Chapter 558: Are You Really That Bold?

The boarding stairs were lowered, and two burly men, one in front and one behind, sandwiched Lin Sicheng in the middle.

Following them was You Tao, pushing the luggage, with Zhao Xiuneng and Wang Qi Zhi bringing up the rear.

Not knowing if it was just his imagination, Wang Qi Zhi looked at everyone as if they were bad guys, glancing left and right, looking all around.

"Professor Wang, you don't need to be so nervous!" Zhao Xiuneng comforted him in a low voice. "Didn't Lin Sicheng say it's just a precaution? And this 'just in case' will only happen if the negotiations completely collapse and there is no room for maneuver."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of!"

Wang Qi Zhi became even more nervous. "General Manager Zhao, let me ask you: if, as Lin Sicheng said, Saishi is only afraid of the scandal of Liu Anhua using internal permissions to commit fraud and sell fakes being exposed, then how many people must know about it?"

He counted on his fingers. "As of now, the Public Security Bureau knows, Customs knows, and these two have notified the Foreign Affairs Department. In a few days, the Discipline Inspection Commission will know too. With so many departments, and so many people talking, how could it not leak out?"

"If that's the case, this is an open secret; there's no need to target only Lin Sicheng. So, what need does he have to hire bodyguards? Think about it again, how long have we known Lin Sicheng, and when have we ever seen him act like a coward?"

Zhao Xiuneng stopped talking.

Because Lin Sicheng was downplaying the situation and hadn't told them the truth.

In his hands, there was definitely bigger material, big enough that capital would have to go for the kill against him.

After pondering for a long time, as they were about to leave the terminal, Zhao Xiuneng sighed: "This isn't going to talk, it doesn't necessarily mean it won't succeed!"

Wang Qi Zhi gnashed his teeth: True, it could succeed. He also knew that Lin Sicheng kept his word; once an agreement was reached, he would absolutely keep his mouth shut. But would the foreign investors believe it?

Who could guarantee that you wouldn't use this leverage to threaten them a second time, or even a third or fourth time?

Rather than being blackmailed by you endlessly, it would be better to just go all the way.

Precisely because Lin Sicheng anticipated this mentality of the foreign investors, he acted out of character and showed cowardice for once: before even talking, he hired bodyguards first. Zhao Xiuneng frowned: "Can we find relevant departments to intervene and provide a guarantee during the negotiations?"

"We can, but it can't be Lin Sicheng who asks, otherwise the nature of it changes: if it gets out, it becomes government departments colluding with a company to blackmail a foreign enterprise. So, it has to be the foreign investors themselves who ask..."

"But in this way, the leverage shifts from Lin Sicheng's hands into the hands of the relevant departments. Although the credibility is much stronger, Saishi also loses more."

"General Manager Zhao, calculate it again: just one Liu Anhua, how many companies did he defraud in China? If they have to pay for everything, how much will Saishi have to pay?" Wang Qi Zhi sighed: "The pole-carrier and the wolf are both afraid of each other; if it were you, what would you do?"

Zhao Xiuneng moved his lips, speechless.

Of course, one would choose the most effortless and effective method: let the secret rot in a dead man's stomach.

Thinking about it this way, Lin Sicheng shouldn't have come to Shanghai. Or he could have made a phone call, or even better, sent an email, revealing just a little bit of key information to let Saishi figure it out themselves.

He was able to hire bodyguards, and through Tang Nanjin at that, which showed that Lin Sicheng was very clear about the situation.

Since he knew there was danger, why did he still have to make this trip?

The two looked at each other, remembering what Lin Sicheng said just before boarding the plane:

It's like two countries at war; if you don't even dare to show your face or talk, who would believe you would stop the war?

If he didn't come, it wouldn't be settled.

Secondly, Lin Sicheng had to confirm the level of importance Saishi placed on this.

Guessing wildly, the group left the terminal. As if by prior arrangement, two cars drove over.

One Jinbei van, and the other was also a Jinbei. The whole body was shiny, black and glowing.

Zhao Xiuneng, however, narrowed his eyes: this type of vehicle is large, seats many people, and carries even more tools; it is the top choice for grave-robbers. So, he had seen more than enough of them. But looking at these two, something felt wrong.

The windows were tinted, and a partition was set up behind the driver's seat, meaning that apart from the driver and the front passenger, nothing else could be seen.

The chassis was high, six or seven centimeters higher than a standard Jinbei of the same model, capable of adapting to various terrains.

Looking at the tires again: Good heavens, were these taken off a tractor?

They were more than ten centimeters wider.

While he was stunned, Wang Qi Zhi poked him with a finger. Zhao Xiuneng came back to his senses and followed Lin Sicheng into the car.

In the back, there were three rows of seats; the two window seats in the second row were already occupied, and the middle one was clearly left for Lin Sicheng.

The two who followed from Beijing sat in the last row, and Wang Qi Zhi and Zhao Xiuneng sat in the middle.

After fastening their seatbelts, the car started. Zhao Xiuneng looked outside again: the windows were indeed tinted, but it basically didn't affect anything; the view outside was perfectly clear. Feeling that something was not quite right, Zhao Xiuneng reached out a finger and tapped on the glass.

Immediately, he looked as if he were stunned.

Wang Qi Zhi was confused: "General Manager Zhao, what's wrong?"

As if unable to believe it, with his finger pressed against the glass, Zhao Xiuneng looked at it from the side, then blurted out three words: "Bulletproof?" Wang Qi Zhi's eyes popped: What the hell, a bulletproof car?

Let's be clear, this is domestic, is it really that exaggerated?

He leaned forward and looked at the two men sandwiching Lin Sicheng, his eyes staring straight at their waists.

Lin Sicheng couldn't help but laugh: "Teacher, they don't have guns. Brother Jin's friend runs a security company, not a war company."

"The car is customized, the glass is just a bit thicker, it's nowhere near bulletproof!"

Wang Qi Zhi was half-convinced, and he took another look at the bodyguards.

They were not young, the youngest was around thirty, and they didn't look much like soldiers.

Even if they were, Tang Nanjin didn't have that kind of authority.

"Then why drive two cars?" Wang Qi Zhi looked back. "There are people in the back too, right?"

"Professor Wang, there are indeed people in the car behind, but not many, just two. It's mainly for emergencies: for example, if this car breaks down!"

"Secondly, just in case: if someone really wants to threaten Teacher Lin's safety, and they see so many bodyguards, they will most likely retreat in the face of difficulty..." As he spoke, the man next to Lin Sicheng turned around and reached out his hand: "Hello Professor Wang, my surname is Zhu, Zhu Heng, I am a comrade-in-arms of Tang Nanjin!" Wang Qi Zhi shook his hand and had a sudden thought: "Boss Zhu, what if the other side has guns?"

Zhu Heng smiled: "Professor Wang, don't worry, they won't!"

This is China.

Furthermore, with Lin Sicheng's status?

If they dared to use a gun, their entire family tree could be dug up and exposed.

If there were a threat, at most they would create some accidents: like a car crash, or falling from a building...

After all, the other side was more professional. Wang Qi Zhi felt much more at ease.

Arriving at the hotel and checking into the rooms, Lin Sicheng called Tan Zheng again.

Going to the law firm would cause too much of a stir, so he could only invite Lawyer Tan to the hotel to discuss.

After all, money had been paid, with the advance payment alone amounting to tens of thousands, so Tan Zheng gladly accepted the appointment.

Zhao Xiuneng made a special trip to wait for her in the lobby.

It was still that same BMW; she handed the car to the bellhop for valet parking and Tan Zheng walked gracefully into the lobby.

Zhao Xiuneng greeted her: "Lawyer Tan, Junior Brother Lin asked me to come down to pick you up!"

"General Manager Zhao, you are too kind, I know the room number!"

Zhao Xiuneng just smiled: If I didn't come to pick you up, you wouldn't be able to get in even if you knew the room number.

The two went upstairs, arrived at the suite door, and Zhao Xiuneng knocked.

The person who opened the door was a subordinate of Zhu Heng, whom Tan Zheng had never met. But perhaps due to her profession, at the very first glance, she sensed an unusual aura about the man.

First, he was too muscular; second, his gaze: it carried scrutiny and vigilance.

Looking further inside, Lin Sicheng and Wang Qi Zhi were standing slightly inside the doorway, and behind them stood two more people.

They were not as muscular, but they were exactly the same as the one at the door: scrutinizing gazes and vigilant expressions.

Tan Zheng was stunned for a moment: "Bodyguards?"

"Yes, Lawyer Tan. For safety's sake, I invited a few friends to look after things for a few days!"

As Lin Sicheng spoke, he walked up to greet her: "Lawyer Tan, let's go inside to talk!"

Tan Zheng nodded and followed behind, but her eyes kept glancing at the three men from time to time.

Why did Lin Sicheng hire bodyguards?

While she was secretly pondering, the group entered the suite, and Lin Sicheng brewed some tea. He then took out an envelope and handed it forward.

Tan Zheng took it into her hands, tore open the seal, and with just one look, she was suddenly stunned.

An invitation letter from Saishi Company?

The key was the signature at the end.

As a gold-medal lawyer, she never fought a battle unprepared. Since she had taken the case, she had to be responsible for her client.

Over this period of time, she had learned as much as she could about the opponent, which included the President, Smith.

Therefore, she was very certain that this final signature was Smith's handwriting.

Looking at the wording again, it was extremely respectful...

After reading it again, Tan Zheng looked up, a trace of surprise appearing in her eyes.

The scene from more than half a month ago was still vivid in her mind: she had accompanied Lin Sicheng to the Saishi headquarters, demanding to meet with President Smith, but in the end, they only got to see a secretary to an Assistant President.

They were even left hanging for half a day, without being served a single cup of water.

At the time, she had even hinted to Lin Sicheng: your direct demand to see Smith is no different from inviting humiliation.

Yet Lin Sicheng was very confident: he would be able to see him eventually; he was waiting for Smith to contact him.

At that moment, Tan Zheng felt that Lin Sicheng was a bit cute: it was normal for a young person to be a bit arrogant, but one shouldn't use it in the wrong place.

Given the scale of his small Center and the amount of the claim, at most, he would only ever get to see Smith's assistant.

But now?

Only half a month had passed in between: Smith was personally inviting him to negotiate, and the language was so polite?

Tan Zheng could not figure it out; why was the contrast between before and after so great?

Lin Sicheng could understand her state of mind: after all, it was only 2009, not 2026.

For so many years, whether in terms of economy, people's livelihood, scientific research, or industry, the Americans were several orders of magnitude higher than China.

In this era, the four characters for "worshiping foreign things and fawning over foreign powers" were seen by many as a compliment.

Whether it was an American company, a World Top 500, or a scientific research giant, they could all be equated with "power," "tyranny," and "arrogance." Even setting these aside and just comparing company strength: Saishi China could buy hundreds or thousands of Lin Sicheng's centers.

So Tan Zheng was particularly unable to understand: why would Smith cave in?

Lin Sicheng did not explain and handed over another document:

"Lawyer Tan, this is the outline I have listed. Please draft a compensation agreement according to the points above."

You haven't even talked yet, and you want compensation?

Shouldn't we discuss first how to talk once we get to Saishi, and what conditions to propose? If the other party doesn't agree, then how to compromise or adapt?

Suspicious, Tan Zheng took it into her hands.

After just one glance, her eyes widened. Her face was full of an expression of disbelief, and her eyes flashed with a look of incredulity.

It was as if she were saying: Lin Sicheng, you really dare to ask for this?

Let's first look at what Lin Sicheng wrote in his outline.

First, re-purchasing the instruments: whatever instruments were ordered in the Contract, a batch must be re-ordered exactly as they were. It must be the original manufacturer, original model, original configuration...

Secondly: grant a three-year technology license for free, provide free pre-sales training, and provide free after-sales service for three years.

Third, provide triple the economic compensation, which is 36 million RMB, equivalent to 5.3 million US dollars.

Fourth, according to the Contract, compensate for the losses caused to the Party A by Saishi Company due to the delayed delivery of the instruments.

Amount: 10 million.

Unit: US dollars.

There were only four items, not many, but every single one refreshed Tan Zheng's perception, and even her worldview.

Not to mention the technology licensing, pre-sales training, and after-sales service, let's first calculate the claim amount:

Five million plus ten million is fifteen million, in US dollars. If converted into RMB, that is a full 100 million...

Then calculate Lin Sicheng's losses: about 10 million, plus the batch of machines he demanded Saishi re-purchase; Lin Sicheng had completely listed the outline with the intent of "compensate ten for every one fake."

Tan Zheng really wanted to ask: Lin Sicheng, have you gone crazy?

She endured and endured, but in the end, she didn't say it, instead looking at him with a strange gaze: "Little Lin, Saishi will not agree!"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Lawyer Tan, I know! But since it is a negotiation, it is nothing more than me backing down a little, and you yielding a little... the key lies in the talking." Tan Zheng wanted to say something but stopped: the logic was indeed like that, but you cannot make sky-high demands without any basis.

She thought for a good while: "Lin, the premise is, they are willing to talk to you!"

"Lawyer Tan, they will, trust me!"

Here he goes again, wasn't it like this last time?

Tan Zheng tugged at the corner of her mouth, feeling both curious and helpless.

She was even more unable to figure out: where did Lin Sicheng get his confidence?

"Lin, why?"

"Why did Saishi suddenly propose peace talks, and why would Smith invite you?"

"And the compensation amount?" Tan Zheng said bluntly, "Don't blame me for being direct: what makes you dare to ask for so much?"

Lin Sicheng spoke bluntly: "Because if he doesn't talk, and he doesn't compensate, the losses will only be greater!"

"And then?"

"That's it!"

"That's it?"

Tan Zheng widened her eyes: what difference is there between what you just said and saying nothing at all?

I am asking what the reason is.

She was just about to ask, but the words reached her lips and she suddenly paused: it couldn't be that he relied on external factors, could it?

For example, this teacher by his side, Professor Wang?

But that's impossible: this isn't the first time foreign companies have cheated people, is it?

Listed companies, state-owned enterprises, central enterprises, and even institutions with "State" in their names are cheated all the same.

Many of them are even directly under the State Council.

Which one of them doesn't have more power and wider connections than this Professor Wang?

At most, they would pay compensation at cost, throw in a small after-sales service package, and then pay a symbolic fine.

And cases like this one don't even amount to one-fifth of that.

Over eighty percent of them just end up with nothing, and people have to swallow the loss in silence.

Therefore, Tan Zheng truly does not understand: what makes Lin Sicheng dare to ask for so much?

She was even thinking: if they take out this Technology Authorization Agreement, will Saishi kick them out on the spot?

Seeing exactly what she was thinking, Lin Sicheng smiled: "Lawyer Tan, just draft it according to this first!"

Tan Zheng sighed: draft it then, even if it doesn't get used.

Since she had taken the money...