"Public rental housing isn't built in a day!" Ribbs replied. "Such a large project must be implemented in phases. The government should be able to come up with the money in five years, right?"
"Five years, of course," the congressman replied. "That's all I have in mind! I agree!"
"Okay! I hope everyone can focus on how to make money! I'll take care of the spending!" Reeves said, "Okay! Dismiss!"
After the 'Blue Roof Public Rental Housing Plan' passed the parliamentary vote, the bidding process was immediately launched.
Based on the Black Rabbit project's circumstances, Ribs drafted a highly targeted bidding proposal. There were only seven or eight companies in the entire state of Illinois that met the requirements.
The project alone was expected to generate over a billion US dollars in profits, so Alfred, who was in charge of the Black Rabbit project, couldn't afford to neglect it. Before the bidding process began, he didn't dare to relax for a moment, personally overseeing the entire bidding process.
On the other side, Thorne also took action at the same time.
In the private reception room of the Chicago mayor's office, Thorne crossed his legs and smoked a cigar: "Mr. Jefferson, we meet again."
"Yes! It has been more than three years since we last met!" Mayor Jefferson sighed.
"I heard you were doing well in Chicago, so I came to see you today!"
"Don't pretend, Thorne," Jefferson said. "Don't you know me, a hungry wolf? What piece of fat meat have you set your sights on?!"
"Hahaha, only Jefferson knows me!" Thorne laughed. "I've got my eye on the fattest piece of meat in Chicago!"
Mayor Jefferson's heart skipped a beat. "Thorne, you're not going to take a bite out of Blue Roof, are you?"
Thorne shook his foot and said, "That's a 2.5 billion dollar cream cake! That bastard Reeves slept with my daughter and didn't give me a dime! I want him to see how powerful I am!"
Mayor Jefferson said nothing, just smoked quietly and looked out the window.
"Don't worry, Mayor. I know the rules," Thorne said. "As soon as I get the general contract, I'll deposit $200 million directly into your Swiss bank account. How about that?"
It was indeed a lot of money, but Jefferson still shook his head and said, "No, no, no! Everyone knows that Reeves is in the limelight right now, and I don't want to be his enemy. Thorne, I advise you not to even think about it, lest you get into trouble."
"Haha, a Ribs scares you like this?"
"I'm not afraid of him. One must know how to judge the situation," Jefferson said. "For someone like Reebs, the best strategy is to become his partner."
"No, no, no, it's not about money anymore," Thorne said. "This guy humiliated me in front of my daughter. Money is a small matter, but face is a big one!"
"Well, if you don't want to listen, forget it. Anyway, I can't help you."
Jefferson stood up and made a gesture of invitation, meaning that Thorne could go.
But Thorne still sat steadily on the sofa, smoking a cigar, and sneered: "Jefferson, Jefferson, you are such an ungrateful guy! Have you forgotten who supported you to enter politics in the first place?"
"Are you threatening me!?"
Thorne flicked the ash from his cigarette and said, "Back when you first entered politics in New Jersey, you took a lot of my money... Those transfer records and tapes are still in my safe. How come you turned your back on me so quickly?"
Jefferson's pupils suddenly contracted. "I did take a lot of your money, but I also gave you a lot of projects after taking office. You didn't lose anything!"
"No, no, no, my old friend! As long as you take my money, you will always be mine!" Thorne stood up and straightened his suit. "Find a way to suspend the bidding for the Blue Roof Project. Otherwise, you can expect to see the federal prosecutor!"
Thorne left the reception room with a smug look on his face, leaving Mayor Jefferson standing there in a daze.
Jefferson stared out the window at the flock of pigeons in City Hall Square for half an hour before finally dialing the internal line: "Ask Adam from the purchasing department to come to my office."
The bald, middle-aged supervisor, Adam, pushed the door open and said, "You're looking for me, Mr. Mayor."
"Yes," Jefferson agreed coldly, then said, "Have you read the bidding conditions for the Ribbs Blue Roof Project?"
"Yeah... I saw them all."
"Why don't you take action after seeing everything?" Jefferson asked.
"Okay...action? What for?" Adam asked in confusion.
"There's an obvious problem with these bidding conditions. As the head of the procurement department, can't you see that?" Jefferson said. "They're practically guaranteed to give Black Rabbit Engineering the bid, and yet you're still not taking action? How can you be a manager like that?!"
Adam stammered, "But... this is from Mr. Speaker Ribbs himself..."
"What the hell is this about Speaker or not! I'm the mayor!" Jefferson cursed. "Think about who put you in this executive position!"
"I understand, Mr. Mayor!" Adam said stubbornly, "I'm going to investigate Speaker Ribbs now!"
Adam held the bidding documents in his hand, stood in front of the Speaker's office door, took three deep breaths, and finally walked forward and knocked.
Ding dang dang!
"Come in." Ribs' voice came from across.
Adam pushed the door open and walked in, only to see Fox sitting inside.
Ribs has two perverted generals under his command, one with a limp who likes to dismember people, and the other a dashing Spaniard who likes to play with electric shocks.
Adam had also heard these rumors. When he walked in and saw Fox's Spanish face, he was immediately frightened and forgot the words he had prepared.
"This is my good friend." Libus explained, "Mr. Supervisor, if you have anything to say, just tell me!"
"I... I've carefully read the bidding documents for the Blue Roof Project," Adam said courageously. "I think some of the clauses... seem a little inappropriate..."
"Oh? What's wrong? Tell me about it!" Ribs asked with interest.
"Mr. Speaker, aren't these qualification requirements... too specific? For example, this one for 'Chicago-based construction companies registered for more than ten years,' the entire state must meet the requirements..."
"There are seven in the entire state." Reeves interrupted him with a smile. "This is our own plan, so of course we have to let our own people make the money! We have to keep the GDP local! Does Director Adam think that local Chicago companies are untrustworthy?"
"No...that's not what I meant." Adam stammered. "There have been some rumors lately. Some people say...that you are manipulating the bidding...so I came here to ask..."
"Someone said I was manipulating the bidding behind the scenes?" Ribbs raised his voice. "Who said that? Tell me the name!"
"No! Nothing!" Adam suddenly said, "It's okay! Mr. Speaker! I just came over to ask! I have other things to do, so I'll be leaving now! You're busy!"
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