Morning tea was a local tradition, and Nanfu Restaurant had the best breakfast tea business in Feng County.
Cao Yang and Summer Dongdong arrived on the second floor, spotting the bald man standing behind a young man.
The young man was in his twenties, dressed in a white suit, hair neatly styled, quietly sipping tea. Seeing Cao Yang and Summer Dongdong, he quickly stood up with a warm smile.
"Welcome, friends from afar! Please, have a seat."
"You're Chen Hao?" Cao Yang asked as he pulled out a chair.
Chen Hao nodded. "May I ask your name, brother?"
"I'm Cao Yang."
"And this lady?" Chen Hao looked at Summer Dongdong, naturally drawn to her beauty.
"She's my girl," Cao Yang said while draping an arm around her.
Chen Hao's expression twisted: "Brother Cao, you bring your girl to discuss business?"
"I didn't want to. Your small town has poor quality, and she's clingy. I had to bring her to vent."
Hearing Cao Yang's crude words, Summer Dongdong showed no expression but pinched his thigh hard. Cao Yang ignored it, thinking she didn't understand the need to play the character he'd warned her about.
Chen Hao chuckled, poured tea for the two, and had the waiter serve traditional Cantonese dim sum before getting to business.
"I heard you want a large order, brother Cao?"
Cao Yang nodded, lighting a cigarette and exhaling arrogantly.
Chen Hao cursed him internally; he hated show-offs, but as a client, he endured.
"This quantity… can you handle it?"
"Whether I can or not is my business. Just tell me if you have it!" Cao Yang waved dismissively.
Chen Hao lit a cigarette, now serious. "We have it, but it takes time. And I haven't seen your sincerity yet."
"Sincerity? I came all this way, worked so hard to find you. Isn't that enough?"
"Brother Cao, calm down. Speak civilly."
"I don't like fuss. You give me the goods, I give you the money — simple as that."
"Fine, but your amount is huge. We need time."
"How soon?"
"One week. We can deliver in a week."
"Alright. Contact me in a week," Cao Yang said, standing to leave.
"Wait…"
"You must first pay a 20% deposit." Chen Hao held up five fingers. "Five million."
Cao Yang froze, turning to look at him.
"I haven't even seen the goods, and you want me to pay? Who would I go to if you ran off?"
"And 20% is five million? Check your math!"
"Our retail is 30 per hundred. Lao Zhuang is our agent, so he got 25."
"You're a new friend. Your order is huge, I'll give you 25 too. Already a discount."
BAM! Cao Yang slammed the table, furious.
"Lao Zhuang orders 1 million, you give 25. I'm a hundred times bigger, and you still give me 25? Are you treating me like a pig?!"
He leaned close, spitting onto Chen Hao's face.
Chen Hao leaned back, wiping the saliva, frowning. "Price can be negotiated, but I don't like your tone."
"You pervert! Do I need you to like me? If you liked me, then I'd be scared!"
Cao Yang arrogantly sat back, dragging Summer Dongdong down with him. He extended a hand.
"I offer my price — take it or leave it."
Chen Hao blinked, uncertain: "Five?"
"Yes." Cao Yang nodded.
Chen Hao burst out laughing. "Brother, are you joking?"
Cao Yang shook his head: "I'm serious."
"This price? Might as well buy toilet paper!"
"You really think counterfeit is free to produce?"
Chen Hao tilted his head: "It's just paper and ink. What's the cost?"
He explained the materials and technical complexity — nothing cheap. Cao Yang waved dismissively.
"Just tell me the lowest price you can offer."
Chen Hao gritted his teeth, feigning pain: "22. That's the lowest I can go."
"22? Why not rob me? I'll pay seven at most!"
Chen Hao shook his head, glaring: "You're not here to trade. You're here to play me!"
Cao Yang shrugged: "You're not serious either, wasting my time."
"If you can't decide, send someone behind you to talk. They might be more straightforward!"
Chen Hao's face darkened. "Who told you I had someone behind me?"
"Heh… I can tell you're just a lackey. No one behind? I don't buy it!"
Cao Yang left, taking Summer Dongdong with him. The price gap was too wide; continuing the discussion was pointless.
Not far outside, Summer Dongdong scolded: "Why did you let it fail?"
She didn't understand — it wasn't a real deal, just let them quote, yet he had to overplay his role.
Cao Yang explained:
"If I accepted 25 immediately, they'd know something was off and could kill us tonight."
"They're cautious. A mysterious client shows up asking for a billion? If you were them, what would you think?"
"I'd think they're cops."
Summer Dongdong widened her eyes: "We're exposed?!"
"Exposed? No. But they'll suspect us. Next, they'll investigate us. Only after verifying us will they deal."
"If I hadn't haggled, agreed easily, we'd truly be exposed. Got it, dummy?"
"You're the dummy!"
"What if they investigate us and find out?"
Cao Yang rolled his eyes: "I hope they do. Once they investigate, they'll believe me. My identity can withstand scrutiny."
He was truthful — a Yi He Association member under Tang Shaojie. Investigating would reveal his violent reputation, proving he wasn't a cop, reducing suspicion.
Summer Dongdong nodded. "What about me?"
Cao Yang hugged her: "You haven't revealed anything. They'll just see you as my girl, not focus on you."
"Let go! Why hug me now?"
Cao Yang smacked her on the butt.
"Quiet, dummy. Someone's following us."