Arriving at the Cao family residence, Butler Deng Bo warmly welcomed Han Lang.
"Young Master Han, you've arrived!"
Han Lang responded with a polite smile.
"Butler Deng, long time no see! Is Old Master Cao at home?"
Upon hearing this, Butler Deng replied with a look of regret. "Oh, what bad timing! The old master left early this morning. However, the master and young lady are both home. It's just that they seem to have had a fight just now and are both sulking in their respective rooms! Shall I call them?"
Han Lang knew the reason for Cao Jian and Cao Xuerong's argument. He didn't want to stir up trouble at this juncture, so he quickly replied.
"No need, no need. If Old Master Cao isn't here, I won't disturb you. I happen to have something else to attend to, so I'll be going now."
Just as Han Lang was about to leave, Cao Jian suddenly appeared.
The moment he saw Han Lang, his first reaction was surprise, but he quickly masked it. He then put on a kind and amiable expression and said with a chuckle.
"Ah! Young Master Han, you're here, please come in and sit!" He then turned to Butler Deng and said, "Butler Deng, go brew me a pot of good tea!"
Seeing Cao Jian's enthusiasm, Han Lang didn't know how to refuse and had to brace himself and walk in, sitting on the sofa in the living room.
"Young Master Han, you've come all this way specifically, is there something you need?"
Although Cao Jian's tone was tactful, his meaning was extremely clear.
He knew why Han Lang was there; Han Lang also knew that he knew why he was there.
For the two of them, who knew each other's intentions, this was undoubtedly getting straight to the point.
"Since Mr. Cao is so direct, I, Han, will not beat around the bush. Mr. Cao should know that my Han's Pharmaceutical Factory and your group have jointly launched a new cold medicine, right?"
Cao Jian did not evade and answered directly.
"Yes, I know! Rong'er mentioned that this cold medicine has great market potential, and she even suggested that Monde Group should fully explore it."
Hearing this, Han Lang thought that Cao Jian had reached a consensus with Cao Xuerong on his way there, so he quickly asked.
"Then what is Mr. Cao's intention?"
Cao Jian paused and then said.
"The market feedback for this cold medicine is indeed very good, and I admit its market potential. I am willing to cooperate with Han's Pharmaceutical Factory to meet the market's expansion needs within the scope of our contractual obligations. However, market competition also requires a step-by-step approach, doesn't it? No matter how good your product is, you can't just expect to get rich quick through this collaboration, can you?"
Han Lang carefully considered Cao Jian's words and quickly understood his meaning.
In Cao Jian's view, Han's Pharmaceutical Factory was merely a second or third-rate enterprise. Although it had coincidentally developed a good product, it shouldn't expect to soar to the heavens by leveraging the Cao family's influence!
Understanding this, he felt a bit displeased, but he still patiently said to Cao Jian.
"Mr. Cao, since you are aware of the market potential of this cold medicine, you should understand that when I sold twenty percent of the shares to your Monde Group for two hundred million yuan, it was already a huge concession. If this market expansion plan is successful, your Monde Group will benefit at least tenfold or even a hundredfold. Is this merely my Han family trying to soar to the heavens through this collaboration?"
Cao Jian chuckled upon hearing this.
"That's why you're still young, Young Master Han! I've roughly estimated that according to your current plan, if you only enter the beauty market, it will require an investment of at least over a billion yuan. If you want to pursue both, this investment will need to more than double! By then, will the profits from the cold medicine be enough to fill this gap? Not to mention that all the risks are borne by my Cao family!"
Han Lang retorted unceremoniously, "According to your calculations, how should the profits from the beauty market be calculated?"
Hearing Han Lang's tone, Cao Jian's expression changed drastically.
"Then how should the favor my Cao family has lost be calculated?"
Favor?
As soon as Cao Jian uttered this, Han Lang was certain of his suspicions.
There was indeed something fishy going on!
Thinking of this, Han Lang couldn't help but ask with a smile.
"I'm very curious, Mr. Cao. The Cao family is already one of the top four prominent families in Le City. Who has the ability to make you have to owe them a favor?"
Hearing Han Lang's question, Cao Jian realized he had let slip. However, this was not something shameful for him, so he answered.
"So, Young Master Han. I am a businessman, and my standard for measuring value is not just wealth. Although the Cao family is one of the four prominent families, the Wang family is also one of the four prominent families. Moreover, they are superior to my Cao family in all aspects! If I were to unreservedly assist your Han family, given the relationship between the Wang family and the Gou family, they would inevitably be drawn into this conflict. At that time, we might all suffer losses!"
Cao Jian's words seemed reasonable, but Han Lang did not agree. He immediately retorted.
"Mr. Cao, I do not agree with your viewpoint. The strength gap between the Cao family and the Wang family is not significant. If the Cao family can successfully help the Han family enter the beauty market and greatly expand the market share of the cold medicine, it is not impossible for the Cao family to surpass the Wang family! But now, before this battle has even begun, the Cao family has directly made concessions. Please forgive my bluntness, Mr. Cao, but this is rather lacking in the dominance of a prominent family!"
"Slap!"
Hearing Han Lang's words, Cao Jian was so angry that he slammed the table and stood up, pointing at Han Lang's nose and shouting.
"Han Lang!"
"You need to watch your words!"
"Does the Cao family only show the dominance of a prominent family by helping your Han family ascend without reservation?"
"If it weren't for the fact that you owe my Cao family a favor, do you believe I could throw you into the river to feed the fish right now!"
Han Lang could only remain silent in response to Cao Jian's words.
Although the Han family's situation was indeed dire, most of what he had said was truly from the Cao family's perspective.
If he had to say where he went wrong, it was only his last sentence; he genuinely felt that Cao Jian, as the head of a prominent family, was somewhat spineless.
"Alas, since Mr. Cao has said so, I, Han, will have to find another way."
"However, I would like to tell Mr. Cao in closing that treating Old Master Cao was something I did willingly. Moreover, you have already paid me a consultation fee. We both got what we needed, and there's no favor involved."
"Therefore, we are even!"
Just as Han Lang was about to get up and leave, Cao Xuerong leaned out halfway from the glass railing on the upper floor, half-leaning against the railing, looking blankly at Cao Jian below, and said faintly.
"Dad, I think Han Lang is right! As the head of a prominent family, why should you fear the Wang family?"