His tough showdown, with its threat of going all out, made reporters even more convinced that the negotiations were on the verge of collapse.
Liang Weilin's face instantly became even uglier, as if someone had found his weak spot.
He hurriedly stepped forward, almost pleadingly, and lowered his voice and said urgently, "Xiao Linsheng! Why say such angry words! The impact is too bad!"
Then he raised his voice again, almost using a tone of trying to stop a quarrel, speaking to Lin Huowang, and even to all the cameras and microphones:
"Alright! Alright! Cut the crap! Mr. Xiaolin, I'm sorry I said that! We can discuss this! We can still negotiate the price! Why make such a scene here? And let all the journalists on Hong Kong Island laugh at us? That's such a bad influence! Let's go upstairs! Let's talk it over, slowly! There has to be a solution!"
Liang Weilin was very humble, and his tone was full of urgency to calm things down.
Lin Huowang's tense jawline seemed to relax a little. He stared at Liang Weilin with sharp eyes for a few seconds, then swept across the dense crowd of reporters and the flashing cameras around him, as if weighing the pros and cons.
Finally, Xiaolin Tianwang snorted coldly. Although he loosened his lips, his tone was still very tough.
"Alright! President Liang, I'll give you, the mainland side, one last chance! But remember, I don't have time to waste! Today! Right here and now! We must come to a final solution! If it works, it works. If not, we'll go our separate ways! Let's go!"
After saying that, Lin Huowang no longer looked at the reporters, turned around and walked towards the entrance of the Xinhua News Agency building again.
Liang Weilin quickly bowed to the reporters and quickly followed.
Under the complicated gazes of the crowd, the two of them, one in front and one behind, disappeared again into the closed door.
As soon as the door closed, the group of reporters downstairs became even more excited and excited.
"Big news! Definitely a headline!"
"Quick! Call the newspaper office! Extra edition! Prepare the extra edition immediately!"
"Price negotiations between Mr. Xiaolin and mainland representatives are on the verge of collapse! He's smashing ashtrays and roaring!"
"The mainland company president personally accused Mr. Xiao Lin of going too far and demanded a 25% reduction on top of the 40% market price!"
"Mr. Xiaolin threatens to abandon mainland China's building materials and source them from Southeast Asia! The Home Ownership Scheme is in jeopardy!"
"A sudden turn of events! President Liang urged both parties to return to the table for further discussion! There must be a result today!"
Less than half an hour after the news spread, the printing presses of major newspapers began to roar, and special editions with the fragrance of ink flew out of the newsstands like snowflakes.
Sing Tao Daily: "Ruthless exploitation! Mr. Kobayashi slashes mainland building material prices; President Liang calls it 'excessive'; an ashtray is thrown at the negotiation table!" Subtitle: "Prospects for Home Ownership Scheme overshadowed; both sides return to the negotiation table."
Oriental Daily: "Wolf-like price-cutting! Xiao Linsheng wants to cut the mainland's offer by 40%, Liang Weilin angrily denounces it as 'bloodsucking'!" The accompanying picture is a snapshot of the closed Xinhua News Agency door and reporters surrounding Lin Huowang.
Ming Pao's front-page commentary was headlined: "Xiao Linsheng's Blade: Home Ownership Benefits for the People or Capitalist Greed? — A Brief Analysis of the Business Logic Behind the Mainland Building Materials Price-Cut Dispute." The article analyzed Lin Huowang's price-cutting as a profit-seeking instinct, but also questioned whether his tactics were overly harsh and whether it was justified to shift the burden entirely onto mainland factory workers.
South China Morning Post: "Brutal price cuts or blood sucking? Xiaolin Tianwang slashes mainland prices!" The report tends to question whether mainland China's cost accounting is reasonable, but it also has to admit that Lin Huowang's price-cutting demands are quite radical.
The TV station is moving even faster.
TVB airs a special report during its midday financial news segment:
"Latest news from our station! A fierce dispute broke out at Xinhua News Agency's Hong Kong branch today.
According to on-site reporters, the Japanese company Kobayashi Tenmo, the leader of the Home Ownership Scheme, asked the mainland side to offer a price close to cost and then reduce the price by 25% during negotiations with a delegation of mainland building materials suppliers, which triggered a strong backlash from mainland representatives!
Negotiations were briefly interrupted, and Kobayashi stormed out, seemingly throwing objects. The atmosphere was tense, and Xinhua News Agency President Liang Weilin admitted that the other party's demands were "excessive."
It's reported that thanks to President Liang's strenuous efforts, the two sides have returned to the negotiating table for final consultations. Can the Home Ownership Scheme proceed smoothly? Is Mr. Kobayashi's move excessively exploiting mainland Chinese citizens? This station will closely monitor the situation!
ATV invited a well-known financial commentator to conduct a live commentary:
"Mr. Zhang, what do you think of Mr. Xiao Lin's behavior of suppressing mainland prices this time?"
"Mrs. Li, I think this just reflects Mr. Xiaolin's shrewd business nature! First of all, he holds absolute initiative. He is the one who spearheaded the Home Ownership Scheme, and he holds the funds and ultimate risk.
Secondly, he grasped the mainland's eagerness to open up the Hong Kong market and obtain foreign exchange, as well as the political need to support the "people-friendly projects". His timing was so accurate!
Twenty-five percent? I bet he was aiming for that number from the start! Mainland China won't agree? Then he can just turn around and buy more expensive Southeast Asian goods for a while to put the mainland at risk. Since the Home Ownership Scheme housing construction is slowing down here, the cost isn't that high, so he can just hold off for now.
But if mainland China withdraws and causes project delays or skyrocketing costs, who will bear the political responsibility? The pressure will all be on mainland China! So I think... in the end, it will most likely be mainland China that compromises!
"Oh? So you think Xiaolinsheng will succeed this time?"
"Very likely! This is the power of capital. He has identified the mainland's weaknesses."
…
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