Urban Martial Saint

Liu Yuan took Ye Qing to a nearby restaurant. The environment wasn’t great, but it was close to the hotel, so most people from the mid-sized companies participating in the bidding process ate here.

Liu Yuan had quite a few acquaintances among them and greeted everyone before finding a table to sit down.

”Ye brothers, I really can’t thank you enough today. I’ll skip the niceties, since we don’t have time to go back this noon, let’s just make do with a meal nearby. Once we’re done with this, we’ll find a place to have a proper drink,” Liu Yuan handed the menu to Ye Qing and said, ”Take a look, order whatever you like, don’t hold back.”

Ye Qing didn’t take the menu and said, ”Just a bowl of beef noodles for me.”

Liu Yuan gestured dismissively and said, ”There’s no rush to order the main course, order a few dishes.”

”No need,” Ye Qing shook his head and said, ”A bowl of beef noodles will do.”

”How can that be enough? We’re close, you don’t have to be polite with me,” Liu Yuan insisted. ”Come on, have a look, I don’t know what you like, just order anything.”

Ye Qing sincerely replied, ”I really don’t need anything else, a bowl of beef noodles is fine.”

Liu Yuan looked at Ye Qing and saw that he didn’t seem to be just saying it out of politeness, and couldn’t help feeling even more surprised. Ye Qing, with such strong abilities and so serious about his work, seemed to have very low demands on life. Such people were really rare in today’s society.

”Just eating noodles won’t do, let me order a few dishes,” Liu Yuan opened the menu, ordered the beef noodles for Ye Qing, and then began looking for other dishes to order.

”Oh, celebrating so soon?” The voice of Chen Daqiang suddenly came over. Liu Yuan turned his head and saw Chen Daqiang walking in with a smug smile, followed by two subordinates.

Lin Feng saw Ye Qing and a sneer quickly crossed his face. In his opinion, the story about Ye Qing graduating from Northern University was the funniest joke he had ever heard in his life.

”Let me see what you ordered... oh, beef noodles, living the good life, huh?” Chen Daqiang came over with exaggerated enthusiasm, sat down without waiting for Liu Yuan to speak, and laughed, ”Manager Liu, how did it go today? Did you manage to put together a proposal? I only went in for two projects today, couldn’t help it, we’re short on talent at the company.

It looks like we need to hire a few more talented individuals.”

Liu Yuan’s expression turned frosty, Chen Daqiang was too arrogant. By asking this, he clearly insinuated that Liu Yuan might not have completed even a single proposal.

Liu Yuan said, ”Thanks for your concern, Director Chen, we might not have many people, but we’re fairly efficient. We went in for three projects today, just one more than you did.”

Chen Daqiang’s brows furrowed; he doubted that Liu Yuan had even managed one. To his surprise, Liu Yuan had done three; how could that be possible?

The people around them were also attracted by Liu Yuan’s words, turning their heads to look. Those who knew Liu Yuan well even congratulated him from afar.

”Manager Liu, Dayue Group’s bidding process this time is mainly to prevent people from biting off more than they can chew. Our company brought three people and we worked on two projects, even that was a bit rushed.

You and this high-caliber graduate from Northern University, the two of you combined, are working on three projects, aren’t you afraid you might not win any?” Lin Feng asked with a faint smile, emphasizing the words ’Northern University’ deliberately to draw everyone’s attention.

The people present were all seasoned professionals from Shenchuan City, and naturally understood the significance of ’Northern University’. Not to mention Liu Yuan’s Das Group, but the companies of everyone present might not be able to retain a graduate from Northern University.

Therefore, hearing Lin Feng’s words, everyone immediately turned to look at Ye Qing, their eyes filled mostly with skepticism.

Liu Yuan’s face turned red. He knew people doubted Ye Qing’s credentials. Regardless of whether Ye Qing really graduated from Northern University, in such a situation, whatever he said, no one would believe him. After all, how could a graduate from Northern University possibly settle for working at his company?

Liu Yuan glared at Lin Feng and said, ”Whether we win or not, we’ll know once the results are out, isn’t it a bit early to say these things?”

”I really appreciate that statement, Manager Liu, you’re right, the results will prove everything,” Lin Feng laughed loudly, glanced at Ye Qing, and said, ”Manager Liu, let’s meet at the public tender result announcement this afternoon, then.”

Chen Daqiang laughed and said, ”Old Liu, after all, we used to be colleagues, I hope you can win a good project this time. Well, it’s getting late, we’ve reserved a private room inside, why don’t you come and join us? They’re all acquaintances, and it’s been a long time since we’ve had a catch-up.”

His words sounded pleasant, but in fact, they were mocking Liu Yuan for having no chance of winning any project.

”No, thank you,” Liu Yuan replied coldly.

”If that’s the case, then I’ll be going in. See you at the site of the bidding this afternoon,” Chen Daqiang said cheerfully as he left.

”Bastard, this is too much!” Liu Yuan muttered under his breath, then looked up at Ye Qing and said, ”Ye, let’s go somewhere else to eat. I know a place around here that makes good dishes, I’ll call and reserve a private room.”

Ye Qing sat calmly and said, ”Why should we change places?”

Liu Yuan clenched his teeth and said, ”That bastard is showing off in front of me on purpose, making it seem like our company can’t even afford a meal. I want to let him see that I’m doing just as well in my current company.”

”Whether your development is good or not, the results of this afternoon’s bidding will explain everything. Businessmen should show off how they make money, not how they waste money,” Ye Qing looked at Liu Yuan and said, ”Manager Liu, we are here to participate in the bidding, not to attend a banquet or to compete with others over who eats better.

What we eat is not key; as long as we fill our stomachs, that’s enough. Your energy should be focused on the bidding announcement this afternoon, not on these trivial matters.”

Liu Yuan was stunned for a moment. Ye Qing’s words, although simple, struck him hard right then. In fact, Liu Yuan himself was not a person who squandered money. It was just that he had been provoked by Chen Daqiang earlier, hence the thought of competing. Now, with a few sentences from Ye Qing, he suddenly came to his senses. What was the point of quibbling over such matters?

”Ye brothers, you speak the absolute truth!” Liu Yuan said with increased respect for Ye Qing, nodding and saying, ”Alright then, we’ll eat here. Waiter, bring me two dishes, one soup, a bowl of beef noodles, and a bowl of white rice.”

The lunch was very simple, but it was much better than what Ye Qing usually ate. He typically just grabbed some noodles at a street stall, saving money and getting a well-rounded nutrition. Today, though, lunch was a bit more extravagant, with the addition of two dishes and a soup.

Liu Yuan didn’t eat much, but by the end there was hardly anything left on the table. The two dishes and soup had almost all gone into Ye Qing’s stomach.

Liu Yuan looked at Ye Qing in astonishment and said, ”Ye, is that enough? If it’s not, I can order two more dishes.”

Ye Qing waved his hand and said, ”No need, I can’t eat any more.”

”Ye, you have a pretty good appetite,” Liu Yuan said enviously, ”Lately, I can’t eat much. I’m getting weaker because I’m not eating enough. It’s all this job’s fault, eating irregularly, and gradually, my stomach just isn’t right.”

”My appetite is actually average; I just don’t like to waste food,” Ye Qing replied, looking at Liu Yuan. ”Does your stomach hurt often?”

Liu Yuan shook his head and said, ”It doesn’t hurt, but I don’t feel hungry. Also, I can’t eat sweets because if I do, I get acid reflux. Even when I haven’t done anything, I feel like vomiting.”

”Oh, that’s not a big issue,” Ye Qing nodded and said, ”From now on, before you go to sleep at night, massage the spot five fingers below the left side of your chest for ten minutes. Keep it up for a week, and this condition will gradually improve.”

”Oh?” Liu Yuan paused, looking at Ye Qing with surprise, ”Ye, you can heal, too?”

”My grandfather was an itinerant quack doctor; I know a little about these folksy methods,” Ye Qing replied.

”You sure know a lot of things,” Liu Yuan remarked offhandedly. He had never been impressed by itinerant quack doctors. Having lived in Shenchuan City for so many years, he was convinced that the high technology of big hospitals was the most effective.

He had seen doctors about his condition, without any improvement, so naturally, he did not believe that his illness could be cured by such folk methods.

After lunch, the two went straight back to the hotel. Many people had already returned, and although it was still early for the results to be announced, everyone was very anxious.

There were more than thirty projects in total, and with hundreds of companies present, a good half of them were unlikely to secure a project.

Liu Yuan chatted with a few familiar industry insiders for a while. As the crowd in the large conference room grew, the moment to announce the results drew near.

At the door, Chen Daqiang walked in with two subordinates. His face was somewhat red, suggesting he had drunk a bit at noon; he truly had gone to celebrate.

Chen Daqiang came over to Liu Yuan and said with a laugh, ”Old Liu, the moment of truth is almost upon us, excited?”

Liu Yuan’s expression was calm as he replied, ”If I get it, I am fortunate; if not, it is fate.”

”Haha, that sounds nice,” Chen Daqiang laughed and patted Liu Yuan’s shoulder, slightly inebriated, ”But honestly, who doesn’t have expectations for something like this?” As he spoke, he was a bit tactless due to the alcohol, ”Anyway, if you don’t get any projects later, don’t cry about it. We’re all adults here; crying in public is not suitable!”

Around them, everyone burst into laughter, and Liu Yuan clenched his fists. Looking at Chen Daqiang’s smug, chubby face, he felt like punching it.

In the end, Liu Yuan held back and said softly, ”Director Chen, you still haven’t grown up.”

Chen Daqiang laughed loudly, ”I would rather not grow up, but with so many matters pressing on the company, I have no choice but to be mature. But it seems, Old Liu, you’ve had an easier time lately. Anyway, I won’t hold you up any longer; the results will be announced soon. Don’t leave after it’s over; if I get a good project, I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Chen Daqiang swaggered off with his subordinates to the front as Liu Yuan seethed with rage but felt powerless to do anything. After all, Chen Daqiang’s company was stronger than his.