Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1134 Heyday

On Su Qin's second day at Hengtong Group, he was awakened at dawn by the honking of a "metal box" outside his window. He lived in the staff dormitory Lin Zhou had arranged for him. The room was small but immaculately kept. Last night, while Lin Zhou was teaching him how to use the "electric light," he had spent a long while studying the "magical object" that instantly illuminated the room, only falling asleep late at night. Just as he finished washing up, Lin Zhou arrived with a new suit. "Consultant Su, President Zhao asked me to bring you something new. We have an important negotiation this morning with Dingsheng Group regarding a plot of land east of the city. You must come along." Su Qin took the suit, his fingers brushing the soft fabric, and marveled at the exquisite craftsmanship of modern technology. Under Lin Zhou's guidance, he clumsily but meticulously fastened his tie. As he adjusted his collar in the mirror, his gaze grew resolute. Over two thousand years ago, he had engaged in a heated debate with Zhang Yi in the Xianyang Palace; today, in this modern "negotiation hall," he could similarly secure the upper hand for Hengtong. At nine o'clock in the morning, the atmosphere in Hengtong Group's large conference room was tense. Representatives from Hengtong and Dingsheng sat opposite each other at either side of the oval conference table. Delicate teacups and folders lay on the table. A digital screen on the wall displayed the words "East City Land Cooperation Negotiation Meeting." A cool breeze blew from the air-conditioning vents below the screen, but it couldn't dispel the tension in the air. Mr. Zhang, Dingsheng Group's negotiating representative, was a man in his fifties with a slicked-back hair, an expensive custom-made suit, and a diamond ring on his finger. He crossed his legs, twirling his pen between his fingers. His gaze swept across the Hengtong representatives before settling on Zhao Heng. His tone was filled with undisguised arrogance: "Mr. Zhao, let's not beat around the bush. Everyone knows the value of the East City land. We at Dingsheng have the capital backing, and Hengtong can't match our offer. I urge you to be sensible and withdraw from the bidding early, lest you lose face and waste your initial investment. It's not worth the effort." The Hengtong representatives' faces darkened at these words. The Marketing Director was about to open his mouth to retort, but Zhao Heng silenced him with a look. Zhao Heng took a sip from his teacup, suppressing his anger. "Mr. Zhang, bidding requires fair competition. Dingsheng has the capital, and we at Hengtong have operational experience. Who wins the land parcel will depend on our overall strength, not just the bid." "Operational experience?" Mr. Zhang scoffed, setting down his pen, leaning forward, his tone even more arrogant. "Mr. Zhao, don't even mention operational experience to me. In today's market, money solves everything. Hengtong's meager assets should be used for other smaller projects. The East City land parcel is too big a pie for you to chew on." Zhao Heng's face darkened completely, his hands clenched into fists beneath the table. Just as he was about to retort, Su Qin, who sat beside him, gently tugged at his sleeve, his eyes urging him to calm down. Su Qin slowly stood up, his movements unhurried. He didn't offer his business card like the other representatives did—last night, when Lin Zhou had taught him modern social etiquette, he'd decided that offering a business card was less sincere than a simple bow. He walked up to Mr. Zhang, bowed slightly, and saluted. His voice was steady and powerful. "Mr. Zhang, I've long admired you. My name is Su Qin, and I'm a strategic advisor to Hengtong Group. I just heard Mr. Zhang say, 'We are determined to win!' His words fully demonstrated Dingsheng's strength, and I admire him. I just wonder if Dingsheng Group has resolved the issue of liquidated damages with the West City building materials supplier?" "West City building materials supplier? Liquidated damages?" Mr. Zhang's smile froze, and his expression visibly darkened. He subconsciously straightened his body, lowered his crossed legs, and clenched the pen on the table so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The cooperation dispute between the West City building materials supplier and Dingsheng was their core confidentiality. To pool funds for the East City land bidding, Dingsheng had deliberately delayed the supplier's advance payment. This was known only to Dingsheng's core management. How could this "Su Qin" who suddenly appeared before him know about it? Mr. Zhang feigned composure, clearing his throat, his tone less forceful than before. "You... what nonsense are you talking about! Dingsheng and Chengxi Building Materials have a wonderful partnership, mutually beneficial. Why would there be any penalty? I think you're deliberately fabricating rumors to disrupt our minds!" Su Qin smiled, a hint of understanding in his smile. He pulled out a stack of organized documents from his bosom. These were the information Lin Zhou had retrieved from the company archives last night, printed out and handed to him, as he'd requested. Su Qin placed the documents on the table, gently pushed them toward Mr. Zhang, and spoke clearly, "Mr. Zhang, there's no need to deny it so hastily. As far as I know, last December, Dingsheng signed the 'Chengdong Land Construction Materials Supply Contract' with a West City Construction Materials Company. Article 7 of the contract clearly stipulates that 'Party B (Dingsheng) must pay Party A (the construction materials company) an advance payment of 30% of the total price within three months of contract signing. If payment is overdue, a penalty of 20% of the total price must be paid.' Now, the three-month deadline has expired, and Dingsheng still hasn't received the advance payment. The construction materials company's legal department is preparing to draft a complaint, which will be submitted to the court soon." He paused, glancing at the other Dingsheng representatives, and continued, "If this matter gets out and the media reports Dingsheng's 'malicious default,' Dingsheng's stock price will probably plummet. After all, no investor wants to invest in a company that refuses to even fulfill its contractual obligations." Mr. Zhang's forehead was covered in sweat. He picked up the documents on the table and flipped through them with trembling fingers. The documents contained not only copies of the contract terms, but also letters from the building materials supplier demanding payment from Dingsheng, and even the contact information for the supplier's legal department. The more he read, the more alarmed he became. He hadn't expected Hengtong to know Dingsheng's true plans so well. Without giving Mr. Zhang a chance to breathe, Su Qin continued, "Furthermore, Mr. Zhang should be aware that developing the East City land requires a large amount of steel, cement, and other building materials. The West City building materials supplier is the largest local supplier, commanding over 60% of the market. If the building materials supplier sues Dingsheng, not only will it cease supplying Dingsheng with building materials, it will also ally with other suppliers to boycott Dingsheng. Without building materials, even if Dingsheng wins the land, it will have to watch it lie idle, burdened with hefty daily land unused fees. Meanwhile, Hengtong reached a preliminary agreement with the West City building materials supplier yesterday. Not only will we make a one-time full advance payment, but we will also sign a five-year long-term cooperation contract with them to guarantee their long-term profits."