Chapter 193: Discussing Cooperation with Ye Jianming

I looked at Ye Jianming and took a puff of a cigarette.

I didn't speak.

Everyone remained silent.

At this moment, Xiao Feng said: "Old Ye, what does this mean? We've come all this way, and it should be something easy to talk about, so how did it become an unknown?"

What should my brother do? If it's an unknown, then we won't buy it. Anyway, the money is still in the account.

Ye Jianming looked at Xiao Feng, his face darkened as he said: "When we men talk, you should butt in less. Is your brother's matter more important, or ours? Wouldn't it be better to lay everything out today? There's no such thing as a free lunch. What are we working so hard for?"

I looked at Ye Jianming and thought to myself, Director Shangguan's judgment was correct.

It looks like next we will be discussing what kind of cooperation to have with Ye Jianming.

I laughed,

I said to Xiao Feng and Ye Jianming: "Brother Ye, keep your voice down; speaking so loudly easily draws attention. I'm currently in a sensitive period."

Xiao Feng, how long has it been since you returned to Zaocheng?

Xiao Feng said: "Almost a year."

"Alright, Xiao Fang, take Manager Xiao Feng out for a stroll, and come back to the teahouse to pick us up in an hour. I want to discuss some private matters with Brother Ye." I said to Xiao Fang.

Xiao Fang stood up,

She said to Xiao Feng: "Sister Xiao Feng, let's go check out the old town; I heard they've opened a new commercial street, and the clothing there is nice."

Xiao Feng glanced at me,

Then she followed Xiao Fang out.

Only Ye Jianming and I were left in the room.

We were both smoking, not speaking.

I refilled Ye Jianming's teacup with tea,

After refilling, I said: "Brother Ye, you were absolutely right—there's no such thing as a free lunch. Nobody gets up early without profit,"

the matter of Qi He Mine still needs your help. As long as it's profitable.

I believe there will definitely be a share of the profits for you.

After I finished speaking, Ye Jianming pressed his cigarette butt out in the ashtray,

then took a sip of water,

and said: "This tea is good, quite fragrant. Let's drop the pleasantries—just tell me, what share of the profits are we getting?"

I said: "How about 10% of the profits?"

Ye Jianming clapped his hands and laughed: "Not bad, but I still want more. You should know that whether we can cooperate with Zaocheng Mining Group this time hinges on me."

If I'm not satisfied, then the cooperation won't work.

I also laughed,

"Brother Ye, how about this: you put forward your conditions, and I'll see if I can accept them. If the conditions are too harsh, I'll consider giving up on buying Qi He Mine."

"I think this venture carries too much risk."

Ye Jianming then took another cigarette out of the pack,

lit it,

took a puff,

"I want half. How about that, brother—can you agree?"

"Half—what kind of half? Just half of the profits, or half of the entire Qi He Mine shares?" I continued asking Ye Jianming.

"Half of everything." Ye Jianming said solemnly.

"Heh, Brother Ye, you really know how to joke. If it's half of everything, what's the point of my investment? I might as well not invest at all. I'm not buying Qi He Mine. I'll have Xiao Feng transfer that 9 million over shortly—I need the money right now." I also clenched my face.

"As for the money, maybe Xiao Feng alone can't decide on that. You must buy Qi He Mine." Ye Jianming said.

Could Ye Jianming be trying to swindle me out of 9 million?

Damn, this is bullying too.

Everyone thinks I'm easy to bully, and everyone wants to screw me over.

I suppressed my anger,

"Brother Ye, why do I have to buy it? When Xiao Feng comes later, we'll ask her about that 9 million—why can't it be transferred? This money is mine, just temporarily held by Xiao Feng. Brother Ye, you wouldn't have any designs on it, would you? This is my last bit of money; if it's gone, I might go to extremes." I said fiercely.

I thought to myself, if Xiao Feng comes and Ye Jianming won't let her transfer the money, damn it, I'll go all out—I won't even let Ye Jianming off.

Damn it, just seeing me in this state, everyone comes to bully me. Damn, it's infuriating.

"Brother, what are you thinking? I know that money is yours. I have no designs on it. I'm just saying, some things we shouldn't work for nothing." Seeing my bad complexion, Ye Jianming said that.

"Didn't I just say I'd give you a share of the profits? But you open your mouth demanding half—that's deliberately trying to cheat me. There's no point in talking then. Call Xiao Feng and have her hurry back." I said directly.

"Don't, you're just hot-headed. If Xiao Feng comes, she'll kick up a fuss again, and then nobody will look good." Ye Jianming said with a laugh.

"No need to consider Xiao Feng. Brother Ye, you've helped me before; you know better than I do how Zhao Jianqiang conducts himself. Although I'm in trouble today, I can't let people bully me like this. I'm at the end of my rope—what do I have to fear? Half? Impossible." I stood up and said.

"Brother, sit down. You haven't let me finish speaking, yet you're already getting worked up—how is that okay? We're all this age."

"We should speak properly."

I sat down again,

"Since Brother Ye, we should speak properly, then speak properly—finish what you have to say, and I'll listen. If I can hear it, I will; if not, I'll leave."

Ye Jianming said: "Brother, look, after you buy Qi He Mine, doesn't its production require working capital?"

You've paid out all nine million—where would working capital for production come from?

Even if I've made contact with Zaocheng Mining Group,

and they can take your coal, but without working capital you simply can't produce anything. How will you solve the working capital issue?

Upon hearing Ye Jianming's reasonable point, I nodded,

I took a puff of a cigarette,

"Brother Ye, go on."

"I still have some spare cash; the hotel investment in Hainan failed, I feel it's better to stick to my old trade, and coincidentally Xiao Feng mentioned the Qi He Kuang matter."

I also want to take the opportunity to return to Zaocheng to develop.

"It would be great for us to cooperate: you buy Qi He Kuang, you lack working capital, I have working capital,"

"Then invest in it, and Qi He Kuang will be able to operate."

I looked at Ye Jianming, thinking to myself, "If you had said that earlier, it would have been fine; that earlier part was just an act for me, he thinks I'm easy to bully."

After I heard Ye Jianming finish speaking,

He smiled,

"Brother Ye, that's right, how much do you plan to invest?"

"The same as you, that way we can ensure Qi He Kuang has ample cash; you also know we still owe workers' wages, if we pay the wages first, we can boost the workers' enthusiasm." Ye Jianming said with a smile.

"You also contribute 8 million, that's fine, I welcome it; only with your participation can our cooperation be long-lasting and profitable,"

"If you don't join, I wouldn't feel at ease." I said with a smile.

"Then it's half, how about it, brother, no objections?" Ye Jianming said after taking a sip of water.

I took a puff of a cigarette,

then blew out a smoke ring,

I said to Ye Jianming: "Brother Ye, I disagree. You can't take half."

"Why?" Ye Jianming shouted.

"Don't ask why, I disagree; I don't like splitting authority evenly with others. I'm someone who likes to hold all power." I said expressionlessly.