dmims Chapter 48: A Good Gangster Who Doesn't Want to Be a Tycoon Isn't a Good One
Chapter 48: A Good Gangster Who Doesn't Want to Be a Tycoon Isn't a Good One
Huang Lei frowned slightly. In her opinion, this money was enough to change the fate of a low-level gangster, but the man in front of her refused so resolutely. Was he just putting on an act, or was he insatiable?
"You..." Song Zhaowen's sudden refusal made Huang Lei mistakenly believe that this江湖人士 (jianghu figure, a person from the martial arts world) was trying to make an exorbitant demand, instantly extinguishing any slight goodwill she might have had towards him. Her voice remained clear and melodious, but the end of her tone carried a hint of annoyance. Being an elite person after all, Huang Lei quickly composed herself, took a deep breath, and coldly asked, "Mr. Song, is it too little?"
Song Zhaowen leaned forward slightly, placing his hands crossed on the desk piled with documents, and met Huang Lei's scrutinizing gaze with a frank expression: "Thirty million is a huge sum of money no matter where it is. To be honest, my heart skipped a beat." He patted his chest, the gesture slightly exaggerated.
"Mr. Song, you should know that the business world is unpredictable. Even if your beef balls are very popular now, the future is full of uncertainties. With this money, you can do whatever you want." Huang Lei persuaded him again, not believing that anyone could remain unmoved by such a huge fortune.
Song Zhaowen then changed the subject, asking in return:
"Ms. Wong, if I'm not mistaken, if I agree to the acquisition, you should move the factory out of Tin Shui Wai without hesitation."
"That's natural. From a logistics and warehousing perspective, Tin Shui Wai is by no means a good place. Our Wong Tin Group has a large warehousing center and wharf in Sham Shui Po, which will facilitate the entry of our 'pissing beef balls' into the international market in the future."
Song Zhaowen shook his head repeatedly: "Miss Huang, Tin Shui Wai is where I made my fortune. Do you know that my factory alone provides hundreds of jobs for Tin Shui Wai? These people used to only be able to farm, but now they have a better way to make money. They treat me like family. Now that I've made a little money, I'm sorry, but I can't just let this factory walk away."
"Moreover, Miss Huang, the 'pissing beef balls' are not just a business deal for me, but a shared cause for all of us brothers." Song Zhaowen's gaze was firm: "Not everyone wants to be a gangster; they just lack the opportunity."
Joining clubs is just a means, not an end.
If you really think of yourself as a gangster, that's all you'll ever be.
Song Zhaowen was merely using the gang's name as a front.
Those triad bosses probably all have the same idea. Look at the Ni Yongxiao family, who made their fortune by selling drugs. More than ten years later, they still cut ties with the triads, embraced politics and business, and tried to whitewash their image.
Of course, there's no need to put these innermost thoughts on the table.
Huang Lei felt a chill run down her spine and stared intently into Song Zhaowen's eyes. She saw that his gaze didn't seem fake; it was as if he were getting to know the man in front of him all over again. Previously, she had been somewhat disdainful, thinking that Song Zhaowen was deliberately putting on airs and probably wanted more leverage.
Now that I hear him say this...
I never expected a mere gangster to have such insight; he doesn't forget his roots even after he's made it big!
"No wonder my father often said that heroes are not mostly from humble backgrounds," Huang Lei thought to herself.
"It seems that our Huangtian Group underestimated Mr. Song's... passion for this business." Huang Lei adjusted her posture, regaining her elegant demeanor. "Since Mr. Song considers this 'not for sale,' then let's change the cooperation method. Exclusive agency rights—exclusive agency rights for all retail channels in Hong Kong. Zhongtian Group will be fully responsible for the distribution, sales, and brand promotion of 'Pissing Beef Balls' in all retail outlets on Hong Kong Island."
The assistant immediately took another beautifully bound document from his briefcase, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Song Zhaowen.
Song Zhaowen didn't immediately touch the documents. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, put his hands behind his head, and gave a roguish smile: "Miss Huang, exclusive agency? It sounds like handing over your lifeline to someone else. My current inventory can't even fill my own individual customer orders. If I give the exclusive rights to Zhongtian, what will happen to my old neighbors and regular customers? They were the first to pay for my services when no one believed in me."
"That's precisely where our value lies!" Huang Lei's speech quickened. "Mr. Song, your current model relies on the short-term surge brought by a blockbuster product. But the surge will recede, and the market will settle. You need a powerful platform, a partner who can help you stabilize your channels, enhance brand premium, standardize operations, and even establish 'Pissing Beef Balls' as a classic Hong Kong symbol! Huang Tian Group's retail network throughout Hong Kong, mature cold chain logistics system, and professional marketing team can completely free you from these tedious and time-consuming terminal tasks, allowing you to focus on what you do best—production and R&D. What we bring is a long-term future and a bigger market!"
She tapped the document lightly with her slender fingers: "The preliminary plan is here. A five-year exclusive agency agreement, with Zhongtian promising to sell at least 70% of your factory's production capacity for the next five years, at a price 15% higher than the current wholesale price. At the same time, we will invest no less than five million Hong Kong dollars in brand promotion and market development."
Ye Rongtian couldn't help but hiss again at the door. Five years! 70%! 15% increase! Five million! These terms sounded even more tempting than the previous thirty million; it was like making money while lying down. He stared nervously at Song Zhaowen.
Huangtian Group is indeed rich and powerful!
Song Zhaowen's roguish smile deepened. He slowly sat up straight, picked up the now-cold milk tea on the table, took a large gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing, before looking at Huang Lei:
"Ms. Huang, the terms are indeed very attractive. However..." He held up one finger: "A five-year exclusive agency agreement is too long. You see how popular my beef balls are right now. Five years? What will the market be like in five years? Who knows? Maybe my brand will be even more famous, or maybe 'Mantis Shrimp Balls' and 'Mantis Fish Balls' will be everywhere. Five years is like tying my wings for the next five years to the big ship of Zhongtian. I can't afford the risk. Three years, three years at most. After three years, we'll see how the market develops and then talk."
Huang Lei's eyes narrowed slightly; this was the first real point of contention. She paused for a few seconds, weighing the pros and cons: "Three years... we can discuss it. But in-depth cooperation requires time to develop, and we hope to see Mr. Song's sincerity for a longer period."
"Sincerity is mutual, but Ms. Huang, there seems to be a problem with this contract." Song Zhaowen raised his second finger: "70% exclusive distribution, with a 15% markup. It sounds great. But how do I know that after you get the exclusive rights, you won't lower my ex-factory price to protect your own profit margin?"
Or should my beef balls only be sold in your Zhongtian Group's high-end supermarkets and department stores, and not available in ordinary markets, tea restaurants, and street food stalls? Ms. Huang, the roots of Pipi Beef Balls are in the streets and alleys!
What I want are "hot-selling items" that can be easily bought throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, from grandmothers to students, not "high-end goods" that are only displayed in air-conditioned glass cabinets!
Which specific channels will this 70% exclusive sales contract cover? How will the price adjustment mechanism be determined? If raw material and labor costs increase, can my ex-factory price increase accordingly? By how much? Everything must be clearly stated in black and white in the contract, with no ambiguity!