Qin Dazhu, afraid Song Qiao would go back on his word, slapped his thigh and picked up a pen, signing his name on the contract.
"Boss Qin is indeed straightforward. Then I wish our cooperation smooth sailing in advance." Song Qiao, seeing the matter settled, shook hands with Qin Dazhu cheerfully.
Then he left the tofu factory with Li Lili.
On the way back, Li Lili asked with some confusion, "Boss, why did we give up on lowering the price for this priority supply? Wouldn't this increase our production costs?"
Song Qiao chuckled and explained, "Priority supply can guarantee that we are one step ahead of our competitors at all times. If we give up this right and choose to lower costs, aren't we throwing away the big for the small?"
Li Lili nodded as if she understood, and was about to ask something more when she was interrupted by Song Qiao's phone ringing.
Song Qiao glanced at it and saw it was his wife, Xia Yuqing, calling. He quickly answered.
"Song Qiao, where are you now?" Xia Yuqing's voice was noticeably rushed.
"I'm on the road. What happened?" Song Qiao's expression immediately turned serious, and he asked with concern.
Xia Yuqing had been giving him the cold shoulder recently, and wouldn't have called unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Mom accidentally fell down the stairs. Hurry to the city hospital."
"Okay, don't worry, I'll be there immediately."
Song Qiao calmly agreed and stepped on the accelerator.
He happened to be on the same route as Xiang Piaopiao, and after dropping off Li Lili, Song Qiao headed straight for the city hospital.
Fifteen minutes later, Song Qiao arrived at the hospital and saw Xia Yuqing waiting outside the emergency room.
"Song Qiao, Mom went downstairs to buy groceries this morning, slipped, and fell down the stairs. She's still being rescued."
As soon as Xia Yuqing saw Song Qiao, she could no longer hold back her tears.
Song Qiao gently patted Xia Yuqing's shoulder, pulled her into his arms, and said softly, "It's okay, wife. Mom has always been in good health. Nothing serious will happen."
Xia Yuqing was so flustered that she was beside herself, clinging to Song Qiao and sobbing.
Just then, a doctor suddenly rushed out of the emergency room, holding a stack of papers.
"Who is Zhang Caixia's family?"
Song Qiao and Xia Yuqing quickly stood up and replied, "We are her family."
"Doctor, how is my mother?" Xia Yuqing's voice trembled with anxiety.
"Her waist bone is injured and requires immediate surgery," the doctor replied.
"These are the cost estimates, approximately fifty thousand yuan. Please pay it quickly." After speaking, the doctor handed the papers to Song Qiao and then turned back into the emergency room.
Hearing the amount, Xia Yuqing's face turned pale. Their family couldn't afford such a sum at the moment.
Song Qiao seemed to sense Xia Yuqing's worry and quickly said, "I have the money. Wait here, I'll go and pay."
With that, he took out a bank card and jogged to the payment counter.
Half an hour later, Song Qiao had completed all the procedures and returned to the emergency room door with various receipts.
"Song Qiao, didn't your shop go bankrupt? Where did you get so much money?" Xia Yuqing asked Song Qiao, who was busy, with some emotion.
"Oh, wife, I told you long ago, that was just a marketing tactic for my shop."
"Our factory is making a fortune every day, how could it go bankrupt?"
Xia Yuqing was stunned upon hearing Song Qiao's explanation.
"Are you telling the truth?" Xia Yuqing felt a pang of guilt.
"Of course, otherwise where would I get so much money?" Song Qiao chuckled softly and patted Xia Yuqing's shoulder to comfort her.
Thanks to the timely rescue, her mother-in-law's surgery was very successful.
The doctor advised a few days of rest in the hospital, and with the use of imported medicine, there would be no lingering after-effects.
Xia Yuqing finally let out a sigh of relief. She looked at Song Qiao gratefully and lowered her head shyly.
Not long ago, she had been scolding Song Qiao mercilessly at home, only to realize she had wrongly accused her husband.
Moreover, it was her husband who had produced fifty thousand yuan at the critical moment, saving her mother's life.
Song Qiao said nothing, seemingly considering his wife's embarrassment, and deliberately changed the subject.
"Mom needs rest now. I'll find some connections and arrange a single room for her."
As Song Qiao spoke, he took out his phone and called Qi Yun.
In the 1990s, medical resources in China were quite tight. Scarce resources like single rooms were often available only to those with money but no access.
Only people like Qi Yun, who had connections, would have one or two spots.
Upon receiving Song Qiao's call, Qi Yun agreed without hesitation and then contacted the hospital leadership on Song Qiao's behalf.
Not long after, the mother-in-law's attending physician informed Song Qiao and the others to prepare to move to a single room.
When the doctor came to deliver the news, he looked at Song Qiao with reverence. This man not only could produce fifty thousand yuan without hesitation, but also had such powerful connections.
Xia Yuqing felt she could no longer understand her husband. In just one month, Song Qiao had transformed from a worthless gambler into a successful entrepreneur.
This gave her a sense of unreality.
As soon as Song Qiao had settled his mother-in-law, Director Pan from the Poverty Alleviation Office called.
"Boss Song, business is booming."
"I don't have time tonight. Let's go out for a couple of drinks as a thank you for helping me complete such a significant poverty alleviation task."
Song Qiao frowned, glanced at his mother-in-law who had not yet woken up, and was about to refuse.
Xia Yuqing seemed to notice something unusual and quickly tugged at Song Qiao's arm, whispering, "The doctor said Mom is out of danger now. I can manage here by myself. Don't worry and go handle your business."
"Make sure this doesn't delay the shop's operations."
Song Qiao nodded slightly, a warmth rising in his heart.
Director Pan's invitation for dinner to thank him was just a pretext. The real reason for a face-to-face meeting was likely another business opportunity.
Every cooperation with government officials like Pan Bei, who held power, would bring unexpected rewards.
Seeing Xia Yuqing's understanding, Song Qiao no longer hesitated and quickly agreed to Director Pan's invitation.
"Then it's seven o'clock tonight, at that farmhouse in the suburbs. We'll see you there." Pan Han said with a hearty laugh, giving Song Qiao the time and place before hanging up.
Song Qiao was very familiar with this farmhouse, as he and Qi Yun had chosen it for their first meal there.