Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 357 The Commercial Draft and the Sudden Phone Call

In the afternoon, at the Jinjiang Hotel, in the Jincheng Hall.

Starting at five o'clock, the entrance was bustling with activity.

"Old man, where's Brother Ma? Where's Brother Ma?"

"Hey, wait, wait! I'm signing!"

A chubby man with a buzz cut and wearing a polo shirt was bent over in front of the signing table at the entrance, holding a pen and waiting for the staff to check the list.

"Gong Lin, is this Mr. Gong? Found you. Please sign here, and sit at table number eight in a bit."

The staff member pointed to an area on the signature sheet and then to table number eight. The fat man frowned and looked at the large, prominent round table in the center of the hall.

The central gilded main table, with a diameter of 6 meters, is bathed in a halo of light, surrounded by other tables. Table number eight is located in a corner, one of the furthest positions.

What does "Tier 3 supplier" mean?

"Oh, we categorize them according to supply volume."

The fat man's expression shifted as he considered his supply volume, and he asked in a low voice, "How much can that level two waterproofing supplier provide?"

The staff member smiled and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

The fat man glanced at the crowd waiting to sign behind him, clicked his tongue, signed, turned around, patted his son's head, and walked towards table number six.

"Come on, let's sit there."

"Oh dear—it's so far! Old man, Yangyang and his family are all sitting at that big table, and Little Ma must be at the big table too! Can we sit there?"

The fat man glanced around and saw his old business friend, Mr. Zuo, and his family sitting at a table very close to the large round table. Mr. Zuo looked smug and was chatting and laughing with the group.

Upon closer inspection, the number on the table was “③”.

He cursed under his breath.

Everyone here is in the asphalt modification and processing business, and the companies are all about the same size. They all source their supplies from Sinopec. We all bid together and agreed on the price together. He was sitting at table number three!
Yesterday, someone from Guan came to his company. He called Lao Zuo to discuss the matter, and Lao Zuo told him to hold the line and not to lower the price!
We've been tricked!

He chuckled, sat down at table number eight, and made a phone call.

The phone rang from table number three.

Mr. Zuo looked around and spotted Gong Lin. He immediately waved and walked over with a smile.

"Old Gong! (Sichuan and Chongqing pronunciation: jiōng)"

"Ha!" General Manager Gong chuckled sarcastically, "Welcome to our distinguished guest at table number three, General Manager Zuo, to table number eight for your rural guidance!"

Mr. Zuo clicked his tongue and said, "What are you talking about!"

General Manager Gong slammed his hand on the table: "What are you talking about? You son of a bitch, you tricked me! We agreed on 2700 per ton, how much did you quote?!"

Mr. Zuo was stunned: "2700! Three thousand tons, and Gu An rounded it down to eight million! This price is already very low! At most, there's a 10% profit margin. Any lower and there's no profit to be made! Which bastard would underreport it!"

Upon hearing this, General Manager Gong became even angrier.

"Three thousand tons? I also quoted 2700 per ton, why did they only purchase 1500 tons from me?"

"Ping," Mr. Zuo paused for a moment, then sat down and asked mysteriously, "didn't you accept their terms for payment by commercial draft?"

Mr. Gong finally realized what was happening: "Commercial bills? How could that be! When have we, asphalt suppliers, ever accepted commercial bills? We always settle accounts on the spot! The people from Gu'an told me that! I don't even talk to them about this!"

Mr. Zuo then smiled: "No wonder. Didn't you hear people say that commercial drafts pay five percent interest over a year?"

"And interest?" Mr. Gong paused, then waved his hand firmly: "That won't do! I'll wait a year, and once the work is done, I don't know where he'll disappear to!"

"You know shit."

Mr. Zuo scoffed, then raised his hand and whispered in his ear, "Do you know the Long March Fund? Let me tell you, they made five times their initial investment last year! I heard that if you become a Tier 1 supplier at Gu'an, you get priority access to their premium funds! Why are those guys from Chongqing so obedient to them? They all got there after getting rich from the Long March Fund! Long March, big capital! They're incredibly powerful! Would they be short of money? Look at the celebrities they invited today! Top Hong Kong stars!"

After muttering to himself for a while, General Manager Gong's expression gradually changed.

Within half an hour, the hall gradually filled with more than forty suppliers and their families.

Ten tables.

Upon entering, everyone had already figured out the seating arrangement for the day. Many people sitting on the edges looked at the familiar faces at the tables in the middle with great resentment.

Among the tables closest to the table, some, like Mr. Zuo, were the first to accept the terms of payment for commercial drafts, while others had truly betrayed their competitors by offering an unusually low price and securing a large number of orders.

Bai Ning stood in a corner of the hall, observing the expressions of the suppliers inside, preparing to make further plans for the evening.

Supplier negotiations have already eliminated more than half of them; the suppliers present have all finalized their prices and order quantities.

But is that all?
of course not.

Most of the people present had not yet reached their lowest price, and a large majority of them had not accepted the terms of payment by commercial bill.

Apart from the chairman signing contracts with a few companies, no other contracts have been signed yet.

Today, we will also eliminate a batch of suppliers and redistribute their orders to those who are better at collaborating.

At 5:30 sharp, a group of people walked into the hall, and the woman in front of them was absolutely radiant.

The men in the room gasped in amazement.

All the scheming I had just been doing has now turned into a bunch of gibberish.

I've come at the right time, I've really made the right decision to come today.

Chen Xuebing's money wasn't wasted. Gong Li wore a dress she brought specially for today. The black tight-fitting top accentuated her figure, paired with a long skirt, and the large gemstone pendant on her chest exuded a unique and noble air.

It is extremely damaging to men, especially middle-aged men.

Even though Chow Yun-fat was dressed in a black suit that exuded the aura of the God of Gamblers, he was overshadowed by Gong Li's presence.

Many kids who came specifically to see Chow Yun-fat today instantly became fans, clapping enthusiastically.

"Empress Gong! Empress Gong!"

Chen Xuebing didn't seek out further humiliation. He waited until Gong Li and Chow Yun-fat were seated and the applause and enthusiasm inside gradually subsided before entering the hall. He greeted several suppliers he had dealt with before, then went to the large round table in the center and laughed heartily at one of the people present:
"Congratulations, Mr. Xu!"

Xu Yi of Jiafeng Industry stood up, somewhat bewildered: "President Chen, what's wrong?"

"Hehe, I was originally planning to tell you this news after it was finalized! But Panzhihua Iron & Steel Group held a meeting today! They confirmed their strategic cooperation with our company, Gu'an! General Manager Yu also tentatively agreed that after we sign the contract, the cooperation between Panzhihua Iron & Steel Group and your Jiafeng Industry will be even closer. It is expected that we will reduce the purchase price of your long-term purchase and sales agreement by two percentage points! The term of the primary distribution contract will also be extended by one year!"

Chen Xuebing announced the news, and the surroundings fell silent instantly.

"Thank you! Thank you, Mr. Chen!" Xu Yi couldn't hide his excitement and quickly ran over to shake hands with Chen Xuebing.

This isn't just about two points; it represents competitiveness!

This news is no small matter; it could cause some turmoil within Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group's secondary distributor network, with many potentially abandoning their original primary distributors and turning to Jiafeng for cooperation.

However, in order to cooperate with Chen Xuebing's extravagant purchase of a horse's bones, Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group could only tolerate this potential disturbance.

Fortunately, the quota that Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group gave to Jiafeng was limited, so it wouldn't disrupt the market too much.

"Hehe, of course! You support Gu'an, so we should support you too!" Chen Xuebing seized the opportunity and laughed, "We were all among the first batch of partners to join Gu'an's development! In the future, even if manufacturers directly compete with you for Gu'an's nationwide business, as long as the price is reasonable, we will give you priority in cooperation!"

Some of the suppliers around lost interest in looking at the pretty girl and started whispering among themselves.

Some naive children didn't hear Chen Xuebing clearly. They saw that Chen Xuebing was quite handsome from a distance and pointed at him, asking, "Which celebrity is that?"

Some parents quickly pulled their children back to their seats.

"That's not a celebrity, that's President Chen! If he comes over later, call him Uncle Chen!"

The children were completely bewildered.

Uncle Chen?

The guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely, and toasts were continuously offered at the central table.

Mr. Chen drank one glass after another, yet showed no signs of intoxication.

Chow Yun-fat and Gong Li barely ate anything, instead taking photos and signing autographs with the children of some of the suppliers who came to visit.

Sitting next to Gong Li, Mr. Ye suddenly became very generous and asked about Gong Li's endorsement fee. After chatting for a few minutes, seeing Gong Li smile, he decided to send someone to talk to her agent.

Men spend money according to the occasion; they save where they should in business, but they spend money when they see a beautiful woman.

When the meal was in full swing, Mr. Chen stood up and raised his glass.

A staff member handed over the microphone, and the entire room fell silent.

"Uh-huh." Mr. Chen's voice echoed through the speakers.

"Thank you all for coming." "At Gu'an, the two things we value most in our development today are employee training and supply chain development."

“We have always believed that a good supply chain is the most important material foundation for a company. Therefore, we treat our suppliers with the same care we would give to our own children, and we will do everything we can to help them grow.”

Everyone laughed at this.

Although it does seem like I'm taking advantage of the situation.

But if any client truly treats them like their own children, they'll accept it!

"Don't think I'm joking. One of our development goals is to cultivate a group of excellent suppliers who know how to improve themselves."

"We at Gu'an have no shortage of funds! No shortage of projects! We have building construction and civil engineering! This year, we have five million square meters of building construction and factory construction, as well as a 20-kilometer highway, all of which have been contracted. Next year, we will quadruple that to twenty million square meters! In 09 and 10, our project volume will double again! Up to one hundred million!"

"One hundred million cubic meters per year!"

"In this process, what you need to do is offer low prices and high quality! What we can offer is long-term, stable orders and a strict payment process!"

"Speaking of payment."

"In order to reduce the workload of settlement, adjust the capital cycle, and strictly control quality, we will implement the commercial bill system of Gu'an. The commercial bill is an interest-bearing commercial bill with a term of one year and an interest rate of 5%."

At this point, Chen Xuebing took out a receipt from his pocket and waved it in the air.

"This commercial draft is a golden commitment from Gu'an, and also an entry ticket for second-tier suppliers! With this commercial draft, you can get more orders. In addition, it does not necessarily have a fixed payment period. If you have an urgent need for funds before maturity, you can redeem it immediately at Gu'an Construction Finance with a 3% interest subsidy!"

"As for partners who do not accept commercial bills, that's fine too. You can be a third-tier supplier. Our financial procedures are to pay within three months after material acceptance, and the payment period will be very strict. You don't need to worry at all."

These words sparked another round of discussion.

"Three months?"

"If you take the commercial bill for a year and don't take it for three months, isn't that the same as getting 5% interest for nine months?"

Some people have objections, but a three-month payment cycle is not very long in the engineering industry. State-owned construction enterprises usually settle their project accounts every two or three months.

However, compared to commercial bill settlement, which can increase the supply volume and earn 5% interest, it's a bit of a loss.

Furthermore, commercial drafts can be redeemed at any time with a 3% discount. As long as you're willing to pay that 3% discount, the settlement cycle can be completed immediately.
Some people suddenly realized a different path.

In the construction industry, profit is one thing, but getting paid smoothly is even more important.
Many calculations arose in the minds of those present, but since they were all business owners with assets worth tens of millions, no one asked aloud; they simply made their own decisions in silence.

At this moment, the voice from the speakers started again:
"We are very grateful for everyone's support!"

"We hold a supplier conference every year. This time it's in Sichuan, and next time it might be in Shanghai or Shenzhen! As long as everyone follows in the footsteps of Gu'an, Gu'an will take your business to all parts of the country and help it grow and thrive!"

"From now on, the status of Gu'an's suppliers will become a prestigious asset in the engineering industry!"

That's all for now. Enjoy your meal! I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year in advance, and may your careers be successful and your families be healthy in 07!

After he finished speaking, everyone applauded.

Chen Xuebing raised his glass to toast each table, accompanied by two celebrities. The whole hall was filled with joy. A cash prize draw was also arranged on the stage. One supplier won a huge cash prize of 100,000 yuan. He had already made a profit before even delivering the goods. He was so happy that he insisted on toasting President Chen with three big glasses and said that he would sing a song for President Chen that night.

Most bosses don't care about this amount of money, but a windfall seems to represent good fortune for the coming year. They are happy to receive two or three thousand yuan and immediately give red envelopes to their children.

Adults are happy, and children are happy too.

The atmosphere gradually became lively, resembling a corporate annual meeting.

That evening, in the "Emperor's Pavilion" private room on the top floor of Jinjiang Hotel.

The crystal chandelier illuminated the 200-square-meter space.

Suppliers gathered in small groups on Italian leather sofas that surrounded them on three sides, while waiters carried red wine through the crowd.

The pianist's performance of "Night Fragrance" was deliberately played at a low volume so that the bosses who were discussing serious matters wouldn't have to shout.

Gong Li still came, dressed in a gown, and sat next to President Ye to discuss the endorsement.

Chow Yun-fat even started playing cards with a few suppliers at a private table.

The two had just discovered that these bosses were all quite wealthy, and several of them were eager to try investing in movies.

People come and go, all for profit.

There wasn't enough room on the circular sofa, so some people chatted while holding wine glasses, while others found Bai Ning on a corner sofa to discuss commercial drafts.

Those who felt they were qualified lined up next to General Manager Chen.

"Mr. Chen, you should know about asphalt materials. We really don't have much room for maneuver. How about this: I'll reduce the price by 50 yuan per ton for the top layer of D-grade asphalt, and 30 yuan per ton for the middle and bottom layers! We'll accept commercial invoices too! Is that acceptable to you?"

Mr. Gong, who had just been disappointed with table number eight, gritted his teeth and offered his bottom-line price to try and get into the circle.

Chen Xuebing simply chuckled: "Want a smoke?"

He picked up a box of cigars from the table, took out one, had the waiter cut the cap off, and handed it to him.

Mr. Gong hadn't reached the point of smoking high-end cigars, but he had tried them occasionally. He had someone light one for him, took a couple of puffs, and nodded repeatedly as he exhaled smoke, saying, "This cigar is good!"

Chen Xuebing laughed and said, "We use more than 10,000 tons of asphalt for our highway. If you supply 1,500 tons, the price will be reduced by 30 to 50 yuan per ton, which will only cost 40,000 to 50,000 yuan in total. This cigar is 1260 US dollars."

Mr. Gong was startled, took the cigar out of his mouth, and looked it over from all angles.

"We cultivate suppliers not entirely based on money, but on attitude. I know your company's supply capacity is more than this, but I also know your bottom line isn't here. I'll give you a chance. You still have waterproofing business, right? It seems we rejected your waterproofing material quote. Please draft a new overall quote for asphalt and waterproofing. I'll take care of whatever price you ask for. I'll also give you another 2,000 tons of asphalt. As for the rest, and future cooperation, it all depends on your sincerity."

Mr. Gong was filled with mixed feelings; Mr. Chen's seductive voice represented an opportunity.

Just a few days ago, he was having dinner with a group of colleagues and jokingly talking about how this company, An, had just entered Sichuan and was already using some kind of bidding strategy, thinking that if they wanted to get a low price, they should forget about it.

They even joked that the young man didn't know the rules.

But a few days later, everything changed.

This young CEO Chen's extensive network and generosity have impressed his peers, and now, if you want to have a face-to-face conversation with him, you have to wait in line.

He swallowed hard, the cigar flavor lingering in his throat, the faint aroma in the air making him dizzy.

"Okay! Mr. Chen, I'll report it again!"

Mr. Chen smiled and patted him on the back: "Go ahead."

General Manager Gong stood up firmly, like a young soldier.

Chen Xuebing felt a sense of déjà vu when he saw this scene.

Yes, it seems to be the project manager who was a retired soldier when I first started out in the industry.

As he smiled and reminisced, Ren Ying hurriedly walked in, holding a cell phone in her hand. She approached him, covered the receiver, and said, "High-tech Zone, Secretary Jin."

The surrounding noise was not loud to begin with, but upon hearing these six words, many people stopped talking.

Wow, Mr. Chen is something else! The secretary of the High-tech Zone called me late at night!

Chen Xuebing frowned as well: "Calling so late?"

Ren Ying said in a low voice, "Things aren't going smoothly with the Chengdu land plot."

Chen Xuebing answered the phone.

"Secretary Jin."

"Ah."

"Hmm? Lift?"

After listening for a few minutes, Chen Xuebing's expression darkened, but he quickly regained his composure, covered the phone, and asked Ren Ying what day it was.

Then he raised his hand to check the time.

Quiet.

Chen Xuebing seemed to be lost in thought, ignoring Secretary Jin across from him.

As those around him began to speculate, Chen Xuebing suddenly smiled, picked up the phone again, stood up, and said loudly:

"Report me? Fine, then let's have an open bidding process! I'm actually interested in bidding against Li Ka-shing!"

Of course!

Even Chow Yun-fat and Gong Li couldn't help but look over, their faces showing surprise.

Li Ka-shing?

(End of this chapter)