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

Gong Yuelong said with a smile, "I have a few fellow villagers working for me. They specialize in concrete work on big projects. They're efficient and honest. They happen to be free these days and asked me if I had any reliable jobs."

"Pour concrete? They specialize in that... nowadays..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Gong Yuelong saw his eyeballs move under his eyelids, clearly remembering something.

The name in the system intelligence—Zhao Pangzi, the production manager of the Sports Center project who was in a terrible predicament, and Engineer Chen's fellow townsman.

Chen's hesitation at this moment was probably because this topic had stirred up the conversation on the other side.

Gong Yuelong wasn't in a hurry. He lit a cigarette himself and smoked it slowly with Gong.

After eating a few more wontons, Chen seemed to feel full and the effects of the alcohol had subsided somewhat.

He suddenly put down his spoon, picked up his teacup, took a big gulp, then leaned forward and looked at Gong Yuelong across the small table.

"Over at the sports center, Old Zhao—Fatty Zhao, who's in charge of on-site production—mentioned him to me a few days ago."

They said the foundation slab needs to be poured quickly and continuously, and they're short of experienced workers, especially those who can lead shifts and are reliable. They asked me to keep an eye out for them.

He changed the subject, "But I know that Fatty Zhao all too well!"

He's stubborn and inflexible, only trusting his familiar, experienced team, fearing that inexperienced workers might be careless and delay the project, ruining his reputation!

He flicked his cigarette ash. "I'll give you his phone number; mention my name. But let's get this straight—"

Engineer Chen paused, his gaze fixed intently on Gong Yuelong:

"People must be absolutely reliable! Good skills are the foundation, but the key is to be steady, follow orders, and abide by the rules!"

That's a flagship project for the city, watched by countless eyes! Safety and quality are paramount; there can be no room for error! Do you understand the gravity of this situation?

Gong Yuelong stubbed out his cigarette at his feet, sat up straight, and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Engineer Chen, you can rest assured. They are all brothers from my hometown in Shannan. We grew up in the same village, drinking the same well water. We know each other's temperaments and capabilities very well."

He paused, noticing that Engineer Chen slightly raised his eyelids—Shannan County is a well-known name in the construction industry.

The people there start working in construction from the age of sixteen or seventeen, following their fathers. Each village leads a town, and each town takes on a large number of construction projects.

Over the decades, the name "Shannan Gang" has come to mean high quality and a reliable, cohesive group that won't let you down in crucial moments.

Gong Yuelong continued, "These concrete workers are among the best in our area."

From a junior worker to a foreman, I learned everything through real-world experience on major projects in our city.

I don't need to elaborate on the rules; they know them better than anyone—if the work isn't done well, it's the county's reputation that's being tarnished.

As Chen listened, he knew the Shannan gang all too well. When these people came out to work, they would often bring one person along with another, like an uncle bringing his nephew or a senior uncle bringing his son or niece. Their discipline and skills were indeed well-known.

By highlighting the name "Shannan," Gong Yuelong not only introduced the origins of the personnel but also unveiled an implicit chain of credit endorsement and responsibility.

When one person makes a mistake, the entire group loses face. In a circle where kinship and clan ties are close-knit, this is a constraint heavier than any contract.

"From Shannan..." Engineer Chen slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and nodded, conveying his meaning.

"become."

He uttered the word through his throat, pulled out his phone, and rattled off a string of numbers.

"Write this down. Zhao Pangzi's phone number. Call tomorrow morning, not too early, or you'll disturb my sleep."

Don't go too late, he's busy in the morning. Just tell him I asked you to see him about the expedited pouring work. The rest…”

He exhaled a puff of smoke. "It depends on your own abilities."

Gong Yuelong immediately wrote down the number, then looked up and solemnly said:

"Once the workers are settled, let's have a meal together. You can choose the place, and there will be plenty of alcohol."

"From now on, whenever you need help with anything on this construction site, just say the word, and I, Gong Yuelong, will be there in a heartbeat."

Engineer Chen waved his hand, the effects of the alcohol seemingly returning. He mumbled, "Okay, buy me a good drink. No…"

He didn't finish speaking; he simply shook his head, the meaning of which was self-evident.

At that moment, the screen of the phone Chen was holding lit up briefly, seemingly with an insignificant notification.

The lock screen background revealed a little girl with pigtails.

Engineer Chen smiled before turning off the screen.

Gong Yuelong had sharp eyes and took in all the subtle movements.

But he showed no sign of it on his face. He simply picked up the thermos and refilled Mr. Chen's empty teacup.

He knew that tonight's bowl of five-yuan wontons had already been cooked to a value far exceeding its actual worth.

Not only did they knock on the tight door of the sports center, but they also unexpectedly glimpsed a possible crack in the light.

The night grew deeper.

After finishing his meal, Engineer Chen stood up, leaned on the table, patted Gong Yuelong on the shoulder, said nothing more, turned around, and with his still somewhat unsteady steps, staggered into the project office.

At this moment, a few people came out of the project department. They were hunched over, their faces showing numbness and exhaustion. They must have just finished their shifts.

"We both make a living on construction sites, but our ways of life are worlds apart."

Gong Yuelong sighed inwardly.

At the very bottom are these casual laborers and day workers, like he has been doing for the past six months.

Strength and time were their only assets; they were chosen by foremen or team leaders to do the dirtiest and most tiring manual labor.

Daily wage, no work, no pay, if you get sick or injured, you have to bear it all yourself.

If you can't save money, you can't save for tomorrow.

A slightly better position is like Engineer Chen's. A project manager oversees specific tasks, such as material handlers, construction workers, and technicians.

You don't have to carry cement or climb scaffolding yourself; you use your mouth, your pen, and your social skills.

He acts like a leader in front of the workers, smiles and appeases at the dinner table, and carefully maneuvers in front of the client and supervisor.

It's exhausting, but at least it's stable, which is the place most construction workers hope to settle down after they've worked their way up.

Above that are the bosses who actually hold the reins of people and the jobs.

From small-time contractors leading a dozen or so workers to large-scale project managers who subcontract labor for an entire building through affiliated companies.

They earn management fees, price differences, and profits from material turnover.

You don't have to do the work yourself, but you need to be able to bring in projects, manage relationships, and keep the place in check.

He was a big shot who made a fortune despite the tough times; he was a figure who had made it in the eyes of the working class.

Those who truly stand at the top of the pyramid, shrouded in mist, are the big bosses of the developers and general contractors.

They talk about land, loans, and policies; a little bit of sand slipping through their fingers is enough for the people below to work hard for a lifetime.

"I've only just crawled halfway out of the mud at the very bottom, and now I guess I'm trying to climb up to the level of a small-time contractor."

This is his current thought.

Gong Yuelong took a deep drag on his cigarette.

With the information from the system, his ability to read people, and his previous experience, he barely managed to earn a chance to lead a team, which meant he had just begun to understand the basics of contracting jobs.