Chapter 72. Nie Qingqing turned to the last page; there was a name...
Nie Qingqing rushed to Shanghai for a meeting, and Lu Chenguang personally came to pick her up at the station. They chatted on the way and he told her to find out the situation before the meeting.
Lu Chenguang couldn't help but worry: "The plot of land next to ours, Shihua has appointed Luo Xiangqin as the project general manager. She knows Yuanda too well. The project that was launched at the same time as ours is using our previous plans and unit types to compete, and I heard that the price is even lower than ours. The morale of our project team is a bit low. Manager Nie, do you have any solutions in mind?"
There are ways to deal with this, but Luo Xiangqin's approach is ruthless. Instead of pursuing differentiated competition, she chooses to engage in malicious competition, and this path is not easy to take.
She waved the project proposal she had brought and said, "We have a method. I'm open to suggestions. Let's discuss it at the meeting, refine the details, and move forward as soon as possible."
She made the decision herself? Is that what you call listening to opinions? What exactly did she come up with?
Lu Chenguang asked in surprise, "Are you saying we can't voice any dissenting opinions?"
Nie Qingqing said, "Shihua has already rushed to start construction, and we don't have time to argue about the plan. So I set a general direction, and everyone can discuss it in this direction to save time."
Lu Chenguang was both happy and worried. Well then, let's see if Manager Nie can unite the project supervisors of Yuanda and Chenguang again this time.
...
At the project meeting, Nie Qingqing's project plan was handed out, and all the project managers were stunned by her boldness.
In response to Shih Hua's benchmarking quality and price-cutting competition, Nie Qingqing went against the grain, not only refusing to lower prices but also slightly increasing them from the original price.
However, the price increase has a high added value. This time, the new project will be a fully furnished apartment. Neither Yuanda nor Chenguang has ever delivered fully furnished apartments before. Who dares to be the first to try this?
Most project managers opposed it, believing that it was not the right time to try something new, except for those with a broad vision who firmly supported it.
Lu Chenguang did not object directly, intending to listen before making a decision: "Manager Nie, then tell me your reasoning for doing this."
...
Nie Qingqing had already rehearsed the meeting repeatedly at home, and she was very calm at the moment. If she wasn't calm, the project managers below would have even less confidence.
She said, "Times World opened before the Lunar New Year. The mall is positioned as high-end, but its turnover has been rising steadily. I am confident that the market has enough purchasing power. But to get people to spend money, the service and quality must keep up. As long as the fully furnished apartments are done well, they can satisfy some customers who want to move in as soon as they buy them. We do large-scale projects, so we can keep the price of raw materials very low. Overall, improving quality and creating differentiation is better than lowering prices. If we lower prices, people will suspect that Yuanda is cutting corners, which is not worth it."
That's the logic, but the neighboring Shih Hua development offers the same size apartments at a significantly lower price for renovations, which has a huge impact on customers' mindset.
Fully furnished apartments can offset the price difference, but since no one has done it before, will customers pay for an uncertain future?
Chenguang's project manager asked, "Manager Nie, are you sure your proposed solution can compete with Shihua's discounted properties?"
Nie Qingqing retorted, "How do you know it won't work if you don't try?"
The room was completely silent. Chenguang's project manager, seeing that his boss was silent, understood. New attempts might bring new rewards, but who would bear the new costs?
Mr. Lu couldn't ask that question; as Chenguang's project manager, he had to share the boss's burdens.
So, Chenguang's project manager asked, "Manager Nie, you proposed the plan. If we proceed according to your plan and the sales target is not met, who will take responsibility?"
...
Yes, if sales don't meet targets, it will tie up a lot of capital, leaving insufficient funds for the development of subsequent projects. If the cash flow is disrupted, the development of Yuanda and Chenguang in the next few years will be affected.
Before making the plan, Nie Qingqing considered all sorts of consequences. Song Zhao helped her calculate the safety net for Yuanda's cash flow, so she had a contingency plan in mind.
She said, "Since Yuanda is taking the lead, if the project doesn't meet the standards, Yuanda can develop it itself, and Chenguang can choose to withdraw. Yuanda's funds can just cover the costs of the jointly developed project."
Her words caused an uproar. She could guarantee the bottom line, but what about the projects in other cities? By making this promise, she was essentially staking Yuanda Group's interests.
Even Lu Chenguang pressed, "Manager Nie, are you being responsible for what you said? Shouldn't you report to your boss before making a decision?"
Nie Qingqing shook her head, saying that it wasn't necessary and that she could make the decision.
"Attorney He appointed me as the general manager of Yuanda and said that I have the right to make all decisions for Yuanda. Are there any problems now? If not, let's speed up the follow-up work and strive to open for business in the same month as Shihua."
...
With her words boosting morale, the Yuanda project manager was determined to do a good job, and the Chenguang project manager naturally didn't want to be outdone. Everyone was determined to succeed, and the project quickly got going.
Nie Qingqing knew that someone would tell Attorney He, Mr. Zhong, or even Mr. Zhong himself about her decision at the project meeting.
She believed that Attorney He would stand up to the opposition and support and trust her.
...
Sure enough, that very night, news of Nie Qingqing and Chen Guang's betting agreement reached Hong Kong. Xu Jianchun, seizing the opportunity, immediately filed a complaint with Mr. Zhong, who was recuperating in Hong Kong.
“Dad, the mainland is indeed developing better and better, so the Yuanda brand is becoming more and more important. But Shunyi doesn’t seem to value it much, letting Nie Qingqing do whatever she wants. She even made a bet with Chenguang, damaging Yuanda’s interests!”
Mr. Zhong paced anxiously around, but his wife hadn't spoken yet, so he didn't want to interrupt.
Mr. Zhong asked He Shunyi, "Do you really trust Nie Qingqing that much?"
Of course she believed it. The worst-case scenario was that sales would fall short of expectations, Yuanda would guarantee the land for the cooperative project, and the development time of the remaining projects would be postponed. Even if the growth target was not met, Yuanda's brand would still be there. The biggest loser would be Qingqing herself, as she would not receive the promised 12% stake.
This time, Qingqing didn't discuss it beforehand; she was determined to make it happen, and He Shunyi naturally supported her.
She said firmly, "Dad, I believe Qingqing didn't make this decision blindly. Like I said before, as long as Yuanda can achieve 30% annual growth, she can make any decision she wants."
Mr. Zhong had learned about Nie Qingqing's attitude towards Hensheng through several channels, and he was very satisfied.
As for Yuanda's business strategy this year, whoever makes the decision, bears the responsibility, provides support, and must be prepared to pay the price.
Mr. Zhong took out a document outlining the port operation rights in partnership with someone and said, “This is the last piece of property I haven’t received. I’ve been hesitant about who to hand it over to, but now I’m putting my bet on Manager Nie. If Yuanda achieves its goals this year, it shows that Shunyi has excellent judgment. Even a manager they promote has such ability and courage. So, we can hand over the port business to Shunyi. If they’ve made a mistake, then we’ll make another decision about the port operation rights.”
Mr. Zhong was not happy: "Dad, you handed over the shipping business to us, but you're using the port's operating rights as a gamble. That's too unfair to me."
Mr. Zhong laughed and said, "You want to have all the benefits? If I give them all to you, your older brother won't be happy."
Mr. Zhong glanced at his elder brother and sister-in-law and smiled, "I'm afraid my sister-in-law will cause trouble again. I don't even want to think about the consequences if she hurts Manager Nie!"
Mr. Zhong looked at his eldest daughter-in-law with a stern gaze: "Nie Qingqing's husband and children are not good people, especially her children, who are already grown up. They are seeking revenge for three generations. You should think about your children. If you do anything hurtful again, no one will clean up your mess."
Xu Jianchun quickly assured him, "Dad, I will absolutely not do anything that would cause trouble for the whole family, please don't worry!"
Mr. Zhong's business is not in shipping, and Hensheng is his eldest son. Nie Qingqing treats Hensheng very well. He said, "Dad, I agree with your decision."
Only Xu Jianchun had a stiff expression.
...
There's been no news from Attorney He, which means she's supportive. After the project's general direction is determined, the next step will be design and planning.
But then another problem arose. The design team that had previously collaborated with Yuanda and Chenguang was poached by Shihua. They had signed an agreement when working on Shihua projects that they could no longer take on projects from competing real estate companies.
The familiar team was poached, and replacing it with a new team would require a rebuilding process, which would delay the project and prevent us from launching at the same time as Shih-Hua. Shih-Hua's methods are all misused and they're all about underhanded competition.
Nie Qingqing was pondering which design institute to collaborate with when Lu Chenguang invited Han Jiping over.
He acted as a mediator and advised, "Manager Nie, these are extraordinary times. Let's not dwell on personal grudges. Chief Engineer Han has extensive design experience and excellent communication skills. Why don't we try cooperating with him?"
Nie Qingqing thought to herself, "This is exactly what I needed," and asked with a smile, "Who spread the rumor that I have a personal grudge against Chief Engineer Han? I still owe him a favor."
Han Jiping hurriedly said, "Manager Nie is too modest. I owe you a favor. I will do my best to fulfill the requests from Yuanda and Chenguang."
It seems there's no real grudge between them, which is strange. Everyone's saying that Chief Engineer Han did something to wrong Manager Nie, and Han Jiping himself admitted it. How come Manager Nie didn't take it to heart?
"It's good that there's no conflict," Lu Chenguang breathed a sigh of relief. "That's great. Time is tight and the task is heavy. Let's skip the formalities and start the design discussion."
...
Nie Qingqing had very high requirements for the design of this building project. She took sales as her starting point and gave the design firm the leading opinions.
“Our pricing this time is higher than Shih Hua’s, so we need to optimize in all aspects. For units of the same size, there isn’t much room for optimization. The shared area is restricted by planning regulations, so there’s not much room for optimization either. So, could we start with the free area? If the planning allows, could we steal some free area to make the actual usable floor area reach 90%?”
This is indeed a feasible approach. Han Jiping is familiar with the planning requirements. As long as the client is willing, he can find ways to increase the area given away by the balcony area, the area of the bay window, and the equipment room. These areas are not included in the property certificate area, so the actual usable area will be a few square meters more for the same total price.
...
With the plan finalized, Han Jiping went back and led the design team. After several rounds of optimization, they finally met Nie Qingqing's requirements.
For the same apartment size, the actual usable area is several square meters larger than that of Shih Hua's apartment, which is equivalent to having an extra small room.
Shih-Hua has already started construction, and it's impossible to change the plan. They can't catch up in this area, which is a very advantageous selling point.
After the planning was approved, construction began simultaneously at three sites in Shanghai and surrounding cities, a collaboration between Yuanda and Chenguang.
Because Nie Qingqing wanted to build fully furnished apartments, the construction period was very tight. Yuanda has always adhered to the principle of not delaying payments to construction companies and suppliers, so the project progressed very smoothly and was able to open for sale in August at the same time as Shihua.
...
The two developments are located close to each other and were launched at the same time. Customers compared them repeatedly. The fully furnished apartments developed by Yuanda and Chenguang not only had a few square meters more usable space for the same area, but were also fully furnished. In addition, Yuanda had a good reputation for construction quality. Those who were in a hurry to move in basically chose Yuanda. Under such competitive pressure of price difference, the sales volume was actually comparable to that of Shihua's discounted properties.
The sales results were so outstanding that the project managers who had previously wavered were completely convinced.
As long as the houses sell, the cash flow will be smooth, and subsequent plans can proceed.
She encouraged everyone: "In the first round of sales, Shih-Hua's sales performance was slightly better than ours, but our project has been built up over time. Customers can do the math themselves and know which side is more cost-effective. Our path will become wider and wider."
Lu Chenguang chimed in, "I've already inquired around, and the number of potential customers registered by Shihua is far lower than ours. When the second round of sales launches in December, we'll definitely be in the lead!"
Everyone was in high spirits and preparing for the second round of openings.
Nie Qingqing also needs to prepare for Yuanda. Yuanda's projects in Shenzhen and Guangzhou will be launched soon, continuing the positioning of fully furnished apartments in Shanghai, and striving to open the first batch of sales before the end of the year. Then this year's growth target can be achieved as planned!
...
After waiting for more than half a year, under Nie Qingqing's coordination, Yuanda has achieved such gratifying results despite the pressure and competition. Attorney He was triumphant and asked Zhong Xianzong if he was convinced.
"So? Is Qingqing someone I can trust and rely on?"
Zhong Xianzong was completely convinced: "Wife, so many people don't think Manager Nie is a good candidate for this project reform, so why do you have so much confidence in her?"
Attorney He said, "There is a basic logic to this. I have always known that Qingqing is a very self-aware person. If she couldn't do it, she wouldn't joke about her promising future."
Zhong Xianzong suddenly realized, and upon reflection, he understood. Manager Nie was extremely cautious; she would consult with superiors even on matters she was confident about. The fact that she hadn't reported this time meant she was well-prepared, and his worries were completely unnecessary.
He said something unrelated: "Honey, isn't it strange? My sister-in-law has disappeared again. We haven't found out where she went yet, but I suspect she went to the mainland again."
Xu Jianchun couldn't easily give up the operating rights to a port.
Attorney He said, "Regardless of whether Xu Jianchun goes to Shihua or not, I still want to tell Qingqing."
...
Nie Qingqing heard that Xu Jianchun had disappeared again, and guessed that she had come to the mainland. Even if she came to the mainland, she wouldn't come looking for her. However, the fact that Xu Guanhai came meant that he knew about the betting.
Xu Guanhai is currently doing business with Gao Zhuoyue Investment and usually doesn't meddle in other people's business. However, when Xu Jianchun approached him, he made some harsh remarks, and considering that he owed Nie Qingqing a favor, he still came.
“Mr. Zhong’s health is not good and he can’t do without the care of a private doctor, so he has to distribute the remaining business he has. Jian Chun and He Shunyi have a bet, and this time Shi Hua has invested a lot of money, just to go against Yuanda. Manager Nie, I’ll act as the middleman. How about we negotiate?”
The project is already halfway through, how can we negotiate? Besides, there's a performance-based agreement, which is related to Attorney He's bigger business.
Nie Qingqing advised him instead: "Old Xu, you've already distanced yourself from this, so don't worry about it anymore."
"It's a misunderstanding," Xu Guanhai quickly explained, "I really came here to repay a favor you did for me."
Really? Nie Qingqing was surprised, but it wasn't necessary. She said, "Then thank you. Your not getting involved is already helping me."
...
Having said all that, Xu Guanhai had no choice but to advise Xu Jianchun not to dream of winning, as Yuanda's reputation was undeniable and Shihua couldn't possibly beat them.
But she couldn't persuade him. Since Zhong Xianzhu wouldn't provide the money, Xu Jianchun had to find another way. In fact, she mortgaged all the profits she had made from her business over the years.
Xu Guanhai left to explore new markets, and he forbade anyone from revealing his contact information to Xu Jianchun.
...
In the first round of sales in August, the high usable floor area ratio and high-end decoration were well received by the market, further enhancing the reputation of the project.
Shih-hua was envious, but there was nothing they could do. Originally, the subsequent development between the two parties would have been normal and there wouldn't have been much of a problem. However, Shih-hua received a large investment, and the subsequent projects would also involve high-end interior decoration, continuing to aim for Yuan-da.
After inquiring, it was confirmed that the money was indeed invested by Xu Jianchun's newly established investment company in mainland China.
Luo Xiangqin was unwilling to approach Nie Qingqing, but Xu Jianchun, having already invested in Shihua, became a shareholder and asked her to come and negotiate with Nie Qingqing.
Luo Xiangqin knew she couldn't convince him with words, so she only relayed the message.
"With the injection of new shareholders, Shih Hua's boss is full of ambition. He thinks the new shareholders' analysis is correct. On the road to development, without Yuanda, Shih Hua can maintain its number one position. Next, it will compete with Yuanda in every aspect. However, it also gives you a choice: sell the remaining land to Shih Hua to take over."
Nie Qingqing found it amusing: "Manager Luo, the market is so big, Shihua and Yuanda don't need to engage in vicious competition at all. Everyone can make a living by doing their own part. Xu Jianchun's methods are very ruthless. This is an internal struggle within her family. Why should you let her use you?"
Luo Xiangqin knew that, but in the end, she was working for Shihua.
She shook her head helplessly: "This is no longer something I can decide."
Nie Qingqing said, "Then go back and report. As long as I am at Yuanda, I will not accept any conditions from Shihua. You can also tell Shihua's boss that this is my second year at Yuanda. If we complete three years of growth next year, Xu Jianchun will lose. At that time, she will not bear the losses of Shihua."
Luo Xiangqin said, "Shihua's boss isn't that stupid. Before Xu Jianchun invested, there was an agreement that he couldn't withdraw his investment."
Nie Qingqing laughed: "Alright then, let's wait and see. No matter how capable you are, or how big your market is, I don't believe you can block Yuanda's path to development."
...
Yuanda was even busier in the second half of the year. Nie Qingqing spent half of her time in Shanghai, but didn't have time to see the children.
Xiaoyin knew about the competition between Yuanda and Shihua because Lu Xuling, who often came to see Meng Kaiyang, was a relative of the owner of Shihua, and her mother even had shares in Shihua.
That evening, Xiaoyin got off work, and Wenqian didn't want to go home, so she came over for dinner and a place to stay. Just as she arrived at the residential area, she ran into Lu Xuling walking out of the area.
Wen Qian immediately whispered to Xiao Yin, "My goodness, they've even managed to find a place to stay. Their relationship is developing so fast."
Xiaoyin tugged at her friend's sleeve: "She holds grudges. Let's talk about it when we get home."
Lu Xuling had just delivered dumplings to Meng Kaiyang, who was off work, when she ran into Song Xiaoyin and they chatted for a bit.
She nodded in greeting, then said, "Song Xiaoyin, your mother is the general manager of Yuanda, right? My uncle happens to be the boss of Shihua. Has your mother told you that?"
Song Xiaoyin actually knew, but she still shook her head: "What a coincidence? But my mom never tells my siblings about her work troubles. I didn't know. My best friend is staying over tonight, so we have to go home and cook. Goodbye."
Before Lu Xuling could finish speaking, she quickly interrupted, "Song Xiaoyin, I have no hostility towards you. I am not Xue Jinyun, and I will not target you just because you are Kaiyang's ex-girlfriend."
"What kind of person is this? He thinks too highly of himself!" Shi Wenqian was getting impatient. The bag she was carrying was a gift from Aunt Nie. She had to protect her own people!
She rolled her eyes impatiently: "There are so many mosquitoes under the tree. Just say what you want to say. Do you have to drag us down here to feed the mosquitoes?"
Shi Wenqian has strong family connections and always opposes Meng Kaiyang at work. Lu Xuling considered using her connections to get rid of her, but her family said it was unnecessary.
Lu Xuling glanced at Shi Wenqian, helplessly suppressing her emotions, and said, "I'm just kindly reminding you that if Yuanda insists on competing with Shihua, it will definitely lose badly. It would be better for your mother to transfer those plots of land to Shihua, so that the losses will be smaller."
It's ridiculous. What gives her the confidence to think that Shih-hua will definitely win? That Yuan-da will definitely not be able to sell the properties she has?
Song Xiaoyin said, "Don't make grand pronouncements before you've accomplished something!"
Shi Wenqian added, "For example, Meng Kaiyang hasn't publicly acknowledged you as his girlfriend yet, and they haven't even set a wedding date. You should keep a low profile, otherwise, if he doesn't marry you in the end, your current behavior will be embarrassing."
Lu Xuling was furious, but since it was Shi Wenqian who said it, she could only curse back at most.
"Don't be sarcastic. At least I have someone to pursue. You two don't even have a target. If you keep dragging this on, you'll become old maids and you'll never find a better man than Meng Kaiyang in the future."
Song Xiaoyin and Shi Wenqian, being perfectly sober, found this remark hilarious. They ignored her and continued walking towards their apartment building.
...
Shi Wenqian glanced at the building where Meng Kaiyang was; there was a light on in his apartment.
Thinking back to Lu Xuling, the first time she saw Meng Kaiyang was on the first day of the Lunar New Year. She accompanied Xue Jinyun to her workplace to deliver dumplings to Meng Kaiyang.
In just six months, Xue Jinyun and Lu Xuling, two good friends, have become enemies, and Lu Xuling is now the one delivering dumplings to Meng Kaiyang.
Shi Wenqian shivered and rubbed her arms: "Meng Kaiyang is so clever, making girls fight over him. It's only been half a year, and I really don't recognize him anymore."
Song Xiaoyin said, "I didn't realize it before, but in the past six months, his thoughts have become increasingly difficult to guess. I'm thinking of leaving the company and looking for opportunities to develop outside. With two years of work experience, I should be able to go out and make a living."
Shi Wenqian had long wanted to leave this conventional place, so she quickly said, "Then you have to tell me before you leave. Let's go out and try our luck together. Whoever succeeds first can help the other one out!"
Xiaoyin agreed: "Okay, your family has connections, so you'll definitely be the first to break through."
"That's not necessarily true. Your mother has a wide network of connections, so you might get your chance first."
Speaking of Aunt Nie, Shi Wenqian said with concern, "From what Lu Xuling said, Aunt Nie must be under a lot of pressure on the project. If she needs anything, I'll try my best to provide manpower or resources."
Xiaoyin quickly said, "Don't worry, if we really need help, my mom will ask her boss for help. The fact that she didn't say anything means there's no problem."
...
Not long after the first round of sales for the three projects in cooperation with Chenguang, Nie Qingqing had Fangyan gather information and summarize Shihua's development plans for the second half of the year.
Shih-hua has taken a really big step and made some really big changes. In order to prevent Yuanda from achieving its initial three-year goals, all these plans are aimed at Yuanda.
Previously, when Nie Qingqing was Lawyer He's assistant, she would review the documents first, revise and improve them, and then show them to Lawyer He. Now, Fang Yan does the same thing; everything that reaches her has already been reviewed by her.
Nie Qingqing read through them one by one, and when she saw the last plan, her eyes lit up. She looked up and asked Fang Yan, "Who made this plan?"
Fangyan took a look and was shocked: "When I checked it, this plan didn't exist! Who slipped it in when I wasn't looking? I'll go check it right now!"
"No need." Nie Qingqing turned to the last page; there were names there.
She didn't recognize him; he must be a new employee. He was very bold, both in his actions and in the plans he made. She wanted to meet him.
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