Temptation

A faint smile crossed Tang Yuanfeng's face as he looked as if he was listening calmly. "Alright then, Mr Antony, please speak about your proposal."

"I've heard that the Tang Dynasty Liquors have been extremely established and capable in China, with a strong amount of resources and repute. Your main product especially, the high-end white liquor has a thick and fragrant scent and taste and it's widely acclaimed in Asia." Antony first started to compliment Tang Yuanfeng appropriately.

Tang Jingchen translated the words for Tang Yuanfeng very quickly, to which Tang Yuanfeng simply nodded and remained silent after listening.

"However, please forgive me for my rudeness, I have to point out that the Tang Dynasty Corporation's presence in the international market is still somewhat modest. Don't you think that Tang Dynasty Liquors should enter the list of the world's most famous brands with its current capability and resources?"

After hearing Tang Jingchen's translation, Tang Yuanfeng chuckled as he nodded. "I admit that Mr Antony's words are somewhat justified. However, the types of popular liquors in the west and the east are quite different. The white spirit is the most famous in the east, while red wine dominates the west. This kind of difference cannot be avoided, so this is a fate sealed by the natural circumstances and differences in cultural preference. I have no power to change it either."

"Then how about this. Is Mr Tang willing to increase your company's scope, expanding from the eastern high-end white spirit to the west's red wine?" Antony finally threw out his bait.

Tang Yuanfeng smiled helplessly, "Mr Antony, to be frank, the brewing method of alcohol between the east and the west is very different. Just like how Tang Dynasty Liquors' method of brewing white spirit is a classified company secret, the brewing method for the west's high-end red wine is also equally as deep and as much of a mystery. Even if we somehow learned of these types of brewing skills, we won't be able to produce a high-end red wine without a recipe."

When he heard those words, Antony's smile was almost predatory. "Then… what if I gave you a top-tier red wine recipe that is comparable to the top eight wineries in France?"

The moment he said this, even Tang Jingchen, who had been sitting beside them, sucked in a breath from shock, before he hurriedly translated the words to Tang Yuanfeng.

Once he heard the question, Tang Yuanfeng could not help but inhale loudly as his eyes gleamed. He forced himself to calm down before he replied staidly, "Mr Antony, do you know what a recipe means for a corporation? Are… you joking with us?"

Antony chuckled, "Of course I know what it means. I can also give this recipe to a certain corporation in France. However, I didn't do that. Do you know why?"

In response, Tang Yuanfeng only spread his hands out, as he perked up, all ears for what was to come.

"Firstly, this recipe originated from China's great Tang Dynasty. I heard that there's a poet… his name should be Li Bai? This is a recipe and brewing technique he created, so I really wanted to return this to its owner. Secondly, I am really good friends with your daughter, dear Miss Tang. I owe her a favor, so I came here upon her request."

After a while of contemplation, Tang Yuanfeng raised his head as he said, "I'm afraid I have two questions for Mr Antony. Firstly, how can you prove the value of this recipe? Secondly, what would you want from me in return?"

Antony laughed out loud. "Mr Tang, you're indeed frank! Firstly, I have some samples of the alcohol and you can get the wine sommelier to taste it themselves. If my words weren't true, you may throw me out of this place. Secondly, I would like to become a shareholder in return for the recipe and get 20% of the shares in your red wine subsidiary, together with another twenty million US dollars."

Tang Yuanfeng hummed softly. "Mr Antony, you're really asking for a lion's share."

With that, Antony innocently glanced towards Tang Xiaoxiao, who was chewing on some beef jerky because she was bored. "I can't help it. Mr Tang, I wouldn't have sold this recipe if I wasn't in a hurry to make a comeback."

"Make a comeback?" The words attracted Tang Jingchen's attention. After some thought, Tang Jingchen finally asked with a strange expression, "Mr Antony, is your surname Brightman?"

Antony nodded easily without any hesitation. "I didn't think someone would still remember an old chap like me."

Tang Jingchen's expression immediately changed into one filled with the utmost regard. He stood up respectfully and bowed at Antony. "I never thought that Master Antony would come here personally. We were being rude. Father, Mr Antony is the top management master in the entire world. He was the CEO for the Swiss Bank, Doni Cola, Washington's Post and several other top international corporations. He was even the honorary advisor for the investing god, Buffet, and North America's Rockefeller family!"

Tang Xiaoxiao chimed in appropriately, "Oh? Brother, you know Old Antony too?"

Their father, Tang Yuanfeng, fell completely silent at the revelation. After some thought, he finally smiled and said, "In that case, Mr Antony, can you give us a few days to consider your offer?"

"Of course." Antony nodded slightly, "Also, you may go to the hotel I'm staying at to collect the samples of the red wine. I welcome you to come anytime."

"Haha, then it would be disrespectful for us to decline. If we can have a pleasant cooperation this time, I hope Mr Antony can give some suggestions and guidance to the current management state of our Tang Dynasty Corporation." Tang Yuanfeng chuckled, not minding that he appeared thick-skinned.

At her father's words, Tang Xiaoxiao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was indeed her shrewd, businessman father. The great old president of the Tang Dynasty Industries was actually thick-skinned enough to request something like this, and he even did it so naturally without any shame at all.

Antony was also caught off guard by the request for a moment before he understood the request and laughed out loud.

"Two old foxes." Tang Xiaoxiao couldn't help but mutter softly.

…

After two consecutive weeks of emergency discussions and negotiations, the Tang Dynasty Corporation and Old Antony finally settled on the deal with 12% of the shares for the new winery and fifteen million US dollars. This red wine, aptly named the 'God of Poets', would be the main product Tang Dynasty Liquors would use to break into the western market. According to the contract, Tang Dynasty Corporation would build a world-class red wine winery and plantation in China, while also contracting the grape plantation near the town to supply several dozen tons of grapes.

With the settlement of the deal, Tang Xiaoxiao successfully received twenty million US dollars as she wanted. Among the twenty million dollars, fifteen million was for the payment from selling the recipe, while the remaining five million dollars was given generously by her father for her to go to work and play with after he heard that his daughter wanted to take her career into the entertainment industry.

Of course, working and playing with the money was definitely her father, Tang Yuanfeng's words without a doubt. From his point of view, although his daughter had grown a little today, she was still ultimately a little girl who played around. How would she know how to manage a company?

According to her eldest brother, Tang Jingchen, it wasn't playing. It was "training". He supposed she had to train herself by losing money before she would earn and profit when she took over the Tang Dynasty Corporation…

Tang Xiaoxiao, "I…"

Tang Xiaoxiao naturally wouldn't give all the cash she received to Old Antony. Apart from giving him the seven million US dollars she invested in him originally, she gave him another seven million for him to invite an old master specializing in perfumes from Druney Town in France to make a comeback. It was then that she finally managed to get this cute old man to go and prepare to build the beverage company.

Druney Town in France was a rather unknown town, not too far from Provence. The entire town was covered in all sorts of flowers. Everyone knew that Provence was known for its perfumes, yet no one knew that the neighboring Druney Town was also the home of an ancient aristocratic family that mastered all types of perfume.