Twists and Turns

"Mr. Su, our preliminary estimate is 450 million yuan. However, I cannot make a decision on such a large transaction without consulting the Boss."

After calculating the price, Liang Lianjun couldn't help but feel his heart pound.

He was astonished by the high value of the lumber and wondered where Su Jie had obtained it.

Such lumber was only produced in Southeast Asia, but it was also strictly protected, with regulations on annual logging quantities. It was rare to even see one precious tree, let alone dozens at once.

Su Jie, on the other hand, was calculating that once this money came in, his recently depleted funds would swell again, and he wouldn't have to worry about the Thousand-Hand Centipede's voracious appetite anymore.

"We still need to discuss the price. Please inform your Boss first."

Su Jie nodded. This price was close to his target.

Liang Lianjun's offer was sincere, but it would be even better if the price could be increased a bit.

Liang Lianjun quickly stepped aside to make a phone call. Su Jie wasn't in a hurry, mentally planning how he would spend the money once it arrived.

Even at its maximum capacity, the current Thousand-Hand Centipede couldn't consume poisonous insects purchased with hundreds of millions of yuan.

After about ten minutes, Liang Lianjun returned.

However, his expression was somewhat unnatural. He chuckled awkwardly upon seeing Su Jie and explained, "Mr. Su, I'm truly sorry. The Boss said that the value of your goods is too high, and the company doesn't have that much liquid capital for immediate procurement. He hopes you can extend the deadline by a week."

"You don't have the money?"

Su Jie frowned slightly, looking at Liang Lianjun without speaking.

The atmosphere became slightly tense. Liang Lianjun wiped sweat from his forehead, afraid of offending Su Jie, a major client. "Mr. Su, I'm really sorry. I will continue to persuade the Boss. Please don't be angry."

"Why should I be angry? It's just a failed transaction. I never force sales."

Su Jie patted Liang Lianjun's shoulder, looking him in the eye. "I have no shortage of buyers for this lumber. If you want me to extend the deadline, you need to pay a deposit. Let's say 10%, so 45 million yuan as a deposit."

"This... this might not be possible. The Boss..."

Liang Lianjun himself felt troubled and embarrassed because Su Jie's request was reasonable.

After all, leaving such premium raw materials without contacting other buyers was a sign of trust in their Cold Lily company. Asking for a deposit as a guarantee was a sign of good faith.

However, during the phone call, the Boss had specifically instructed him not to agree to any payment.

Honestly, Liang Lianjun couldn't understand why the Boss had made such an absurd decision.

Didn't he know how rare these premium raw materials were?

If they were acquired by another buyer, it would simply boost a competitor's reputation.

"Heh, it seems this cooperation isn't going smoothly. It's fine. Even if the deal doesn't go through, we can still be friends. Go back and discuss it with your Boss."

Su Jie's voice was calm. From Liang Lianjun's difficulty, he had already sensed that something was amiss.

Logically, a batch of premium raw materials like this would be highly sought after by a furniture company.

Even if they genuinely lacked liquid capital, they could get a loan from a bank or borrow from other businesses. With these high-quality lumber as collateral, it wouldn't be difficult to raise money.

Even if there were real difficulties, to obtain this lumber, they wouldn't refuse to even offer a deposit to secure Su Jie. This was a clear sign of not wanting to proceed with the transaction.

"Mr. Su, I..."

"There's no need for further explanation. This isn't something you can decide. Go back."

Su Jie shook his head, stopping Liang Lianjun from saying more. Seeing Su Jie's firm attitude, Liang Lianjun could only leave the warehouse with his men, looking dejected.

Su Jie stood at the warehouse entrance, watching the departing convoy. He toyed with a small dragonfly in his hand. "I hope it's not what I'm thinking. Otherwise..."

Buzz!

The dragonfly, freed from Su Jie's palm, flapped its wings and flew to a hidden corner, quietly lying in wait.

Cold Lily Headquarters Building, Linping City.

Liang Lianjun, having returned from the suburban warehouse, rushed to the Chairman's office without even stopping for a drink of water, and knocked on the door.

A curvaceous female secretary opened the door and let Liang Lianjun in.

Behind the desk, a man in his fifties, wearing a sharp suit and gold-rimmed glasses, looked refined as he reviewed documents.

This was Cui Yunchun, the founder of Cold Lily Company, the current Chairman and General Manager of Cold Lily, who single-handedly controlled this well-known furniture enterprise in Hannan Province, with a net worth exceeding two billion yuan.

Cui Yunchun's entrepreneurial journey was legendary. In the chaotic era of the past, he quit his stable job to start a business. He ran popular discos and bars, and engaged in local civil engineering and river sand procurement.

It was rumored that due to involvement with some unsavory connections, he was imprisoned for several years. Upon his release, he was penniless.

Just as people thought Cui Yunchun was finished, he chose to start a business again, establishing the Cold Lily Home Furnishings Company.

After ten years of operation, he achieved a spectacular comeback, becoming a well-known entrepreneur in Linping City with a net worth of billions.

"Chairman Cui, why did you cancel this transaction? Our Cold Lily could clearly afford to procure these rare raw materials and make a strong push into the high-end furniture market."

As soon as they met, Liang Lianjun couldn't contain his emotions.

He genuinely loved wood and could see how high the quality of those raw materials was and how important they were to Cold Lily Company.

Precisely because of this, he couldn't understand Cui Yunchun's actions.

"Manager Liang, don't rush. Sit down and tell me. Xiao Fei, pour Manager Liang a cup of tea."

Cui Yunchun looked up, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and said with a gentle smile.

"Manager Liang, please have some."

Board Secretary Ma Lanfei offered the tea, but unfortunately, Liang Lianjun showed no inclination to enjoy it.

"Alright, it seems I won't be able to get Manager Liang to drink this tea without an explanation."

Shaking his head helplessly, Cui Yunchun put down his fountain pen and slowly said, "Manager Liang, it's not that I don't want to procure that batch of lumber, but the price is indeed too high. Procuring it would drain our company's working capital."

"But if we make that batch of raw materials into furniture, we can easily sell them and get the money back! This kind of high-end luxury furniture is always in short supply in the market."

Liang Lianjun was puzzled. Although he was in the procurement department, he was still very familiar with the market situation.

"The reason I didn't procure it is that our company has opened a new channel in South Elephant Country through special connections. We've obtained a batch of equally precious tree raw materials. Their quality and quantity are no less than Mr. Su's, and the price is even cheaper. I've already ordered the procurement, and they are currently being transported. You'll see them in a few days."

Cui Yunchun explained patiently, seemingly valuing Liang Lianjun as talent and trying to appease him with kind words.

Liang Lianjun was stunned. As the procurement manager, he didn't even know about this procurement.

Moreover, what kind of channel was so powerful? Besides Su Jie, he hadn't seen anyone who could obtain so much precious lumber from abroad in one go.

Cough cough!

Cui Yunchun seemed to have spoken too much at once and coughed, his throat feeling uncomfortable.

"Chairman Cui, please take your medicine. Your old problem has flared up again."

Ma Lanfei handed him a pill and warm water. After taking them, Cui Yunchun's complexion improved slightly, and he said with a wry smile, "It's an old problem. This pharyngitis flares up from time to time, and I can't talk too much."

"Chairman Cui, then I won't disturb your rest any longer."

Although Liang Lianjun still had doubts, seeing Cui Yunchun's condition, he didn't feel comfortable staying there any longer.