The four-party negotiation officially began.
Strictly speaking, it was a three-party negotiation. The Cao family only appeared to provide the venue, but in reality, no one could bypass them.
Chu Zhenbei represented China.
Prince Nanda represented the king.
Cao Hua represented the Cao family.
Situ Xinghe represented Nanyang Corporation.
The negotiations lasted three days, and today was the final day. Cao Yang anxiously awaited the results. After the negotiations, he still had to speak with Chu Zhenbei.
"Can you stop pacing? You're making me dizzy!"
Situ Meixin complained, but Cao Yang ignored her. He walked back and forth, thinking about how he would negotiate with Chu Zhenbei.
Situ Xinghe returned, smiling, looking quite satisfied with the results.
"Dad, how is it?" Situ Meixin asked anxiously.
Situ Xinghe nodded with a smile. "Not bad. We're forming a joint corporation with a total capital of 50 billion RMB."
"The royal family contributes the oilfield and holds 45% of shares."
"China contributes 40 billion RMB and technology for 47% of shares. We invest 10 billion RMB for 8%."
"The Cao family provides security personnel to protect the enterprise and receives 10% of the profits."
"Why like this? Why not just transfer the rights to China? Why invest without earning?"
Cao Yang asked. He and Situ Meixin had planned for China to acquire the rights directly and make a huge profit—why had it become a joint venture instead?
"The oilfield's reserves are enormous. One-time profits can't compare to long-term gains."
Situ Xinghe beamed with pride. These terms were all his hard-won efforts. The others didn't even want him involved.
"I don't care. Our shares—three, three, four—will they remain unchanged?"
Situ Xinghe smiled at Cao Yang. "Of course, you'll have to invest. I can't put in 10 billion RMB and let you take 30% of the shares."
Cao Yang shook his head. "I have no money."
"Well…" Situ Xinghe started to say something, but Cao Yang had already walked away.
Shares weren't Cao Yang's main concern; his priority was rescuing people.
"He's so rude!"
"Dad, are you seriously going to make Cao Yang pay? He doesn't have money!"
"It's fine if he doesn't invest. We can just reduce his shares to 5%."
Situ Meixin shook her head. "He won't agree."
"If he doesn't, then he gets nothing at all."
"Dad! That's cruel! Without Cao Yang and the Cao family, without his connection to the prince, this matter wouldn't concern us. Now you speak like this—what about the ethics of the Hongmen?"
"In business, business comes first. The prince holds 40% of the shares. We can't make him pay!"
"If 10 billion RMB is 60% of the shares, by proportion, Cao Yang would need to invest 5 billion RMB for 30%."
"Even if he helped initially, giving him a discount, asking him to invest 2 billion RMB should be fine. Either invest or accept reduced shares—he must choose one."
Situ Meixin rolled her eyes. "He doesn't even have a billion! Asking him for 2 billion is deliberately making things difficult for Cao Panghu."
"Meixin, why are you always defending him? Don't tell me you fancy him?"
"Nonsense. That scum isn't worth my attention. I'm analyzing the stakes."
"From my observations, Cao Tailin treats Cao Yang well. If you try to remove him, reporting to his great-grandfather will cause trouble. Plus, he once saved the prince and has a relationship with him. Most of the reason we got the extraction rights is because of him. If he causes a scene, we might even lose the rights!"
"Meixin, you're naive. Don't you see? The king always intended to cooperate with China. He just needed a middleman because of face and the U.S. Even without Cao Yang, this project would still end up with China."
"I know, but without Cao Yang, we wouldn't have anything to do with it."
Situ Xinghe lit a cigarette, shaking his head with a smile. "You're not wrong. But letting this kid reap such a huge benefit—I'd have a hard time explaining it at the Elders' Council."
"What's hard to explain? I have a plan. I'll talk to them later."
…
Cao Yang sat in Chu Zhenbei's room. The atmosphere was serious.
They weren't enemies, but the Han and Chu families were allied, making them indirect adversaries.
Chu Zhenbei stared coldly at Cao Yang.
Cao Yang returned the stare.
The tension was palpable, as if they could fight at any moment.
Fortunately, Chu Baiwei was there. She tried to mediate and served tea to both, gently nudging Cao Yang to discuss business instead of glaring at her father.
"When will they release the people?"
Cao Yang broke the silence first.
Chu Zhenbei sipped his tea and replied calmly, "Once the contract is signed tomorrow and the extraction rights are transferred, they'll be released."
"Has the Han family agreed?"
"No. I haven't spoken to them yet."
"What if they refuse?"
"Heh… you overestimate your friends. People like them? When I speak, Han Qingshan won't say no."
Cao Yang studied him. His confidence seemed genuine, but he remembered Chu Baiwei's warning: don't trust her father.
"I don't trust you!"
"You don't trust me—then why talk to me?"
"I want to speak with your father!"
Chu Zhenbei was furious—not because Cao Yang didn't trust him, but because he was being so rude!
"What do you mean, 'speak with my father'? I'm an adult, capable of making decisions. Do you need to go through him for everything?"
"You don't have the qualifications to talk to my dad!"
Cao Yang stared coldly. "In that case, don't even think about signing the contract tomorrow!"
"Ha ha ha…" Chu Zhenbei laughed. "Who do you think you are? Such a huge project, so many stakeholders, and you think you can block it?"
"You really think it can't proceed without you? That China only got the project because of you?"
"Besides, Nanyang Corporation isn't your call either. You think saying no means no?"
Cao Yang took a sip of tea, gripped the cup, extended his hand toward Chu Zhenbei, and crushed it into pieces with a snap!
"What are you doing?!" Chu Zhenbei recoiled.
He had underestimated Cao Yang before—he thought him just a lone man, powerless.
But Cao Yang's combat potential was recognized by both him and the Han family. If this reckless youth lost control, he could be even more dangerous than Cao Tailin.
"I may not stop you from signing the contract, but my great-grandfather will make sure you can't start operations!"
"Hmph, you're naive!"
Chu Zhenbei believed the Cao family wouldn't ruin business for money. Halting operations would hurt everyone—Cao family included.
Still, he suppressed his anger, deciding not to clash abroad.
"Call your grandfather."
"Okay." Chu Baiwei dialed.
"Grandfather, Cao Yang wants to speak with you…"