Zhang Lisheng's words were merciless and went straight to the core of the dispute. The people in the wooden house looked at each other, clearly not expecting this young man who was said to have a brain injury to be so sharp.
After a moment of silence, Howard said frankly, "Just like what's written in the Bible, 'greed is the greatest sin'. You're right, Lisheng. That's what we're planning to do. Since things have come to this, we can only listen to your conditions."
"My conditions, Mayor Howard? Don't you know that I've encountered a terrible shipwreck a month ago and my mind is in a mess now?
My lawyer, Mr. Wales, and my business representative, Mr. Charlie, have been negotiating with you all the time. The conditions that they proposed are my conditions. "
"Oh, young man, don't mention those two damn Jews anymore. They can squeeze oil out of a stone. Since you've accepted my invitation, it means that you're also willing to reconcile with us, isn't it?
We'll follow your price, 50 dollars for a self-service pig, 150 dollars for a cow, and 40 dollars for a sheep. The people in this house represent the 47 National Farmers Union of the villages and towns in the suburbs of New York. We're willing to jointly contract all of your slaughtering shares, but there's only one additional condition — all of the properties under your name are not allowed to sign commercial contracts with California farms in the future. "
Upon hearing Wales' words, Zhang Lisheng walked to the only empty chair in the crowded wooden house and sat down before saying in all seriousness, "Mayor Howard, I understand that the National Farmers Union has a pivotal position in the US society, but there's an old saying in China that goes' having no desires makes one strong '. I wonder if you've heard of it before?"
"Lisheng, China is on the other side of the world, it's just too far away from Kaiserland Town. Can you put it in simpler terms?" Howard said with a wry smile.
"Of course you can. This old saying says that if a person doesn't have too many desires, they will become strong. Take me for example. My wish is to become a biologist. Everything I'm doing now is to prepare for my dream in the future.
And because I don't want to be a politician in the future, nor do I want to be a super-rich person, I don't need to please anyone now. No matter how powerful your hidden forces are, or how many people you represent, I don't care … "
"What's more, you've already gained the support of the California farmers. I'll say the same thing again. State your conditions, young man. As long as it's not too much, we can negotiate."
"My condition is very simple. The new LS Slaughterhouse can follow the previous pricing of 50 dollars for pigs, 150 dollars for cows, and 40 dollars for lambs. I'll give priority to the National Farmers Union near New York City for the self-service slaughter. However, there's an additional condition which is that you, Mayor Howard, must be excluded from the contract."
Howard's body obviously stiffened. "Mr. Zhang Lisheng, are you trying to expel me from the Kaiserland Town's National Farmers Union's council in another way?"
As though Zhang Lisheng did not hear Howard's question, he stood up from the wooden chair silently and walked out of the door. Before he walked out of the door, he turned around and smiled before saying in a deep voice, "Mayor Howard, everyone has to bear the consequences for everything they do, don't they? You're out."
Two days later, Zhang Lisheng signed a slaughter share distribution contract with the National Farmers Union of 47 villages and towns in the New York metropolitan area, including Big Dairy Town, Stump Town, Bayduke Town, under the witness of the lawyers of both parties, in the huge office on the top floor of the only two-story building in the new site of the SL Slaughterhouse that had a single visible transparent tempered glass wall.
After the contract was signed, Willy and Tiffany, who were the only couple employees of the former LS Slaughterhouse and the current deputy manager of the internal affairs department of the new slaughterhouse after the expansion, carefully pushed a 'cup tower' made of goblets into the office using a shiny dining cart.
Zhang Lisheng personally took out two large bottles of top-notch blueberry champagne from the freezer and stood on the chair that Willy moved over. After filling the cup tower, he picked up the top glass of champagne and raised it up high. "Dear respected sirs, even though there have been many twists and unpleasantness in the process, in the end, we've signed this heavy contract with mutual understanding and goodwill.
From now on, we're partners, collaborators, and friends who can trust each other. Let us drink this champagne to commemorate this beautiful moment! Cheers! "
Naturally, this sincere toast was not written by Zhang Lisheng on the spot but by the experienced and slippery business representative, Charlie, who was hired by his lawyer, Wales.
The real author of the toast, Charlie, was also present at this time. When Zhang Lisheng finished speaking, he immediately stood up and applauded enthusiastically. He was the second person to pick up the champagne and said loudly in a very provocative tone, "What a sincere and touching speech! It's so touching!
Cheers! "
Charlie's act made Zhang Lisheng's scalp tingle. However, to his surprise, the representatives and lawyers of the National Farmers Union who were having a war of words with this business representative of the new LS Slaughterhouse on the negotiating table actually applauded enthusiastically. One by one, they rushed to the 'cup tower' and raised their champagne high up as they cheered, "May our friendship last forever! Cheers!"
Zhang Lisheng was stunned for a moment before climbing down from the office chair. After clinking glasses with many people who were fighting to be the first to clink glasses with him, he drank the champagne in one gulp.
The crowd cheered. At this time, an old white man with rough palms wearing a black suit who looked very awkward suddenly held his hand. "Young man, since you said that you've become our partner, collaborator, and friend who can trust each other, then I hope that you can join the Green Town National Farmers Union and become our director."
"If you don't plan to secretly trip me like Mayor Howard, I'll say that I'm honored." Zhang Lisheng was stunned again before replying with a smile.
"The person who wanted to trip you was tripped in the end. I think everyone in this room will remember this lesson. We've clearly seen how you treat your enemies." The old man laughed and pointed at Willy and Tiffany. "We've also seen how you treat your loyal subordinates."
"Mr. Grace is right. We hope to gain your friendship, Mr. Zhang. On behalf of the Emritt Town National Farmers Union, I sincerely invite you to become our director."
"On behalf of the Great Lake Town, I invite you to become our …"
"On behalf of the Stump Town …"
Like a raging influenza, one infected two, two infected four, four infected eight … Very soon, Zhang Lisheng received the invitation to become the director of all the villages and towns National Farmers Union who had signed the contract.
Because of this episode, the signing ceremony was finally completed after a long time. After sending away all of the National Farmers Union's representatives and their lawyers, the first batch of livestock that had been waiting outside the factory was transported into the new LS Slaughterhouse according to the contract.
Very soon, numbers began to jump continuously on the monitor's main screen on the office wall. Soon, the number that represented the amount of money that Zhang Lisheng had earned broke through 10,000.
"It's a good thing that I earn money faster than you. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to pay your expensive lawyer fees." Zhang Lisheng looked at the wealth that was accumulating on the screen and walked to the desk with a smile. He wrote a check and handed it to Wales. "20,000 dollars per hour. You're only doing a little thing with such a high fee. How enviable."
"Mr. Lisheng, you may think that it's easy for me to earn money now but the effort that I've put in before I can collect this fee is unimaginable to ordinary people. Not only that, after I've helped you to register the company in the overseas island country to operate, the annual tax avoidance fund will be several times more than the fee that you've paid to hire me."
"I'm just joking, Lawyer Wales. Of course, I understand how much help your professionalism has given me. Thank you for your help, just like how I'm grateful to Mr. Charlie," Zhang Lisheng said and wrote another check to Charlie.
"Oh, thank you for your generous reward, Mr. Lisheng. It's completely worth my professional contribution. I hope that I can serve you again in the future if I have the chance." After Zhang Lisheng's lawyer and the temporary business representative who had completed their mission received a satisfactory reward, they joked for a while before showing their intention to leave.
"Lawyer Wales, can you answer a question for me for free?
I really don't understand how the representatives of the National Farmers Union can change so quickly. Didn't they say that their union has a deep historical foundation of hundreds of years? "
"Mr. Lisheng, the strength of the National Farmers Union is just like a trade union. It's built on the foundation of 'strength in numbers.' These people are essentially country bumpkins. You've grasped the common 'interest' of all of their members, but they can't do anything to you at all. In such a situation, how tough can you expect them to be?
However, when you've gained the upper hand, I actually admire you for being able to give in decisively and choose to sign the contract in a way that both parties are satisfied with.
You're destined not to be an ordinary person in the future. To a powerful person who wants to have a wide influence in all aspects of society, the concept of geography is actually very important. You were born and live in New York, so it's beneficial for you to choose to stand on the same side as the National Farmers Union in New York City.
This question is free of charge. I have an appointment to meet with other parties tonight. See you again, Mr. Lisheng, "Wales said some thought-provoking words and said goodbye with a smile.
"I'll take my leave too. See you again, Mr. Lisheng." Charlie also waved at Zhang Lisheng and walked out of the office with Wales.
Zhang Lisheng was left alone in the spacious office. He pondered over Wales' words and stood up to walk to a glass wall. Looking at the long line of trucks driving into the workshop outside the window, he muttered, "Looks like in the end, this world revolves around the word 'interest.' I seem to have grasped the trick of doing business.
Unfortunately, to me, power and wealth are not the 'interest' that I want the most … "
As he spoke, he opened up his suit and unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his skinny chest. He spat out a mouthful of black blood and growled the word 'simplify' in a low voice. Using the blood that floated in the air, he wrote the ancient word 'simplify' on his chest, stroke by stroke.
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