Old Ma turned and immediately went to make arrangements, eager to show these arrogant fellows that his factory was not what they imagined.
Wang Yu, to ease the awkward silence, refilled the teacups of Secretary Yang and the others.
"Huh? The water's gone?" Wang Yu was slightly taken aback to find the thermos empty. He excused himself, went to get an electric kettle, filled it with water, and started boiling it right in front of everyone.
"Little Wang, what are you doing?"
Wang Yu's peculiar behavior drew everyone's curious gaze.
Secretary Yang asked, puzzled.
"Nothing much, just boiling some water," Wang Yu said with a smile, plugging in the electric kettle.
Boiling water?
Everyone looked at the strange contraption. It resembled a kettle but plugged directly into an electrical outlet. After a while, it began to hiss.
And it was indeed boiling water?
Everyone was shocked.
"This is a new product our factory has developed, an electric kettle. It can boil water directly by plugging it in."
Wang Yu explained. The factory's business license scope had been expanded the previous week, and the necessary qualifications were in place, so he felt confident presenting it to everyone.
Otherwise, that scumbag Fang Zhongtian might have used a loophole like operating without a license to attack them.
Now was the perfect opportunity to showcase it in front of the Secretary!
"It boils water just by plugging it in. It's not only convenient and fast but also safer." As Wang Yu explained, the kettle was gradually heating up, emitting wisps of steam and vapor.
"Oh? There's such a convenient device?" Secretary Yang was slightly surprised and stepped forward to examine it, finding that it was exactly as Wang Yu had described.
Amazing!
"So what if it is?" Fang Zhongtian sneered. "Why use electricity when we have a boiler room? Electricity is much more expensive. Director Wang truly doesn't know the value of money, just making useless flashy things."
Fang Zhongtian's tone was smug, but neither Wang Yu nor Secretary Yang, nor even his superior Xu Guangping, paid him any mind.
The advantages of an electric kettle were its convenience, speed, and greater safety compared to a coal stove.
Before long, a pot of water had boiled. Wang Yu poured it for everyone.
"It's really boiling?" Xu Guangping looked at the steaming hot water before him, a look of serious consideration appearing in his eyes for the first time.
"Secretary Yang, if this product can be mass-produced, we can reconsider the matter of the Metallurgy General Plant acquiring the automobile factory."
After a surprised glance at Wang Yu, who he clearly hadn't expected to have such a trump card in a seemingly failing factory, Xu Guangping's tone lost its arrogance.
Although he was an arrogant dandy, he wasn't stupid. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been assigned to negotiate the acquisition of the automobile factory. He naturally recognized the commercial value of the electric kettle.
"Heh."
Wang Yu simply responded with a smile.
Soon, Old Ma returned, accompanied by two burly security guards.
The two guards, each carrying a burlap sack, walked in boldly.
"Little Director!"
Seeing Wang Yu, they saluted.
"This is Secretary Yang from the county." Wang Yu pointed to Secretary Yang, and the two immediately paid their respects.
As for Xu Guangping and the others... sorry, forgotten.
"Surely this isn't what you call cash?"
Fang Zhongtian burst into laughter.
"What are snake-skin bags for? Did you beg for it? Do you need a dog-beating stick each as well? I have a few cents in my pocket, take it as charity."
Fang Zhongtian continued to chatter incessantly, like a large crow.
"What are you calling this? What is your great-uncle of a third uncle calling this?"
One of the security guards spat at him. He no longer cared about politeness in front of the Secretary and Wang Yu. Without another word, he tipped the burlap sack out.
Clatter!
Bundles of banknotes were poured out before them!
There were five, ten, and fifty yuan notes, but more hundred yuan bills!
After all, as a deposit, Hu Pangzi and the others had come prepared.
In those days, card payments and transfers weren't common, so large sums of cash had been prepared in advance.
This... this!
The visually stunning scene left everyone utterly astonished.
Especially that scoundrel Fang Zhongtian, whose mouth, opened in preparation for mockery, remained agape, leaving him frozen like a bewildered goose.
Not only that, but the other security guard also poured out the banknotes from his sack.
Another mountain of cash!
Alright, this sack mostly contained small denomination bills, but the sheer quantity was overwhelming!
Wang Yu nodded inwardly.
Old Ma was very meticulous in his work, organizing all the funds into categories.
The piles of money stacked before them made it look like a scene from a 1990s rendition of "In the Name of the People"... cough!
"Little Director, there's 630,000 cash here, which is recent collections that haven't been deposited into the bank yet. Additionally, there's over 370,000 already in the bank account, and here are the receipts."
Old Ma proudly handed Wang Yu a stack of bank slips.
Wang Yu took them and then gestured to Xu Guangping, "Director Xu, would you like someone to count it? In case some ignorant people spread rumors later, saying I used blank paper as cash.
Of course, our security brothers are also keeping a close eye, so no one can skim any. After all, some people have never seen so much money in their lives; it would be unfortunate if they casually pocketed a few bills."
Wang Yu's expression was calm, but his words directly targeted Fang Zhongtian without mincing words.
Although he was composed and didn't show his emotions easily, he couldn't stand this brat's incessant nagging and naturally responded with a sarcastic retort.
"You!" Fang Zhongtian, understanding the implication of Wang Yu's words, flushed beet red.
"No need to count."
Xu Guangping stepped forward, looking at the piles of cash before him. His face was contorted with anger, but he managed to control his expression.
Then, without a word, he grabbed Fang Zhongtian and pulled him over.
Slap, slap, slap, slap!
A series of rapid and loud slaps rained down on Fang Zhongtian's head!
The barrage of slaps stunned Fang Zhongtian, and indeed everyone else.
"A bet is a bet, twenty slaps!" Xu Guangping snorted after delivering the blows without pause.
"Since the automobile factory has sufficient funds, there's nothing more to discuss about the acquisition. We're leaving!"
With that, he turned and stormed out with his men, slamming the door of the reception room shut with a loud bang.
"That Xu Guangping!" Secretary Yang's face was displeased.
Xu Guangping's actions had completely disregarded him. Even though he was the future successor of the Metallurgy General Plant and had backing from provincial leaders, his arrogance was excessive.
"Secretary Yang, please don't take it to heart."
Wang Yu, noticing Secretary Yang's embarrassment, quickly stepped forward to offer him a cup of water.
Taking the cup, Secretary Yang breathed a sigh of relief. His gaze then fell on the still steaming hot water.
"Little Wang, I apologize for inadvertently causing trouble this time. But seeing that your factory has sufficient funds, I feel much more at ease. However, this electric kettle of yours?"
"Secretary, I must thank you for your concern this time. I was just planning to donate a batch of electric kettles to the county."
Wang Yu replied with a smile.