Chapter 14: The Bidding Conference

“President Su, do you think we should keep bidding?” As time passed and one old rival after another entered the room, each wearing a false smile, Wang Bo quietly whispered to Su Qingcheng beside him.

“Of course we should bid. Mo Ran isn’t an employee of the Su Group; he’s merely the son-in-law of the Su family. The Su Group is the Su Group, and the Su family is the Su family. If the investigators really had proof that we got the government’s base price from him, they would have barred us from entering moments ago.” Su Qingcheng nodded calmly, her expression serene. “We’ve never said anything, directly or indirectly, to him about relying on his debt of gratitude to help us get the base price. Mo Ran merely told us a figure he thought reasonable.”

With just a few words, she had distanced herself and the Su Group from Mo Ran, reminding Wang Bo of the connections, causing him to frown instantly.

He listened quietly as Su Qingcheng finished her explanation, a hint of shock flickering in his eyes. He knew Su Qingcheng was ruthless, but he hadn’t expected her to be so merciless. For her own interests and power within the Su Group, she was willing to sacrifice her own husband, even if he was just a nominal son-in-law.

Yet, to their surprise, as they spoke, they saw Mo Ran, impeccably dressed in a suit, appear at the entrance, looking around for them.

“President Su, look, Mo Ran is back,” Wang Bo, sharp-eyed, was the first to spot him and immediately alerted the resting Su Qingcheng, his voice filled with disbelief.

“How can that be!” Hearing this, Su Qingcheng’s eyes snapped open, full of incredulity. Following Wang Bo’s gaze, her eyes met Mo Ran’s across the room.

They knew the prosecution was unlike other government agencies; under the central government’s anti-corruption pressure, they paid special attention to cases involving potential collusion between business and officials. Without substantial evidence, they would never ask someone to cooperate with an investigation.

Her strategy had been devised under the guidance of her grandfather, Su Dashan, and his powerful backers, aiming only for the benefits, regardless of the risks.

“How’s the preparation going?” Once he found them, Mo Ran quickly walked over, his tone calm and composed.

Seeing that he showed no sign of panic after the investigation, Su Qingcheng couldn’t help but approve—his abilities might be lacking, but his psychological strength was impressive.

“We’re almost ready. This time, we’re certain to win the bid.” Su Qingcheng withdrew her gaze, nodded coldly, and replied. Once this hurdle was cleared, he would no longer be needed.

Mo Ran smiled lightly. “That’s good.” There was nothing more he needed to do, nothing he could do. All that remained was to quietly wait for the outcome.

“They didn’t give you any trouble?” Su Qingcheng, unable to help herself, asked, watching his composed demeanor.

“The premise of collusion is mutual benefit. I have nothing to offer. Plus, with Secretary Xiao’s influence, unless there’s concrete evidence, what can they possibly do?” Mo Ran shrugged indifferently.

Soon, amid thunderous applause, Xiao Weiguo, the top official, entered with the real power brokers of Hu City. Everyone’s faces lit up with excitement, eager for the proceedings to begin.

After a standard official introduction, Xiao Weiguo formally announced the start of the bidding conference.

One by one, the heads of construction companies, confident in their ability to compete, stepped forward to briefly introduce their plans. Mo Ran watched as they presented, most of them burly middle-aged men, some with bellies larger than any expectant mother’s, speaking animatedly. His eyelids grew heavier, until the fragrance of perfume signaled it was Su Qingcheng’s turn.

A beautiful woman—especially one at the pinnacle of her career—always draws attention, more so in this male-dominated arena. Aside from a few secretaries brought by company bosses, Su Qingcheng was a rare sight.

The moment she rose, all eyes were drawn to her. Her stunning beauty, accentuated by her tailored office attire, was arresting. Had she been wearing a pencil skirt, black stockings, and Valentino heels instead of formal trousers, she would have been even more captivating.

Su Qingcheng was accustomed to such attention and ignored it, heading straight to the podium to present the Su Group’s construction proposal.

Three minutes later, the presentation concluded and she handed the prepared bid documents to the government staff. Now, the most nerve-wracking wait began.

The real power brokers of Hu City, having listened to all the proposals, convened to decide within half an hour which company would win.

At the meeting, Xiao Weiguo sat at the head of the table, silent, letting the others voice their opinions, compare prices, and ensure the project met both engineering and fiscal requirements, in line with the government’s base price.

With a stiff expression, he observed the verbal sparring, noting everyone’s reactions. Finally, he made the decisive gesture, placing his hand atop the Su Group’s proposal. The others understood immediately—years of navigating officialdom had taught them to follow the leader.

Soon, the results were publicly announced: the Su Group had successfully won the bid with a price of 11 billion.

“Eleven billion?” Hearing this, several veteran construction moguls pounded their heads and chests in regret. Why hadn’t they taken the risk? They could have matched the price, but were too stingy to take the plunge. Alas, there was no remedy for regret in this world, and the outcome was set.

Even though Su Qingcheng had been confident from the start, she held her breath until the official announcement. Only then did she exhale deeply, stand, straighten her attire, and began accepting the rivals’ insincere congratulations.

News of the Su Group’s victory spread quickly through Hu City’s elite circles. Many companies, convinced of their own strength, rushed to recommend themselves, their executives swarming the Su Group’s doors, nearly bursting them open.

This was a project worth over one hundred billion—a golden opportunity. If lucky enough to land a portion, their profits would multiply many times over.

Within the Su Group, Su Dashan was overjoyed. An eleven-billion project—if managed well, before he retired, the Su Group would become a top-tier enterprise not just in Hu City, but nationwide.

“Master, oh Master, when will I see you again? A good son-in-law brings prosperity for three generations—I’ve always remembered that.” At the very top floor of the Su Group headquarters, clad in traditional attire, Su Dashan stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing down at the crowded parking lot full of eager company representatives, murmuring softly to himself.