r18novel Chapter 57: Reaching a Cooperation
Chapter 57: Reaching a Cooperation
The incident of Wen Qingyise, the mastermind behind the Zhengxing Hard Fist in Tin Shui Wai, did not cause much of a stir in the underworld. After all, Tin Shui Wai is known as the forgotten place of Hong Kong. If it were Tsim Sha Tsui, that would be a major event that would shake the entire Hong Kong underworld!
Ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.
"Come on, look this way~"
In front of the Wenji Beef Ball factory, Huang Lei of Huangtian Group and Song Zhaowen, dressed in a suit, stood side by side, facing the camera and holding each other's hands.
Today marks the official start of a collaboration between Wenji and Huangtian.
However, Huang Lei's expression remained calm and composed, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
It was only because her father, Wong Tin, reviewed the situation for her that the conclusion was that Chan Ho-nam had taken advantage of her eagerness to succeed, making Wong Tin Group pay at least 30% more in this collaboration.
Anyone would be upset if they suffered a loss in silence.
However, Wen Ji does indeed have potential; to be precise, Huang Tian's assessment of Song Zhaowen is that he has great potential.
According to Huang Tian, when doing business, you shouldn't be concerned about small gains and losses in the short term. If you suffer a small loss today, you will make it back many times over in the future.
Huang Tian was right. During the ten days that Huang Lei ignored Song Zhaowen, Wenji's "pissing beef balls" became a popular item in almost every night market in Hong Kong. Although there were imitations on the market, Wenji, as the first to try it, had already established its brand.
Moreover, people are unaware that beef balls are a single product, and there are other flavored products such as cuttlefish balls and sturgeon balls.
As for the taste, other imitations are far inferior to Wenji.
According to Huang Lei, other conglomerates have already contacted Wenji in the past ten days.
Unable to sit still any longer, Huang Lei had no choice but to reluctantly accept all the conditions proposed by Song Zhaowen.
Flashbulbs went off and camera shutters clicked, capturing this symbolic moment. Song Zhaowen, impeccably dressed in a suit and with a faint smile on his lips, and Huang Lei, with her exquisite makeup and perfect smile that carried a hint of aloofness, clasped hands and faced the camera.
"Congratulations Mr. Song and Ms. Huang! Wishing Wenji and Huangtian Group a successful collaboration and a brilliant future!" the reporter shouted, taking several more photos.
After the ceremonial proceedings concluded, reporters and unrelated personnel were asked to leave. Only key personnel from both sides remained in the factory's front yard.
Huang Lei released her hand, took the disinfectant wipe from her assistant, and subtly wiped her palms, her movements elegant yet carrying a clear sense of distance. She looked up at Song Zhaowen, her red lips slightly parted: "Mr. Song, congratulations. I hope our cooperation will be even smoother in the future."
"Of course, Miss Huang." Song Zhaowen seemed oblivious to her subtle actions, his smile unchanged. "With a partner like Huangtian Group, Wenji's development will definitely be smoother. We will have to rely on Miss Huang more in the future."
Huang Lei gave a soft "hmm," said no more, turned and whispered a few instructions to her assistant before leaving with her team. The cooperation was reached, but the lingering resentment from being "tricked" in the last negotiation was clearly still there.
"Miss Huang, please wait a moment," Song Zhaowen suddenly said.
Huang Lei paused, turned around, raised her eyebrows slightly, and asked a question.
Song Zhaowen stepped forward, took a simple but exquisitely packaged cardboard box from Jiao Pi, and handed it to Huang Lei.
"It's just a small token of my appreciation, to celebrate our cooperation, and also... to express my personal apology for any unpleasantness Ms. Huang may have experienced during the last negotiation," Song Zhaowen said sincerely, his eyes open and honest.
Huang Lei was somewhat surprised and didn't immediately take it. Her assistant stepped forward, seemingly wanting to check it for her, but was stopped by a look from Huang Lei.
"Mr. Song, what is this...?" Huang Lei looked at the cardboard box.
"It's nothing expensive, just a new flavor that Wenji has just developed—tangerine peel red bean paste beef balls." Song Zhaowen smiled. "I heard from others that Miss Huang seems to have a sweet tooth, especially for red bean paste. So I thought I'd try combining our best beef balls with Miss Huang's favorite flavor. We've tried it many times, and the taste... I personally think it's pretty good. I'd like to ask Miss Huang to taste it and give me some feedback."
How did this person know my preferences and tastes?
Huang Lei herself was slightly taken aback. She did indeed like red bean paste, especially the kind made with dried tangerine peel, but not many people knew of this preference. Song Zhaowen had actually found out even that and prepared it especially for her!
Looking at the cardboard box that Song Zhaowen handed over, and the sincerity on his face, Huang Lei's displeasure and alienation were suddenly diluted by a complex and indescribable emotion.
This person... is so shrewd that it makes you grit your teeth; but he still has some gentlemanly manners.
"Mr. Song, you're too kind. I will... savor it. I have to take my leave now because of company business." Huang Lei finally accepted the cardboard box. It was slightly heavy in her hand and still warm from being freshly baked.
Her tone softened, unlike her previous coldness.
"Take care, Miss Huang."
Watching Huang Lei's convoy drive away from the factory, Xiao Zhuoxiao sidled up to Song Zhaowen, watching the departing cars, and muttered, "Awen, you're being too polite to this young lady, aren't you? Do you have a crush on her and want to date her? It's not that I don't think you're a good match, but we're from two different worlds."
Song Zhaowen lit a cigarette, took a drag, and slowly exhaled the smoke: "People from two different worlds? Ah Xiao, when did you learn to treat people differently based on their status?"
Xiao Zhuoxiao scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly, "No, Brother Wen, I mean... look at her, a rich young lady from Central, always wearing Mercedes-Benzes and designer brands, bringing a team of lawyers and accountants to do business, she's practically strutting around like she owns the place. And us? We're from Tsz Wan Shan, we're more comfortable with machetes than pens. This... the difference is just too big."
"A gap?" Song Zhaowen flicked his cigarette ash, his gaze distant. "Ten years ago, Huang Tian was just a street vendor selling insurance. Twenty years ago, Bao, the shipping magnate, was still running a shipping business. Thirty years ago, Li Ka-shing was still running a plastics factory. In this world, what social class remains unchanged?"
He turned around and patted Xiao Zhuoxiao on the shoulder: "Xiao, remember, we're laying the foundation now. The land, the factory, the manpower, and the cooperation with Huangtian Group are all bricks. We'll build them layer by layer, and sooner or later we'll build a skyscraper. By then, who will dare say we're from two different worlds?"
Xiao Zhuoxiao didn't quite understand, but he felt that what Brother Wen said made sense, so he nodded vigorously: "I believe Wen! If you say it can work, then it definitely can!"
"Alright, stop flattering me." Song Zhaowen stubbed out his cigarette. "Go, call Dongguanzi over. Tin Shui Wai is now a monopoly, but how to manage it requires new rules. Also, have Ah Yong keep a close eye on things. Although the sex fiend Bing of Wo Shing Wo is dead and Dongguanzi has joined us, losing Tin Shui Wai means there might be some Wo Shing Wo and other triads who are dissatisfied and want to test the waters."