At the same time, Liu Kaichen, who was working in his office, received a phone call from the head office. His superior launched into a severe scolding.
He was told that he had been at the branch company for so long without achieving any results, and had even lost many old clients.
If he didn't show some achievement this month, he would have to give up his position as general manager of the branch.
He could only nod in agreement, not daring to retort, for he was just an employee after all.
After hanging up the phone, he was full of worry.
Up to now, Yi Feng hadn't called him, so the matter was likely in jeopardy.
However, if he didn't complete what Boss Zhou had instructed, cooperation with him would be impossible.
This was truly pushing him to a dead end. He forcefully wiped his face.
He decided to call Yi Feng to ask about the situation, as he couldn't let him wait in uncertainty forever.
If all else failed, he would shamelessly approach several more companies, refusing to believe that no one would be willing to cooperate with Wu Ji Machine Tool.
Liu Yifeng was feeding chickens. His father had bought thirty chicks from the market a couple of days ago to raise.
Once they grew bigger, they would be for Tong Tong to eat!
Just because Tong Tong loved chicken legs, he specifically bought so many chickens, showing how much he cared for Tong Tong.
Sometimes, his son, Yifeng, felt a pang of jealousy.
Since he was young, he had never seen his father specially raise chickens for him.
If he raised them, it was to sell the eggs for money, or to entertain guests during festivals.
The only time his father had killed a chicken for him was when he suddenly fainted while training for a run.
On that day, his father had made him chicken soup to nourish his body.
There had been no other occasions since, but with Tong Tong's arrival, all the best food at home was reserved for him first.
Most of the free-range chickens raised at home had already been slaughtered, leaving only a large rooster and a hen that could lay eggs.
Therefore, the saying that grandparents dote on their grandchildren had some truth to it.
However, Tong Tong's arrival had indeed brought much joy to their family, and he hoped this joy would continue.
Just after finishing feeding the chickens, he received a call from Liu Kaichen: "Hello!"
"Yi Feng, how is that matter progressing? Any leads?" Liu Kaichen asked directly.
"I've already spoken with the owner of Long Teng Hotel and arranged to meet tonight.
But whether he will cooperate, I'm not entirely sure, so I haven't called you yet."
After hearing Liu Yifeng's words, Liu Kaichen felt a little relieved. After all, agreeing to a meeting was a good start.
Otherwise, if they couldn't even get a meeting, there would be no hope at all.
"Alright, make sure you negotiate well tonight. As long as they are willing to cooperate with Wu Ji Machine Tool, I can offer them maximum discounts. I guarantee they won't lose out," Liu Kaichen had placed all his hopes on Liu Yifeng.
Therefore, even if he had to forgo his commission, he wanted to close this deal.
"Don't worry, I'll negotiate properly. As soon as the result is out, I'll call you immediately. Please wait patiently!" Liu Yifeng understood Liu Kaichen's feelings, but this matter couldn't be rushed.
"Okay, you carry on with your work!" Liu Kaichen put down his phone only after Liu Yifeng hung up first.
However, before he could even catch his breath, he received a call from Zheng Wucheng, the general manager of Jingtian Grand Hotel.
He had been apprehensive about this call earlier, but after speaking with Yi Feng, he was no longer as afraid.
He immediately answered: "Hello, Manager Zheng. What can I do for you?" he asked politely.
Zheng Wucheng got straight to the point: "Manager Liu, has there been any progress on the matter entrusted to you by our chairman?
There are many people who want to cooperate with our chairman, so you must seize the opportunity!"
His words carried a hint of threat.
Liu Kaichen feigned ignorance and asked: "Manager Zheng, what matter? I don't understand."
"Manager Liu, you truly have a bad memory. Seeing your lack of enthusiasm, it seems you don't wish to cooperate with our chairman." Zheng Wucheng's tone intensified, clearly showing his displeasure.
Liu Kaichen replied: "It's not that I don't want to cooperate with you, it's just that you are asking too much.
I've done a lot of persuasion work with my cousin, but he won't listen. What can I do?
If cooperation is terminated because of this, then it seems we are not destined to work together."
"Alright, I understand your meaning. Then I wish you good luck!" Zheng Wucheng said, and immediately hung up the phone.
"What did he say?" Zhou Libo asked from the side.
Zheng Wucheng shook his head: "He said he couldn't persuade his cousin."
"Since that's the case, then there's no need to cooperate with him."
"But our hotel's business is getting worse and worse. We can't afford to drag this out any longer." Zheng Wucheng looked at the midday bill, deeply worried about the hotel's future prospects.
He never expected that what defeated them would be ordinary vegetables.
"I don't believe that without his vegetables, our large hotel will have to close down.
How about this, go draft a discount promotion plan to attract new and old customers.
Even if it means losing money, I want you to win back the customers from Long Teng Hotel.
Let's see who can last longer," Zhou Libo gritted his teeth.
Zheng Wucheng actually disagreed with this solution. Even if they got the customers back, it would be like hurting a thousand enemies while sacrificing eight hundred of their own, utterly meaningless.
However, he was just an employee, so he would naturally do as the boss said.
At exactly seven o'clock in the evening, Liu Yifeng drove a van to Long Teng Hotel.
Conveniently, there was an empty spot in the open-air parking lot. He steered with one hand, preparing to park.
But at this moment, the car behind him honked its horn.
Thinking something was wrong, he stopped the car and poked his head out to ask the reason.
He saw the Porsche behind him deftly squeeze into the parking spot he was aiming for.
Liu Yifeng got a little agitated. He immediately got out of the car and walked to the window of the Porsche, tapping on it.
The owner of the Porsche rolled down the window and looked at Liu Yifeng with disdain: "What is it?"
"I got to this spot first, so it rightfully belongs to me," Liu Yifeng said.
The owner of the Porsche was a man in his early thirties, with a glamorous woman sitting in the passenger seat.
Upon hearing Liu Yifeng's words, the two of them couldn't help but laugh.
"Your broken-down car wouldn't be wanted even if you threw it on the roadside, so why waste a parking spot?
Besides, not everyone can afford to patronize Long Teng Hotel.
I'm not looking down on you, but just by looking at your shabby appearance, did you come to the wrong place?" The man scanned Liu Yifeng from head to toe, showing no respect.
Liu Yifeng frowned: "Whether I'm shabby or not, it seems to have nothing to do with you, but this spot was indeed the one I intended to take. You can find another spot if you want to park."
He wasn't someone who liked to cause trouble, but he wasn't one to be bullied either.
Did he not deserve a parking spot just because he drove a broken-down car?
"Don't you understand what I'm saying, kid? I've already parked in this spot. If you've got the guts, move my car!"
After saying that, the man got out of the car, not wanting to waste more words with Liu Yifeng.
Liu Yifeng directly blocked his path: "You won't leave until you move your car."
"Are you out of your mind? This parking spot isn't yours. I can park wherever I want. Even the hotel owner wouldn't dare tell me to move my car, so what are you?
Get out of my way!" The man's patience ran out, his expression extremely impatient.
At this moment, a hotel security guard approached: "Mr. Gao, is there a problem?"
The security guard ignored Liu Yifeng and walked directly to Mr. Gao.
The man named Gao pointed at Liu Yifeng and said: "I parked in a parking spot, and this kid insists it's his and is blocking my way.
I'm not saying this to be critical, but isn't this a five-star hotel? How can any Tom, Dick, or Harry get in? When did the threshold become so low?
If the threshold is truly lowered, then I won't come anymore, lest my status be diminished."
The security guard glanced at Liu Yifeng, who looked unfamiliar, and then at the nearly defunct van. He quickly said: "Mr. Gao, please don't be angry. I will resolve this."
After speaking, he looked down on Liu Yifeng with an arrogant air: "Hurry up and move aside. Mr. Gao is a regular customer of our hotel, spending hundreds of thousands a year. He's not someone you can afford to offend."
Liu Yifeng was truly surprised that Long Teng Hotel treated its customers in such a discriminatory way. He felt a sense of disappointment.
Didn't higher-end hotels offer better service?
It seemed that the service was worse than a roadside stall. At least there, they knew about the principle of first come, first served.