Late night in Beijing carried a different kind of silence—thick, heavy, almost deliberate. The kind that made every unexpected sound feel amplified. So when the international phone rang in the quiet living room of Han Sanping's residence, it didn't just interrupt the night—it demanded attention.
There weren't many people in the world who would dare call him at such an hour. And those who did usually had something important enough to justify it.
His wife handed him the phone without a word. Han Sanping glanced at the caller ID, eyebrows lifting slightly in surprise.
"President Luo?" he said, voice calm but curious. "What's going on?"
On the other end, Luo Zheng didn't waste time on pleasantries. His tone carried urgency, but it was controlled, deliberate.
"Chairman Han, I apologize for calling so late. This is important."
Han Sanping leaned back slightly. "No problem. I'm awake. Tell me—what's happened?"
What followed wasn't a simple explanation. It was a blueprint—one that connected Hollywood's most powerful entertainment empire to China's manufacturing backbone.
Luo Zheng laid out everything: the negotiations with Disney, the idea of shifting derivative product manufacturing to China, and most importantly—the opportunity this represented.
When he finished, the line went quiet.
Not for a few seconds.
For a long time.
Han Sanping wasn't someone easily shocked. He had seen too much, navigated too many complex political and industry landscapes. But even for him, this proposal was… enormous.
"President Luo," he finally said slowly, "are you absolutely certain you're not joking?"
Because if this was real, it wasn't just business.
It was policy-level impact.
Setting up factories in China to produce Disney merchandise wasn't just an international deal—it was a strategic move with national implications. It meant job creation, foreign exchange inflow, technological validation, and global credibility for Chinese manufacturing.
Internally, it would boost local economies and livelihoods. Externally, it would signal to the world that China could meet the strictest production standards of a global giant like Disney.
And for someone like Han Sanping…
This wasn't just an opportunity.
This was a political achievement that could redefine his career.
Luo Zheng's voice remained steady. "Chairman Han, I don't joke about things like this."
Another pause.
Then Luo Zheng added, almost casually, "What do you think about building the factory in Yiwu?"
That single suggestion made everything click.
Yiwu—the "world's supermarket." A place known for its unmatched manufacturing flexibility, speed, and scale. If any city in China could pull this off, it was Yiwu.
Han Sanping thought for only a moment before answering decisively.
"Yiwu is the best choice. I'll act as the intermediary."
That was all Luo Zheng needed.
"Thank you, Chairman Han."
But Han Sanping shook his head, even though Luo Zheng couldn't see it.
"No. President Luo, you're being too polite. This is a good thing for the country. I should be thanking you."
—
Everything moved fast after that.
So fast that even Liu Yan, who had grown used to Luo Zheng's unpredictability, felt slightly dizzy trying to keep up.
They flew back to Beijing overnight.
No rest.
No delay.
The next morning, after a brief meeting with Han Sanping, they immediately set off for Yiwu.
By the time they arrived at the municipal government building, preparations were already complete.
The entrance was filled with people—officials, department heads, aides. Suits, leather shoes, a few Zhongshan suits mixed in. The atmosphere was formal, but beneath it was unmistakable excitement.
As soon as Luo Zheng stepped out of the car, a middle-aged leader approached quickly, extending his hand.
"Chairman Han, welcome."
Then he turned to Luo Zheng, smiling.
"This must be President Luo. Truly young and promising."
Luo Zheng immediately lowered his posture.
"You flatter me. Please, just call me Xiao Luo."
He knew exactly who this man was—the second-in-command of Yiwu. And no matter how powerful Luo Zheng was in business, in front of this level of authority, arrogance would be foolish.
"Good," the man nodded approvingly. "Let's talk inside."
—
The meeting room was already prepared.
Leaders from multiple departments were present—the Bureau of Commerce, the Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, the Investment Promotion Bureau. This wasn't a routine discussion.
This was a coordinated government response.
After brief introductions, the floor was handed directly to Luo Zheng.
For a moment, he felt something rare.
Nervousness.
He had lived two lives, faced countless negotiations, but this… this was different. This wasn't just about profit margins or contracts.
This was scale.
Real scale.
Taking a quiet breath, he began explaining the cooperation plan again—this time in full detail, structured, clear, leaving no ambiguity.
When he finished, the room fell silent.
Then the leading official spoke.
"So what we need now is to produce a batch of samples according to Disney's standards and send them to the U.S. for testing?"
"Yes," Luo Zheng nodded. "If they pass, the cooperation is basically secured."
The man didn't hesitate.
"We will go all out."
And just like that, the machinery of the state began moving.
—
What happened next was almost unbelievable.
In just three days, the Investment Promotion Bureau delivered a full batch of sample toys.
At the municipal guesthouse, Director Li personally brought them over.
"President Luo, please take a look."
Luo Zheng examined the products briefly. The stitching, the materials, the finishing—it was already impressive to the naked eye.
"I'm not a professional," he said with a smile, "but I trust Yiwu's manufacturing."
That sentence wasn't just politeness.
It was confidence.
—
Then everything shifted back across the Pacific.
In Burbank, California, inside Disney's headquarters, the atmosphere in the VIP reception room was tense.
Roy Disney had already seen the samples.
Visually, they were indistinguishable from Disney's own products.
But that didn't matter.
What mattered were the test results.
To eliminate any doubt, Roy had sent the samples to three independent testing agencies.
Now, they were waiting.
Time dragged.
Every second stretched.
Until finally—
A phone rang.
Roy grabbed it instantly.
"What are the results?"
On the other end, the answer came without hesitation.
"The quality meets all standards."
Roy froze.
"All three agencies?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Then—
"Hahaha!"
He hung up, turned, and walked straight toward Luo Zheng, gripping his shoulder with uncontrollable excitement.
"Mr. William—you've saved Disney!"
Luo Zheng smiled lightly.
"I wouldn't go that far. You're the one saving Disney."
Roy laughed again, already unable to sit still.
"I'm calling a shareholders' meeting immediately. Wait for my good news!"
And just like that, he rushed out.
—
Once the door closed, the room relaxed instantly.
Director Li could barely contain himself anymore.
"President Luo… does this mean it's done?"
"Pretty much," Luo Zheng said calmly. Then he added, reassuringly, "Even if Roy fails, the shareholders won't let this opportunity go."
Because this wasn't just a deal anymore.
It was profit.
Huge profit.
—
Meanwhile, inside Disney's boardroom, the atmosphere was explosive.
Michael Eisner slammed his hand on the table.
"Roy! You triggered an emergency board meeting without authorization. Do you understand the consequences?"
Roy didn't flinch.
"Consequences?" he sneered. "You should think about where you'll retire after this."
The tension between them was no secret.
Years of conflict boiled beneath the surface.
Michael laughed loudly, full of disdain. "You think you can remove me?"
Before the argument could escalate further, a major shareholder intervened.
"Enough. Roy, explain yourself. If this isn't critical, you'll face consequences."
Roy didn't hesitate.
"Distribute the samples and reports."
Confusion spread across the room.
Even Michael seized the moment to mock him.
"You're testing our own products? What is this, a presentation on quality control?"
Roy's expression turned sharp.
"Open your eyes. These were made in China."
The room went silent.
One by one, the directors lowered their heads, reading the reports.
Then—
Shock.
Real shock.
"Produced in China… and meeting all standards?"
"Impossible…"
"And this gross margin… is this accurate?"
Roy laughed, unable to hide his triumph.
"Verified by multiple accountants."
At that moment, the balance of power shifted.
Michael's confidence began to crack.
"What nonsense! This must be fake!"
But no one agreed with him anymore.
Instead, they looked at him with something far worse than anger.
Pity.
Roy stood there, watching his long-time rival unravel.
For the first time, he felt something close to victory.
And deep down, he knew exactly who had made it possible.
Luo Zheng.