Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 352 Psychological Hunting
The office was crowded with people, who were tallying the file folders and documents on the desks. The various indicators of each document were being entered into the computer for sorting, just like a school exam grading office.

"President Chen!" Bai Ning spotted him and immediately came over.

Chen Xuebing nodded: "Have all the suppliers submitted their bids?"

"We've submitted a portion. Our bid submission period is three days, starting yesterday. The final deadline is tomorrow afternoon! Here's a partial list of statistics we just drafted; take a look!"

Bai Ning took out a statistics sheet and handed it to Chen Xuebing.

Chen Xuebing took it and examined it carefully.

This centralized procurement was conducted through bidding, not open competition, but rather covert struggle.

Chen Xuebing's original idea was to set up several offices and dedicated negotiators, with each person negotiating separately. The overall benchmark would be 90% or even lower than Vanke's prices, to select a group of low-priced suppliers, and then compare prices, materials, craftsmanship, and quality horizontally.

Bai Ning, however, had a different idea.

She felt that the pressure wasn't high enough, giving suppliers room to initially quote high prices and then gradually lower them, which made everyone very tired. She believed that the selection should be done through bidding.

Suppliers only have one chance to submit a bid. After the bidding results are released, only a select group of suppliers with good quality and low prices will be selected for individual negotiations. Those who want to submit high bids will lose their chance. This will put enough psychological pressure on suppliers and encourage them to lower their bottom line.

Stock security firms don't actually consider prices alone, but by doing so, they gain more control.

Chen Xuebing agreed to this approach, but upon arriving today, he immediately saw the drawbacks of the bidding process.

"Since we haven't finished collecting all the bids yet, let's not rush to compile the statistics now. Let's collect all the bids together first, and then do the statistics after we open all the bids together. We also need to be careful to keep the statistics confidential. Why are so many people doing this at the same time?"

"You mean you're worried about someone leaking the bid?"

Just as Bai Ning made her guess, the young man who had been in the stairwell appeared at the door. He looked somewhat panicked when he saw Chen Xuebing and Bai Ning talking in hushed tones.

Seeing this, Bai Ning understood what was happening. His eyes turned cold, and he raised his hand to beckon the young man over.

If someone leaks the previous suppliers' quotes, the next supplier can submit a quote close to the bottom price, which goes against the company's intention to allow suppliers to compete.

The young man's face was ashen.

Gu An's job pays very well. Although the supplier offered him a bribe, he didn't accept it! He really doesn't want to be kicked out like this!
At this moment, Chen Xuebing shook his head, interrupting Bai Ning.

"This isn't a personal problem; there's a problem with the program you set up. Fix it immediately."

"Yes!" Bai Ning gritted his teeth and immediately turned around, saying, "Stop the statistics! Collect the bidding documents first! Section Chief Xu and I will do the statistics!"

Seeing that she looked a little anxious, Chen Xuebing patted her shoulder and said with a smile, "It's okay, this kind of problem can be solved with technology. I'll have someone make a management system software for you and set different management permissions."

Bai Ning's eyes lit up.

"That's great! But it must be difficult, right? Mr. Chen, how long will it take to make?"

She wasn't unaware of this, but she felt it would cost a lot of money.

Chen Xuebing chuckled, "Not difficult! If we need technical support in the future, we can just report it! Our group has its own software company with very strong technical capabilities! We already have design experience in large-scale management software, so it's very easy to implement!"

In reality, building a mature management system is not easy. Nowadays, very few companies implement networked management and there is a lack of mature low-code platforms. Development must start from the ground up, which has a relatively high technical threshold.

However, Cheng Danting's medical management platform was made by Qidian Network Company. It not only has statistics and distribution, but will also be connected to real-time management and scheduling in the future. It is quite complex. A dedicated team spent several months working on it before it was put into use. If they switch to making an engineering management platform, they will be able to get started much faster.

"How about this, I'll have someone from over there come over and streamline the business processes of Gu'an Construction. If we're going to do it, let's do it properly."

Chen Xuebing views problems from the perspective of someone from the future, so his vision is naturally superior. Since the underlying layer is to be developed, why not develop a general version that can access big data and be remotely deployed? Perhaps it can even be sold to central and state-owned enterprises in the future.

This way, the network company can earn more software and management fees. Once the big data center is built, large enterprises can experience the benefits of automated data processing, and the big data center will also have a group of regular customers.

With these "new technologies," Singularity's vision is unmatched by other software companies, naturally making its products more competitive.

He gradually expanded his network, promoted products, and transformed competitiveness into productivity.

Isn't this what it means to cultivate a deep industry presence?
Delving deeper into this sector essentially means what I discussed with Chen Datong at the Shenzhen Trade Fair: "de-IOE" – replacing traditional data management systems with domestically developed ones.

Engineering, healthcare, and even banking in the future.
If you have your own big data center
As he thought about this, his determination grew stronger.

"Mr. Chen, if you finish it, could I take a look? My engineering manager has given me feedback that he wants to do it." Ye Yuanxi recalled for a moment and said, "That kind of customized software."

Guangtian not only deals in materials but also in complete building projects, and it also needs to purchase materials from other suppliers as a supplement.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuebing laughed.

"Great! Once we've built the basic platform, we'll send someone to customize it for you! If you become my first customer, I'll definitely give you a discount! Come on, let's go to my office, I'll treat you to tea! I'll tell you all about it!"

"Huh?" Bai Ning stopped him. "Should we wait here a little longer?"

Chen Xuebing waved his hand.

"Let's keep going. This is just the beginning. Let's be a little rough around the edges and get the first batch of suppliers first!"

In the afternoon, more than a dozen suppliers from Sichuan inquired about each other's quotations and came to submit their bids.

Four suppliers from Chongqing have also arrived.

Chen Xuebing was having tea with this group of people in the room next to the purchasing office. The door was not closed. Everyone who came to submit their bids would subconsciously stop at the door. Hearing the suppliers in the next room chatting and laughing to curry favor with General Manager Chen, they felt a little pressured.

Mr. Chen occasionally mentioned engineering projects, often involving hundreds of millions or even billions of yuan.

A few people lingered at the door for a while, glanced at the next door, didn't submit their bids, and turned to leave.

The news gradually spread.

The bigwigs from Shenzhen Grandland Decoration have arrived, as have the distributors of Oriental Yuhong and Dongpeng Tiles, along with a gypsum board and cement plant from Chongqing, and several local sand, gravel, and cement suppliers. They are said to have all offered low prices.

The next day, General Manager Chen was still drinking tea in the next office. This time, General Manager Ye from Guangtian was also there, as were several suppliers from Chongqing. However, the local suppliers from Sichuan had changed, and the door was closed, as if they were negotiating prices.

Some of those who had already submitted their bids returned to retrieve their bids and revised their prices.

When the deadline for submitting bids arrived in the afternoon, some people rushed over anxiously to submit their bids, but they also felt uneasy. The first group of people knocked on the door and barged into the office next door where General Manager Chen was.

"Mr. Chen, although our Zhuobao Technology's waterproofing materials are a bit more expensive, the head office promises 'double compensation for any leaks within five years'! The quality is 100% guaranteed! You won't just base your bids on price, will you?"

"That's right! Taishan Gypsum is a brand under China National Building Materials Group! We have bases all over the country! Our quality assurance is top-notch! If there are any problems with our materials, you'll have nationwide warranty coverage!"

Facing this group of self-promoting merchants, Chen Xuebing leaned back on the sofa and chuckled leisurely:

"When it comes to quality, how can anything be 100% guaranteed? When doing business with us, a quality guarantee is a must. We will take into account the quality of materials, but price is still the key factor. If you can't make the decision, talk to the head office. Our company's strength is known throughout the country. Material suppliers who can cooperate with us long-term will not need to worry about sales volume in the future. Therefore, we are cautious in choosing our partners, and you should also be cautious in your pricing and seize the opportunity."

As he spoke slowly, several more material suppliers appeared at the door.

"Mr. Chen, you can't just make empty promises, can you? I heard you've secured seven or eight projects, none of them very large. Now you've brought in so many suppliers all at once. How much of a purchase order will each of us get? You need to give us a definite answer."

A person stood at the door and shouted.

Chen Xuebing tilted his head: "Which factory are you from? Do you have a brand?"

"We are Sichuan Esheng Cement, the biggest brand in Sichuan! We have four production lines throughout the province!"

"Oh, agent, distributor, or manufacturer?"

"Agent!" "Hmm, how many tons did you sell to the factory last year?"

"6 tons!"

Chen Xuebing laughed: "Sales of around 20 million are not much. In Sichuan alone, besides real estate, we also have a 20-kilometer highway! That highway alone used at least 200,000 tons of cement! Our real estate is a shear wall structure, which uses 700 to 900 tons of cement per 10,000 square meters, totaling nearly two million square meters! And this is just the existing land; we will continue to acquire land. Why do you care about our purchasing volume? Can you handle it all by yourself? Besides, as an agent, can you deliver goods from anywhere?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present laughed.

The man was speechless.

Unlike distributors, agents do not bear sales risks. Simply put, they do not stockpile inventory. Their sales are generally subject to regional restrictions, and they cannot compete with other agents of the same brand.

These days, most factories specialize in production and don't have their own marketing departments, so they cooperate with some distributors and cultivate some agents.

The Chongqing business owners present were, after all, distributors who bought out goods from manufacturers to sell. They had a buyer-seller relationship with the manufacturers and also helped the brands they distributed advertise and develop the market. Mr. Ye from Shenzhen was even a manufacturer of green building materials. Naturally, he wanted to laugh when a distributor came to question Mr. Chen.

"Alright, go back now that you've quoted a price. We'll definitely prioritize price for products from the same brand. Don't be too greedy if you want to get on board."

Chen Xuebing's tone softened; he did not look down on the distributors.

Distributors may offer lower prices, as they do not have the inventory costs of manufacturers and distributors and understand production costs. When they negotiate with manufacturers, they are sometimes more likely to break through the bottom line.

However, for an agent to speak directly with him, they must have the financial strength to provide upfront funding.

After saying that, Chen Xuebing ignored him and asked Ren Ying to pour tea for the others present.

Mr. Wang from Chongqing immediately looked distressed and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I won't drink anymore, I won't drink anymore!"

They came to support General Manager Chen, inviting familiar suppliers from Sichuan. They ate two meals and drank tea for two days!
I can't sleep at night!
That evening, the bidding results were tallied.

Of the 66 suppliers who submitted bids, 21 were eliminated.

Of the remaining 45 companies, Bai Ning selected 30 smaller ones and arranged for the supplier management department to visit them for negotiations.

The remaining invitations were offered in other ways.

The next day, afternoon.

Jinjiang Hotel.

A white Mercedes pulled up at the entrance, and a valet came over and opened the door.

It was a bit cold. When Xu Yi, the general manager of Jiafeng Industry, got out of the car, his young and beautiful secretary immediately ran over and put a coat on him.

As a distributor for Baogang and Panzhihua Iron and Steel, Jiafeng Industry is well-known in Chengdu, and General Manager Xu usually makes a grand entrance.

He shook out his coat, asked about the floor of the presidential suite, looked around, and then took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, Lao Tang, I'm here! Where are you?"

"Top floor, presidential suite."

"Hmph, trying to do business with the president?" Xu Yi chuckled. "This Gu An, I've already offered such a low price, and he's still not satisfied! These past few days he's been spreading rumors everywhere, forcing us to lower the price! We can just cancel the deal! And he even wants us to come and talk to him, what a show of power!"

"Say less!" the person on the other end quickly lowered their voice and said, "Come on up first!"

The phone hangs up.

Xu Yi glanced at his phone, snorted, and then led his female assistant into the lobby.

As he ascended the passenger elevator to the top floor, just as he reached the entrance to the presidential suite's corridor, two men in black suits standing guard at the entrance stopped him.

Soon, a pretty woman in a white suit came out and asked him about his workplace.

Xu Yi also got a little angry: "I'm the general manager of Jiafeng Industrial! Your General Manager Chen sent me! What, you won't let me in?"

"Are you Mr. Xu? Please come with me." The woman frowned and led him into the corridor.

Xu Yi's eyes were unconsciously fixed on the woman's back.

Damn, that female secretary of hers is so hot, with her big breasts and big butt!
Countless filthy thoughts flashed through his mind, but as soon as he entered the suite, his eyes cleared up instantly.

"Mr. Yu?! What brings you here?"

He quickly raised his hands to shake hands.

Yu Zisu, who was chatting with Ye Yuanxi, hesitated for a moment before recognizing him. Without getting up, he shook hands with him and then reminded him:
"Keep your voice down, Mr. Chen is talking inside."

"Oh, okay." Xu Yi nodded repeatedly, his eyes scanning the dozen or so people sitting around him, his face showing undisguised shock.

This is the general manager of Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group!

The second-in-command of a top-tier state-owned enterprise, who is usually received by the top two leaders in local areas, is actually guarding the gate here.
Isn't this just a local real estate company?
Even if you have some money, it shouldn't be necessary.
He found the familiar "Old Tang"—another rebar supplier—and sat down respectfully next to him, asking in a low voice:
"what happened?"

Old Tang didn't really understand either, and shook his head.

All he knew was that General Manager Chen was present today, and he called General Manager Yu over from a meeting with a single phone call.

This is not an information society, and the knowledge that everyone here has about Mr. Chen is incomplete.

Only those who stand higher can see the full picture of General Manager Chen.

For example, Yu Zisu, who had attended the "Special Coordination Meeting on the Construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Logistics Channel" with Chen Xuebing a month ago, only then realized how successful Mr. Chen was in the financial field and how strong his background and connections were. Even Director Liu of the National Development and Reform Commission tried to connect Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group with this Mr. Chen, telling him that he could find time to communicate with Chen Xuebing, and that this young man might be able to solve Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group's current problems.

Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group (Pangang) ranks last among the four central steel enterprises (Baosteel, Ansteel, Wuhan Iron and Steel, and Pangang), but it ranked 50th in the list of China's top 1000 enterprise groups in 2006, with total assets of 490 billion yuan, making it a behemoth.

But when faced with development and loss problems, the city government couldn't help, the province government couldn't help, and even the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission couldn't help. On the contrary, it was General Manager Chen, a person with financial acumen and accurate market insight, who said something to him in a very relaxed tone after that meeting:

"I heard that Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group is currently facing some difficulties, but I don't think it's a big problem. If you have time, Mr. Yu, you can talk to me."

Yu Zisu recalled the meeting at that time, where Wuliangye and Changhong all said that President Chen was their shareholder, and couldn't help but laugh.

After the New Year's Day holiday, Changzheng Capital has been continuously increasing its holdings in Pangang Steel & Vanadium, a listed company under Pangang Group. Now, Mr. Chen has become one of the top five shareholders of Pangang.

Does this mean that Panzhihua Iron & Steel Group is finally being viewed favorably in the capital market?
"Hehehe, you're too kind, Mr. Chen."

Laughter suddenly came from inside the suite.

The door opened.

Chen Xuebing escorted a supplier to the door, then waved to Ren Ying.

"Has Mr. Xu from Jiafeng Industry arrived yet?"

With the big boss, President Yu, sitting in the reception room by the entrance, Xu Yi dared not be arrogant anymore and immediately stood up.

"coming!"

Ren Ying then gave Xu Yi a professional smile.

"Mr. Xu, please go in."

(End of this chapter)