Free Web NovelChapter 38: Chapter 38: Coming to Fleece Again
’Alright, is Ma Jing’s mouth magic or something? It actually activated a mission!’
’Just you wait. You’re about to see Brother Chen turn into a demon!’
"Hm? You got another business lead?" Ma Jing asked, leaning in curiously.
Chen Xiao pushed her head away. "Get outta here. You almost made me miss this wave of minions!"
"Brother Chen Xiao, you’re so mean! Am I less important than a game?"
He turned back with a look of feigned shock and asked, "How could you possibly compare yourself to a game?"
Ma Jing finally broke into a happy smile, but it froze on her face a moment later. frёeωebɳovel.com
"There’s no way you’re better than a game!"
Ma Jing stomped away, pouting. She swore that if Chen Xiao didn’t apologize, she wouldn’t speak to him ever again.
What she didn’t know was that if Chen Xiao knew what she was thinking, she’d be waiting for that apology for the rest of her life. No one bothering him while he played games? What a wonderful thing! Who would want to ruin that atmosphere?
’Since I’m going to discuss an order, I can’t just stay in the office.’ Chen Xiao had found himself an excuse to go slack off.
He then drove to the 22nd floor of Yunfeng Building.
Li Guoqiang knew he was coming and met him right at the entrance. He led Chen Xiao to his office, had his secretary bring out his treasured tea, and brewed it personally.
"President Chen, what brings you here today? Any instructions for me?"
"President Li, no need to be so formal. I’m here to learn from you today!"
’Although he had closed two deals, they were both due to pure coincidence, not the result of his connections or negotiation skills. So, setting aside external factors, his ability to conduct business was still a far cry from Yuan Kai’s.’
As a general contractor, Central Inspection Equipment had very clear business leads. That’s why he was here today to pick Li Guoqiang’s brain for some opportunities.
After understanding Chen Xiao’s purpose, Li Guoqiang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’Does this guy think business is that simple?’ Central Inspection only took on a limited number of deals all year, and many of them took over a year of follow-up to close.
However, today was indeed a coincidence. A partner unit of Central Inspection in another province had just contacted Li Guoqiang to jointly secure a major order. There was indeed a part of it that could involve a collaboration with Dr. Feng. He had been planning to contact Chen Xiao anyway; after all, there was no harm in granting such a favor.
Besides, Chen Xiao had never tried to squeeze his profit margins because of their relationship. He was very proper about that. Otherwise, Li Guoqiang might have been tempted to have other ideas, like offering a smaller cut, which would be difficult for Chen Xiao to verify.
Li Guoqiang called Yang Ming over and had him give Chen Xiao the procurement requirements for the order they had secured with their partner unit to look over.
When Yang Ming saw Chen Xiao now, he was incredibly enthusiastic. After shaking Chen Xiao’s hand with both of his, he sat to the side, looking for all the world like a personal attendant.
Chen Xiao didn’t stand on ceremony and browsed through the documents carefully. This was a sizable deal involving a major project. The total procurement demand was 100 million yuan, and the part involving Dr. Feng’s Robot alone was worth 12 million. He also made a special note that there was a 4-million-yuan deal for Xu Wu’s side. ’Can’t pass up on that extra cash!’
"President Li, can you give this order to us? Don’t worry, we can do it at market price!"
"President Chen, you’re too polite. I was going to contact you anyway. Our collaboration has been so pleasant, we should definitely deepen it!"
Chen Xiao thought Li Guoqiang was really reliable. He continued to ask, "Can we also confirm the order for Zhi Fei Aerospace? I can coordinate the price on that end. We’re all friends, so let’s work toward a win-win situation!"
Li Guoqiang pretended to be in a difficult position for a moment, then said, "Alright. A certain leader had already put in a word for that one, but since President Chen has spoken, we’ll give it to Zhi Fei Aerospace!"
Chen Xiao nodded. "President Li, when your lease is up for renewal next year, we won’t increase the rent according to the usual rate. We’ll just keep it flat. We can sign the contract in advance."
The annual rent increase was usually 5%, so this single move saved Central Inspection 100,000 in annual rent. Li Guoqiang thanked him profusely. ’Allowing me to be late on part of my rent was already giving me a lot of face, and now the rent increase for the second year is also waived. This President Chen is a decent man; he understands reciprocity. He’s exactly the kind of person I like doing business with.’
’He had no idea what I was calculating. Just from the Zhi Fei Aerospace order, a 3% commission would net me 120,000. That’s not even counting the 1.2 million from the Diligence Reward. With a reward like that, the 100,000 in rent is chump change, barely worth a second glance!’
"President Chen, because our contract with the project owner won’t be signed until tomorrow, our contract with you will have to wait until the day after."
He nodded. ’That’s fine. It won’t affect the completion of my mission!’
At noon, Li Guoqiang warmly insisted on treating him to a meal, and Chen Xiao naturally didn’t refuse. One had to give face where it was due.
During the meal, they chatted about some personal topics, and Chen Xiao learned that Li Guoqiang was a Jiangzhou local with extensive connections.
’That makes sense,’ Chen Xiao thought. ’Otherwise, he wouldn’t be the general manager of a branch for a company like this. He needs to coordinate with local connections in many places.’
Li Guoqiang was very gracious, claiming that if President Chen ever needed help anywhere in Jiangzhou, all it would take was a single phone call.
Chen Xiao was also willing to make another friend. After all, more friends made the road easier to travel.
They then talked about where they lived. Li Guoqiang lived in Hu Hai Manor in the city center, which was considered an upper-mid-range residential community where property prices were over 40,000 per square meter.
When he learned that Chen Xiao lived in Bihu Twin Seals, Li Guoqiang was quite shocked. After all, a single home there cost nearly ten million. The people who lived there were either rich or powerful.
’I must do everything I can to get on good terms with President Chen,’ Li Guoqiang thought, his estimation of Chen Xiao’s capabilities rising to another level. ’Not only is he powerful, but he’s also straightforward, tactful, and not at all overbearing!’
Next, the two began to chat about finance, international affairs, and even the *Zizhi Tongjian*. They had a lot in common. Putting aside their business interests, they could be considered good friends who transcended the age gap.
After leaving Yunfeng Building, Chen Xiao sent Xu Wu a message: "Come worship me!"
Not long after, his phone rang. It was Xu Wu.
"Chen Xiao, is there something wrong with your brain? Are you asking for a scolding?"
"I’ll give you a chance to rephrase that," Chen Xiao said with a chuckle.
After he said that, Xu Wu was silent for a long moment before asking, "What do you mean?"
"I just negotiated a deal. A project with Central Inspection. 12 million."
"Ah..." She couldn’t help but gasp, immediately realizing what Chen Xiao meant earlier. There must be business in it for Zhi Fei Aerospace.
"Oh, President Chen! When are you free? I’d love to treat you to a meal!"
"I have to say, I preferred your rebellious attitude from before."
Xu Wu silently cursed him a hundred times, but her voice over the phone was still sweet. "President Chen, a gentleman doesn’t argue with a lady, right? For the sake of me being your model, be the bigger person!"
"President Xu, now you’re just being petty, holding a favor over my head. I got you a 4-million-yuan order—did I say anything? Did I ask for anything in return?"
’Pah! So pretentious! You’re just messing with me. If you hadn’t gotten me this order, do you think *I’d* be putting up with you? And besides, wasn’t asking me to be your model a demand?’
