Chapter 2831 — Hooked

"Well done, little innocent. Big Mule didn't come this time, and you're now capable of standing on your own. This President Lang of yours — quite the convincing act!" An Jianwen nodded in satisfaction.

"Haha, it's all thanks to you, Young Master Wen. Besides, without the hypnotist backing us up, Liu Tianli wouldn't have taken the bait so easily — at the very least, he'd have grown suspicious of the cigarettes..." President Lang — that is, little innocent — said respectfully.

"Mm. Off you go. Today we begin the first step of our plan," An Jianwen said to little innocent.

"Yes, Young Master Wen," little innocent replied, and set off with Cui Mianshi for Liu Tianli's company.

Watching the two walk away, a cold smirk flickered at the corner of An Jianwen's mouth. Wei Zhao was not in Donghai City at present, and this was Yanjing City besides — no matter how great Wei Zhao's abilities, he could never guess that An Jianwen was behind all this.

Little innocent and Cui Mianshi arrived together at Liu Tianli's company, and Liu Tianli, unable to contain himself, received them at once in the company's reception room.

"President Lang, Assistant Cui, welcome, welcome!" Liu Tianli's craving for the cigarettes had reached the point where he could not sit still. His eyes drifted to the handbag in Cui Mianshi's grasp; he wanted to ask, yet felt somewhat embarrassed to.

"President Liu, I'm sorry to say — there's only one last carton of these cigarettes left. I never imagined the stuff would be in such demand. A few old friends of mine, one carton each, and it's nearly all gone. What you're getting is still a fair amount; the others got only one each." Little innocent spread his hands, his face a picture of helplessness.

"President Lang. Then that last carton..." Liu Tianli's nicotine craving was truly becoming unbearable. Before this, he had smoked cigarettes, but he had never grown dependent on them. This time was different. Though a trace of puzzlement rose in his heart, it was quickly shoved to the back of his mind by the craving.

"I've brought it, President Lang. Shall we discuss business first? Don't worry, the cigarettes will certainly be left for you — no need to rush." Little innocent smiled and patted Liu Tianli on the shoulder.

"This... all right!" Liu Tianli thought to himself, How am I not rushing? I'm dying of urgency! But he could not bring himself to say such a thing. He was the president of a grand corporation — how could he utter words like that? Wouldn't it make him a laughingstock? So despite his raging craving, Liu Tianli forced himself to endure it, made a gesture of invitation, and said, "President Lang, Secretary Cui, please sit. May I ask what business you've come to discuss with me this time?"

"President Liu, I've come this time to discuss a business deal with you," little innocent said.

"Discuss business?" Liu Tianli was taken aback. "President Lang, didn't we just sign a contract? Haven't we already settled our business? Why discuss business again?"

"Haha, the earlier medicinal-herb procurement deal is the medicinal-herb procurement deal; this has no necessary connection to it." Little innocent waved his hand. "Actually, this is a business opportunity I've only just discovered, and it stands to benefit you too, President Liu!"

"Oh? It benefits me as well? What sort of business is it?" Liu Tianli asked, somewhat puzzled.

"It's like this. I came here this time originally to sign a medicinal-herb contract with your company, but at the same time I discovered another business opportunity: our special cigarettes from back home are very popular here. Many of my old friends tried them and want more. President Liu, you've experienced them firsthand — how much do you think people would pay for these cigarettes?"

"Me?" Liu Tianli was startled. "So long as it's not absurdly expensive, I could afford it. After all, given my position now, I can buy even the most expensive cigarettes."

"Exactly! President Liu, you say that's how you think — so wouldn't my wealthy friends think the same way? If I import these cigarettes in bulk, they should sell extremely well among the circles of the rich," little innocent said. "One might even say demand would outstrip supply!"

"That's true. President Lang, if you want to do this business, I'm fully in favor. I'll be one of your customers!" Liu Tianli said.

"President Liu, I do indeed want to do this business — but I want to partner with you!" little innocent said instead. "You know as well as I do that my company has just signed a medicinal-herb purchasing agreement with yours, but your company has paid only a deposit; the full payment comes only after you inspect the goods, cash on delivery. Meanwhile, my company must advance a great deal of cash to purchase the herbs, and only after your company settles accounts can the funds circulate again. As a result, my cash flow is stretched thin — and that is precisely why I've come to see you, President Liu. You should understand now?"

"Oh? I understand — so that's how it is." Liu Tianli nodded. There was no denying the logic of President Lang's words: their company did indeed need to tie up large amounts of cash purchasing herbs, yet to get paid, they had to wait until after delivery to settle accounts. Under such circumstances, having no spare funds for other business was only natural.

Still, this was, after all, an industry he had never touched. Liu Tianli was the conservative type in business, lacking any pioneering spirit, and so at this moment he could not help but hesitate.

"President Liu, this is a business with great prospects. Our President Lang didn't approach anyone else — he came straight to you. The truth is, it's better to deal with the familiar than the new; our two companies already have a working relationship, and doing more business together is built on mutual trust." At this point Cui Mianshi spoke up, addressing Liu Tianli suddenly.

"Oh?" Liu Tianli was startled, and the hesitation in his eyes turned all at once to resolve — though he himself did not notice the change. "Then this cigarette business — how much profit is in it?"

"Two hundred percent." Little innocent held up two fingers. "President Liu, put in ten million, and you'll get twenty million back!"

"That much?" Liu Tianli's eyes went wide. He had not expected the stuff to bring in money so fast, and his heart stirred with desire. Still, he asked, "But importing tobacco is quite troublesome, isn't it? The paperwork and whatnot must be very complicated — even with my influence, I wouldn't dare claim I could handle it."

"Heh, what paperwork?" Little innocent waved his hand. "With legitimate imports, how could there ever be profits that large?"

"Then what President Lang means is..." Liu Tianli's heart gave a jolt, and he asked hastily. (To be continued.)

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