After my divorce at thirty, I developed an intelligence network.

Project office of a commercial building facing the street in the High-tech Zone.

A young man wearing glasses is frowning at the budget spreadsheet on his computer screen.

His name is Zhou Xiaobin. He graduated with a law degree and was brought into the construction industry by his father, Zhou Jianguo, who is also the project manager of this project and a veteran engineer with more than 30 years of experience in construction.

"Dad, I really can't keep this up!" Zhou Xiaobin shoved the mouse away, his voice full of frustration.

"Dad, this is impossible to calculate! The client won't acknowledge the fire safety change, and the testing is stalled in line. Old Wu's sand and gravel prices are 30% higher! We'll be lucky to break even after this job is done!"

"Old Zhou! I knew it! Come out and count the money!"

Zhou Jianguo's expression darkened slightly as he put down his teacup and walked out. Zhou Xiaobin followed him to the door.

A dirty truck was parked in the open space, with sand haphazardly piled in its bed.

Standing next to the car was a burly man with a shaved head and a scar near his eye; it was Wang Biao.

He had a cigarette dangling from his mouth and glanced sideways at Zhou Jianguo as he walked out.

"Brother Biao, you're here." Zhou Jianguo forced a smile.

"Hmm." Wang Biao gestured with his chin towards the truck bed. "The 20 cubic meters of sand has arrived."

Zhou Jianguo walked to the car, grabbed a handful of sand and rubbed it, his brows furrowing.

The sand was clearly mixed with a lot of soil and impurities, and it felt sticky to the touch.

"Brother Biao, this sand... the soil content is a bit high, isn't it?" Zhou Jianguo tried to keep his voice as calm as possible.

Wang Biao spat the cigarette butt onto the ground and stomped it out.

"Old Zhou, you've been working in this area for years, how come you still don't understand the rules?"

He paused, then added, "It's fine if you don't want it. But I can't guarantee that your construction site will be able to get materials smoothly in the future. I heard your son is also working on the site? Young man, please be careful."

Zhou Jianguo's face paled, he clenched his fists, and then slowly relaxed them.

He glanced at Zhou Xiaobin, who was standing next to him with a furious expression and wanted to speak, and stopped him with his eyes.

"...Okay, Brother Biao, let's unload the truck." Zhou Jianguo's voice was hoarse.

Wang Biao scoffed and waved to his two men in the car: "Unload it!"

Zhou Jianguo watched silently, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

Zhou Xiaobin was so angry that his chest heaved, but his father held him back tightly.

……

The two returned to the office.

"Dad, this job is impossible! What kind of garbage did that bastard Wu Jinshui send? More dirt than sand! And he's charging 30% more than the market price! It's blatant robbery!"

Zhou Jianguo remained silent for a long while.

"Binzi, that's how it is when you're in the construction business."

Zhou Xiaobin's eyes were a little red. "Dad, you've worked in engineering your whole life, followed the rules your whole life, and what have you gotten in return? Huh?"

In return, they were bullied and humiliated by scum like Wang Biao! What kind of logic is that?!

Zhou Jianguo glanced at his son.

"Reason?" He tugged at the corners of his mouth, his smile bitter. "On this land, Wu Jinshui's words are the truth."

He took out two crumpled cigarettes and handed one to his son.

Zhou Xiaobin turned his head away and didn't answer.

Zhou Jianguo lit it for himself, took a deep drag,

"However... recently, there has been someone who doesn't quite agree with his reasoning."

Zhou Xiaobin turned his head.

"Just a few days ago, at the abandoned factory, one of Wu Jinshui's men, named Wu San, had his leg broken."

Zhou Jianguo flicked his cigarette ash. "Clean and efficient, done in the rainy night. He even gave his name afterward."

"Who?" Zhou Xiaobin asked immediately.

"Gong Yuelong," Zhou Jianguo said, "He's from Nanshan County, also a contractor, and he just started building up his team. I heard... he wants to take over that big factory of Xinke Sensing."

Zhou Xiaobin's eyes lit up: "He dares to touch Wu Jinshui's people? Really?"

"Wu San is still in the hospital, are you sure?" Zhou Jianguo squinted.

"This guy surnamed Gong is a ruthless one. He won't negotiate or compromise; he'll just chop off a claw. Either he's a hothead who doesn't know his own limitations, or... he's really confident and not afraid of Wu Jinshui's retaliation."

"The old man who was guarding the construction site of Xinke was knocked unconscious; that was Wu Jinshui's way of returning the favor."

Zhou Xiaobin realized, "But Gong Yuelong's side... doesn't seem to have backed down either? I heard he had someone buy gifts and give red envelopes, and personally went to apologize, making sure he saved face."

"That's where his cleverness lies," Zhou Jianguo nodded. "He first establishes a moral high ground, preventing the client from thinking he's just a troublemaker. But behind the scenes..."

He lowered his voice, "I heard that some of his men are already loitering around the High-tech Zone, specifically targeting Wu Jinshui's sand pits and material storage sites."

This isn't about being afraid of trouble; it's about probing the other side's weaknesses and preparing to find their Achilles' heel.

Zhou Xiaobin listened intently, and subconsciously took the cigarette his father offered him, lighting it with a lighter.

"Dad, do you think... Gong Yuelong can hold his own against Wu Jinshui?" he asked, his tone filled with anticipation.

Zhou Jianguo remained silent for a long time, so long that a long layer of cigarette ash accumulated on his lips.

"Disaster."

"Wu Jinshui is a powerful and ruthless man. No matter how good Gong Yuelong is at fighting, he's just one person, a newly established power. But..."

He paused, looking out the window at the pile of inferior sand and gravel.

"But in this world, sometimes you need a few skeptics to challenge those seemingly unbreakable walls."

"Breaking through it opens up a new road; even if you die... it lets those behind see clearly how many bricks in the wall are actually loose."

As Zhou Xiaobin pondered his father's words, the pent-up frustration in his heart seemed to ease slightly.

Just then, the unlocked door to the project office was pushed open from the outside.

squeak-

A figure walked in with the backlight to him; he had a buzz cut and a sharp back.

He raised his hand and casually dusted off his shoulders.

A simple action, yet it conveyed a sense of composure and control over the situation.

"Is Manager Zhou here? It's me, Gong Yuelong."

The enamel mug in Zhou Jianguo's hand wobbled.

"Boss Gong...Boss Gong?"

Zhou Jianguo put down his teacup, subconsciously rubbing his hands together. The awkwardness typical of an old engineer overshadowed his initial astonishment.

"Quick, please have a seat! This place is a mess. Binzi, get Boss Gong a glass of water!"

Zhou Xiaobin hurriedly got up to pour water.

Gong Yuelong sat down. "Manager Zhou, you don't need to be so polite. Are you in charge of this project?"

"Yes, yes." Zhou Jianguo nodded, his mind racing.

This jinx couldn't possibly have come knocking on his door to inquire about the profitability of his project.

"I inspected the site. The main structure is okay, but the details and post-construction management are a bit messy, and the sand and gravel material has also delayed the progress," Gong Yuelong said directly.

Zhou Jianguo looked a little embarrassed and gave a wry smile: "I'm sorry to have made Boss Gong laugh at me. Some things... are beyond our control."

"Hmm," Gong Yuelong responded, then suddenly changed the subject, "I'm about to start a new project, a 3,000-square-meter factory for Newtech Sensing."

Zhou Xiaobin paused in his action of pouring water.

Zhou Jianguo's eyelids twitched suddenly.

The new factory! The most talked-about prime piece of real estate in the High-tech Zone lately! So many eyes were on it, but in the end...

"The project has just been signed, and there's a ton of stuff to do. I need a project manager who can oversee everything. Manager Zhou, I'd like to ask you to take on this role."

Please...please ask him?

They're not here to cause trouble, not to demonstrate, and not even to discuss any cooperation...

Is he being asked to take charge of the project that is destined to clash head-on with Wu Jinshui?

"Boss Gong..." Zhou Jianguo pointed to himself, then to the simple and messy prefab house.

"Me? Look at this mess... you can see it yourself, it's a complete disaster, and I still owe money..."

Gong Yuelong interrupted him, "These things aren't because you're not skilled enough, it's because someone doesn't want things to go smoothly for you."

His gaze swept over the pile of substandard sand. "The new project doesn't have these kinds of problems. What you need to do is manage the project itself well, keep a tight grip on quality, and keep a close eye on the schedule."

"Boss Gong, I, Zhou Jianguo, am just an old foreman with no background or connections. I offended Boss Wu and I'm almost unable to make a living in this area... How many people are eyeing your new project? Why did you come to me?"

What can I offer you? Nothing but trouble!

"trouble--"

Gong Yuelong's lips twitched slightly.

"Wu Jinshui's troubles are my business. You and your men only need to focus on the project."

The words fell.

Zhou Jianguo's fingers, which were holding the cigarette, trembled.

He looked up, the layer of grayness in his eyes shattered, revealing a desperate glint beneath, and his voice cracked:

"Boss Gong... Wu Jinshui, can you really handle this?"