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Three days later, Afu came to Su Ning with bad news.

"Master, there's a problem." Afu's face was grave. "We received a call from Hong Kong saying that the equipment we ordered won't arrive."

Suning was reviewing the sales team's training report when he looked up and asked, "What's going on? Didn't we already pay the deposit?"

“The equipment supplier broke the contract,” Afu said. “They said a customer offered a higher price and bought the equipment. They are willing to return double the deposit, but they won’t sell the equipment.”

"Double the deposit back?" Su Ning frowned. "This is not normal. Business is about reputation. Breaching a contract will greatly affect the reputation of the equipment supplier. Besides, they have other equipment on hand. Unless... someone offered them an offer they couldn't refuse."

“That’s what I thought too,” Afu said. “So I had Acai investigate. It turned out that Huang Tianba was behind it all.”

"Huang Tianba?" Su Ning remembered her father mentioning this person before. "My dad's rival?"

“Yes.” Afu nodded. “Huang Tianba, fifty-two years old, a native of Shenzhen, started his business in building materials and now has interests in multiple industries. He has been fighting with your father for more than ten years and has suffered a lot of losses, so he has always held a grudge. This time, when he learned that you came to Shenzhen to start a business, he set his sights on you.”

"How exactly does it work?"

"Huang Tianba found that Hong Kong equipment supplier and offered 50% more than us, buying all three placement machines and two testing instruments we wanted," Afu said. "He also demanded that the supplier immediately break the contract, even if it meant paying double the deposit. The equipment supplier did the math and realized that the money he would make selling to Huang Tianba would be more than the deposit he would have to pay us, so he agreed. Besides, Huang Tianba was a local tyrant in Shenzhen, and the Hong Kong people didn't want to cause trouble."

Su Ning put down the report and smiled, "This Huang Tianba is certainly willing to spend money."

"Master, what do we do now?" Afu asked. "Without a pick-and-place machine, we can't set up our production line. Although there are similar machines in China, their precision is not high enough, and the quality of the products produced will be affected."

"What about the other equipment?"

“The regular equipment is fine, it’s already on its way. But the core equipment is these few pick-and-place machines and testers,” Afu said. “I’ve already asked Acai to contact other suppliers, but it will take at least a month for them to arrive. And… I’m worried that Huang Tianba will continue to cause trouble.”

Suning stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window is the street scene of Shenzhen, bustling with cars and people.

This city has a fast pace and many opportunities, but also many pitfalls.

Huang Tianba's move was indeed ruthless.

If the equipment is not in place, the factory cannot start production.

The workers need to be supported, the site needs to be built, and the daily losses are considerable.

If it drags on for a month, the cost alone will increase by tens of thousands of yuan.

More importantly, the market waits for no one.

Pagers are currently in high demand, and delaying their launch by a month could mean missing the best opportunity.

But Suning remained calm because they had a backup plan.

"Afu, you don't need to worry about the equipment." Su Ning turned around. "I'll handle that. You continue with the other work—factory construction, worker training, and sales team preparation. Complete them on time, don't delay."

Afu was taken aback. "Master, are you going to activate the spatial world again?"

“Okay.” Su Ning nodded. “Keep an eye on Huang Tianba. See what other tricks he has up his sleeve.”

"Yes."

After Afu left, Su Ning returned to his seat, opened his spatial world, and his thoughts appeared directly in the warehouse of the space.

[Space Warehouse]

He found the "Industrial Equipment" category, which indeed contained pick-and-place machines and testing instruments.

Moreover, it's not an ordinary model; it boasts 2020s-level technology, high precision, high efficiency, and an intelligent control system.

This is where Suning's bottom line lies; they originally wanted to engage in dialogue with the locals on an equal footing.

Unfortunately, the natives were too barbaric, so he had no choice but to lay his cards on the table and admit that he was indeed a "bug" master.

These machines are far more advanced than those imported from Hong Kong, increasing production efficiency by at least 30% and ensuring more stable product quality.

And most importantly, you don't have to worry about being held hostage.

"Transport." Suning clicked to confirm.

[Transportation successful; equipment has been stored in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong electronics factory warehouse]

Get it done.

……

The next day, Suning went to Lanyuan Village to inspect the factory construction as usual.

The man Huang Tianba sent to keep watch quickly reported the situation.

"Mr. Huang, Suning went to Lanyuan Village again today, and they don't seem to be in a hurry at all," Awei said on the phone.

"Not in a hurry?" Huang Tianba frowned. "I've already intercepted the equipment, how can he still be so calm?"

"Yes! I also find it strange! I even made a special inquiry, and the construction progress of his factory has not been delayed at all. The workers are being trained as usual, and the sales team is also preparing. It seems that the equipment issue has no impact on him."

Huang Tianba put down the phone, feeling puzzled.

Is this kid really hiding something, or is he just putting on a brave face?

Or have they already gone home crying and begged Su Dahai for help?
Then Su Dahai's son must be too useless, and he's really not worth me setting "test questions" for him.

Huang Tianba thought for a moment, then dialed another number, "Fourth brother, how's it going on your end? Have you dealt with that security captain in Lanyuan Village?"

"It's all settled." A hoarse voice came from the other end of the phone. "Huang Renfa's nephew, Huang Xiaohu. That kid is greedy, so I gave him 20,000 yuan to cause some trouble for Su Ning."

"How did he say?"

"He said it was no problem, he'd take care of it," the fourth brother said. "But Mr. Huang, the investigation in Lanyuan Village has been very strict lately, and Huang Renfa is keeping a close eye on things. Small tricks are possible, but big ones might not be allowed."

“Small tricks are fine too,” Huang Tianba said. “As long as it makes things difficult for Suning. I want to show them that Shenzhen isn’t such an easy place to get by.”

"clear."

……

Lanyuan Village, factory construction site.

Wearing a safety helmet, Suning, accompanied by Afu and Huang Renfa, inspected the construction progress.

The construction site was bustling with activity.

The foundation has been laid, the steel frame is being erected, and dozens of workers are busy at work.

"President Su, the progress is very fast." Huang Renfa said with a smile, "At this speed, it can be completed in two months, a month ahead of schedule."

"Thank you for your hard work, Village Chief Huang," Su Ning said. "Where did you recruit the workers from?"

“They’re all from our village,” Huang Renfa said. “The young people go out to work, so the village is mostly made up of middle-aged people and women. But they are hard workers and don’t slack off. The wages aren’t high, just ten yuan a day, which covers two meals.”

“That’s good.” Su Ning nodded. “Once the factory is built, we’ll need to hire full-time workers. We’ll give priority to hiring from the village, which will be a way of contributing to the village.”

"Thank you so much!" Huang Renfa said happily. "President Su, you are such a good person. Unlike some bosses who come here and exploit us, pay us low wages and often delay payment."

As they were talking, a middle-aged man in a uniform and wearing a red armband walked over.

"Second Uncle." The man greeted Huang Renfa, but his eyes glanced at Su Ning.

“Xiao Hu! Come here, let me introduce you.” Huang Renfa said, “This is General Manager Su of Shengang Electronics. General Manager Su, this is my nephew, Huang Xiaohu, who is in charge of security in the village.”

"Hello, President Su." Huang Xiaohu extended his hand, his face beaming with a smile, but there was a flicker in his eyes.

Su Ning shook hands with him, "Captain Huang, hello. I'll need your help with the factory in the future."

"Of course, of course," Huang Xiaohu said. "President Su is a distinguished guest who has come to our village to invest. Please feel free to ask if you need anything."

That's what he said, but Su Ning could sense that Huang Xiaohu's gaze towards him was a bit strange.

It was like sizing someone up, or like calculating something.

"Xiao Hu, you've come at the right time," Huang Renfa said. "General Manager Su's factory is about to be completed, so you need to pay close attention to security. Especially after the equipment arrives, you need to assign people to take turns on duty to prevent any mishaps."

"Second Uncle, don't worry, I've got it covered." Huang Xiaohu patted his chest. "But Second Uncle, President Su, there's something I need to tell you beforehand." "What is it?"

"Recently, the higher authorities have been conducting a major safety inspection," Huang Xiaohu said. "The requirements for factories are extremely strict. Fire safety, environmental protection, labor protection... all must meet the standards. If they don't, they have to stop production for rectification."

Huang Renfa frowned. "Don't all the factories in our village meet the standards?"

“The past is the past, the present is the present,” Huang Xiaohu said. “The new standards are out, and the requirements are higher. Especially for an electronics factory like Mr. Su’s, which uses a lot of chemicals, the fire safety requirements are particularly high. I’m worried that if we don’t pass the inspection, that would be a problem.”

Su Ning sensed the hidden meaning in his words, "Captain Huang, what do you think we should do?"

"Well..." Huang Xiaohu rubbed his hands together, "Actually, it's easy to handle. I know people in the fire department who can help you smooth things over. I also have connections with the Environmental Protection Bureau. As long as you take care of things properly, I guarantee you'll get through it on the first try."

"Take care of things?" Su Ning laughed. "How much?"

"Well... it depends on the size of your factory," Huang Xiaohu said. "Generally speaking, for a factory like yours, the fire safety fee is around 20,000 to 30,000 yuan, and the environmental protection fee is also around 20,000 to 30,000 yuan. It'll add up to about 50,000 to 60,000 yuan. But don't worry, once the money is spent, things will definitely get done."

Huang Renfa's face turned somewhat ugly. "Xiaohu, what are you saying! President Su is here to invest; he's a guest. How could you..."

"Second Uncle, I'm doing this for President Su's own good." Huang Xiaohu interrupted him, "The inspections are strict now. If a problem is found, the work will be suspended for rectification, and the losses will be even greater. It's better to spend a little money to buy peace of mind."

Su Ning looked at Huang Xiaohu, knowing exactly what was going on.

They've come to ask for money, and it's very likely they're acting on someone's orders.

Huang Tianba? Or one of Su Dahai's other enemies?

“Captain Huang, I appreciate your kindness,” Su Ning said, “but our factory follows all the proper procedures. We will obtain all the necessary permits and meet all the required standards. We don’t need any extra ‘patronage’.”

Huang Xiaohu's face stiffened. "President Su, you may not know this, but in Shenzhen, sometimes just following the rules isn't enough. Some people and some things require special methods."

"A special method?" Su Ning raised an eyebrow. "For example?"

“For example…” Huang Xiaohu lowered his voice, “Your equipment hasn’t arrived yet, right? I heard that someone is watching you. If the equipment runs into problems on the way, or gets stuck when it enters the factory, the losses could be huge.”

This is a threat.

Su Ning laughed, "Captain Huang, don't worry about the equipment. As for the rest... since I dared to invest in Shenzhen, I'm not afraid of these things."

Huang Xiaohu was rebuffed and his face darkened. "President Su, don't speak too confidently. Shenzhen is a very complex place. You're still young and don't know how dangerous it is."

"Then let me see for myself," Su Ning said. "Captain Huang, if there's nothing else, let's continue inspecting the construction site."

Huang Xiaohu snorted coldly, turned around and left.

Huang Renfa quickly apologized, "President Su, I'm sorry, my nephew is ignorant, please don't take it to heart. As for 'bribing' or 'making arrangements,' our village will fully support you and guarantee that no one will cause trouble."

“Village Chief Huang, I believe you,” Su Ning said. “But your nephew… you’d better keep an eye on him. Some people might take advantage of him. And he’s too greedy and short-sighted; people like that are prone to getting into trouble.”

Huang Renfa was taken aback. "You mean..."

“I didn’t say anything.” Su Ning smiled. “Let’s go, let’s continue to check the construction site.”

As they left Lanyuan Village, Su Ning told Afu, "Investigate this Huang Xiaohu. See who he's been in contact with lately and who he's been paying."

"Yes." Afu nodded. "Master, about the equipment..."

"The equipment will arrive tomorrow," Suning said. "Arrange for someone to receive it and transport it directly to the factory. Also, strengthen security. I suspect someone might try to sabotage the equipment."

"clear."

……

Huang Tianba received the news very quickly.

"President Huang, Huang Xiaohu's side has failed," Awei reported. "Suning didn't buy it and even shut him down."

"That Huang Xiaohu is a complete waste," Huang Tianba complained. "He's quick to take money, but a complete idiot when it comes to getting things done."

"So what do we do now? What about the equipment..."

"What's there to be afraid of! These devices sell very well in Shenzhen, we won't lose money." Huang Tianba sneered.

Awei said, "But Mr. Huang, I heard that Suning doesn't seem to be in a hurry at all. Does this little brat have a backup plan?"

"What backup plan could he possibly have?" Huang Tianba said dismissively. "He can't buy the equipment he needs domestically. Unless he imports it from abroad, but that would take at least a month. A month is enough to keep him waiting."

Despite saying that, Huang Tianba was still a little apprehensive.

Suning's reaction was remarkably calm.

He was so calm, unlike a young man in his early twenties.

Could it be that Su Dahai was helping him behind the scenes?
impossible.

Su Dahai's building materials business has absolutely nothing to do with electronics, and if Su Dahai really wanted to get involved, he would have heard about it long ago.

That means this kid is just putting on a brave face.

Yes, it must be a case of bluffing.

Young people are proud and unwilling to admit defeat.

Huang Tianba comforted himself in this way.

What he didn't know was that three brand-new placement machines and two testing instruments had been quietly transported into the factory warehouse in Lanyuan Village.

The equipment was extracted directly from the outer space world, without going through customs or having any logistics records; it was as if it appeared out of thin air.

The people Huang Xiaohu had assigned to keep watch at the village entrance had no idea when the equipment was brought in.

By the time Huang Tianba received the message, the equipment had already been installed, debugged, and trial production had begun.

"What? The equipment has arrived? How is that possible!" Huang Tianba stood up abruptly upon receiving the call.

“Absolutely true, Mr. Huang.” The person on the other end of the phone said, “I saw it with my own eyes. Three chip mounters and two testing machines, all new equipment. I’ve never seen the brands before, but they look even more advanced than those in Hong Kong.”

"Where did it come from? Who brought it in?"

"I don't know!" the man said. "It was brought in last night, without a sound. Our people have been keeping watch at the village entrance, but they haven't seen any large trucks come in. It's strange."

Huang Tianba hung up the phone, his face ashen.

He spent so much money to intercept equipment from Hong Kong, only for Suning to turn around and get even better equipment?
That was a resounding slap in the face.

“Awei!” he roared.

Ah Wei rushed in, "Mr. Huang, what's wrong?"

"Investigate! Investigate for me!" Huang Tianba roared. "Where did Suning's equipment come from! How was it transported in! I need to know the details!"

"Yes, I'll check right away."

After Awei left, Huang Tianba plopped down in a chair, panting heavily with anger.

This Suning is something else!

It seems we need to find a different way to deal with him.

If the hard approach doesn't work, try the soft approach.

If the open methods don't work, then try the covert ones.

Shenzhen is so big, there's bound to be a way to make him unable to stay.

Huang Tianba's eyes grew increasingly cold.

Meanwhile, in the factory in Lanyuan Village, the first pager production line has already begun trial operation.

Suning stood in the workshop, watching the workers busily at work, a smile on his lips.

...(End of chapter)