Chapter 20: Wanting It All

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Cheng Shi fixed his gaze on him and said, “If you were honest, I might have lowered the price a bit. But now my risk is too high—how could I possibly reduce the price?”

Zhang Guohua looked as if he had just been slapped in the face; his cheeks burning with embarrassment and anger, he snapped at the technician, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and tell finance to bring the money to him!”

The technician cursed silently: Damn it. It’s clearly you trying to play tricks and getting slapped in the face, so why should I get involved? What a joke.

After calling finance, he casually picked up a bearing from the table and measured it with the vernier caliper in his pocket, saying, “Hey, this isn’t as precise as last time?!”

Zhang Guohua immediately perked up, “Really? Go check it again quickly.”

The technician took the parts and went downstairs again.

When he returned, excitement and pride barely contained on his face, he said, “Indeed, this batch isn’t as precise as last time.”

Zhang Guohua turned to Cheng Shi with a half-smile, “What do you make of this?”

Cheng Shi replied, “I never said every batch would have the same precision. Besides, you said last time the bearing only needed to reach thirty microns precision. Customers are king—I will do my best to meet your demands.”

Zhang Guohua choked on his words, feeling as if he had just lifted a stone only to drop it on his own foot.

He had indeed said that last time, intending to trap Cheng Shi, but unexpectedly, he had given Cheng Shi an opening to exploit.

Although furious, he dared not show it; otherwise, Cheng Shi would become even more smug.

Cheng Shi seemed to deliberately provoke Zhang Guohua, inspecting the watermark on a hundred-yuan bill against the light one by one.

Zhang Guohua watched from the side, feeling both heartbroken and stifled.

After confirming that the two thousand yuan were all genuine, Cheng Shi said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

Zhang Guohua said, “Wait, we haven’t discussed the next delivery yet.”

Cheng Shi said coldly, “Unless you promise to stop playing these games, I have no interest in working with you. Dong City is an industrial hub; my products will sell well regardless.”

Even if motorcycle factories or textile mills had machinery parts break down, he could manufacture parts with the same performance as the originals but at a much lower price.

To put it bluntly, even if he was just selling screws, he wouldn’t lack customers.

Zhang Guohua said, “Ah, young man, it’s all just a misunderstanding. One should be magnanimous. Besides, business requires a period of adjustment, right? How about this: starting tomorrow, you supply us with ten of each of these two parts every day, steadily.”

Cheng Shi shook his head, “You don’t need that many.”

“You produce fewer than a hundred cars a month; why would you need so many bearings and connecting rod journals?”

Zhang Guohua said, “How you use them is our business. You just supply them.”

Oh, he must have already called around and knows no one domestically can match the quality of these connecting rod journals.

So he intends to buy from me and resell to competitors for a profit.

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Cheng Shi suddenly understood and answered, “Fine. Bearings at two hundred each, connecting rod journals at eight hundred.”

Zhang Guohua almost lost his breath, clutching his fist, “Why have you raised the price again?”

Cheng Shi said, “Buy if you want, don’t if you don’t.”

You’re ridiculous—knowing it’s absolutely a seller’s market and still trying to haggle?

Wanting to earn a profit yet unwilling to let the skilled party gain much.

Zhang Guohua gritted his teeth, “Fine, I’ll buy.”

Cheng Shi said, “Also, you don’t have to call me every time. I’m too lazy to run around. You send someone to pick up the goods, pay cash, and take delivery.”

He originally offered delivery because customers didn’t know he existed.

For such unprincipled clients, there’s even less reason to accommodate them.

Zhang Guohua said, “Okay, I’ll have the driver pick up the goods tomorrow.”

You little bastard, I’m holding back now only because I don’t know where your CNC machine is.

Once I find a way to get my hands on your equipment, I’ll make sure you understand my power!!

As Cheng Shi went downstairs,

Zhang Ziqiang, who had been squatting and smoking, stubbed out his cigarette and stood up, asking, “How did it go?”

Cheng Shi had become his symbol of resistance against paternal authority; he genuinely hoped Cheng Shi would win.

Less than an hour had passed, and three or four half-smoked cigarette butts littered the ground nearby. Tsk tsk.

“Why are you so scared?” Cheng Shi sighed, shaking the money in his hand silently in response.

Zhang Ziqiang, seeing through his little trick, was somewhat annoyed and embarrassed, “Crazy, who’s scared?”

Cheng Shi said, “Please take me back. I want to talk business with you.”

Zhang Ziqiang rolled his eyes, “You’re a laid-off worker, a sole proprietor—how can I do business with you?”

Cheng Shi sneered, “Hah, didn’t expect your mindset to be as old-fashioned as those old folks. Not fashionable at all.”

In this era, you could call a young person stupid or ugly, but never unfashionable.

It feels like a stranger being called a country bumpkin in Haicheng.

Zhang Ziqiang was indeed provoked, chasing after Cheng Shi, “What did you say? How am I not fashionable?”

Cheng Shi said, “You want to build a big enterprise to make your father respect you, but you don’t seize the opportunity.”

Zhang Ziqiang asked, “What opportunity do you mean?”

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Cheng Shi said, “I plan to start a company; you come be the manager.”

Zhang Ziqiang was stunned, stopping in his tracks, “Me? Manager?”

Cheng Shi nodded.

Zhang Ziqiang asked, “Am I capable?”

Cheng Shi said, “If I say you are, then you are. If not, still yes.”

Zhang Ziqiang asked, “What do you want me to do? I wouldn’t dare to do anything corrupt.”

Cheng Shi said, “Don’t worry. Neither will I. I just need you to use your connections to run errands.”

Zhang Ziqiang said, “Hey, that’s doable.”

Cheng Shi said, “But let me be clear: this is different from a state-owned enterprise. If you work with me, you must be serious. If you want to slack off or just coast, then don’t come. I can teach stupidity, but laziness—I can’t fix.”

Zhang Ziqiang asked, “So you want me to quit?”

Cheng Shi said, “No need. You’re not busy at the car factory anyway. Consider it a part-time job. I won’t give you a fixed salary; I’ll pay you commissions based on your work. If you do well, you’ll definitely earn more than at the factory.”

Zhang Ziqiang naturally understood this.

After all, he had already witnessed Cheng Shi’s ability to make money.

And it was accelerating like stepping on the gas pedal.

Cheng Shi gave him a sidelong glance, “Think it over. No need to answer me right away.”

Cheng Shi went on to deposit the two thousand yuan at the credit union.

Coincidentally, Sister Wan was handling the business.

Sister Wan was a bit confused: Why is this guy depositing money again, and this time, a large sum of two thousand yuan?

Altogether, it was several thousand already!

After finishing the procedures, she watched Cheng Shi get into a brand-new Crown sedan outside and sneered inwardly: So he’s actually a wealthy man on the list.

No wonder his money comes fast.

Heh, just like his sister.