Zhang Daping was an utter scoundrel; if the company vice-president hadn't called him and asked him to meet someone from the Yunchi Group, he definitely would not have agreed to see Ye Qing. Moreover, even for those companies that were qualified to bid, if they didn't offer him some benefits, it would be difficult for them to get past him.
Although Zhang Daping had taken the call from the vice-president, he had always been duplicitous in his obedience to the vice-president. He merely assumed that Ye Qing had some sort of connection with this vice-president and was seeking favor through backdoor channels. Therefore, his attitude towards Ye Qing was quite discourteous, even worse than how he treated other companies.
Ye Qing said, "Our company's products, just like those of other companies, are absolutely qualified quality products."
Zhang Daping shook his head and said, "Anyone who dares to approach Lin Corporation claims their products are qualified. What I'm asking about is the advantage of your products, stop beating around the bush!"
Indeed, Ye Qing's company's products didn't have much of an advantage, but it was only about securing a bidding qualification. As long as the products met the requirements, they could secure a bidding qualification, whether they had any advantage was not the key issue. However, Zhang Daping insisted on making an issue of this, and Ye Qing was helpless in this matter.
Actually, what Zhang Daping said was just his way of giving Ye Qing a hard time. He had often done this before, and those shrewd salespeople would give him some benefits. Unfortunately, Ye Qing didn't understand the unwritten rules of the industry. Even if Ye Qing knew these unwritten rules, it was not certain that he would comply!
Seeing that Ye Qing had stopped talking, Zhang Daping slammed the table angrily and said, "Your products don't have any advantages; on what basis are you participating in our group's tender? Do you really think you're a big group just because you make surveillance equipment? Our Lin Corporation's projects, we select only the highest quality products.
Those inferior products of yours, just go sell them to some small companies. Really, what a waste of time! Do you think I have as much free time as you?"
Ye Qing frowned slightly; Zhang Daping was really impolite. However, there wasn't much anger in Ye Qing's heart. He wasn't a person who got angry easily, nor would he get upset over such matters.
"Sorry to have disturbed you, Manager Zhang," Ye Qing replied politely, then turned and left Zhang Daping's office.
"Damn, can't even observe basic rules, and still dares to be a salesperson!" Zhang Daping muttered under his breath, leaning back in his chair with his feet on the desk.
Suddenly, the telephone on his desk rang. Zhang Daping lazily picked up the phone and said, "Who is it?"
"Hello, Manager Zhang, this is Lin Tianyou," a calm voice came from the other end.
Hearing this voice, Zhang Daping immediately perked up, hurriedly sitting upright. Even though it was just a phone call, a sycophantic smile appeared on his face out of habit.
"Oh, Young Master Lin, hello! What can I do for you?" Zhang Daping's voice was very respectful.
"What orders? Manager Zhang, you're too polite," Lin Tianyou laughed: "It's just a small favor I'd like to ask of Manager Zhang."
Zhang Daping eagerly said, "Oh, Young Master Lin, you are too modest. Just give the word, and even if I have to climb a mountain of swords or descend into a sea of fire, I'll do it for you right away!"
"Haha, Manager Zhang, you're always so bold!" Lin Tianyou laughed: "It's about a friend of mine; their company manufactures surveillance equipment. The group's projects have started bidding recently, and the requirements for surveillance equipment aren't too high, so if it's possible, I'd like to trouble Manager Zhang to let my friend participate in the bidding, too."
"No problem at all!" Zhang Daping said repeatedly, "You just say the word, Young Master Lin, and I'll get it done immediately."
Lin Tianyou: "Then I'll thank you in advance, Manager Zhang, hehe. Of course, I won't put you in a difficult position either. I've already discussed this matter with my uncle in advance, and he has agreed, which is why I'm calling you. He should have already gone there this morning; please take care of my friend when he arrives."
Zhang Daping's heart skipped a beat. Lin Tianyou's uncle was the chairman of Lin Corporation, which was why Zhang Daping was so respectful towards him. Lin Tianyou said he had already contacted his uncle earlier, but why hadn't anyone informed him?
Zhang Daping couldn't help but remember the call from the vice-president. A chill ran through his heart. The vice-president had just told him to accommodate someone from the Yunchi Group and give them a bidding qualification. Zhang Daping hadn't thought much of it; he even assumed it was a relative or friend of the vice-president.
Now it seemed that the vice-president was referring to the very person Lin Tianyou mentioned!
Zhang Daping felt a cold sweat run down his back; he wiped his forehead with his sleeve while asking cautiously, "Young Master Lin, what's the name of your friend?"
"His name is Ye Qing, from the Yunchi Group."
Zhang Daping collapsed onto the sofa, with only one thought in his mind: cursing the vice-president. The vice-president had not told him that Ye Qing was Lin Tianyou's friend, which was clearly setting him up. However, he had truly fallen into this trap and had scolded Ye Qing, then sent him away.
"Manager Zhang, Manager Zhang, are you still there?" Lin Tianyou called out from the phone, finding it strange that Zhang Daping was silent for so long at his end.
Zhang Daping snapped back to reality and quickly said, "Ah, that... Young Master Lin, your friend seems to have arrived, I'll go and accommodate him right now."
"That's good. Thanks for your trouble," Lin Tianyou said, and as soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Daping hung up the phone. Lin Tianyou was surprised, wondering why Zhang Daping was in such a rush. But he didn't dwell on it.
Zhang Daping hung up the phone, immediately grabbed it again, and called the receptionist downstairs.
"Hello, this is Manager Zhang Daping from the project department. Listen carefully, once the person from Yunchi Group goes downstairs later, make sure he doesn't get away!"
"Ah? Manager Zhang, did he steal something from our company?" asked the receptionist curiously.
"Steal what? Be polite to him!" Zhang Daping hung up and, no longer caring about anything else, hurried out of the office and dashed downstairs to chase after Ye Qing.
When he reached the lobby and saw Ye Qing sitting at the reception, Zhang Daping finally let out a sigh of relief. Ignoring the sweat on his forehead, he hurried over, shook Ye Qing's hand, and said, "Ye brothers, why did you leave so quickly? I was just joking with you earlier, please don't take it to heart. Come on, let's go upstairs and talk about the bidding details!"
At ten-thirty, Ye Qing finally received the admission card for the bidding venue. With the admission card in hand, he returned to the company, where Mu Qingrong was discussing Jinlong Group's business with Wang Xuan. Mu Qingrong attached great importance to this business. Although it wasn't as significant as the previous Feiyun Group business, it was very important for the company's development.
Seeing Ye Qing return, a cold smirk flashed across Wang Xuan's face, and he stopped discussing business, saying, "Ye Qing, I haven't seen you all morning. Were you busy with Lin Corporation's business?"
Ye Qing had mentioned contacting Lin Corporation for business yesterday, and Wang Xuan had been keeping it in mind. Now seeing Ye Qing, his first thought was to use it to embarrass Ye Qing in front of everyone.
The company was small, and everyone could hear Wang Xuan's words, so all eyes were on Ye Qing.
Mu Qingrong frowned slightly; Wang Xuan was obviously picking a fight. She was thinking of how to help Ye Qing smooth over the situation when Ye Qing slowly nodded and said, "Yes."
Mu Qingrong was at a loss for words, looked at Ye Qing, and thought to herself that he was intentionally making things awkward for himself.
"Oh?" Wang Xuan was also taken aback, not expecting Ye Qing to admit it so straightforwardly.
"So how did it go? Did you manage to secure the business directly? With your ability, getting Lin Corporation's business should be no problem for you, right?" Wang Xuan deliberately spoke loud enough for the whole room to hear. He knew very well that it would be miraculous for their company to even qualify for the bidding.
Ye Qing replied truthfully, "No, I did not."
"You mean there's a business you can't secure?" Wang Xuan laughed exaggeratedly and said, "Don't tell me you didn't even get the qualification to bid. That doesn't fit your capabilities, does it?"
Many in the room snickered, and Mu Qingrong frowned deeply but couldn't publicly reprimand Wang Xuan.
"I've obtained the bidding qualification," Ye Qing said as he took out the admission card and handed it to Mu Qingrong, saying, "Director Mu, this is the admission card for the bidding venue. With this, you can enter the bidding hall directly."
The room suddenly fell silent; everyone stared at the admission card, their eyes growing wider than the next.
Mu Qingrong's mouth hung open, and it took her a while to come back to her senses.
For their small company, acquiring the bidding qualification for a Lin Corporation project was much more difficult than securing a business worth millions. It wasn't just about money; it was a matter of reputation and status.
Being allowed to enter the Lin Corporation's bidding hall already proved that Lin Corporation recognized the products of Yunchi Group.
Lin Corporation was a leading enterprise within Shenchuan City and even among the alliance of seven surrounding cities. Being recognized by Lin Corporation meant other companies would surely acknowledge Yunchi Group's products as well. With this bidding qualification, Yunchi Group could move further up, rising to a new level, and expand its customer base even more.
Holding the admission card, Mu Qingrong was stunned for a good while before she finally looked at Ye Qing, her voice slightly trembling, "This... is this really Lin Corporation's bidding venue admission card?"
"How is that possible! How can it be real!" Wang Xuan snatched the admission card, examined it several times, but couldn't find any signs of forgery.
Ye Qing's expression remained calm as he softly said, "The bidding officially starts tomorrow at half-past eight in the morning. Director Mu, you need to prepare."
As everyone stood in astonishment, Ye Qing turned and left. It was already noon, time for lunch, and the time he had been waiting for — time to make a phone call to the army.
At noon, during mealtime, it was more convenient to call the army.