Chapter 0710 Olive Branch

"Hello, I'm Lin Lu." In the meeting room of Wanda Commercial Plaza, this Vice President Lin of Qianli Group looked at Zhao Fusheng with a cold expression, seemingly unfazed by his youth.

Zhao Fusheng didn't mind either, smiling slightly: "Hello, my name is Zhao Fusheng."

Regardless, since Ma Qianli had pushed this woman forward to negotiate with him, she must have some skills. Zhao Fusheng naturally approached with extreme caution.

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. For Zhao Fusheng, he never believed in so-called luck. Though luck is an important component of success, it would be ridiculous to rely on luck for everything.

"You're Mr. Zhao's son, right?" Lin Lu glanced at Zhao Fusheng and said.

She had indeed done her homework, Zhao Fusheng thought to himself.

Since the other party had already investigated his identity, there was no need to hide anything. He nodded: "May I ask what advice Vice President Lin has?"

To be honest, Zhao Fusheng had no particular fondness or dislike for Ma Qianli. After all, even if the man had been involved in the underworld back then, he had now cleaned up his act. The previous incidents were just normal business competition tactics.

At the very least, he hadn't used any underhanded tricks to cause trouble, which already made him a decent businessman.

In Zhao Fusheng's impression, even years later, some businessmen would repeatedly push the boundaries of public morality. In comparison, he actually found Ma Qianli somewhat endearing.

Yes, a former gangster bent on going legitimate and completely cleaning up his act—what an interesting person.

"Here's the thing: I now formally represent Qianli Group in proposing a cooperation request to your company," Lin Lu said after a moment's hesitation, slowly addressing Zhao Fusheng.

"Cooperation?" Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, quite surprised. He hadn't expected that their visit wasn't to cause trouble but to discuss cooperation.

It was like someone who was sharpening a knife at you yesterday, ready to fight to the death, suddenly showing up today with a smile and saying, 'Let's be good friends.'

What the hell kind of operation was this?

Zhao Fusheng felt his brain wasn't quite keeping up.

But fortunately, Zhao Fusheng wasn't an inexperienced young man. He knew well that whatever reason Ma Qianli had for extending an olive branch to his company, or whatever scheme he was plotting, there was definitely profit to be made.

That was a certainty, because no one, especially a businessman, would hate someone for no reason or love someone for no reason.

In the end, the goal of doing business is to make money. If someone is scrambling to do a business that doesn't make money, either they're mentally ill or they have ulterior motives.

It's like a man being attentive to a woman: either he wants to sleep with her, or he's gay.

As for pure friendship—ha, men...

The same logic applies to business.

So no matter how eloquently Lin Lu spoke, her ultimate goal was undoubtedly to make money.

"Yes, cooperation—between Qianli Group and Wanda." Without wasting words, Lin Lu reached out, took a document from her assistant, placed it on the desk, and handed it to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng frowned slightly, took the cooperation proposal, and began to read. Moments later, his expression turned strange.

I have to admit, I really underestimated some people's urgency and strong desire to perform when faced with benefits. It's just like in those business or officialdom novels—power is something that gets people addicted.

Money is the same. Once people get a taste of the sweetness, they can't help but keep going, like a truck that's lost its brakes, racing down the road.

As for Ma Qianli proposing cooperation, Zhao Fusheng thought it was perfectly normal. Many things in this world develop in a way that fits Murphy's Law—seemingly impossible, yet inevitable. And it's the kind of inevitability where the more you think something strange and unlikely, the more it always happens. It has nothing to do with logical thinking; it's purely driven by interests.

"Vice President Lin, right? I don't quite understand your company's proposal. On what basis do you think Wanda necessarily needs a partner?"

After a long moment, Zhao Fusheng put down the proposal in his hand and said to Lin Lu with a smile.

Lin Lu's expression was calm: "Wanda lacks money and manpower, and all of that is what our Qianli Group can provide."

"Money—we can get a bank loan. Manpower—we can recruit." Zhao Fusheng smiled faintly and waved his hand: "If General Manager Lin's only reason is this, then I don't see the need to continue today's negotiations."

That was his honest opinion. If Qianli Group's sincerity amounted to nothing more than this, there really was no point in continuing the talks. Because as Zhao Fusheng said, whether it was funds or manpower, Wanda could handle it on its own without needing Qianli Group's so-called cooperation.

In other words, I already have everything I need. What's the point of talking about cooperation with me?

Lin Lu frowned slightly, glanced at Zhao Fusheng, and slowly spoke: "First, Wanda's loans seem to be quite substantial already. How long can you last by relying solely on bank transfusions? Second, Qianli Group has been in Ninghai for many years, and we hold several plots of land. I wonder if you'd be willing to cooperate with us on those?"

A cold glint flashed in Zhao Fusheng's eyes. He pretended not to hear Lin Lu's first sentence, but the second sentence sparked his keen interest.

Others might not know, but he was fully aware of the immense future development potential in real estate. Qianli Group, clearly not in the real estate business, actually knew to hoard land. It seemed Ma Qianli still had some wise advisors around him.

With that thought, Zhao Fusheng smiled: "General Manager Lin, I don't understand your words. What does the land your Qianli Group holds have to do with our Wanda? If we want to develop land, we can buy it ourselves."

The most taboo thing in negotiations is to reveal your hand to the other side. So both Zhao Fusheng and Lin Lu were like two soldiers holding spears, constantly thrusting at each other, probing each other's bottom lines.

Both understood that today's meeting was at most an appetizer, a way to express each other's stance. As for the rest, it would take time to slowly negotiate.

Business cooperation is no small matter. Deals worth millions or even tens of millions cannot be settled in just one or two meetings.

When it comes to cold, hard cash, who wouldn't be cautious?

"If I may be blunt, if Wanda only limits its vision to Ninghai, then there's no need to continue today's cooperation talks. If Mr. Zhao's father, President Zhao, intends to make Wanda develop better, I believe cooperating with our Qianli Group would be mutually beneficial."

Lin Lu looked deeply at Zhao Fusheng and said calmly: "Chairman Ma's idea is simple. The purpose of Qianli Group's cooperation with Wanda is to combine strengths and then expand outward."

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback. To be honest, he hadn't expected Lin Lu or Ma Qianli to come to Wanda with such intentions.

Chinese people are adept at infighting. Throughout history, civil officials looked down on military generals, and the literati looked down on commoners. Such instances are far too numerous.

Since the Spring and Autumn period, the Chinese have been best at internal strife, from regional to ideological conflicts, constantly fighting each other. Unless facing external aggression, the entire history of China is a history of struggle.

Now, the meaning behind Lin Lu's words surprised Zhao Fusheng. This guy Ma Qianli was actually thinking of uniting with Wanda to expand outward!

Indeed, at this moment, Zhao Fusheng had already seen through Qianli Group's hand, or rather, what Ma Qianli was really up to.

Even he hadn't expected that this Chairman Ma, who seemed quiet and unassuming and had risen from the underworld, would actually aspire to become Ninghai's largest enterprise and want to see the world outside.

With that thought, a smile crept onto Zhao Fusheng's lips. The whole affair seemed to be getting more and more interesting.