Chapter 16 - 15: President Wang at the Construction Site

At the end of Yangzhai Street, the Yi City Group construction site.

Early in the morning, beneath a concrete structure shrouded in green safety netting, groups of workers in hard hats began their shifts. The shriek of cutting machines against rebar filled the air, and a tower crane rumbled as it hoisted bags of cement upward.

By the blue corrugated iron gate, Huang Yunfeng and his four friends squatted miserably on the curb.

They clutched the steamed buns in their arms as if they were treasures, wrapping them tightly in their clothes.

"Brother Huang, you think Manager Wang is really going to come inspect the site today?"

Liu Xing yawned repeatedly. Though skeptical, he wasn’t impatient.

After all, this was all to plead the case for his good friend, Guo Zhifei.

Hearing Liu Xing’s question, Huang Yunfeng subconsciously ran a hand through his short hair.

A confident smile appeared on his dark, weathered face as he said,

"Don’t worry. You guys are careless and haven’t noticed, but I’ve seen that Manager Wang comes by every week at this exact time.

And more importantly, I’ve heard Manager Wang is a real foodie with a discerning palate, so I’m telling you, this is our chance!

You could say we’re pretty lucky. It just so happens that Old Guo gets into a fight and lands in trouble, and it just so happens we find these amazing buns. I believe if Manager Wang eats them, her mood might just improve, she’ll say a word or two, and Old Guo will be off the hook, right?"

Liu Xing sounded doubtful. "But Brother Huang, what if Manager Wang doesn’t think the buns we brought her are any good?"

His words were like a bucket of cold water thrown over the group.

"Yeah, we might think they’re delicious, but a person like Manager Wang... she must have eaten all sorts of exotic delicacies, right?"

"Uh, I don’t know, but it should be fine, right?"

Huang Yunfeng glanced at the buns in his arms, his confidence suddenly faltering.

"Even if the plan fails, we can just try begging Manager Wang for mercy. Maybe that will work," Lü Yuan said reassuringly.

The five men fell silent, each lighting up a Taishan cigarette.

Their goal today, everything they were doing,

was because Guo Zhifei had gotten into a fight with the foreman a few days ago. Not only was he fined three thousand yuan, but in a month, his contract would be terminated and he’d be blacklisted.

Many real estate companies share information. If you have any black marks on your record, they’ll find out with a single search.

By then, the only way to get on a construction site would be through a subcontracting company, where you’d get exploited and squeezed dry.

Guo Zhifei’s face flushed red as he angrily stomped out his cigarette butt.

He was indignant, and at the same time,

he was even more upset that his friends were humbling themselves to beg on his behalf!

With a cold expression, Guo Zhifei lowered his head and said hoarsely, "How many times have I told you? Don’t beg for me! Don’t beg for me! This world is a big place. You’re telling me there’s no room for me in it?

"Just thinking about that bastard’s smug face makes my blood boil. Next time, I’ll still punch him!"

Listening to Guo Zhifei’s brainless words,

Huang Yunfeng was so angry he wanted to hit him.

"Old Guo, why are you so stubborn! You deserve to be fined."

Before the other man could retort,

he glared at Guo Zhifei and said sternly,

"Old Guo, let me remind you: think about your pregnant wife! This is no time for you to be stubborn! If you dare act recklessly again, don’t even say you know me!"

Lü Yuan patted Guo Zhifei’s shoulder and said reassuringly,

"That’s right, Brother Guo. As the saying goes, a true man knows when to bend and when to stand tall. It’s just a few soft words, right? It’s no big deal. If it comes down to it, we brothers will be right there with you."

"Brother Guo, your wife still needs her supplements..."

"Old Guo, don’t be so damn proud your whole life. What’s the use if, when you die, your whole body is soft but your mouth is still hard?"

The men did their best to persuade Guo Zhifei,

fearing he would act on impulse.

Regardless,

the five of them had worked together on several sites. They had a deep bond, and none of them wanted to see one of their own get into trouble or have to leave.

"I, I... I get it, alright?!"

Guo Zhifei stammered, then sat down abruptly as if all the fight had gone out of him.

Just then,

a black Mercedes-Benz van slowly drove around the corner.

"Ah, that’s the license plate!"

Huang Yunfeng’s eyes lit up. "She’s here, she’s here! Just watch me work."

Guo Zhifei stood up with him.

The moment the van reached the gate, Huang Yunfeng darted out and blocked it.

The startled driver slammed on the brakes.

In the back, Wang Han nearly smashed her face into her laptop.

The van screeched to a halt at the gate, nearly hitting the five men.

The driver stuck his head out the window, furious. "You people... What are you doing?! Do you have a death wish?!"

He was about to curse them out, but remembering his master in the back seat, he swallowed his fury.

He seethed, grinding his teeth in anger.

Clutching the buns, Huang Yunfeng walked to the car window and swallowed hard.

"Is Manager Wang here? I have something for you."

The enraged driver was about to shoo him away when a sharp, husky voice came from the back. "What is it?"

The rear window slid down, revealing Wang Han holding a laptop, her deep, calm eyes fixed on the men.

She looked to be in her thirties, with her hair neatly tied up. She had a noble and elegant air, with delicate features and smooth, fair skin. She wore a white blouse and black capri-style suit pants. Long, green jadeite earrings dangled from her earlobes.

Huang Yunfeng froze for a moment. Even though he had rehearsed this scene countless times in his head, he was still overwhelmed by her noble and commanding presence.

To put it bluntly, he was just an ordinary carpenter.

He would never normally cross paths with someone of her stature.

The other four men behind him didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly.

’This is a top executive from Yi City Group! She must be worth hundreds of millions, right?’

Tiny beads of sweat formed on Huang Yunfeng’s forehead. Suppressing his nervousness, he said,

"Manager Wang, it’s like this. I happened to discover a delicacy today—it’s exceptionally delicious. I heard you appreciate fine food, so I wanted to bring it to you to try right away."

His throat was dry when he finished, and he swallowed again.

"Oh? What delicacy is this?"

Hearing the word ’delicacy,’ Wang Han’s interest was piqued. She closed her laptop and extended a slender hand, adorned with a jadeite bracelet. "Can you let me see it?"

"This is it." Huang Yunfeng handed the paper bag to the window.

"I can take a bite first, before you try one."

He was worried she might suspect him of ill intent.

After all, they were complete strangers.

"No need. I trust you."

Huang Yunfeng: ??? ’Is this the art of handling subordinates that executives have? I know it’s just words, but it feels damn good.’

The five men stared expectantly at the paper bag.

They hoped to win this woman over, even if it seemed impossible.

Before, they thought they had a chance, but after experiencing her noble and commanding presence up close, it felt unrealistic.

The buns were super delicious, but was it possible that was only true for them?

Wang Han licked her lips, which were coated in matte lipstick.

A flicker of anticipation went through her.

’Could it be some new, emerging delicacy?’

She elegantly tore open the paper bag.

Inside,

stacked one on top of the other, were boxes of plump, white steamed buns.

’Steamed buns??’

The smile on Wang Han’s face froze.

Her chest heaved.

She was angry. Very angry.

’You act all mysterious and waste my time just to show me some damn buns?’

’Are you trying to be funny?!’

"PFFT!"

The driver in the front seat almost burst out laughing, turning his head and pressing a fist to his mouth.

’Just a moment ago, I was curious what precious thing could have given these guys the confidence to stop President Wang’s car. Turns out it was just buns, huh? Talk about making a big fuss over nothing.’

Wang Han was silent for a few seconds before speaking. "This is the ’delicacy’ you were talking about? Steamed buns?"

After she spoke,

she suddenly shoved the bag of buns back at him. One of the takeout containers fell out and crashed to the ground.

Huang Yunfeng and the others jumped in fright.

Their faces turned pale, fearing an "imperial edict" would come down ordering them to get lost.

’Serving a powerful woman is like keeping a tiger company—she’ll fly into a rage at the slightest disagreement.’

"President Wang, I’m so sorry, truly sorry. We thought these buns were delicious, so we just wanted to..." Lü Yuan explained, bowing and scraping.

The driver in front sneered. "You people are really something else. You think it’s delicious, so you give it to President Wang? By that logic, if you liked to eat shit, would you offer President Wang a bite of that, too?"

The moment he said that,

Wang Han’s expression in the back darkened instantly.