Power and Wealth

Investment Promotion Agency.

Sun Shuli and Luo Haiting continued to accompany Xie Huilan, Zhao Xinglong, and the rest to tour the place.

Dong Xuebing looked at his watch and called Peng Kenong. But Peng Kenong did not answer. "What's happening? I had just met him this morning and heard about the contract signing from him. What time did you tell him yesterday?"

Lin Pingping replied. "2.15 pm. He is late by 15 minutes."

Dong Xuebing thought for a while. "Does Mr. Peng knows Mayor Xie is coming for an inspection?"

Hu Silian frowned and replied. "I had told Mr. Peng this morning, and he knows Mayor Xie will be hosting the contract signing ceremony. He still says he will get prepared and should not be late. Could something happen last minute? Why didn't he call us? No matter what's the emergency, he should not let the Leaders wait for him." Party Secretary Xiang and Mayor Xie are very supportive of the Investment Promotion Agency, and Hu Silian had represented the Mayor to dine with the investors. She knows most investors are arrogant and likes to make ridiculous demand. She doesn't like speaking to them, and even before they invest, they sound like everyone should give in to their demands.

"Maybe he is really caught up with something. Let me try calling him again." Dong Xuebing started calling again.

First, try…

Second try…

Third tries…

It's already 2.40 pm, but Peng Kenong is still not answering.

Dong Xuebing is getting impatient. "What the f**k is he doing?!"

A middle-aged man, carrying a camera, and two TV station staff came over and asked. "Secretary Hu, Chief Dong, should we go to the ceremony venue now? We need to set up the lighting and equipment first." Mayor Xie is hosting this signing ceremony, and the media needs to report about it.

Hu Silian paused for a second and replied. "Wait for a while more."

After the TV station staff walks away, Lin Pingping asked anxiously. "Chief… We…"

Dong Xuebing took a deep breath. "Get someone to look for him! Now!"

Lin Pingping immediately calls her people from her section to look for Peng Kenong

Dong Xuebing turned to Hu Silian. "Sister Hu, the investor is not here, and the contract signing ceremony… can you bring the leaders to walk around for a while more? Mr. Peng should not be purposely late. I think something has cropped up last minute, and he should be here by 3 pm."

Hu Silian thought for a while and nodded. "We can only do this now. I will speak to them."

Mayor Xie and Deputy Mayor Zhao are very busy. They showed their support for the Investment Promotion Agency but took time to attend this contract signing ceremony. This is to give the investor confidence and send out a message to other investors. But how can the investor be late for such an important event and even let the leaders wait for him? This is not right and will make Dong Xuebing and the rest look bad. That's why Dong Xuebing is trying to buy time. It will be an embarrassment if the leaders arrive at the venue and the investor did not turn up.

Hu Silian quickly walks over to speak to Xie Huilan, and she nodded. She did not show any displeasures and continued to tour the Agency.

Luo Haiting, Sun Shuli, and the rest could tell something is off.

Lin Pingping quickly told them that Peng Kenong did not turn up yet.

Sun Shuli's face changed, and he walks over to Dong Xuebing. "Chief, the investor still has not arrived? Can you get him on the phone?"

Dong Xuebing replied emotionlessly. "I tried calling, but no one is answering."

"He is not answering his phone?" Luo Haiting is mad. "Didn't we confirm the timing with him? Mayor Xie and Mayor Zhao are already here."

This is the worst situation.

This project is brought in by the Investment Promotion Agency. If Peng Kenong did not appear, it would be an embarrassment for the Agency and the leaders. It will also affect Mayor Xie's reputation! She has come here to host the ceremony, but Peng Kenong had gone back on his words! This will be too disrespectful!

One minute…

Three minutes…

Five minutes…

Peng Kenong is still nowhere to be seen!

Peng Kenong's house is not far from the Agency, and Lin Pingping's men have already gone there. They called back to inform her that there's no one at home.

Hu Silian walks over to Dong Xuebing anxiously. "Chief Dong, Mayor Xie has made two rounds in the Agency, and she needs to leave around 3 pm. Did you find the investor?"

Dong Xuebing is very angry now. Peng Kenong! What the f**k are you up to?!

Lin Pingping had been calling Peng Kenong, and she suddenly shouted. "He answered!"

Sun Shuli and Hu Silian looks over.

Dong Xuebing rushed over and snatched the phone. "Let me speak to him! Hello?"

"Chief Dong?" Peng Kenong said. "Sorry. I was attending to something urgent at work and just saw my phone ringing."

Dong Xuebing suppressed his anger. "Mr. Peng, it's almost 3 pm. Mayor Xie and Mayor Zhao are waiting for you for almost an hour. Even if you are busy, you should have informed us. Mayor Xie and the TV station are here to give you free publicity! Our County had shown our sincerity and gave you many subsidies! How can you do this to us?"

"Haha… Sorry." Peng Kenong replied.

Hu Silian signaled to Dong Xuebing, asking him to settle the problem first.

Dong Xuebing took a deep breath and asked. "Can you come over now? The contract is ready, and Mayor Xie still has something on later. Do you want me to send a car to fetch you?" If they rush over, they might still have time.

There is a long pause, and Peng Kenong said. "I am still busy here and cannot leave. Chief Dong, I am not lying. I am really busy."

Dong Xuebing's face changed. "What do you mean?"

"My company is facing some financial issues and the contract… we need to reconsider it."

Lin Pingping's phone is loud, and Sun Shuli, Hu Silian, and the rest can hear it. Even Hu Silian, who has a good temper, flared up.

Reconsider?

He is not going to sign the contract?!

Why didn't he inform us earlier? Why must he wait until now to tell us?!

Dong Xuebing felt his chest about to explode. "Mr. Peng, are you joking with me? Everything is still fine when I met you this morning! Now, Mayor Xie and the TV station people are here to give you publicity and promote your company! This will lower your investment risk! We have treated this with importance and done our best to help you. But you are telling me you are not signing the contract now?! How can you do this?! Is this the way you treat our County's leaders and us?!"

Peng Kenong paused for a few seconds and replied. "Chief Dong, I have my reasons, and I am not the one who has the final say in the company. I also didn't want things to end up this way."

Dong Xuebing replied. "Now, everyone is waiting for you. You are not answering our calls first, and you are telling me you want to cancel this investment? Mr. Peng, I just realize your ego is so big!"

"We really have issues with our finances. Hmm… I have a suggestion…"

Dong Xuebing waited for Peng Kenong to continue.

Peng Kenong continued. "My company had discussed. To lower the strain on our finances and risks, can you all lower the price of the land parcel further by 1 million RMB? My company had felt the land parcel cost too high, and with our current financial issues, this had become a problem. If you all can lower the price by 1 million, we will send someone over to sign the contract now. What do you think?"

Sun Shuli is furious. "This is too much! We have already given him our best offer, and he still wants to lower by 1 million?! How much does the land cost? He wants another 30% off?!"

Lin Pingping is furious. "Why didn't he raise this issue when we negotiated on the contract? Why did he wait until we are going to sign the contract? I know businessmen are profit-driven, but they should at least stick to their words!"

Dong Xuebing sneered. "Mr. Peng, I finally understand what is happening. Because our County had treated your investment with importance, and you become proud and arrogant. You know our Mayors and the TV station are here and purposely don't answer our calls. You know that we will be anxious, and to take care of the mess, we have to give in to your demands, right? Are you threatening us now? We have met many times, and I didn't know you are someone like this!"

Peng Kenong replied. "I am not threatening you all. My company is really facing some financial issues, and my partners are skeptical about this project. Never mind. You will not believe whatever I say now. Chief Dong, let's put this matter aside for now and hope we can cooperate in the future." Dong Xuebing's words are not nice, and Peng Kenong had enough of him. He immediately hangs up on Dong Xuebing!

F**k!

You hang up on me?! You still think you are right?!

Sun Shuli might be furious, but he knows the Agency will be in trouble when Peng Kenong did not show up today. "I will go and speak to him!" He walks towards the car while calling Peng Kenong.

Dong Xuebing shouted behind him. "Don't give in on the contract terms!"

"I know!" Sun Shuli boarded the car and drove out.

Lin Pingping is looking pale. "Our County leaders and our Agency are being disrespected! How can this benefit Peng Kenong for falling out with us? Why is he willing to offend the County's leaders for a bit of profit?"

Hu Silian replied angrily. "I think someone had offered him better terms! Even if he had offended our County, he could go to other Counties! That's why he is not afraid of us!" These people are too much.

Dong Xuebing paused for a while.

Someone had offered Peng Kenong a better offer?!