The double weekend was barely over, and Monday was already a battle. JZ Bank had an open policy; as long as they weren't tellers, employees could wear business attire, with no mandatory uniform.
Zheng Yu'an drove into the underground car park and parked. He put on his suit jacket as he waited for the lift. Now that the weather was warmer, he didn't wear a tie, and he left two buttons undone, appearing slightly more casual.
He didn't expect to run into Qin Hanguan in the lift.
"Director Qin," Zheng Yu'an said, nodding.
Qin Hanguan's gaze shot straight to his collar, a little jealously: "Too handsome, eh? Watch your image."
Zheng Yu'an couldn't help but laugh. Qin Hanguan wasn't exactly in a position to criticize his looks. Zheng Yu'an and Qin Hanguan were the two biggest draws at the JZ Industrial Park branch.
Their offices were both on the upper floors. Employees gradually entered the lift. Zheng Yu'an was easygoing and had risen through the ranks, unlike those parachuted in who were difficult to approach, so he had a good relationship with the staff. There were already a lot of women at the bank, and Zheng Yu'an was also attractive, so once the lift was full, almost all the women were crowding around him.
Qin Hanguan clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"WE GO is sending people to discuss a financing loan today," Chen Li, Zheng Yu'an's secretary, said. She usually handled the larger deals. "We need to schedule a meeting."
"WE GO?" Qin Hanguan interjected. "That online travel service company?"
Chen Li: "They're the largest new network technology industry in the park now. They're not the small workshop they were eight years ago."
Qin Hanguan was very money-oriented: "Then we definitely need to meet."
Zheng Yu'an had started in the corporate banking counter when he first joined the bank. You could say he'd watched WE GO develop step by step. From teller to corporate banking manager, Zheng Yu'an was very familiar with WE GO's materials.
"I was at the Banking Regulatory Commission for two years. Are they planning to go public?" Zheng Yu'an asked.
Chen Li nodded: "They're planning to this year, so a lot of securities companies are approaching them. We've been cooperating with them for a long time, so we have a head start. They'll prioritise us for loans and such."
High-net-worth corporate clients. Zheng Yu'an thought. A juicy piece of fatty pork belly. If they weren't proactive, a larger bank could snatch it from their mouths at any time.
Qin Hanguan was obviously well aware of this. He pointed at Zheng Yu'an and said, "Entertain them well."
Zheng Yu'an fastened the buttons on his collar. He smiled and said softly, "I'm more anxious than you are."
WE GO wanted a very large amount this time, nearly 300 million, for a term of five years. They had already given Zheng Yu'an their financial statements in advance, and it would take some time to read them all.
Zheng Yu'an had only smoked half his cigarette when Chen Li came in. He said "Sorry" and stubbed out the remaining half in the ashtray.
"The people from WE GO are here. It's Secretary Zhang," Chen Li said.
Zheng Yu'an was a little surprised: "Isn't the CFO coming in person?"
Chen Li: "They said they were held up by an impromptu meeting. Today is just an introductory meeting. Secretary Zhang is probably here to invite us to headquarters."
Zheng Yu'an's expression was noncommittal. He didn't really care who he met, but he was a little curious when he saw the signature on the report.
"Yan Shuwang." Zheng Yu'an ran the name through his mind. When he was still at the counter eight years ago, he often saw the name "Yan Shuwang." WE GO paid salaries at the beginning of the month, and the forms sent by the finance department at the end of the month had this signature.
"Director Yan is also a pillar of WE GO," Chen Li said, gossiping without much regard for the hierarchy. "He's been there since WE GO was founded, and he's always been in charge of finance. I heard he negotiated the initial angel investment, too. He's very impressive."
Successful men were always a topic of conversation among salaried workers. The financial world wasn't as lively as the entertainment industry, but when a few impressive people emerged, they would be talked about for a long time.
WE GO and JZ Bank had a long history of cooperation. The company salary cards were exclusively provided by JZ Bank. To show sincerity, JZ Bank even designed a set of WE GO's exclusive logo printed on the cards in the early stages of cooperation.
Full of sincerity, attentive service. There was a reason why WE GO had remained loyal for so many years.
Secretary Zhang was waiting in the reception room. He smiled broadly when he saw Zheng Yu'an.
"Little Zheng, ah," Zhang Jin had gained weight noticeably since getting married, and one could see his double chin when he smiled. "Congratulations on your promotion. Long time no see."
"Long time no see," Zheng Yu'an said, shaking his hand. Zheng Yu'an was familiar with almost all of WE GO's finance staff. Zhang Jin was also a veteran. Before he was in his current position, he had come to the bank to deposit cheques, and Zheng Yu'an had served him several times. Until two years ago, when he was transferred to the Banking Regulatory Commission to gain experience, Zhang Jin had even asked him if he had changed positions.
"I knew you'd be a leader when you came back from the Banking Regulatory Commission," Zhang Jin said, genuinely happy for him. "It's easier to get things done with acquaintances. We'll have to get even closer in the future."
The relationship between banks and companies was sometimes like that of a "wife" and "husband." It was just that before the company got big, it was more like a concubine. After it got big, the bank didn't have to worry about becoming a "discarded wife." It sat firmly in the position of the legitimate wife, but there were definitely a lot of investor mistresses, constantly vying for attention.
Zhang Jin was indeed just a "scout," showing his face, reminiscing with Zheng Yu'an, and warming up the relationship.
Zheng Yu'an took out a cigarette, and Zhang Jin quickly said, "Oh, no, my good man, smoke mine."
A Zhaojun Hometown Yellow Crane Tower.
Note: Yellow Crane Tower is a cigarette by the brand Huanghelou 1916.
Zheng Yu'an didn't stand on ceremony and took the cigarette and lit it.
Zhang Jin laughed when he saw the Suyan cigarettes next to him: "When I first found out you smoked these cigarettes, I thought they were expensive. A little teller, smoking 48 yuan cigarettes, what were you showing off for?"
Zheng Yu'an pulled the ashtray closer: "These cigarettes are good, and the packaging is pretty."
Zhang Jin laughed: "I knew you really liked them."
Zheng Yu'an smiled and said nothing. Zhang Jin smoked for a while, then seemed to remember something: "But Director Yan smokes the same brand of cigarettes as you."
Zheng Yu'an was stunned, not quite believing it: "Really?"
Zhang Jin: "Why would I lie to you? Not everyone can smoke Director Yan's cigarettes. I've been with him for so long, and he's only offered me one or two."
Zheng Yu'an winked at him: "You're smoking more expensive cigarettes than Director Yan."
Zhang Jin was quite pleased: "Our corporate culture doesn't care about this hierarchical relationship. Although Director Yan's temper isn't great, he's a reasonable person."
Zheng Yu'an pretended to have a headache: "I'm afraid of what you're saying, brother."
Zhang Jin kicked his leg: "What are you talking about? There's no one you can't handle."
When the people from WE GO left, Qin Hanguan came down specifically to see them off. Zheng Yu'an and Zhang Jin had agreed to go to WE GO headquarters next week, and Qin Hanguan might also go along.
"It's best to have a meal," Qin Hanguan's was of northern descent, and he was a little taller than Zheng Yu'an. He styled himself a beastly beauty, with hair gelled and standing on end.
Zhang Jin was more polite to him than he was to Zheng Yu'an: "We'd be honoured to have you dine with us."
Qin Hanguan: "Director Zheng has a very good alcohol tolerance. It mainly depends on what Director Yan thinks."
Zhang Jin smiled, neither refusing nor agreeing.
After the others left, Qin Hanguan clicked his tongue: "Difficult to deal with."
Zheng Yu'an: "Zhang Jin is meticulous. His coming here shows that WE GO attaches great importance to this."
Qin Hanguan gave him a surprised look: "Do you know Yan Shuwang well?"
"Not at all," Zheng Yu'an smiled. "I'm not familiar with him. I might not have even met him before."
Qin Hanguan thought for a moment: "Not necessarily. I remember you worked at the corporate banking counter, and then you became a client manager. You've always had cooperation with WE GO?"
Zheng Yu'an nodded: "Yes."
Qin Hanguan stroked his chin: "Then you should have met. When they were still a small workshop, Yan Shuwang came several times. Don't you remember?" After speaking, Qin Hanguan denied it himself: "If you don't remember, then you probably really haven't met. Once you've met Yan Shuwang, you won't forget him."
Zheng Yu'an was a little surprised: "How so?"
Qin Hanguan was mysterious, covering his mouth with his hand as if saying something unspeakable: "Yan Shuwang is a great beauty. His face is more beautiful than a woman's. He even keeps his hair long, and he's 35 and unmarried. I suspect he's gay."
Zheng Yu'an: "..."