135: Trip to South Korea 3

“Minister Park, I have already left the people from Red Star hanging for two days to wear down their arrogance."

“But I can't keep them waiting indefinitely, so what do you think..."

“Minister Kim, you are thoughtful. Please make sure I am present during the negotiations."

“Then..."

Park Yitien curled his lip and still said into the phone, "Minister Kim, don't worry, Miss Li will appear where she is supposed to tonight."

Park Yitien was in a good mood. He had just suggested that if Red Star came to purchase screens, they could leverage the deal, especially regarding the Yangtze River Battery. He hadn't expected the Red Star people to show up right after he finished talking to Kim Jae-se from the Screen Department.

It was truly a case of someone delivering a pillow when you were sleepy.

Since Kim Jae-se had left them waiting for two days, they would definitely have a stronger position in the upcoming cooperation negotiations.

“Minister Tang, Dr. Zhou, Samsung has replied. Tomorrow afternoon, Kim Jae-se from their Screen Department will negotiate with us."

“That's great. Finishing the mission early means we can return home sooner."

“I really can't stomach another bite of this Land of the Sticks food."

“Even the food I ate in the USA when I was young was better than what these sticks eat."

Only two days had passed, but Dr. Zhou felt as if two months had gone by. What kind of ghost feast was this? A whole table of dishes, but upon closer inspection, they were all just small pickles!

Now, everything the sticks called gourmet food looked like kimchi to Dr. Zhou!

Tang Mang smiled and said, “Dr. Zhou, when we get back, I'll treat you to duck and a bowl of small wontons."

In the blink of an eye, it was the next day. Dr. Zhou and his group arrived at Samsung as agreed.

In the reception room, after the group shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, Kim Jae-se pointed to Park Yitien and introduced him: “This is Minister Park from our Samsung Mobile Business Department."

Although Tang Mang was slightly confused, he still politely shook hands and exchanged greetings with Park Yitien.

After everyone was seated, they got down to business. Tang Mang spoke first: “Minister Kim, we came to your esteemed company this time to purchase a batch of your E1-level screens.” (For convenience, Samsung's screens are simply categorized into E-level, M-level, and C-level. M-level is in Samsung's laboratory, C-level is ordinary, and E-level is what Samsung uses in its own flagship phones on the market.)

Kim Jae-se acted as if he were an old monk deep in meditation, not even lifting his eyelids. “Manager Tang, don't you know that we don't sell E1-level screens externally?"

“Minister Kim, Red Star comes with sincerity, and we hope to establish a good cooperative relationship with your company,” Tang Mang said, neither humble nor pushy. It was expected that this fat bastard would say they didn't sell them externally; he just wanted to raise the price.

“As the best-selling mobile phone manufacturer in the China market, Red Star purchasing your oled screens will greatly promote both your company and oled screens. I believe Minister Kim understands how vast the China market is."

After Tang Mang finished speaking, Kim Jae-se pretended to think and then said, “I heard that Red Star developed a high-density battery called Yangtze River. I wonder if your company would be willing to share the technology for the Yangtze River Battery?"

After speaking, he stared straight at Tang Mang.

Tang Mang maintained a calm expression, but inwardly, he was cursing the fat bastard's ancestors back eighteen generations.

Why the hell don't you share your E-level screen technology?

And share the Yangtze River Battery technology too?

“Minister Kim must be joking. Our Yangtze River Battery is Red Star's most advanced technology, and it is impossible for it to be leaked."

“Oh, is that so? Our E-level screen production capacity is indeed a bit insufficient. I hope Manager Tang understands that we temporarily cannot sell it externally."

Kim Jae-se wanted to continue pressuring Tang Mang, so he put down his teacup, signaling that the discussion was over and it was time for them to leave.

Tang Mang said unhurriedly, “Minister Kim, how can your company provide screens to our Red Star? Of course, the technology for the Yangtze River Battery is impossible to provide."

“If your company is willing to cooperate with Samsung, we are willing to provide Red Star with 1 million screens for the price of 40 billion Korean Won."

Kim Jae-se looked at Tang Mang across from him and calmly stated his price.

Since your Red Star firmly refuses to share the Yangtze River Battery technology, I'll just have to raise the price a little.

Hearing the price quoted by Kim Jae-se, Tang Mang couldn't remain calm. This dead fat pig was openly trying to fleece them.

If this price were quoted ten years later, for Samsung's top-tier screens used internally, certain manufacturers in China would definitely be lining up with cash to purchase them.

But it was only 2014. Red Star used China Star's LCD Screens, which cost less than 300 yuan. The price quoted by Kim Jae-se directly multiplied the screen price by seven times. This price was completely unacceptable.

If they accepted this price, the cost of a single screen would account for more than half of the phone's total cost. How could they design the phone then?

All the money they earned would go straight to Samsung.

They had to push the price down. If you demand exorbitant prices, I'll negotiate a reasonable counter-offer on the spot.

CEO Chen had guessed that Samsung might raise the price when they came, so he had already increased the budget to 900–1200 yuan. Kim Jae-se's quote directly exceeded the budget by double.

“Minister Kim, I'm afraid we can't accept this price, and the quantity of one million pieces is too small. Our first batch will be 1 million pieces, and the total purchase quantity will be no less than 3 million pieces. What price can Minister Kim offer?"

“No less than 3 million pieces?" Kim Jae-se whispered a few words into his assistant's ear. After the assistant scribbled some notes, Kim Jae-se calmly stated, “3 million pieces will require 140 billion Korean Won."

Tang Mang felt he was about to lose control of his temper. Was this guy treating him like a monkey?

1 million pieces costs 40 billion Korean Won, but 3 million pieces costs 140 billion Korean Won? Was this guy insane?

“Minister Kim? If that's the case, I'm afraid we won't be able to cooperate,” Tang Mang said, forcefully suppressing his anger.

“Manager Tang, we simply have insufficient capacity. Please understand.” Kim Jae-se gave a fake smile.

Just as Tang Mang was about to stand up and leave, Park Yitien stood up and addressed both parties: “Minister Kim, Manager Tang, the price can be discussed further. After all, we genuinely have insufficient capacity, and our current OLED technology is globally leading, so a slightly higher price is quite normal."

“That's not just a little expensive!"

“You're completely treating us like pigs ready for slaughter.” Of course, Tang Mang didn't say that last sentence out loud; if he did, there would truly be no room left for maneuvering.

“How about this, Manager Tang, I'll go talk to Minister Kim. Samsung is very eager to establish a cooperative relationship with Red Star.” Having said that, Park Yitien pulled Kim Jae-se aside.

Dr. Zhou leaned into Tang Mang's ear. “Are these sticks trying to mess with us? What is Minister Park trying to do?"

“It's probably not that they want to mess with us, but it's definitely true that they want a high price."

“One plays the good cop, and the other plays the bad cop. Don't they know we invented this trick?"