"This has nothing to do with me. You chose to cooperate with me because I offered better terms than him, didn't you?"
Zhang Liunian had no intention of taking responsibility. It was purely a business competition; whoever offered a better design contract at a lower price, Fang Yan would naturally choose them.
There was no familial connection involved. Fang Yan wouldn't have offered him this opportunity just because he was a relative.
Therefore, her rejection of the Tang family was simply because the Tang family's offer was not as good as his.
"You don't understand. The Tang family is involved in many sectors in Nancheng. If I reject them this time, my life in Nancheng won't be smooth sailing. And as their replacement, don't you bear any responsibility?"
Seeing that he wasn't taking the blame, Fang Yan still wanted to shift the responsibility onto Zhang Liunian, preparing the ground for the Tang family's subsequent retaliation against Zhang Liunian.
Zhang Liunian was unaware of her thoughts but inadvertently gained information about the Tang family. "What sectors is the Tang family involved in in Nancheng? Isn't it just brick factories?"
"You underestimate the Tang family. Besides serving the authorities, they have also vigorously developed their own businesses, such as construction companies, department stores, and employment agencies... It can be said that at least one-tenth of Nancheng is run by their family."
Zhang Liunian was astonished. There were so many? No wonder he had never heard any scandals about the Tang family. Perhaps by later years, when Nancheng became the Tang family's domain, no one would dare to spread rumors about them.
"Let's start discussing our future cooperation in detail!" Zhang Liunian now just wanted to finalize everything quickly to avoid any issues.
"Okay, within the contract..."
After their conversation, it was closing time.
"Director Fang, are you free? Shall we go for a meal together?" Having secured such a major deal, Zhang Liunian wanted to treat her to a meal as a token of his appreciation for her choice.
Fang Yan was taken aback, her eyes fixed on Zhang Liunian. After realizing his sincerity, she nodded in agreement.
The two arrived at the Nancheng Restaurant and ordered a few dishes. Zhang Liunian got up to wash his hands. As he emerged, he bumped into his former classmate Li Haoran and two other youths behind him.
"Isn't this my good-for-nothing classmate Zhang Liunian? What are you doing here?
Are you here to eat or what?
I'm not saying this to be mean, but with your family's situation, you shouldn't come to places like this to pretend to be wealthy. It's not easy for your wife to earn money either.
But if you work here, that would be nice. That way, I can visit you often and look after you. After all, we're classmates, aren't we?"
Li Haoran was one of those who looked down on Zhang Liunian.
In fact, anyone who knew Zhang Liunian's story looked down on him, all believing that Zhang Liunian brought shame to men.
Zhang Liunian glanced at the classmate who looked somewhat familiar but not close, and without a word, he strode past him, intending to leave.
However, Li Haoran, seeing that he was being ignored, thought Zhang Liunian was looking down on him and pretending not to recognize him. He reached out and grabbed Zhang Liunian's arm. "What do you mean by ignoring me? We're classmates, and it's rare to meet in Nancheng. How about you come with me and try the food at the Nancheng Restaurant?
Let me tell you, the restaurant has a new braised meat dish that's delicious, along with some pickled vegetables. You've definitely never tried them before. Come on, let me show you around. My classmate Li Haoran can't possibly not have tasted these new delicacies."
"No need," Zhang Liunian said with a stern face, forcefully shaking off Li Haoran's hand, and then turned to leave. But he was again blocked by the incessant Li Haoran.
"You're ungrateful! I, Li Haoran, am from Nancheng. If it weren't for Qian Fei mentioning a tutoring class back then, I wouldn't have gone to your small town, nor would I have met a good-for-nothing classmate like you." Li Haoran's words clearly showed his disdain for Zhang Liunian's actions, even resorting to malicious slander.
"We don't know each other in the first place." Zhang Liunian walked past him. Just then, the restaurant manager appeared.
"Comrade Liunian, I've finally been waiting for you. You have no idea how much I've missed you these past three days.
And the braised meat and pickled vegetables you gave me are exquisite. Now, many people come here to eat specifically for the dishes you provided, which has increased my revenue several times over. I really have you to thank." Manager Hu Sha saw Zhang Liunian and acted as if he were seeing his own parents, grabbing his arm and launching into a torrent of praise.
Li Haoran and the other two opposite them were stunned. Zhang Liunian's braised meat and pickled vegetables? What he had just praised were the dishes Zhang Liunian had sent to the restaurant?
How was that possible? How could this Zhang Liunian have such ability or capability?
Zhang Liunian glanced at the shocked Li Haoran and replied with a smile, "It's mainly due to Manager Hu's excellent management."
"Hey, I've been a manager for so many years, but I know clearly it's because of your braised meat and pickled vegetables. Come, no matter who you're eating with today, this meal is on me."
"Next time. We've already paid."
"I'll have them refund it."
"There will be opportunities next time. You should go and attend to your business. There are quite a few people in the lobby now."
"Alright, call me if you need anything." Hu Sha saw the increasing number of guests and knew he had to leave. Zhang Liunian followed closely behind.
After they left, Li Haoran and the other two exchanged glances. After a long while, they finally reacted.
"So the braised meat and the best-selling pickled vegetables in Nancheng were created by Zhang Liunian?" Li Haoran murmured to himself, finding it hard to believe that Zhang Liunian had suddenly gained such significant ability.
Not only had he befriended the manager of the Nancheng Restaurant, but he had also been treated with such respect.
"Forget it, let's go eat too!" Li Haoran dismissed the chaotic thoughts in his mind and led his companions to eat.
Coincidentally, their table was directly opposite Zhang Liunian and Fang Yan.
As soon as he sat down, Li Haoran recognized that the person conversing with Zhang Liunian was Fang Yan, the factory director of Nancheng Food Factory, as his parents both worked for Fang Yan.
But why was she eating with Zhang Liunian? How could that good-for-nothing Zhang Liunian know someone like Fang Yan?
Moreover, were they sitting too close? Couldn't this Zhang Liunian have seduced Fang Yan again and planned to live off her?
Peh! Shameless!
"Careful!"
Just as Li Haoran was staring at Zhang Liunian and Fang Yan, Fang Yan, wanting to make space for the waiter to serve dishes, somehow lost her footing and lunged directly at Zhang Liunian.
The situation unfolded rather abruptly. Zhang Liunian instinctively reached out to grab her, but stopped halfway. In the end, Fang Yan successfully fell onto him.
This incident attracted considerable attention. Since Fang Yan was quite famous, almost everyone in Nancheng knew her. Therefore, when people saw Fang Yan falling into Zhang Liunian's arms, the place instantly erupted.