In the offices of the department store headquarters, Zhu Wanli and Xu Guangping's phone call lasted for a full two hours. After everything was concluded, Zhu Wanli let out a long sigh and hung up the phone.
As his trusted subordinate, Wang Jin had already been waiting nearby.
"Boss!"
Wang Jin hurried forward to greet him. Seeing Zhu Wanli take out a cigarette, he immediately and obsequiously lit his lighter and offered it.
"Mmm." Zhu Wanli nodded with satisfaction. Although Wang Jin lacked ability and his character was quite poor, he was at least good at handling things and had good awareness, making him pleasant to be around.
"Boss, how's Wang Yu's situation?"
Wang Jin observed Zhu Wanli, noticing that his anger seemed to have subsided. It looked like the previous problem had been resolved, so he quickly asked.
This was about letting the leader share his sense of success and superiority. Flattery, bah, it was the basic cultivation of a qualified subordinate.
"Hmph! More or less."
Zhu Wanli grunted from his nose, "Wang Yu does have some connections. I don't know how, but he managed to get involved with that... Number 367 Research Institute, which seems to have some clout. Many people dare not mess with it once they hear the name.
But how can this possibly stump me?"
Zhu Wanli sneered and took a drag from his cigarette.
"It just so happens that Xu Guangping of the Metallurgy General Plant is negotiating a contract manufacturing cooperation with Dong Can Country's San Jing Group to handle their domestic production.
Dong Can Country has always wanted to break into our domestic market. This so-called cooperative manufacturing is essentially the same tactic as those guys from He Dao wanting to take over the steel plant, just a stepping stone to enter our country's market.
It's laughable that Xu Guangping, this fool, thinks he's boarded a grand vessel. He's been contacting me, wanting to broker a deal for San Jing Group's super chain stores, San Can Supermarkets, to acquire all our department store's networks and channels. This way, they can effortlessly go public everywhere by borrowing our shell.
It's hilarious that Xu Guangping, this barely-grown youngster, is plotting to cooperate with those shameless fellows from Dong Can Country. He's like a mouse sniffing a cat's nose, not knowing how it will die! He doesn't even realize he's being used as a pawn, truly thinking he's some big shot.
So, I simply went along with it and agreed."
Hearing Zhu Wanli's words, Wang Jin's expression immediately changed.
"Ah? Boss, if you agree to San Can Supermarket's acquisition, then what will happen to us?"
Wang Jin's face turned green. The position he had painstakingly climbed to through flattery would be gone if the company were acquired!
"Hmph, rest assured, how could I possibly agree? I merely agreed in principle, and incidentally brought up Wang Yu's matter, asking them to resolve it."
Zhu Wanli's eyes showed a deep, calculating look.
"My acquisition condition is for them to resolve Wang Yu's car factory, and I also detailed the advantages of Wang Yu's various small home appliance products. Given the greedy nature of those Dong Can Country fellows, they will definitely be tempted. After that, I won't have to worry. They will actively jump out and help us deal with Wang Yu and his car factory."
Listening to Zhu Wanli, Wang Jin immediately showed an expression of immense admiration on his face. "Brilliant, truly brilliant! Boss, your strategy of 'driving tigers to swallow wolves' is simply perfect! Using the dragon from across the river from Dong Can Country to deal with the local tyrant Wang Yu, and we will reap the benefits in the end.
Truly a brilliant move, brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
Wang Jin gave Zhu Wanli a thumbs-up with immense admiration. Zhu Wanli laughed heartily with pride. Although he knew that Wang Jin was just a sycophant, he couldn't help but feel pleased inwardly.
"Heh heh, they want to compete with me? They're still far from it! Just watch, within half a year, the small home appliances in Wang Yu's hands will become leading products under our banner. And the substantial funds from Dong Can Country... well, as long as you work hard for me, you won't be shortchanged!"
In the office, Zhu Wanli's triumphant laughter and Wang Jin's strings of flattery echoed.
...
Wang Yu was completely unaware of the bizarre and malicious tactics Zhu Wanli had devised to deal with him that had transpired at the department store.
Of course, even if he had known, he wouldn't have been too interested.
With a bunch of ragtag, miscellaneous small factories, did they think they could steal his product designs? Even if they did, what of it? At worst, he would just develop more advanced and newer products.
The core competitiveness of a car factory was never the product, but Wang Yu's brain and his wealth of professional knowledge!
These people could only focus on their immediate surroundings, looking at the meager gains within the province.
Wang Yu's gaze was focused on the entire country, the whole of Dongzhou, and even the future of the world! How could he possibly have time to bother with these people?
For example, his attention was currently entirely focused on the person in front of him.
Impeccably dressed in a suit, with polished leather shoes and neatly gelled, shiny hair. Behind his sophisticated gold-rimmed glasses, a sinister look was revealed.
It was Zhao Tao, an old acquaintance who had been missing for a long time.
He was originally the factory director of the Jiangyang County Agricultural Machinery Plant.
Because this fellow had plagiarized Wang Yu's new model of agricultural vehicles, he had failed to discover Wang Yu's hidden technical flaws. The vehicles produced with full force all ended up scrapped and returned, leading to countless users and distributors confronting him, causing a huge mess. In desperation, he had fled, leaving the agricultural machinery plant in disarray.
This guy had disappeared without a trace for so long that Wang Yu had almost forgotten the first enemy he had encountered since his rebirth.
Well, calling him an enemy wasn't entirely accurate. At least, this was one-sided on Zhao Tao's part, and Wang Yu had never really considered him an enemy. They had barely even formally met a few times.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Tao had reappeared now, looking like a successful person, with an air of arrogance, and followed by a group of people whose attire suggested they were not locals.
"They are from Dongma Country," Wu Lingling whispered to Wang Yu. Her family's Qinglu Group was a multinational conglomerate from the twelve countries southeast of Dongzhou, so she naturally recognized people from Dongma Country.
"Heh heh, didn't expect this, Wang Yu? I'm back."
Zhao Tao said with a triumphant smile at Wang Yu, his tone feigning calmness but carrying a hint of boastful pride. "I heard you registered for Dongma Country's agricultural vehicle tender, and you even registered for me. It's truly thanks to you that our agricultural machinery plant was fortunate enough to be selected as Dongma Country's partner this time!"
Zhao Tao said smugly, looking at Wang Yu, then introduced the people behind him, "This is Supervisor La Qi from the Dongma Country Tender Procurement Office. We are here specifically to thank you."
"Thank you for giving me this chance to make a comeback! Heh heh, I will soon return in full force.
Prepare your car factory to be merged by me! The previous terms still stand, and I will still reserve a gatekeeper position for you!
However, this time, you will not only have to kneel and beg me, but you will also have to bring thorns and briars and apologize to me in front of everyone!"
Zhao Tao roared with laughter and took out a document from his pocket.
"Do you know what this is? Let me show you. This time, I have not only gained the support of Dongma Country, but the provincial authorities have also given me the green light!"
"Oh?"
Taking the document handed over by Zhao Tao, Wang Yu's eyebrows slightly rose. "Quite interesting!"