Chapter 70: A Temporary Payment of Three Hundred Thousand

“Director Lan, after all, my money doesn’t grow on trees! For the sake of security, and to ensure a flawless cooperation between us, I can only offer you nine hundred thousand for the three lines!”

Nine hundred thousand?

Lan Yaoming was overjoyed at the sound of that number!

It was exactly what he had in mind as his bottom line. Business negotiations, after all, had to be conducted step by step. He never expected that Wu Ya, after exhausting all possible arguments and holding every advantage, would make him think the deal was about to fall through. In the end, it turned out that all of this was simply a prelude to bargaining!

He probably never imagined that after racking his brains for half the day, Wu Ya would end up offering precisely the price Lan was hoping for. Youth, after all, was still inexperienced—lacking in depth, composure, and, above all, shrewdness.

He still had a long way to go.

At that moment, Lan Yaoming’s earlier gloom was swept away, replaced by a faint smile.

But—

“But I can only make a provisional payment of thirty percent! The remaining balance will be paid in installments, held as a deposit against product quality and to cover any future repair costs or compensation should there be quality issues. What do you think?”

Wu Ya’s tone suddenly shifted.

A provisional payment of thirty percent!

He had subtly switched the concept—no longer a down payment of thirty percent, but a provisional payment!

This one word made all the difference! A down payment implied Lan Yaoming had to be persuaded, had to be coaxed and cajoled into accepting a deal where the buyer claimed poverty but still wanted the equipment. It put the seller in a position of supplication.

A provisional payment, however, was entirely different! It meant that the buyer was willing to purchase, but could not shoulder excessive risk. There had to be a safeguard to continue the partnership—otherwise, the deal was off.

And what is the most effective and reliable guarantee in this world? Money! Hard currency speaks louder than any promise.

So, the remaining seven hundred thousand would not be paid up front, and with perfect justification! It wasn’t a matter of not having the funds, but of needing to hold them as a safeguard. If the equipment turned out to be faulty, not only would repairs be needed, but the resulting losses would also be deducted from the amount owed. After all, every day the machines stopped, his garment production would suffer!

Lan Yaoming was stunned.

“Boss Wu, the production cost for these three lines alone is over seven hundred thousand! That doesn’t even include labor and other expenses! You want to take away a million’s worth of equipment with just thirty percent down? Isn’t that a bit… a bit too much?”

His face was drawn and full of misery as he looked at Wu Ya, his expression nothing short of woeful.

How had a promising negotiation turned into a trap for him? All those calculations about psychological price points and the buyer’s supposed reasons had been nothing more than wishful thinking!

He couldn’t help but wonder—was he really dealing with an eighteen-year-old?

Absolutely not!

Such seasoned negotiation skills, such an agile mind for exploiting the opponent’s weaknesses—how could a mere boy possess such abilities?

And yet, his eyes weren’t lying—Wu Ya’s face was youthful, unmistakably that of a youngster. If not for that, Lan wouldn’t have let his guard down, letting a careless word hand over the initiative.

“Heh, Director Lan, business is business! Whether it’s fair or not doesn’t really come into play, does it? Suppose I pay in full, and your equipment has serious quality issues—what then? Do I return it? Get it repaired? How would those costs be resolved? And if my clothing production halts for a day, the losses would be astronomical! Who could bear that?”

Wu Ya’s gaze was unwavering, his tone more resolute than ever, making it clear he’d walk away if his terms weren’t met.

And that stance came from the fact that Lan’s products were already piling up in inventory! Without Wu Ya’s purchase, who knew how long they’d sit unsold?

Lan was speechless.

A provisional payment of three hundred thousand. That meant all the risk of the deal fell on his shoulders! He had the authority to accept, for he owned the factory outright. But three hundred thousand wouldn’t even cover his costs! Should anything go wrong, or should Wu Ya renege on payment, he’d be ruined.

A loss of several hundred thousand would be enough to bankrupt him.

But if he refused? Wu Ya seemed ready to walk away, his initial eagerness for the advanced production lines now replaced by caution.

What to do?

Lan Yaoming was completely torn.

“Director Lan, I know what you’re thinking. You believe that if I only pay three hundred thousand, your risk is too great. If I find some excuse not to pay the balance, you’ll lose everything. Am I right? But isn’t that exactly the same worry I’d have if I paid in full? In the end, it’s just that we lack a truly reliable guarantee!”

Seeing Lan Yaoming silent, weighed down by doubt, Wu Ya spoke again, his voice full of concern and reason, even gently prompting him:

“In the end, it’s about finding another reliable guarantee.”

Another reliable guarantee?

Unconsciously, Lan’s thoughts followed that thread. What could serve as a truly reliable guarantee that would satisfy both parties?

Wu Ya said nothing further, allowing the silence to settle—a necessary space for contemplation.

When Lan had thought himself into knots, unable to find a solution, he would reach out again. For in terms of urgency, Lan Yaoming was more desperate to close the deal than Wu Ya; after all, those three production lines represented tens of thousands locked up in unsold stock. Resolving the issue was his highest priority.

Businessmen dread unsold inventory—a single misstep could spell bankruptcy.

Sure enough—

“Boss Wu, in your opinion, what would serve as a truly reliable guarantee for both of us? To be honest, I very much hope this deal will go through!”

Having failed to find an answer after long deliberation, Lan at last looked up at Wu Ya, his tone earnest and open. With the advantage lost, he might as well lay his cards on the table; after all, Wu Ya had managed the negotiation so deftly and seamlessly that it was obvious Lan was already on edge, desperate to make the sale.

Any further resistance would only backfire. Far better to be frank and direct, and focus on making the deal work.

“Well… Director Lan, how about this? I can have a local textile company in Weiling City guarantee the transaction for me. I’ll pay you thirty thousand for the first batch up front, another thirty thousand in twenty days, and the remaining thirty thousand in installments over the course of the year.”

Wu Ya, after a brief pause, laid out his final terms.

He intended to use Sicheng as a guarantor—something he had planned from the start. However, after the lengthy verbal battle, it now seemed to be a last resort, offered only at Lan Yaoming’s sincere request.