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

Yu Lili was slightly taken aback: "President Gong, hello, hello!"

Gong Yuelong stood up, smiled, and shook hands.

In those brief two or three seconds of contact and observation, Yu Lili almost instantly completed an assessment of her ex-brother-in-law's current situation.

A simple polo shirt and crisp trousers. Unlike her current brother-in-law, who always wears uniform-style jackets and exudes an official air.

He stood there, not in a hurry to speak, nor making any deliberate attempt to strike up a conversation with Mr. Li. This composure didn't seem feigned.

When Sister Lin Wei introduced him, the importance she placed on him was very obvious.

Moreover, he was sitting diagonally opposite President Li, not in the most central position, but certainly not on the periphery.

A series of fragmented information pieces were instantly pieced together and compared in Lily's mind.

Compared to her current brother-in-law, her energy is completely different.

The speed at which he got up was faster than anyone expected.

The thought gave her a slight jolt, but her perfect smile remained unchanged. She withdrew her hand and sat down in the empty seat next to Lin Wei, a perfect spot for her to continue observing Gong Yuelong.

The more I looked, the more the scales in my heart tipped.

Once the waiter started serving the dishes and everyone began to eat, Yu Lili had already made a preliminary assessment:

This former brother-in-law is a real line with far more potential than imagined.

We need to start working on my sister's side again; we can't use the old perspectives and methods anymore.

She picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, chewed it, and began to plan in her mind what to do after the meal.

How should we update our sister with this crucial information, and how should we adjust our strategy to bring this promising stock back into their game?

Hmph! Brother-in-law!

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere at the table became more lively.

Zhao Hongyuan smiled and poured Li Qianghua a glass of baijiu:

"Mr. Li, please try this privately stored vintage wine, specially prepared for our distinguished guests."

Li Qianghua glanced up and saw that the wine was clear and yellow, with a rich aroma. He took a small sip and felt a warmth that went straight to his lungs.

"Yes, the eastern part of the city is getting more and more lively. In the construction industry, you guys are the most resourceful, with a constant stream of projects, and you have the most stable lives."

Liu Jing covered her mouth and chuckled softly, as if she had received great affirmation.

Only after Li Qianghua had tasted it did the others dare to pick up their glasses.

Zhao Hongyuan raised his glass in response, his voice warm and friendly:

"Mr. Li is right, this wine is authentic. Thank you for gracing us with your presence."

Lin Wei glanced at Gong Yuelong, who sat as still as a mountain, and secretly made a plan in her heart.

She then turned her gaze to the table laden with delicacies and said with a beaming smile:

"The peak season for construction projects is here, and opportunities are just around the corner, but the outside world is facing many challenges."

First, I wish Mr. Li great success in acquiring the Jinxiu Jiangnan project in Nancheng. And I, your humble servant, wish all business owners abundant wealth and numerous projects.

Zhao Hongyuan and Liu Jing exchanged a smile upon hearing this.

They knew that this project was fraught with difficulties and had high barriers to entry, making it something that most construction companies couldn't even begin to understand.

Furthermore, projects personally handled by General Manager Li are always lucrative, attracting countless eyes. Without a solid foundation and a life-or-death relationship, one doesn't even qualify to hand over a business card.

I reckon I'll need to build up my seniority and reputation in a few more years!

"Everyone here, our General Manager Li has your hands firmly in his grasp!"

Zhao Hongyuan laughed heartily, picked up the decanter and poured:

"Brother, let me drink first as a sign of respect, wishing you a prosperous start!"

Li Qianghua has been in charge of the municipal construction company for many years. Although there is a senior executive in charge, he has the final say on project contracting.

In particular, this Mr. Li has a deep-rooted local background and extensive connections in the construction industry. The power he can wield is such that even some developers have to rely on him.

"General Manager Li's strategic planning is truly impressive! I admire you, and I'd like to raise a glass to you!"

Zhao Hongyuan quickly picked up the conversation, taking the opportunity to flatter Li Qianghua and gain even more favor in his eyes.

"Mr. Li, this is Lily. It's such an honor to meet you! I'll take it, please do as you please!"

Not to be outdone, Yu Lili smiled sweetly, raised her glass, and leaned forward slightly, as if she wanted to present herself directly to Li Qianghua's eyes.

Li Qianghua accepted these flatteries and warm greetings with equanimity.

He let Zhao Hongyuan fill his glass before slowly speaking:

"That project in Jiangnan has caused quite a stir, and many people are watching it closely."

Although... well, the higher-ups mentioned in a meeting a couple of days ago that specialized tasks should be entrusted to trustworthy people, which gave some direction.

But ultimately, we still have to follow the procedures. There are quite a few strong teams outside, so competition is inevitable.

Zhao Hongyuan, Liu Jing, and Lin Wei looked at each other, their eyes filled with envy.

With a municipal mega-project like Jinxiu Jiangnan generating hundreds of millions in revenue, who wouldn't be envious?

In previous years, such good jobs were selected from municipal construction companies and those with first-class qualifications, which had high entry requirements.

To be honest, it's not easy to fight for it; but it's also hard to give up.

First, you need a strong foundation. Second, you need a deep and well-established network of connections to withstand the fierce competition during bidding.

People like Zhao Hongyuan and Liu Jing, who have some connections, are stuck here.

As the saying goes, strong connections mean money, but this door is too hard to get through.

Those who managed to get on Li Qianghua's good side all spent money and pulled strings to achieve it.

Even someone as shrewd as Lin Wei, if she wants a share of the benefits, still has to see if President Li will agree.

"Power is hard to wield, and a stalemate is hard to break! That's absolutely true."

Li Qianghua frowned, his face turning somewhat grim. "Although the higher-ups mentioned entrusting professional matters to trustworthy people, they didn't specify who they were entrusting them to."

These past few days, even though I've been pulling strings and racking my brains, every single one of the bidders is watching closely. If anything seems off, they'll find something to use against me. It's fucking frustrating!

At this point, Li Qianghua got a little annoyed, picked up his wine glass, and downed it in one gulp.

Tsk, it seems Mr. Li's position isn't easy.

Gong Yuelong lowered his head and picked up some food without saying a word, but he knew exactly what was going on in his mind.

He also worked his way up from the bottom, and he knows that while the construction industry looks glamorous, it's a tightrope walk for everyone underneath.

No matter how much you calculate, sometimes it can't overcome a single piece of paper or procedure.

To put it bluntly, with all sorts of people wanting to get involved in a project, no one can say for sure how it will end up.

Those with real power like Li Qianghua are skilled at balancing the wishes of those above with the efforts to win over those below.

If someone can finalize a project based solely on a professional statement, without having to worry about bidding or guarding against competitors, then they must have extraordinary abilities!

According to the principle that Gong Yuelong realized while squatting in the sun at the labor market, only the chosen ones directly under the provincial government could do it!

Therefore, it's perfectly normal for Li Qianghua to feel aggrieved.

He knew perfectly well that his boss's words were an opportunity, but he was stuck by the rigid procedures and couldn't make any progress.

The more anxious you are, the more afraid you are of making a wrong move.

Gong Yuelong recalled the days when he ran himself ragged trying to get that qualification certificate. Back then, he thought that once he got the certificate, everything would be fine.

Looking at Mr. Li's current predicament, I truly understand what it means to climb higher, the stronger the wind, and the harder it is to stay afloat.

Gong Yuelong remained silent, quietly drinking his tea and watching.

Over there, Yu Lili was eager to show off, and without thinking, she spoke up:

"Oh, Mr. Li, what are you saying! Our city's construction company has a prestigious reputation. This little job is nothing, why is it taking so much effort? It's really incomprehensible!"