"My dear sister, do you really need thirty million?" Wu Yongping asked Wu Lingling helplessly.
"Wang Yu did help us, and it's only right to reward him handsomely. But isn't this price a bit too exorbitant? We're covering all the costs for raw materials and supplies, which will add up to nearly ten million. Then Wang Yu, who essentially just acted as a contract manufacturer, is charging thirty million. Isn't that a little unreasonable?"
Hearing Wu Yongping's words, Wu Lingling pouted. "How is it unreasonable? He paid an incredibly high price to help you!"
Wu Lingling stated matter-of-factly, then began to list the expenses on her fingers for Wu Yongping. "To cast the basic molds, Wang Yu mobilized thousands of factories, big and small, throughout Jiangyang County, and even mobilized a large number of ordinary citizens to help. As an ordinary factory director, how else could he command such obedience? Naturally, it was through copious amounts of money and navigating bureaucratic channels.
The development of his new production line required a massive investment in various raw materials, and during transportation, there were even instances of convoys being waylaid! Do you know the price Wang Yu paid to fulfill our company's order? In the end, he had to specially charter steel trains from the Ice Bear Kingdom at great expense to complete it! Not to mention the time and effort involved. I tell you..."
"Alright, alright! My dear sister!" Wu Yongping rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. "Stop talking, you're giving me a headache."
"Hmph, whether you have a headache or not is none of my business," Wu Lingling snorted. "No wonder people say you're an incompetent successor to your father's business. Do the math yourself! The fundamental reason Wang Yu could turn the impossible into possible this time is his automated mechanical production line. The most difficult and complex precision machining processes, such as grinding, cutting, quenching, and lathing, are all completed in one go by the production line. The production efficiency has increased by more than a hundredfold compared to before!"
Listening to Wu Lingling, Wu Yongping nodded slightly. It was indeed true. When his group signed the contract with Xingchen Shipyard, they had estimated it would take about two months to complete, hence the 100-day delivery period. But they were caught off guard and it was pushed to 10 days.
"Then calculate it yourself. If these processes were all done by ordinary workers, how much would the equipment cost, the workers' wages, the loss of time, and so on? How much would all that add up to?" Wu Lingling asked again. Wu Yongping was rendered speechless.
It was true. The original contract of one hundred million Sam Coins had its actual costs primarily in these later precision machining stages. A comprehensive cost assessment would put it at around eighty-five million Sam Coins. This was the normal industrial process, and the profit margin was still quite good, which was why they had signed the order contract back then.
"So, if you calculate it this way, it seems we've still made a profit of sixty million?" Wu Yongping realized. He hadn't expected the group's near-crisis to turn into such a lucrative opportunity. This young man, Wang Yu... was he really that magical? Was it true, as his father had said, that this person was destined for greatness?
"Hmph! Don't twist things around. What do you mean 'you' made sixty million? Your contract is in Sam Coins, but our settlement currency is Federal Coins. Don't think you can trick me just because I'm a woman!" Wu Lingling huffed, extending her palm towards Wu Yongping. "So, you have to pay!"
"Uh, alright, alright. My dear sister, you're right," Wu Yongping said with a smile. "I'll arrange it immediately. You've done a really good job as an intermediary."
"You should be happy about it. You don't get the chance to find a money-making intermediary like me every day!" Wu Lingling raised her chin and turned away proudly.
After she left, her assistant deputy stepped forward and spoke to Wu Yongping. "General Manager, the figures the eldest miss quoted likely have a significant markup. Moreover, will Xingchen Shipyard acknowledge our one hundred million order? This order was originally a trap set by them in collusion with the Mu family. With so many specially designed and manufactured parts, they might not even use them for ten years."
"Hmph, do you think I don't know Lingling's words have some padding? My sister has always been like this since childhood. She could squeeze oil from a stone. It's impossible for her not to make a profit from such an opportunity! However, Wang Yu did help us resolve a crisis, so giving him a little more can be considered his reward," Wu Yongping snorted softly, taking out a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. "As for Xingchen Shipyard, you don't need to worry. If we fail to fulfill the contract, they will demand a hundredfold penalty. Now that the order is completed and delivered, they naturally have to accept it. Otherwise, where would such good deals be in this world? Father is currently in Sam Country negotiating. We must make Xingchen Shipyard and the Mu family suffer the consequences!"
With that, a look of pleasure and ambition appeared on Wu Yongping's face, completely changing his dejected and helpless demeanor of the past few days.
...
Wu Lingling and Wang Yu returned together to the East Continent Industrial Expo, at the automotive factory's exhibition area. Seeing Wang Yu's return, Han Jun, as if finding his backbone, rushed forward. "Little Factory Director, you're back!"
Han Jun excitedly poured out his woes to Wang Yu. "In the days you were away, those bicycle factory people came here to show off and mock us relentlessly! Especially that weakling from Minghuang. With his pale complexion and dark circles, I worry he might just drop dead suddenly! The scoundrel can barely walk steadily, yet he came here to flaunt!"
Listening to Han Jun's grumbling, Wang Yu chuckled. "Whether he drops dead or not is none of our business. But isn't it a bit too early for those guys to eagerly declare victory? Did you arrange the matters I instructed you to before I left?"
Hearing Wang Yu's words, Han Jun nodded repeatedly. "Everything has been completed. We've disseminated the design drafts and technical roadmap for the fuel-assisted bicycles to everyone. All participating bicycle and motorcycle manufacturers received a copy, and even overseas factories and enterprises weren't left out. For the smaller factories that didn't qualify to participate, we've mailed detailed materials to each of them, ensuring no one is missed! Also... your pretty little sister has come looking for you several times."