Chapter 147 — The Long-Awaited...

"It's like this: there's a big project, a contract for a municipal works job. The profit isn't much, but the project is big. I can't handle it alone, so I've come to you, Boss Niu," Boss Chen said with a smile.

Boss Niu thought to himself, Here it comes, finally here. I knew nothing good would come of this fellow showing up. This sort of public works project does indeed make money, but in the end the money isn't paid to me, Boss Niu—it's paid to Boss Chen, the contractor. If Boss Chen then pleads that he hasn't received the project payment yet, won't I have worked for nothing again?

"Heh heh, thank you for your kind intentions, Brother Chen, but my company is small, our cash flow is tight—we can't stomach a big project like this," Boss Niu said with some difficulty. "And besides, that earlier project payment, Boss Chen, you—"

"Oh, Brother Niu, look at my memory. I've come this time precisely to repay you." With that, Boss Chen quickly opened his briefcase and took out a check that had already been written, handing it to Boss Niu. "Brother Niu, this is three million for the last project payment. I keep forgetting it—I hope you won't take it to heart."

"Three million?" Boss Niu was taken aback. Hadn't part of it already been repaid? There should be only a little over two million four hundred thousand left.

"It's like this: though I repaid part of it before, I've been in arrears for so long that even in a bank it would have drawn interest. Let's count what I paid before as interest," Boss Chen said repeatedly.

Boss Niu frowned. What on earth had gotten into Boss Chen? Was he still half asleep? Not only had he repaid the money, he had even paid interest. No—something was definitely wrong. It struck Boss Niu all at once: could he be dangling a little profit before him only to swindle him big in return? At this thought, Boss Niu immediately felt it highly likely.

Boss Chen had come this time to discuss contracting the project with him. Boss Niu knew Hongxi Real Estate's strength well enough: though not as big as Dekang Real Estate, it was certainly capable of taking on a project. So why would it be unable to handle it?

There had to be something fishy going on here. President Niu furrowed his brow. President Chen would never be so generous—not only had he returned the project payment, but now he was offering him a new project on top of it.

"Ha ha, thank you, President Chen." President Niu accepted the check without ceremony. Whatever the reason, the money came first. As for that project—to hell with it. "But our company is a small temple, I'm afraid. We still can't swallow such a big project."

"President Niu, if your funds really are tight, that's no problem at all. A portion of the project payment will be advanced anyway—I'll just calculate your share out of it first, and I'll take a little less in advance myself. My company can still afford to front the money," President Chen said with a smile.

Hearing that something so good was on offer, President Niu was dumbstruck for a moment. What on earth was going on? Still not quite believing it, he said, "President Chen, are you serious? You're not joking with me?"

"President Niu, what position do you hold now? Who would dare joke with you?" President Chen shook his head hurriedly. "Even Brother Bao calls you his brother. Your rise to glory is only a matter of days away—when that day comes, please don't forget your humble little brother."

President Niu suddenly understood. So President Chen had only come after hearing that news. He could not help but smile bitterly to himself. Bao Lin's name really did carry extraordinary weight. President Chen was afraid that once he rose to power, he would take revenge, and so here he was first thing in the morning, rushing to curry favor.

Even so, President Niu remained modest. "President Bao and I are merely business friends."

President Chen thought to himself, Of course I know you're friends in business—could you possibly be sworn brothers of the underworld? Still, who knows what kind of dog-shit luck you stumbled into? President Bao thinks you're loyal and true enough, and so he's got your back.

"You're far too modest, Brother Niu," President Chen said with a laugh. "If there's no problem, then let's settle the matter just like this. To be honest, I don't feel entirely sure of myself taking on such a big project—sure enough, someone will get envious and come to make trouble. But this time, with you, Brother Niu, a friend of Brother Bao, on board, I imagine those petty scoundrels won't dare act rashly."

Hearing President Chen mention Bao Lin, President Niu understood why he was being so attentive. It was not some scheme of his—he had simply come to curry favor. Still, he suspected the reason President Chen had given afterward was also part of it. If Bao Lin took part in the project, who would dare make trouble then? But that still required Bao Lin to join. So he said, "President Chen, I hear Brother Bao is also planning to set up a real estate development company. Why don't you see about letting him in on this project too? Consider it a trial run for him."

"That would be wonderful!" President Chen had been worrying about how to forge a connection. If President Niu could bring Bao Lin in as well, would he not then become a friend of Brother Bao too? At the thought, President Chen grew excited. He told himself that coming here today had truly been wise. "Then, Brother Niu, I'll leave the matter to you. With Brother Bao involved, our project is practically in the bag—I doubt anyone will even dare compete with us."

The two were still conversing when another knock came at the office door. President Niu gave President Chen an apologetic smile and said, "Come in."

The visitor was again President Niu's secretary. She set down tea for the two of them and then said, "President Niu, President Zhang of Xinhui Construction is downstairs. He says he wishes to see you."

This time, President Niu found nothing strange about it. President Zhang also owed him over two million and had yet to repay it. He was probably here now to return the money as well.

"Let him wait a while." President Niu smiled and waved his hand. With President Chen having gone first, President Niu had gained confidence and was beginning to put on airs. After all this time, at last it was his turn to hold his head high. In the past, when President Niu went to collect debts, he had to beg and grovel, and still the money did not come back. Now these people were lining up to bring him the money of their own accord.

President Chen knew President Zhang as well and knew he also owed President Niu money. He found it rather amusing. No doubt President Zhang had also rushed over in a panic to repay. Still, they were the pot calling the kettle black—as like as not, they were much the same.

Even so, President Chen felt very fortunate. He had been well informed, and it seemed he was the first to arrive, which was why he could still talk with President Niu at such length. The ones who came later, he imagined, would hardly get a word in.

"President Niu, I won't interrupt your meeting with other guests. I do hope you'll put in a good word about that matter." President Chen was referring to the business with Bao Lin.

"Don't worry, President Chen. Leave it to me," President Niu said. He also knew that Bao Lin wanted to set up a real estate development company of his own but was unfamiliar with how to go about it, so this was a perfect opportunity to do him a favor.

After President Chen left, sure enough, the later arrivals—President Zhang, President Liu, President Yu, President Xie—all came to repay their debts and, while they were at it, to build connections. But President Niu had grown tired of dealing with them and sent them off with a few cursory words.