For any enterprise, individual, or even a conglomerate, a terrifying nine-figure sum like 120 million was difficult enough to imagine. To hear that it was needed all at once was even more shocking.

Even for a great scion like Young Master Gao Yuan of the Vast Sea Group, with his vast business acumen and high standing, he would never dare to treat a sum that large lightly.

After all, only his father, Gao Zhinan, had the clout to remain unfazed while raising such an amount overnight. Gao Yuan himself was far from that level.

Therefore, pondering this, he couldn't help but speak with a grave expression, "Brother Fei, if we really follow your requirements and prepare everything to the highest standard, the amount of capital required will be enormous. On my own, I'm afraid I'll need some time to prepare..."

Clearly, Chen Fei was showing him respect by seeking him out to do business together, so Gao Yuan naturally didn't expect Chen Fei to have to chip in.

Otherwise, he, the young master of the Vast Sea Group, would seem terribly incompetent, and his father would likely reprimand him for his poor handling of the affair.

However, 120 million was indeed a huge sum, not a small amount. Gao Yuan truly couldn't produce it on his own.

That was why he said he needed time to prepare. In reality, it probably meant he had to go home and report to his father. Anyway, as long as it concerned Brother Fei, his father would certainly give it the green light. He wouldn't even hesitate over a 'mere' hundred million or so.

"I can scrounge up a bit of money, but it's only a few million. I don't know if it will be enough..." Seeing the situation, Huang Feng spoke up quietly. Although his family was prominent—he was the son of a city mayor, after all—he didn't have much financial power himself.

The few million he mentioned were most likely his parents' entire life savings, the sum of their income over many years.

After hesitating for a long moment, Zhang Long couldn't help but add softly, "How about this? I'll sell the Northern Mountain store first, borrow some money from my parents, and open a new store in Tongzhou City. Once we've made money there, we can come back and open a branch here."

Hearing this, Chen Fei didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What are you talking about? Closing down just to reopen? What kind of look is that?"

"But we're short on money," Zhao Le couldn't help but mutter.

"Short on money? I'm not short on money right now."

Chen Fei's eyes widened, and he puffed up his cheeks before declaring grandly, "You don't need to worry about money at all. I might lack other things, but I can easily pull out a few hundred million. How about this? I'll put up two hundred million as the initial capital, and we'll figure out the rest as we go. How does that sound?"

"Hiss... Two hundred million? You actually have that much money?" Zhao Le and Zhang Long couldn't help but gasp, utterly astonished.

That was two hundred million—not twenty million, not two million, not even two hundred thousand. They hadn't expected Chen Fei to speak of such a sum so casually. From his tone, it even sounded like he had more in reserve! This was simply staggering.

Yet, to Huang Feng and Gao Yuan, this seemed perfectly natural. Knowing Brother Fei's strength and status, casually producing a few hundred million was not surprising in the slightest. In their eyes, it was to be expected.

To give the simplest example, if Chen Fei were to ask Gao Zhinan for money, let alone a mere one hundred million, even three hundred million, five hundred million, or one or two billion—if Chen Fei just asked, the latter would scrape it together by any means necessary.

Besides, Gao Zhinan wasn't the only powerful connection Chen Fei had.

"If we have the money, things will be much easier. We can now invest heavily in expanding and renovating the flagship store in Northern Mountain. As for Sky-reaching Cloud, Qii Family, and Shangbei, I can ask friends to help us acquire storefronts in busy, prosperous areas. But as for the rest..." Gao Yuan said, his brow furrowed.

Sky-reaching Cloud, Qii Family, and Shangbei were relatively close to Northern Mountain, so their influence could still reach there, and they would be shown some deference. But Wanhai and Tongzhou City... one was too far for their influence to reach, and the other was the provincial capital of Jiangnan Province. It was the center of power, crawling with formidable figures.

"I can figure something out for Wanhai. A friend of mine has an uncle who is the Executive Vice Mayor of Wanhai City and is on good terms with my dad, so that shouldn't be a problem. As for Tongzhou City... I have some friends there, but if we're looking for prime real estate in the true city center, it might still be tricky," Huang Feng interjected, still frowning.

Although he, Young Master Feng, as the son of an Earth Level city mayor, was certainly a notable figure in the Inner Circle of Jiangnan Province, Tongzhou City was the provincial capital. It was difficult to make waves amidst so many powerful people.

There was no need to even mention the sons of high-ranking provincial officials; even the local power brokers in Tongzhou City, the sons of local officials, wouldn't necessarily give him, Huang Feng, much face.

Their ambition this time was the problem. They wanted everything to meet the highest standards, which naturally meant the storefronts had to be in the absolute best locations.

The interests involved would be astounding, certainly measured in eight figures at least!

This obviously wasn't something Huang Feng could resolve with a few words or by calling in a favor. He didn't carry that much weight. If his father stepped in, that might be a different story.

"You don't need to worry about Tongzhou City," Chen Fei said, stroking his chin as his crystal-clear eyes glinted. "I'll think of something and ask a friend."

When he thought of the provincial capital, Tongzhou City, the first person who came to mind was undoubtedly Secretary Dong Wencheng. However, asking him for this kind of favor seemed a bit inappropriate. Oh, right, doesn't he have a son? What was his name again? Dong... Dong... that's right, Dong Jianhui! The kid with the fluffy blond hair. We exchanged phone numbers last time. With his status as the son of the city's Party Secretary, a true local powerhouse, he should be able to help us, right? He might even have the right connections for this. Who knows?

"Brother Fei, you have friends in Tongzhou City too? That's a relief... Why don't we talk about the equity split now?"

Gao Yuan's eyes lit up as he smiled and said, "I was just supposed to come and help, but it looks like I haven't been much help at all. Brother Fei has taken on all the major tasks and troubles, which is frankly embarrassing. How about this? I'll invest thirty million of my own money, and I'll take five percent of the shares. What do you think, Brother Fei?"

"Then I'll take three percent. I really haven't helped much, and asking for more would be greedy," Huang Feng immediately chimed in.

In his view, Chen Fei was putting up two hundred million in initial capital and had already solved their biggest problem—the Tongzhou City storefront. He absolutely deserved the lion's share. In comparison, Huang Feng felt that was all he could rightly ask for.

After all, he hadn't contributed any money and had offered little help. To put it bluntly, it was no different from freeloading. It was getting something for nothing.

As for relying on him, the mayor's son, as a future backer... Was that a joke? With Brother Fei around, there was no need for a backer like him anyway.

Hearing this, Zhao Le and Zhang Long were of course dumbfounded. In fact, they had been stunned ever since Chen Fei mentioned the two hundred million, their minds echoing with 'money, money, money' and 'two hundred million...'

So when they heard Gao Yuan discussing equity and stating the share he wanted, they were jolted again, their minds turning to mush.

The great Young Master Gao of the Vast Sea Group was investing thirty million and only asking for five percent of the total equity.

The son of their city's mayor, a man of such high status, whom they had imagined would be the greatest backer for their Herbal Cuisine Workshop, was now asking for only three percent.

And then there was Chen Fei, who casually threw out two hundred million!

Who said he would single-handedly solve their problems in the provincial capital, Tongzhou!

And who, with a single call, brought in giants like Young Master Feng and Young Master Gao to invest in their little Herbal Cuisine Workshop.

The thought made their heads spin. Zhao Le couldn't help but murmur dazedly, "Maybe we should take two percent... no, one percent is enough."

"One percent? Come on, have you lost your minds?"

Chen Fei didn't know whether to laugh or cry, waving his hands dismissively. "I told you, I'm here to do serious business and cooperate. If you start with five percent, three percent, and one percent, how am I supposed to even respond?"

"But you're investing so much. We really should take less," Zhao Le muttered.

"Exactly."

Zhang Long finally regained his composure and said in a solemn tone, "Strictly speaking, our family's shop is worth maybe one or two million. Add the herbal cuisine recipe, and it's three million at the most. But you've already invested two hundred million, and the implicit value that Young Master Gao and Young Master Feng bring is far greater than ours. Getting one percent is already fantastic. We're just riding on your coattails."

For him to remain so clear-headed at a time like this, understanding that he was merely benefiting from their association, was truly commendable. After all, their family's small investment couldn't even compare to the value represented by the names of Young Master Feng and Young Master Gao, let alone Chen Fei, who was putting up two hundred million from the get-go.

So, one percent of the initial equity was already an incredible offer for them. It was like a pie falling from the sky right into their laps. They were lucky to get anything; asking for more would be pure greed. And greed would only ruin things.

"What's all this talk about riding on coattails? If it weren't for your family's herbal cuisine recipe, our investment might not even happen. How about this: Huang Feng and Gao Yuan, you each take 15%. Zhao Le and Zhang Long, you two take 7.5% each. I'll take 40%, and we'll set aside the rest to give away as favors," Chen Fei said, shaking his head.

"That won't do! It's far too much. I can't accept such a huge windfall for nothing," Zhang Long said, immediately shaking his head in refusal.

Are you kidding me? Just Chen Fei's two-hundred-million investment plus Young Master Gao's thirty million totaled at least two hundred and thirty million.

If he and his wife each took a 7.5% share, that would be 15% total, meaning they'd be getting over thirty million for free. How could that be right?

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