Qiao Shuangmu said, "Can the first project be given to Tao Industries?"
The voice on the other end asked, "Does your family know about this?"
"They know. I can represent the Qiao Family this ti."
"Okay," the person replied and then hung up.
Qiao Shuangmu gestured to Chen Gu. "Now, can you talk about your exclusive intelligence? You should be very clear that if we’re not satisfied, I can call off this deal at any ti."
Chen Gu smiled. "Believe , you won’t do that."
The four experts imdiately started recording and analyzing, hanging on Chen Gu’s every word. They often asked repeatedly about a single term.
When Chen Gu ntioned the chanical lung, they suddenly beca excited. "Is that really so?"
"Absolutely true. And I can tell you the approximate location. With your capabilities, you should be able to find it easily."
Qiao Shuangmu’s eyes sparkled, and he smiled. "This piece of intelligence is worth it!"
「At midnight.」
Chen Gu left the restaurant and imdiately called Zhao Ji. Zhao Ji asked in a low voice, "What’s up?"
Chen Gu asked in surprise, "What are you doing?"
"SHH..." Zhao Ji seed to move elsewhere before raising his voice slightly. "My wife has fallen asleep. She’s been having insomnia lately, and it’s not easy for her to fall asleep. I can’t disturb her."
Chen Gu silently ridiculed this ’king of moochers’ for being surprisingly considerate, then briskly told him, "I’ve secured the order for Tao Industries for the main Starship’s secondary cannons. Go find your wife tomorrow and take the credit."
"HMM?" Zhao Ji, surprised, repeatedly asked, "What? What was that?"
After Chen Gu repeated himself, Zhao Ji was still perplexed. "Oh, okay. I’ll tell her tomorrow."
Chen Gu knew from Zhao Ji’s reaction that he had no clue about business matters and was completely ignorant of this bid.
After hanging up with Chen Gu, Zhao Ji cautiously returned to the bedroom and gazed at his sleeping wife, sighing tenderly. Tao Industries was a large family business, and his wife was a powerful woman, possibly one of the next leaders of Tao Industries. Outsiders thought he was a ’king of moochers’ with a very low status in the family, but Zhao Ji himself knew that to accommodate his hosickness, they lived on Empire River Star, a remote planet, for at least three months a year.
His wife’s recent insomnia was due to imnse business pressure. Tao Industries was strong, so its competitors were equally formidable and hard to deal with. Each bid and every order involved multiple rounds of intense competition. He doted on his wife, and although it pained him, he knew he had limited ability to help.
He didn’t return to bed, fearing he might disturb her, so he lay down on the sofa nearby. The bid for the main Starship’s secondary cannons? he thought. It seems to be a business matter, but... what exactly is it? Nevermind, I’ll tell Tao Tao tomorrow morning.
Zhao Ji’s wife, Tao Tao, could only be considered pretty. Next to Zhao Ji, who had the looks of an idol, they seed "mismatched," leading to much gossip. Perhaps the couple intentionally created this impression as a protective facade. If they hadn’t, outsiders would realize just how important Zhao Ji was to Tao Tao, making him her vulnerability and attracting many overt and covert attacks. But only they knew how good their relationship was; despite decades of marriage, they were as close as when they first t.
「The next morning.」
Zhao Ji was, as usual, helping Tao Tao comb her hair while she applied makeup in front of the mirror. Gently grasping his hand, she said apologetically, "I have to make a trip to Capital Star today. I had promised to spend three more days with you, but there’s so business there that I must attend to..."
Zhao Ji suddenly rembered. "That’s right, last night Chen Gu, that idiot... AHEM, well, n always have a few roguish friends."
Tao Tao smiled, her lips pursed.
"That guy told he’s secured the bid for the main Starship’s secondary cannons for us," Zhao Ji said, then noticed his wife had frozen. "What’s wrong?"
Upon hearing the news, Tao Tao’s first reaction was, You’ve got to be kidding! But then she rembered sothing: The bid was top secret; I hadn’t even ntioned it to Zhao Ji—how did Chen Gu know about it?
Tao Tao said in disbelief, "Aji, could you please call Chen Gu to confirm? That’s a business deal worth over a hundred billion..."
Zhao Ji shivered. "How much?"
"The military plans to replace about ten percent of the main Starships’ entire secondary cannon systems—a total of one hundred twenty billion Starshields!" Tao Tao reported truthfully.
Even for Tao Industries, this was a sizable deal, and it was a first-mover advantage. Since the military had decided on an upgrade, it certainly ant that all the main Starships would gradually need replacent. This was the first contract. If Tao Industries secured it and the military was satisfied with the results, subsequent orders would very likely be directly awarded to them.
Her trip to Capital Star was specifically for this project. As for another bid involving War Constructs, Tao Industries didn’t have much hope, as they lacked a competitive edge in that area.
Yet, she hadn’t expected to receive such significant news first thing in the morning. If true, it was an absolute windfall.
"Alright." Zhao Ji also recognized the gravity of the situation. He stopped combing his wife’s hair and urgently called Chen Gu. Chen Gu was on a ship heading back to Empire River Star. When he picked up Zhao Ji’s call, he asked, "Idiot, what do you need from Dad?"
Zhao Ji had the speakerphone on. Tao Tao burst into laughter at Chen Gu’s words, leaving Zhao Ji embarrassed and irritated. He gritted his teeth. "Jerk, my wife is listening right here!"
"OH, OH, OH," Chen Gu said carelessly. "Fine, I’ll do you a favor and not call you by your *real* na."
Tao Tao kept laughing, looking at her husband with an expression that clearly said, I understand the friendship between you n.
Zhao Ji felt helpless. "I’m asking you, that thing you ntioned last night, the bid... is it true?"
"It should be true. Soone from the Qiao Family promised in person," Chen Gu replied, not seeming to care much. It’s not a big deal, he thought. A business deal worth one hundred twenty billion Starshields is, of course, significant, but it’s a deal that has to be made eventually. The Qiao Family’s diation only required a favor, not any real monetary investnt on their part.
Tao Tao couldn’t help asking from the side, "Soone from the Qiao Family? May I ask which one?"
Chen Gu decided to clarify. "Qiao Shuangmu. He called Delos in front of , and Delos agreed to give the secondary cannon bid to you. There’s also another one for War Constructs, four hundred billion... I can’t do anything about that one."
Tao Tao’s breath hitched. She knew it was true. As one of the future leaders being grood by Tao Industries, she was very familiar with the Confederation’s personnel and affairs.
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