"Ten percent of the municipal electronic product tender budget."
Chen Feng replied without thinking.
"That high?"
"It is a bit high, but it's very worthwhile. You know, Mr. Qian not only manages the municipal electronic product tenders but is also the head of the Foreign Trade Bureau. For Hongfeng Electronics to have significant development, it cannot rely solely on the domestic Chinese market; the foreign market is also crucial. Since we cannot ignore the foreign market, we must engage with the Foreign Trade Bureau. This is a perfect opportunity to curry favor with Mr. Qian."
Chen Feng analyzed.
"Chen Feng, can you tell me why you know so much?"
Nie Xiaosu asked subconsciously.
"At the beginning, I was also a novice. You know, I started as Qin Yan's full-time driver. What could a full-time driver know? When I was a driver, I realized that if I didn't actively learn about the political arena and integrate into it, I would only end up like the seasoned drivers, stuck as a driver for life. However, if I actively studied and integrated into the political arena, becoming adaptable and adept, even a small driver could make waves in the power circles. Thus, I developed a habit of studying the political arena every day, and not just studying it, but also practicing it. Over time, I developed a basic intuition for the power dynamics."
Chen Feng didn't hide anything and shared his experience directly with Nie Xiaosu.
Nie Xiaosu was impressed.
Persisting in doing one thing consistently for years, it would be strange not to succeed.
However, in the vast sea of people, how many possess such perseverance?
"Chen Feng, who would be the most suitable person to deliver the gift to Mr. Qian?"
Nie Xiaosu continued to ask.
"Wu Accountant from Hongfeng Electronics."
Chen Feng replied with a knowing smile.
"Accountant Wu? I fear that might not be appropriate. Accountant Wu is already forty or fifty years old. Shouldn't we send a young and beautiful woman to deliver the gift? Don't all men prefer young and beautiful women?"
Nie Xiaosu retorted.
"Miss Nie, this is a misunderstanding you have about men. Most men do indeed prefer the young. However, it's not impossible that some men prefer the unconventional, preferring the mature and experienced."
Chen Feng explained.
"Chen Feng, are you suggesting that Mr. Qian prefers mature women?"
Nie Xiaosu was taken aback.
"Yes."
"Was this your idea too?"
Nie Xiaosu asked dazedly.
"Yes, it was my idea. If we observe carefully in our daily lives, we can discover many unknown things. Earlier, at the bidding conference, Mr. Qian was in the front row with many intern university students. Their figures were so voluptuous, their eyes so bright and lively, their bodies so perfect... Yet, Mr. Qian didn't even glance at them. Instead, he kept staring at a woman in her forties or fifties in the corner. Doesn't that indicate something?"
Chen Feng replied with a smile.
"Chen Feng, I'm speaking hypothetically. What if Mr. Qian wanted to sleep with Accountant Wu, and Accountant Wu refused because she has a family? What would happen then? Wouldn't that mess things up?"
Nie Xiaosu probed.
"Miss Nie, you are overthinking."
Chen Feng continued with a knowing smile.
"Overthinking? Are you saying Mr. Qian wouldn't make a move on Accountant Wu?"
Nie Xiaosu asked, confused.
"No, Mr. Qian will definitely make a move on Accountant Wu, and he will do it urgently in his office. What I mean is, Accountant Wu will absolutely not refuse."
Chen Feng patiently explained.
"What? Accountant Wu won't refuse? How is that possible? Accountant Wu is known as a model woman at Hongfeng Electronics who loves her husband and family. How could she do something like that?"
Nie Xiaosu continued to ask, bewildered.
"Miss Nie, you must have heard an old Chinese saying. It's not about not betraying, but rather that the benefit isn't significant enough. Mr. Qian can offer Accountant Wu so much; she's bound to be conquered. Moreover, you must consider one thing: Accountant Wu is inherently someone willing to sacrifice for benefits. Last time, during Hongfeng Electronics' team-building event, there was a reward of one hundred yuan for playing the drink-sharing game. Accountant Wu did it without a second thought. Think about it, willing to share drinks for a hundred yuan. How difficult is it to conquer such a woman?"
Chen Feng's explanation convinced Nie Xiaosu.
Consequently, Nie Xiaosu spent a week finalizing the matter of sending gifts to Mr. Qian.
Just as Chen Feng had predicted, Accountant Wu did go wild with Mr. Qian in his office. After that, Accountant Wu resigned from Hongfeng Electronics and became the section chief of the European Affairs Section at the Sandong Municipal Foreign Trade Bureau.
Nie Xiaosu's worldview was shattered.
She acknowledged that Accountant Wu was a good accountant, having worked in that capacity at Hongfeng Electronics for so many years.
However, she couldn't believe that Accountant Wu was suited to be a section chief.
Furthermore, becoming a section chief wasn't an overnight process; it required climbing the ranks step by step.
Yet, Accountant Wu had soared directly from an accountant to a section chief, completing the journey that ordinary people in the political arena took over a decade in a single day.
"Miss Nie, you must remain calm."
Chen Feng advised Nie Xiaosu.
"Calm? How can I remain calm? This is more fantastical than a fantasy novel."
Nie Xiaosu said indignantly.
As for why she was indignant, she couldn't quite figure it out herself, perhaps it was a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment.
"It's perfectly normal. When it comes to the political arena, if anyone truly understands it, any miracle can happen. If an illiterate female security guard can become the second-in-command in a provincial capital, what miracle can't happen?"
Chen Feng retorted.
"That's true. Ultimately, I am still naive. However, to be honest, it's quite awkward to see Accountant Wu now. Before, she was my subordinate, and she had to complete whatever I asked her to do with utmost respect. Now, she's become an official."
Nie Xiaosu sighed.
"Miss Nie, you need to change this mindset. Not only should you not deliberately avoid meeting Accountant Wu, but you should proactively humble yourself and try to get close to her."
"Chen Feng, did I hear you correctly? You want me to try to curry favor with my former subordinate?"
Nie Xiaosu said, clearly displeased.
"Yes, is there a problem with that?"
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"Of course, there's a problem. I'm a major boss, I have dignity."
Nie Xiaosu pouted.
"I know you have dignity, but the problem is, in this day and age, if you want to make money, you can't be concerned with dignity. As I said before, in the electronics industry, both the domestic and foreign markets are equally important. We have already cooperated with Mingshan District in the domestic market. The issue is that we are still working hard to develop the foreign market. Among foreign markets, the European market holds a significant proportion. And Accountant Wu is now the section chief of the European Affairs Section at the Foreign Trade Bureau. Do you think we need to try and get close to her? To put it bluntly, others would love to get close to her but don't have the opportunity. We have such a good opportunity; we must cherish it."
Chen Feng calmly explained.
"Alas, even though it's the reality, I still find it hard to accept. Accountant Wu is too lucky, isn't she? Just by being intimate with Mr. Qian, she skyrocketed to success."
Nie Xiaosu replied dejectedly.
"Miss Nie, your thinking is too superficial. Let me put it this way, no success is easily achieved. Take Accountant Wu's case, for example. Do you think selling her body is all it takes? If that were the case, there wouldn't be any prostitutes in the world; they would all be directly pursuing powerful figures in politics and business."
"You mean, Accountant Wu put effort into Mr. Qian, played with different kinds of excitement, pleased Mr. Qian, and then her career in the political arena flourished?"
Nie Xiaosu retorted.
"You've finally understood."
Chen Feng said with a smile.
"How about this, Chen Feng, you handle the relationship with Mr. Qian, that is, the small company that won the bid. With your capabilities, you can definitely help the small company perfectly secure that batch of municipal electronic products. As for me, I'll go try to get close to Accountant Wu. Oh, Chen Feng, tell me, how should I try to get close to Accountant Wu?"
Nie Xiaosu asked sheepishly.