Chapter 141: Chapter 101: Breaking Off Pretense_2
Yan Fei said with contempt, “Isn’t your President elected by you guys? Since he was elected by more than half of the American people, his actions represent the will of all Americans. So don’t feel aggrieved, there are many more enterprises in the world that are more aggrieved than you are. If you really want to invest in Dream Foods, please ask the US Government to abolish the investment restrictions on China and end the trade war with us before we talk again. That’s a matter of reciprocity.”
Zeppelin argued, “Our American restrictions on Chinese investments pertain to high-tech enterprises, which indeed concern our national security. But weight loss cookies are just ordinary consumer goods, designed for people to use in weight loss, so they’re completely different from our American high-tech enterprises. You can’t use a reciprocity mechanism to judge two completely different things.”
Yan Fei said sternly, “You think your American high-tech enterprises concern national security, I believe our weight loss cookies also concern national security. Let me tell you the truth, our weight loss cookies contain a mysterious high-tech technology that can make the Sun shrink to the size of a thumb. When it’s night for us, we can take out the Sun and use it as a light bulb, greatly alleviating our energy crisis. Such incredible and mysterious technology completely blows away your American high-tech technology.”
Lu Pingping, who was listening to Yan Fei’s serious speech, couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter, but feeling the occasion was inappropriate, she immediately shut her mouth. The representatives of the VC companies around them exchanged glances; they could naturally tell Yan Fei was making things up on the spot. His refusal to invest was crystal clear.
Zeppelin was also stunned for a moment before becoming persuasive again, “Mr. Yan, our US market is the biggest consumer market in the world. If you don’t let us invest, your products won’t be able to enter the US market. If they can’t enter the US market, you will suffer significant losses. Are you really willing to refuse making money?”
Yan Fei laughed, “You know, I was actually an otaku before, preferring to stay at home, so I’m not someone with grand ambitions. I pursue a life of modest comfort, so I’m pretty satisfied with the current sales of the weight loss cookies and have no plans to expand production. If they cannot be sold in the US market, so be it; I won’t have any regrets. By the way, I need to correct you, your information is a bit outdated. Our Chinese market has already surpassed the US market, becoming the number one consumer market in the world.”
Zeppelin was somewhat dumbfounded, finding it impossible to communicate with Yan Fei. As a businessman, who in their right mind would reject profit? It was incomprehensible to refuse money, an affront to common sense! And in business, it’s common to ask for the sky and pay on the ground; if you’re unsatisfied with a plan, you simply counter with a different price, there’s nothing that can’t be negotiated. But he never expected Yan Fei to flatly reject his plan, without even haggling over the price.
However, Zeppelin quickly thought of his backup plan. He pointed to a middle-aged Chinese man beside him and said, “Mr. Yan, let’s put aside our matter for now. Allow me to introduce Mr. Yang Wanlin, the representative from Green Channel Capital.”
Then, Yang Wanlin stepped forward, saying politely, “Chairman Yan, I am Yang Wanlin from Green Channel Capital.”
Zeppelin continued, “Mr. Yan, you were previously concerned that we were American capital and did not accept our investment. I personally understand, so I came up with a new plan.”
Yan Fei was somewhat curious. He had been so straightforward in his rejection, yet Zeppelin from Green Channel Capital wasn’t giving up; what could he possibly come up with now?
Seeing the curiosity in Yan Fei’s eyes, Zeppelin said, “The Green Channel Capital that Mr. Yang Wanlin represents is registered in the Cayman Islands. Although several VC firms are behind it, the largest shareholder is our Green Channel Company. Of course, no matter who investigates, they won’t find any link between our Green Channel Company and this firm. Mr. Yang Wanlin is a renowned VC businessman in your country, and he has always proclaimed that Green Channel Capital is Chinese capital; the Chinese People also believe it is a Chinese enterprise. So you could choose to cooperate with Green Channel Capital, allowing them to invest in you, and we at Green Channel Company would still use our Internet to promote your weight loss cookies around the world. You can rest assured working with Green Channel Company would not touch upon your national limits, and no one would know you’re cooperating with an American enterprise, so it wouldn’t harm your reputation.”
Zeppelin simply couldn’t understand Yan Fei’s thinking and presumed that Yan Fei’s refusal to cooperate with American capital was due to concern over his reputation. Thus, he cleverly concocted an alternative plan.
Yan Fei looked at Yang Wanlin coldly and asked, “Mr. Yang, is your company really a subsidiary of Green Channel Company?”
Watching Yan Fei’s eyes become sharp, Yang Wanlin felt somewhat panicked, but still nodded and said, “Yes, our Green Channel Capital does indeed have an injection of funds from Zeppelin Capital.”
Yan Fei leaned back on the sofa and, lying down, said, “In that case, I have nothing more to say. I reject all your funding plans, and in the future, I will not have any business dealings with you.”
Zeppelin had thought that by pushing Yang Wanlin’s Green Channel Capital, he could bypass investment restrictions, but Yan Fei rejected them squarely, no longer giving them a chance. Somewhat humiliated, he threatened, “Mr. Yan, if you don’t let us invest, then forget about selling your products in the international market. You will lose a great deal of profit. Think carefully about this.”
Yan Fei picked up the teacup and said, “Please.”
Seeing Yan Fei start serving tea to usher them out, the representatives from the VC companies got up to leave very reluctantly. Yan Fei, with his excellent hearing, even caught Zeppelin’s continuous muttering of curses under his breath…
Lu Pingping had been involved in the negotiation throughout, but other than that one laugh, she had not spoken a word, just letting Yan Fei make his own decisions. Seeing that the VC negotiation had ended in discord, she smiled and said, “I didn’t know you were such a braggart, and you have a patriotic heart, too.”
Yan Fei manipulated the muscles on his face, reverting back to his original appearance, and the intense pressure instantly dissipated as he smiled and said, “You knew this about me back in school; I’ve always been . Even though I’m not as hot-headed as I used to be, I can still distinguish what’s more important when it comes to national and ethnic interests. Besides, who doesn’t know how to brag!”
Lu Pingping pursed her lips and smiled, “Back then, your bragging wasn’t as impressive as now. By the way, do you think they will spread the unworldly brags you made…”
Yan Fei felt a bit embarrassed and said, “I’m just the hands-off type when it comes to the company, and I’m not very familiar with its situation. Will the decision I just made bring you any trouble?”
Lu Pingping smiled and said, “You’re the boss, what you say is the company’s will. Since you’ve made a decision, I will definitely find a way to carry it out. It’s just that the international agents who previously contacted us might need to change. You know, Zeppelin Capital has considerable influence internationally. Since they’ve hit a wall with us, they will certainly use their influence to obstruct the sales of our products internationally, to force us to submit.”
Yan Fei sighed and said, “This is because our influence is too weak. Otherwise, today would have seen them seeking us out for collaboration instead of trying to bully us .”
Lu Pingping said, “Increasing influence will take time; it’s not something that happens overnight. By the way, do you remember that Yang Wanlin just now?”
Yan Fei shook his head and said, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him.”
Lu Pingping reminded him, “That Yang Wanlin comes from the Yang Family of Beijing; he’s also a significant figure. His older brother is that cold-hearted man Yang Liu, who is also the uncle of Yang Song, the one who caused trouble at our company last time.”