The reception room.
Ever since Meng Hao became a hands-off manager,
handling all affairs, big and small, by Cheng Hua.
The entire factory was managed in an orderly fashion.
Even the reception room for business negotiations was decorated and renovated by Cheng Hua to resemble the study of an ancient high official.
A huge landscape painting.
Redwood lacquerware, with craftsmanship hard to distinguish as real or fake.
Paired with hollowed-out tables and chairs that seemed to emit no formaldehyde smell.
The natural Jiangnan ancient style exuded an unpretentious and grand aura.
It was evident that,
as Cheng Hua had said, he truly had deep affection for the old factory where he had worked for over twenty years.
Standing by the window of the reception room, the factory square and main entrance were clearly visible.
A conspicuously old, but brightly polished BMW imported sedan drove in through the main gate.
Strangely,
this car did not head directly for the building where the conference room was located, as per the factory gatekeeper's instructions. Instead, it slowed down, circled the powered mecha that Meng Hao had evaluated and left behind, unretrieved, before heading unsteadily towards Meng Hao.
“Uncle Cheng Hua, it seems our prospective client is very interested in the company’s products!”
Meng Hao said with a laugh.
Meng Hao was quite looking forward to the first business negotiation that could potentially lead to a contract.
“Ah… yes… right, right, right!”
Upon hearing Meng Hao strike up a conversation,
Cheng Hua stunned for a few seconds before responding absentmindedly, as if suddenly awakened.
Huh?
What’s wrong with Uncle Cheng Hua?
Why does he seem so distracted and preoccupied?
Perhaps it involved personal privacy, so Meng Hao didn’t ask further.
Soon,
the clients who were to negotiate a major deal with Meng Hao arrived.
As the staff opened the door,
an old man and a middle-aged man strode in.
The old man, his face full of wrinkles, was bowing and scraping to the middle-aged man accompanying him, acting like a sycophantic dog!
The middle-aged man, fair-skinned all over, exuded a strong body odor that even expensive perfume couldn’t mask… this was actually an Anglo-Saxon.
Unlike the Anglo-Saxon arms dealer Jarvis, whom he had dealt with before,
this fair-skinned, blue-eyed Anglo-Saxon had arrogance written all over his face.
Meng Hao’s first impression of them was very bad.
“Boss, long time no see!”
Cheng Hua greeted them with a somewhat unnatural expression.
Boss?
Meng Hao was taken aback.
Wasn’t he the person in charge of Huarong Industry?
Had Cheng Hua lost his mind?
“Old Cheng!”
“It’s been almost two months since we last met.”
“I can see you’ve managed the old factory well!”
“I’ve been quite conscientious, finding you such a good new owner!”
The old man, his face wrinkled, acted as if he had performed a great service, boasting with a smile.
Cheng Hua pursed his lips but remained silent.
Damn it.
He sold off the factory.
Owed wages to the workers.
And still had the audacity to boast?
If not for Meng Hao, the new owner, being kind-hearted, the old colleagues who had worked together for so many years would have gone their separate ways.
Seeing that Cheng Hua didn’t respond,
the old man’s eyes showed a hint of resentment.
However, he hadn’t come today to reminisce with Cheng Hua and the others, so he didn’t dwell on the matter.
“Meng Hao, President Meng, you are truly accomplished at such a young age, we meet again!”
Meet again?
Who the hell are you?
Are we that familiar?
And you’re coming over to pat my shoulder?
Who do you think you are, using your age to act old and pushy?
I can show you respect by acknowledging your age, but if I don’t, you’re just a rotten old winter melon rotting in some forgotten corner!
“Boss.”
“This is our former factory owner, Dong Jian!”
“You’ve met before!”
Meng Hao only realized after Cheng Hua’s reminder.
So, it was this old geezer.
However, last time, he had bypassed any pleasantries and directly offered a premium of over thirty percent above the market price, so he hadn’t paid much attention to Dong Jian.
“President Meng, I’ve brought a big business opportunity for you this time.”
Seeing that Meng Hao wasn’t giving him face,
Dong Jian didn’t show any ferocity this time but smiled even more humbly.
It was clear he had received a substantial referral fee.
“Oh, please sit!”
Meng Hao already had a poor impression of the two men before him, and upon hearing that this was the former factory owner who had sold off Cheng Hua and the others, his interest waned further. He courteously invited them to sit in a casual tone, and then instructed Cheng Hua to serve tea.
“Ah, brother Meng Hao.”
“This factory used to be a state-owned enterprise, and I took over after the privatization reform.”
“Unfortunately, the market was sluggish, so I had to sell the factory… but this has benefited you, and you will make a fortune!”
What kind of bullsh*t sluggish market.
Meng Hao had already heard from Cheng Hua that
the factory was completely ruined by this Dong Jian. After deceiving the state's trust and obtaining the operational rights, he immediately sold off everything he could and pocketed the profits.
When Meng Hao took over the factory a month ago, other than the vast piece of land, empty factory buildings, and a few old employees like Cheng Hua, there was nothing left.
“Speaking of which, I also held meetings in this conference room back in the day!”
“Back then, just like you, I was full of ambition!”
“Nostalgic, more than twenty years have flown by.”
“…”
Meng Hao had no interest in listening to Dong Jian’s pretense of reminiscing, which was actually an attempt to get closer to him and Cheng Hua, thereby increasing his importance in the eyes of that foreign Anglo-Saxon.
If the deal went through, he would likely receive another hefty finder’s fee.
“Let’s talk business.”
Meng Hao impolitely interrupted Dong Jian’s rambling.
“Heh heh.”
“President Meng is indeed straightforward.”
“Let me introduce, this is Mr. Bob, Deputy Minister of Procurement for the newly established United Military Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the US General Dynamics Group… he is a big shot!”
General Dynamics?
One of the six major US military conglomerates… a comprehensive ground defense company… the largest integrated company in the Americas for the research, development, manufacturing, production, and sales of ground warfare military equipment.
The world-renowned M1 series main battle tanks, Stryker armored vehicles, and Paladin self-propelled howitzer systems, which are sold to foreign countries, all come from this US General Dynamics!
Well.
In essence,
Mr. Bob, like Jarvis, is an arms dealer.
However, in terms of the resources and connections he commands, and the funds and technology he can mobilize, he is not comparable to Jarvis.
Why would someone from the world’s largest arms dealer find me?
Huarong Industry is a private company and has no connection with military enterprises.
Also,
what is this newly established United Military Technology, wholly owned by General Dynamics?
The guest is here.
No matter why they are here,
being polite and paving a path for myself can never be wrong.
Meng Hao politely nodded to the other party and greeted him.
“Hello, Mr. Bob, welcome to Daxia!”
As a result, he just stared at Meng Hao without any reaction.
Could it be that he doesn’t understand Chinese?!
If he doesn’t understand Chinese, why come to the country of Daxia?
A paid vacation, sightseeing on the company’s dime?