Chapter 145 Bidding
Kyoto is a magical place.
A blend of modernity and history, fashion and tradition. There are gardens where people drink big bowls of tea and listen to opera, and there are bars where people drink strong liquor and listen to music; there is the atmosphere of the city with peddlers and hawkers, and there is also a solemn and dignified political center.
Zhu Hongxing and Miao Jing took turns treating Tao Nanfeng, and he visited all the delicious and fun places in Kyoto, which gave him a deeper understanding. He recorded the customs and architectural features of Kyoto on his camera and in his sketchbook.
Although we were having fun, it did not delay everyone from completing the bidding task.
This was the first time that the Kyoto Construction Engineering Bureau organized a design bidding, and a special bidding office was set up. The specific form and process were all copied from foreign countries and sent to each designer together with the bidding documents.
The first step is to invite the bidding design units to prepare preliminary design drawings, which can be made into display boards or albums, submitted before the deadline, and displayed on site.
In the second step, the participating bidding units send representatives to sign and defend their works in the order in which they are submitted. Each representative is given half an hour to explain the design ideas and content.
In the third step, the design unit withdraws, and the review experts invited by Party A conduct an evaluation and determine the unit that ultimately wins the project. A design contract is signed and the initial fees are paid.
After carefully studying the bidding method, the three of them clarified the division of labor - Tao Shouxin was responsible for writing the design bid, and Fan Zhicheng completed the architectural renderings, site plans, and made atlases. Tao Nanfeng focuses on drawing architectural plans and elevations, making display boards, and is responsible for reporting.
The bidding deadline came in a flash.
Because they were required to submit their designs before 8 a.m., the three of them got up early in the morning. Tao Shouxin and Fan Zhicheng both wore light-colored short-sleeved shirts and dark straight-leg pants, looking energetic. Tao Nanfeng wore a light blue round-necked shirt and a dark blue polka-dot skirt with a flared waist, looking dignified and beautiful.
In 1981, the market economy in the construction industry was still in its infancy, and the bidding system was definitely a new thing, which also attracted the attention of the media.
The first-floor conference hall of the Xicheng District Government where the bid evaluation was held was crowded with reporters from Kyoto TV, Kyoto News, Huihuang Daily, Kyoto Construction News, Kyoto New Architecture magazine and other sources.
When Tao Shouxin, Tao Nanfeng and Fan Zhicheng appeared in the lobby on the first floor carrying two display boards covered with white cloth, a folded album and a design bid, they were immediately discovered by media reporters, who surrounded them with microphones in hand.
"Excuse me, which design company are you from?"
“How do you feel about this design bidding?”
“Do you have any new ideas for the design of the Xicheng District Stadium?”
It was the first time that Tao Nanfeng encountered so many media reporters rushing over. He protected the display board in his hand and said, "Please make way and don't damage our work."
Fan Zhicheng held the carefully drawn album, afraid of being knocked down by the reporters, and stood behind Tao Nanfeng with cold eyes.
Tao Shouxin took the sealed bid document and stepped forward with a smile: "We are from Jiangcheng, representatives of Nanfeng Architectural Design and Engineering Consulting Company. This is the first time for us to participate in a design bidding, so let's do our best."
After receiving the serious replies, the reporters moved the microphones further away, but they still stared at the three people and continued to ask questions. The reason was... the appearance of these three people was too outstanding.
Tao Shouxin is elegant and graceful, Fan Zhicheng is handsome with a hint of youthfulness, and Tao Nanfeng has a face like a blooming lotus, pure and beautiful. It is rare to see such a good-looking designer, and the reporters all want to take a few more glances and say a few more words. Some smart photographers started taking photos and videos, wanting to capture this beautiful scene.
"Jiangcheng is thousands of miles away from Kyoto. How did you know the bidding information?"
"You are the only non-local company participating in the bidding this time. Do you have confidence?"
"May I ask who is the chief designer? What is the theme of this design?"
Tao Shouxin was unwilling to answer these questions. Seeing the media reporters blocking the door and unable to move, he turned to look at Tao Nanfeng, raised his chin slightly, and signaled her to make way.
Tao Nanfeng's mouth corners slightly raised, holding the display board in his left hand, and gently pushing it with his right hand.
The reporters felt a huge force coming at them, and they could hardly keep their feet steady. They had to step back three steps to make way.
Tao Nanfeng took the lead and walked to the front, followed closely by Tao Shouxin and Fan Zhicheng. They quickly got rid of the reporters' encirclement and walked into the conference room.
As soon as he entered the conference room, Zhu Hongxing came up to him, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Oh, I didn't expect so many reporters to come. I can't control it at all. It's good that you're here. It's good that you're here. Just now, the people from Kyoto University's Design Institute were stopped outside for ten minutes. Dean Guo was so annoyed by their questions."
Tao Shouxin said, "President Guo?"
Guo Yi came over with a few young teachers to say hello, and whispered in Tao Shouxin's ear that Ruan Xuezhen had been expelled from the school because of his corrupt teaching ethics, and that the position of Dean of the Kyoto University Architectural Design Institute would now be taken over by Guo Yi.
Guo Yi said: "I heard that Ruan Xuezhen offended a nobleman in Kyoto, and the school had to deal with him. In fact, we all knew that he was not a good person, but he had a good relationship with the leaders and was talented, so the teachers in the department turned a blind eye. I didn't expect him to be expelled this time, which is really applauded."
He hesitated for a moment, glanced at Tao Shouxin, and asked tentatively: "Last time in the gymnasium, Ruan Xuezhen did something unkind, Professor Tao, you taught him a good lesson. I have been wanting to explain it to you, but there were too many things to do and I didn't have time."
Tao Shouxin knew that it was Miao Jing who took action, and he felt relieved immediately.
"This kind of university scum should have been kicked out long ago. Teachers should put morality first. If a person has a corrupt character, no matter how talented he is or how much he can bring benefits to the department, he should not be retained."
Guo Yi could be considered a beneficiary of this incident, so naturally whatever Tao Shouxin said was what he believed.
He smiled and said, "Yes, yes, yes. I am a nobody and my words do not count. Professor Tao, please don't blame me for not speaking up for justice. We hit it off right away and have a deep friendship. Please don't let this incident hurt our feelings."
If it were based on Tao Shouxin's personality when he was young, he would definitely walk away in anger, leaving behind a sentence: I'm ashamed to associate with someone as cunning as you!
But now that he is older and his personality has become much softer, he replied very politely: "Not really, he is him and you are you."
However, both of them knew that the feeling they had when they became pen pals at first sight was gone forever. When faced with Ruan Xuezhen's behavior of teasing beautiful women, Guo Yi not only did not stop him, but instead tried to smooth things over. What was his purpose? Isn't it just because he wants to curry favor with Ruan Xuezhen and make money by using the design institute's platform?
In Tao Shouxin's view, if a scholar cannot maintain his integrity, he is not worthy of being his friend.
Led by Zhu Hongxing, Tao Nanfeng and Fan Zhicheng went to submit the preliminary design plan and signed to receive the number sequence plates, which indicated that Nanfeng Company had completed the bidding before the deadline and was eligible to participate in the subsequent display session.
Tao Shouxin's eyes were always following Tao Nanfeng. When he saw her smile brightly and raise the number "3" in her hand, he nodded to indicate that he had received it.
The third display, neither too early nor too late, just right.
After a few pleasantries, Guo Yi finally got back to the point: "What is the theme of your design this time? Are you confident that you can succeed?"
Tao Shouxin smiled and glanced at him: "The works will be displayed together later, don't worry."
Guo Yi felt like an honor student who was anxious to compare answers with his classmates after taking an exam, and continued to ask: "Yeah, we'll see it later anyway, why don't we discuss it together first?"
At this time, Fan Zhicheng walked over and glanced at Guo Yi with a hint of wariness in his eyes. It was this person who, when Ruan Xuezhen was touching him, said something like "Professor Ruan was just excited about the sight of prey and couldn't help but get closer." In Fan Zhicheng's mind, he had already classified Guo Yi as a "hateful person."
Fan Zhicheng said to Tao Shouxin: "Teacher, the seats have been arranged. Shall we sit there?"
Tao Shouxin then said goodbye to Guo Yi.
Watching Tao Shouxin's leaving back, Guo Yi sighed with some regret. It's so hard to obey your brother and displease your sister-in-law.
As soon as Tao Shouxin sat down, Zhu Hongxing dragged the three of them to meet with several persons in charge of the Engineering Bureau's bidding office. Director Wang Jinglun used to work as a clerk in the Engineering Bureau. This was his first time working with bidding. He was really overwhelmed when he saw a large group of reporters outside the meeting room. He complained while greeting the participants.
"I don't know who passed the news to the media. Now there are so many reporters who have heard the news that they have surrounded the entrance of our conference room. What should we do next?"
Tao Nanfeng suddenly thought of Xiangbei's "overt plot" and suggested, "It is better to unblock than to block. Director Wang, why don't you select a few media representatives and let them participate in the whole process, and you can check the content of the reports. This will not only stabilize the order, but also promote you, the Engineering Bureau, and Xicheng District. It's the best of both worlds."
Wang Jinglun slammed the table and praised: "Comrade Tao, this is a good idea!"
The resolute Wang Jinglun immediately called the staff and negotiated with the reporters outside the venue to select one representative each from the television, radio, newspaper and magazine to enter the venue, and the rest were asked to wait in the district government service hall and enter the venue to answer reporters' questions after the bidding was completed.
The order outside the venue soon returned to normal, and the next few bidding units were not surrounded by reporters again.
One, two, three, four...
Seeing that the number plates had been collected up to the 9th, Tao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow at Zhu Hongxing: "You said earlier that you would invite nine companies and six would respond, and you were worried that there would not be many when the bids were submitted. I didn't expect that there are already nine now."
Zhu Hongxing chuckled, "I was afraid that no one would come at first, but I didn't expect that after someone publicized it, everyone wanted to join in the fun, and used their connections to get invitation letters and buy bid documents. This is the first time for a bidding event in the country, it's new, and I guess everyone wants to try it out.
It’s the first time, so no one understands anything. It would be even more troublesome if something goes wrong in any process. If there are too many people, we are afraid that it will get out of control and the experts will be too busy to handle the review. The current number is the result of repeated control by the bureau. ”
As we were talking, five minutes before the 9 o'clock deadline, the last bidder walked into the venue.
Zhu Hongxing said: "Ten perfect ones, ten in total."
Tao Nanfeng smiled, but the smile was still on the corner of his mouth when it suddenly froze. There were three people from the last bidding company who came in. The last one looked polite and courteous, but his eyes were darting around. It turned out to be him!
Why is he here?
Fan Zhicheng's expression also changed, and he gritted his teeth and said to Tao Nanfeng: "Wasn't Ruan Xuezhen fired? How did he get into the venue?"
After submitting his bid, Ruan Xuezhen received a number tag "No. 10", exchanged a few words with the two men behind him, and walked up to Tao Nanfeng with a hint of provocation on his face.
"Tao Nanfeng, you didn't expect to see me here again, did you?"
Ruan Xuezhen said proudly: "You think you can crush me just because you got close to the Miao family in Kyoto? It's better not to be a teacher at Kyoto University. Now is the era of market economy, where can't you make money? I am now the chief designer of the design company under Liu Yuanyu, the eldest son of the Liu family, and he is the head of the Housing Construction Office of the Ministry of Construction!"
The name Liu Yuanyu sounds familiar. After searching carefully in his mind for a long time, Tao Nanfeng suddenly remembered the beautiful girl Liu Yuanshan who went to Xiufengshan Farm with Miao Jing that year.
Liu Yuanyu, Liu Yuanshan, is Liu Yuanyu Liu Yuanshan's brother? They are all powerful young men and women in Kyoto, and they are people that Tao Nanfeng is not familiar with and rarely has contact with.
Because they are in high positions, standing at a height that ordinary people cannot reach, they have privileges.
While others cannot even get enough food to eat, they can drink red wine and coffee in special restaurants that only serve experts and officials; while others are delighted to buy a bicycle, they drive the most luxurious car on the streets; while others work hard to get into college and stay up late to study under the lights, they have gone abroad to receive elite education.
As an ordinary person, Tao Nanfeng has a natural aversion to this kind of people.
Tao Nanfeng turned to look at his father and said, "Dad, when the time comes, please remove the white cloth from the display board. The experts invited by the bidding office will be coming in soon."
Seeing that Tao Nanfeng pretended not to see him, Ruan Xuezhen was furious and had no place to vent. He raised his voice and said, "Tao Nanfeng, we'll see! As long as I'm here, you won't get any construction projects in Kyoto!"
Tao Nanfeng saw Miao Jing and a group of people led by the district chief walking in from the door, and smiled slightly: "You don't have the final say on this matter."
The power relations in Kyoto are handled by someone else. Tao Nanfeng just wants to be a simple and memorable architect like his father.
The author has something to say:
I will update three times tomorrow at 9:00, 12:00 and 21:00 to make up for what I owe. Thank you all for your support and encouragement~
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