The two opponents who were fighting fiercely had actually met for the first time, and Lin Nan, standing by, found it somewhat unbelievable.
"Xiao Yang, Director Yu just said you want Xu Zheng to transfer the road construction rights. This sounds like a dispute between dark forces over interests. Since you said you didn't smash the arcade, then you should just settle for compensation for your cousin and the excavator, why drag the road contract into it?"
Although Lin Nan also suspected Yang Jian had smashed the arcade, the local police station had no evidence to arrest him, so he had to support him and also give him a heads-up.
Yang Jian smiled, "Doesn't he have no money to compensate? More importantly, I need to widen and thicken that road.
On one hand, it's for the convenience of my template factory's trucks entering and exiting, which is out of my personal interest.
On the other hand, it's also to contribute to the local economic development. With the road widened, I believe many businesses will spring up on both sides of the road before long. Director Yu is very familiar with Xinqiao, I should be right, shouldn't I?"
Yu Xiangdong nodded, "That's right. If you pay for the road construction yourself, it is indeed a good deed, and we should support it. Xu Zheng, give us your stance."
Xu Zheng didn't answer immediately. After thinking for a moment, he said, "General Manager Yang, your request is not unreasonable. It's quite suitable for you to build this road alone. However, I've already signed the contract. If I transfer it to you, I'll lose face in Xinqiao, and it will be difficult to take on projects in the future."
"Face? You hit my cousin and smashed my excavator, and I shouldn't care about face? Are you saying your face is bigger than mine?"
Before Xu Zheng could finish, Yang Jian got angry. He didn't care that Yu Xiangdong and Lin Nan were around. Since you want face, then I'll slap your face in front of everyone.
Xu Zheng quickly waved his hands, "No, no, General Manager Yang, please let me finish. My face is naturally not as important as yours. My intention is, can we be flexible? I'll still build that kilometer of road, widen the road surface to six meters, and thicken it to twenty centimeters, to offset the compensation for your cousin's family and the excavator. What do you think?"
"Not good. I don't believe you'll build the road to twenty centimeters thick. The trucks carrying goods in and out of my factory are large vehicles weighing twenty to thirty tons. If you build the road to eleven or twelve centimeters thick, this road will collapse in less than a year, and it would be better not to build it at all."
"How is that possible? You can send people to supervise."
Yu Xiangdong also chimed in, "Yes, Xiao Yang, from an economic perspective, a six-meter-wide road costs around 300,000 yuan. Xu Zheng will have to invest an extra 170,000 to 180,000, which is roughly the same as the compensation for your cousin and the excavator. As for the quality, the highway department will naturally inspect it, and you can also arrange for people to supervise on-site."
"No. You compensate my cousin 80,000 yuan, and I must build this road myself as compensation for the excavator. Otherwise, we'll proceed according to legal procedures, and I will not be responsible for any consequences."
"You."
Xu Zheng was so angry he felt like spitting blood. This was naked blackmail. It was clear that if this matter wasn't handled properly today, Yang Jian might retaliate against him personally. Thinking of the fates of Liu Ming, Cao Wu, and others, he suddenly felt a chill. How could he have impulsively attacked Jing Yongli?
"Xiao Yang, be merciful when you can. You're not entirely clean yourself. Mountains don't change, and rivers flow. Perhaps you'll have to deal with us in the future."
Yu Xiangdong couldn't stand it anymore and began to issue a veiled threat.
"No problem. If I fall into your hands, then I'm unlucky. My surname is Yang, but I'm not a sheep. As long as you don't kill me, you can weigh the consequences yourselves."
Since it had come to this point, Yang Jian had nothing to hold back. You, Yu Xiangdong, as a law enforcement officer, have been consistently covering for and indulging your nephew, allowing him to act atrociously and bully businesses in Xinqiao. I don't believe in this evil; let's see if I dare to deal with him.
Lin Nan gave him a look of approval, clearly also disapproving of Yu Xiangdong's actions.
Yu Xiangdong's face turned red from being retorted. If Lin Nan weren't present, he would have really wanted to exercise his law enforcement powers and arrest Yang Jian.
Xu Zheng had only heard of Yang Jian's reputation before and thought his uncle could suppress him. But after truly interacting with him, he realized this person had a stubborn personality and wouldn't back down when things got serious.
Such a person is terrifying. Once you completely fall out with him, he might be relentless and fight you to the bitter end. Moreover, he is a martial arts master, and if he were to carry out a lone wolf-style attack, I wouldn't be able to resist at all.
"No, no, no, General Manager Yang, don't be angry. I can agree to your request, but I have two conditions."
Xu Zheng hurriedly tried to ease the atmosphere and changed his strategy.
"Tell me, what conditions?"
"First, after this matter, we'll mind our own business. You cannot interfere with or meddle in any of my affairs in Xinqiao."
"No problem. As long as you don't harass people around me or interfere with my production, I have no interest in meddling in whatever you do."
"Good, I believe you, General Manager Yang, will keep your word. Second, I have already signed a contract with Fan Jiazhuang for this road, so you can only sign a subcontracting agreement with me. I will pay the engineering fees without deducting a single cent according to the original contract price, and I will also help coordinate the work of widening the roadbed. The main reason for doing this is to save some face for myself."
"Alright. I know the contract price for this road is 130,000 yuan per kilometer. After the funds are allocated, you give me 130,000 yuan, and all expenses, including taxes, will be mine."
Yang Jian agreed without even thinking. As someone with a reputation in Xinqiao, it was normal for Xu Zheng to want to save some face. Even if the road was subcontracted, he could still say outwardly that he built this road.
"Okay, I'll go back and prepare the new contract, and we can sign it tomorrow. Where should we meet again?"
"You don't need to meet me. Tomorrow, you go directly to the hospital to sign the contract with Yongli, and by the way, pay the compensation. Then have him write a letter of understanding. It would be best to call the comrades from the police station together and complete all the procedures at once."
"Yes, yes, yes, that's a great suggestion. I'll go to the police station later."
"Alright then, this matter is over for today. Brother Nan, let's go."
Yang Jian didn't want to stay a moment longer; Yu Xiangdong's expression disgusted him.
Watching Yang Jian and Lin Nan leave the private room, Yu Xiangdong slammed his teacup onto the table, "This Yang Jian, he refuses a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. I will make him regret it sooner or later."
"Uncle, don't be angry. I didn't lose out in today's negotiation."
Xu Zheng actually started to smile.
"What do you mean? You not only have to pay 80,000 yuan but also gave him the road construction rights. How is that not a loss?"
"My second condition just now was a calculation. Yang Jian wants to build a six-meter-wide road, so I'll cooperate with him. When it's time for inspection, I'll report it as a six-meter-wide road.
With our relationship with the transportation bureau, it should be fine to report the actual amount received. A six-meter-wide road is allocated 300,000 yuan per kilometer. I only need to pay him 130,000 yuan, and we'll make a profit of 170,000 yuan without any investment.
After deducting the 80,000 yuan in compensation, we still make 90,000 yuan. This partially offsets the loss of the arcade. Do you think this is a losing business?"
"Oh, so your refusal just now was a pretense? You almost made me fall out with him."
"Uncle, if I had agreed too easily, he would definitely have been suspicious. This is called playing hard to get. Yang Jian won't figure out the trick for a while. He'll only realize he's made a wedding dress for me when it's time for settlement."
"Hmm, now that you put it that way, my anger has subsided. However, it's still best not to provoke this kid in the future. He's a ruthless person, and you're no match for him. Moreover, with Lin Nan backing him, it's difficult for me to deal with him."
"Don't worry, Uncle. I've learned my lesson. From now on, I'll go around him when I see him."