Chapter 108: A Million in Earnings

The negotiations took place in a conference room at Chen Meng’s school. Once Chen Meng made the request, the dean didn't dare refuse to clear out a room for them.

After Wang Qian had settled in, he turned his gaze toward Chen Meng.

Chen Meng offered a sheepish smile. "Teacher Wang, I’m not very well-versed in these matters, so my assistant has full authority to represent me in today’s negotiations. Let me introduce her: this is my assistant, Tang Wenjing."

When Wang Qian looked at Tang Wenjing, he immediately chuckled. She was just a young girl; what kind of capability could someone so young possibly have?

"No problem."

Wang Qian smiled. By then, Tang Wenjing had already handed him the patent certificate and the relevant materials she had received just that morning.

"Teacher Wang, please take a look."

"Mm."

Wang Qian nodded and accepted the documents with a seasoned air. However, after flipping through them, he looked at the two of them with a hint of surprise. Whoever had filed this patent application actually had some real skill.

If Chen Meng had known what Wang Qian was thinking, he would have surely found his reaction quaint. Of course it was professional—it had been drafted by the experts at Qianling Pharmaceutical.

"Everything in order?"

"Oh, yes, no problem." Wang Qian nodded and handed the certificate and materials back to Tang Wenjing.

"I’m not sure, Teacher Wang—are you looking to purchase a license, or the entire patent?"

"A license or an outright transfer?" Wang Qian looked at Tang Wenjing and smiled. "How much for a license, and how much for the transfer?"

When Chen Meng heard the mention of money, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

Tang Wenjing had already consulted with Chen Meng, so she made a bold opening offer. "For a license, it’s twenty thousand per year, or five hundred thousand for a permanent license. For a full transfer, it’s three million."

Wang Qian froze. After a long silence, he said slowly, "You’re robbing us. You really take Jiangzhou University for a fool, don't you?"

Watching Wang Qian’s reaction, Chen Meng felt as if the man were on the verge of flipping the table.

"Our product is worth that price," Tang Wenjing said, projecting absolute confidence.

"I’m sorry, but we can’t afford that. Consider my trip a waste of time." Wang Qian stood up, ready to leave. Chen Meng panicked; he had finally found someone interested in the "Ultimate Nineteen Forms," and if he scared them off with the price, who else would buy it?

He wanted to call out to stop Wang Qian, but Tang Wenjing signaled him to stay silent.

Just as Wang Qian reached the door and touched the handle, Tang Wenjing spoke softly. "Teacher Wang, since you came all this way yourself, you obviously know the value of the Ultimate Nineteen Forms. If you really walk away like this, won't you regret it? Why don't you make an offer instead?"

Wang Qian let go of the door handle. He looked back at the composed Tang Wenjing and realized he had misjudged her; she was a tough negotiator.

"Twenty thousand for a permanent license, two hundred thousand for a transfer."

Wang Qian didn't even sit back down; he gripped the back of the chair with one hand, creating the impression that he was ready to bolt at any moment. He was signaling to Tang Wenjing that this was the highest price he could offer.

Tang Wenjing didn't seem to notice. She shook her head and said, "That price is impossible. Perhaps, Teacher Wang, you should just head back now."

"Eh?"

Chen Meng was stunned. What was this? Were they really just going to walk away?

Wang Qian also sensed something was off. "Little girl, is there someone else looking to buy the Ultimate Nineteen Forms?"

Chen Meng also looked at Tang Wenjing in confusion. She was so steady, looking as if she had no worries about selling it—who gave her this courage?

Tang Wenjing looked at Wang Qian, appearing slightly apologetic. "I’m sorry, Teacher Wang. Actually, before you arrived today, I had already sent emails to at least a hundred universities offering the patent for the Ultimate Nineteen Forms."

"What’s the point of emailing so many schools? Others might not recognize its value," Wang Qian shook his head.

"True, others might not recognize it, or might even think the Ultimate Nineteen Forms is a scam. But now that you have come, it is no longer a scam. The fact that you came to purchase it proves its value. Jiangzhou University has been developing well these past few years, and many second- and third-tier universities are watching your moves. If you, the Deputy Director of the Sports Department at Jiangzhou University, are buying it, don't you think others will assume it has great value?" Tang Wenjing spoke with poise, concluding, "The Ultimate Nineteen Forms might not be worth that much on its own, but because you came, it has become valuable."

"You’re using me," Wang Qian realized instantly. With his reputation, many would surely follow his lead, and the price of the Ultimate Nineteen Forms would inevitably be driven up.

"Brilliant," Chen Meng couldn't help but slap his thigh, looking at Tang Wenjing with admiration.

"I apologize. I have to secure the best interests for my employer. I have reporters from several TV stations I arranged waiting outside. Even if you don't intend to buy it, once you walk out of here, tomorrow's news will report: 'Jiangzhou University considers purchase of Ultimate Nineteen Forms, negotiations ongoing...' Of course, if you do buy it, that will be a different story." Tang Wenjing shrugged helplessly. "If the universities I emailed see that news, what do you think they will think?"

"What a formidable young woman. Truly impressive." Wang Qian looked at Tang Wenjing, feeling for the first time what it meant to be outdone by the next generation. In just a few sentences, she had rattled the Deputy Director of the Jiangzhou University Sports Department.

"Shall we continue?" Tang Wenjing looked relaxed; she had seen this kind of scene many times before.

"We’ll talk. It’s not like I’m going to sit here and wait for you to sell the Ultimate Nineteen Forms to someone else," Wang Qian grumbled.

What followed was a fierce battle of wits, but Tang Wenjing had complete control of the momentum.

"One point three million for the full transfer. If that’s agreeable, let’s sign the contract now."

"You’re in such a hurry?"

"He’s the one in a hurry," Tang Wenjing pointed at Chen Meng.

"Heh." Chen Meng nodded helplessly. The figure of 1.3 million left him feeling dazed. It sold for 1.3 million just like that? The Ultimate Nineteen Forms was something he had just tossed together casually.

"Fine, let’s sign, but the funds won't arrive for two or three days," Wang Qian said.

Tang Wenjing nodded; Jiangzhou University certainly had that much credibility.

She produced the contract she had prepared in advance, and both parties signed. The Ultimate Nineteen Forms was sold. From now on, it had essentially nothing to do with Chen Meng; at most, he could retain the right to be credited as the author.

"Pleasure doing business with you," Tang Wenjing smiled. Wang Qian, however, walked out directly; it hadn't been a pleasure at all. He had come intending to spend at most 300,000 to handle Chen Meng, and he never imagined he would end up spending a million more.

Once outside, Wang Qian expected a crowd of reporters to rush over for photos, but he found absolutely no one there.

"Little girl, you lied to me. Where are the reporters?" he asked, turning back. He had even straightened his clothes just moments ago.

"Too expensive. I couldn't afford to hire any," Tang Wenjing shrugged helplessly.

"And the emails?" Wang Qian couldn't help but ask.

"Most universities only have a public reporting inbox. Do you really think I could have sent them emails through those?" Tang Wenjing poured salt on the wound.

Chen Meng stared at Tang Wenjing in shock. This was truly ruthless—it turned out she had been making it all up, talking nonsense the whole time.

The real kicker was that even Chen Meng had believed her.