Yuan Hui – why did Yuan Hui win the bid?

Not only was Tiancheng’s representative in disbelief, but even China Construction Corporation’s people gave Liu Yong a second look.

China Construction never left scraps when they ate meat – they wanted the entire guesthouse decoration project, and now a piece had been forcibly taken away. How could they accept that? Tiancheng, already struck out, spoke more directly:

“Why didn’t we win the bid?”

Secretary Peng glanced at him. How to explain? Of course, Yuan Hui’s design and cost-effectiveness were higher – this was the unanimous conclusion reached in the meeting.

Having misspoken, Tiancheng’s representative decided to go all in, persisting with the question.

A leader cleared his throat:

“We only announced Yuan Hui’s win because Yuan Hui’s design is a complete package. We believe decorating the guesthouse according to Yuan Hui’s design plan is most suitable. Yuan Hui will handle the restaurant portion, while the remaining parts – guest rooms, conference rooms, etc. – will still follow Yuan Hui’s design plan…”

Each word was clear when taken separately.

But combined, it somehow seemed absurd.

Had everyone misheard?

Following Yuan Hui’s design plan? Yuan Hui, an unknown small company – what gave them the right? A guesthouse project split into several parts for bidding – if not for next year’s ‘South Sea Hotel,’ who would put up with this nonsense?

For China Construction’s representative, accepting Yuan Hui winning the restaurant decoration project was already hard to swallow. Now they had to follow Yuan Hui’s overall plan. Hadn’t they come to bid to showcase their company’s strength and design capabilities?

Following Yuan Hui’s plan meant they’d become Yuan Hui’s laborers!

“Is Yuan Hui’s design better than ours?”

“We can’t even use our design – we’re just working for Yuan Hui…”

“Right, since it’s separate bidding, each section should allow different design plans.”

Whispers spread, united in their opposition.

No one accepted this arrangement. The guesthouse leaders didn’t understand their reaction – Yuan Hui’s design plan was genuinely good. Previously, everyone had been prejudiced, but after accepting it, they grew to like it more and more. Three companies had submitted overall plans: the Hong Kong company, China Construction, and Yuan Hui.

Setting aside how the first two wanted to sweep all the bids, Yuan Hui’s plan had these advantages:

First, the decoration effect was attractive, meeting the psychological expectation of being “neither luxurious nor shabby, fashionable yet dignified.” The Hong Kong company’s design was too ornate, while China Construction lacked innovation, was too ordinary, and was almost perfunctory.

Second, Yuan Hui’s plan’s estimated cost was much cheaper than the Hong Kong company’s, even comparable to China Construction’s. If decorating the entire guesthouse would cost 1 million, both China Construction and Yuan Hui quoted similar prices – spending the same amount, they naturally chose the better-looking plan!

The bidding companies couldn’t accept these reasons.

If they couldn’t showcase their designs, how could they win the South Sea Hotel decoration project?

The guesthouse decoration offered minimal profit. Everyone would work hard for the guesthouse, but the final presentation would be Yuan Hui’s design, promoting Yuan Hui… too unfair!

It wasn’t unfair – everyone was speaking for their interests.

From the guesthouse’s perspective, why not use whichever design looked best? It was just decoration – couldn’t they choose what they liked?

Most people lacked awareness of intellectual property protection. Liking Yuan Hui’s plan didn’t necessarily mean Yuan Hui had to win the bid. If not for Secretary Peng’s presence, they could have taken Yuan Hui’s plan and let other companies do the decoration. It was precisely because Secretary Peng was there, and Yuan Hui’s background was unclear, that Yuan Hui won the bid.

Sitting together, dividing the fruit – Liu Yong got what he wanted with the restaurant decoration.

Others wanted all the fruit and wanted to eat it their way, so naturally they disagreed – they had quoted low prices to win the South Sea Hotel contract. Now they couldn’t showcase their plans, they definitely wouldn’t get the South Sea Hotel project, so why help Yuan Hui?

In those days, leaders’ working style was quite brutal. After a brief unsuccessful attempt to explain to the companies, they simply had them take their bid documents back.

“Then let Yuan Hui handle the entire guesthouse decoration alone!” one leader fumed.

Liu Yong was completely stunned.

He would love to handle the entire guesthouse decoration alone, but with his scraped-together 110,000… he simply didn’t have that capability!

Liu Yong wasn’t staying quiet out of composure – when he wanted to speak, he saw Secretary Peng slightly shake his head.

…

Just like that, Yuan Hui mysteriously won the entire guesthouse decoration project. Liu Yong couldn’t help but call Xia Xiaolan – he didn’t understand this situation. Such projects required contracts, and nothing was final before signing.

Liu Yong first described the bidding situation, including how other competitors left in anger:

“Winning the entire decoration project is good news, but we can’t advance the entire decoration cost!”

Without seeing the contract, they didn’t know how much money the guesthouse would advance, but Liu Yong’s 110,000 wasn’t enough.

Xia Xiaolan also felt it was an unexpected blessing.

The young man accompanied by driver Wang was probably Tang Hong’en’s secretary, and secretaries were leaders’ mouthpieces. Did Tang Hong’en want Yuan Hui to take the entire guesthouse decoration? No, that would be too conspicuous. Tang Hong’en probably knew Yuan Hui’s capabilities better than anyone – this wasn’t nurturing, it was forcing growth.

This situation had likely resulted from a series of coincidences.

Decorating the entire guesthouse indeed exceeded Yuan Hui’s capacity, but if they seized this opportunity, Yuan Hui would take a huge step forward.

Yuan Hui’s ambitions weren’t that grand – forget about South Sea Hotel for now, focus on doing a good job with the guesthouse. Her uncle had only managed three or four people before; the guesthouse decoration would suddenly require twenty or thirty workers – it would be challenging for her uncle in every aspect. But challenges and opportunities coexisted – wouldn’t they be fools not to grab an opportunity when it came?

Xia Xiaolan spoke very calmly, encouraging her uncle:

“Go ahead and sign the contract, don’t worry about advancing the money. After signing the contract, use it to get a bank loan!”

Using bank money to make money was commonplace for Xia Xiaolan. Liu Yong held the phone receiver, as shocked as when he heard Yuan Hui would handle the entire guesthouse decoration project.

Could they do that?

Could they get a bank loan with just a contract?

Were banks really that foolish?

Liu Yong later discovered that banks were foolish… Of course, the process had many twists and turns. By the time the bank loan finally reached Liu Yong’s hands, he had only 28 yuan left – any of his workers was wealthier than him. Some building materials could be bought on credit, but some materials from other regions needed immediate payment – they didn’t care if you were decorating the Shenzhen Municipal Government Guesthouse. Liu Yong had no connections, and they pressed him for payment. For the bank loan to be released again, Liu Yong had to swallow his pride and seek help from Little Wang – fortunately, in the end, he didn’t embarrass Xiaolan or trouble the leaders.

By then, it was July 3rd, just three days before the college entrance examination!