Chapter 117: Mutual Benefit and Win-Win

J Hotel Shanghai is a flagship subsidiary of Jiangjin Group, one of the largest hotel groups in China.
General Manager Qin Lan is the most beloved granddaughter of Qin Shan, the founder of Jiangjin Group. She took the helm of J Hotel Shanghai at a young age and is a renowned businesswoman.
Changqing Hotel is Jiangjin Hotel's biggest competitor in China. The two companies have been locked in fierce competition for years, with each gaining an advantage.
This time, Changqing Hotel's biggest asset is its soon-to-be-completed "Changqing Tianxi" hotel.
Once the new hotel project opens successfully, with its ultra-luxury positioning and scale, Changqing Hotel is highly likely to firmly establish itself as the leading hotel brand in China, completely overshadowing Jiangjin Hotel.
This is something Qin Lan absolutely cannot tolerate!
Today, Su Hao, representing Fanghuan Investment, stepped into Jiangjin Hotel's magnificent and luxurious headquarters building, ready to participate in negotiations that could shake up the industry landscape.
However, his gaze kept drifting unconsciously to his younger sister, who stood in the corner of the conference room, acting as a meeting attendant.
Su Hui, clearly surprised to reunite with her brother here, in this way.
Her face was filled with a complex mix of emotions: "Brother, what are you doing here?", "Are you up to something?", "Does Mom know about this?"
"Mr. Qin, it's truly an honor to be here today. I'm deeply grateful for your personal reception amidst your busy schedule."
Huang Fengwen, at this moment, suppressed his usual unintentional rough-around-the-edges manner, displaying the perfectly measured warmth and humility of a businessman, and proactively extended his hand.
"Chairman Huang, you're too kind." Qin Lan smiled politely and spoke with composure.
"Fanghuan Investment is a star in the financial industry. It's an honor for Jiangjin to receive your recognition.
Actually, we've long heard of your company's outstanding performance, and seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation."
She extended her hand to shake Huang Fengwen's, her every gesture exuding the competence and elegance honed by years of business experience.
Afterwards, members of both teams exchanged business cards in turn.
A few concise greetings and tentative compliments circulated among them, each person's expression and word choice perfectly executed.
The air was filled with the unique tension of business networking—both friendly and distant.
Every smile, every nod, had already completed several rounds of exchanges.
When it was Su Hao's turn, he lightly shook hands with Qin Lan.
"Fanghuan Investment, Su Hao, Director of the Trading Department," he introduced himself simply.
The powerful businesswoman he'd only glimpsed on financial news channels was now right in front of him, and Su Hao felt a strange, inexplicable sense of familiarity, like a screen idol stepping into reality.
"The Trading Department...Director?"
Qin Lan's smile faltered slightly, a fleeting, almost imperceptible surprise flashing in her eyes.
How could a department director, who wasn't even a senior executive, be so openly present at this level?
And, moreover, right next to Huang Fengwen?
However, her excellent professionalism allowed her to quickly conceal her inner turmoil, and she politely replied, "Director Su, it's a pleasure to meet you."
After the pleasantries, both sides took their seats at the conference table.
Qin Lan didn't waste any time, getting straight to the point:
"Chairman Huang, your company has proactively extended an olive branch to Jiangjin Hotel. I presume it's for the cooperation on the Changqing New Hotel project?"
"Exactly! Mr. Qin, you're quick to speak your mind, I admire you!" Huang Fengwen laughed heartily.
"Then I won't beat around the bush. Fanghuan Investment, after all, is in finance; we're truly novices when it comes to hotel management.
Even if we acquired the Changqing Tianxi Hotel, we wouldn't have the ability to revitalize it.
Instead of blindly struggling and wasting time and money, it's better to find a professional partner for mutual benefit—that's our internal consensus.
We believe that cooperating with an industry leader like your company is the wisest choice."
These words were perfectly worded.
They flattered the other party while clearly stating their own position.
Fanghuan Investment needed a professional hotel operations team to revitalize the hotel in the Changqing New development.
Jiangjin Hotel, on the other hand, had long coveted the top spot in the domestic hotel industry and the opportunity to surpass its arch-rival, Changqing Hotel.
This collaboration, once the terms are agreed upon, will be a win-win situation for both parties.
“Since that’s the case, then I won’t beat around the bush.”
Qin Lan leaned forward slightly, her gaze sharp as a knife.
“What price does your company intend to offer for the transfer of the hotel’s operating rights?”
Here it comes! The core issue is finally on the table!
How much can the hotel’s operating rights actually sell for?
The reason Su Hao is in this conference room today is precisely for this question.
Because his damned intuition hasn’t given him a clear “instruction” on the price.
However, he’s not panicking.
Because Huang Fengwen has already held countless meetings with the old foxes within the company regarding the pricing, and they’ve privately agreed on a rough range.
“Hehe, we’d like to hear President Qin and Jiangjin Hotel’s considerations first. After all, you are the experts in the hotel industry.”
Huang Fengwen, true to his old hand, didn’t reveal his hand first, but instead passed the buck back.
He was a professional at Tai Chi push hands.
"Alright," Qin Lan readily nodded.
"Since Chairman Huang has said so, let's start by presenting our preliminary assessment of the Jiangjin Hotel."
She gracefully gestured, and immediately a young woman in a business suit stepped forward, turned on the projector and PowerPoint presentation, and began to elaborate on Jiangjin Hotel's valuation and market analysis of the Changqing Hotel business.
To Su Hao's amusement and exasperation, the "professional" giving the presentation was none other than his beloved younger sister, Su Hui, whom he both admired and worried about.
"According to the latest data, affected by multiple factors such as the global economic downturn and the decline in tourism consumption, the overall outlook for the hotel industry is not optimistic.
Especially in my country's tourism market, there are still many shortcomings in attracting high-end tourists..."
Su Hui's voice was clear and melodious, and her arguments were well-organized. Although she was facing a group of industry leaders, she showed no nervousness, her demeanor was steady, and she displayed the makings of a future powerful woman.
Watching from below, Su Hao felt a strange sense of pride, like "my little sister has grown up."
"Hmm, not bad, not bad. This girl's doing quite well in Jiang Jin; she hasn't let her brother down."
However, as he listened, Su Hao sensed something was off.
The core message of his sister's PowerPoint presentation boiled down to just a few sentences:
"The hotel industry is in a slump right now! The future is fraught with risks!"
"So, regarding the operating rights of Changqing Hotel, you want to sell for a high price?
No way!
We've blocked every single window!"
A typical negotiating tactic of first lowering the price and then raising it, a classic case of trying to drive down the price.