"It's also simple to forgive you all, as we don't have any deep-seated hatred," Wang Yu said with a smile, drawing nods of agreement from Fang Zhongtian and the others, who all wore expressions that seemed to say, "He's right, we're all good friends."
"Director Wang, please state your demands, and we will fulfill them all!" Fang Zhongtian was the first to pledge, his attitude firm and earnest.
This kind of humbling apology was not something their young President Xu would personally handle. So, when Secretary Yang intervened to suppress the matter, their promising young President Xu "timely" went abroad. Well, according to him, it was for overseas exchange and study, but everyone knew whether he had actually gone abroad to lie low.
As for his father, the elder President Xu, he had always disliked their actions of plagiarizing and imitating Wang Yu's Auto Factory products. He believed their own factory should focus on its own business and not resort to crooked methods. However, since Xu Guangping had already secretly taken action and created a fait accompli, he hadn't said much to consider the factory's investment and benefits. But he never expected it to lead to so much trouble, with Secretary Yang directly intervening. Thus, he decisively sent Fang Zhongtian over to represent the Metallurgy General Factory in apologizing to Wang Yu.
Not only Fang Zhongtian, but also a group of sycophants who constantly surrounded Xu Guangping were all sent over. Now, there was a vast crowd in front of the Auto Factory, most of whom were these individuals! Elder President Xu had given them two strict orders: Do not return without Wang Yu's forgiveness and understanding, and fulfill whatever demands Wang Yu made. That's why Fang Zhongtian had said those words to Wang Yu.
"Anything is acceptable?" Wang Yu looked at them with a half-smile, a smile that sent shivers down their spines. Especially Wang Jin, who inwardly cursed Fang Zhongtian's ancestors. Damn it, when it came to taking advantage, you were more eager than anyone, acting like a peacock, flaunting how capable you were! And now, when it came to admitting defeat, you're this enthusiastic, saying anything can be agreed upon? You can say whatever you want, as the Metallurgy General Factory will back you up. But if I carelessly agree to any conditions, my boss will skin me alive when I get back! My department store boss is not a forgiving person! Wang Jin looked at Fang Zhongtian with a bitter expression, wanting to refute him but unable to. With Secretary Yang looming over them, if he didn't get Wang Yu's satisfaction and forgiveness, the consequences would likely be even worse!
"Don't worry, I don't have any excessive demands," Wang Yu said with a smile. "First, you all stop selling these copied products. This demand is not excessive, is it?"
"Not excessive, not excessive!" They all replied repeatedly. This was not a problem. Secretary Yang had already told them not to do it, and they wouldn't sell them in the future. Besides, with all those quality hidden dangers unresolved, they wouldn't want to sell them even if they were paid.
"Then, shouldn't you all provide some form of compensation? Let's call it compensation for emotional distress." Wang Yu spoke again, undoubtedly trying to extort them. However, the others breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it was just a matter of money. Problems that could be solved with money were not problems.
"The Metallurgy General Factory will offer 500,000."
"The Department Store will compensate 500,000."
"I... we hardware factory will pay 100,000." Lu Fangquan looked at Fang Zhongtian and Wang Jin, both of whom had stated amounts in the hundreds of thousands, clearly having thought this through beforehand. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "The hardware factory will pay 100,000." For the hardware factory, 100,000 was not much in the past. But in recent days, with Wang Yu's rise, he had supported a large number of parts suppliers and ancillary factories. The hardware factory, which had been excluded for a long time, hadn't received large orders and had been surviving on small, scattered jobs. The recent fire had only made things worse, leaving them almost breathless. Now, 100,000 was the absolute limit Lu Fangquan could scrape together through gritted teeth! Who knew how much his heart ached? If only he hadn't gotten involved with these people. He had been used as a pawn to deal with Wang Yu, and in the end, he gained nothing but trouble. What a mess... If he hadn't messed around with them, he would be living a comfortable life now! Didn't he see how well those ancillary parts factories that followed Wang Yu were doing, thriving with great ease!
Setting aside Lu Fangquan's helpless sighs, Wang Yu nodded in satisfaction. This compensation amount was quite substantial. He couldn't push them too hard, or it would lead to an irreparable situation, not only disrespecting Secretary Yang but also risking mutual destruction, which would be a loss.
"Then, the last point. I want you all to apologize to our Auto Factory in a public setting, to explain everything as it happened! Especially you..." Wang Yu's gaze fell on Lu Fangquan. "You need to apologize to the people we had injured and admit your mistake!"
"What? Wang Yu, you're going too far!" Lu Fangquan immediately objected. A public apology was too much to ask! They were all people who cared about their reputation; who wanted their faces stomped on by Wang Yu? Especially Lu Fangquan, who was the direct person in charge of the hardware factory. Seeing that he was about to shed his assistant factory director hat and be officially promoted, this incident at such a critical juncture, publicly apologizing to a few ordinary employees of the Auto Factory and directly admitting his mistake, wasn't this handing ammunition to his opponents? He was already struggling with the fire and the unauthorized modification of industrial land. If he had to comply with Wang Yu's demands now, would he still have a chance at the factory director position?
"Wang Yu, you are simply too overbearing! Apologizing to your employees is not a problem, but can't it be done privately? In a public setting, I will absolutely not agree!" Lu Fangquan roared angrily, staring intently at Wang Yu.
"Heh, then it's up to you. Anyway, that's my only demand," Wang Yu shrugged lightly and smiled, saying in a very relaxed tone, "Don't think I'm looking down on you... alright, I actually am. There's nothing about you people that I care about. Money, I have plenty, and I earn more than you do; People, I don't lack, and there are plenty of talents who want to join our Auto Factory now; Resources, I have quite a bit now, and I don't need to seek anything from you. Since you want me to forgive you, an apology is my bottom line. Not for any other reason, but to vent my anger for my employees, that's all! Perhaps you think ordinary employees are nothing, but to me, since I'm their leader, I must stand up for them when anything happens. Otherwise, I shouldn't be a factory director."