The buzz of discussion gathered at the door.
At this moment, the first-floor door of Xinhua News Agency's Hong Kong branch was roughly pushed open.
Lin Huowang walked out with big strides, his face looking ashen.
He walked so fast that his subordinate Gao Qiaohao had to jog to barely keep up with him.
"It's out! Xiaolin is born!"
"Quick! Stop him!"
"Mr. Xiaolin! Please stay! Is there a dispute upstairs?"
"Mr. Xiaolin! Did the negotiations break down? Can the Home Ownership Scheme still proceed smoothly?"
"Were you expressing your anger by smashing the ashtray? Was it directed at the mainland representatives?"
"Are we unable to agree on a price? Is this partnership going to fall through?"
The flash lights flashed wildly and the microphone instantly blocked Lin Huowang's way.
The reporter's questions were like a machine gun, and each one of them could be said to hit the core point.
Lin Huowang stopped and glanced coldly at the excited reporters in front of him. He pursed his thin lips, looking like he was suppressing his anger.
But in the end, he just uttered a few words: "Still under discussion! No comment!"
After saying this, he pushed through the crowd and continued walking quickly towards the Rolls-Royce.
However, these reporters didn't get any useful information, so how could they let it go?
In their eyes, the more Kobayashi Tenmo remained silent, the more serious the situation seemed, the more excited the reporters became, and the harder they chased and intercepted him.
A flood of sharp questions with various opinions came in, and the scene became chaotic.
"Xiao Linsheng! What's going on with the mainland? Why won't they give in?"
"Are you extremely dissatisfied with the quality of building materials produced by mainland Chinese manufacturers?"
"Will the Home Ownership Scheme be shelved because of this? The general public is waiting..."
Just when Lin Huowang had finally gotten rid of the reporters and was about to get into the car, an anxious voice came hurriedly from behind.
"Mr. Xiaolin! Stay! Please stay! President Liang! President Liang is chasing us!"
A reporter shouted, hoping for chaos.
Liang Weilin trotted out of the door, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, his face filled with anxiety and helplessness. He pushed aside the group of reporters, rushed to Lin Huowang, and said urgently:
"Xiao Linsheng! Calm down! Calm down! Everything can be discussed! Why get so angry and walk away in anger? Your request... Sigh! It's really too much! Let's all sit down and talk again, let's talk it over!"
Liang Weilin's appearance and the words "That's too much" immediately sparked the curiosity of all the reporters present!
Since Kobayashi Tianwang is keeping his mouth shut, the breakthrough can be found in Liang Weilin, the director of the Xinhua News Agency’s Hong Kong branch!
Suddenly, all the microphones and cameras turned to Liang Weilin who was chasing after them.
"President Liang! President Liang! What did Xiao Linsheng ask for that made you say he was going too far?"
"President Liang! Could you please tell me in detail what exactly is going on?"
"How big is the difference in price? What made Xiaolin smash the ashtray in anger?"
"What is the mainland's attitude? Are they really unable to accept Xiao Linsheng's conditions?"
Facing questions coming from all directions and flashing spotlights, Liang Weilin looked miserable, as if he had a lot of grievances but nowhere to vent them.
He sighed heavily, as if he had made up his mind, and said loudly in Cantonese with a strong mainland accent:
"Hey! Everyone, be fair! Fellow journalists, please help me be fair! The cost of shipping these building materials from mainland China, such as lumber, cement, and steel, to Hong Kong Island is already low. The price we pay Xiao Linsheng is only 30 to 40 percent of the price of similar products imported from Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States in the Hong Kong market! We're charging 4,000 Hong Kong dollars for something that costs 10,000 Hong Kong dollars! This is already a huge pressure. We're squeezing out every penny of profit to support the Home Ownership Scheme!"
He pointed at Lin Huowang, who had stopped walking but whose face was still so gloomy that it looked like water could drip out of it, and his voice was full of accusations:
"But what about him? Mr. Xiaolin is asking for a 25% price reduction today! That means he'll only pay us 3,000 Hong Kong dollars for something that's worth 10,000 Hong Kong dollars on the market! 3,000, comrades! After deducting all shipping, material, and labor costs, this is like our factory working for nothing, leaving the workers starving! How can this be considered business? This is like trying to suck our blood dry! How can you bargain like this? It's like going to the bone!"
"Wow——" There was an uproar at the scene!
The reporters were all stunned, looking at Lin Huowang with eyes full of shock, scrutiny, and even a bit of disbelief.
"Cut another 25% off the 40% market price?"
"This...this is too cruel!"
"Ten thousand turned into three thousand? This is completely treating the mainland as fat sheep to be slaughtered!"
"No wonder President Liang said it was too much! No one else would agree to that!"
"Oh my god, Xiaolinsheng is really ruthless!"
"I used to think he cared about the people of Hong Kong Island. It turns out all capitalists are essentially the same!"
"Some people used to say he was a leftist and worked for the mainland, but now... haha!"
Originally, these reporters were skeptical about Kobayashi Tenwang's cooperation with the mainland to import building materials for the Home Ownership Scheme, and their speculation that Kobayashi Tenwang might be a leftist was instantly shattered by this blatant act of exploitation.
When Lin Huowang heard Liang Weilin reveal his trump card in public, he turned around abruptly, his face even more furious, and shouted at Liang Weilin:
"Okay! President Liang! Since you've said so much, don't blame me for being ruthless! The Home Ownership Scheme requires the lowest prices! If we can't lower costs, everything else is just empty talk! You think it's too expensive? You think my price is too high? Fine! Hong Kong Island is a free trade port! Southeast Asian wood, Australian iron ore, what can't I buy? It's just a little slower and more expensive! But it's better than being locked down by your inflexible tactics like this! I think this cooperation with the mainland doesn't need to continue!"
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