Sign the contract, issue the check.
Shire stared at the number on the check and asked weakly, "Mr. Francis, is this money enough to buy your tractor factory?"
Francis laughed, "No, Shire! You need at least ten of these checks!"
Francis was exaggerating; actually, five checks would be enough, but this was partly due to commercial secrecy.
After a pause, Francis added, "The motorcycle factory only needs 600,000 francs. You can buy it without any problem!"
Shire let out an "oh," his face full of disappointment.
Grevy and Arman looked puzzled. They didn't understand why this family was discussing buying and selling family assets.
But it wasn't their concern, and it was someone else's family affair, so they didn't ask much.
...
On the way home, Dejoka noticed Shire seemed a bit down, so he went up to console him:
"I know the tractor factory is important to you, Shire!"
"But we can take our time. After all, we've already made a lot of money. One day, we'll have enough to buy the tractor factory, don't you think?"
"990,000 francs, you should be happy..."
Shire kept his head down, but his tone was not at all gloomy: "Can you still see the villa?"
"What?" Dejoka was stunned. Then he realized Shire was putting on an act.
But... why?
He turned to look back, answering: "Almost gone, I can only see a small part of it."
Just moments ago, Shire had looked like a withered cabbage, but he instantly returned to his original self, exhaling a breath of relief. Acting was hard work since he wasn't a professional.
"I never intended to buy the tractor factory, Father!" Shire said.
"Never intended to buy?" Dejoka didn't understand: "Then why..."
Before he finished speaking, Dejoka understood: "The real target is the motorcycle factory, right?"
Shire nodded.
In the business world, the more you want something, the less you should show interest in it, while the less you want something, the more interested you should appear.
Finally, you buy it in a situation that seems forced, reluctant, or without other options to press the price as low as possible.
Dejoka smiled wryly: "You fooled me, Shire!"
"I can't guarantee to fool Francis!" Shire was a bit worried: "He isn't someone easily deceived!"
Dejoka agreed, then brought the conversation back to the main topic:
"But why is that?"
"I mean, tractors can be modified into tanks. You invented the tank, yet you don't want it."
"Motorcycle sales are declining, yet you want to buy it!"
The motorcycle's issues were similar to the tractor's.
Its customer base was mainly lower and middle-class civilians. The wealthy preferred cars.
The lower and middle class were either conscripted into the military or couldn't afford purchases due to the poor economy, resulting in sluggish sales.
"Tractors are already outdated, Father!" Shire answered: "I've heard that the British 'Holt 75' tractor has been mass-produced since last year. It's faster and carries more than Francis' 'Holt 60' tractor!"
Shire turned to look at Dejoka, then continued: "On the battlefield, soldiers would prefer using a tank with more load and speed over a tractor crawling like a snail with thin steel plates!"
The 'Holt 60' tractor had a top speed of only 15 km/h, and that was at best, hardly faster than a snail.
Dejoka was shocked: "But... you just sold the tank's industrial property rights..."
The tank rights had been sold, so they had nothing to do with tanks anymore, right?
"Father!" Shire answered: "I will develop a new type of tank using the 'Holt 75' tractor chassis. It will be completely different from before, with no industrial property issues!"
Dejoka was so stunned he forgot to walk. A new tank? Just like that?
And without any conflicts with the old one's property rights?
Is my son an inventor?
After a while, he caught up quickly, half-believing, half-doubting: "So we sell the tank rights first, then develop another new tank to defeat our own tank. Is that what you mean?"
Shire answered expressionlessly: "More or less!"
"But..." Dejoka's eyes widened: "This might bankrupt Francis. He could only sell a few of his tanks after all his efforts, and his tractors would be severely unsellable due to the 'Holt 75' tractor's appearance..."
"Is there anything wrong with that?" Shire retorted.
Dejoka fell silent. In the business world, there are no familial ties. Besides, Francis had tried to take everything from Shire.
If Francis didn't care about familial ties, should Shire still care?
If things continued, everything Shire did would belong to the Bernard family, to Francis, not himself.
So...
"There's nothing wrong with it!" Dejoka gritted his teeth: "Let's do it. I'm on your side!"
He had already lost faith in this family upon knowing Francis wanted to take everything from Shire.
After a moment of silence, Dejoka asked again: "Why are we buying the motorcycle factory?"
"Not just the motorcycle factory!" Shire answered: "I will buy all the Bernard family's industries!"
His tone was casual, as though casually mentioning it.
But the more it sounded like this, the more Dejoka felt a massive shock: "Buying all the Bernard family's businesses is no easy task! He might not even be willing to sell the motorcycle factory now..."
"He will sell!" Shire analyzed: "Now, he lacks funds the most. His liquidity was almost spent in his previous operations."
Dejoka remembered Francis spending everything to buy food before the Davaz battle.
"Moreover," Shire continued: "Producing tanks requires startup capital. The commission he earned from us may only be enough to produce for a few days!"
Dejoka nodded. The tractor factory, with over 2,000 workers, needed 60,000-70,000 francs just to pay workers' wages every month, plus electricity, plant rent, loan interest, etc.
"Most importantly," Shire said: "He bought the motorcycle factory for the machine gun factory without seeing the value of motorcycles. From the beginning, he intended to cash out, and we happen to have the funds..."
"The value of motorcycles?" Dejoka was puzzled.
Where's its value? Is it not destined to be replaced by cars?
"You'll know in the future, Father!" Shire said: "Its role won't be much less than that of tractors!"
Dejoka responded with an "uh-huh," feeling that Shire could no longer be described as "mature" and couldn't be simply compared to Francis. He was more astute than Francis, seemingly able to treat Francis like a puppet!
It's unbelievable. Francis was regarded as a business genius in the Bernard family, his accomplishments well-known. But in front of Shire... he seemed like nothing!
Unknowingly, they reached home, seeing Camille sitting at the door knitting, faint sunset light sketching a soft outline around her like a gentle cloud.
Seeing their figures, Camille quickly put down her knitting, stood up, and waved at them.
"How did it go?" Camille greeted, eyes full of hope: "Did everything go well?"
Camille most wanted to know if Shire's identity had been acknowledged.
"Everything went well!" Dejoka nodded and replied: "We don't need anyone's acknowledgment. We are who we are!"
Camille seemed to understand. She nodded silently, turned to Shire with a smile, and patted his head before giving him a hug.
Wearing a mask and dealing with others outside must have been hard, she thought!