As the appointed time for the invitation arrived, everyone took their cars and headed to the agreed-upon venue.
It was the grandest hotel in Shanghai. As they entered, a waiter led them into the banquet hall.
They then realized the entire hotel was reserved just for them; the whole establishment had been booked.
Upon reaching the hall, they saw that Mr. Du, the behind-the-scenes owner of the hotel, was already seated at one of the tables. More and more people were arriving, but Lin Yan, the host of this gathering, had yet to appear.
"It seems this Miss Lin is a bit too presumptuous!" said a portly middle-aged man, sounding rather displeased.
"Everyone here is a senior, and while this Miss Lin is very capable, she appears to be slightly lacking in etiquette!"
"Boss Du, you are already here, yet this junior has not arrived. This is truly overconfident," a middle-aged businessman in a traditional Chinese jacket leaned closer to Boss Du, seeking to strike up a conversation.
However, Mr. Du did not respond. Instead, he picked up his teacup and calmly waited.
Everyone was also observing Mr. Du's reaction. Seeing that he was waiting, they suppressed their temper and stopped complaining.
After all, if Mr. Du, who held greater influence than them, had not spoken, they could only wait quietly. As they calmed down, the service staff brought tea, pastries, and fruits.
Once most people had arrived, Lin Yan entered, accompanied by someone carrying a stack of large brown paper bags.
"Thank you all for accepting my invitation! And thank you, Boss Du, for providing the venue," Lin Yan said, walking to the center of the hall and greeting everyone.
"Please take your seats. Everyone is quite busy, so I'll keep this brief."
Lin Yan gestured for her assistant to place the brown paper bags on the tables.
Despite the earlier expressions of dissatisfaction towards Lin Yan, their arrogance vanished upon her appearance, replaced by a sense of calm.
"May I ask what business Miss Lin has called us here for?"
Mr. Du spoke first. Although he had a general idea of Lin Yan's purpose, he held the highest position among those present, making it best for him to initiate the conversation.
Everyone else had also taken their seats. It seemed they had implicitly agreed on where to sit, requiring no arrangements. Hearing Mr. Du speak, they all turned their attention to Lin Yan.
"Mr. Du should also be aware of the constraints on China's industrial development. You are all investors in practical industries. In such a turbulent society, your investment in real industries signifies that you are unwilling to let foreign powers treat our people like lambs to be slaughtered.
Did the foreign powers not force open our nation's doors with cannon fire precisely to make China a source of raw materials and to capture our markets? Therefore, they are unwilling for us to develop."
Lin Yan paused and looked at the businessmen. These were individuals she had chosen: patriotic merchants. While their investment in industries might not have been solely for the development of national industry, it was not for exploiting others either.
"Our current development is only possible because the foreign powers are currently preoccupied with their own affairs, thus giving us an opportunity to grow.
However, when they are free to turn their attention back, we, who lack their capital and technology, will be impacted and utterly unable to compete with them."
"Miss Lin seems to be inflating the might of others and deflating our own," said a man in a dark blue robe. He disagreed with Lin Yan's statement.
"Indeed, we are not inferior to those powers. They still need to purchase goods from us! Just as Miss Lin sells her products abroad, does she not?"
"I actually think Miss Lin is right. Compared to the foreign powers, we are indeed weaker. So, has Miss Lin invited us here just to pour cold water on our efforts?"
This was the owner of a textile factory. He deeply understood Lin Yan's words. The machines he used now were purchased from abroad, but they were merely their discarded models. He could not afford new machines, and even if he could, the foreigners would not sell them to him.
"Of course not. You should all have noticed that the higher the technical content, the higher the price. And our deficiency compared to the foreigners lies precisely in this technology. What if I told you that I can provide you with such technology?"
Lin Yan dropped a bombshell and then calmly, with a faint smile, observed the crowd.
Her words silenced the room. Even those who had been conversing quietly during Lin Yan's speech stopped.
But after a moment, they began to inquire again, desperately wanting to know the meaning behind Lin Yan's words.
The room descended into a chaotic buzz of questions, but Lin Yan remained seated calmly at the table, not answering. Only after they had somewhat regained their composure did Lin Yan speak.
"I studied abroad and acquired much knowledge. Of course, you may not fully trust my abilities. My industry involves selling women's cosmetics. While it is very profitable, I doubt you all approve.
However, these cosmetics use formulations and technologies that are not available abroad. Even if they buy these products back, they cannot fully replicate them. Thus, they can only source them from me.
I am aware of my limited experience and that my words carry little weight. That is why I invited Mr. Du to preside. Mr. Du has visited my factory and has some understanding of my capabilities."
Saying this, Lin Yan took out the brown paper bags. "Here are some formulations and processes, all relatively simple. You may examine them."
She signaled to her assistant, who had been standing behind her, to distribute these paper bags to those present.
"Then, what does Miss Lin require? We believe in Miss Lin's capabilities, but we are unsure what Miss Lin wishes to obtain from us," said a man in a moon-white long gown, speaking calmly.
He did not believe in free lunches and wondered what this Miss Lin truly desired. If she was not asking for the moon, then cooperation might be possible, as she was certainly more reliable than those foreigners.
"I do not require much. If you wish to cooperate with me, I only ask for one-tenth of your factory's profits.
I will provide technical support, and you will provide the capital. My only desire is to see China's industries develop, so that China does not truly become a colony of the Western powers."
Lin Yan spoke with a heavy heart. In truth, she did not covet much. However, she still needed to earn more money to support her father, hence she chose one-tenth as the share.
"What Miss Lin is asking for seems rather little," Mr. Du interjected at this point.
"Mr. Du, I am not short of money. In fact, I didn't originally intend to ask for this one-tenth. But if I truly didn't ask for anything, I fear you all would lose sleep over it," Lin Yan joked.
"Then I shall first agree to a collaboration with Miss Lin. I look forward to your guidance in the future!" Mr. Du said.
He had already spoken with Lin Yan. Their investment was not in civilian industries, but in a munitions factory! Lin Yan had given him an opportunity to possess greater military power.
He had seen the blueprints Lin Yan provided; those weapons were far superior to anything on the market. Even if he did not wish to partake in the warlord conflicts, having this munitions factory would give him more leverage.
Even if he didn't seize territory, selling firearms was a good business. With so many of his men equipped with guns, it would also ensure their safety.