Gao Datong lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, neither confirming nor denying Zhang Cheng's claim of "outsourced road administration field staff".
"Brother Zhang, your idea is very bold."
However, the road administration bureau isn't a shelter. Giving them a new look is easy, but once morale is low, the team is hard to manage.
Gao Datong's lips curled into a slight smile. "Moreover, the city wants to build a highway, and it's difficult to find funds for repairing the national highway."
Zhang Cheng leaned forward slightly.
"Director Gao, I understand your concerns."
But looking at it another way, those privately set up toll booths around Jiaxing are like stubborn psoriasis, extremely persistent.
Rather than letting this money go to waste, or having to spend a lot of effort to fix it later, it would be better to give them a "status" and let them manage themselves. At least, they would have to repair the road if it was damaged.
Future profits will also be easier to see and recognize.
He changed the subject, lowering his voice.
"Besides, Director Gao knows more about the intricacies of road construction, land acquisition, and planning than I do."
Some locations may seem unremarkable now, but once the road is built, they'll become incredibly valuable. These "field agents" sometimes get a sneak peek, don't they?
A barely perceptible glint flashed in Gao Datong's eyes. This Zhang fellow is interesting; he's not just seeing what's in front of him.
"Integrating the toll collection points isn't out of the question," Gao Datong pondered for a moment, then changed the subject, "Brother Zhang, what kind of business are you in Funing?"
"It's just a small-scale operation, a clothing business," Zhang Cheng responded frankly.
Outside the door, Brother Dao listened intently to the increasingly congenial conversation between Gao Datong and Zhang Cheng in the office, his heart pounding with anxiety.
"Xiao Dao!" Gao Datong's voice rang out.
"Hey, Young Master Gao, I'm here!" Brother Dao jumped up and quickly pushed the door open, his face beaming with smiles.
Gao Datong crossed his legs, his effeminate features fading considerably, replaced by a more "approachable" air. "Let's go to the China World Hotel, arrange a private room, and I'll have a few drinks with Brother Zhang."
Dao Ge was taken aback. They were already calling each other brothers? Not daring to show it on his face, he quickly agreed, "Okay, I'll go right away!"
He glanced at Zhang Cheng with a complicated expression. The other man smiled back at him, and Dao Ge felt the wound on the back of his head start to throb again.
Gao Datong got up and poured Zhang Cheng another cup of tea.
"Brother Zhang, are you interested in opening a branch in Jiaxing? There are quite a few garment factories here, so there are plenty of connections."
"I don't have that plan yet," Zhang Cheng shook his head. "There are too many local factories in Jiaxing. I'm afraid I can't compete with them as an outsider."
"We should take a long-term view," Gao Da said meaningfully.
Half an hour later, in a private room at the China World Hotel.
Brother Dao, wearing a hat to cover his wound, stood aside serving drinks, not daring to utter a sound.
Gao Datong and Zhang Cheng already address each other as "Brother Gao" and "Brother Zhang".
"Brother Zhang, since you're in the garment business, let me introduce you to two factory managers. It'll be easier for you to source goods in the future." Gao Datong raised his glass.
"Thank you so much, Brother Gao!" Zhang Cheng stood up. "I'll drink this first!"
"Together, together!" Gao Datong laughed loudly.
Dao Ge watched from the side, feeling bitter inside. How could these two be acting like sworn brothers?
During the meal, Brother Dao wanted to find an excuse to offer a toast to ease the atmosphere. He had just raised his glass when he said, "Young Master Gao, Boss Zhang, I..."
"Who gives you the right to speak here?"
Gao Datong didn't even lift his eyelids, and with a cold remark, Dao Ge's hand trembled, and he spilled some wine.
After several rounds of drinks, Gao Datong instructed Dao Ge:
“Go to the industrial zone and invite Zhang Tian from Zhang Tian Garments and Mr. Zhao from Hongda Garments over.”
Dao Ge felt like he had been granted a pardon and quickly left.
After a while, Brother Dao led in a man in his forties, wearing black-rimmed glasses and with a rugged face.
"Young Master Gao, Factory Director Zhang is here. Factory Director Zhao is not at the factory."
"Director Gao, what brings you here to start drinking in the middle of the day?"
The person who arrived was Zhang Tian, dressed in Zhang Tian's clothes, and his voice was loud and clear.
Gao Datong stood up, put his arm around Zhang Cheng's shoulder, and introduced Zhang Tian:
"Brother Zhang, this is Zhang Cheng, a brother I just met. He's also in the clothing business."
He then said to Zhang Cheng, "Brother Zhang, this is Director Zhang of Zhangtian Garments, one of the top private factories in Jiaxing. Let's learn from him."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Brother Zhang!" Zhang Tian extended his hand.
"If you need any goods in the future, just give me a call, and I guarantee you the lowest price!"
"Brother Zhang, you're too kind. I'll definitely pay you a visit another day. Don't think I have too much of an appetite then." Zhang Cheng shook his hand.
The group drank a few more cups.
Zhang Cheng put down his wine glass and looked at Gao Datong.
"Brother Gao, I need your help with something. I have a friend who had a misunderstanding with some of Brother Dao's men, but it's nothing serious."
I'd like to invite him over so we can talk things out face-to-face, and maybe even become friends after this little misunderstanding. What do you think?
The friend he was referring to was naturally Zhang Jingtao, Zhao Daming's comrade-in-arms.
Zhang Cheng pondered that Zhang Jingtao hadn't gotten away with it last time, so he must have gone directly to Dao Ge, and Gao Datong might not have known about it.
Now that his relationship with Gao Datong has warmed up, it's a good opportunity to do him a favor and help Zhang Jingtao save face so that they can meet again in the future.
Moreover, this also lets Gao Datong see that he is not alone.
“No problem at all.” Gao Datong readily agreed. “Just have him come over.”
Zhang Cheng stood up. "I'll go make a call right now."
He walked out of the private room.
The smile on Gao Datong's face vanished the moment Zhang Cheng closed the door.
He picked up the half-full bottle of baijiu on the table and glanced coldly at Dao Ge, who was standing helplessly to the side.
"Bang!"
The bottle smashed hard against Brother Dao's forehead, the glass shattered, and liquor mixed with blood flowed down.
Zhang Tian seemed to take it all in stride, picking up his chopsticks and taking a bite of food.
Gao Datong's gaze was cold and menacing, which, combined with his effeminate face, created an overwhelming sense of oppression.
Who was the person who contacted you yesterday?
Dao Ge's face was contorted in pain, but he dared not hesitate. His voice trembled as he said, "It looks like a section chief in the Public Security Bureau!"
"Damn it!"
Gao Datong suddenly kicked Dao Ge in the stomach.
"Bang!"
Dao Ge crashed into the wall like a kite with a broken string, then slid to the ground, his palms bleeding profusely from cuts made by shards of broken bottles.
Gao Datong, panting heavily, approached step by step.
"You fucking don't know the meaning of death? You dare to mess with a section chief in the Public Security Bureau? It seems I've really been too lenient with you!"
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. If Zhang Cheng hadn't pointed it out, he would have inexplicably offended a section chief of the Public Security Bureau.
A section chief in the Public Security Bureau may not hold a high position, but who doesn't have a few relatives or friends? If they stab you in the back at a crucial moment, you won't even know how you died.
Consumed by rage, Gao Datong grabbed a soup bowl from the table and was about to smash it at Dao Ge on the ground.
"clang!"
Zhang Tian slammed his chopsticks down on the table, making a jarring sound that interrupted Gao Datong.
"Director Gao, that's enough. It'll be bad luck if we really kill him."
Zhang Tian grinned.
"However, you really should do something about them. Lately, many of my clients have complained that things are too chaotic in Jiaxing. There are too many toll booths set up on the road, and if they see a lot of goods, they just ask for more."
"It's not that my clients can't afford it, it's just that they're really annoying!" Zhang Tian shrugged helplessly.
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