Summer #36

Don't Turn from Summer (莫负寒夏) by Ding Mo (丁墨)

Chapter 36

The location for bidding is a hotel that is contracted to some government sectors. When Lin Mochen and Antony arrive, there is only 10 minutes left before the bidding starts.

The lobby is brightly lit and neatly decorated. Many people, also formally dressed, are going in and out. The atmosphere is solemn. Quickly some staff members come to usher them into the a big conference room. Lin Mochen has gone back to his smiling way, chatting casually with a few familiar government employees and the executives from other companies. At the same time he notices that Rao Wei, general manager from the Real Estates Business Division of Rong Yue Incorporate, is sitting in the front row, who at the moment turns around and notices him.

Rao Wei doesn’t act aloof, instead he gets up and walks over. Others nearby immediately call out with smiles, “Hi, Chief Rao.” Lin Mochen also smiles a little.

After saying hi to the few others, Rao Wei fixes his eyes on Lin Mochen. Many eyes around are also on the two of them.

“Chielf Lin, you have been very famous lately and has inspired awe throughout the city.” Rao Wei says smilingly “I finally meet you in person today. Surely we have a promising young man here!”

Everybody smiles. Lin Mochen also smiles and says, “Thanks for the compliment. But Chief Rao is truly the pillar of the real estate industry in the grand southwestern area. We are just a younger generation. It’s so nice to meet you.”

The two of them shake hands with seemingly great enthusiasm.

Right then, several higher rank government officials enter the room. Everybody turns to greet them with smiles. The staff member introduces, “This is Deputy Mayor Mr. Fan Long, who’s in charge of planning, tourism, industry and commerce and so on. This is Deputy Mayor Mr. Fang Chengzhou, who’s in charge of construction, industry, economics and so on. This is the Director of City Bureau of Land Resources Planning...They are all the judges for today’s bidding, and they are here to meet everybody before the bidding starts.”

Rao Wei is naturally the first one who shakes hands with the officials. The officials ask questions amiably and the others reply warmly. Lin Mochen stands nearby and rests his eyes on the deputy mayor Fang Chengzhou. Wearing a Chinese tunic suit, he is a little over 50, with a energetic spirit and a cool and graceful manner. Compared to Mu Hanxia’s description, he looks even more sharp-minded.

At the moment, Fang Chengzhou’s eyes also sweep over to his face. Lin Mochen nods politely. Fang Chengzhould smiles faintly and moves his eyes elsewhere.

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Mu Hanxia stands at the roadside, waiting for the police to wrap up the accident. Those few bastards instantly behave compliantly as soon as the police arrive. Some even smile at her. After all, they are paid only to keep them as long as possible, not to really make fatal damages.

But now the accident site is cleaned up and these guys have to go to the police station, not knowing when they can get out of this.

Mu Hanxia stares at the stream of cars a little absentmindedly. It’s time for the bidding to start. She wonders how it is going with Lin Mochen right now, but she knows he can’t contact her right now.

She raises her hand and touches her cheek again. In her heart, there seems to be some silent flames rolling by, burning but withholding, not thorough, not complete.

Is it time for the bidding of the first lot, Lot C? The most suitable lot for them according to their earlier analysis. Lao Fang must have made the arrangement. Yes, she thinks of Lao Fang, Fang Chengzhou again.

When did she start to get suspicious about his identity? At the very beginning, she had heard the owner of the coffee house Xue Shao’an, as well as the waiter at the coffee bar, mentioning that besides investors, government officials may come visit in disguise. When she first saw Fang Chengzhou, she immediately sensed his unusual air which is gentleness with sharpness hidden underneath. That didn’t give him a feel of a dejected professor. Of course, other young people in the coffee house eagerly looking for investment didn’t seem to notice this elderly person, except her.

Additionally, there were other details that didn’t seem important. But to Mu Hanxia, they were the proofs of her instinct.

For example, he used HP laptop. Everybody knows that HP is the brand for government office supplies. And he used one with a top configuration. HP is strong for office use and is relatively expensive. A regular college professor uses a laptop more for research. With the same ten-thousand-yuan cost, won’t they prefer Thinkpad or Apple brands?

Also, his oral English is very good and his interest is the environment protection project. A few days after Mu Hanxia described it to Lin Mochen, he made some discovery. Lin City did have a new deputy mayor recently, whose last name was Fang. He’s in his 50s, had education in Germany, and had a very prominent administration history. He is an enterprising person who at the same time cares a lot about the common citizens. His children are all living abroad, and wife passed away. There’s only he who remains in the country.

Does Lao Fang know that she has already learned about his identity? At first Mu Hanxia was a little worried, but later as she has interacted with him longer, she comes to realize that it’s not important.

It’s not important when you interact with such a wise person who has seen a lot of years and humanity. More importantly, don’t try to disguise yourself or pretend. Make acquaintance by chance, treat each other candidly, and let everything happen naturally. That will be good enough. And that’s what they value most.

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At the bidding.

The bidders are all waiting in the big room next door. This small conference is the real battlefield. The lights are clear, the aroma of the tea fill the room. It is very quiet. The government officials are all sitting at the judging area. Deputy Mayor Mr. Fan tells the staff member in a low voice, “Let’s start.”

In the past years, the land bidding took the form of mailing documents in sealed boxes, the results of which were then announced on a different date. However, the real estates market is so bad this year. To encourage the real estate companies to build communities with quality and maintainable value, as well as to ensure the effective use of land, this year a step of bid presentation is added based on an agreement among the government leaders. That is, each bidder of the lot needs to briefly describe their plan to the judging committee. The one that gets the highest comprehensive scores and move the judges the most is the most likely to get the land.

There are not many lots for bidding today. The first one is Lot C.

Before Rong Yue, a small real estate company did a presentation. But Rao Wei has no concerns about them at all. Followed by two managers, he enters the bidding room. Seeing that the officials are not showing any excitement or particular sentiment, he is certain that the company before them failed.

His competitor is someone after him. But this lot, he will definitely take over.

Thanks to the reputation and strength of Rong Yue, the officials all brighten up and show interest at seeing him. The experienced manager who comes in with Rao Wei starts right away with the beautiful PPT presentation.

Their goal is to build a delicate idyllic community in the off-downtown area on Lot C. The design team of Rong Yue is one of the best in China, and in the pictures, there appear the compact and elegant small high-rise buildings with American rustic styles, lush vegetation and good layouts. In the past, this design was seldom used on such a small lot due to the high cost.

“All units are two bedrooms of about 80 to 90 square meters, good for young people.” The manager introduces, “This happens to echo the City’s idea of encouraging young people to start their own businesses and to support real estate business. These homes are very suitable for young people.”

The officials all constantly nod at their presentation.

But the strength of Rong Yue is more than this. Their strongest part is the comprehensive capacity. Next, the manager announces that the best elementary school will build a division in the community, the shopping center will be introduced to the community... All the construction materials are high quality and Rong Yue will use their very own first-class real estate management team...

Rao Wei is very clear that such a complete set of plan is something Lin Mochen absolutely unable to match. Among the three lots, he put almost all the best resources on this one which Lin Mochen wants the most. The information he received earlier also verified that Lin Mochen had repeatedly told his trusted subordinates that he wanted this lot.

Rao Wei put all the Level A design and materials on a lot that only requires Level B investment. It’s unlikely Lin Mochen’s design will reach this level. Even if it does, does he have elementary school? Does he have shopping centers? Or quality real estate management? And price. Can Lin Mochen reach the low price that Rao Wei reaches? If he does, he will lose money.

Plus, Rong Yue has always had a good relationship with the government. All things considered, Lin Mochen definitely won’t be able to get this lot.

The presentation is over. Rao Wei looks smilingly at the judging officials, who are all nodding approvingly and making exchanges in low voices between themselves. They look highly satisfied. Deputy mayor Mr. Fan even says smilingly, “Xiao Rao, you certainly have put in a lot of efforts here.” Rao Wei replies with smiles, “Thank you but that’s nothing much. We just want to shoulder some responsibility in reviving the real estate industry in our Lin City.”

Followed by the two managers, he is ready to exit the room. He is mostly certain about the result so his eyes are somewhat indifferent when he glances toward the entrance of the room. Just wait until Lin Mochen comes in and tries to exercise all his skills.

But right at this moment, a secretary comes running in and reports in a low voice, “Mr. Fan, Mr. Fang, and Mr. Cui, Feng Chen says that they relinquishes the bidding for Lot C and will directly bid for Lot B.”

All the officials are stunned. Rao Wei, who has reached the door is also shocked.

Relinquish?

He doesn’t want Lot C, which is the best choice for Feng Chen? What does he want then?

What does he dare to want?

Rao Wei looks up. In the big conference room, Lin Mochen, who is seated in the crowd, also looks up. Their gazes meet.

A smile slowly appears on Lin Mochen’s face.