Chapter 174: I Have Conditions
This group of people were wearing black suits, with the leader in a proper tailcoat, his hair carefully slicked with hair wax, like a thin layer clinging tightly to his scalp.
This was a purebred white man, with deep features and blue eyes revealing a hint of anxiety.
Aisha seemed unable to recall who this person was. She felt she hadn’t sent an invitation to him.
At this moment, someone in the crowd could no longer sit still. Wall Street representative Semps said in surprise, “Mr. Gordon, why are you here?”
The newcomer ignored him, merely nodding politely in greeting, then walking straight toward Princess Aisha in the crowd.
Medillen, standing next to Semps, asked doubtfully, “Mr. Semps, do you know him?”
Semps nodded and said in a respectful tone, “Of course, he is the chief executive officer of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Asia Region, Gordon Smith.”
“He is a heavyweight figure at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. I never expected Princess Aisha to invite even him.”
Semps’s voice was soft, but it was still overheard by those nearby. Knowing that the man before them was the chief executive officer of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, several people around immediately showed surprise in their eyes.
However, Semps was obviously mistaken. The one who invited Gordon Smith was not Aisha, but Chen Yang.
“Mr. Gordon, hello. We spoke on the telephone. I am Chen Yang.” Chen Yang extended his hand and gave Gordon a modest smile.
“Mr. Chen, hello.” Gordon glanced at Chen Yang and exclaimed in admiration, “Mr. Chen is much younger than I imagined.”
“I thought someone capable of making this decision would at least have some experience, but Mr. Chen is surprisingly so young. Truly, the young are formidable.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Gordon.” Chen Yang smiled and said, “Mr. Gordon, let me introduce her to you. This is Your Highness Aisha of the Dutch Royal Family.”
“Regarding this cooperation, she has full authority to make decisions.”
Gordon stepped forward, gently taking Aisha’s slender hand and kissing the back of it lightly.
“Your Highness, it is an honor to meet you.” Gordon gestured backward, and his attendant immediately produced a contract that had been prepared in advance.
“According to Mr. Chen’s proposal, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals is willing to provide the deep tank fermentation technology patent and invest sixteen million US dollars to cooperate with Huafu Fund in building a pharmaceutical factory within the United States.”
“I know you still have some concerns. Please rest assured, our fleet absolutely has the ability to ensure the strain safely reaches the American continent.”
With that, Gordon scanned the surroundings as if provocatively.
Consul Carl’s face turned ashen. Before Gordon arrived, he had confidently declared that the Royal Navy would not allow a single strain to leave British homeland.
Not even half an hour had passed, and Gordon had slapped him hard in the face.
No wonder if anyone in the world hates Americans, that person must be British.
And apart from Carl, everyone else began reconsidering the previous quotation.
Medillen had confirmed they couldn’t mass produce because they had no method for large-scale cultivation of the strain.
And Pfizer Pharmaceuticals’ deep tank fermentation technology was precisely the core process for future penicillin mass production.
Currently, penicillin still used melons as the raw materials for cultivating the strain. In the future, when they found the substitute corn, that would be when this technology truly shone.
Aisha’s gaze shifted slightly, but before she could decide, Gordon added the fatal line: “Of course, all this depends on our country’s《 enemy trade act》 lifting restrictions on the Netherlands.”
“Mr. Gordon, are you joking with me?” Aisha’s expression darkened instantly.
“Do you mean this contract is completely useless right now? Then what is the point of asking me to sign it?”
“Your Highness, please don’t be angry.” Gordon hurriedly explained, “After receiving Mr. Chen’s call, I reported the situation to headquarters.”
“The reason I was late was that I was waiting for headquarters’ reply.”
“Board of Directors Chairman Lucas just met with Secretary of State Hull, and Mr. Hull indicated he would fully promote cooperation between us.”
“So, that is why I arrived late.”
Aisha’s expression softened slightly as she looked toward Chen Yang at her side, who nodded slightly.
In fact, Chen Yang didn’t know if Pfizer Pharmaceuticals would agree to cooperate with Aisha.
But he knew one thing: the development history of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.
In the era Chen Yang came from, searching online for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals’ development history yielded piles of results.
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1849, and its first opportunity was the Civil War that broke out in 1861.
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals supplied large quantities of cheap medicine to the Northern Army, thereby gaining massive resource tilt.
As for the second time, it was during World War II, when Pfizer Pharmaceuticals supplied large quantities of cheap penicillin to the US military.
It was precisely because of this medicine support that the US military saved numerous soldiers’ lives during the Normandy landings.
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals thereby gained its second chance for explosive growth.
If history hadn’t gone wrong, then the cooperation between Pfizer and Life Sunshine Pharmaceutical would definitely succeed.
“Everyone, please excuse me.” Princess Aisha slightly bowed to the crowd in the banquet hall, curtsying.
“The ball continues. I hope everyone enjoys themselves.”
“Mr. Gordon, please come with me.”
Aisha led Gordon out of the banquet hall, but Chen Yang did not follow.
The identity Chen Yang had set for himself was private advisor, and he clearly wasn’t suitable to be present in such a setting.
Moreover, he needed to know these people’s reactions after Aisha signed with Gordon.
Sure enough, after Aisha left, the ball became somewhat deserted, and British consul Carl was the first to leave the banquet hall with his attendants.
Judging from his hurried appearance, he was obviously going back to seek instructions on the cooperation matter.
As for German consul Mr. Fellman, he remained as calm as ever, though his adjutant had disappeared at some point.
As for Medillen, he acted as if nothing had happened. After all, Shell’s business was oil, and medicine was not essential for them.
The oil profits during wartime would not be lower than those from medicine.
“Mr. Medillen, I’ve long admired you.” Chen Yang raised his wine cup and approached, saying, “I heard Mr. Medillen has run into some trouble recently.”
“Your oil can’t get through from the north.”
This topic was like a needle, instantly pricking Medillen’s heart.
“Does Mr. Chen know about this too?”
Chen Yang smiled faintly. “Your Highness Aisha’s private advisor is just a side job. My main position is Third Section Chief of the Southern Transportation Department of the Empire of Japan.”
“Mr. Medillen, to be honest, you trust South Manchuria Railway’s transportation ability too much.”
“To actually place all your bets on them.”
Medillen grew even more depressed upon hearing this. “Omura Takuichi swore that South Manchuria Railway was the most efficient transportation organization.”
“How was I to know he would cause such a blunder, leaving our materials stranded in the north.”
Chen Yang smiled slightly. “Mr. Medillen, no need to worry. Perhaps I can help.”
“However, I have conditions…”
