A group of people arrived, and the two leading them were both familiar to Wang Yu.
The leader was an old man with a sinister look and a bald head, followed by a young man whose face was etched with the expression of a sycophant.
It was none other than Zhu Wanli, the general manager of the department store whom they had met before and had quite a few clashes and unpleasantries with, along with Wang Jin, the manager responsible for Jiangyang County.
Normally, after their department store had caused a large number of accidents by selling imitations of Wang Yu's products from the Metallurgy General Factory, it was Secretary Yang who had to step in to suppress the situation.
For this matter, Wang Jin had even gone with Fang Zhongtian and others to Wang Yu's car factory to apologize and beg for his forgiveness.
In the end, Wang Yu had presented strict demands and compensation, and these individuals had no choice but to grit their teeth and agree.
Given the magnitude of the problem they had caused, Wang Jin should have lost his managerial position. However, seeing him now, fawning over Zhu Wanli and acting obsequiously, his status seemed unaffected, and he appeared to be even further promoted, now clearly in a position of close confidant.
Perhaps he had once again used some means of flattery to make their boss, Zhu Wanli, feel pleased?
Behind the two of them, a group of people followed. Each was dressed differently, and they did not appear to be from the state-run department store. However, each person surrounded Zhu Wanli and Wang Jin as if they were the center of attention, their faces filled with expressions of appeasement and flattery.
"What are these guys doing?"
Wu Lingling asked Wang Yu. She had a particularly bad impression of Wang Jin. It had taken her considerable effort to persuade this silly Wang Yu to willingly buy clothes, only for trouble to arise because the suit he liked was supposedly custom-made.
And then there was Du Yujuan, the class beauty who was rumored to be Wang Yu's classmate, who had such a haughty demeanor.
Wu Lingling disliked her intensely, in every sense of the word! Especially since that woman was always hovering around Wang Yu, and would intentionally or unintentionally reveal things she shouldn't... although that idiot probably hadn't noticed.
Coupled with Zhu Wanli's previous statements about blacklisting Wang Yu and his subsequent actions, this made Wu Lingling feel even more displeased.
She really disliked the people from the state-run department store!
"You ask me, who am I supposed to ask?"
Wang Yu shrugged, "I'm not familiar with them, how would I know what these guys are here for?
However, I can confirm one thing."
"What?"
"Judging by their demeanor, they are definitely not here for a reunion."
Wang Yu, in a rare moment, made a dry joke, which only earned him a roll of Wu Lingling's eyes.
"Nonsense! I know they're not here for a reunion either. I actually think they might be here for revenge, after all, you completely screwed over the department store before!"
"What do you mean I screwed them over? I was the victim here! Those people from the Metallurgy General Factory stole my design blueprints, they just weren't skilled enough to steal them properly, and there were only a few minor loopholes!"
Wang Yu quickly defended himself.
"Pah, you call those minor loopholes? If you didn't do it on purpose, I'd rather believe that Brother Hu could speak civilized idioms."
Just then, Zhu Wanli, who had already walked up to Wang Yu and Wu Lingling, struck a deliberately imposing pose and lit a cigarette he was holding.
Wang Jin, the sycophant beside him, quickly stepped forward to light it for him.
Then, Zhu Wanli was seen quietly smoking, his posture resembling that of "Brother Qiang" from Shanghai Bund.
Zhu Wanli and Wang Jin then stood there, silently waiting for Wang Yu and the others to initiate greetings.
But after waiting and waiting, they did not receive the anticipated greetings. Instead, they saw Wang Yu and Wu Lingling bickering.
This made Zhu Wanli's face lose some of its composure. The shiny bald head and receding hairline on his forehead became even more prominent as he tilted his head up.
"You... you uncultured bumpkins, can't you see that the general manager of our state-run department store, General Manager Zhu Wanli, is here? And you're still joking around, not coming forward to greet him?"
Wang Jin, feeling embarrassed, immediately spoke to Wang Yu and the others.
"Hey, Xiao Wang, we need to be low-key, polite, and civilized."
Zhu Wanli said to Wang Jin with feigned restraint, to which Wang Jin repeatedly agreed.
Both of them had an air of superiority, as if Wang Yu were truly an insignificant country bumpkin in their eyes.
However, while their tone was calm and arrogant, their eyes never left the group behind Wang Yu, led by Han Jun.
The scene of them enthusiastically signing contracts with international friends was obvious to anyone present who wasn't deaf or blind.
Because of this, both Zhu Wanli and his sycophantic subordinate Wang Jin couldn't help but roar internally, lamenting heaven's unfairness, wondering why such good fortune had befallen Wang Yu.
Those international friends were all incredibly wealthy, hardly haggled over prices, and directly waved large sums of money to sign contracts and agreements, even using Sam coins!
My third maternal uncle's second paternal uncle, an electric fan priced at 100 Sam coins? Were those rich people's brains malfunctioning, or were our own ears playing tricks on us?
Had we misheard, or was the world going mad?
Zhu Wanli and Wang Jin cursed inwardly, but could only manage to maintain a calm and superior facade.
However, the people behind them were not as discreet. Their eyes revealed deep jealousy, burning like intense flames, as if wanting to engulf Wang Yu and Wu Lingling.
"This is hilarious. He's the general manager of the state-run department store, not my boss. Why should we grovel to him? Besides, that old guy barely has any hair on his head, what's he posing for, to show off how handsome he is?"
Wu Lingling's clear voice echoed in everyone's ears. Then, Wang Yu, with a look of earnest advice, said, "Lingling, you need to be civilized and polite. We don't hit people in the face, and we don't insult people by revealing their shortcomings."
"...You!"
Hearing Wang Yu and Wu Lingling's synchronized remarks, which were clearly mocking him, Zhu Wanli's face turned crimson with anger.
The sycophant Wang Jin wanted to step forward to support him, but he realized that Wang Yu and Wu Lingling's words actually made a lot of sense. Zhu Wanli wasn't their boss, so they truly had no obligation to greet him...
"Hmph, I am a busy man. I didn't come here to engage in verbal sparring with you."
Zhu Wanli said with a cold snort, his face somber, effectively sidestepping the topic.
"We are here to give you an ultimatum, Wang Yu."
"An ultimatum? What is that? I don't recall having any grudges with any of you?"
Wang Yu looked at Zhu Wanli with amusement.
"Hmph, it's simple. Hand over the technology for your small home appliance products at the latest by tomorrow, or don't blame us for being impolite!"
Zhu Wanli smiled faintly at Wang Yu, his tone carrying an air of certainty that he had him cornered.
"Oh? How will you be impolite?"
Wang Yu's expression also turned cold. Did any Tom, Dick, or Harry think they could come here and show off? They probably didn't know what doom awaited them!