Zhao Jianhua also recalled many past events and said emotionally, "How can those women outside compare to you..."
Zhang Yuyun didn't want to hear him say such things. Just then, Xie Zhendong walked in.
They immediately stood up to greet him. Xie Zhendong sat in the most comfortable chair and asked, "You insisted on seeing me and found me here. What is it about?"
Zhao Jianhua still wanted to flatter him and said with a fawning smile, "We..."
Before he could finish, Zhang Yuyun interrupted him. Without bowing or scraping, she looked directly at Xie Zhendong and said, "Mr. Xie, we tried to see you at Xie Group several times but couldn't. So, we had no choice but to come here to find you. We apologize for disturbing you."
"Yes, yes, we went to Xie's, but your secretary always blocked us," Zhao Jianhua chimed in.
Xie Zhendong perfunctorily replied, "I've been quite busy lately."
Zhang Yuyun said, "Then we won't take up your time. We're here mainly to apologize. We were indeed negligent in this matter. Secondly, we request that you allow us to complete the cultural wall project. We guarantee there will be no further mistakes."
Xie Zhendong couldn't help but glance at Zhang Yuyun again and smiled, "Ms. Zhang is indeed courageous enough to take responsibility. But what guarantee can you offer?"
He glanced at Zhao Jianhua and continued before Zhang Yuyun could speak, "I trusted you at first, which is why I handed over such an important project to you. But because you cut corners on this project, I almost lost a large urban construction project that was already in the bag. Now it can only be postponed. Who will compensate me for this loss?"
"Then what do you want us to do to make up for our previous mistakes?" Zhang Yuyun retorted.
Xie Zhendong said slowly, "Mr. Zhao should know better than I do how to handle some matters."
Zhao Jianhua dared not look at him and nodded repeatedly, saying, "I understand, I know. Please rest assured, Mr. Xie. I will definitely speed up the project progress and follow your instructions. Just tell me when you want the urban construction project to be postponed to."
Now he finally understood Xie Zhendong's plan and how lucrative that urban construction project was. He also wanted to bid for it, but unfortunately, their group didn't even have the qualification to bid.
Xie Zhendong frowned and said, "I put in a lot of effort, and finally managed to get this project postponed for bidding until after the New Year."
"Do you mean we must complete the cultural wall project before the New Year?" Zhao Jianhua calculated the construction period in his mind. Time was extremely tight.
Xie Zhendong said with a dark expression, "Yes. If you can find workers to continue working during the New Year, then completing it by then is also acceptable. But it must be done by the time I specified, and you must sign another construction period contract with me. If you cannot complete this project before the bidding starts, you will have to compensate Xie Group three hundred million."
"We are paying for all the project costs," Zhang Yuyun said with difficulty accepting it. "If we fail to meet your timeline requirements, you can't make us pay so much..."
"If you think it's too much, then don't take on this project anymore. There are plenty of groups like yours eager to undertake this project with their own capital," Xie Zhendong gave them no room for negotiation.
Zhao Jianhua knew there was no turning back and agreed with a forced smile, "Alright, we will sign the construction period contract and complete it within the time you require, ensuring both quality and quantity."
Xie Zhendong said with satisfaction, "Then it's settled. Tomorrow, come to Xie's and find my assistant directly. I will have them draft the contract today."
Zhang Yuyun immediately said, "Mr. Xie, can we add another clause to the contract? After we complete the project according to your timeline, allow us to undertake all of Xie Group's real estate and construction projects for the next three years."
"I'll have to consider that. Let's talk about it after you've actually completed it on time," Xie Zhendong demurred indirectly.
Zhang Yuyun already knew what Xie Zhendong cared about and said, "Looking at all the similar groups in Lancheng, I believe only we have the strength in construction to complete it according to your requirements. I'm sure you know that my husband and I built our careers from working on construction sites. As long as we put aside other matters and personally supervise the site, it shouldn't be a problem. But if you only suppress and exploit us without giving us any motivation, who can guarantee that we will work our hardest relying solely on a contract?"
"Are you threatening me?" Xie Zhendong was surprised by how capable Zhao Jianhua's wife was. It was no wonder people outside said that the somewhat unscrupulous Zhao Jianhua owed his current success to his capable wife.
Zhang Yuyun smiled and said, "Mr. Xie, you've misunderstood. This is not a threat. Even if we end up paying you three hundred million, you would have lost such a large project, which would be a loss. I believe the profits you will gain from the project you are determined to win far exceed this three hundred million. Why would you suffer such a loss?"
Xie Zhendong thought calmly for a while. His Xie Group did have other construction companies to choose from, but he had analyzed them over the past few days. Those companies' overall capabilities in construction were not as good as Zhao Jianhua's group. Otherwise, he would have replaced Zhao Jianhua long ago.
Finding a group stronger than theirs to cooperate with was not easy.
"Alright, I can add that clause, but you must remember to fulfill your promises," Xie Zhendong conceded a small step.
Zhao Jianhua immediately expressed his heartfelt gratitude, "Mr. Xie, please rest assured. I will risk my life to complete it before the New Year."
"If you have nothing else, I need to continue playing golf," Xie Zhendong felt there was nothing more to discuss. He feared that these snobbish nouveau riche would make further demands.
Their apologies and admissions of fault were all pretense. Their real purpose in coming to him was to avoid losing out and not wanting to invest in public welfare projects for nothing.
"No, no more," Zhao Jianhua respectfully picked up his golf club and handed it to him.
Taking the club, he looked down on people like Zhao Jianhua and Zhang Yuyun from the bottom of his heart and immediately got up and left the lounge.
After Zhao Jianhua and Zhang Yuyun dragged their tired legs out of the golf course, Zhang Yuyun asked with some concern, "You seemed so confident in front of Xie Zhendong, but don't forget how many years it's been since you worked on a construction site, eating and living with the workers."
"Don't worry. For the sake of undertaking Xie's construction projects for the next three years, I'll do my best even if it kills me," Zhao Jianhua was still very confident.
Zhang Yuyun simply said, "That's good," and then walked towards her car.
Zhao Jianhua followed her and said, "I'll ride with you today. We can continue our conversation on the way. Thanks to you for being so upfront with Xie Zhendong today and securing the benefits that should be ours."
"There's nothing more to discuss. Didn't you drive here yourself? Drive your own car. I have other things to attend to."
"Yuyun, can we stop this? We're not divorced, so why must we sleep in separate rooms, drive separate cars, and keep everything so clearly divided..."