Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 47 Comparison, inexplicable

Cars come and go downstairs at the teahouse.

"Brother Gao, there's really no other way. The distributorship agreements we've reached will take a few days to process, and the orders are coming in a rush. Do you think... we could discuss this with General Manager Zhao?"

“I’m not extending credit much, maybe seven or eight machines at most. I can get the payment back in a week or two. As you know, we’re getting goods faster and faster here, and our distribution channels are gradually opening up. Maybe we can sell a few hundred units a month in the future. Besides Chongqing, we can also distribute to the surrounding areas in the southwest region. Such a big market, you wouldn’t want it, would you?”

"Hmm... I know. Mr. Zhao told me about the payment collection issue a while ago. Everyone's having a tough time. Could you please mention it to Mr. Zhao for me? If it works out, great. If not, I'll think of something else, okay?"

"Okay, thank you. I'll treat you to dinner when I get back to Shenzhen."

Chen Xuebing hung up the phone and sighed.

You can't force someone to buy on credit. If you upset Zhao Wanping, it will affect the supply of goods, and you'll lose more than you gain.

Just then, my phone lit up again and started vibrating.

Uncle, a phone call.

Chen Xuebing answered the call.

"Hey, Uncle."

The question on the other end was very direct: "Are you sure you want to do that project in Pengshui County?"

“Uh…” Chen Xuebing frowned, realizing there was some project involved, and immediately confirmed, “Yes, we need to do it.”

"The project team just called me and said they'll be starting construction after the New Year. They want us to come over soon to discuss things on-site and with the drawings. It's Sunday today, so you don't have classes, right? Come with me now, and be quick so we don't interfere with your studies."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuebing's brows relaxed.

Go and check it out before work starts, have everyone discuss things, and prepare what needs to be prepared in advance. That's the proper thing to do.

He glanced at his watch and said, "It takes at least four hours to get to Pengshui County from here and back, right? If we're still in the countryside... I have evening self-study sessions tonight."

"No matter how long it takes, I definitely have to get back today." Yu Chunyin said, then hesitated for a moment and said, "It's okay if it's later, no rush, but I have something to do next weekend, so I can only go two weeks later."

"Forget it, let's do it today then." Since his rebirth, Chen Xuebing has been afraid of being dragged out by all sorts of things, so now he adheres to one principle: if you need to get things done, do it as early as possible.

"Where are you now? I'll come over as soon as I pick up Engineer Tan. He's skilled and can take a look at you."

When delivering drawings, a construction worker who understands drawings is definitely needed. Yu Chunyin was not sure about Chen Xuebing's technical level, and even if this project was given to Chen Xuebing, it would be under his name. It was only right to bring Tan Hailiang along to understand the details.

Chen Xuebing didn't say anything, but looked around for a landmark.

"I'm on Nanhu Road... There's a newly built Qinglong Road Primary School next to it, you know? I'll wait for you at the intersection."

"Okay, I'm not far away, I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Chen Xuebing calculated that it would take ten minutes to walk there, so he simply hung up the phone and hurried upstairs.

As soon as they entered the private room, Xin Mengzhen sat up straight, looking like she wanted to talk to him.

Chen Xuebing raised his teacup, drank the old-fashioned tea in one gulp, and said while packing his things, "I can't help you with your homework today. I have something urgent to attend to and I have to go now."

Now, Yang Qingyue also looked up.

"Where are you going?"

Chen Xuebing didn't have time to explain; he picked up the bag and walked out.

"It's a bit far!"

"Hey!" Yang Qingyue called out, but Chen Xuebing had already disappeared through the doorway again.

Her brows furrowed, and after a long pause, she said angrily, "What's he doing all this time? What's he up to?!" Then she turned to Xin Mengzhen and said worriedly, "...Mengzhen, could something have really happened to him? Do you think I should call him and ask?"

Xin Mengzhen slowly shook her head. Before this moment, she felt that she knew everything about Chen Xuebing, but she had to pretend not to know in front of Yang Qingyue. She had always felt guilty. Now, she had become someone who was unaware of the situation, just like Yang Qingyue.

Faced with this lack of knowledge, Yang Qingyue could openly take out her phone to call and express her concern, but she couldn't.

Xin Mengzhen gradually tightened her grip on the pen, and then loosened it again.

"Go ahead and ask."

After saying that, she felt a jolt in her heart, a sense of emptiness as if she were falling.

This emptiness felt different from the emptiness I felt when I was swinging on the swing that day; it seemed to carry a hint of tension.

A girl's little emotions often come out of nowhere, have no direction, and seem to have no purpose. She watched as Yang Qingyue immediately dialed Chen Xuebing's number, secretly hoping that Chen Xuebing's phone would suddenly run out of battery.

But the beep was very clear.

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyue glanced at Xin Mengzhen and pointed to the phone to indicate that the call had been connected.

Xin Mengzhen immediately lowered her head to look at her test paper, and even started twirling her pen, putting on a relaxed act.

The more she acted out the scene, the more irritable she became.

With another "thud," the pen in her hand fell onto the table.

"Hey? Where have you been? Meng and I..." Yang Qingyue had only uttered half a sentence when a voice came from the other end:

"Qingyue! I'm waiting for your call! We can talk later, I'm hanging up now!"

Beep beep, the call has ended.

Yang Qingyue looked at her phone, immediately becoming upset, and started whimpering again: "What did he do...?"

Xin Mengzhen felt a little relieved. Without thinking, she took out her bag, secretly held her small phone in her hand, and patted Yang Qingyue with her other hand, saying, "It's okay, he's doing business, right? He's probably just out on business. I'm going to the restroom."

...

Where are you going?

Xin Mengzhen sent a text message from the bathroom, waited quietly, and decided to come out in two minutes.

No, three minutes, I'll need to use the restroom for a while.

Just as she was thinking this, the other person replied immediately.

For engineering matters, go and see for yourself on-site.

Xin Mengzhen's lips kept curving upwards, her heart was pounding, but she pursed her lips again, suppressing her smile.

Yes, he seemed to have mentioned engineering projects, what kind of projects his family was involved in, but he didn't go into details.

Hmph, you're in your final year of high school, and instead of studying properly, you're acting all mysterious.

……

After half an hour.

The Toyota Camry has already entered a county road.

After going over a dirt ridge, the car jolted, and Yu Chunyin, who was holding the steering wheel with one hand, clicked her tongue.

"This Camry is still not good enough. The chassis is too low. I'll get a Prado in a couple of years."

Yes, these days, Camry is still called "Jiamei".

Chen Xuebing, who was in the passenger seat, was looking out the window when he heard this. He felt a pang of jealousy and said, "I don't need you to drive for me. I don't mind."

Yu Chunyin chuckled: "Why drive this? When we make money in the future, we'll buy a Land Cruiser!"

The boss buys a Land Cruiser Prado, while the employees are told to buy a Land Cruiser. This is a ridiculous promise.

Chen Xuebing was speechless: "Still buying a Prado! Last year they even advertised it at Lugou Bridge! A Japanese car, and the lions on Lugou Bridge saluted it! Think about what that means! Now they don't dare call it Prado anymore, they've changed it to Land Cruiser! The Land Cruiser has also been renamed Land Cruiser! You're a soldier, buying that car, aren't you afraid your comrades will scold you?"

The Toyota advertising incident in 03 caused a huge uproar, which Chen Xuebing only recently saw in the newspaper.

"Huh? Is that so?!"

With a roar, the car screeched to a halt.

Chen Xuebing turned his head and found that his uncle's eyebrows were furrowed into a deep frown as he stared at the car logo in front of him, and the veins on his hands gripping the steering wheel seemed to be bulging.

"Damn it, no way! He wouldn't dare?!" Yu Chunyin asked again, her voice rising higher and higher.

Oh no, my uncle didn't even know that Camry is a Toyota! Is he going to smash his own car halfway through the road?!
Chen Xuebing's heart tightened, and he quickly gave an awkward laugh.

"Uncle, Uncle, you drive first, we'll talk about this when we get back!"

(End of this chapter)