Zhang Liunian patted his shoulder, without any blame for him. "If it weren't for you guys blocking them, the losses would have been more than just these few bottles. You don't need to feel too burdened, no one wanted this to happen.
By the way, you just had someone beat you until you vomited blood. Do you want to go to the health clinic? I'll reimburse you for the cost, just go."
"No need, I can still take this kick." Du Ziteng used to be involved in shady dealings, and he'd encountered many situations like this.
Unfortunately, the more he encountered, the worse his skills remained.
"Brother Liunian, you teach me too. I want to learn a few moves." Men without combat ability are too frustrating. Having to wait for Brother Liunian to come and save the day is too useless.
"How about this? When I'm staying in the county town, I'll notify you in the morning to practice together. If you're in the countryside, then practice at home by yourself." Yesterday, Zhang Liunian moved to the county town with Jiang Qingqing.
The house in the countryside wouldn't be ready for another half a month.
"Okay, aren't you in the county town these days? I'll come find you tomorrow." Du Ziteng said excitedly.
"Alright, as long as you make it in time."
"I'll make it. I'll go buy a bicycle tomorrow, then going to the county town will be much faster." His father had just earned a thousand yuan, so he could afford to buy him a bicycle.
Du Zhan, who was working in the factory, suddenly shivered.
At the same time, in the factory director's office of the Nancheng Food Factory, Tang Shikang personally came to meet Fang Yan.
"Director Fang, your staff dormitory has been approved and it's confirmed that construction will begin immediately.
I hope that our Tang family can participate in this project. As you know, the Tang family has many small factories, involved in both food production and construction.
If you are willing to cooperate with us, we can offer you the greatest discounts.
Whether it's bricks or other materials, we guarantee low prices and high quality.
You won't regret cooperating with the Tang family."
Fang Yan's family in Nancheng did not have as much influence as the Tang family. Although Fang Yan was also a factory director, she was the only one in her family in such a high position; the others were all worse off.
The Tang family approaching her at this time was somewhat unexpected for Fang Yan.
She hadn't expected that a staff dormitory would lead to the Tang family personally coming to discuss cooperation.
"Do you have a cooperation plan? If your plan and quotation are truly satisfactory to me, I certainly don't mind cooperating with you." After reviewing the contract and design quote provided by Zhang Liunian, Fang Yan understood that there was likely no one else in Nancheng who could offer better or cheaper terms than him.
However, since the Tang family had come in person, she had to see what they had to offer first.
As a factory director, she had to prioritize the staff and the factory. Whoever could provide the most suitable, cheapest, and best design, she would naturally choose them.
As for why she had refused Zhang Liunian last time, it was partly because whether the matter would succeed was still uncertain, and partly because Zhang Liunian had always rejected her.
Now that the matter was settled, she naturally wouldn't refuse anyone anymore.
"Here, this is our sincerity." Tang Shikang naturally came prepared.
As a factory director, who wouldn't do their homework beforehand?
However, after looking at his contract and quotation, Fang Yan did not show any expression of satisfaction.
"What's wrong? Isn't this contract good enough?" Tang Shikang looked directly at Fang Yan's slightly furrowed brow.
Fang Yan put down the contract and paused before saying, "To be honest, Director Tang, before you came, someone else approached me with a contract that was several times better than yours, expressing their desire to cooperate. In terms of design, contract terms, and price, you are not as good as him."
Tang Shikang was startled. Someone had acted even earlier than him?
Who had gotten ahead of him? Could it be an insider from the internal affairs department who had heard about the matter?
"Really? That truly surprises me. You know, in all of Nancheng, besides my factory, there is no other place that can provide so many bricks in such a short time." Tang Shikang's factory was the largest brick kiln in Nancheng. For a large project like housing for tens of thousands of households, no one else could handle it in one go except their factory.
Fang Yan had intended to mention Zhang Liunian's name, but for some reason, what came to her lips was, "Just an unknown nobody, you wouldn't know him even if I told you."
Tang Shikang heard her speaking in defense of that person and asked, "Director Fang, are you planning to cooperate with that nobody?"
Fang Yan noticed his displeased expression and her attitude gradually cooled down. "If Director Tang cannot offer a better contract, then that's how it will be."
"Director Fang, have you perhaps forgotten how you reached this position?
It seems it's time to have a chat with Old Ding. His son has always wanted you as his daughter-in-law.
If you marry into the Ding family, it would be considered repaying our past favor."
Years ago, Fang Yan competed with someone from the Ding family for the position of factory director. Fang Yan was about to lose, but later, the Ding family suddenly withdrew due to Tang Shikang's appearance, which allowed Fang Yan to successfully take the position.
For this reason, Fang Yan genuinely felt indebted to both families.
It was precisely because of this that Ding Heng had been pestering her for years, but he had never acted too harshly, otherwise, no one would have been able to get close to her.
However, Tang Shikang now using that unconfirmed favor to threaten her made Fang Yan very angry. "You don't need to scare me. No one can force me if I'm unwilling."
She was no longer the ignorant young girl she used to be. Thinking back now, there were many questions about some things.
"There's an old saying, 'He who does not listen to the advice of elders will suffer losses before his eyes'," Tang Shikang said, then stood up and left arrogantly.
"Why didn't you come?" Fang Yan murmured, staring at the empty office.
Last time, Zhang Liunian had said he would come the next day, but after two days he still hadn't shown up, which made Fang Yan anxious.
The Tang family didn't seem like they would back down. They had their sights set on the staff dormitory for the food factory.
If she refused, they would resort to underhanded tactics.
But if she could reach an agreement with Zhang Liunian, then the matter would be settled, and even if they wanted to interfere, they would shift their focus elsewhere.
"Director Fang, why are you here?" Zhang Liunian was tidying things up in the shop. He turned around and saw Fang Yan standing at the entrance.
"I was passing by and discovered that Comrade Zhang Liunian had opened a shop here, so I was curious to come in and take a look." Fang Yan said, wanting to find a stool to sit down and talk.
However, she noticed that the room seemed to have recently suffered misfortune; there wasn't a single intact stool.
"What happened in your shop? Why does it look like someone smashed the place?" Fang Yan surveyed the surroundings, confirming it had been vandalized.
"It was smashed," Zhang Liunian clapped his hands and walked over to look at her.
Fang Yan felt her face subtly blush as he stared at her. "Can we go out to talk about this?"
Zhang Liunian's eyes flickered, and he didn't refuse. It was also a good time for him to ask about the cooperation.
"I agree to what you said last time." Following Zhang Liunian out of Zhang Family Lu Rou shop, Fang Yan's first sentence was what Zhang Liunian wanted to hear.
Zhang Liunian was stunned and looked at her, saying, "You agreed so readily?" It was so quick it felt unreal.
"The Tang family also wants this cooperation, but I refused. I'm afraid they might resort to some tactics."
Most people from the Tang family were rather greedy and petty, and their minds were very small, though not all of them. Tang Shikang was definitely one of them.
She had refused him just now, and she had surely offended him.
Now, she could only finalize this matter quickly. She only hoped that Zhang Liunian could withstand it.
"So that's how it is. Then let's go sign the contract now." Zhang Liunian also wanted to wrap things up quickly.
"Okay."