"I can't let you try this painkiller, you need your own people to test it," Li Se said with a smile.
"No need to test. It's already proven," Qiu Jialiang said, his face full of shock. "With this medicine, it will be a blessing to our military. Brother Li, thank you so much!"
If he were to cooperate with the military, Li Se would need to set up a dedicated production line for them. The military's demand was immense, and it would likely require another factory solely for production.
Qiu Jialiang didn't linger. He returned to the military to initiate the application process. Military cooperation applications were complex and time-consuming, but with Xiao Zhanguo's backing, it shouldn't take too long.
Just as Li Se was about to leave, he ran into Xia Bingyun, whom he asked with surprise, "Bingyun, what are you doing here?"
"It's all thanks to Xia Ruifeng," Xia Bingyun said with a hint of annoyance.
"They're here too?" Li Se inquired.
"Yes," Xia Bingyun nodded. The Xia family had been bothering her for the past couple of days, making her feel quite agitated. "Moreover, this Zhu Tianfang is using various means to help that good-for-nothing Xia Zhen become the chairman of my company."
"I'll accompany you in," Li Se offered.
"Okay!" Xia Bingyun agreed.
They entered the private room together. Indeed, the same three people were there: Xia Ruifeng, Zhu Tianfang, and Xia Zhen. However, when they saw Li Se, displeasure flashed across their faces.
"What are you doing here?" Xia Ruifeng felt irritated the moment he saw Li Se.
"Heh, I'm Bingyun's man, why can't I be here?" Li Se said intimately, putting his arm around Xia Bingyun as he slowly sat down.
Zhu Tianfang, seeing this, had an unpleasant expression, as if he had been cuckolded. In his heart, he had already considered Xia Bingyun his woman. Now, seeing his woman acting so affectionately with another man, how could he tolerate it?
"Take your hand off!" Zhu Tianfang commanded.
Li Se looked at him, "Did I hear that correctly? I'm holding my woman, and you're telling me to let go?"
"Bingyun is my fiancée!" Zhu Tianfang stated each word clearly.
"Did you hear that? Let go!" Xia Ruifeng barked.
"Let go of my aunt!" Xia Zhen chimed in.
"What business is it of yours if I touch my woman?" Li Se retorted coldly.
Zhu Tianfang abruptly stood up, hands behind his back, looking down from above. "Your woman? Li Se, I've investigated you. You're just a delivery man, and you were even in jail a few months ago. What can you give Bingyun for happiness?"
He paused, then continued, "Don't tell me about owning shares in Yunmeng Company. That was just given to you by Bingyun. In the end, you're just being supported by Bingyun. What can you give Bingyun for happiness? Tell me?"
"Whether I can give Bingyun happiness should be decided by Bingyun, what does it have to do with you?" Li Se said mockingly.
Zhu Tianfang chuckled, "Of course, it has something to do with it. The Xia family has already betrothed Bingyun to me, so I am her fiancé. And I will surely inherit the vast industries of the Zhu family in the future. You and I are worlds apart. Give up. In terms of wealth and everything else, you are completely defeated by me!"
"A person should know their place. What are you, thinking of a toad wanting to eat swan meat?" Xia Zhen said triumphantly.
"I've said it before, my marriage doesn't need the Xia family to arrange. If you keep bothering me about the company and marriage, then please don't appear before me again in the future," Xia Bingyun said impatiently.
"Bingyun, do you really think he can give you happiness?" Zhu Tianfang asked in a deep voice.
"Of course he can!" Xia Bingyun glanced at Li Se, her eyes full of tenderness.
Zhu Tianfang shook his head, "Today, I've found several major cosmetic companies for you. With a word from me, they will cooperate with your Yunmeng Company. Then, Yunmeng Company will not only be famous in Qingyun City but throughout Jiangnan. This is just with a word from me, do you understand, Bingyun? Can he do this?"
"Of course he can!" Li Se said with a smile.
"Heh," Zhu Tianfang laughed contemptuously. In his eyes, Li Se was nothing but a clown. This was the second time, and he couldn't tolerate it, especially with Xia Bingyun being so intimate. He decided to teach Li Se a lesson and show him the vast difference between them.
"Then let's compete and see who can bring more major companies to cooperate with Yunmeng Company. How about it?" Zhu Tianfang decided to suppress Li Se thoroughly for daring to be so presumptuous in front of him.
Li Se shook his head.
"Scared?" Zhu Tianfang sneered.
Li Se said disdainfully, "Now that Yunmeng Company has the beauty cream, it's only a matter of time before it's available throughout China. There will be plenty of companies eager to cooperate, so why bother seeking collaborations? There's absolutely no need."
"I think you can't attract any cooperation, can you?" Xia Ruifeng taunted.
"How about this, your Xia family and Zhu family are doing such big business, you must have some cooperation with merchant associations, right?" Li Se suddenly said.
"Even if we do, so what?" Zhu Tianfang was somewhat dismissive.
"It's fine if you do," Li Se said, too lazy to argue with them. He directly took out his phone and called Qiao Guohua.
"Doctor Li, why are you calling me so suddenly?" Qiao Guohua's hearty laughter came from the other end of the line.
"Uncle Qiao, I'd like to ask if your merchant association cooperates with the Tianhai Zhu family?" Li Se got straight to the point.
Qiao Guohua thought for a moment and said, "The Zhu family of Tianhai, yes, we do. But they don't only cooperate with our association; they should also have the Hong Shi Merchant Association."
"Can you do me a favor?" Li Se asked.
"What favor?"
"Collect a debt!" Li Se uttered two words.
Qiao Guohua sounded surprised, "They offended you?"
"Yes!" Li Se replied concisely.
"Alright, it's a small matter. But if you can contact the Hong Shi Merchant Association, the blow to them will be even greater," Qiao Guohua suggested.
"Okay!" After Li Se hung up Qiao Guohua's call, he immediately called Hong Chen.
The Qiao Shi Merchant Association and the Hong Shi Merchant Association not only did business but also had cooperative relationships with many large groups. This so-called cooperative relationship was more about loans. Bank loans were limited, and to get more money, only these merchant associations had the capability. However, the interest rates were also quite high.
Therefore, Li Se had a hunch that the Zhu family might owe money to these merchant associations. As expected, they did cooperate. No, it should be considered debt.
"Qiao Shi Merchant Association and Hong Shi Merchant Association?" Xia Ruifeng's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.
Zhu Tianfang, however, said dismissively, "Pretending. If you can recognize the Qiao Shi Merchant Association and the Hong Shi Merchant Association, I'll shine your shoes!"