298: Chapter 298 What Robot?

“Councilman Chen, did Councilman Yan really go looking for me? Why didn’t he give me a heads-up beforehand? This is quite a mess. Could it be that he took a wrong turn on the way? Please wait a moment, I’ll call to confirm.” Niu Xingwang acted flustered, pulled out his phone, and quickly dialed.

“Oh, hello? Secretary Gu, did Councilman Yan come over? No? Oh, alright, alright, I understand. If Councilman Yan comes, notify me immediately. Yes, yes, that’s it.” Niu Xingwang pretended to talk for a bit, then hung up the phone.

“Councilman Chen, he didn’t go! Are you mistaken?” Niu Xingwang asked.

“How could I be mistaken?” Chen Guanxuan replied unequivocally.

“How about I still make a call?” Niu Xingwang took out his phone again and dialed Yan Zhengping.

30 seconds later…

“It’s not going through,” Niu Xingwang said to Chen Guanxuan.

Whether he actually called or not, no one knew. Anyway, Niu Xingwang said it wasn't going through, so it wasn't.

Alright, the acting was just right at this point; he couldn't continue to perform, or it would seem deliberate.

“Councilman Chen, Councilman Yan can’t be reached now. Did something happen?” Niu Xingwang asked.

Chen Guanxuan didn't answer Niu Xingwang's question. Instead, he frowned, deep in thought.

“Chairman Niu, were the robots used for today’s demonstration provided by your Chamber of Commerce?” Chen Guanxuan seemed to have grasped the crux of the problem, so he asked.

“Goodness! I’m exhausted. Chen Guanxuan finally got to the point,” Niu Xingwang sighed inwardly.

However, what he said was a different story:

“Robots? What robots?” Niu Xingwang looked as if he didn't understand.

“Hmm?” Chen Guanxuan saw Niu Xingwang’s response and, as expected, grew highly suspicious.

“What about yesterday? Did Councilman Yan go to your place yesterday?” Chen Guanxuan continued to ask.

Because yesterday, Yan Zhengping said he was going to Huatong Chamber of Commerce for discussions after the meeting. So if he didn't go today, it's possible he didn't go yesterday either.

“He didn’t go yesterday either. I haven’t seen Councilman Yan for a long time,” Niu Xingwang replied.

“What?!” Chen Guanxuan exploded.

“So that means today’s Simulation Spider Robots weren’t provided by your Huatong Chamber of Commerce either?” Chen Guanxuan asked loudly.

“Simulation Spider Robots? Our Chamber of Commerce does have one, but it’s still in the Chamber of Commerce’s exhibition hall!” Niu Xingwang also raised his voice considerably.

“One? That’s not right! Councilman Yan said your Chamber of Commerce provided thirty thousand Simulation Spider Robots and five thousand flying robots. Is there any truth to that?” The more Chen Guanxuan thought about it, the more wrong it seemed, and he asked, seeking verification bit by bit.

“Councilman Chen, please don’t joke. Thirty thousand!? Do you know how many crystalss that many robots would require? Our Chamber of Commerce doesn’t have that kind of financial power right now,” Niu Xingwang said, shaking his head in denial.

“So that’s how it is. No wonder Yan Zhengping dragged his feet when the Speaker asked our Finance Department and your Chamber of Commerce to trade directly. So the problem was here all along.” Chen Guanxuan seemed to understand everything.

“But why would Yan Zhengping do that?” Chen Guanxuan pondered.

“Ah? This, this, this, Councilman Chen, did I say something wrong?” Niu Xingwang asked, a bit nervously.

“Oh, it has nothing to do with you. How about this, I’ll take you to meet someone, and you can explain the situation to him,” Chen Guanxuan said.

“Ah? Meet who? Explain what situation?” Niu Xingwang feigned ignorance.

“Let’s go, you’ll know when you get there.” Chen Guanxuan didn't explain, directly leading him to the conference room.

“Speaker, we have a situation!” Chen Guanxuan cried out anxiously after entering the room.

“Speaker…!” Niu Xingwang saw that the person at the conference table was the Speaker and became a bit nervous. However, it was unclear whether he was truly nervous or just pretending.

“Councilman Chen, what is it?” Baili Ji looked at him and asked.

“Speaker, this is Chairman Niu of the Huatong Chamber of Commerce. Let him explain the specific situation,” Chen Guanxuan said.

“So it’s the renowned Chairman Niu. Chairman Niu, what is it? Please speak,” Baili Ji said politely.

“Speaker, I’m just here to deliver the crystalss. I don’t know anything else about the situation,” Niu Xingwang said.

Baili Ji frowned and looked at Chen Guanxuan.

He was asking him what exactly was going on.

“Chairman Niu, I ask you, did Councilman Yan go to your place today?” Chen Guanxuan asked the same question again.

“No!” Niu Xingwang answered very assertively.

“Speaker, look, this isn’t right!” Chen Guanxuan said, looking at Baili Ji.

Baili Ji’s brows furrowed even deeper. After pondering for a moment, he asked:

“So, these thirty thousand-plus robots aren’t from your Huatong Chamber of Commerce either?”

“Of course not. Currently, there isn’t much of a market for this type of robot, so our Chamber of Commerce only has one sample. I already explained to Councilman Chen earlier that so many robots would require a huge sum of crystalss, and our Chamber of Commerce doesn’t currently have the financial power for that,” Niu Xingwang said.

Baili Ji rubbed the pen in his hand, his eyes slightly narrowed, lost in thought.

The others watched him; no one spoke.

The scene fell silent for a time.