novelraw Chapter 432: Wen Ruan? Wen Ruan!
Chapter 432: Wen Ruan? Wen Ruan!
The deep roar of an engine echoed through the street.
Lights flashed by, reflecting a cold gleam off the sleek black body of the Audi RS6.
The car gradually slowed down and pulled into the parking lot outside Oasis View Garden.
The door swung open, and Wen Ruan stepped out, carrying her LV Speedy 35.
With the crisp sound of her heels clicking against the pavement, she strode through the light and headed straight for the east gate of the community.
Since her Lynk & Co 06 was parked in the underground lot here, the new car would have to stay outside for now.
But she had already contacted property management and planned to buy another parking spot.
"Ding—" The elevator doors slowly opened.
Wen Ruan grabbed the handle of Unit 1702, pushed the door open, casually tossed her handbag aside, and called out, "I'm back."
From the kitchen, Qian Guixiang walked out with a bright smile."Ruan Ruan, was work tiring? Dinner’s almost ready. What do you want to drink?"
"Why do you make it sound like I’m some kind of guest? I can get my own drink."
"Come on, I’m just looking after you!" Qian Guixiang quickly took her daughter’s bag and hung it up, then brought out her slippers.
Looking at her overly enthusiastic mother, Wen Ruan smiled helplessly. She changed into her indoor shoes, opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of juice, and took small sips.
Ever since finalizing the family trust, her mother had completely let go of her worries.
Now, aside from urging her to have a baby sooner, she bombarded her with WeChat messages and phone calls every day—just like when she was still in school.
"Oh, right, Ruan Ruan." Qian Guixiang held her daughter’s hand and grinned.
"I recently signed up for a maternity nursing course. It's a two-month program. Whenever you need me, just say the word, and I'll move to Shengyuan Scenic Residence to take care of you."
"Oh my god, Mom!" Wen Ruan rubbed her forehead with one hand.
"Can you please chill? Didn’t I just transfer you 200,000? Wouldn’t it be better to take Dad on a trip instead?"
"We’re not in a rush. Besides, your dad is a workaholic—he can't sit still without a job. Lately, he and your second uncle have been discussing water and electricity renovations."
Wen Ruan huffed, "You two really don’t give people a break. Isn’t the printing factory about to be taken over? Why keep messing around?"
Just then, Wen Jianxin walked out of the kitchen, carrying a dish.
"We’ve been looking into it these past few days. The printing factory has too many issues—there’s no saving it.
Everyone says the new boss bought the factory just for the land. All that talk about upgrading production lines is just empty promises. In the end, the layoffs are inevitable."
"Not necessarily." Wen Ruan replied playfully, a knowing smile in her eyes.
Qian Guixiang pulled out a chair at the dining table and urged, "Alright, alright, let’s eat first."
Dinner was abundant, featuring not only Wen Ruan’s favorite home-cooked dishes but also some braised snacks.
The family of three ate together in a warm and lively atmosphere.
Casually, Wen Ruan steered the conversation toward Yanbei Printing Factory.
Wen Jianxin had been one of the earliest skilled workers at the company.
He had worked his way up from the printing workshop to the processing workshop, and three years ago, he was transferred to the equipment maintenance department, responsible for the daily upkeep of production machines.
He knew exactly how bad the situation was at the factory.
In the early days, thanks to government connections, Yanbei Printing Factory had smooth sailing.
They secured a large number of steady orders and expanded comfortably.
But later, they miscalculated the market trends and took out loans to buy a batch of offset printing machines and die-cutting machines.
Unfortunately, before long, the entire industry shifted to digital printing, riding the e-commerce boom.
Since Yanbei still had sufficient orders at the time, they didn’t move forward with restructuring—missing a critical opportunity.
From then on, they fell behind step by step. Orders started dwindling, costs kept rising, and outdated equipment dragged them down further.
Now, the company was deep in debt—they owed money to banks, suppliers, and employees.
They couldn’t even pay the interest on their bank loans anymore.
At this point, the most valuable asset left was those 30 acres of industrial land.
By the end of the conversation, Wen Jianxin let out a deep sigh.
Yanbei Printing Factory had once flourished.
At its peak, it employed nearly 400 workers and had an annual output value exceeding 100 million yuan.
Although profits were low due to industry challenges, the factory had supported many families, including theirs.
It had once been their pride and security.
After getting scammed in a relocation deal, it was the factory that kept them afloat.
But now, it was on the verge of collapse.
Thinking back on everything, Wen Ruan sighed as well.
In this regard, she was truly grateful to Su Yu.
She hoped the changes Su Yu was bringing would help the factory survive—
and, step by step, upgrade and transform it into something better.
After dinner, Qian Guixiang went to clean up in the kitchen.
Wen Jianxin stepped onto the balcony, carried in a case of milk and a box of small cakes, and placed them at the entryway.
Curious, Wen Ruan asked, "Dad, where are you going?"
"I’m going to check on Pingshun." Wen Jianxin sighed.
"He’s been delivering food lately, and last week he got into an accident with a three-wheeled electric cart.
Spent a few days in the hospital and just got discharged this afternoon. I want to visit him."
Wen Ruan’s eyes widened. "What? Was it serious?"
"Not too bad, just a mild concussion."
Immediately, Wen Ruan stood up. "Let’s go, Dad. I’ll go with you."
Since they were close in age, she and Wen Pingshun had been good friends growing up.
At school, he had helped her handle a lot of nonsense.
She owed him a favor.
She had promised to help arrange a job for him, but the factory’s debt crisis had slowed down the acquisition process—
so she hadn’t been able to fulfill her promise yet.
This visit was a chance to reassure them.
A few minutes later, the pink Lynk & Co 06 drove out of the underground garage.
After a long drive, they arrived at Huishui Garden, a residential complex near the North Third Ring Road.
Two years ago, Wen Pingshun’s family had emptied their savings to make the down payment on an 86-square-meter, two-bedroom apartment here.
"Knock, knock, knock—" Wen Jianxin rapped on the door.
After a moment, the door opened.
An older man with graying hair, Wen Guanghua, peeked out.
When he saw who it was—especially Wen Ruan—his face lit up with joy.
"Jianxin! Ruan Ruan! You’re here!"
It had been two months since Wen Ruan had promised to help find a job for Pingshun.
Of course, they were anxious.
Wen Guanghua had asked Wen Jianxin about it before.
The answer was always: "Wen Ruan just started as a company executive and hasn’t gained a firm footing yet. Give her some time."
Since they were asking for a favor, Wen Guanghua didn’t dare to push.
All he could do was wait.
But now, Wen Ruan had shown up on her own.
"Uncle Guanghua, how’s Pingshun doing?"
"Much better now! Come in, come in! And why did you bring all these things?"
Saying that, he stepped aside to let them in.
As Wen Ruan glanced around the simple and modestly furnished living room, she hesitated for a moment.
Sitting on the couch, besides Wen Pingshun, was an unfamiliar middle-aged man wearing glasses.
He looked to be around 50 years old, dressed in a polo shirt, with a sturdy, well-fed appearance—
and he carried himself with an air of importance.
Wen Jianxin smiled and said, "Yunxiang, you’re here too."
Wen Ruan also greeted him politely.
Sitting upright on the couch, Wen Yunxiang gave them a calm nod.
Although Wen Yunxiang wasn’t much older in age or seniority, he was a significant figure in their family.
Back in 1997, when printing workshops first emerged in their village, he was among the first to gather family members and start a small factory, leading a team of over twenty people.
Their main business included printing exercise books, financial ledgers, receipts, and envelopes. They made good money, allowing him to buy a house in the city early on.
Later, in 2008, due to environmental regulations and urban planning changes, Yanbei Printing Factory was established.
After joining the company, Wen Yunxiang quickly climbed the ranks with his excellent networking skills and strong reputation. Within a few years, he became the head of the offset printing workshop, holding the highest position in the factory among their family members.
Both Wen Guanghua and Wen Jianxin had once worked under him.
Beside them, Wen Pingshun quickly stood up and greeted them warmly. "Uncle Jianxin, Ruan Ruan, come sit over here."
Wen Ruan sat down comfortably on the couch, placing her bag gently on her lap.
"How are you feeling, Pingshun?"
"It wasn’t a serious injury to begin with, but the doctor was overly cautious and made me stay two extra days." Wen Pingshun smiled and poured them each a cup of tea.
"Better safe than sorry."
They exchanged a few pleasantries in the living room.
Noticing Wen Guanghua’s hesitation, Wen Ruan softly said,
"Pingshun, don’t worry about doing deliveries for now. I’ve already arranged something for you. The exact position isn’t decided yet—I need to see what you’d prefer. For now, just focus on your recovery. Leave the rest to me."
Upon hearing this, both Wen Guanghua and Wen Pingshun immediately stood up, thanking her profusely.
Wen Guanghua’s thick lips curled into a wide grin, and his wrinkled eyes glistened with emotion.
Wen Ruan’s gaze softened.
"Uncle Guanghua, you’re only a few years away from retirement. Try not to stress too much—things will get better."
"Thank you, Ruan Ruan," Wen Guanghua sighed.
"But with all the debt at home and a mortgage of over 4,000 yuan a month, how could I even think about retiring? Right now, I just want to find any kind of work."
Wen Ruan reassured him, "Isn’t the factory about to be taken over? With so many workers involved, there’ll definitely be a proper solution for everyone."
A chuckle suddenly broke the moment.
Wen Yunxiang, who had remained silent until now, shook his head and said,
"You’re being too naive. Things don’t work that way."
Wen Ruan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Uncle Yunxiang?"
Wen Yunxiang took out a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled slowly before speaking.
"I’ve interacted with the manager and the representatives from the acquiring company. You guys don’t understand the situation at all.
These people are financial merger experts—highly professional and well-connected. Read complete version only at novᴇlfire.net
They were able to convince government officials to step in and personally mediate the factory’s debt dispute with the bank.
Not only did they secure a debt extension agreement, but they also negotiated a 30% interest reduction.
With such powerful backing, do you really think they’re here to save a bankrupt printing factory?
No—they’re clearly after the land.
I’ll tell you right now, if they at least pay off the owed salaries and severance packages, that’s already the best outcome we could hope for."
Upon hearing this, both Wen Guanghua and Wen Jianxin sighed simultaneously.
The factory owed them four months of wages.
Their social security contributions had been suspended, and severance pay wasn’t even on the table.
Most workers had already lost hope in the factory.
"That might not be the case," Wen Ruan chuckled.
"I’ve received some inside information—the acquiring company will also bring in a batch of new orders to help the factory pull through."
She didn’t elaborate further—mainly because she herself hadn’t made a public appearance yet.
Without concrete proof, people wouldn’t believe her, and she didn’t want to waste time explaining.
It would be far more effective to finalize the acquisition by tomorrow—
once the results were in front of them, they’d understand everything.
Her words made everyone pause, their expressions shifting.
Wen Jianxin frowned. "Ruan Ruan, why didn’t you mention this before? Is this for real? Where did you hear it from?"
"I work in media now, so I naturally have access to good information."
Wen Guanghua, still excited, chimed in, "That’s right! Ruan Ruan is a high-level executive at a media company—she definitely knows more than us!"
"That would be great. I really hope things work out."
Honestly, most factory workers could still find other jobs if they left.
The main reason they hadn’t dispersed yet—aside from the unpaid wages—was the hope that a takeover might save the factory.
If the factory really could be revived, it would be the best possible outcome.
Seeing their hopeful expressions, Wen Yunxiang shook his head and stood up.
"Guanghua, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading out now.
The acquiring company is signing the contract tomorrow, so make sure to tell everyone not to cause trouble at the site.
Let’s get this process over with first. Then we can discuss wages and severance.
Right now, the factory simply doesn’t have the money."
The main reason he had come over late at night was to calm down any agitated workers.
Since government officials would also be present tomorrow, they had to ensure the workers didn’t make a scene.
Given how tough Wen Guanghua’s financial situation was, he had been flagged as a priority case.
"Alright, I understand." Wen Guanghua rubbed his calloused hands against his clothes and got up to see Wen Yunxiang out.
Having worked in the offset printing workshop for years, Wen Guanghua had always reported directly to Wen Yunxiang.
And within their family, Wen Yunxiang had built a strong reputation over the years.
His words carried weight.
As he left, Wen Yunxiang gave Wen Ruan and the others a slight nod before striding out.
Watching his figure disappear, Wen Jianxin lowered his voice, "Ruan Ruan, don’t mind your Uncle Yunxiang—that’s just the way he is."
Wen Ruan chuckled lightly. "It’s fine."
She understood people better than her father did.
She knew exactly what Wen Yunxiang was thinking—
he still didn’t take her seriously as a younger generation.
Naturally, he hadn’t believed a word she said.
But that was fine.
By tomorrow, she’d prove it to him.
After Wen Guanghua returned, they chatted for a while longer.
Before leaving, Wen Ruan pulled Wen Pingshun aside, tapped her phone a few times, and smiled.
"Pingshun, I transferred some money to your Alipay. Just think of it as a loan. Pay me back whenever you can—no rush."
Wen Pingshun froze. "No, no, I can’t take this…"
But Wen Ruan picked up her bag and laughed coolly.
"Oh, come on. We’ve known each other since we were kids, and we’re family.
I make good money now—it’s only natural for me to help out."
Wen Pingshun’s lips quivered slightly. He lowered his head and murmured, "Thank you, Ruan Ruan."
"No need to be polite. It’s getting late—my dad and I are heading back. Bye-bye!"
"I’ll walk you and Uncle Jianxin out."
Night fell like ink.
Standing in the cool evening breeze, Wen Pingshun watched as the Lynk & Co 06 disappeared around the corner.
They had grown up across the hall from each other, attending the same elementary and middle school—they had been very close friends.
But as they grew older, they had drifted apart.
Unlike Wen Ruan, who had soared into success, his life had been one hardship after another.
Wen Pingshun had barely managed to stabilize his life—he even found a girlfriend—only for his company to now face collapse.
At this moment, feeling Wen Ruan’s genuine concern, he was deeply moved.
On his way home, he pulled out his phone and lit up the screen.
Looking at the 100,000 yuan transfer in his Alipay account, he stared at it for a long time in a daze.
Before he even realized it, tears started slipping from the corners of his eyes.
Inside the moving Lynk & Co 06
Wen Ruan sat in the passenger seat, watching the profile of her father, his face increasingly lined with age.
She suddenly chuckled and asked, “Dad, you’re exactly 50 this year, right?”
"Uh..." Wen Jianxin was momentarily stunned, then nodded, "Yeah, just turned 50. If we’re counting traditional age, then 51."
"You’ve been in the printing industry since the '90s and worked at Yanbei Printing Factory for 15 years. Have you ever thought about being in charge for once?"
"In charge? What do you mean?"
"I mean, as the factory director or general manager."
Wen Jianxin’s expression stiffened slightly. Then, he laughed and shook his head. "Come on, I’m just a worker. How could I possibly be a big boss? I wouldn’t even dare to dream about it."
Wen Ruan leaned against the seat, turned to look at her father, and smiled teasingly. "I remember when I was little, you used to say it all the time—if you ever became the factory director, you’d buy me new toys, a new backpack, a car for our family, and a bigger house."
"Ah... those were just youthful fantasies," Wen Jianxin said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Your dad never amounted to much in this lifetime—my greatest achievement is raising a daughter like you."
"Ha!" Wen Ruan playfully swung her legs. "That’s right! And your daughter is only going to get better. Soon, you’ll be flaunting me to all our relatives."
Hearing this, Wen Jianxin burst into laughter, his eyes filled with warmth and pride.
Their father-daughter bond was exceptionally close, and Wen Jianxin had always spoiled his daughter.
He had never let her suffer, not even once.
When Wen Ruan started university in 2011, he gave her a monthly allowance of 1,500 yuan—considerably generous at the time.
It was largely thanks to his influence that she had grown up with such a confident and generous personality.
The bright headlights illuminated the road ahead, and the two chatted and laughed, before they knew it, they had arrived back at Oasis View Garden.
The car parked in the underground garage.
Just as Wen Ruan was about to unbuckle her seatbelt, she suddenly asked, "Dad, you’re going to the factory tomorrow, right?"
"Of course. It’s about the factory’s future and our unpaid wages—everyone will be there to see what’s happening."
"Great." Wen Ruan undid her seatbelt and grinned. "Then tomorrow, I’ll have a surprise for you."
"A surprise? What kind of surprise?"
"Hehe, if I tell you now, it won’t be a surprise anymore." Wen Ruan winked, pushed open the car door, and stepped out with her handbag.
As he watched his daughter walk away, Wen Jianxin was reminded of the little girl who used to proudly show him her perfect test scores.
September 5, 2023 | Tuesday | Cloudy | 23-31°C
At 7:00 AM, Wen Ruan sat up from her familiar bed, ran her fingers through her messy hair, and got dressed.
She went for a half-hour morning walk around the community.
After returning home, she had breakfast with her parents before seriously preparing herself for the day ahead.
Shower.
Makeup.
Outfit change...
Today was an important day for her.
Strictly speaking, this printing factory would be her first real business venture—and it also involved her family.
9:30 AM
"Ring, ring—"
The sound of her phone suddenly filled the room.
[Caller: Executive Assistant – Wang Dandan]
Wen Ruan answered, and a clear, familiar voice came through the receiver.
"President Wen, we’ve arrived outside the east gate of Oasis View Garden."
"Alright, I’ll be right down."
After hanging up, she said goodbye to her mother, grabbed her Hermès handbag, slipped on her high heels, and strode out.
The assistant team Tang Zong Entertainment had arranged for her wasn’t just for Light & Shadow Media—they were assigned to manage all aspects of her work and life.
For today’s acquisition signing meeting at Yanbei Printing Factory, aside from Su Yu’s team, her assistants would also be there, handling the logistics for her.
After all, once the acquisition was completed, there would be a mountain of follow-up work.
She didn’t have the time to deal with it all herself.
As she exited the east gate of the community, she immediately spotted Wang Dandan and the others waiting for her.
Beside them, two black Maybachs were parked quietly.
They were probably arranged by Zhen Yu.
"President Wen!"
"President Wen!"
The assistants greeted her respectfully.
Wang Dandan took Wen Ruan’s handbag, opened the rear door of the Maybach, and stepped aside.
Wen Ruan nodded calmly, bent down, and got into the car.
Soon, the heavy car doors shut with a dull thud.
The two Maybachs started their engines one after another, heading northeast.
Yanbei Printing Factory
The factory was located outside the North Third Ring Road, next to the Tuo River Ecological Zone, in an area with beautiful surroundings.
It covered 30 acres, roughly the size of three football fields.
However, with its factory buildings and offices over a decade old, the place looked worn down.
Yet today, the factory had been thoroughly cleaned—even bright red banners were hanging everywhere.
It looked unexpectedly festive.
Among the crowd, Wen Jianxin and his colleagues had changed into blue work uniforms.
They squeezed into a corner, scanning the scene.
The air buzzed with constant conversation and speculation.
Some people looked excited and hopeful, while others sighed pessimistically.
"I don’t even know who the new boss is. Haven’t seen them once."
"I heard they’re some big-shot investors from Shanghai—the whole thing feels very formal."
"Manager Wang said that government officials are coming today too. Maybe they’re here to help with our employment situation?"
"Yeah, right. Keep dreaming. I’m just hoping they pay us what we’re owed."
"We have so many employees here. Five months of wages plus severance—it’s over 10 million yuan. No way they’re covering all that."
Approaching 10:00 AM
The factory executives walked out of the office building, and the crowd gradually quieted down.
One after another, cars drove into the factory premises.
From them, a group of well-dressed men and women stepped out.
"Those must be the Shanghai investors, right? They look so young—about the same age as my son."
"The district officials are here too. That’s Director Wang, the one who inspected the factory last time."
"But who are those other people? The government officials are personally going up to greet them!"
As the crowd buzzed with curiosity, news quickly spread.
The latest arrivals were from Tangyi Precision (Yan City) Co., Ltd.—and among them was a vice president-level executive.
This news instantly electrified the crowd, setting off a wave of excitement.
No wonder the district leaders showed up in person!
Tangyi Precision was a name that everyone knew—especially among industrial workers like them.
When they drank and bragged about the economy, this company was always a hot topic.
It was a top-tier global technology manufacturing group, with core businesses spanning:
Consumer electronics
Automotive electronics
Semiconductors
Industrial mother machines (high-end manufacturing equipment)
And its Yan City branch was a powerhouse in its own right.
Founded in 2020, it had:
Three state-of-the-art smart factories
One joint research lab
32 local "specialized and innovative" supplier enterprises under its wing
A fully integrated R&D, production, and supply chain base serving North China and Northeast Asia
Over 12,000 employees, ranking among the top three manufacturers in the region
A massive taxpayer and an economic pillar
If anyone’s relatives worked there, they’d have bragging rights for days—hell, they could probably get an extra round of beer out of it!
But why would such a big-shot company be here?
It couldn’t possibly be buying out their tiny printing factory, right?
Of course, that was just wishful thinking.
With Tangyi Precision’s capabilities, it could build a brand-new, high-tech digital printing factory from scratch in no time—an Industrial 4.0-level facility.
And if it needed land, getting government approval wouldn’t be a problem.
As the crowd buzzed with speculation, two more cars slowly pulled up to the entrance.
Leading the way was a Maybach S680.
Its grand and imposing presence made the double-M emblem on the front grille stand out even more.
All the executives and investors attending the acquisition signing stopped their conversations and turned their gazes toward the car.
The surrounding chatter gradually quieted.
The two cars came to a slow stop in front of the office building.
Car doors opened one by one.
Five men and women stepped out, all in their early thirties, dressed in sharp, well-tailored business attire.
They moved with poise and confidence, carrying briefcases as they strode forward.
Then—
The rear door of the Maybach S680 swung open.
A pair of exquisite high heels stepped onto the pavement, steady and poised.
A tall, elegant figure rose gracefully from the car.
She wore a faint, composed smile—her bright, striking features framed by cascading waves of chestnut-black hair.
A perfectly tailored, light-gray blazer dress accentuated her slender, sensual curves.
To the right of the office building, gasps and exclamations erupted from the crowd.
"Wen Ruan?! Wen Ruan!"
"Ruan Ruan?!"
"Jianxin, isn’t that your daughter?! What is she doing here?!"
Wen Jianxin stared at his daughter stepping out of the Maybach, his mind buzzing in shock.
He had no idea what was happening.
Beside him, Wen Pingshun rubbed his eyes hard, wondering if he was hallucinating.
But the shouts from all around them made it undeniably clear—
It really was Wen Ruan.
A wave of commotion rippled through the crowd.
Everyone who knew her had their eyes widened in utter disbelief.
Above them, the thick clouds drifted apart.
Golden sunlight cascaded down like a waterfall, spilling gently over her figure,
casting a soft halo around her.
Wen Ruan tilted her chin slightly upward, her gaze sharp, confident, and commanding.
With her assistants in tow, she strode forward with purpose.
At this very moment—
She truly looked like the rising queen of the media industry.