He finished speaking and glanced at Lu Fei, leaving the aftermath to him.
"Alright, everyone disperse. Go back to what you were doing."
Liu Yifeng also returned home, now just waiting for Zhang Jin to see what Peng Zhou was thinking.
"Daddy, you're back!"
Tong Tong gave her father a bear hug upon his return. They had only been apart for half a morning, but it felt like days.
"Daddy, why didn't you give that person a chance when they begged?" Tong Tong blinked her large eyes, looking curiously at Liu Yifeng.
Liu Yifeng smiled indulgently. "It's not that I didn't give him a chance. I just think handing him over to the police station might teach him a better lesson. If I had just let him go, he might have thought doing such things was no big deal. In the end, it wouldn't have helped him, but rather harmed him."
Everyone deserves a chance to make mistakes. To know and correct one's mistakes means there's still a possibility for redemption. However, this opportunity to change must be reserved for oneself to reflect upon.
"Daddy, you're so amazing. Tong Tong really admires you." Tong Tong finished speaking and planted a firm kiss on Liu Yifeng's cheek.
"Tong Tong is the one Daddy most admires. Without Tong Tong's help, how could our old Liu family be so successful?" Liu Yifeng said with pride.
Liu Chunsheng heard the father and daughter discussing and was also concerned about the greenhouse matter.
"Is the greenhouse problem resolved?"
"It's resolved. I personally handled it, so if it still wasn't resolved, I'd be too incompetent."
"Hmph, it's all thanks to my grandson's brilliance. Without my grandson, you'd still be a penniless loser." Liu Chunsheng snorted, completely sidelining Liu Yifeng. Indeed, every force has its counter, and the father's words were potent.
Liu Yifeng gave Tong Tong a look. Without speaking, the father and son exchanged smiles.
Three days later.
The greenhouse operations had returned to normal, and transportation could proceed as usual. Even the hotel no longer raised any issues. It was likely that Peng Zhou had issued orders, indicating that Zhang Jin's progress was quite swift.
"Mr. Liu, what have you been busy with lately?"
While inspecting the freshness of vegetables in the garden, Liu Yifeng received a call from Zhang Jin.
"Mr. Zhang, your politeness is unnecessary. We met just three days ago, so there's no need for such formality. If you have something to say, just say it directly."
Seeing Zhang Jin's call, Liu Yifeng assumed the matter had been settled. However, judging by the opening of the conversation, it didn't seem to be going smoothly.
"It's good that Mr. Liu understands. I'm calling you out of desperation. There's really no other way. That cunning Peng Zhou truly requires your personal intervention to resolve this."
Zhang Jin sounded somewhat embarrassed. He was as confident in taking on the task before as he was timid now.
"I did notice that the greenhouse operations have been much smoother lately. It seems like the calm before the storm. Mr. Zhang, please be direct. What did Peng Zhou say?"
Liu Yifeng wasn't surprised. This was something that had to be faced eventually.
"He said cooperation is possible, but you must go in person." Zhang Jin stated the facts.
After hanging up the phone, Liu Yifeng prepared to depart. It seemed he was truly going to negotiate with Peng Zhou.
"You're really planning to go alone?" Seeing that Liu Yifeng had no intention of inviting him, Lu Fei took the initiative to ask.
"This isn't a war, so I don't need to bring someone to die with me. It's just a negotiation. If the deal doesn't work out, we can still remain civil. I need to show sincerity. Don't worry."
Without waiting for Lu Fei to speak further, he left. He intended to meet a partner, not an opponent.
"How have President Peng's businesses been lately?" Upon arriving at the factory entrance, he saw Peng Zhou tending to his affairs. It seemed Peng Zhou had known he was coming and was waiting for him.
Peng Zhou put down his work as soon as he saw Liu Yifeng. He obsequiously approached him, extending a hand laden with gold rings. "Oh, Mr. Liu, it's truly an oversight not to have welcomed you sooner. What breeze brings you to my humble abode? Please, come in, come in, have a seat."
He really knew how to read people and speak accordingly. Liu Yifeng inwardly scoffed. "President Peng, what are you saying? I came to ask if you would be willing to cooperate. Personal visits show sincerity, wouldn't you agree?"
Peng Zhou was surprised that Liu Yifeng stated his purpose so directly. He hadn't expected Liu Yifeng to be so straightforward.
"My dear Mr. Liu, whether you come in person or not, it makes no difference. How could I not give Mr. Liu face?" Both were people with hidden intentions, neither willing to back down.
Liu Yifeng had no time for pleasantries. "President Peng, the situation is this: you are surely aware of the issues with my greenhouses. Therefore, I believe there's no need for this stalemate. How about we cooperate? Mutual benefit, win-win cooperation – wouldn't that be more rewarding than scheming against each other?"
He had said what needed to be said. The olive branch had been extended to Peng Zhou, and the ball was in his court.
Peng Zhou didn't reply immediately but remained silent for a while, presumably contemplating the matter. It seemed the chances of success were quite high.
"I understand President Peng's concerns. You can say later that I initiated this cooperation. This way, President Peng's reputation is preserved, and our collaboration is secured. Wouldn't that be a double win?"
Peng Zhou cared most about his reputation. Liu Yifeng had already thoroughly investigated his background with Tong Tong's help before arriving.
When negotiating with someone as cunning as him, one had to understand them better than they understood themselves to strike at the vital point and succeed.
"Hahaha, it seems Mr. Liu has come well-prepared. If I don't agree, wouldn't that make me seem unreasonable?" Peng Zhou looked at Liu Yifeng with a cunning glint in his eyes. This was truly a battle of experts.
Seeing Peng Zhou's gaze, Liu Yifeng was certain the matter was settled.
"President Peng, you jest. We all merely want to achieve what we desire." Liu Yifeng said, standing up and straightening his clothes.
"Then I shall return to draft the contract. The rest will depend on President Peng's continued efforts." With a gentleman's smile, he left elegantly, as if he had merely come for a cup of tea, not to discuss business.
Seeing Liu Yifeng's demeanor, Peng Zhou felt as if he might have been tricked.
"How did it go?"
Lu Fei, seeing no discernible emotion on Liu Yifeng's face, was curious. He couldn't tell if the deal had fallen through.
"Since I went in person, it's definitely resolved. Go draft a contract according to our previous agreement and send it to Peng Zhou. Leave the rest to Zhang Jin to follow up."
The greenhouse issue was finally nearing a resolution. All the organic vegetables contaminated with pesticides had been removed from shelves and replaced with unpolluted ones.
Ensuring the public could eat with peace of mind was Liu Yifeng's consistent aim.