Bao Li Cosmetics Factory.
After Gao Fei's grand acquisition of the factory for six million, the brand name was removed, leaving only a bare iron gate.
Out of the factory's original hundreds of employees, only about a hundred remained.
The employees who stayed were all key technicians on the assembly line and core members of each department.
Gao Fei had considered laying off everyone and re-hiring to restructure the factory.
However, recruiting new employees would be too much work and take too long.
Therefore, he decided to keep the best and discard the rest, retaining the essential personnel from the original factory and dismissing everyone else.
The severance pay was already included in the six million acquisition.
No one raised any objections to the dismissal of the factory's old employees.
Gao Fei stayed at the factory for three days.
Finally having the chance to be a factory director, he personally handled all the rectifications, fully indulging his fantasy of being a factory manager.
Every time an employee called him "Director," a surge of inexplicable vanity would overwhelm him.
After the rectification, Gao Fei decided to start by formulating a batch of perfume.
With the assembly line in the factory equipped with packaging and production machinery, he could produce a small batch to test the waters.
On the day of perfume formulation, the entire plant commenced operations.
Product Packaging Room.
Technicians began creating perfume bottles according to the drawings provided by Gao Fei.
With all preliminary work prepared, the assembly line equipment officially started, producing perfume bottles.
R&D Lab.
The retained core technical personnel also began using the remaining raw materials from the original factory to formulate new perfumes.
Just as all procedures were proceeding in an orderly fashion, and the perfume was about to be mass-produced, the factory's raw materials suddenly became scarce.
...
Director's Office.
A hurried knock sounded from outside the door.
Gao Fei, seated at his computer, called out "Enter" and continued to focus on the screen, creating the brand's official website.
Ding Yao, the deputy director, dressed maturely and still alluring in her thirties, strode into the office in high heels.
"Mr. Gao, there's a problem in the R&D workshop.
Many of the raw materials left by Director Feng have expired, and we can't meet the expected production volume."
The raw materials expired?
Gao Fei stopped his actions and asked with a frown, "Specifically, how many bottles can we produce?"
"Estimates suggest around thirty to forty bottles!"
Ding Yao provided the figures and began describing which raw materials had expired.
Listening to the news brought by the deputy director, Gao Fei's frown deepened.
This was completely inconsistent with the data provided by Director Feng when he sold the factory!
The original director of Bao Li Cosmetics Factory, Feng Kunlin, had claimed when selling the factory that there was a large batch of raw materials remaining, enough for the new factory to produce a batch of cosmetics.
But now, not only had a large portion of the raw materials expired, but there wasn't even enough to support production.
It was a far cry from the agreed-upon terms.
Gao Fei had chosen Bao Li Cosmetics Factory partly for its existing equipment.
Another reason was the production materials left by the old factory.
He had bought the factory with a large sum of money primarily to accelerate production and get the products online as soon as possible.
But who would have thought that Feng Kunlin would play such a trick on him?
"Damn it, that old geezer, he played me!"
Gao Fei cursed internally, suppressing his anger.
After all, now was not the time to be angry; he needed to resolve the raw material issue quickly.
"Didn't Feng Kunlin leave the contact information of the raw material supplier? Have you contacted them?"
Ding Yao nodded with a grim expression and said, "I did, but the company went bankrupt and was liquidated two months ago.
If we want to continue production, we need to find new raw material suppliers as soon as possible!"
"Damn it!"
Gao Fei slammed the table, feeling a surge of frustration.
The factory he bought for six million, aside from the technical personnel and equipment, was otherwise completely undermined by Feng Kunlin.
He had thought Feng Kunlin, that old scoundrel, was selling the factory in good faith, but it turned out he was utterly unscrupulous, with traps everywhere!
Just as Gao Fei and Ding Yao were discussing which raw material suppliers to contact to get the factory back into production quickly.
Jin Qiqi and Zhang Cheng hurried in from outside.
"Boss, Feng Kunlin, who sold you the factory, has opened another factory about a kilometer away! They're also in the cosmetics business!"
As soon as she entered, Jin Qiqi directly stated what she had just witnessed at the factory opening ceremony.
Gao Fei's expression instantly turned cold.
But there was no anger in his heart; instead, he began to quickly reflect.
This acquisition and the establishment of a cosmetics brand were all driven by his eagerness to escape his predicament as quickly as possible.
Therefore, his impatience made him overlook many crucial issues.
For example, the raw materials left by Feng Kunlin.
Gao Fei was immediately fooled by Feng's hypocritical facade and didn't have anyone check the quality or expiry dates of the raw materials.
Furthermore, due to his negligence as a new factory director, he forgot to investigate Feng Kunlin's background.
Over the past three days, he had been entirely engrossed in the rectification process, committing the grave mistake of forgetting to investigate others.
In short, Gao Fei had made numerous mistakes in this investment in establishing a factory, leading him to continually fall into the traps set by Feng Kunlin.
"I've been an eagle hunting for a lifetime, only to have my eyes pecked by an eagle in the end!"
Gao Fei gave a wry smile, took a deep breath, and looked at everyone present: "Deputy Director Ding, continue contacting raw material suppliers, and try to get me accurate information before dinner.
Sister Jin, please assist Sister Ding as well. Discuss and decide on the budget."
"Okay!"
The two mature women nodded in agreement.
Gao Fei looked at Zhang Cheng beside him, stood up, and said, "Let's go, Cheng Zi, we're going to congratulate old Feng on opening his new factory!"
"Should we call some people and get some equipment ready?"
Zhang Cheng, who had been hanging out with Guo Yue recently, had a bit of a streetwise air about him and immediately suggested making a scene.
"We're legitimate businessmen, not gangsters!"
Gao Fei glared at Old Zhang and walked towards the door.
But he also muttered to himself that he should have Zhang Cheng keep his distance from Guo Yue in the future; he was starting to act like a gangster.
Outside the factory.
Just as Gao Fei and Zhang Cheng were about to drive to old Feng's new factory.
Xiang Guosheng, with two large gold teeth, was loitering outside the factory, looking hesitant to enter.
Beep! Beep!
Two honks of the horn startled Xiang Guosheng.
"Hey, isn't this Mr. Xiang! What are you doing outside my factory? Trying to steal scrap metal?"
Gao Fei looked at him and asked with a hint of sarcasm.
Xiang Guosheng swallowed, hurried to the car, and said with a wry smile, "Mr. Gao, I truly had no idea old Feng had just sold the factory to you and then immediately set up a new one.
I was just an intermediary responsible for facilitating the sale. I hope you'll be magnanimous and not hold any grudges against me.
I, old Xiang, have elders to support and children to feed. I need to make a living with this profession. Please be merciful and let me off."
Seeing his submissive demeanor, Gao Fei chuckled instead of getting angry and said, "I accept the pitfall dug by old Feng for me. After all, this is between me and him.
You, Xiang Guosheng, are just an intermediary, and I have no intention of blaming you. But why are you apologizing and crying like this?"
Xiang Guosheng opened his mouth and said fearfully, "Mr. Gao, your reputation in the underworld is currently immense.
If you don't publicly disassociate yourself from Feng Kunlin, I won't be able to make a living in this area of the southern city ever again!"
Hearing his explanation, Gao Fei was momentarily stunned but quickly understood.
He hadn't expected the influence of Hu Qing and his gang to spread from Tongtong District to the southern city.
He sighed, not wanting to explain further: "Get in the car, we're going out!"
"Mr. Gao, you're not planning to dig a pit and bury me, are you?"
Xiang Guosheng asked with a tremor.
But seeing Gao Fei's grim expression, he forced an awkward smile and quickly got into the car.
....
Bao Li Cosmetics Factory.
Feng Kunlin, over fifty and with greying hair, looked exceptionally dapper in a blue and white suit.
He stood in the new office, looking down at the stage being set up for the opening ceremony, feeling a surge of exhilaration.
"Almost sixty, and my career is experiencing a second spring. Wonderful!"
Feng Kunlin stood at the window with a triumphant air, murmuring to himself.
Just as he was indulging in his emotions, a middle-aged man in his forties approached from outside the office.
The man wore a black casual outfit, was lean but stood tall. Despite his unremarkable appearance, his eyes were sharp, giving the impression of being able to see through one's soul upon eye contact.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Feng Kunlin immediately stepped forward respectfully: "Mr. Kong!"
"You don't need to be so formal in private; be relaxed!"
"Yes, Mr. Kong!"
Despite this, Feng Kunlin still stayed beside him with a subordinate air.
The man with his hands behind his back, slicked-back hair, and an unremarkable appearance, but exuding an aura of authority, was none other than Kong Liwei.
"Mr. Kong, I just received word from an employee of the old factory.
Gao Fei already knows about the expired raw materials, and he's currently instructing people to contact new suppliers.
Do you need me to alert the surrounding raw material suppliers?"
"I've already spoken with raw material suppliers in cities around the capital; no one will cooperate with that Gao Fei."
"Mr. Kong, you are truly far-sighted!"
Feng Kunlin flattered him, then continued, "It's a shame about the equipment in the old factory; I purchased it all two years ago. If I had more time, I would have known to damage it before selling it to Gao Fei."
"What good is equipment without raw materials? Gao Fei still won't be able to start production!"
Kong Liwei waved his hand dismissively and said, "For now, focus on running the new factory. I will send people to discuss various business matters with you, provided the quality is up to par."
"Mr. Kong, rest assured, I will do my utmost and manage the new factory diligently!"
As the two were talking, the secretary walked in and reminded Feng Kunlin that the ribbon-cutting ceremony was about to begin.
Kong Liwei did not join the cutting ceremony; his role was solely investment. All front-facing activities were left to Feng Kunlin.
....
Outside the New Bao Li Cosmetics Factory.
As Feng Kunlin and the secretary walked out, the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially commenced.
Firecrackers erupted outside the factory, a red ribbon was unveiled, and the brand new six characters "Bao Li Cosmetics Factory" gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, very dazzling.
A crowd had gathered around, including onlookers, entrepreneurs invited by Feng Kunlin from various sectors, and some leaders from the district.
At the outermost edge stood eight or nine invited journalists, continuously taking photos of the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Just then, a black sedan slowly stopped nearby.
Gao Fei, who had come to 'show his support,' was spotted by two sharp-eyed journalists as he got out of the car.