The control of this pharmaceutical equipment was mostly in the hands of a few individuals.
There were not many such companies in Pingcheng.
And companies like theirs enjoyed local protection measures, making it almost impossible for one company to bypass them and purchase equipment from out of town.
To maximize profits and prevent reverse engineering, the equipment manufacturing industry either incorporated secret keys for monthly usage fees or leased out programs.
The majority of these measures were in place to prevent other companies from stealing critical data and to generate revenue from after-sales service.
Therefore, the equipment had to remain connected to the network at all times, subject to company monitoring. Once disconnected, it would be remotely locked.
In essence, the core of the equipment relied on network connectivity.
The general managers of these few companies gradually realized the gravity of the situation.
Not only were their own manufactured equipment locked down, but various major clients were also calling to report problems with their machines.
They had signed agreements when selling the equipment, stipulating responsibility for compensation if losses were incurred due to the machines.
After a period of tinkering by their engineers, the equipment suppliers expressed their helplessness.
The bosses became anxious.
"Director He, let's talk this through calmly! We were forced into this! Please be lenient!"
He Yufei held the phone and said, "I'm sorry, our boss already gave you an opportunity. And I truly don't know what you're talking about."
"Director He, I'm willing to do anything! We'll sell your company our equipment, how about that?"
"I'm sorry, we don't need it at the moment."
"Free! No charge! We'll give it to you for free!" the bosses yelled into the phone.
Chen Jie listened to the discussion on the phone and calmly stated, "The machines are taking up space here, let them pay a monthly rent. One million yuan to start?"
He Yufei relayed Chen Jie's request to the other party.
The bosses immediately made a decision: "Okay, one million it is! Each of our companies will give you one piece of equipment! We'll pay the monthly rent!"
At this moment, the executives sitting at the conference table were nearly prostrate on the ground.
They looked at Chen Jie with unparalleled admiration.
Their mouths were agape, wide enough to swallow an egg.
What audacity and dominance this was!
Not only were they getting to use other companies' equipment for free, but they were also receiving a million yuan in usage fees from them every month!
It was worth noting that a partial reason for the former owner of Shengtian Company selling it was their inability to afford the usage fees for this equipment.
Even though they had acquired the equipment, they had to pay a substantial monthly usage fee, with one-third of the profit from their sold medicine going to the equipment suppliers.
And now?
In less than half an hour, the boss had these people begging to use their equipment for free and even paying them.
"Boss..." He Yufei said with a trembling,娇 soft voice.
She was simply too impressed with Chen Jie.
Her legs felt weak from admiration.
At this time, Zhu Su's phone also began to ring frantically.
"Boss Zhu, what's going on? Why are all our equipment inexplicably locked? We're a national medicine supplier! How dare you tamper with the equipment, you'll regret it!"
"Zhu Su, my dad's high-end equipment suddenly stopped working! It's suffocating! Hurry up and find someone to fix it!"
"Damn it, the smart oxygen concentrator you sold us suffocated someone! You'll regret this!"
"Your company's intelligent robots have gone berserk..."
Zhu Su was drenched in cold sweat.
Yang Siqing was not much better off; various instruments sold by her company were experiencing all sorts of problems.
The phones rang incessantly.
With a thud, Zhu Su couldn't hold it any longer and knelt before Chen Jie, trembling, "Boss Chen, please show mercy and let me off! My clients are all powerful figures, I can't afford to offend them!"
Chen Jie sneered, "You can't afford to offend others, but you could afford to offend me?"
Zhu Su said, "I'm willing to sell you the machines! No, I'm willing to let you use the machines like the others, and pay one million yuan in site fees every month!"
"I'm sorry, that special treatment doesn't include you. I gave you an opportunity earlier." Chen Jie said calmly, "You can get lost!"
Zhu Su's body trembled.
He no longer had any of his previous arrogance.
Now, only regret filled his heart.
He regretted being instigated by Yang Siqing to block Chen Jie.
He regretted his blindness.
If he hadn't been so arrogant earlier, perhaps these problems wouldn't have occurred in his company.
Now, with equipment issues, he couldn't afford the enormous compensation he faced.
Without Chen Jie's intervention, his company would likely have to declare bankruptcy tomorrow and he'd have to flee.
Yang Siqing was not much better off.
Nearly half of the Yang family's assets were involved in the pharmaceutical equipment industry. If all the equipment they sold had problems, it would inevitably lead to a severe blow.
Moreover, as long as the Yang family's equipment remained connected to the network, Luo Nan could continue to infiltrate and tamper with newly manufactured equipment.
"Bitch! Look at what you've done! My company is on the verge of collapse! You might as well die!" Zhu Su, on the verge of breakdown, suddenly pointed at Yang Siqing and cursed.
Yang Siqing's heart trembled, and with a grim expression, she said to Chen Jie, "Chen Jie, if you let these companies go, I can lift the ban on you!"
Chen Jie sneered, "Are you joking? You used your industry status to block my company, found you couldn't do anything to me, and now you want to make peace? What, you think I'm that easy to deal with?"
Yang Siqing's face changed. If she couldn't resolve this crisis, the Yang family would lose nearly a third of their assets.
She couldn't help but say, "Chen Jie, you just hired a hacker, we can hire one too! If this continues, it will only be mutual destruction! I advise you to know when to stop!"
"It's only polite to reciprocate. You threatened that I wouldn't be able to sell a single pill in Pingcheng. So now I'll tell you, you'd better not let me find out about your Yang family's industries, otherwise, I'll show you what it means for money spent to go down the drain!" Chen Jie said calmly.
"You!"
Yang Siqing pointed at Chen Jie with a trembling voice.
"Get out!" Chen Jie commanded.
"You'll pay for this!"
Yang Siqing angrily left with a parting threat, turning and walking away with a sway of her hips.
Yu Cheng called out from behind, "Miss Yang, wait for me. Can we discuss the terms of my employment with your company now?"
"Get lost! My company doesn't need a failure like you," Yang Siqing said irritably.
"Huh? But I did as you asked and deliberately made things difficult for Shengtian Company!" Yu Cheng was bewildered.
Yang Siqing turned back and roared, "Idiot! Didn't you see that my Yang family's equipment company has major problems? What can you do at my company now? Sell yourself to make up for the losses? Stop bothering me!"
Yu Cheng was struck by lightning.