chsdbacks Chapter 40: Let's Talk in a Different Way
Chapter 40: Let's Talk in a Different Way
Before coming, Song Zhaowen had a premonition that someone as stingy as Da Zhiguang would be willing to treat him to roast goose.
Sure enough, she had an ulterior motive, wanting to get involved in his business.
As soon as Da Zhi Guang finished speaking, Li Tianyi interrupted, giving Song Zhaowen no time to react.
"I entered the business world a decade or so before you, so I'll presume to call you Ah Man. Uncle Guang is right; these days, you can't succeed by going it alone. I, Li Tianyi, am in Kwun Tong. I wouldn't dare say I can control everything, but I can certainly ensure your business thrives. I'm not greedy; we can discuss the cooperation method. I can invest capital, or I can manage the sales channels in Kwun Tong and even Kowloon and the New Territories, and we'll split the profits proportionally. This way, you'll have strong support and can focus on making good products—isn't that a win-win situation?"
The language is getting increasingly blatant; they want to share equity or take away distribution rights in certain regions.
In a normal collaboration, Song Zhaowen is not a stingy person; he believes in sharing profits and making the pie bigger together.
But what does someone like Li Tianyi know about legitimate sales channels? His so-called "responsibility for sales" is nothing more than using his gang's influence to force restaurants and shops in his territory to stock his products, and possibly even disrupt the market with lower prices to undermine his pricing system. As for taking a stake, forget about it. If he were put on the board of directors, it would be hard to say who would be in charge of the business in the future.
In that case, these two could ruin a perfectly good business.
Song Zhaowen didn't immediately turn hostile: "Brother Tianyi's suggestion is very constructive. However, my situation might be a little different from what Brother Tianyi is thinking. My sales mainly involve negotiating agency agreements with large corporations, using legitimate business channels. As for equity investment... the company's equity structure is already set. Introducing new shareholders now involves asset valuation and legal procedures, which is very troublesome and might affect the ongoing financing negotiations. I think it would be better if we waited until all the agency agreements on my side were signed and the funds were in place before discussing the specific form of cooperation in detail. At that time, perhaps we could ask Brother Tianyi to be our 'special advisor' in Kwun Tong, or to be responsible for developing certain specific channels, earning commissions based on performance. This would be more flexible and better reflect Brother Tianyi's value."
Song Zhaowen's remarks reduced core interests such as equity and channel control to a loose cooperative relationship.
Da Zhi Guang and Li Tianyi's faces darkened completely. They realized that Song Zhaowen had no intention of letting them get involved at all, and was just giving them the runaround.
Li Tianyi sneered, "Heh, Wen has only been a big shot for two days and he's already got too big for his britches? Think carefully before you speak. If you're too arrogant and climb too high, you'll fall hard."
Xiao Zhuoxiao slammed his hand on the table: "Damn it~ Li Tianyi, are you threatening us?"
"Who the hell do you think you are! You have no respect for your elders, Ah Wen? Is this how you treat your underlings? Should I teach you a lesson?" Li Tianyi seized the opportunity to vent his anger.
Li Tianyi's henchmen stepped forward, and Xiao Zhuoxiao responded defiantly, instantly creating a tense atmosphere.
Big Guang quickly stood up to smooth things over: "Hey, what are you doing? Sit down, everyone. We're brothers, let's talk things out." He had a smile on his face, but he was secretly overjoyed. It would be good if things got chaotic, as it would put pressure on Song Zhaowen.
Song Zhaowen reached out and gently patted Xiao Zhuoxiao's shoulder, signaling him to calm down. Then, he looked at Li Tianyi, who was glaring angrily, and Da Zhiguang, who was pretending to mediate, and suddenly smiled.
"Brother Tianyi, Uncle Guang, we're all just trying to do business, why get angry?" Song Zhaowen said casually, as if the conflict had never happened. "Since you two are so eager to cooperate, and I'm not in a position to make any major changes to the business structure right now... since we can't agree on anything, how about we find another way to decide?"
Li Tianyi narrowed his eyes: "A different approach? What approach?"
Big Guang also looked at Song Zhaowen with curiosity.
Song Zhaowen pointed to the now-cold tea on the table: "Talking business over tea is boring. We're all江湖人 (jianghu people, people of the martial arts world), we value 'straightforwardness,' so why don't we use the most direct method of the江湖—a drinking contest!"
"A drinking contest?" Li Tianyi and Da Zhiguang were both taken aback.
"Yes, a drinking contest." Song Zhaowen's smile remained unchanged. "I've heard that Uncle Guang is known as the 'God of Wine of Tsz Wan Shan,' and Brother Tianyi is the 'King of Whisky of Kwun Tong.' Perfect timing, I'm also quite confident in my drinking capacity. Tonight, the three of us will have a drinking contest. If you two can outdrink me, then the cooperation is all we need to discuss; how we cooperate is up to you. But if... you two can't outdrink me." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two men: "Then the cooperation is off for now, and we shouldn't mention it again. How about that? Is that fair enough?"
Upon hearing this, both Da Zhi Guang and Li Tianyi started to have their own thoughts.
Drinking contest? This is practically a golden opportunity. Big Brother Guang is extremely confident in his drinking capacity. His reputation for being able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk in his youth was well-deserved. Although he's getting older, he still has the stamina.
Li Tianyi was a heavy drinker, especially fond of whiskey, and believed he had never been afraid of anyone at the drinking table. As for Song Zhaowen? A young man in his early twenties, even if he could drink, could he outdrink the two old alcoholics working together?
A smug glint flashed in Big Guang's eyes, but he feigned hesitation: "This... a drinking contest? Isn't that a bit inappropriate? It's bad for your health."
Li Tianyi scoffed, "Song Zhaowen, you said it yourself! Don't try to deny it later when you lose!"
Song Zhaowen shrugged: "My word is my bond, and all the brothers here are witnesses. Uncle Guang, shall we order some wine?"
Overjoyed, Big Guang immediately yelled at his underlings at the door, "What are you all standing there for? Go! Bring up all twelve bottles of XO I have here, quick!"
He was determined to knock Song Zhaowen out in one go, so he brought out the strongest foreign liquor, and ordered twelve bottles right away! Even if the three of them shared it, each person would have to drink four bottles. With that kind of alcohol tolerance, an ordinary person would be knocked out after just one bottle.
Xiao Zhuoxiao's expression changed, and he quickly said, "I'll do it..."
Big Guang roared, "This is a matter between the three of us, it's none of your business to interrupt. Besides, you're not the leader of the gang, you have no right to sit at the table."
"you...."
"Ah Zhuo, it's okay. Don't get involved later."
Song Zhaowen gave him a wink, signaling him to relax.
Xiao Zhuoxiao sat down again, fuming: "Awen, you better watch yourself."
Soon, the younger men brought up a whole case of twelve unopened bottles of XO.
Big Guang opened the wine himself, his smile impossible to hide: "Ah Wen, young man, you've got guts! Come on, let Uncle Guang toast you first, wishing you a prosperous business!" As he spoke, he poured a large glass for himself and Song Zhaowen.
Li Tianyi also raised his glass with a cold smile: "Song Zhaowen, don't blame us for taking advantage of your youth. I'll have a drink with you."