from the accounting major. She's actually pretty cute."
"Let me see," Chen Ling leaned over, and Bao Zhenhai, full of pride, pulled up her QQ profile.
The photo showed a girl making a pouty peace sign, black nail polish on her fingers, with all the latest trendy photo effects added in.
"So, what do you think?" Bao Zhenhai grinned at Chen Ling. "A woman I set my eyes on—pretty nice, right?"
Chen Ling pursed his lips. "If you noticed her... it probably means she's destined for a disaster!"
"Pffft—!" Zhang Peng burst out laughing.
Bao Zhenhai protested, annoyed, "Why can't I go for someone pretty? You think everyone’s like you, with Liu Xinyue on one side and Sister Dou on the other—such a playboy."
"Actually, you might not believe this," Chen Ling suddenly declared with a straight face, "but they both made the first move."
"Yeah, right!" Zhang Peng and Bao Zhenhai shot him the finger in unison.
Chen Ling shrugged helplessly.
In this world, people just can't handle the plain truth.

Meanwhile—

"Have a heart, just let me go."
"We were classmates once—how can you be so cruel?"
"I really have no money, and I can't bring in any new recruits."
"If you keep this up, I'll kill myself."
"Mmmph, mmmph..."
"Alright, that's enough for tonight's session." A middle-aged man clapped his hands and moved to a whiteboard.
The room was filled with people, some vacant and wooden, others bright with excitement.
Yuan Hui, however, was locked in another room, two hulking men seated across from him.

A few more idle days passed. Taking advantage of the National Day holiday, Zhang Peng drove a group of them for a tour around Linjiang.
They made the rounds: Flower Harbor Fish Viewing, Quyuan Lotus Garden, Orioles Singing in the Willows.
On the last day, they fell for Bao Zhenhai’s wild idea and headed out to a hot spring resort hotel dozens of kilometers away.
In Linjiang, the temperature still hovered around thirty degrees in October. After a soak in the hot springs, they all looked like plucked chickens—
Rosy with a touch of pale, markedly different from the crowd.

Throughout these days, Chen Ling kept a close eye on the situation at Zhicheng Company.

FM93 and FM91.8 both aired radio ads, and the local real estate forums were flooded with sponsored posts...
By October 5th, even the local TV station had gone to Zhicheng's sales office to report—nearly 5,000 people poured in!
Each with a 100,000 yuan deposit...
Tsk, tsk, tsk...
Wang Zhicheng had gone even further than Chen Ling had imagined!
But during this period, what surprised Chen Ling more was Zhang Peng.
Since Chen Ling’s last conversation, Zhang Peng hadn’t asked a single question about the funds.
That level of trust made Chen Ling truly understand Zhang Peng’s definition of "friendship."
Between friends, there should be mutual trust, mutual support, mutual understanding.
If you say it, I believe it.
And Chen Ling didn’t want to let a friend like that down.

That afternoon, just as the group returned to campus from the hot spring hotel, Chen Ling’s phone rang.
It was Wang Xiaobo.
"My father has arranged meetings for you with the project managers of Qingfeng Community and Binhu Flower City. Tonight, 6 p.m., Lou Wai Lou on Gushan Road."
Wang Xiaobo was direct.
Chen Ling smiled, "I really appreciate your father's help!"
"Not at all, it's what we should do."
"Have you sorted out the funding issue?" Chen Ling asked.
At this, Wang Xiaobo's excitement was obvious. "Solved! Completely solved! Your solution… not only saved our family, but also more than a hundred company employees and their families, the construction workers, and even the clients who might have been left with unfinished apartments."
"Chen Ling!"
Wang Xiaobo spoke with gravity, "I really admire you! Truly!"
His words left Chen Ling momentarily speechless, his heart stirred.
The initial motivation was, of course, to make money—Chen Ling wouldn’t deny that.
But in the process… had he also done something truly significant?
For an enterprise, especially in the unique world of real estate, its rise or fall affects the happiness of countless families.
Unknowingly, Chen Ling felt something new in his heart—what it was, exactly, he’d need time to understand.
After all, in his previous life, he’d never reached this point...
Wang Xiaobo continued, "A total of 3,480 clients paid the lottery deposit, 100,000 each, 348 million in all!"
"Your 1%, 3.48 million, will be transferred to your account soon. Also, the formal equity gift agreement—my father will bring it tonight for you to sign."
"Really, thank you!"
After hanging up, Chen Ling’s emotions were still surging.
On one hand, 3.48 million in cash was about to land in his account; on the other, the 20% stake in Zhicheng Company was immensely valuable. And finally, there was that indescribable feeling welling inside him.

Many successful business owners are called entrepreneurs.
But the subtle relationship between "enterprise" and "family" was something Chen Ling could not yet truly fathom.
Maybe it was "enterprise, family"?
So Chen Ling pondered.

Gushan Road sits on an island in Lake Cuiming—east it connects to White Causeway, west to the Tomb of Su Xiaoxiao.
The little island boasts not only the century-old restaurant Lou Wai Lou but also the Qing Dynasty imperial palace, the Xiling Society of Seal Arts, the National Academy of Art, and many famous scenic spots and historical sites.
In short, Gushan Road is a must-see for every visitor to Linjiang City.
By evening, Bei Shan Road along the lakeshore was jammed solid. Chen Ling got out of his taxi near the Youth Palace, scanned a public bike, and pedaled along White Causeway toward Lou Wai Lou.
White Causeway was originally called White Sand Causeway. Starting at Broken Bridge Remnant Snow to the east, crossing Brocade Belt Bridge westward, it ends at Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake.
The Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi, once governor here, wrote: "I never tire of journeys east of the lake, beneath green willows on White Sand Causeway."
Later, to honor this literary giant, it was renamed "White Causeway."
Riding along the causeway, Chen Ling passed great swathes of flowerbeds, with a gentle breeze caressing the willows. The city’s dazzling neon lights reflected off the rippling water like a sea of stars. It was beautiful, lifting his spirits.
Tonight was an exceptionally important night for Chen Ling!
If he could secure the two project managers, then, first, the profit from reselling apartment numbers would be maximized.
Second, with the successful operation of both projects, his "Chengjia Company" would finally have its foothold in Linjiang!
Arriving at the doors to Lou Wai Lou, Chen Ling spotted Wang Xiaobo waiting for him.
"You're pretty early!" Chen Ling laughed.
Wang Xiaobo shook his head quickly. "Not at all—I'm helping you, so of course I have to be a bit proactive."
"No need for that." Chen Ling felt a little embarrassed. "I'm doing this for money, no need to make me out to be some hero."
"That's different!" said Wang Xiaobo seriously. "You may not claim credit, but I can't help but be grateful. Business is business."
"Are all rich kids so attuned to relationships these days?" Chen Ling joked. "Aren’t you supposed to be arrogant, strutting around with your lackeys, bullying men and women alike?"
"I wish!" Wang Xiaobo smiled helplessly. "But my dad would break my legs!"
"Haha!" Chen Ling laughed heartily, then asked, "Are they here yet?"
"They’ve already arrived," Wang Xiaobo nodded.
Chen Ling checked the time. "It's only five thirty—so early?"
Wang Xiaobo just smiled, gesturing ahead. "You'll see when you go in."
"Alright, let’s go!" Chen Ling nodded, and together they walked through the bustling lobby of Lou Wai Lou, up to the second floor, and stopped before a private room...