As Wang Yu reached out his palm towards Mr. Watanabe, seemingly preparing to shake hands, everyone's expressions varied.
Was he about to concede?
A triumphant smile crept onto Watanabe's lips. The young man understood the balance of power and knew when to retreat.
The onlookers pointed and whispered, clearly displeased and feeling that Wang Yu's direct capitulation was unwarranted.
But after all, they weren't experiencing it themselves. It was like the saying, "Don't advise kindness to those who haven't suffered."
As for Han Jun and the others from the auto factory, their faces were etched with frustration and helplessness.
"Little factory director, we can't bow down to the people from He Dao!" someone couldn't help but shout. Before he could finish, another colleague retorted, "But what choice do we have if we don't bow down? The little factory director has to bear everything for so many brothers! If resisting brings temporary satisfaction, what about the future? What about the many brothers and workers in our factory and their families? What will they live on? Last time, it was just eight bicycle factories, with their connections, that forced us into such a state. If we directly offend all the large domestic auto enterprises and machinery industrial companies, what other way out will we have?"
"But..."
The others wanted to say more, but they realized it was indeed a valid point. This was perhaps the essence of helplessness and tragedy.
It was no wonder Wang Yu felt compelled to choose submission!
"After all this talk, don't you still have to bow to reality?" Take Moto said impatiently from the side, his tone smug and arrogant. He looked so obnoxious, it was as if he were sticking his nostrils up at everyone.
"Reality is cruel. It will teach you not to be too arrogant and show you how harsh this world is! However... I'm very sorry, but we from He Dao are reality!" Take Moto swaggered smugly towards Wang Yu, his face hovering in front of Wang Yu, his features contorted. His triumphant demeanor was uncannily like Hu Xisan returning.
Wang Yu glanced at Take Moto, clearly not wanting to engage. But just because Wang Yu ignored him didn't mean Take Moto would let him off the hook. He continued to spew words from his mouth.
"Didn't you act very arrogant before? When you were threatening our Tianyi Steel Company, weren't you so righteous? Isn't it better to just obediently comply now? If you follow us from He Dao, you'll not only have great wealth and honor in the future, but you'll also be able to develop your own ambitions and ideals. Isn't that great? It would have been so much better if you had thought of this from the start! Why did you have to refuse the toast and drink the forfeit, only to be threatened..."
He didn't notice Wang Yu's darkening expression, and the others around him looked as if they wanted to beat him to death. But Take Moto continued his incessant babbling, "Backbone is the most worthless thing, I tell you! If you follow us from He Dao, it will be the wisest choice! We... What are you doing?" Take Moto's smug smile suddenly froze. He saw Wang Yu directly extend his hand and slap away Watanabe's.
"Slap!" The crisp sound echoed like thunder in everyone's hearts.
"I'm very sorry, I don't like being threatened. Also, I quite prefer the moon in my own country, in every sense of the word. So... I'm truly sorry!" Wang Yu said calmly, meeting Watanabe's gaze.
"Wang Yu, do you, do you know what you just did? You're rejecting the olive branch and friendship extended by us from He Dao!" Take Moto roared furiously from the side, his saliva flying, "Do you know that this was orchestrated by our He Dao behind-the-scenes council? By refusing like this, you're cutting off your own retreat!"
"Heh, I'm very sorry, but I don't like the retreat you're offering." Wang Yu was too lazy to continue the nonsense. "If you have nothing else, please leave?"
"You should think carefully, Mr. Wang. It's understandable for young people to have high aspirations. But... you always need to face reality." Watanabe, unlike Take Moto, was not hysterical. He withdrew his hand, which Wang Yu had slapped away, and said calmly, "Integrity can't be eaten as food. You need to think through all the consequences! Perhaps the next time we meet, we won't have such favorable conditions! I just hope you don't regret your choice today."
"You don't need to worry about that, Mr. Watanabe," Wang Yu said with a smile, then spoke directly, "Han Jun, escort our guests out!"
"Alright, Little Factory Director!" Han Jun immediately stepped forward and waved at Watanabe, "Please."
"Very well, I look forward to our next meeting. I hope, Mr. Wang, that you will still be as energetic as you are now." With that, Watanabe put on his sunglasses, resuming his gangster-like appearance, and led his group away.
As the people from He Dao left, Wu Lingling looked at Wang Yu meaningfully. "I thought you were going to agree just now. After all, the conditions offered by He Dao were quite tempting."
"No way, you have so little faith in me?" Wang Yu chuckled at Wu Lingling's words. "You're talking about their industrial system support, is that the condition? Honestly, I was a little tempted, but unfortunately, only a little!"
Hearing Wang Yu's words, Wu Lingling said exasperatedly, "No, it's the condition of giving you a beautiful wife from He Dao."
"Pfft! Don't scare me. I have no interest in such things! I'd rather have Mu Qingying... um, that..." Wang Yu was startled. A wife from He Dao was too much. He didn't want to wear a cuckold's hat, and in his excitement, he almost blurted out that Mu Qingying was gay!
"Mu Qingying? What about Mu Qingying?" Wu Lingling quickly pressed for details.
"Ah? Haha, nothing! Nothing, hahahaha!" Wang Yu quickly forced a laugh, trying to evade the topic and then quickly preparing to make a getaway.
"What exactly is it, hurry up and say it..." Wu Lingling stubbornly chased after Wang Yu, and the two gradually moved away, playfully bickering.
The people from the auto factory looked at each other, wondering if their little factory director had become too ambitious. But... what could be done about the He Dao situation? They looked at each other in silence, no one knowing what to do, a sense of dread spreading in their hearts.
...
Mingguang Province, Guanghui Brand Automobile Factory Headquarters.
This was the birthplace of China's first automobile and one of the cradles of heavy industry. The constant roar of machinery and the chimneys emitting black smoke were among its most prominent features. Currently, the production workshops, which should have been at their peak of activity, had suddenly fallen silent. An angry roar echoed from the factory director's office.
"What? He Dao has cut off engine supplies!"