Wang Peng arrived at the teachers' office building and handed the reprinted bid document to Wu Xinyuan.

Wu Xinyuan read it through from beginning to end. "Okay, go and give it to the principal."

"Thank you, teacher."

Wang Peng went to the principal's office and handed the tender documents to Principal Zhou Shun.

Zhou Shun put on his reading glasses and carefully read through the document, paying particular attention to the price quote.

Lotus Leaf brand cigarettes, priced at 100 yuan each, 30 cartons for a total of 3,000 yuan.

Maozi Baijiu, priced at 1,300 yuan per unit, totaling 39,000 yuan for 30 cases.

The total is 42,000 yuan.

"Xiaopeng, the price for cigarettes is acceptable, but the price for alcohol is a bit high."

Zhou Shun shook his head. "At this price, it will be very difficult for you to win the bid."

"Principal, this is the lowest price I can offer."

Wang Peng said, "Whether we win the bid or not doesn't matter; the important thing is to participate."

"Hehe, let's wait and see the results." Zhou Shun put the tender documents in the drawer.

"Goodbye, Principal." Wang Peng turned and left.

If the bid is successful, the total profit will be 3,150 yuan.

On the third day at noon, Wang Peng learned that Zhou Shun was holding a bidding meeting at a hotel.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, Zhou Shun called Wang Peng to his office.

"Xiaopeng, you won the bid. Deliver the goods tomorrow."

Wang Peng was stunned; he never expected to win the bid.

"Principal, I don't have that much money. Could you give me the payment first?"

"What did you say?" Zhou Shun thought he had misheard. "You mean, you want me to pay you first, and then you'll give me the goods?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I meant," Wang Peng said with a smile. "I can't come up with more than 40,000 yuan all at once."

Hearing this, Zhou Shun laughed in anger.

"Young man, are you kidding me?"

He wanted to slam his fist on the table, gritting his teeth as he said, "This is a commercial tender, not homework."

Wang Peng said, "The tender document says cash on delivery, is it really cash on delivery?"

“Principal, as long as we specify the payment date in the contract, I will take the job.”

Zhou Shun scoffed, "Cash on delivery? What are you thinking? School payments require multiple layers of approval."

"Find someone else to sign the contract. I don't have the money to stock up. Goodbye." Wang Peng turned and left.

I hadn't paid any attention to this bid in the first place.

With a total profit of three thousand yuan, we have more than forty thousand yuan in outstanding payments tied up, and we don't know how long this will last.

After thinking it over carefully, Wang Peng still felt it was unnecessary.

The biggest gain from this trip was discovering the talent of Zhao Long.

His bid proposal was so well-written that even professional teachers couldn't find any fault with it.

After having lunch at the cafeteria, Wang Peng took his girlfriend and Dong Shishi back to the tobacco and alcohol shop.

"Brother, did we win the bid?" Li Mingzhu asked.

“I got the offer, but I don’t want to do it. The profit margin is too low, and the remittance date is uncertain,” Wang Peng said.

"Huh?" Li Mingzhu scratched her head. "What a pity."

Wang Peng didn't feel it was a pity, as the investment and profits were clearly disproportionate.

When the car arrived at the tobacco and liquor store, the door was locked.

Everyone got out of the car and opened the door. Dong Shishi saw the note on the cabinet, picked it up, glanced at it, and then casually handed it to Wang Peng.

The note was left by Du Lei; a restaurant urgently needed alcohol, and he went to deliver it.

Since Dong Shishi wasn't there, he had no choice but to close the shop.

This will affect business.

"Mingzhu, what do your parents think?" Wang Peng asked.

The elderly couple had lost their jobs, and Wang Peng suggested they come work at his shop, but they haven't heard back.

“I don’t know what they’re thinking, let’s go to the family compound,” Li Mingzhu said.

Just then, the telephone on the counter rang.

Wang Peng answered the phone, "Hello, Brothers Tobacco and Liquor Store."

"Xiao Peng, this is Feng Dali. Do you have a moment now?"

"Yes, Uncle Feng, you can tell me."

"Come to the station to pick me up, let's have a chat."

"Okay, I'll be right there."

Wang Peng hung up the phone. "Mingzhu, Feng Dali needs to talk to me. Are you going home?"

“Take me to my parents’ home,” Li Mingzhu said.

Wang Peng drove to the light bulb factory's residential compound.

"Brother, come pick me up tonight." Li Mingzhu waved and went upstairs to find her parents.

Wang Peng left the family compound, drove to the branch office, and met Feng Dali.

"Xiao Peng, I heard a coffee shop opened near KFC. Shall we go get some Western drinks?" Feng Dali said with a smile.

"No problem," Wang Peng readily agreed.

And so, the two went to the coffee shop again.

The restaurant has two floors; the first floor is open, and the second floor has private rooms.

The two of them wanted a private room and ordered two cups of coffee.

"Xiao Peng, Lao Zhou called me today and said you won his bid, but then refused to sign the contract?"

Feng Dali smiled and said, "Tell me what exactly happened."

Wang Peng said, "The tender document stated that it was cash on delivery, meaning that payment would be made on the same day the goods were shipped. It was because of this clause that I submitted a low bid."

"Today I was discussing the contract with Lao Zhou, and he actually said that the clause was invalid."

"Uncle Feng, it's his lack of contractual spirit that's to blame, not mine."

In the end, Wang Peng gave a cold laugh.

"Xiaopeng, only children emphasize right and wrong; adults talk about interests."

Feng Dali said, "His deceptive clause is designed to get you to quote a lower price, understand?"

“I understand, but I don’t agree,” Wang Peng said.

Business people consider the payment time; they quote lower prices for quick payments and higher prices for slow payments.

Feng Dali laughed and said, "Let's not talk about whether we agree or not. Old Zhou asked me to be his mediator."

Among the numerous bids, Wang Peng's bid was the lowest.

The school wanted to save money, but Zhou Shun was too embarrassed to admit it, so he asked Feng Dali to act as an intermediary.

"Uncle Feng, this business can't be done. The profit margin is too low, and the payment cycle is too long..."

Wang Peng asked, "Did Lao Zhou tell you when the payment would be received?"

"Three months. Xiaopeng, a return on investment in ninety days is already very good."

Feng Dali said, "You can ask the steel rolling mill. They will wait at least six months before paying their suppliers."

"It's really not worth it not to do it."

Wang Peng laughed and said, "Uncle Feng, it's not that I'm not giving you face, it's just that it's really not worth it."

If you deposit more than 40,000 yuan in the bank, you can get five or six hundred yuan in interest in three months, so there is no need to take the risk.

"Xiao Peng, tell me your thoughts," Feng Dali said.

"My idea is simple: cash on delivery," Wang Peng said. "Deliver the goods and get paid on the same day."

"Goodness, you're not giving an inch," Feng Dali laughed.

This mediation is destined to fail.

Feng Dali said, "Okay, I'll take some time to convey your opinion to him."

Next, the two started chatting.

After chatting for more than half an hour, Wang Peng dropped Feng Dali off at the branch office, then drove to pick up his wife and had a meal at his parents-in-law's house.

"Zhenhua, ask your dad to help you."

Duan Cuilu smiled wryly, "I was diagnosed with a herniated disc a few days ago, so I can't help you anymore."

"Mom, is it serious?" Wang Peng asked hurriedly.

“It’s not serious, but this disease is difficult to treat,” Duan Cuilu said with a wry smile.

Li Kefan suddenly spoke up, "Zhenhua, I heard you turned down a big deal because you didn't have the money?"