"Here's the situation, Secretary Liu. There are a few main reasons why Liu Real Estate Group wants to take on this project. On one hand, we've always been the established developer here in Whitewood County, and our previous property projects have all turned out pretty well. On the other hand, we have full confidence that we can deliver on this new project."
At the dinner table, Liu Hai hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke up.
"Mm, I'm familiar with your Liu Real Estate Group. The shantytown renovation project you secured recently—hasn't actually started construction yet, right?" Thomas Liu nodded.
Seeing Liu Hai speak first, Feng Kangnan quickly followed up: "Secretary, here’s how I see it—I’m confident I can handle this project, mainly because I come from a rural background myself, and I’m very familiar with the local conditions in Whitewood County."
"And most importantly, I've already finished all the necessary preparations for this project, so I can guarantee everything will go forward on schedule."
Feng Kangnan spoke briskly and to the point.
While the debate continued on this side, Victor Lee let out a mocking laugh: "Come on, these are all small projects. Magistrate Ma, how about this—our side is already putting in five hundred million, so if you want, we can add another hundred million just for the resort development. That’s totally doable."
"Our group may be based in Hong Kong, but we have plenty of unique resources for working with the mainland, including PR and media channels. All your government needs to do is stick to the original terms and add twenty percent more funding—that means we put in another hundred million, you add twenty million. I’ll make the call right now, and we can finalize the contract. Magistrate Ma, what do you think?"
As soon as Victor Lee finished speaking, Magistrate Ma’s eyes lit up, while Feng Kangnan and Liu Hai were both stunned.
"I think this sounds great. We all trust your company’s strength, and if you handle this project, I’m sure it’ll generate plenty of economic benefits in no time. I’m all for it. Secretary Liu, what do you think?" Magistrate Ma grinned and turned to Thomas Liu.
"No way, this project..."
Hearing this, Feng Kangnan and Liu Hai grew anxious and were just about to speak when Magistrate Ma smiled at them, saying, "No need to worry, gentlemen. The whole point of this project is to help raise Whitewood County’s profile outside. As business owners, you ought to have a sense of responsibility."
As soon as Magistrate Ma said this, both Feng Kangnan and his son Ken’s faces went pale. Their family had already pawned everything to scrape together the loan for this project—if it fell through now, who knew how much they’d end up losing.
Thomas Liu heard this and fell into thought.
Victor Lee glanced over at Feng Kangnan and Liu Hai and said coolly, "Let’s be honest—if you don’t have the money, don’t expect a share of the pie. Unless you can figure out a way to make me happy, then maybe I’ll consider working with you."
"See those six bottles of baijiu over there? Whoever finishes them all by himself, I’ll work with him and let him have a bite of the project. How about it?" Victor Lee’s lips curled in amusement, his eyes full of mockery.
"Six bottles! Each one’s more than half a kilo—downing six would be a disaster!" Liu Hai’s face changed as he heard this.
He still had his company—if he missed out on this project, he’d just make less money. But if he tried to chug all that liquor, he’d probably end up in the hospital, or worse. So he shook his head right away.
"If he won’t drink, how about you?" Victor Lee turned to Feng Kangnan, his face full of contempt.
"You can’t drink that, Dad—if you do, something bad’s bound to happen!" Ken Feng said anxiously from the side.
At the banquet table, Juxing An, Wu Zhanjun, and the others all kept silent. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Feng Kangnan.
That liquor was seriously strong—six bottles at once, and you’d be headed straight to the hospital. Whether you’d make it out alive was up to fate.
Feng Kangnan gritted his teeth, hesitated for a long time, then finally took a deep breath and said, "I’ll drink!"
He had to win this project—if he didn’t, all his years of hard work would go down the drain.
"Dad! Let me drink it for you!" Ken Feng blurted out, his little suit looking especially rumpled and pitiful.
"If your dad drinks, he’ll just end up in the hospital. But with that scrawny body of yours, you’d go straight to the crematorium!" Kai Chen, already in a foul mood, spoke coldly.
Just then, Lisa Liu got out of her taxi and hurried into the guesthouse, her bag stuffed with freshly printed contracts.
"Magistrate Ma!"
Lisa Liu strode in with a beaming smile, but after a few steps, she suddenly froze. Her eyes locked onto Evan Lin sitting at the table, and her expression turned to shock and suspicion.
She had no idea why Evan Lin would be here—this was definitely not a place ordinary people could just walk into.
"Ah, you’re here, Lisa. Come on in—did you bring the contract?" Magistrate Ma greeted her warmly. "Here, grab a chair."
A waiter brought over a chair, and Lisa Liu sat down. She glanced at Evan Lin, still confused, but with both the magistrate and secretary present, she didn’t dare make a fuss. Hearing Magistrate Ma’s question, she quickly took out the contract from her folder. "I’ve got it right here—this is the draft you asked for. The total contract amount is six hundred million, with the other company putting in five hundred million and our side contributing one hundred million."
Lisa Liu handed over the contract. Magistrate Ma took it and passed it to Victor Lee. "Take a look—if it all checks out, we can sign right now. As for the resort project..."
"As for the resort contract, that’ll depend on what our boss here thinks." Victor Lee flipped through the contract, his eyes lighting up at the numbers, then glanced over at Feng Kangnan.
Feng Kangnan’s expression shifted again and again, but at last, he picked up the bottle.
Evan Lin took it all in, feeling a bit helpless. He used to think Ken Feng’s father only got ahead thanks to luck, but now it seemed the man was willing to suffer for success. Even knowing the liquor would wreck his body, he was still ready to go through with it for the contract.
"Oh? You’re really going to drink? All right, I’ll sit right here and watch." Victor Lee smiled.
"I hope you’ll keep your word!" Feng Kangnan took a deep breath. Ken Feng tried to stop him, but was silenced by his father’s look. Just as Feng Kangnan raised the bottle to drink—
Evan Lin, who had been sitting quietly, slowly stood up.
Selina Shi, sitting beside Evan Lin, was startled and looked up in confusion. Meanwhile, Thomas Liu and Magistrate Ma both frowned—this was Evan’s second time standing up during the banquet, and while the first was to take a phone call, this time it seemed almost disrespectful.