Return to the City: The Strongest King

"What proposal do you have?" Lu Yaobing asked Mr. He.

"I wouldn't call it a proposal; rather, it's an opportunity for a win-win cooperation."

"Our Ku Shuang Herbal Tea wants to buy Mr. Song's slimming tea recipe," Mr. He said.

"We hope Miss Lu can convey our goodwill to Mr. Song. Our Ku Shuang Herbal Tea is an established brand, and if we can collaborate with Mr. Song, I believe it would be mutually beneficial for both parties."

Lu Yaobing pondered for a moment and said to Mr. He, "Mr. He, you make it impossible for me to buy any good medicinal materials, clearly leveraging your Ku Shuang Herbal Tea's position to monopolize the supply of raw materials for slimming tea. You first use unfair market competition methods to bully us, and then propose to buy our recipe. Doesn't this seem a bit like showing off before making peace?"

"Hahaha, Miss Lu is truly perceptive. Our Ku Shuang Herbal Tea has deep roots. Perhaps your Cuishengyuan Herbal Tea, leveraging Mr. Song's status in Minghe and Ningjian Province, can gain a foothold in the market competition with us. But if your herbal tea doesn't cooperate with us, it will never become a nationally renowned brand. Mr. Song is a shrewd businessman, and you, Miss Lu, are Mr. Song's promising disciple. Surely, Miss Lu understands this logic, right?" Mr. He asked Lu Yaobing.

"Mr. He, you lay out the pros and cons so reasonably that it's convincing, but I still have to say it: Mr. He, you monopolize the herbal medicine market, and then come to me when I can't buy the ingredients. Isn't this an attempt to intimidate me?" Lu Yaobing asked Mr. He again.

"Miss Lu, we're all business people; we can't act on impulse!" Mr. He said to Lu Yaobing.

"Mr. He, if your Ku Shuang Herbal Tea wants to buy my master's slimming tea recipe, why not go directly to him?" Lu Yaobing asked Mr. He.

Mr. He's smile froze for a moment and then he said to Lu Yaobing, "Miss Lu, we have considered talking directly to Mr. Song, but we respect Mr. Song, so we thought it would be better to communicate through someone close to him first. Please understand, Miss Lu."

"Ha, I think you're just afraid! If you approach my master with that attitude, he would show you the door!" Lu Yaobing said to Mr. He.

"Miss Lu, it's indeed unlikely that Mr. Song, given his position and status, would accept our request. Hence, we've approached you. We'll offer you very attractive terms, taking into account Mr. Song's sentiments. This is a win-win opportunity. If Ku Shuang Herbal Tea collaborates with Cuishengyuan Slimming Tea, it will undoubtedly become a star beverage product next year. But if Miss Lu fails to see reason and Mr. Song refuses to compromise, then that's just losing money." Mr. He said to Lu Yaobing.

"Mr. He, thank you for your kind intentions, but for now, Cuishengyuan does not have supply issues. If one day our production line truly halts, I will consider your offer," Lu Yaobing said to Mr. He.

"Third Brother, let's go."

Lu Yaobing and Dragon Three left the teahouse directly.

Zhang Yanran had just arrived at the wholesale center by car.

"Miss Lu, I'm really sorry, but I couldn't step away from my company's work. I just arrived," Zhang Yanran said to Lu Yaobing.

"Sister Zhang, I just met the mastermind behind this." Lu Yaobing pointed to Mr. He, who was still leisurely drinking tea inside the teahouse.

"Who is that?" Zhang Yanran asked Lu Yaobing.

"He's the exclusive distributor of Ku Shuang Herbal Tea in Minghe City. He is the one who doesn't let these herbal shops sell materials to us!" Lu Yaobing pointed to Mr. He.

"Oh dear, my silly little sister, he's just an errand boy. As a regional manager for Minghe City, how could he possibly have the power to make the Beijing medicinal herb wholesale market refuse to sell you anything?" Zhang Yanran laughed and said to Lu Yaobing.

"Oh... but they are all in cahoots!" Lu Yaobing said guilelessly to Zhang Yanran.

"Right, they are indeed a team. Missy, you wait here. I'll give the general manager of this herbal medicine market a call." Zhang Yanran said to Lu Yaobing.

"Okay."

Zhang Yanran called Xu Maosheng, the general manager of the Chinese herbal medicine wholesale center.

"Xu Maosheng?" Zhang Yanran addressed Xu Maosheng directly by his name.

Since Zhang Yanran started making money dealing in medicinal materials, the Chu Family also noticed this lucrative opportunity and offered Zhang Yanran some support, making her increasingly influential in the herbal medicine wholesale market.

"Director Zhang!"

"Come downstairs!"

"Alright!"

Not long after, Xu Maosheng, a rotund man in his forties with slicked-back hair and a face prone to grinning foolishly, came downstairs.

"Director Zhang!"

"Let me introduce you. This is Miss Lu, the apprentice of the boyfriend of our beloved Miss Chu. She wants to purchase medicinal materials from your second floor, but the shops aren't selling any good materials. Miss Chu is furious and sent me to you. How do you plan to resolve this?" Zhang Yanran asked Xu Maosheng.

"Oh dear, nice to meet you, Miss Lu! Director Zhang, does Miss Chu know about this?" Xu Maosheng asked Director Zhang nervously.

"Nonsense, Miss Chu arranged for me to handle this. Can you tell me why the materials on the second floor aren't being sold?" Zhang Yanran asked Xu Maosheng.

"Miss Lu, Director Zhang, what kind of medicinal materials are you looking for?" Xu Maosheng asked Lu Yaobing and Zhang Yanran.