"What are you panicking about?"
Yamazaki reprimanded the flustered young man in front of him, his expression somewhat displeased.
Young people nowadays were all so impatient, shouting and making a fuss at the slightest inconvenience. No wonder the company's senior management had assigned an experienced person like himself to be in charge.
Yamazaki shook his head and took a sip of his tea. Biluochun was indeed a fine tea!
"Go on, tell me, what's the situation?"
Yamazaki looked at his young subordinate and asked indifferently.
"Supervisor, someone has come to deliver a challenge letter to us."
The young subordinate took a breath before speaking. "A large group of people have come from outside, claiming to represent the Jiangyang County Steel Mill and wanting to challenge us to a competition in steel smelting technology!"
"Challenging us to a competition in steel smelting technology? And from Jiangyang County Steel Mill? Hahaha!"
Yamazaki hadn't reacted, but Takemoto beside him burst into laughter. "We came here precisely to find Jiangyang County Steel Mill to fulfill the gambling agreement. They've actually come to our doorstep to invite their own humiliation?"
Takemoto's laughter was unrestrained. A small county steel mill from the underdeveloped Yuan Federation dared to proactively challenge their superior steel smelting technology?
Didn't they know that Tianyi Steel Company was the world number one?
Such a challenge would be more appropriate if it were from the U.S. company Rox Steel, which also ranked among the world's top in steel smelting technology, or Germany's God Steel Group!
But even they would only have the qualification to challenge, and the final outcome would inevitably be defeat!
This was Takemoto's confidence and pride. Japanese steel smelting technology was world-class, without any doubt or rebuttal!
Takemoto's laughter was merciless, while Yamazaki remained much calmer.
"What? Jiangyang County Steel Mill?"
Yamazaki's brows furrowed slightly, his expression filled with confusion.
"We are here solely on the grounds of the old gambling agreement to have them fulfill their promise. Now their factory director is even actively asking us to acquire all their land and personnel at a low price.
How could they possibly come to challenge us proactively? Has something gone wrong in the meantime?"
Regarding Yamazaki's confusion, Takemoto was unconcerned.
"Senior Yamazaki, as you said, it's all profit for us anyway, whether it's more or less. Even if a mere small county makes a fuss, they can't turn the tides. The gambling agreement is there, so there's no need to worry.
We just need to go with the flow. Regardless of how much they fuss, they can't possibly surpass us in steel smelting technology.
There's an old saying: in the face of absolute strength, all schemes are but paper tigers!"
Takemoto's words were full of spirit, but Yamazaki was not as optimistic.
"Mr. Takemoto, there's another old saying: 'When something is unusual, there must be a demon!'" Yamazaki said earnestly. "Don't always treat others as fools. After all, this country once caused our great empire a lot of bitter losses."
With that said, Yamazaki looked up at the young man who had come to report. "Where is the person who delivered the challenge letter? Let me see what this is all about."
"That..." the young subordinate hesitated for a moment. "The person has already left. They sent a few local hooligans to deliver the challenge letter. Those people's attitude and tone were very rude, and they only left behind the letter."
"Left behind a challenge letter? Bring it here for me to see."
Yamazaki instructed. The young subordinate fumbled and took out an envelope.
Taking the envelope, he pulled out a piece of paper with two lines written in pen.
"Little XXX, if you have the guts, let's fight."
The first line began with a descriptor for the Japanese, followed by some omitted words.
The second line was even more direct, a naked challenge.
The wording was simple and clear, full of defiance and an obvious invitation to fight.
The signature at the bottom was Wang Yu, from Jiangyang County Automobile Factory.
"Who is this Wang Yu? And by what right, with what qualifications, does he dare to challenge us?"
Takemoto, who had leaned over to read the challenge letter, sneered.
"An unknown nobody challenging us? And sending delivery through thugs? How boring and ridiculous!
This kind of overconfident challenge letter can just be thrown away. There's no need to report it specifically."
Takemoto's tone was full of disdain, but Yamazaki beside him remained much calmer. He carefully examined the challenge letter.
The handwriting was not particularly neat or tidy, even somewhat hasty, but it appeared strong and vigorous. The words were simple and arrogant.
However, he did not believe that there would truly be such an overconfident fool in the world.
Their Japanese steel smelting technology was the best in the world. Even if the other party wasn't an industry insider, they should have heard of it.
Yet, despite this, a challenge letter was issued. What gave the other party the courage?
Yamazaki suspected they wanted to use Tianyi Steel Company's name and the gambling agreement with the steel mill as an opportunity to gain fame by riding on their coattails.
Yamazaki seemed to have figured something out, a slight curve forming on his lips as he revealed a triumphant smile. "Since they want to ride on our coattails, I'll give them a good warm-up!"
"Mr. Takemoto."
"Yes, Senior Yamazaki?"
"Go and contact Director Yang Song of that steel mill and find out about this Wang Yu's background. Also, we accept his challenge."
"Ah? Accepted?"
"That's right. We need an opportunity to make a high-profile entry into the Jiang City steel industry and show these weak local players who the real dragon from across the river is!
Now that an opportunity to build momentum has fallen into our laps, why wouldn't we make good use of it?"
Yamazaki said with great confidence, prompting Takemoto to nod repeatedly.
"I see. I'll make arrangements right away!"
Takemoto's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly before turning to leave in a hurry, clearly to contact Yang Song.
Watching Takemoto leave, Yamazaki wore an expression of complete control.
"Hmph, Wang Yu? No matter who you are, since you want to become famous using our name, I'll provide you with a stage. I just fear you won't be able to put on a grand performance!"
...
Inside the county department store building, a group of workers in automobile factory uniforms were crowded together.
Recently, the automobile factory's production line had been working overtime day after day, and the workers were all exhausted, working around the clock.
Now that Wang Yu had finally given them a day off, and then found an excuse to celebrate Children's Day by giving out a full 300 yuan bonus, the workers naturally wanted to come out and spend.
Those who were married brought their wives and children to shop. Those who were single brought their partners. The department store was naturally the preferred destination.
After all, entertainment was scarce in this era, and there weren't many other places to go.
One couldn't possibly go to a video arcade or a dance hall... cough cough! If the young factory manager found out, he'd kick them!
In the clothing section on the fourth floor of the department store, Du Yujuan, a sales assistant, looked at the workers in front of her with disgust. She covered her nose with her fair hand, as if the smell of machine oil they carried could travel far.
"Pah, a bunch of paupers! Most likely they'll just try things on without buying."
Du Yujuan curled her lips, her disgusted gaze almost undisguised.
At this moment, a worker reached out towards a piece of clothing in front of her.
"Don't touch anything carelessly. Can you afford to pay if you get it dirty?"
Almost instinctively, Du Yujuan shrieked.