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Feng Junâs intent was very clear, not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry could get an audience with me whenever they pleased.
Since Baixing Town wasnât too far from the city center, and was relatively affluent, the local leaders had met many powerful individuals. Even if a âmighty dragonâ passed through their territory, it was expected to show a certain respect for these âlocal snakes.â
Feng Jun had spent 150 million to purchase the land, and the townâs leaders surely knew who he was. Although this was no small amount of money, it wasnât enough to completely ignore local power.
However, when he bought the land, the original owner had warned him, saying the town was a place âwhere small temples have big demons, and shallow waters have many toads.â He had spent a lot on various aspects, yet even so, he still faced issues like people herding sheep to graze in the mountains every day.
So, getting entangled with the townspeople meant spending money with little to show for it.
Feng Jun did not want to get too entangled with the locals. Of course, it was impossible not to deal with them at all, but⦠since you want to see me, come to me. After all, I am a millionaire.
Just like Wang Haifeng, who recently had people design for him, I am the one paying. You canât treat me like a pushover and give me a hard time.
However, later that day, Wang Haifeng returned, âMaster, our wall construction project has caught someoneâs eye. Someone waving the flag of the cityâs construction bureau came looking for me, wanting to take on the construction work.â
âThe cityâs construction bureau?â Feng Junâs eyebrows furrowed. âIf the price and quality are right, we can talk⦠The key is the construction period.â
This project involved merely five or six kilometers of fencing, which wasnât too extensive.
However, if he wanted to finish the job quickly, it made sense to divide the work among multiple construction crews, which was normal since the wall would be built in sections anyway.
âItâs not exactly like that,â Wang Haifeng said with a wry smile. âIf weâre just talking about construction, that would be a matter for the Construction Industry Groupâ¦â
The person who approached him was connected to his brother, introduced through intermediaries, hoping to take over the entire wall constructionâ the entire wall!
But the crux of the matter was, if it were purely about construction, then it would indeed concern the Construction Industry Group or the cityâs main construction company. If one had to stress the relationship with the construction bureau, it likely meant it was a private construction crew.
Of course, many operate under another companyâs license these days, so even showing the qualifications of the provincial construction group could mean theyâre a subcontracted crew. But if they emphasize the connection with the construction bureau, then they were likely planning to monopolize the project.
What irritated Wang Haifeng the most was that the other party, while obviously not very strong, still wanted to take on everything. Not only that, they even wanted to snatch the design contract from Si Jifeng.
Design fees arenât the main expense in a construction budget, but self-design and construction can lead to too many shenanigans.
Why doesnât Wu Jianguoâs Sheng Tang dare to take on design work? He fears entanglements that could give Feng Jun a reason to withhold construction payments.
This company, however, wants both design and construction. Why? Because they have solid backing!
As for the relationship between design and construction, thereâs too much to say, and ten chapters wouldnât cover it. To avoid being accused of padding the story, I wonât write any more on it.
In the end, it goes back to the problem of who is more powerful.
The latter company is powerful, not afraid that the client wonât pay, and even feels entitled to hold the monopoly.
Upon understanding the situation, Feng Jun blinked, âI have very high demands for design, safety, quality, and the timeline. What did they say?â
âWhat could they say?â Wang Haifeng could only respond with a bitter smile, âIf they dare to take on the whole project, of course, theyâll promise anything.â
Being willing to promise is one thing; being able to deliver is another.
When taking orders, who doesnât exaggerate a bit?
Some boast for the sake of securing orders and then strive to fulfill all their promises to avoid giving the client an excuse to withhold payment.
But there are others who, even after boasting, either canât meet the standards or arenât worried about not getting paid, which inevitably leads to disputes, lawsuits, or even more outrageous scenarios.
After pondering for a moment, Feng Jun replied, âThen donât bother with them. If theyâre willing to take a section, they can try their hand with one section first. Donât even think about taking the whole thing, and the design is out of the question.â
According to his original intentions, he didnât want to employ that kind of construction crew at all. Taking charge of both design and construction? Were they also planning to take over the supervisory role?
They even expect us to overturn the bidding results â who do they think they are?
However, it wasnât appropriate to outright refuse, since they had gone through the trouble of speaking to Wang Haifeng. So he could only allocate a portion of the project, giving a bit of face to the other party, and then consider the job done.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Wang Haifeng was also in a dilemma. The person he spoke with, although polite in tone, carried an undercurrent in their words suggesting âyou must give this to me,â which he did not appreciate.
His brother had also mentioned that the people behind that boss could have an impact on him and hoped that his younger brother would consider their offer carefully.
Wang Haifeng was indeed conflicted. Feng Junâs response suited him well, but when conveying this to the other party, he suspected they would be far from satisfied.
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That evening, he treated his elder brother to dinner while his wife sat on the side, keeping his sister-in-law company.
After listening to his younger brotherâs relayed message, Director Wang also felt a bit troubled, âBoss Fengâs points are valid, but Hai Feng, you donât know⦠That guy behind him is about to retire soon and wants to rake in as much as he can before he steps down.â
âExactly,â added Madame Wang helpfully, âHai Feng, try to be as accommodating as possible so he doesnât go around talking behind your back, accusing your brother of not showing respect to an old comrade.â
Wang Haifeng cursed angrily, âDamn it, so itâs all his reasoning? This kind of âold comradeâ doesnât deserve my respect⦠Brother, thank goodness I didnât follow you into the system. How suffocated would I have been? You used to have a much worse temper than me when we were kids.â
Director Wang smiled but did not reply.
After venting his frustrations, Wang Haifeng proposed a compromise, which he had learned from Wu Limin.
Luohua Manor could consider giving the major contract to that company, but the client would specify the subcontractors and related sections of the work.
In plain terms, the main contractor is like the projectâs big steward. Apart from the sections they construct, they just earn a management fee from the others. The subcontractors have income, but they also have to take on some management responsibilities. This was just right for Wang Haifeng to slack off a bit.
No matter what, it sounded good when word got out: we are the main contractors.
Director Wang frowned upon hearing this, âThis does give him face, but⦠are all subcontractors designated by the client?â
âI havenât even reported this to Elder Feng,â Wang Haifeng said as he picked up his wine glass to clink with his brother before speaking resignedly, âIf you think itâs workable, I still have to discuss it with him.â
Hearing this, Madame Wang spoke up again, âYou have such a good relationship with Feng Jun, beg him a bit more⦠Isnât giving just a nominal title somewhat deceptive?â
Wang Haifeng knew his sister-in-law was straightforward and didnât take it to heart. Instead, he seriously explained, âItâs not about fooling anyone. The construction fees go through his subordinates. If heâs really capable, he can just withhold money from the subcontractors.â
This is exactly where the main contractorâs strength lies. It may seem like the subcontractors are appointed by the client, but if the main contractor wants to cause you trouble, there are plenty of ways. And you canât help but offer kickbacks proactively. Withholding construction fees is just the most extreme tactic. There are countless other softer methods to slice away at profits.
In real life, many times when migrant workers struggle to get paid, itâs not the clientâs fault.
The client has already paid the necessary fees; itâs the middlemen who withhold the money and donât distribute it. This phenomenon is far too commonâhow can they get rich and lead extravagant lives if they donât hold back your hard-earned cash?
Wang Haifeng actually didnât understand this industry very well; he had gathered this information from Wu Limin.
The young owner of the Sheng Tang company taught him this, so he wasnât afraid that the main contractor would make things difficult for his own company, as Sheng Tang had good relations with the clientâif you dare not pay me, Iâll make the client stop paying you.
Anyway, there are too many underhanded dealings in construction to write them all down.
After hearing this, Director Wang gave his younger brother a meaningful glance and pondered, âAre you inciting the subcontractors to fight him?â
True to his position as a government official, he was used to analyzing issues with bureaucratic thinking.
As soon as his wife heard this, she became anxious, âHai Feng, no matter how good your relationship with Feng Jun is, heâs still an outsider⦠think more about your brother. After all, you canât draw two WANG characters with one stroke.â
Wang Haifengâs wife also chimed in with a complaint, âHai Feng is good in all aspects, but heâs too honest. Iâve already told him that this is such a big project and youâre in charge⦠why not consider more for your own people?â
Wang Haifeng looked at his wife helplessly, âHow have I not thought about that? I told you, we can reserve two or three positions for transportation, stone materialsâthe contracts will definitely go to our own people under equal conditions⦠we can also contract out the canteen.â
He wasnât a saint; if there were conditions, he would definitely look after his own people. He wasnât even afraid to tell Feng Jun that, but engaging in anything excessive was out of the question.
However, Madame Wang was still somewhat dissatisfied. Relatives from her hometown were eyeing this lucrative opportunity, âHow much can that earn? My third brother can also lead a team on a section of the project. Why donât you agree?â
âHeâs unreliable,â replied Wang Haifeng bluntly, then looked at his wife seriously, âWhat you value is money, but for me, following Boss Feng closely is whatâs most important.â
He truly meant what he said. Did Wang Haifeng like money? Of course, he did. But he was very clear now that it wasnât worth offending Boss Feng just to make a bit of money.
If it had been in the past when he was only learning martial arts from Feng Jun, he might not have felt this strongly. But after moving, the unusual atmosphere in the rockery pavilion was enough to set his mind wanderingâwhy is it that cultivation is most effective only here?
Master Feng helping people to lose weight, treating diseasesâanyone can be acknowledged as a master for these. But being able to alter the magnetic or energetic fields in a localized space is where a true master excels.
As for the principles? Wang Haifeng didnât understand them and wouldnât ask unless the master spoke about it.
All he knew was if he were in the masterâs position, he would also confidently entrust matters to his discipleâif you dared to be dishonest, just expelling you would be enough to make you regret it.
Unfortunately, he couldnât share this understanding with his wife. Firstly, he had promised Feng Jun not to discuss it openly, and secondly, even if he did speak about it, he couldnât provide physical evidence. Explaining it wouldnât work anyhow, as it all fell within the realm of metaphysics.
Upon hearing his take, both wives exchanged glances, each wearing a strange expressionâhas he become obsessed with his cultivation?
(First update, celebratory for League Master Leledou, and by the way, calling for monthly tickets.)