Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 347: Chapter 347 Importance (First Update, Congratulations to Alliance Leader Leledou)

“`

Feng Jun’s intent was very clear, not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry could get an audience with me whenever they pleased.

Since Baixing Town wasn’t too far from the city center, and was relatively affluent, the local leaders had met many powerful individuals. Even if a “mighty dragon” passed through their territory, it was expected to show a certain respect for these “local snakes.”

Feng Jun had spent 150 million to purchase the land, and the town’s leaders surely knew who he was. Although this was no small amount of money, it wasn’t enough to completely ignore local power.

However, when he bought the land, the original owner had warned him, saying the town was a place “where small temples have big demons, and shallow waters have many toads.” He had spent a lot on various aspects, yet even so, he still faced issues like people herding sheep to graze in the mountains every day.

So, getting entangled with the townspeople meant spending money with little to show for it.

Feng Jun did not want to get too entangled with the locals. Of course, it was impossible not to deal with them at all, but… since you want to see me, come to me. After all, I am a millionaire.

Just like Wang Haifeng, who recently had people design for him, I am the one paying. You can’t treat me like a pushover and give me a hard time.

However, later that day, Wang Haifeng returned, “Master, our wall construction project has caught someone’s eye. Someone waving the flag of the city’s construction bureau came looking for me, wanting to take on the construction work.”

“The city’s construction bureau?” Feng Jun’s eyebrows furrowed. “If the price and quality are right, we can talk… The key is the construction period.”

This project involved merely five or six kilometers of fencing, which wasn’t too extensive.

However, if he wanted to finish the job quickly, it made sense to divide the work among multiple construction crews, which was normal since the wall would be built in sections anyway.

“It’s not exactly like that,” Wang Haifeng said with a wry smile. “If we’re just talking about construction, that would be a matter for the Construction Industry Group…”

The person who approached him was connected to his brother, introduced through intermediaries, hoping to take over the entire wall construction— the entire wall!

But the crux of the matter was, if it were purely about construction, then it would indeed concern the Construction Industry Group or the city’s main construction company. If one had to stress the relationship with the construction bureau, it likely meant it was a private construction crew.

Of course, many operate under another company’s license these days, so even showing the qualifications of the provincial construction group could mean they’re a subcontracted crew. But if they emphasize the connection with the construction bureau, then they were likely planning to monopolize the project.

What irritated Wang Haifeng the most was that the other party, while obviously not very strong, still wanted to take on everything. Not only that, they even wanted to snatch the design contract from Si Jifeng.

Design fees aren’t the main expense in a construction budget, but self-design and construction can lead to too many shenanigans.

Why doesn’t Wu Jianguo’s Sheng Tang dare to take on design work? He fears entanglements that could give Feng Jun a reason to withhold construction payments.

This company, however, wants both design and construction. Why? Because they have solid backing!

As for the relationship between design and construction, there’s too much to say, and ten chapters wouldn’t cover it. To avoid being accused of padding the story, I won’t write any more on it.

In the end, it goes back to the problem of who is more powerful.

The latter company is powerful, not afraid that the client won’t pay, and even feels entitled to hold the monopoly.

Upon understanding the situation, Feng Jun blinked, “I have very high demands for design, safety, quality, and the timeline. What did they say?”

“What could they say?” Wang Haifeng could only respond with a bitter smile, “If they dare to take on the whole project, of course, they’ll promise anything.”

Being willing to promise is one thing; being able to deliver is another.

When taking orders, who doesn’t exaggerate a bit?

Some boast for the sake of securing orders and then strive to fulfill all their promises to avoid giving the client an excuse to withhold payment.

But there are others who, even after boasting, either can’t meet the standards or aren’t worried about not getting paid, which inevitably leads to disputes, lawsuits, or even more outrageous scenarios.

After pondering for a moment, Feng Jun replied, “Then don’t bother with them. If they’re willing to take a section, they can try their hand with one section first. Don’t even think about taking the whole thing, and the design is out of the question.”

According to his original intentions, he didn’t want to employ that kind of construction crew at all. Taking charge of both design and construction? Were they also planning to take over the supervisory role?

They even expect us to overturn the bidding results – who do they think they are?

However, it wasn’t appropriate to outright refuse, since they had gone through the trouble of speaking to Wang Haifeng. So he could only allocate a portion of the project, giving a bit of face to the other party, and then consider the job done.

Wang Haifeng was also in a dilemma. The person he spoke with, although polite in tone, carried an undercurrent in their words suggesting “you must give this to me,” which he did not appreciate.

His brother had also mentioned that the people behind that boss could have an impact on him and hoped that his younger brother would consider their offer carefully.

Wang Haifeng was indeed conflicted. Feng Jun’s response suited him well, but when conveying this to the other party, he suspected they would be far from satisfied.

“`

That evening, he treated his elder brother to dinner while his wife sat on the side, keeping his sister-in-law company.

After listening to his younger brother’s relayed message, Director Wang also felt a bit troubled, “Boss Feng’s points are valid, but Hai Feng, you don’t know… That guy behind him is about to retire soon and wants to rake in as much as he can before he steps down.”

“Exactly,” added Madame Wang helpfully, “Hai Feng, try to be as accommodating as possible so he doesn’t go around talking behind your back, accusing your brother of not showing respect to an old comrade.”

Wang Haifeng cursed angrily, “Damn it, so it’s all his reasoning? This kind of ‘old comrade’ doesn’t deserve my respect… Brother, thank goodness I didn’t follow you into the system. How suffocated would I have been? You used to have a much worse temper than me when we were kids.”

Director Wang smiled but did not reply.

After venting his frustrations, Wang Haifeng proposed a compromise, which he had learned from Wu Limin.

Luohua Manor could consider giving the major contract to that company, but the client would specify the subcontractors and related sections of the work.

In plain terms, the main contractor is like the project’s big steward. Apart from the sections they construct, they just earn a management fee from the others. The subcontractors have income, but they also have to take on some management responsibilities. This was just right for Wang Haifeng to slack off a bit.

No matter what, it sounded good when word got out: we are the main contractors.

Director Wang frowned upon hearing this, “This does give him face, but… are all subcontractors designated by the client?”

“I haven’t even reported this to Elder Feng,” Wang Haifeng said as he picked up his wine glass to clink with his brother before speaking resignedly, “If you think it’s workable, I still have to discuss it with him.”

Hearing this, Madame Wang spoke up again, “You have such a good relationship with Feng Jun, beg him a bit more… Isn’t giving just a nominal title somewhat deceptive?”

Wang Haifeng knew his sister-in-law was straightforward and didn’t take it to heart. Instead, he seriously explained, “It’s not about fooling anyone. The construction fees go through his subordinates. If he’s really capable, he can just withhold money from the subcontractors.”

This is exactly where the main contractor’s strength lies. It may seem like the subcontractors are appointed by the client, but if the main contractor wants to cause you trouble, there are plenty of ways. And you can’t help but offer kickbacks proactively. Withholding construction fees is just the most extreme tactic. There are countless other softer methods to slice away at profits.

In real life, many times when migrant workers struggle to get paid, it’s not the client’s fault.

The client has already paid the necessary fees; it’s the middlemen who withhold the money and don’t distribute it. This phenomenon is far too common—how can they get rich and lead extravagant lives if they don’t hold back your hard-earned cash?

Wang Haifeng actually didn’t understand this industry very well; he had gathered this information from Wu Limin.

The young owner of the Sheng Tang company taught him this, so he wasn’t afraid that the main contractor would make things difficult for his own company, as Sheng Tang had good relations with the client—if you dare not pay me, I’ll make the client stop paying you.

Anyway, there are too many underhanded dealings in construction to write them all down.

After hearing this, Director Wang gave his younger brother a meaningful glance and pondered, “Are you inciting the subcontractors to fight him?”

True to his position as a government official, he was used to analyzing issues with bureaucratic thinking.

As soon as his wife heard this, she became anxious, “Hai Feng, no matter how good your relationship with Feng Jun is, he’s still an outsider… think more about your brother. After all, you can’t draw two WANG characters with one stroke.”

Wang Haifeng’s wife also chimed in with a complaint, “Hai Feng is good in all aspects, but he’s too honest. I’ve already told him that this is such a big project and you’re in charge… why not consider more for your own people?”

Wang Haifeng looked at his wife helplessly, “How have I not thought about that? I told you, we can reserve two or three positions for transportation, stone materials—the contracts will definitely go to our own people under equal conditions… we can also contract out the canteen.”

He wasn’t a saint; if there were conditions, he would definitely look after his own people. He wasn’t even afraid to tell Feng Jun that, but engaging in anything excessive was out of the question.

However, Madame Wang was still somewhat dissatisfied. Relatives from her hometown were eyeing this lucrative opportunity, “How much can that earn? My third brother can also lead a team on a section of the project. Why don’t you agree?”

“He’s unreliable,” replied Wang Haifeng bluntly, then looked at his wife seriously, “What you value is money, but for me, following Boss Feng closely is what’s most important.”

He truly meant what he said. Did Wang Haifeng like money? Of course, he did. But he was very clear now that it wasn’t worth offending Boss Feng just to make a bit of money.

If it had been in the past when he was only learning martial arts from Feng Jun, he might not have felt this strongly. But after moving, the unusual atmosphere in the rockery pavilion was enough to set his mind wandering—why is it that cultivation is most effective only here?

Master Feng helping people to lose weight, treating diseases—anyone can be acknowledged as a master for these. But being able to alter the magnetic or energetic fields in a localized space is where a true master excels.

As for the principles? Wang Haifeng didn’t understand them and wouldn’t ask unless the master spoke about it.

All he knew was if he were in the master’s position, he would also confidently entrust matters to his disciple—if you dared to be dishonest, just expelling you would be enough to make you regret it.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t share this understanding with his wife. Firstly, he had promised Feng Jun not to discuss it openly, and secondly, even if he did speak about it, he couldn’t provide physical evidence. Explaining it wouldn’t work anyhow, as it all fell within the realm of metaphysics.

Upon hearing his take, both wives exchanged glances, each wearing a strange expression—has he become obsessed with his cultivation?

(First update, celebratory for League Master Leledou, and by the way, calling for monthly tickets.)

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