Chapter 154 He Is Still Impoverished

"Wu Ya, when did your garment factory go into production?"

Liu Mingli abruptly changed the subject.

Seemingly offhand, he steered the conversation straight toward Wu Ya's business.

"Uncle, counting both the equipment test run and the formal three-shift operation, it's only been five days in total up to today!"

Wu Ya answered Liu Mingli's questions honestly.

He didn't weigh every single word with excessive caution, yet he still maintained a careful demeanor.

He was terrified that if he said the wrong thing, it might cause the older man serious discomfort.

However.

Only five days, and that's it?

That meant everything had just begun, and the future remained completely unpredictable!

The initial warmth on Liu Mingli's face cooled down by a few degrees.

As a seasoned profiteer and trader, he had witnessed far too many ups and downs in the business world!

How many people were basking in infinite glory just last night,

Only to find themselves in utterly desolate circumstances by this morning!

Wu Ya was eighteen years old,

And he had already opened such a massive factory!

Wasn't he taking his steps a bit too fast?

If so, the possibility of a heavy fall was inevitable!

Thinking of this,

"Wu Ya, how much equipment do you have now, what is your daily output, and how are the sales going?"

Liu Mingli stopped concealing his thoughts and went straight to the point!

The amount of equipment determined the scale of one's strength.

The volume of output revealed the magnitude of the enterprise.

And sales directly dictated one's prospects!

Having strength and scale meant nothing if there were no sales—in the end, you would still die!

"Uncle, I currently have three production lines, producing over ten thousand finished pieces a day across three shifts. That part is not an issue at all. As for sales... we don't have stable channels just yet! However, our sales department is already in the process of being established. Tomorrow, they can head out to various regions and begin pushing our products."

Wu Ya measured his words this time.

He had already sensed the subtle shift in Liu Mingli's tone.

Naturally, he also understood what the man was worried about!

He was afraid that Wu Ya lacked a solid foundation!

Afraid that he might just be a flash in the pan and end up buried in mountains of debt!

At that time, keeping too close a relationship with him

Might bring unnecessary trouble to their family!

Sure enough.

"So that means your sales haven't even started yet? But your products have already been manufactured by the tens of thousands! Am I right?"

Liu Mingli's expression changed completely.

The last trace of warmth he held had vanished into thin air.

He stared at Wu Ya with a sharp, piercing gaze.

"Yes!"

"Then you are already facing severe inventory backlogs! If the sales department's promotion efforts fail to meet expectations, your factory will be on the verge of collapse immediately! Am I right?"

Following Wu Ya's straightforward confirmation, another "Am I right?" slipped effortlessly from Liu Mingli's lips.

The atmosphere in the room had shifted directly from the pleasant, harmonious conversation at the beginning

Into a round of questioning that carried the distinct flavor of an interrogation.

Yet, despite this aggressive tone, Wu Ya still didn't mind.

"Uncle truly is an elder well-versed in the commercial seas; your analysis of the situation is entirely reasonable! Indeed, if my sales channels fail to open up on schedule, the pressure on me will be immense! However, I have already issued a strict order to the sales department! Furthermore, they have signed a pledge in military style, vowing to achieve the number one ranking in the entire province within a month!"

Achieving the number one ranking in the entire province within a month!

Of course, Wu Ya was speaking the absolute truth.

However,

To Liu Mingli's ears, it took on a completely different meaning...

Boasting!

Those commercial tycoons who had struggled and rolled in the garment industry for years, establishing deep foundations,

Would never dare to make such an arrogant claim.

Claiming they would become the provincial number one within a month?

You, an eighteen-year-old kid, on what grounds?

Just because you're good at blowing hot air?

Originally, he had already been feeling a bit doubtful inside.

Now, with this remark from Wu Ya, his opinion deteriorated even further.

Yet he still didn't show it outwardly.

Maintaining a steady and composed expression, he looked at Wu Ya and continued to ask, "Wu Ya, what level has your debt-to-equity ratio reached now?"

The debt-to-equity ratio!

This was a standard concept used to judge whether an individual's or a company's income and expenditure condition was healthy.

Liu Mingli refused to believe it.

Wu Ya had transformed a small tailoring shop into a large enterprise in just half a month!

Could he possibly do that without any debt weighing him down?

Did he build such a vast family fortune relying solely on that tiny tailoring shop?

That was simply impossible!

Therefore, he had to figure this question out clearly

Lest he rashly agree to let Liu Qian date him and ultimately harm his own family!

Because right now, after the previous exchange,

He was seriously worried and uneasy!

He had originally thought that Wu Ya decided to expand only when all conditions were exceptionally favorable,

With both production and sales channels thriving brilliantly.

If that were true, the kid would genuinely be a business prodigy!

But looking at it now, he was clearly just a reckless gambler!

Before even standing firmly on his own two feet,

He had begun acting ambitiously and pushing for forced expansion.

Starting production operations without even establishing sales channels—

This was a cardinal taboo in the business world!

A single misstep would lead to a total loss.

He would be crushed to death by his own products!

This punk was far too daring and took his steps much too fast!

Such a person possessed a frivolous nature and could never be trusted with anything!

"Uncle..."

Hearing this, Wu Ya hesitated for a moment.

He didn't have any ulterior motives; he was simply organizing his thoughts!

After all, he was facing Liu Qian's father.

His answers needed to be extremely precise.

He couldn't just ramble on with a bunch of nonsense, could he?

Yet, this very hesitation made Liu Mingli's heart sink completely!

He was feeling guilty.

He was feeling so guilty that he didn't know how to reply!

The next step would surely be spewing nonsense and talking off the top of his head!

Sure enough.

"Uncle, my debt ratio is completely normal right now. There are no outstanding bad assets owed to others, nor are there any personal bad loans! For the three production lines, I purchased them after paying a down payment. As for the remaining balance, it is secured by the production lines themselves through mortgage! To me, this carries zero risk."

Zero risk?

Liu Mingli's expression shifted once more.

"Hehe, Wu Ya, a person can certainly aspire to higher and better places! After all, aspirations provide the driving force to move forward! However, if aspirations turn into biting off more than one can chew, leading one to neglect down-to-earth hard work and focus blindly on empty grandeur, that is not a good thing! Especially when, after being seen through, one resorts to talking nonsense—then it completely becomes a matter of moral character!"

A matter of moral character!

You actually had the nerve to tell me you have no outstanding bad assets owed to others,

Nor any personal bad loans?

Isn't this telling blatant lies with your eyes wide open?

We've both been around the block a few times, and you're trying to play tricks on me here?

And you still dare to claim you have zero risk?

Your risks are massive!

Not to mention that your current operating condition has already entered an extremely perilous state;

Any obstruction in sales could plunge you beyond redemption.

Let's just look at what you explained a moment ago.

You only paid a down payment to haul three production lines back.

And you used the equipment itself as collateral for the balance!

Fine.

Let's assume your accounts balance out.

However!

You only paid the down payment!

Where on earth did that down payment money come from?

Don't tell me you earned it through that tailoring shop in just half a month!

That is absolute bullshit!

So, the question arises.

Since it wasn't earned by the tailoring shop, where did your money come from?

There is only one possibility...

You borrowed it.

The down payment was borrowed, and the equipment is mortgaged.

You are nothing more than an empty shell yourself!

He had seen this routine far too many times!

Isn't this precisely the trick played by shell companies?

At such a young age, instead of learning to build a business step-by-step with practical effort,

You've learned all these crooked, messy tricks from society.

And now you're putting on a performance right in front of me?

You must be utterly blind!

"Uncle, is there a problem?"

Noticing the distinct change in Liu Mingli's expression,

Wu Ya looked at him in confusion.

His answers had all been carefully brewed.

Virtually every sentence was distilled essence.

There shouldn't have been any problems at all!

So why did Uncle Liu look so displeased?

Yet how could he know that it was precisely this condensation of his—

Omitting the narrative details that should have been presented—

That made his words full of loopholes, jumping straight from the beginning to the end!

Coupled with the fact that he deliberately concealed the source of his down payment funds

To prevent someone like the snobbish Liu Mingli from finding out

That he was actually capable of predicting bond market trends—

Knowing that would bring him endless troubles!

Consequently,

It only made Liu Mingli even more convinced that he was lying.

Therefore—

"Wu Ya, in my view, you should wait until your career stabilizes further and you achieve some genuine accomplishments before you come to our house to discuss matters regarding you and Liu Qian dating! Prior to that, I still believe the two of you are unsuited to continue seeing each other. What do you think?"

Liu Mingli completely discarded his initial warmth.

That phrase, "What do you think?",

Equated once again to issuing an eviction notice!

"This... Uncle Liu, what do you mean by this?"

At this, Wu Ya grew displeased as well.

You were the ones who invited me over as a guest.

And you're the ones chasing me out the door!

What do you take me for?

Just because I hid a few things, you've concluded that the risks are too high and I'm not worth associating with?

And the things I hid—weren't they hidden precisely because of people like you?

Narrow-minded and snobbish.

If I let you know I can predict bond market trends,

Wouldn't you pack your luggage and move into my house immediately?

Absurd!

"Do you take me for a fool? Do you not understand what I mean? If you don't understand, I will spell it out for you clearly: you are not worthy of my Liu Qian! From now on, the two of you are forbidden from having any further contact!"

Seeing Wu Ya's defiant expression, which clearly showed resentment,

Liu Mingli flew into a rage.

He stood up abruptly, pointing straight at Wu Ya as he unleashed a torrent of scolding.

This commotion

Startled Lin Yongfen and her daughter in the kitchen.

"What is going on out here? Weren't you two getting along just fine a moment ago? How did you end up shouting at each other in the blink of an eye?"

Looking at the smoke of battle filling the living room, Lin Yongfen fired off three questions in a row.

Initially, her attention had been focused right here in the living room.

Seeing the two men conversing amiably in a harmonious atmosphere,

She had devoted herself entirely to preparing a meal for Wu Ya.

Thinking that since it was the young man's first time dining at their home, she simply had to showcase her culinary skills at their absolute best.

As a result, she hadn't heard a single word of what followed!

"That's right, Dad, what is the matter with you again?"

Liu Qian glared at her father with extreme dissatisfaction.

She hadn't heard a single word of their conversation either,

Because there was no need to!

She knew Wu Ya's situation like the back of her hand.

If her father wanted to ask anything, let him ask.

Everything was true anyway, so there was nothing to worry about.

Who could have predicted that the plot twist would turn so drastic all of a sudden!

Facing their bewildered and puzzled expressions, Wu Ya spread his hands.

"I have no idea."

A wave of helpless emotion spread through the air, thick enough to touch!

"You have no idea? What a wonderful 'you have no idea'! You truly are a shameless wretch!"

His response only drove Liu Mingli into an even deeper fury!

Right in front of him, the kid had already exposed his true nature.

Yet the moment he saw his daughter, he started playing the innocent victim again!

No wonder.

He had racked his brain trying to figure out how this brat had managed to manipulate his daughter's mindset.

Turns out, he specialized in acting pitiful!

"Dad, how can you hurl insults like that? Can't you talk properly if there's an issue?"

Before Wu Ya could even react, the brainwashed daughter began to reprimand him severely.

This pushed Liu Mingli's temper to its absolute boiling point.

Silly girl!

To be completely hoodwinked by someone else's hypocritical facade!

To think you're a talent from Yenching University, the pride of the entire Suiyan District!

A classic example of high test scores coupled with low practical competence!

"Indeed, dear, no matter what, you shouldn't be cursing!"

Lin Yongfen, completely in the dark, knew her husband's temperament well.

Liu Qian had inherited his stubbornness, refusing to listen to reason from anyone.

At that moment, she still assumed the two men had reached an impasse over some disagreement.

If that were the case, her husband had gone way too far.

Disagreement was one thing, but cursing was unacceptable!

Outbursts like this would only push Wu Ya completely away and turn him into an enemy.

Didn't that run entirely counter to the original intention of inviting him today?

What was the point?

What kind of knot could possibly be tied so tightly

That he felt it necessary to offend Wu Ya, a wealthy factory owner?

However,

Before their words had even faded,

Liu Mingli pointed at Wu Ya and launched into another harsh tirade!

"He is still nothing more than an impoverished peasant! Yet he struts around in front of us acting like a big boss! You tell me, isn't this moral corruption? Does a petty, deceitful scoundrel like him deserve to date our Liu Qian?"

He is still an impoverished peasant?

"This... how can this be? How is this possible?"

Lin Yongfen looked at her husband, then shifted her gaze to Wu Ya standing off to the side.

Her face was blank with a dull, frozen expression.

The vegetables still gripped in her hand continued to drip with water.

A puddle had already formed beneath her feet, yet she remained utterly oblivious.

Meanwhile, Liu Qian fell into silence.

Not only did she show no abnormal reaction, but even her earlier anger vanished on the spot.

Because it simply wasn't worth it!

Without needing to be told, she could easily guess what had happened.

Wu Ya must have deliberately concealed certain things during her father's questioning.

Which led her father to believe his answers were contradictory

And riddled with loopholes.

Because according to conventional logic,

The achievements Wu Ya currently possessed were simply impossible to attain!

Yet somehow, he had attained them.

Naturally, from her father's conventional way of thinking,

Wu Ya must be drowning in heavy debt!

And since Wu Ya insisted on telling the absolute truth—

Saying he had no outstanding debts—

It inevitably led to the scene playing out right before them!

Sure enough...