Chapter 36: Capture!

This was a very confident young man.

Hou Shijie came to this conclusion from Ye Feng’s tone and gaze.

That was true. After all, he was even more confident back then. In fact, he was a bit full of himself.

However, would he still be called a young man if he wasn’t full of himself?

Could a 20 year old person with the body of a 40 year old, speaking the words of a 50 year old, and doing the things of a 60 year old person be called a young person?

Confidence was a good thing.

Hou Shijie tapped his teacup lightly with his fingertips, and his thoughts started to wander. After a while, he returned to reality and a frivolous smile appeared on his face.

“What if I say no?”

Seeing Ye Feng’s stunned expression, the amusement in Hou Shijie’s eyes deepened.

“There are many reasons… For example, I just went bankrupt and my peers are enemies. Furthermore, I’m in a bad mood as I ate two too many buns this morning.”

“Most importantly, I don’t lack money.”

After saying this, he picked up his teacup and took a sip. He wanted to see more from Ye Feng’s eyes, such as shock and confusion.

Unfortunately, there was only astonishment in Ye Feng’s eyes. Even now, his astonishment had still not vanished.

Then, Ye Feng laughed, even more happily than Hou Shijie.

“In the same industry, we are indeed enemies. However, sometimes, enemies are better than friends.”

“This young man is not simple.”

This thought flashed across his mind. Then, Hou Shijie straightened his body.

The fact that Ye Feng could say this proved that Ye Feng wasn’t affected by Hou Shijie’s performance at all.

“You’re right.” After a pause, Ye Feng continued, “The Tasty Company has a strong foundation. After the debt is settled, you’ll still have a pension.”

“But this money can only be used for retirement. You can’t even afford to make a comeback.”

“Why would I want to make a comeback?” Hou Shijie shook his head. “I’m already over 40 years old and have long lost my drive. Perhaps retirement is a good choice for me.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Feng leaned forward and stared intently into Hou Shijie’s eyes.

“You won’t retire…”

Then, he took out a document he had prepared. “According to my information, when there was a problem with the Tasty Company capital chain, there was an investment organization that came to discuss the acquisition with you in the early stages of the issue.”

“Back then, you could’ve cut your losses and sold some of your company’s assets in exchange for a break, but you refused.”

“To be honest, I don’t really understand why you did that.”

“Why did I do that?”

Hou Shijie thought to himself as well.

Perhaps it was because he was unwilling to let the company that he had invested so much effort into be taken advantage of like this, or perhaps it was because he still had the fantasy of turning the tide back then.

However, the biggest possibility was that he had underestimated the human heart.

Later on, his shareholders withdrew their shares, his employees asked for their salaries, and his suppliers pressed him for payment…

No one was willing to be on the same boat as Tasty Hotpot when they were being tossed around by a storm.

This was the main reason why Tasty Hotpot went out of business.

Meanwhile, Ye Feng was still talking.

“Even on the eve of the Tasty Company’s bankruptcy, you were still seeking a bank loan —— unfortunately, that loan did not was not successful.”

“Thus, I concluded that you would not be willing to be an ordinary person after this.”

“Most importantly, this is the headquarters of Tasty Hotpot, your first store, and the beginning of your glory. Thus, you won’t be here if you decided to retire.”

The direction of the company reflected the will of the helmsman. From the crazy expansion in the early stages of Tasty Hotpot and the subsequent series of struggles, it could be seen that Hou Shijie was not the kind of person who would be easily defeated.

Moreover, how could a defeated person have the courage to come to the place where he had built his glory?

Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!

There was applause.

Hou Shijie clapped while shaking his head. “Boss Ye, I have to say that you’re not very good at negotiating. If others were to hear what you have said, they would turn around and leave.”

“However, you got it right—”

Hou Shijie stopped and let out a long sigh. “That’s right, I’m not willing to give up.”

“Then can we talk about the acquisition plan now?”

Ye Feng finished the tea in his teacup and uttered a praise.

“This is some good tea.”

…

Ye Feng had prepared a lot of mental drafts for this negotiation. As Hou Shijie had said, his words were not very suitable for a negotiation, but they were enough to strike at the heart.

If Hou Shijie was at home with his wife and children, these words would only chase him away in anger. However, if that was the case, Ye Feng would naturally change his words.

In short, he was extremely serious about this negotiation.

He had no experience in negotiation, so he valued every opportunity more than usual.

…

“Boss Hou, after the assessment of Zhong Heng Agency, Quan City’s largest asset evaluation agency, we will offer a price of 4.7 million. Of course, considering the possibility of machinery in the factory, the exact price…”

Hou Shijie interrupted Ye Feng.

“I can tell you clearly that there is a whole set of machinery in the factory. It’s brand new. You can only get this set of machinery for 1.5 million.”

“If that’s the case…” Ye Feng thought for a moment. “I can offer you 5.5 million.”

“That’s too low.” Hou Shijie refused to give in. “You know that it takes a lot of money to make a comeback. The starting price is 5.8 million yuan.”

“Boss Hou, those second-hand machines are probably not worth that much…”

“My machines are all brand new!”

“Yes, but you’re selling them to me, so they’re second-hand!”

“You!” Hou Shijie glared at Ye Feng. “5.7 million, no lower!”

“I’m offering 5.5 million, not one cent more!”

Ye Feng also stared at Hou Shijie with wide eyes.

Both sides glared at each other, neither willing to back down.

In the end, it was still Hou Shijie, this middle-aged man who was not as energetic, who felt that his eyelids were sore earlier than Ye Feng did.

“Alright then, 5.6 million. That’s the lowest I can go. If it gets any lower, I’ll turn around and leave.”

“I’m paying 5.5 million.”

“Boss Ye, there’s no need to be so calculative over 100,000 yuan, right? I’ve already said that this is the bottom line…”

Looking at the slightly angry Hou Shijie, Ye Feng blinked.

“Boss Hou, Maple Forest Company is currently competing with Prosperous Flavor. You can treat this 100,000 yuan as financial aid.”

“You!”

Then, Hou Shijie laughed helplessly. “It’s a business worth a few million dollars. There’s no need to haggle over every penny like you… but alright.”

“This 100,000 yuan can be treated as an investment. I wish you all the best in defeating Prosperous Flavor!”

The decline of Tasty Hotpot began with the failure of advancing into the Quan City market.

In the past year, he had spent a lot of money, but in the end, he had to leave in dejection. From then on, Tasty Hotpot started to decline.

Furthermore, it was Prosperous Flavor and Jiangnan Flavor that had forced Tasty Hotpot out.

Thus, it was impossible for Hou Shijie to not have any resentment towards Prosperous Flavor.

This resentment was converted into money.

Ye Feng believed that it was still worth 100,000 yuan.

…

The transfer of ownership, the contract customisation, and the field trip all took time.

Since neither of them had a secretary, they could only do it themselves. Once everything ended, another two days had passed.

At a highway intersection in Quan City…

“Then I’ll send you off here.”

Ye Feng shook Hou Shijie’s hand, full of smiles.

The collaboration was very pleasant, and the machinery was indeed brand new. They could start work after packing up and recruiting some workers.

“Sure.”

Hou Shijie opened the car door and sat back inside. Just before the car started, he suddenly rolled down the window.

“Boss Ye, I have something to remind you about.”

“Be careful of Li Xin!”