Chapter 548: The Greatest Leverage

The office was very quiet, and the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

Both Wang Qi Zhi and Zhao Xiuneng knew that Lin Sicheng must have a backup plan. But they did not know Lin Sicheng's subsequent plans, nor his ultimate goal. Tan Zheng could also tell that this young man likely had some ideas. But to be honest, no matter how many ideas he had, it was useless.

When encountering such a foreign investment dispute case, so-called scale and rank play no role at all. Even the influence that the administrative side can exert is minimal.

For example: from 2002 to 2007, a certain chromatography instrument purchasing agent passed off inferior goods as quality ones, using second-hand and Refurbished Machines to replace brand-new ones, and sold them to twelve pharmaceutical companies, with the cumulative fraud amount reaching as high as 1.98 billion.

Of these twelve, which one was not a local star enterprise? One-third of them were listed companies.

But what was the result in the end?

To this day, the arbitration process is still stalled in Hong Kong.

Let's take another example: the "Zhong" prefix Quantum Institute has a high enough rank, enough influence, and enough attention, right?

But back in 2005, they were still played for a fool: they bought a batch of Gene Sequencers, and the system authorization fee was actually twice as expensive as the machines themselves?

It was only when they were preparing to file a lawsuit that they discovered the place of arbitration was in Sweden.

After making two trips, they found that even if they won the lawsuit in the end, the costs would definitely exceed the amount of the claim, and the recovery process had to be forced to a halt.

Although the case is still pending at the arbitration institution and the machines are still piled up in the institute's warehouse, it is no different from abandoning the claim. If even a "Zhong" prefix institution is like this, let alone a private organization?

Tan Zheng felt it would be better to offer a reminder.

She thought for a moment: "Little Lin, have you ever looked into Saishi Company in detail before?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "I know a little!"

How could "a little" be enough?

Tan Zheng sighed: "Little Lin, as of now, Saishi is the largest supplier of analytical instruments, Reagent Consumables, and Software services in the country. It is involved in many scientific research fields such as life sciences, medicine, pharmacy, and materials science..."

Lin Sicheng did not speak.

Of course he knew this; otherwise, he would not have chosen Saishi at the time.

But who could have imagined that Saishi could also have problems?

Lin Sicheng also knew Tan Zheng's underlying meaning: even if Saishi lost the lawsuit, as long as they wanted to drag it out, they would drag it out forever.

Even if he went head-to-head and achieved what he considered a lose-lose result, the ultimate impact on Saishi would actually be minimal. First of all, Saishi has signed priority purchasing Contracts with many instrument companies and reagent companies. For example, Keyence, for example, Bruker. For the same equipment and the same instruments, Saishi has the lowest prices, the highest service level, the best maintenance technology, and the most comprehensive training. As a research institution, how would you choose?

To put it bluntly: for many pieces of equipment, you can only buy them from them. If you switch to another company, not to mention spending more money, you still have to go to them for after-sales service and training, and the price for this part is even higher.

So, why go against money?

That is one point; the second is: from 1982 to the present year of 2009, Saishi has been operating in China for twenty-eight years. In these nearly thirty years, no one can even count how many machines and how much equipment they have sold in the country.

How many institutions need them for maintenance and system upgrades?

Therefore, no matter how poor their reputation is or how heavy the penalties from law enforcement departments are, it is impossible to affect their normal operations and functioning.

Otherwise, those "Zhong" prefix research institutions would be the first to disagree.

If the machines at these institutions stop for one day, the losses would be at least in the hundreds of millions. Compared to that, Lin Sicheng's ten million is not even a drop in the bucket. To put it another way: no matter how fiercely you make a scene, you won't stir up much of a splash; in Saishi's eyes, it's just like an itch.

Under this premise, Saishi Company didn't take Lin Sicheng's little broken Center seriously at all.

Even that President Smith didn't know that Lin Sicheng was trying to meet him, let alone negotiate.

Because with just this amount of money, the Assistant President could make the decision to handle it; it wouldn't reach the point of reporting to the President.

And when Lin Sicheng made contact, he specifically asked to see Smith; it would be a miracle if he could actually see him.

Therefore, when Lin Sicheng called Tan Zheng yesterday to ask if she could accompany him to Saishi Company today to negotiate, Tan Zheng had already anticipated the result. She had even tried to dissuade him tactfully at the time, but Lin Sicheng didn't listen.

"Little Lin, I personally think there is no need to have further contact with Saishi. The next steps should be two-fold: first, wait for the investigation by the public security department, and second, prepare materials to plan for a lawsuit. After the Court issues a verdict, wait for Saishi Company to take the initiative to contact..."

According to Tan Zheng's prediction, as long as they could execute half of what was agreed upon in the Contract, that would be the best result.

It would roughly be compensating Lin Sicheng with a batch of new machines and taking the old ones away.

As for that 50% penalty for breach of contract and the economic losses incurred due to the delay in equipment delivery, don't even think about it.

If you dare to claim it, Saishi Company will dare to drag it out.

Lin Sicheng was not that stubborn; at least he could understand good advice.

Professional matters should of course be left to professionals: preparing materials and filing a lawsuit.

As for the rest, Lawyer Tan couldn't help for the time being. Mainly because even if he dared to speak, Tan Zheng probably wouldn't dare to help.

Lin Sicheng followed the flow: "Okay, let's do as Lawyer Tan says!"

Tan Zheng frowned slightly.

What was her job? A gold-medal Lawyer. She had taken on more cases and seen more clients than Lin Sicheng had seen classmates.

Honest ones, loyal ones, deceitful ones, cunning ones—as long as they existed in this world, there was none she hadn't seen.

As soon as she heard Lin Sicheng's tone, she knew that Lin Sicheng hadn't listened again.

Tan Zheng hesitated for a moment, but the words reached her lips and she swallowed them back.

She had seen too many clients like this: self-opinionated and arrogant.

There were even those more mysteriously confident than Lin Sicheng, where a case that could have been won ended up being lost due to the client's reckless maneuvers. Compared to that, this case was still early: the public security investigation would take some time, and no matter what Lin Sicheng planned to do, it wouldn't affect the lawsuit for now. So let him toss and turn; after hitting the wall twice, he would learn his lesson.

With this thought, Tan Zheng smiled and nodded: "Okay, Little Lin, then I will prepare the materials on my end. If anything is missing, I will contact you again!" "Thank you, Lawyer Tan!" Lin Sicheng was very polite, "Would you like to send someone to go to Beijing with us?"

"The investigation will take some time; it's too early to go now. I will go personally when the time comes!"

Lin Sicheng stood up: "Sorry to trouble you, Lawyer Tan!"

"I'll see you out!"

She didn't see them off too far, just out of the office, and Tan Zheng arranged for her Assistant to take them to the elevator.

Returning to the office, Tan Zheng thought for a moment and dialed Yun Hui's number.

Some things were hard to ask Lin Sicheng, and she figured he wouldn't say even if she asked.

But from Tan Zheng's perspective, she had to know.

The phone rang twice, and Yun Hui's voice came through: "Lawyer Tan!"

Tan Zheng was blunt: "Division Chief Yun, does this kid have a very powerful background?"

Yun Hui did not hide it from her either: "A little, but it doesn't have much to do with the case!"

Tan Zheng frowned: "Then why is he so confident?"

Yun Hui paused and did not speak.

It wasn't just Tan Zheng who was puzzled; she was too.

Being elites in this industry, they naturally had experience in reading people and standards for judgment. Although Lin Sicheng hid it well, both Tan Zheng and Yun Hui could tell Lin Sicheng's attitude:

Confident and assured, a sure thing.

For this reason, Yun Hui even specifically asked Wang Qiguang. Wang Qiguang did not answer directly, only saying this:

As long as it is something Lin Sicheng believes is right, he will do it. At least up until now, he hasn't failed yet.

Yun Hui was even more puzzled: How old is this kid, and how much can he have done? And how much has he actually accomplished to be worth such affirmation from Wang Qiguang? Puzzled as she was, Yun Hui could understand Wang Qiguang's subtext: This kid is a bit stubborn, recognizing only right and wrong.

This, of course, is not wrong.

Standing in Yun Hui's position, from the perspective of a legal professional, the law only has right and wrong.

But from the perspective of an ordinary person, besides right and wrong, there is also more and less, whether it is worth it...

Yun Hui thought for a moment: "He probably wants to do something himself, but it won't affect the verdict!"

"I know!" Tan Zheng said straightforwardly, "But it will affect Saishi's attitude."

As a Lawyer, she would do her utmost to protect the rights and interests of her client. As an individual, the response attitude, processing speed, and results of Saishi Company would directly affect her reputation and that of her law firm.

If it would eventually turn into a half-cooked mess, it would be better not to take it.

"Don't worry!" Yun Hui was very certain, "There won't be any impact!"

"Why?"

Yun Hui paused, "Lin Sicheng doesn't seem to be planning to claim compensation directly from Saishi!"

Tan Zheng was stunned for a moment.

Having known her for so long, this was the first time she felt: she could understand every word Yun Hui said, but when put together, she could not comprehend it.

Since you don't want to claim compensation, why are you still making such a fuss?

But it was hard for Yun Hui to explain: because these words were told to her by Wang Qiguang. He only said this much; Wang Qiguang did not give an answer, much less a reason. "Just take it as a normal lawsuit, look only at the verdict, and don't worry about the rest!"

"Then what about the subsequent enforcement, should I not worry about that either?"

"Correct!"

Tan Zheng did not understand: What is the point of that, just to get that court judgment?

If it were only for that, she could send an Intern to get it done.

At most, she would send a licensed Lawyer to appear in court.

She sighed: "Director Yun, this money, it makes people feel uneasy to accept!"

Because for such economic dispute cases, legal fees are calculated as a percentage of the total amount.

With a claim amount of over ten million, even if only one percent is charged, it would still be one hundred thousand.

"Whatever it should be, it should be!" Yun Hui said half-jokingly, "Just for the name 'Lawyer Tan' alone, it's worth one hundred thousand."

Things had reached this point?

Tan Zheng sighed: "Alright!"

After hanging up the phone, she pulled up Lin Sicheng's number again, thought and thought, but in the end, she still did not dial it.

Forget it, I'll just ask in person.

I have to go to Beijing anyway...

The hotel was in Binjiang, not far away, and it would take half an hour to get there.

Along the way, Wang Qi Zhi and Zhao Xiuneng exchanged glances from time to time.

They thought this lawsuit would be hard to fight. But they didn't expect it to be this difficult?

If it weren't for Tan Zheng's explanation, they wouldn't have known there were so many tricks here?

Remotely locking the equipment system, intentionally sending fault codes... is this something a human would do?

If it were a domestic company, it would have been fined into bankruptcy long ago. But when it's a foreign-funded one, it's blatant and brazen?

The two of them also understood the sentence Lin Sicheng said earlier: The reason these bastards dare to be so arrogant is because they have the capital to be arrogant. He could roughly guess what they were thinking, but there was a driver in the car, so Lin Sicheng did not explain.

The situation Lawyer Tan mentioned is relatively extreme; most of the time, they wouldn't go that far.

Even if Saishi is a monopoly enterprise and irreplaceable, it still has to consider the feelings of its customers: If you can lock them today, can you lock me tomorrow? No organization is willing to plant such a huge landmine for itself, and as long as it has happened once, anyone with a brain would think: What should I do if it's my turn next time? Then, as long as there are alternative products on the market, or even ones that are slightly worse, they wouldn't choose to use Saishi.

So, this is a Sword of Damocles: I bet you wouldn't dare to bet that I would do this.

But Saishi does have means of restriction: for example, equipment after-sales, system maintenance, and technical training.

There are manuals and guided operations, but any slightly intelligent testing operation or combined command must undergo technical training. Otherwise, the full performance of the equipment cannot be utilized, and the significance of the cutting-edge instrument is lost; it would be better to buy a worse one.

Not to mention system maintenance: spending extra money to buy new machines is for the technology; if you don't want the latest and fastest, why buy it?

Repairs are the same; fixing it a little faster or slower, solving the performance fault thoroughly or dragging it out, directly affects the subsequent progress of the Artifact Research.

It doesn't even need to be very frequent; a small fault every three or four months, a major fault every six months, and it could drag down your research project.

Therefore, anyone who switches to another company really can't function without Saishi.

But for Lin Sicheng, it is the exact opposite; these are actually his greatest source of confidence.

He knows technical operations, he knows system maintenance even better, and while his repairs might be a little worse, he can learn.

The premise is how to bypass Saishi and obtain authorization from the original manufacturer.

For example, the Bottom-layer Password, for example, administrator privileges...