Chapter 13: The warm-up event
His mother, Zeng Ke, and father, Su Licheng, both seemed hesitant. They still had some uncertainties about competing to become a designated supplier of office and cultural supplies to the municipal government, largely because they lacked confidence. Besides, Zeng Qu anming had been dealing with a great many municipal affairs lately. Since taking over the City Construction Bureau, he had had many things to straighten out and was busy attending meetings every day. He had only mentioned this matter to his younger sister, Zeng Ke, and had not expected their Xiahai Cultural Supplies to become a designated supplier for municipal office procurement.
After all, even ordinarily, he would refer the City Construction Bureau, as well as some project companies connected to the bureau, to Zeng Ke. So, while Su Can's family shop was just getting started and its retail business was still warming up rather than doing particularly well, orders signed by various companies were comparatively plentiful. Thanks to Zeng Qu anming's connections, business at the supplies shop had opened up, and its turnover had doubled.
"What should we do about your elder brother? It looks like this tender meeting will be held at the Kailai Hotel," his father, Su Licheng, said with little confidence. The two of them had been discussing this for the past few days.
"I don't know either. What business do we have joining in at a tender meeting like that? That's for people with real ability. Even using my brother's connections wouldn't get us anywhere."
Zeng Ke could hardly be blamed for worrying. For one thing, the tender meeting was explicitly under the oversight of senior municipal leaders. Mayor Hong Xiaotian, who oversaw this area, had reportedly already demanded that all favoritism, fraud, and interference with competition be firmly eliminated.