"Hello, what can I do for you?"
Wang Yu looked at the woman in front of him, unsure of her origin.
Was this a honey trap?
Or did she want to talk business with him about... well, you know!
"My name is Liu Lu. I vaguely overheard your conversation with Yang Song. Are you planning to do business with the steel mill?"
The woman spoke directly, staring intently at Wang Yu, not at all shy about admitting she had eavesdropped on their conversation.
"That's right, there is such a matter. However, the legitimate business we want to do doesn't seem to interest Director Yang."
Wang Yu sized up Liu Lu. She was dignified and beautiful. Although her attire was revealing and her makeup flamboyant due to her work in the dance hall, her eyes were bright and she exuded a capable aura.
"He, Yang Song, is just a scoundrel. What can he do? He doesn't have the ability to do legitimate business. He probably can't even distinguish between a piece of steel and iron if they were placed in front of him."
Liu Lu sneered, her tone openly expressing her disdain for Yang Song.
"So, what do you mean, miss?"
"If you want to do business, you can talk to me," Liu Lu said, pointing to herself with great pride and confidence.
"Talk to you? Can you make the decisions?" Wang Yu seemed skeptical.
"I used to be the workshop dispatcher at the steel mill."
Liu Lu told Wang Yu, "But the steel mill was shut down due to lack of profit. My daughter fell ill and needed treatment, and my husband gambled and divorced me. That's why I had no choice but to make a living at this song and dance hall.
If you really have business orders, I can immediately go back to the factory and organize a group of workers.
Although most of the equipment has been sold off at a low price by that scoundrel Yang Song, there are still some left. We can resume production with some effort. Most of the workers in the factory are struggling to put food on the table. As long as we can resume production, anything is negotiable."
Liu Lu said to Wang Yu.
"No way? To meet a workshop dispatcher in a dance hall?" Wang Yu found it somewhat incredible.
In a production workshop, the highest authority was usually the director or manager, followed by the dispatcher who coordinated and planned all work objectives, akin to a chief of staff.
"So, what do you say? Give me a clear answer. Don't be indecisive like a man." Seeing Wang Yu's silence and contemplation, Liu Lu seemed a little impatient.
Her tone carried a hint of feistiness and capability, as if Wang Yu was the one begging her.
"Alright, but let me tell you beforehand, my requirements are very strict."
Wang Yu said to her.
"What's there to be afraid of with strictness? Strictness is good! Our steel mill is not afraid of strict requirements," Liu Lu said with great confidence, smiling. "Don't underestimate us just because we're a small factory in a small county. In terms of craftsmanship and technology, we rank among the best in the province. We can even be considered top-tier nationally."
Liu Lu's words were full of confidence, and Wang Yu believed she wasn't boasting.
After all, they were using equipment and technology from Japan, even if it was outdated.
"In that case, let's discuss the details tomorrow." Wang Yu nodded and said to Liu Lu, as a dance hall was not a suitable place for business negotiations, and it couldn't be explained in a few words.
"Okay, no problem! You can come to the steel mill tomorrow morning at eight. I'll be at the factory all day, and we can talk slowly."
Liu Lu nodded without hesitation and immediately turned to walk back into the dance hall, without any delay, leaving only her alluring and captivating back view for Wang Yu and his companions.
"Decisive and capable, no hesitation. She's quite something." Watching Liu Lu's departing figure, Wang Yu casually said to Brother Hu, "Let's go too."
"Huh? We're leaving already?" Brother Hu was a bit stunned. So the little director really came to this dance hall late at night just for business? Poor him, Tiger was ready for something more.
"Are you planning to stay here overnight?"
Wang Yu retorted with a hint of annoyance, his gaze turning back to the Red Moon Dance Hall, which emanated a dim, hazy light in the night.
"But shouldn't we at least deal with that Yang Song? We just got taken advantage of like this." Brother Hu seemed unwilling to let it go.
"He's just a grasshopper in autumn, he won't last long. There's no need to get angry over such a petty person. However..." Wang Yu paused slightly, then added.
"Being bullied by him like that does make me feel quite upset. So..." Wang Yu took out a palm-sized, strangely shaped metal block from the pocket of his loose-fitting work uniform. It had an antenna, a semi-transparent plastic cover, and several speaker holes.
On the top was a row of buttons similar to a radio.
"Little Director, what is this?" Brother Hu asked curiously.
"Something that will make us a lot of money in the future," Wang Yu smiled faintly.
"I tinkered with it for a long time to create this little gadget. I was planning to test it tonight as a precaution, in case of any unexpected situations like a honey trap, but it turned out to be an unexpected bonus."
As he spoke, Wang Yu pressed a play button on it.
Instantly, voices emanated from the oddly shaped little box.
"Speak... are you going to transfer the equipment? Or purchase the land at a low price? Or claim compensation? Or forge debts?"
It was Yang Song's voice!
"This... Little Director! What is this?" Brother Hu looked at Wang Yu in astonishment, unable to imagine that a voice would come out.
"You can think of it as a miniaturized and simplified version of a tape recorder. Of course, I prefer to call it a portable music player." Wang Yu opened the cover with a smile and took out a cassette tape.
"Take this. It has recorded all the sounds from our encounter with Yang Song just now.
Since Yang Song was so clear and precise in what he said, it's essentially a perfect confession. So... do you understand?"
Seeing Wang Yu's smiling face, Brother Hu also grinned mischievously.
"I understand, I understand! Once Yang Song's actions are exposed, he'll be in big trouble!
And this tape is crucial evidence! Little Director, don't worry. Leave it to me, Tiger, and I guarantee it will stir up quite a storm throughout the city.
Spreading rumors is my specialty."
Brother Hu beamed proudly at Wang Yu, who could only shake his head helplessly.
Specializing in spreading rumors, what's there to be proud of? Aren't you afraid of being dragged out and beaten if someone hears you?
"Let's go, we'll go back first and deal with Yang Song later." Wang Yu smiled at Brother Hu. "Of course, I can't let you work for nothing tonight. Let's go to a food stall and grab something to eat."
"Oh? That's great. I need some skewers!"
Hearing Wang Yu say this, Brother Hu's spirits immediately lifted.
"Hehe, you'll have plenty."
...
The next day, as per his agreement with Liu Lu, Wang Yu arrived at the steel mill to discuss cooperation matters.
However, as soon as he reached the entrance of the steel mill, he saw a group of people arguing noisily.
In the center was Liu Lu, wearing a steel mill uniform, surrounded by a group of burly men with unfriendly expressions.
"Little Bitch, let's see where you can hide today!"
A bald, burly man at the forefront grinned menacingly.