Chapter 65 Business Negotiations Are All About Information Asymmetry

Frustrated!
Utterly frustrated!
For Liu Yi, during business negotiations, he was usually the one playing the hunter.
Yet today, running into Huo Qitai gave him the surreal sensation of becoming the prey.
He had always acted by anticipating his opponents' moves, gathering intelligence before making a strike, but he never expected to capsize in this drainage ditch called Huo Qitai.
"Student Huo, I have to say, your appetite is enormous.
I just wonder if your stomach can actually digest it."
Liu Yi's gloomy voice sounded like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
However, Huo Qitai remained completely unfazed by his emotional outburst, replying with unbridled confidence:
"There's no need for President Liu to worry about that. I have matters to attend to, so you can take your time considering what I just said."
With that, Huo Qitai hung up the phone and walked back into the private dining room.
He knew very well that business negotiations ultimately revolved around an information asymmetry.
Liu Yi was an old fox; the more he spoke with him, the better Liu Yi could figure out his actual standing.
Therefore, the current rhythm was just right—he had given Liu Yi a fierce bluff.
He would leave Liu Yi suspicious and guessing what kind of background he truly had.
"In my past life before rebirth, I saw Liu Yi's shadow in several corruption cases involving fallen high-ranking officials.
His connections were primarily entrenched in the island province and Lingnan region.
So even if he figures out I'm just borrowing the tiger's might to scare the sheep, what can he possibly do to me?"
Puttng his cell phone into his pocket, Huo Qitai's mood actually lightened considerably.
Ever since he spent two hundred thousand euros to purchase the 55.com domain name, Huo Qitai had been waiting for either Liu Yi or Wowo Network to initiate contact.
Only by having them approach first could he better secure an advantageous and proactive position.
If they still hadn't contacted him by the end of the year, Huo Qitai would consider utilizing other media channels to hype up the 55.com domain and actively entice them in.
Now, it was all working out. This Liu Yi had some shrewdness, but still lacked the patience to hold his ground.
Or rather, as Wowo Network's business expanded step by step domestically, a second round of financing was imperative, and acquiring a suitable short domain name would be a monumental move right around that financing period.
Huo Qitai could afford to wait and drag things out, but Liu Yi and Wowo Network could not afford to delay even for a moment.
It was precisely by grasping this information asymmetry that Huo Qitai could remain so unhurried and sit securely in his fishing boat.
Moreover, Huo Qitai estimated that Liu Yi had always relied on political and business connections, with all his past ventures sailing smoothly, leading him to hold an inflated view of himself and assume he could easily manipulate a mere student like him.
Liu Yi probably thought that by casually revealing some connections and stakes, accompanied by a few threats and intimidations, he would scare him into handing the domain over for a slightly inflated price.
"Playing psychological warfare with me? You don't even know green eggplants from ripe ones when picking them.
You're playing with your cards face up in front of me, while you haven't the slightest clue how many explosive cards I'm holding."
With a slight smile, Huo Qitai returned to the private room, where Uncle Ergou was already practically drunk from the toasts poured by his uncle.
Huo Qitai ate a little more food, then supported Xue Ergou as they followed his uncle's family back.
There was no need to stay at a hotel; the one thing his uncle's place had in abundance was rooms.
Due to the high turnover rate among factory workers, out of his nearly two hundred rental rooms, five or six were usually vacant.
After settling the two of them nearby, Huo Gaosheng quietly pulled Huo Qitai aside.
"Xiaotai, that Xue Ergou used to be quite the slippery and untrustworthy character back in the day.
Are you really planning to go into business with him? You'd better keep your guard up against him."
Huo Gaosheng whispered in a cautionary tone.
"Don't worry, Uncle! I know what I'm doing.
Ergou Uncle changed a long time ago. He runs things sincerely now, and his character is reliable.
Besides, we aren't partners in business; I'm simply hiring him to get things done."
Huo Qitai fully understood his uncle's concerns.
After all, Ergou Uncle's reputation in the village back then really left a lot to be desired.
"Well! Your dad also called me, saying you've grown up now and have a very strong mind of your own.
He told me to help you out as much as I can, but not to put on senior airs and try to direct things.
Heh! Am I that kind of person?
You've been admitted to Peking University; do I have the capability to mentor a college student?"
Huo Gaosheng chuckled. "Alright! You've been driving all day, so get some rest early. Tomorrow I'll take you around the various factory areas."
"Got it! You get some rest early too, Uncle."
Nodding, Huo Qitai closed the door and returned to his room.
However, the moment the door shut, Xue Ergou, who had appeared dead drunk on the bed, immediately sat straight up.
"Oh! Ergou Uncle, your hangover clears up fast, doesn't it?"
Anticipating this, Huo Qitai joked.
"Haha! Xiaotai, if I didn't pretend to be drunk, your uncle would've practically forced me to drink myself to death.
Your family are all human wine barrels; how could I ever outdrink him?"
As he spoke, Xue Ergou walked over to the bathroom to wash his face, then added, "My reputation in the village wasn't good back then; your uncle definitely warned you to be careful of me just now, right?"
"Yeah! That's only natural. But once we set up the factory here, Ergou Uncle, you'll inevitably be interacting with my uncle all day long. True character shows over time."
Following that, Huo Qitai and Xue Ergou began discussing the factories his uncle had mentioned during the meal.
...
On the other side, after having his call hung up by Huo Qitai, Liu Yi grew increasingly agitated and restless.
"Where on earth did this little monster crawl out from? So young, yet his speech and methods are so seasoned.
He's like a slippery loach, impossible to pin down or get a grip on."
Liu Yi found the situation extremely tricky. His channels were limited, and he had assumed he'd investigated Huo Qitai down to the roots.
Never did he expect to hit a massive blind spot, making him terrified to act rashly for fear of offending some untouchable heavyweight figure.
Just then, Beijing Wowo Network's Vice President Huang Zifeng called him.
After Liu Yi roughly recounted what had happened, Huang Zifeng laughed and said: "President Liu, what are you hesitating and fearing for?
That kid is eight to ten likely just bluffing you!
How much powerful backing could there possibly be in some impoverished county-level city?
My guess is that he saw some of Wowo Network's strategic planning and some news about you somewhere online, figured out our intention to buy 55.com, and came ahead of time to snatch it out from under us.
He has a bit of cleverness, but ultimately he's just an eighteen-year-old high schooler. A little scare tactic will definitely make him fall right in line.
Give me his phone number; I'll negotiate with him in my capacity as Vice President of Wowo Network and see just how much skill he really has."
Sensing Huang Zifeng's utter contempt for Huo Qitai, Liu Yi felt a lingering sense of unease in his heart.
On second thought, however, letting this hothead Huang Zifeng bump heads with Huo Qitai—regardless of the outcome—was not a bad thing for him.
And so...
Over in Jinghe County, just as Huo Qitai was about to doze off, his phone received a long-distance call from Beijing.
"Huh? A call from Beijing, could Sister Jing be looking for me about something?"
Answering the call, what Huo Qitai heard instead was the voice of a middle-aged man.
"Hello! I am Huang Zifeng, Vice President of Wowo Network. You must be Student Huo, the one who purchased the 55.com domain name, right?"
The other party announced his identity with arrogance, and Huo Qitai coldly replied: "It's me! What is your business?"
"Hmph! Student Huo, do you even realize you've broken the law?
You acquired our company's trade secret regarding the pending purchase of 55.com through network theft and attempted to profit from it, involving a massive amount of money.
Believe it or not, if I call the police on behalf of Wowo Network right now, you'll be serving at least ten years behind bars.
However, considering that you've just reached adulthood, are still a student, and merely took a wrong turn out of momentary confusion, if you realize your mistake and repent by transferring the 55.com domain back to us at its original price,
I can guarantee you that we will not pursue your legal liability any further."
...