Chapter 183
Mr. Gonzalez, who appeared to be around forty-five or six, had a crew cut, a medium build, a slight belly, but a very cheerful smile.
"So, Marry, Edward didn't come?" Mr. Gonzalez asked.
Marry smiled, "Edward is too busy with work and couldn't make it, so he asked me to come on his behalf."
Mr. Gonzalez nodded, then turned to me. "And who is this?"
"Oh, Mr. Gonzalez, let me introduce you. He is my good friend, John Cena."
"John, this is Mr. Gonzalez, the chairman of the Apocalypse Group."
‘Apocalypse Group?’ My brain was in quick operation until I figured it out.
This Apocalypse Group was also quite extraordinary, with a market value of around two to three hundred million dollars, bigger than Walker Company.
I extended my hand. "Hello, Mr. Gonzalez!"
Mr. Gonzalez shook hands, looked me up and down, and then said in a teasing tone, "Your good friend here is quite talented. Your relationship is not simple, right?"
Marry blushed slightly, and he continued, "Young man, cherish this opportunity. Marry has never brought anyone else to such an occasion."
I smiled and didn't say anything.
"Oh, Mr. Gonzalez, you're joking again!" Marry interrupted.
"When a man reaches a certain age, he should marry, and so does a woman. Your father must have been worried about your marriage. If my son hadn't married early, I would have let him propose to you."
I was surprised. It turned out that Mr. Gonzalez had a close relationship with the Walker family.
The two of them chatted for a while, and Mr. Gonzalez called over a few friends nearby, introducing them one by one.
During the conversation, they also included me, and I smoothly obtained their contact information.
This was what networking was all about. If I were willing to sell these contacts, I could easily make a thousand dollars for each contact.
"I heard that Edward got a new production line from MH Manufacturing Company. Is that true?" Mr. Gonzalez asked calmly.
Marry replied, "You’re well-informed. Yes, the new production line is in place and already in operation."
"Edward is quite capable. MH Manufacturing Company's orders are booked until next year, but he managed to intercept some orders from others."
"He also pulled some strings to get them," Marry added.
"From whom?"
"Hey, Marry, can I have a word with you?" Mr. Gonzalez asked.
Marry glanced at me. "John is not a stranger, Mr. Gonzalez. Feel free to speak."
Mr. Gonzalez frowned slightly. He probably had a request for Marry.
"Well. I asked your father before, but he didn't know much. And Edward couldn't help. Marry, I've been caring a lot about you. You can't just watch me struggle, can you?" Mr. Gonzalez asked.
I thought he was really shameless.
He asked her father before, then requested Edward. Now he was asking Marry. He was taking advantage of her.
However, Marry was not unaware of the severity of the situation. "Mr. Gonzalez, of course, I can't watch you struggle, but my abilities are limited. I may not be able to help you."
"It's not a big deal. I just want to ask Edward who he relied on. You don't need to be the middleman. Telling me in secret would be a great help to me," Mr. Gonzalez said in a low voice, barely audible over the noise on the second floor, only clear to me standing so close.
Who did Edward rely on? Naturally, he relied on me.
Edward was quite tight-lipped and more reliable than George.
"But, Mr. Gonzalez, I can't really say about this matter." Marry looked hesitant.
"Marry, you must help me this time. I will reward your help." Mr. Gonzalez urged anxiously.
Marry looked at me, then at Mr. Gonzalez, as if asking me what to do.
I thought, ‘What else could I do? Just ask him for the reason.’
"Mr. Gonzalez, you have to tell me what's going on in the end," she said.
Mr. Gonzalez sighed, "It's not a secret. I signed a deal worth one billion with a company in Thailand, planning to deliver all products within six months."
"A deal worth one billion ?" Marry was surprised, and I was also slightly shocked. Even if the profit margin for physical manufacturing was low, this deal would still yield over five hundred million dollars in profit.
"Yes, but my production capacity here can only deliver up to one hundred million per month. Even with three shifts, I can't meet the order quantity."
"Mr. Gonzalez, are you planning to purchase new production lines?"
"Yes!" Mr. Gonzalez explained. "I thought about outsourcing to other large factories, but the quality would be hard to guarantee. If the quality is not up to standard and the products are rejected, it would be a huge blow to the Apocalypse Group. Moreover, the profit margin for this part is thin, so it isn't very sensible to outsource. And my son also secured an order worth one hundred million from South Korea, so I have to expand the production line."
"Why don't you buy second-hand production lines?" Marry asked.
He smiled bitterly, "Second-hand prices are high with many problems. Most importantly, new products require the latest production lines for lower defect rates. Besides, the owners of second-hand lines may not even want to sell!"
I was amazed. They had orders worth more than one billion dollars for export.
Impressive!
However, the way he spoke had a hint of showing off.
"Have you not placed orders with other manufacturers?"
"I did. The orders are scheduled for a year later, at the earliest in six months. It will be too late by then! If I can't deliver on time, I will have to pay a three hundred million dollars penalty."
Mr. Gonzalez looked worried. "I have no choice but to come to you, Marry. You must help me, or I will be in trouble."
"Mr. Gonzalez, about this matter, I'm afraid I... Just as Marry was about to decline him, I gestured to her, indicating not to rush into refusal.
"Mr. Gonzalez, how about this, wait for me a moment and let me inquire."
Mr. Gonzalez was ecstatic. "Sure!"
I followed Marry to a quiet corner, where she asked, "What's wrong? Are you willing to assist with this favor?"
I replied, "Is he on good terms with your family?"
Marry explained, "Mr. Gonzalez was my father's classmate, and our families have a good relationship. When my father entered politics, he pursued business. Later on, Edward started his own business, and Mr. Gonzalez has assisted him quite a bit."
As I nodded in understanding, I silently noted that their relationship was built on mutual favors.
Moreover, despite Edward owing a debt of gratitude to Mr. Gonzalez, he wasn't quick to yield. This alone suggested that Edward truly regarded me as a brother.
"This matter is not simple. Edward told me before that if it were just one production line, he would have come to you even if he had to swallow his pride. But it’s impossible to give him three production lines," she said.
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