"What did you say? You dare to say one hundred million? Are you out of your mind? And you dare to claim your things are worth one hundred million?"
The woman from Minghuang's company was the first to shriek, her voice piercingly loud, filled with a mixture of rage, resentment, and disbelief.
Her narrow, phoenix-like eyes fixed on Wang Yu, as if he were one of the four pests.
The others also stared at Wang Yu, as if he were a complete lunatic.
One hundred million? How dare he even utter that figure!
"No, no, no, you've misunderstood. I didn't say one hundred million."
Wang Yu smiled and waved his hand, slightly calming their expressions. That sounded more reasonable; the young man was probably just irrational from anger.
"Alright," he thought, "we are people of status, we shouldn't stoop to his level and lose face over this."
"Then what do you mean?" the pale-faced youth asked Wang Yu.
"It's simple. I'm not talking about a total of one hundred million, but one hundred million from each of your companies!"
Wang Yu said with a smile, then deliberately added, "This is just for the technology transfer fee! The production line equipment is not for sale."
What? One hundred million from each?
And the production line isn't for sale? Then what do we need this shoddy technology for?
Everyone present seethed with anger. Wang Yu was treating them like fools! Who gave him the audacity?
"Are you playing with us?" the refined middle-aged man from Thunderbird squinted dangerously, his tone chillingly cold.
"Heh, who was it that started playing games? You wanted to take my technology for a mere one million? Isn't that no different from outright robbery?"
Wang Yu's tone also turned cold as he retorted unceremoniously.
These three individuals – the squinting-eyed middle-aged man, the menopausal old woman, and the young man with kidney deficiency... Wang Yu mentally nicknamed them since they hadn't introduced themselves. They lacked basic etiquette and thought they could dismiss him like a beggar!
"So, there's nothing to discuss? You've wasted our time!"
The menopausal old woman sounded incredibly impatient.
"What do you all think? Didn't you start wasting time when you brought up such a ridiculous proposition?"
Wang Yu smiled faintly, then raised his wrist and glanced at his old mechanical watch. "You've already wasted more than half an hour of my time."
"Hmph, if that's the case, then there's nothing more to say. I hope you won't come begging us later! By then, you won't even get that one million!"
The squinting-eyed middle-aged man sneered and turned to leave, his back exuding arrogance.
As he left, the other representatives from the bicycle factories also sneered and departed, leaving Wang Yu with their defiant silhouettes.
"What kind of people are they? Ptooey! They think they can just demand our technology be handed over? Do they really think they're the emperor of heaven?"
Han Jun spat fiercely at their retreating figures and said indignantly, "They even dare to threaten us. A bunch of bicycle factory folks trying to threaten us? We're not even in the same industry, and they're from another province so far away, yet they still try to threaten us!
They should look in the mirror and see what kind of people they are!
Why should the technology and products your esteemed factory manager worked so hard to develop be given to these people? Do they really think they're some big shots?
Even if we really offend them, what can they do to us? It's utterly ridiculous! Don't you think so, Factory Manager?"
Han Jun sneered and asked Wang Yu.
He expected Wang Yu to heartily agree, but instead, Wang Yu shook his head slightly. "I'm afraid their threat is more than just verbal!"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Han Jun looked bewildered.
"It's nothing. We'll deal with it as it comes."
Wang Yu smiled. He wouldn't explain the terrifying power of capital and the devastating impact of cross-industry disruption to Han Jun.
There were no major capital tycoons in China at this time, but these local leading enterprises, especially those with state-owned or central-government backing, represented capital and power in a sense.
In their eyes, Wang Yu was indeed not that remarkable!
...
"Damn Wang Yu, a small, insignificant factory in XX, look how arrogant he is!"
The squinting-eyed middle-aged man was furious, his former refined demeanor completely gone. He even resorted to the vulgar curse words common in his hometown in the north.
"Hmph, he refuses the toast and insists on the penalty. Let's give him a little taste of that penalty," the young man with kidney deficiency said with a cold laugh. "I've been saying for a long time we don't need to bother with all this. We could have just taken this guy down directly."
"Our goal isn't to crush an ant like him. We need to get our hands on that mini-engine and then seize the vast market for fuel-assisted vehicles."
The menopausal old woman sneered. "You must have seen the immense potential of this market through product sales earlier. There's still a lot of room for us to develop!
If we can get ahead, then the domestic... even the overseas markets will be ours! This cake is too big for one or two companies to consume. As we discussed before, let's cooperate and divide the market!"
"Alright, enough with the empty talk," the squinting-eyed middle-aged man snorted. "Since Wang Yu doesn't know what's good for him, let's teach him a lesson. First, send people to spread rumors and damage his reputation. Then, in our respective provinces, we'll block their products. Finally, through our connections, we'll put pressure on Jiangyang County together, forcing him to hand over the technology!
I want Wang Yu to personally kowtow and apologize, begging us to accept his engine technology!"
The squinting-eyed middle-aged man said this, his eyes filled with immense malice.
"Good!" they all replied in unison.
...
The first day of the Industrial Expo ended. Elder Gao, a representative of the observation group from Shuanglong Province, returned to his hotel room.
Because he was transported by the Shuguang No. 1 coach, the luxurious comfort made him feel unprecedentedly at ease. His stiff and aching lower back, a common ailment in his old age, held up well.
Elder Gao was in a very good mood. Humming a tune from an opera, he lit a cigarette.
However, before he could rest, the hotel receptionist arrived, informing him that someone urgently requested a meeting.
"Urgent meeting?" Elder Gao was slightly taken aback, then saw the representative from Yongwang Bicycle Factory, the young man with kidney deficiency, his face plastered with obsequious flattery.
"What is it?"
Instinctively disliking such a slick young man, Elder Gao frowned slightly. However, since Yongwang Bicycle Factory was one of Shuanglong Province's pillar industries, some face had to be given.
"What? You intend to sanction Jiangyang County Automobile Factory?"
Immediately after, Elder Gao's surprised voice echoed from his room.