Chapter 23: The Web of Interests (Seeking Collections)

  "Isn't this Boss Zhang? How come you have time to visit my White Mansion today?" A middle-aged uncle who looked like a scholar said as soon as he arrived at the door.

  This man is the manager of the White Mansion, surnamed Tang and named Hongzhi. In his early years, he passed the imperial examination as a xiucai, but later his official career was not smooth, and finally he was recruited by Bai Yang and became the manager of the White Mansion, taking care of the daily operation of the mansion.

  Zhang Lei had just returned from a walk outside when he arrived. Since he often went to Zhang Lei's place, he was still familiar with it.

  Zhang Lei waved the cloth package in his hand and smiled, saying: "I've met Director Tang before. Today I came early to ask for your advice on something new I made. I'd like to see if Boss Bai is interested in cooperating."

  Tang Hongzhi thought to himself, an ordinary citizen, also came to Heifeng's residence to discuss cooperation, truly reckless in his youth. However, he didn't show it on his face and calmly said: "Then please ask Mr. Zhang to wait for a moment, I'll go inside to report."

  "That's natural, thanks for your trouble, Tang." Zhang Lei said with an unchanged expression.

  After a while, a servant in light yellow robes ran out and said: "Master Zhang, you are invited inside."

  The White Mansion was decorated with golden and jade decorations, even compared to the Wangye Mansion, it might not be inferior. The main hall was even more beautiful, with soft carpets on the floor, which were more comfortable than the beds in ordinary people's homes. The Huang Huali wood tables and chairs had an extraordinary style, emitting a faint fragrance. Bai Yang sat upright on the central bed, while Tang Hongzhi stood at his right-hand side.

  "Boss Zhang has arrived, sit down." Seeing Zhang Lei come in, Bai Yang didn't move, raised his eyelids and said lightly.

  Zhang Lei knew he was now in a completely different league from him, so he suppressed the discomfort in his heart, slightly bowed and said: "Thank you, Director Bai."

  "I wonder what Boss Zhang is doing here at my place today?" said Bai Yang.

  After selectively ignoring Bai Yang's attitude, Zhang Lei took out a box of matches from his pocket and said: "I came to cooperate with Old Man Bai. I know you must be looking down on me, and my little family business is probably not even enough for you to fill your teeth, but I want to use practical actions to prove that I can."

  "Hmm... What's this talk about being qualified or not... I, Bai Mou, welcome it very much." Bai Yang straightened his back slightly and asked: "I wonder what action Mr. Zhang is going to take to prove it?"

  Zhang Lei took out a match and said, "I don't know if Old White feels that way, but when smoking, it's a bit inconvenient to light up?"

  "It's a bit... um... White Yang likes being direct, so just say what you want to say, Boss Zhang."

  Zhang Lei pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it up, putting it in his mouth. Bai Yang looked at him and couldn't help but furrow her brow.

  He simply took out a match and struck it, the orange flame ignited the cigarette, and the surrounding air was instantly filled with a fragrant aroma.

  "I don't know if Boss Bai is interested in this," Zhang Lei said.

  Bai Yang leaned forward, puzzled, and said: "What's going on?"

  Zhang Lei stood up and introduced, "That's right, this is the firework, but it's been improved by me. Do you see that brown thing on the side? Only with this can the firework be ignited. In other words, as long as the firework doesn't touch this thing, it won't catch fire, and its safety has increased by who knows how many times compared to before."

  "This is what you have confidence in bringing to collaborate with Bai?" White Yang stood up and said.

  "That's right, it's this thing that can easily ignite but will never catch fire itself. It's portable and can be used with cigarettes or for convenient living in the wilderness." Zhang said with a smile.

  "This thing I gave him the name called match, meaning can be ignited wood, with this thing, you can directly eliminate flint, and candles will exit the historical stage. No doubt, this is an invention that can change people's living habits."

  "This time I came to find Director Bai, it's because I want to cooperate with Director Bai to launch matches. I already have the tools to mass-produce them, as long as we can build a factory, the produced matches will not only supply Xujiayuan but also expand to the entire Taihu area and even influence the whole country. I think, Director Bai as a business giant, shouldn't be unable to see the value in this, right?"

  After Zhang Lei said that, Bai Yang fell into deep thought. Indeed, as Zhang Lei said, this was a good thing, and since the invention of cigarettes, it seemed to be born for matching with them. When going out, a pack of cigarettes plus a pack of matches, perfect match!

  "Although what you said is a bit exaggerated, it's not impossible. However, the implementation might be a bit difficult."

  Jian Baiyang's heart was already slightly moved, and Zhang Lei was very happy in his heart, which meant that his purpose had been achieved. He continued to throw out a big deal, saying: "Of course, this is my long-term plan, but now there is an opportunity in front of us. My cigarettes, I'm sure Mr. Bai has already heard about it. Not only Xu's family camp, but also outsiders have come to our place asking for large quantities of purchases."

  "Now, the cigarettes produced by Zhang's Technology are almost universally known in Xujia Camp, but only I have been working on production and it has never increased. However, from now on, it will be different. I have partnered with Old Master Yu, who will invest to rent land for tobacco cultivation. With his financial resources, large-scale cigarette production is a certainty. Moreover, adding my matches, each pack of cigarettes will come with a box of matches, and I can even customize the matches so that each cigarette comes with one match. Promoting these two products together will be effortless."

  This is Zhang Lei's finishing move, no smoke without fire can't achieve true results, with smoke and fire one can attain enlightenment instantly.

  "What? You've already collaborated with Old Yu?" Upon hearing this news, Bai Yang finally couldn't maintain his calm demeanor as before.

  He suddenly stood up and walked in front of Zhang Lei, asking: "Is what you said true?"

  Zhang Lei took out the contract that had already been signed and said, "This is the contract we signed, in black and white. I'm afraid Mr. Bai can believe it now? The last time I didn't come to the store was because I was at home teaching all my testing techniques to Master Yu's people. We're just waiting for next year when we'll be planting tobacco on a large scale, and then we'll directly promote Xianjing Smoke and Yunwu Smoke."

  "This old guy is really quick, he actually got ahead of me..." Bai Yang stroked his chin and muttered a sentence, saying: "You came to find me, you must have thought about how to cooperate, let's talk."

  Zhang Lei didn't expect Bai Yang to agree so quickly, he had originally prepared to elaborate on the pros and cons, but now it seemed unnecessary. He took out a contract that he had already drafted earlier and said: "Please take a look, Mr. Bai."

  Bai Yang took over the contract handed over by Zhang Lei and read it item by item.

  In the contract, it was still a contract with Old Master Yu, and in the first article, no matter what kind of name or category of match production, it would be crowned with the name of Zhangshi Technology, and as a price, Zhang Lei could only get one tenth of all profits, which was less than two tenths that Old Master Yu got.

  In addition, Zhang Lei also stated that he would reserve the most critical extraction method of potassium chlorate and the formulation method of the drug, while other methods could be provided to Bai Yang unconditionally, and regardless of promotion or pricing, he would not interfere in any way.

  "It seems you're still quite sincere, but this one, oh, is a clever guy. From what I've read, apart from the requirement to clearly state that it's produced by Zhangshi Technology, Zhang Lei didn't make any other mandatory demands, and Jiucheng provided almost all technical aspects for free, which is indeed very tempting."

  Zhang Lei carefully observed Bai Yang's reaction, and upon hearing him speak, he knew that this matter couldn't be avoided. He still had to ask: "I wonder if Mr. Bai has any opinions or suggestions on the draft contract I've prepared?"

  "Haha, from you, I seem to see the young and vigorous me of those years. It's just like you, going solo to find people to cooperate with. Now it seems that your momentum is even greater than mine back then. I really appreciate it." Bai Yang put away the contract and returned it to Zhang Lei, saying with a smile.

  Zhang Lei humbly said: "I'm just a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers, as the saying goes, 'the ignorant are fearless', I'm probably just a silly young man. To be recognized by Director Bai is truly my good fortune."

  "Young people, not arrogant or impetuous, this is a good thing. Having ideas and having the courage, these are two conditions that successful people must have, and coincidentally, you have them all. I seem to be able to see your future glory." Bai Yang started by praising Zhang Lei for a few sentences, then continued:

  "Alright, based on your performance today, I'm even considering collaborating with you."

  With the contract from Bai Yang, Zhang Lei could finally start his plan with confidence. With the cooperation of Yu Laoban and Bai Laoban on cigarettes and matches, although it was only a small part of the shares, it was still a considerable income, and he only needed to spend time adjusting the medicine. This way, he could free up more time to develop other businesses.

  There are still more than twelve years before Chongzhen hangs himself on Coal Mountain, and Zhang Lei is now still a lone wolf. To change history, Zhang Lei deeply feels that time is pressing, and he must speed up his pace. The late Ming dynasty is not like other dynasties, at this time there are not only Tartars making trouble, but also peasant uprisings at home, European colonialism, and Japanese pirates invading the eastern coastal areas, and time is indeed pressing.

  Back at Zhangshi Technology, Zhang Lei told his father about his collaboration with Bai Yang and then said: "Dad, let Yu Boss take care of this storefront. You all have more important things to do. I plan for my brother to calm down and take the imperial examination. Then you, Hammer Uncle, Dà Yǒng, and I will work on the most critical part of making matches."

  Under Zhang Lei's plan, the entire network of relationships and interests based on Xujiayuan has been initially formed. The next focus will be placed on Zhang Chen.