Upon hearing Chen Aiguo's words, Yu Zhou found it somewhat unbelievable. Even he couldn't quite grasp Chen Aiguo's intentions.
After all, in his estimation, such a situation was highly unlikely to occur. Five percent of the shares for ten million yuan – by any calculation, it seemed like a raw deal. Even if it was to repay a favor, it shouldn't be to this extent.
In fact, it wasn't just Yu Zhou who was utterly perplexed. Anyone else hearing this would likely be just as bewildered.
If Yu Zhou didn't know that Chen Aiguo rarely teased him, he would have certainly assumed this was the case right now. How could he possibly adjust to such a sudden shift in attitude?
"It's true! At least, I genuinely intend to pay this much money for your five percent stake."
"It's just that I didn't discuss it with you before making up my mind."
Seeing Yu Zhou's surprised expression, Chen Aiguo wasn't taken aback. After all, if a business partner presented him with such a proposal, he would most likely not believe it either.
This wasn't just about the weight of a favor; more importantly, he believed Yu Zhou was someone he could partner with long-term.
"Oh? So, it's not what I thought, that you want to repay that so-called favor of mine?"
Even Yu Zhou was somewhat surprised at this point. Clearly, in his mind, he couldn't fathom the other party's motives for doing this.
Without this reason, Yu Zhou simply couldn't convince himself. Even though he knew very well that, at least for now, Chen Aiguo wouldn't harm him, he still felt a sense of unease.
"There are elements of that involved, but it's by no means the main factor."
"My primary reason is that I value your business potential, and I also believe that by investing ten million yuan for five percent of the shares now, I will still profit in a few years."
Chen Aiguo praised Yu Zhou without reservation, which made Yu Zhou blush slightly.
Did he have confidence in his company?
"You're just confident in me, so you're willing to give ten million?"
Although Yu Zhou's heart had somewhat settled at this point, such an excuse still couldn't convince him.
After all, in his eyes, even a normal businessman wouldn't do such a thing. Even if he himself wanted to make such a move, he would consider it unreliable.
If that was the case, how could he agree if he didn't understand the other party's true intentions?
Ten million yuan for five percent – this was a figure that even he found incredibly enticing. If it weren't for the fact that the "[Three Horses]" company couldn't be handed over at the moment, he might have directly taken this money and started a new business.
After all, Yu Zhou's goal had never been to be a big boss in the food industry. He wanted to return to his electronic industry roots.
It wasn't that the electronics industry was inherently superior. If the food business was done well, it would be no less profitable than electronics.
It was simply that he had loved the electronics industry in his previous life. Now, at this stage, with the capital, he felt somewhat unwilling not to venture into that field.
"Alright, I have one more request. If you agree to this, then we will both profit, and it will be a win-win situation."
Finally, Chen Aiguo revealed his objective. If he didn't say it now, he might not have another chance.
In his eyes, Yu Zhou might be a person with great potential. And he believed that Yu Zhou had made a lot of money before.
However, this didn't mean he would just throw money at him. Since there was an investment, there had to be a return. He was a businessman, and even with a good relationship, this principle remained universal.
Yu Zhou clearly understood the importance of relationships in business.
However, he also didn't believe that business dealings should be driven by emotion. Chen Aiguo might be a loyal boss, but it was unrealistic to expect him to help without reservation, both financially and with his efforts. Even if Chen Aiguo were to do so, Yu Zhou wouldn't consider it a given.
That was why the two of them were having this conversation.
"I want to establish a long-term partnership with you. I know that you definitely don't just want to run a company like '[Three Horses]' and will open new companies later. In the future, when you start over or open a new company."
"I want a portion of the equity and some investment."
"Of course, this investment is essentially investing in you as a person. In our collaboration, I'll provide the capital without interfering in the operations."
"I don't even need too much equity, but no matter what business you engage in, you must include me a few times."
Chen Aiguo finally spoke with sincerity. He knew very well that it wasn't easy to get on board with Yu Zhou. The current ten million yuan for five percent equity was his preparation for the future. If Yu Zhou agreed, then everything would fall into place.
As for cash, Chen Aiguo wouldn't say he had an abundance, but in the entire Longxia, there were likely few people who could compare with him. Yu Zhou was a boss with creativity, vision, and execution. Collaborating with Yu Zhou was undoubtedly one of the most important decisions in his eyes.
"Oh? You want to participate in my future projects? And you must participate?"
Yu Zhou's eyebrows rose. He certainly understood what the other party was implying. What surprised him was that Chen Aiguo was so optimistic about him. His long-term partner, Qin Siyue, hadn't even said such things.
He knew that starting new ventures was something he would put on his agenda within a few years. But to want an entry ticket now – only Chen Aiguo was doing this.
"Do you know what I plan to do next? You're so eager to join?"
"Do you have that much confidence in me?"
At this moment, Yu Zhou still harbored a trace of disbelief. However, he couldn't understand why Chen Aiguo remained so calm, as if he had already seen through him and was certain he would achieve great success.
It even made Yu Zhou himself wonder if this guy had seen through his secret of reincarnation. How could he be so certain of his success?