He then added, “You’d better actually bring something to the table, but don’t think that just because you’re dating Sarah, I’ll help you!”

David Brooks smiled at these words. Instead of sitting down on the sofa, he walked straight to his large desk, took off his backpack, unzipped it, and pulled out the money tightly wrapped in newspaper, placing it directly on the desk. He unwrapped it, letting all eighty thousand yuan show.

Charles Carter stared in astonishment at the bundle of cash, then looked up at David Brooks.

David Brooks pointed with his hand, “In here, there’s forty-five thousand lent to me by my second uncle, twenty thousand from my parents, ten thousand from my eldest aunt, and five thousand from my grandpa! That’s eighty thousand in total!”

Upon hearing this, Charles Carter glanced down almost instinctively and, following David Brooks’s words, quickly counted—sure enough, there were eight stacks. Then he looked up again at the young punk.

He said, “This is all I can come up with—there’s not a cent more. I heard your beverage factory is up for sale. It doesn’t matter who you sell it to, so sell it to me!”

Chapter 13: A Failed Evolution

Charles Carter was stunned for several seconds.

But as soon as he snapped out of it, in an instant, he was furious beyond words—everyone here is a respectable person. Even if the business failed, at least we should save some face for each other. Even if not for my own sake, there’s still the reputation of the Song family, the richest in Fuping County. Even among uncles and elders, at most they’d make a little joke, but never has anyone dared to humiliate me so openly!

Invested tens of millions, worked for three and a half years, and now it’s worth eighty thousand, is that it?

Coca-Cola offered two million—even if that price cut was painful, and Pepsi offered 1.8 million—even if that made Charles Carter so angry he didn’t want to deal with them.

But… at least those were real offers!

And this?

Eighty thousand yuan?

To buy our Shimen Beverage Factory, into which we’ve invested over ten million in more than three years?

Just one set of our canning equipment is worth $200,000!

And we have four such production lines!

Even if we sold them for scrap metal, they’d be worth more than eighty thousand!

This is just outrageous!

Even if it were some other leader or powerful uncle making such a joke, it would be considered way over the line. And you—a little punk who’d be in jail for two years if my dad didn’t help you out—you dare come here and humiliate me?

In that instant, Charles Carter almost slammed the table and stood up!

But the next moment, he forcibly stopped his hand, which was already halfway up.

“This eighty thousand isn’t everything—it represents my sincerity! Because it’s all I have right now! As for the remaining 4.92 million, I need six months… Of course, I’ll include interest.”

“Four… how much? You mean, you’re offering five million?”

“Yes. I’m offering five million!”

Charles Carter was delighted at first, but quickly came to his senses. He couldn’t even be bothered to be angry anymore. The corner of his mouth curled up, and he sneered, his face full of disdain. “Five million, haha! All right then! Tell me, where’s the remaining 4.92 million? How will you come up with that in six months?”

David Brooks raised his eyebrows. “So, if it’s five million, you’ll sell?”

Charles Carter didn’t hesitate, “Sell! If you can come up with five million, I’ll sell right now!”

Although the factory had over ten million invested in it, times have changed. No matter how good the equipment is—even if it was barely used—it’s already second-hand. Dad was right: a bet’s a bet, and you have to accept the loss!

The two million from Coca-Cola was them taking advantage, and they knew it. The beverage industry may have a low entry barrier, but it’s very hard to succeed, especially with my huge failure as an example. No one local in Fuping County would be interested in this factory, so they dared to push the price so low.

But… five million is actually a very high offer!

If it were a truly powerful company or big boss willing to offer that, Charles Carter feared he might cry on the spot. But if the one making the offer is this little punk in front of him…

“I really can’t come up with the remaining 4.92 million right now…”

David Brooks smiled confidently, “But I am willing to pay that price. In six months, I’ll settle the full amount with interest. Of course…”

He paused, seeing that his soon-to-be brother-in-law was still sneering. Calmly, he took out a cigarette, struck a match, lit up, took a drag, and then continued with a smile, “Of course, I know you’re worried I won’t be able to pay up when the time comes! But don’t worry, I won’t let you lose out!”