50: Toyota in action

A little after 5:00 PM, the Deng residence.

Deng Yue's Mother and Father returned home after finishing a day's work.

As soon as the two entered the door, they found Deng Yue busy around the dining table, and both showed looks of surprise.

"Oh! The sun must have risen from the west today. My big lazy girl is actually cooking. What a rare sight!" Deng Yue's Mother teased while changing her shoes.

"Mom~ I'm not lazy, okay? I'm just busy with work and didn't have time." Hearing her mother's teasing, Deng Yue immediately acted spoiled.

"Yes, yes, yes, you're not lazy. I wonder who it is that can lie in bed all day as soon as a holiday starts."

"Dad~ look at Mom." Having her shortcomings exposed, Deng Yue hurriedly turned to Deng Yue's Father for help.

Unfortunately, Deng Yue's Mother was the boss of the Deng family, so Deng Yue's Father could only give Deng Yue a helpless expression. However, he still changed the subject, saying, "Yueyue, what special day is it today? Why did you make such a large table of dishes?"

"Heehee, Mom, Dad, you guys wash your hands and eat first. I have a surprise to tell you in a bit," Deng Yue said with a smile.

Hearing this, Deng Yue's Father and Mother looked at each other, both noticing a trace of worry in the other's eyes, but neither said anything.

Just as Deng Yue's Father and Mother finished washing their hands and the family was about to eat, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Deng Yue got up to open the door and found it was her eldest aunt, Zhao Guixiang, and her cousin, Deng Yun.

"Auntie, Brother," Deng Yue greeted them and quickly let them in.

"Sister-in-law, Dayun, you're here. Please, come in." Seeing the visitors, Deng Yue's Father and Mother also stood up to greet them.

After the two entered, Deng Yue's Father and Mother were about to add more bowls and chopsticks to invite them to eat at the table.

"Third Brother, Sister-in-law, don't bother. Dayun and I already ate before coming over. We're here today because we have something to talk to you about," Deng Yue's aunt said after sitting down.

"What is it, Sister-in-law?" Deng Yue's Father asked in confusion.

"It's about Yueyue's lifelong happiness. I heard that Yueyue broke up with her boyfriend a while ago, so I wanted to introduce someone better to her. Coincidentally, the son of the leader where Dayun works is quite good. The leader is a deputy bureau-level official, and the son graduated from a key university. He's now working at a finance company in H City. The family conditions are excellent, so I wanted Yueyue to get to know him.

I've already made an appointment for Yueyue. Go meet him tomorrow," Zhao Guixiang said.

Hearing this, the three members of the Deng family were instantly stunned.

A few seconds later, Deng Yue said loudly, "Auntie, why are you playing matchmaker randomly? Who said I broke up with my boyfriend? We're doing just fine now."

"Yeah, Sister-in-law, Yueyue has already reconciled with Qin Yang, and we've agreed to their relationship. Why didn't you notify us about this first?" Deng Yue's Father also said.

Zhao Guixiang, however, said with a calm face, "So what if they reconciled? Isn't he still just a poor boy? Yueyue, you have to listen to your aunt on this. I've been through it all; feelings and such are all illusory, only cold hard cash is reality. Besides a few issues with his looks, the material conditions of Dayun's leader's son are definitely a hundred times better than that penniless boyfriend of yours in our H City.

Furthermore, if you two work out, we'll all be one family. When the time comes, your cousin can also benefit from the connection, right?"

Since things had been said to this extent, how could the three members of the Deng family not understand her meaning? This was using the excuse of being good for Deng Yue to pave the way for Deng Yun!

At this moment, Deng Yue's state of mind actually calmed down.

She said, "Auntie, have you ever heard the saying, 'after three days apart, one should be viewed in a new light'? Please respect my boyfriend. He's not some penniless boy. Didn't you say the other party's family conditions are excellent? Then please have them buy these two houses for me first before talking about anything else."

After Deng Yue finished speaking, she opened her phone, found the photo of the signature from today's house purchase, and held it in front of Zhao Guixiang's eyes.

Zhao Guixiang took a look and immediately cried out, "My goodness!" She said in disbelief, "This must be photoshopped! How is it possible that before even getting married, he gave you real estate worth over ten million!!"

"Heh, this is what my boyfriend is capable of. As for whether the picture is photoshopped, Auntie, you'll find out tomorrow," Deng Yue said with a cold laugh.

The others were also shocked by Zhao Guixiang's words and hurriedly took the phone to look. After seeing the photo, they all gasped. What? A luxury residence worth over thirty million was bought before marriage, and most importantly, Deng Yue's name was also on it!

"Yueyue, is this true?" After a long while, Deng Yue's Mother asked in an uncertain tone.

"Dad, Mom, this is the surprise I wanted to give you today. Also, Qin Yang said that in the future, the two of us might live in the large flat long-term. As for the villa, you two can live there with Qin Yang's mother and sister. Oh, right, Dad, Qin Yang also wants to give you a car. I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

Speaking of these things, Deng Yue's eyes sparkled with light... Toyota Group's Neon headquarters conference room.

The directors of the Toyota Group were holding a meeting regarding the super carburetor.

Chairman of the Board Toyoda Akio and others were facing the large screen in the conference room, listening to Tanaka Rie's report.

"Directors, just yesterday, our branch in China used special methods to obtain five of Great Wall Motors' latest environmental-friendly energy-saving vehicles equipped with super carburetors.

On that same day, our side organized several top mechanical engineers to reverse-engineer the super carburetor, but the results were terrible. The other party likely installed a backdoor in the manufacturing technology of the super carburetor. Our engineers took the super carburetor apart for research, only to find that its internal structure is exactly the same as an ordinary carburetor. After testing it several times, they reached the same conclusion. What is most unacceptable is that after reassembling it back into the original car, the car no longer possesses that amazing fuel-saving capability," Tanaka Rie said.

"Is it possible that this super carburetor is a scam?" a director asked.

Tanaka Rie shook her head. "It's not a scam. Cars equipped with the super carburetor have been tested and are indeed as energy-efficient as Wang Jian said. Moreover, the power output performance is on par with cars equipped with original carburetors or Electronic Fuel Injection."

"Mr. Tanaka, based on what you've said, this technology is indeed epoch-making. As a group with cars as our pillar industry, I personally believe this technology should be in our own hands. Otherwise, while we can accept a unit price of thirty thousand, once the other party is unwilling to cooperate with us, the blow to us would be massive. Don't think this is impossible; after all, the Chinese people's view of us Neon people is not good. This feeling of being held by the throat is something the entire Toyota Group cannot accept.

Furthermore, with this technology, the Toyota Group might even reach another level," Toyoda Akio, the Chairman of the Board, said with piercing eyes.

"Yes, Mr. Chairman. Following the board's reminder, I have already dispatched people to take action. However, the internal organizational structure of Qins Machinery Manufacturing Plant is very tight. Although the people sent have been hired for positions at Qins Machinery Manufacturing Plant, it will still take some time to enter the core circle," Tanaka Rie replied quickly upon hearing this.

However, Toyoda Akio shook his head.

"Mr. Tanaka, while your method is good, it takes too much time. Actually, we should have a better way—for example, poaching the engineer who invented this technology."

"Mr. Chairman, I have thought about the method you mentioned and have already implemented it. But what I can't understand is that no matter what conditions I offer, that engineer has refused them all."

"Haha, since bribery doesn't work, we can use coercion. I don't believe someone can stay that stubborn with a gun pointed at their head!" Toyoda Akio replied with a smile.

"But, this is China." Tanaka Rie understood Toyoda Akio's meaning but was somewhat hesitant.

"Mr. Tanaka, I only want results now. Do you understand?"

"Hai! Mr. Chairman!"

After hanging up the video conference, Tanaka Rie wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. If there was anyone in the group's top management she feared most, Chairman Toyoda Akio was definitely number one. This was because Toyoda Akio's style was to stop at nothing; he would use any means necessary to achieve his goals and was a 'smiling tiger'—appearing harmonious on the surface while stabbing people in the back countlessly.

Since the other party had already issued the order, it was not something Tanaka Rie could evade.

After thinking for a moment, Tanaka Rie took out her private phone and dialed a number.

Soon, the other party picked up the call.

"Moshi moshi, Commander Ozawa, how have you been lately?" Tanaka Rie initiated the conversation.

"Oh, it's Mr. Tanaka. I'm doing quite well over here. You're a guy who doesn't visit unless there's a reason. Calling me suddenly must mean there's some work, right?" A low voice sounded from the other end of the phone.

"Hehe, Commander Ozawa guessed correctly. It's like this: I have a business deal worth two million USD. I wonder if Commander Ozawa is interested?"

"Oh? Two million USD! Of course I'm interested." Hearing it was a two-million-dollar deal, the other party's volume immediately increased several notches.

"It's like this: I need your team to help me capture a person. We might also need you to transport them out of China..."

Before Tanaka Rie could finish, she was suddenly interrupted: "Mr. Tanaka means kidnapping someone from China? Doesn't Mr. Tanaka know that China is a forbidden zone for people like us?"

"Uh, I didn't explain clearly. The person I want you to capture is just an ordinary person with no presence in China. As long as you do it discreetly, you won't need any weapons or equipment at all. How about it? That's much simpler, right?"

The man named Ozawa paused for a few seconds and replied, "If that's the case, then there's no problem. Hehe, I thought with such a high-priced order, the target was some big figure."

"No such thing. We're fellow countrymen; how could I harm you? Since we've agreed, I'll pay a twenty percent deposit first. Once the mission is completed, we'll settle immediately. How does that sound?" Tanaka Rie replied.

"No problem. I'll take a flight to your side today. Keep in touch."

"Alright."

That same night, a plane from Southeast Asia heading to Shanghai arrived at the Shanghai airport on time.