Chapter 2642

Zhou Andong put the peeled shrimp into his mouth and chewed gently as he said: "Uncle Zhou, as long as the price is right, my promise is absolutely valid, but I have one request."

"Speak!" Zhou Guodong said sincerely: "As long as it is within reasonable, compliant, and legal bounds, I will certainly meet any request you make."

Zhou Andong wiped his hands with a napkin: "You state the price first!"

Zhou Guodong pondered for a moment, then said: "These smuggled vehicles were seized in the past three years, totaling over 117,000, all luxury brands and well preserved, so..."

As he spoke, Zhou Guodong fell into thought again, and after a while continued: "If settled in US dollars, let's round it off—five billion."

Five billion is the lowest price Zhou Guodong and the squad leader discussed. Zhou Andong surely knows the total value of this batch of vehicles, so he directly named the bottom price.

Because he believes that, given Zhou Andong's broad-mindedness, since he knows the price of these vehicles, he certainly will not maliciously undercut like other profit-driven merchants.

Zhou Andong truly did not expect Zhou Guodong to offer a price of five billion, which is five hundred million less than his estimate—absolutely full of sincerity. Merely to lure him into investing in Qiong Province, he gave up five hundred million US dollars in benefits—this, however you say it, seems somewhat unreasonable. Therefore, Zhou Guodong must have other demands.

"Uncle Zhou!" Zhou Andong said seriously: "My internal price for this batch of vehicles is fifty-five billion. I did not expect you to ask only fifty billion. Frankly, I lack the nerve to take advantage of this five-hundred-million-US-dollar discount."

Zhou Guodong was startled, then immediately said: "Dongzi, this discount is certainly not so easy to take, for I too have demands."

Zhou Andong smiled faintly, indeed not surprised: "What demand is it, worth five hundred million US dollars, that makes me more fearful the more I think about it?"

Zhou Guodong laughed heartily: "Five hundred million US dollars, we must ensure the funds enter Qiong Province's fiscal account!"

Zhou Andong suddenly understood: there is no impenetrable wall in the world, especially for such a transaction involving huge sums and sensitivity—ordinary folk certainly have no channel to know the news. But for some within the system, it is very hard to keep secret.

Moreover, the matter of Qiong Province handling a large batch of smuggled vehicles has long ceased to be a secret. If Zhou Andong decides to buy these smuggled vehicles and settle in US dollars, once this news leaks, it will inevitably be intercepted.

By then, even if both parties have already signed the contract and the General Administration of Customs can no longer dispose of these smuggled vehicles, the central authorities certainly will not stand idly by, allowing these five billion US dollars to fall entirely into Qiong Province's pocket.

Therefore, the central authorities will certainly seek him out for a talk, demanding he transfer the funds to the Ministry of Finance's account. Once he cannot withstand the pressure, Qiong Province will have laboured in vain, ending with a bamboo basket drawing water—nothing gained.

Thus, Zhou Guodong fears that after the news leaks, Zhou Andong cannot withstand the pressure from above and will transfer the money to the finance department. Willing to offer a full five hundred million US dollars as an additional preferential condition, his purpose is to buy Zhou Andong a promise, guaranteeing that no matter what, the money will be transferred to Qiong Province's fiscal account.

Zhou Andong was quite moved, but in the end still shook his head: "Uncle Zhou, five hundred million US dollars indeed moves me, even to the point where I nearly agreed for a moment. But I cannot take advantage of the state, nor invite public censure. So, I will add another five hundred million, making a total of fifty-five billion—what do you think?"

Zhou Guodong stared, hardly believing his own ears: "Dongzi, did I hear wrong—you want to add money, and moreover add five hundred million?"

"Exactly!" Zhou Andong nodded: "You heard correctly."

Zhou Jie's eyes flashed with surprise as she could not help but interject: "Elder Brother Dong, I have lived this long, only hearing of buyers pressing for lower prices, never hearing of anyone buying something and then raising the price themselves."

Zhou Guodong nodded along, his expression looking somewhat complex: "Dongzi, are you serious?"

"Of course!" Zhou Andong said earnestly: "Fifty-five billion, I have already taken quite a large advantage. If it were fifty billion, I would feel uneasy in my heart. Moreover, I will agree to your demand—no matter who seeks me, this money will be transferred to Qiong Province's fiscal account."

"Good!" Zhou Guodong could not help but shout "good," deeply moved as he said: "I have wandered through the system for half my life, encountering all sorts of people, including many domestic and foreign entrepreneurs, but none can be compared to Dongzi you."

Zhou Andong humbly smiled: "Uncle Zhou, actually I am not that great. I merely think that earning enough money to spend in a lifetime is sufficient—what need is there for so much money?"

Zhou Guodong could not help but laugh again, this time his laughter filled with sincerity and emotion: "Then let it be so—now state your demand."

"My demand is very simple!" Zhou Andong placed a piece of mixed lobster meat into his mouth: "Five hundred fifty-five million US dollars I cannot pay in one lump sum; I want to pay in two installments. A down payment of two billion, the remaining thirty-five billion to be cleared by the end of next year."

"No problem!" Zhou Guodong agreed without thinking, for five hundred fifty-five million US dollars is no small sum—even those international conglomerates may not be able to produce it all at once.

Therefore, Zhou Guodong also did not expect Zhou Andong to settle in one go, for however you say it, it seems somewhat unrealistic. Moreover, he has never doubted Zhou Andong's ability to repay. After all, he just spent over four billion to acquire Sony shares—his strength lies right there.

"Then it's settled." Zhou Andong raised his cup: "Uncle Zhou, I toast you."

Zhou Andong and Zhou Guodong clinked cups, then Zhou Andong glanced at the time: "Uncle Zhou, you take your time eating—I have other matters, so I won't keep you company."

"Very well!" Zhou Guodong stood up, about to see Zhou Andong off, but then Zhou Andong pressed him back into the chair: "Uncle Zhou, you need not see me off—I will walk myself. As for the contract, whenever you have it ready, just notify me."

Zhou Guodong nodded: "The day after tomorrow, roughly."

"Fine!" Zhou Andong shook hands with Zhou Guodong again: "The night after tomorrow, we will sign the contract here."

Zhou Andong did not let Zhou Guodong see him off, but Zhou Jie, Nie Wen, and Tang Lin saw him out.

"Elder Brother Dong!" Tang Lin said: "I and Wenwen will go to the woolen factory at four?"

"Fine!" Zhou Andong waved his hand: "Alright, you need not see me off."

Zhou Qianyi accompanied Zhou Anwen out of the restaurant: "Brother, would you like to wait a while in my office?"

Zhou Andong glanced at the time: "Let's go—just right, I'll borrow your office phone to make a call."

Zhou Qianyi brought Zhou Andong to her office, then brewed him a cup of tea.

Zhou Andong sat in the wide, comfortable boss's chair, picked up the phone and dialed a string of numbers, and soon a very pleasant woman's voice came through the receiver.

"Hello, I am Ye Zhen."

Zhou Andong said in a deep voice: "Director Ye, I am Zhou Andong."

"Ah?" Ye Zhen said in surprise: "So it's Boss Zhou—why did you suddenly call me? It truly delights me."

Zhou Andong gave a light chuckle: "Or perhaps it is not delight but alarm?"