GBP Chapter 555 Competitors
Chapter 555 Competitors
The construction site quickly became bustling, with people working day and night. Li Xiangyang would go to the site several times a day to check on the progress and quality.
Just when everything was going according to plan, an accident happened.
"Xiangyang, something terrible has happened!" Ma Qingfu rushed into Li Xiangyang's office, panting. "A company from the provincial capital bought land next door, and they did it even faster than we did!"
Li Xiangyang's heart sank: "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely true. I just went to check, and they've even started pouring the foundation."
Li Xiangyang immediately put down his work and rushed to the vicinity of the construction site with Ma Qingfu.
Sure enough, less than a kilometer away from their factory site, another construction site was in full swing.
"That's quite a large-scale operation." Li Xiangyang looked at the excavators and transport vehicles on the other party's construction site, his feelings somewhat complicated.
The competition came more directly and fiercely than expected.
Back in his office, Li Xiangyang called a meeting with Ma Qingfu and Ma Laosan.
“As everyone can see, we're facing not only time pressure but also direct competition.” Li Xiangyang drew a simple diagram on the whiteboard. “Their choice to build a factory next to ours clearly indicates they came prepared.”
Ma Laosan lit a cigarette: "Xiangyang, what do you think their purpose is?"
"There are only two possibilities," Li Xiangyang analyzed. "Either they genuinely want to do this project, or they're deliberately trying to sabotage us and drag us down."
"Then what should we do?" Ma Qingfu asked with some concern.
Li Xiangyang pondered for a moment: "We should continue with what we're doing, but we need to be prepared for both possibilities."
"What preparations?"
"First, speed up the process and strive to start production before them. Second, secure raw material suppliers in advance to prevent them from taking advantage of loopholes."
In the days that followed, Li Xiangyang became even busier. During the day, he supervised the progress at the construction site, and at night he discussed cooperation with village officials from various villages and signed raw material supply agreements.
A week later, Li Xiangyang returned from the construction site, covered in dust. Li Xiaoyun was waiting at the door with hot water.
"How's it going? Is everything progressing smoothly today?" She took Li Xiangyang's coat.
"It's alright. The main structure should be topped out tomorrow." Li Xiangyang washed his face. "It's just that the commotion next door is getting bigger and bigger; several truckloads of equipment arrived today."
Li Xiaoyun frowned: "Just who are they?"
“I asked around,” Li Xiangyang said, sitting down on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed). “It’s a company in the provincial capital called ‘Jinyuan Industry,’ with a pretty strong background.”
"Then wouldn't we be..."
“Don’t be afraid.” Li Xiangyang held his wife’s hand. “We’re in the right, and the county supports us. Besides, if it’s a real fight, why would I be afraid of them?”
The next morning, Li Xiangyang was inspecting the quality of the steel bar binding at the construction site when a middle-aged man he didn't know walked over.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Li Xiangyang, General Manager Li?"
Li Xiangyang turned around and saw that the person was wearing a smart Zhongshan suit and gold-rimmed glasses, and was obviously not a local.
"Yes, that's me. And you are?"
"I am Zhao Mingyuan, the deputy general manager of Jinyuan Industrial." The man extended his hand. "I've long admired your name."
Li Xiangyang shook hands with him, secretly on guard. This guy doesn't seem to have good intentions.
"Mr. Zhao, you're too kind. May I ask what advice you may offer?"
Zhao Mingyuan smiled and said, "Mr. Li, we're both in the agricultural product processing business, so we're practically colleagues. I'm here today to discuss something with you."
"whats the matter?"
“It’s like this,” Zhao Mingyuan lowered his voice, “This project is highly competitive, and it’s not good for anyone. How about we cooperate? You transfer this project to us, and the price is negotiable.”
Li Xiangyang sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm: "What does President Zhao mean?"
"We can recoup your initial investment at market price. Additionally, we can hire you as a technical consultant with an annual salary of 50,000."
A salary of 50,000 yuan a year is indeed an astronomical figure in this era. The average worker's annual salary is only three or four thousand yuan.
"The terms are very tempting," Li Xiangyang nodded, "but I need to think about it."
“Of course, of course.” Zhao Mingyuan handed over a business card. “Mr. Li, please take your time to consider it. You can contact me anytime.”
After watching Zhao Mingyuan leave, Ma Qingfu walked over from the side.
"Xiangyang, what did that person say just now?"
Li Xiangyang told Ma Qingfu about the conversation.
"Are they trying to acquire us?" Ma Qingfu was somewhat surprised.
"On the surface, it's an acquisition, but in reality, they want to kick us out," Li Xiangyang shook his head. "A 50,000 yuan annual salary sounds like a lot, but compared to what we could earn on our own, it's nothing."
Ma Qingfu nodded: "Then how should we reply?"
"Of course we'll refuse. But we can't just refuse directly; we need to think of a way."
That evening, Li Xiangyang also called Ma Laosan over, and the three of them discussed countermeasures.
“I think we can play along,” Ma Laosan said, puffing on his cigarette. “Since they want to talk, let’s talk to them. Let’s stall for time until our factory is built.”
"That's a good idea," Li Xiangyang agreed. "We can set some harsh conditions to make them back down."
The next day, Li Xiangyang took the initiative to call Zhao Mingyuan.
"Mr. Zhao, regarding the suggestion you made yesterday, my partner and I have discussed it."
"What's your decision, Mr. Li?" Zhao Mingyuan was clearly looking forward to it.
"We agree to cooperate in principle, but there are a few conditions that need to be discussed."
“You say.”
"First, the acquisition price must be calculated based on our expected returns, not just the initial investment. Second, all employees must be properly resettled. Third, the technical consultant's contract must be for ten years."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone: "Mr. Li, your terms are a bit..."
"What's wrong? Are you having trouble?" Li Xiangyang asked, feigning ignorance.
"Well then, I need to go back and discuss it with my boss."
"Okay, I'll wait for your reply."
After hanging up the phone, Li Xiangyang said to Ma Qingfu, "This tactic should buy them some time."
Sure enough, this tactic worked. For the next week, Zhao Mingyuan didn't contact him again, clearly stumped by the conditions Li Xiangyang had set.
Taking advantage of this lull, Li Xiangyang accelerated the construction progress. Machines roared across the construction site as workers worked overtime, and the main structure of the factory was already taking shape.
"Xiangyang, when will the equipment arrive?" Ma Qingfu asked, pointing to the already poured equipment foundation.
"Old Zhang and the others will be here tomorrow with the truck," Li Xiangyang said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Then we can start installation and testing right away."
Just then, a commotion arose from the construction site. Li Xiangyang looked up and saw several large trucks arriving at the construction site of Jinyuan Industrial next door, unloading equipment.
“They’re not slow either,” Ma Qingfu said with some concern.
Li Xiangyang, however, remained relatively calm: "Anyone can buy equipment; the key is people and skills. We have masters like Lao Zhang and Lao Li, which money can't buy."