Chapter 53 Negotiations
The most eye-catching feature of Watanabe Electric is its factory building facing the Tama River, but due to years of wind and sun, the gray-white walls look weathered.
Across the Tama River is Kawasaki City's Sachiki District. Thanks to the gradual relocation of manufacturing industries in the past two years, Kawasaki's status has steadily improved.
The Tama River flows directly to the sea and is adjacent to Kawasaki Port. Nowadays, due to pollution from the manufacturing industry, the river water does not look as clean as it did in later generations.
But even so, there are still white motorboats wandering on the wide river.
On the side close to Ota Ward, in addition to the workshop building, Watanabe Electric also has a two or three-story building connected to the factory building.
This is where Issei Watanabe's office is located, and it is also where non-workshop employees of Watanabe Electric work.
Shirakawa Kaede followed Watanabe Issei to the top floor of the small building, which was obviously the president's private office.
Both the decoration and layout were very exquisite. Watanabe Issei knocked on the door and then turned the doorknob without waiting for a response from inside.
When you enter the door, the first thing that catches your eye is a long mahogany low table with several single sofas on both sides.
On the right is the president's desk, and on the wall behind hangs a calligraphy painting with the words "cultivate virtue" inscribed on it.
Various old photos are hung below the calligraphy and paintings, probably showing the development history of Watanabe Electric.
Behind the desk is the old president Watanabe Takashi, whom I met last time. At this moment, he is lying in a wheelchair with his eyes closed.
Compared to the old president who still had some influence last time, Watanabe Takashi is now very old. His hair , which was gray at first, is now only white.
His cheeks looked a little sunken because of his thinness. If he hadn't seen the slightly rising and falling chest, Baichuan Feng would have thought that the person opposite him had already lost his life.
Seeing Watanabe Takashi's withered and dilapidated appearance, Shirakawa Feng felt a little bit of pity in his heart, but he quickly threw away this bit of pity.
People who have lived for decades and have been in the business world for longer than their age are not easy to get along with.
Watanabe Issei carefully walked in front of Watanabe Takashi and called in a low voice, "Father, Shirakawa-san is here."
The skinny Watanabe Takashi opened his eyes, and a sharp look flashed across his face, causing Watanabe Issei, who was close to him, to subconsciously shrink back.
With the help of his son Issei Watanabe, Takashi Watanabe struggled to stand up. Compared with the last time, his movements seemed to be more difficult.
Watanabe Takashi, panting, waved his hand and said, "Okay, you can get out now."
Watanabe Kazumasa was stunned and looked at his father in confusion.
"Get out!" Although Watanabe Takashi's voice was not loud, the unquestionable tone still made Watanabe Issei leave here obediently.
In the past, whenever Watanabe Takashi attended an important meeting in the company, he would bring Watanabe Issei with him and let him sit in as an observer.
He hopes that through his son's guidance, he can improve his son's management skills, understand the daily operations of the company, and prepare for taking over in the future.
Unfortunately... these will not be used anymore.
Watanabe Takashi put away his feelings, looked at the handsome young man opposite him, and sighed softly. They were of the same age, but there was a big difference between them.
"Shirakawa-kun, can I call you that ?"
Baichuan Feng bowed slightly, "Please do as you please."
"Watanabe Electric has been established for nearly 20 years. Initially, we only made cartridges for vinyl record players. Our customers also cover a quarter of all the large and small record player brands in RB.
Later, Watanabe Electric gradually became able to do more and more, and finally the current Blackstone record player was created.
Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye." Watanabe Takashi looked at the old photos on the wall, his voice hoarse and old.
Baichuan Feng listened silently. This was a lonely king reminiscing about his rough and tortuous life.
No matter in what capacity he is speaking, even if he is a negotiating opponent later, he deserves his respect.
After talking for a long time, Watanabe Takashi ended his remembrance with a sigh.
"I'm sorry, I'm getting older and I talk more." Watanabe Takashi smiled and nodded to Shirakawa Kaede.
"You're welcome. After listening to Mr. Watanabe's introduction, I have even more admiration for Watanabe Electric." These are his true feelings. It takes a long time for a company to grow from nothing to something.
Especially in the 1950s and 1960s, when the RB industry was built almost on ruins.
"Since we're talking about this, Shirakawa-kun, let's get straight to the point. Watanabe Electric is for sale. How much do you want, Shirakawa-kun?"
Before saying the word "sell", Watanabe Takashi, who had already made up his mind, still paused slightly.
If it weren’t for the crumbling sign of Blackstone Record Player, if it weren’t for the relentless pressure from Changyin’s people, if it weren’t for his son kneeling in front of him and begging for mercy last night.
Takashi Watanabe will never let Watanabe Electric end in his hands, even if its profits are declining.
But industry is industry after all, and it is what he has worked hard for throughout his life.
Even though the financial industry is now on the rise and more and more people are joining in, Watanabe Takashi has always been passionate about industry.
What a pity, what a pity...
But since he had already made the decision, he no longer hesitated and Watanabe Takashi asked the question directly and clearly.
As if he had unloaded a burden from his heart, he calmly waited for Baichuan Feng's offer.
From his endless emotion just now to his current calmness, Baichuan Feng couldn't help but sigh that the old ones are still the wisest.
Now that it has begun, Baichuan Feng also perked up. He slowly stretched out two fingers, "Twenty million yen."
Watanabe Takashi shook his head and held up three fingers.
"Mr. Watanabe, you know this is impossible." This price was far beyond what Shirakawa Kaede had in mind.
Watanabe Takashi said calmly, "Shirakawa-kun, you have to know that Watanabe Electric's assets include this piece of land. And it is residential land."
This piece of land is an asset accumulated by the Watanabe family over several generations. At first, the grandfathers were just fishmongers near the Tama River.
It took decades of hard work to integrate the scattered plots of land in the surrounding area to form today's scale.
The land ownership in RB is permanent and valid. Once you buy it, it will belong to you forever and can be passed down as a family property.
"But Watanabe-san, this is Ota-ku. There are too many factories around here, and there aren't even any decent apartments, let alone businesses.
What I value more is Watanabe Electric's decades-long industrial foundation and experienced employees."
The reason why Baichuan Feng offered 20 million yuan was actually because of this 200 to 300 square meter plot of land.
It's just that he said this on purpose to downplay the value of the land.
As for the factory building and so on, neither Watanabe Takashi nor Shirakawa Kaede mentioned it.
Because everyone knows that real estate is not valuable at all, let alone a house that is decades old.
However, real estate also comes in many categories, including commercial land, residential land, quasi-industrial land, and industrial land, with their value decreasing in order.
It is not yet 1980, and the bubble is far from coming. The average land price in Tokyo's 23 wards is less than 300,000 yen per square meter.
The most expensive areas near Chuo Ward and Minato Ward are only around 500,000 yen, while the more remote areas such as Adachi Ward and Edogawa Ward are less than 200,000 yen.
The land price in Ota Ward, the most peripheral area, is even lower because it is farthest from the city center and has a large number of factories and manufacturing industries.
Twenty million is roughly the value that Baichuan Feng estimated for the two or three hundred square meters of land.
Watanabe Takashi's eyes were slightly closed, and he looked at Shirakawa Feng meaningfully, "Shirakawa-kun, you and I both know that there won't be a large number of factories and enterprises here in the future.
I'm sure Shirakawa-kun has also read about the "Capital Region Development Plan" that was just updated last year."
Hearing this, Bai Chuanfeng's face flushed. He knew that his little trick had been seen through by the other party.
The "Capital Development Plan" of 1978 has already clearly stated that intensive manufacturing in the Tokyo metropolitan area will be gradually relocated in the next few years, retaining only precision research and development companies.
As those factories and enterprises relocate, the land left behind will naturally be replanned and will most likely become commercial land.
The land here at Watanabe Electric is for residential use, so at worst Shirakawa Kaede can just build a factory outside Tokyo.
But as for this piece of residential land, with the addition of commercial properties, it is obvious that the price will go up rapidly.
"Twenty-five million. I'm sure Shirakawa-kun understands that it's worth this price." Watanabe Takashi made the last offer, then he closed his eyes and waited for Shirakawa Kaede's reply.
If he wasn't in urgent need of cash, or if he wasn't unsure exactly when the government would implement its factory relocation plan, Watanabe Takashi would never have made this unprofitable deal.
"Okay, deal!" After a little hesitation, Baichuan Feng agreed to the price.
Now that we have laid it out, everyone knows the value of the land. There is not much you can bargain for, so there is no need to haggle over a few million.
"Shirakawa-kun is a man who can accomplish great things." Seeing that Shirakawa Feng made up his mind in such a short time, a hint of admiration flashed in Watanabe Takashi's eyes.
Seeing that Watanabe Takashi wanted to call Watanabe Issei outside to come in, Shirakawa Feng stopped him and said, "Watanabe-san, do you want to hear my other offer?"
"Huh?" Watanabe Takashi showed a surprised expression on his face.
