Chapter 63: Huayang Corporation

Huayang Group Yijiang City Branch.

Huayang Group’s main business lies in the energy sector; it is the province’s coal mining giant. The group’s chairman, Wang Yan, has a remarkably legendary life story: he served in the military, fought in wars, and after leaving the service, started from scratch, eventually taking over a small coal mine.

In the infamous 1996 mining disaster in Sunan Province that shocked the entire nation, a great number of coal mine owners in Sunan were brought down, but Wang Yan emerged unscathed. Instead, he used the opportunity to acquire private mines and merge underperforming state-owned mines, transforming Huayang Coal Mine into Huayang Group in just a few short years. From a small county-level mine, it became a renowned provincial enterprise.

Over the following years, thanks to the robust cash flow from coal mining, Huayang Group, never short on funds, aggressively acquired a batch of bankrupt state-owned enterprises, expanding its business and diversifying its operations.

By the day Zhao Zejun crossed over, Huayang Group still stood tall, remaining one of the few provincial enterprises that had not gone public, yet boasting more clout than most listed companies.

Despite Huayang Group’s fame, Wang Yan himself was extremely low-key, rarely appearing in the media. Most people didn’t even know if he was fat or thin, handsome or ugly. In this, he was much like the future founder of SF Express—mysterious and elusive, unknown to anyone outside his circle.

The headquarters and development focus of Huayang Group were in the provincial capital. The Yijiang City branch was merely an ordinary two-story building, more of a coal business transfer point than anything else. A row of coal trucks was parked outside, with coal fragments scattered all over the ground.

There was none of the expected difficulty—no “Sorry, you need an appointment to see our general manager.” Zhao Zejun easily found the branch manager’s office.

He knocked and entered. Inside, a middle-aged man in his forties sat upright in the boss’s chair.

This was Zheng Yuan, General Manager of Huayang Group’s Yijiang City branch.

“Hello, what can I do for you?” Zheng Yuan looked curiously at the young man who had arrived uninvited.

“Hello, Mr. Zheng. My name is Zhao Zejun,” Zhao Zejun introduced himself directly.

Zheng Yuan raised his head and sized Zhao Zejun up and down, his attitude warming instantly. “Oh, I recognize you! You’re the young Zhao who initiated the disaster relief in Gaogang Village. Please, have a seat!”

He stood up and called out, “Xiao Zhang, bring two cups of good tea.”

After some polite chit-chat, an employee delivered two cups of hot tea. Zheng Yuan smiled, “Young Zhao, our chairman was deeply moved when he heard about your actions. He even asked me to visit you personally. I was planning to find some time to do so, but you’ve come to us first. What brings you here?”

Zhao Zejun smiled, “I heard from Minister Yang of the Municipal Propaganda Department that Huayang Group intends to donate to the reconstruction of Gaogang Village?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Our Chairman Wang is a veteran and has a special affection for the military and for other veterans. Huayang Group is based in Sunan Province, and we hope to do some real good for the people of our province,” Zheng Yuan nodded, casting a playful glance at Zhao Zejun. “Young Zhao, are you interested in this donation?”

Zhao Zejun pondered for a moment and said directly, “Yes, Mr. Zheng. I came today hoping to secure your company’s donation and take charge of the reconstruction project myself.”

“Straightforward and quick-witted—worthy of a disaster relief hero!” Zheng Yuan laughed heartily, his tone a mix of praise and jest. “But if I recall correctly, you’re a senior in high school this year, about to take the college entrance exam. Do you have the time and energy to handle this? Or rather, your heart is in the right place, but as a student, do you have the capability...?”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but the implication was clear: what qualifications did a high school student have to lead the reconstruction of Gaogang Village? Just passion and a hundred pounds of determination?

Zhao Zejun replied calmly, “Mr. Zheng, a high school student certainly doesn’t have that capability. However, your average student wouldn’t be able to organize a disaster relief construction team either.”

“That construction team is under your command? I recall the team leader was a young woman named Jiang Xuan,” Zheng Yuan said.

“Mr. Zheng, I am still young and there are things I cannot take the lead on. If necessary, I can call Jiang Xuan here right now.”

Zhao Zejun thought for a moment and added, “Of course, if Huayang Group is willing to hand over the project to me, or rather to the disaster relief construction team, any agreement with your group would ultimately be signed by the construction team itself, with Jiang Xuan present. You can rest assured, Mr. Zheng—I cannot and would not falsify anything.”

“That won’t be necessary. Now that you mention it, I understand. No wonder,” Zheng Yuan said.

“No wonder what?” Zhao Zejun asked.

“Since our chairman decided to donate, I’ve paid extra attention to this disaster relief incident. I noticed something peculiar: throughout the entire rescue operation, everyone in the construction team followed your lead, even the team leader Jiang Xuan. I was puzzled at the time, but now I see the reason. You’ve kept your sword sheathed,” Zheng Yuan laughed.

Zhao Zejun hadn’t expected this coal mine manager to speak so elegantly, so he laughed along and said, “Mr. Zheng, may I ask you to consider my construction team for the donation project?”

Zheng Yuan shook his head frankly. “Young Zhao, forgive my bluntness, but your team is too small to handle such a large project. Your goodwill is touching, but in business, capability matters. You’re lacking in that regard.”

He paused. “Tell you what, if you personally need anything, scholarships or financial aid, Huayang Group is happy to sponsor you. I can even promise on the spot to cover your university tuition for the next four years.”

Zhao Zejun chuckled, “Mr. Zheng, you’re treating me like a beggar.”

Zheng Yuan shook his head solemnly. “Young Zhao, I mean no such thing. Honestly, I admire your actions and envy your youthful passion and impulse.”

“Thank you. But Mr. Zheng, let’s talk about the reconstruction project. If you think I’m at least worth considering, let me finish before you refuse me,” Zhao Zejun said.

Zheng Yuan smiled, adopting the tone of an adult teasing a child. “Go ahead, young Zhao. If you can convince me, maybe I’ll really give you the project.”

While Zheng Yuan joked, Zhao Zejun remained serious and analyzed, “You just said the main problem with my team is lack of ability. That’s putting it nicely; frankly, it’s a ragtag group—too few people, not enough funds, no background. But as long as the funding is in place, all these issues can be resolved immediately—”

Zheng Yuan interrupted, “You’re right, young Zhao. With money, it’s easy to assemble a team. But with so many established and capable engineering companies available, why should I pick your imperfect team? If you were in my place, same investment—one side is a mature, stable partner, the other is your so-called ragtag group—what would you choose?”

Zhao Zejun didn’t answer directly. He looked at Zheng Yuan and said seriously, “Mr. Zheng, that’s exactly my point. When choosing a partner, their strength matters, but the main consideration should be your own goals. Whether or not to choose a partner isn’t just about their wealth or connections; those are only part of what we call ‘capability’. The most crucial question is whether they can help you achieve your aims.”

He paused. “Let me give you an example. If I want to catch a fish, and there are two people: one is skinny but an expert swimmer, the other is tall and strong but can’t swim at all, who should I trust with the task?”

“Oh? That’s an interesting analogy,”

Zheng Yuan was surprised but nodded, “So, young Zhao, what do you think Huayang Group’s goal is? Or rather, what advantages do you have that can help us achieve it?”

Zhao Zejun lifted his tea, gently blowing away the froth, and in the brief moment of sipping, he swiftly sorted his thoughts. If he were his former self—a thirty-something deputy general manager—his chances of persuading this branch manager would be much higher. But now, as an eighteen-year-old high school senior, just coming here to talk business seemed unreliable, making persuasion far more difficult.

What he would say next was absolutely critical.