The next day, I took Wang Changping to the group to report. Mr. Huang was thoroughly satisfied. He immediately promised Wang Changping a monthly allowance of 30,000 yuan for medicine during the project. Once the job was done, the 10 million yuan would be paid out on the spot. He also pledged to arrange for the best doctors in the field and cover all medical expenses. Overwhelmed, Wang Changping knelt down and kowtowed to Mr. Huang right then.
That afternoon, we set to work. We found an agency and spent a week registering a company in Wang Changping's name—what later became Changping Construction. Two weeks passed, and Mr. Huang drew up a cooperation agreement. Its gist: New City Group and Changping Construction would jointly establish New City Real Estate Co., Ltd. with a registered capital of 2 million yuan, to be shared by both parties. Three copies were made: one for Mr. Huang, one for the authorities, and the last given to Wang Changping.
Then it was Wang's turn to act. Mr. Huang told him to recruit 500 construction workers, ideally with their equipment. Wang had a clear plan. He dressed in fine clothes, wore a luxury watch borrowed from Mr. Huang, and styled himself as a wealthy contractor. He had me drive him to a construction site. I parked outside at first—rain the night before had left mud pits, and I worried about getting the car dirty. But Wang said, "Drive in. Let them see the mud. A luxury car不怕脏 shows real authority." It made sense, so I did as he said.
The car's arrival stirred the workers' attention. Wang got out and asked a nearby worker, "Is your foreman here?" The worker shook his head: "He's at another site, coming this afternoon." Wang checked his watch and frowned. "Can't wait that long. Tell him Wang Changping was here—there's a big deal I want to partner with him on." He tossed the worker a pack of premium Zhonghua cigarettes. The man nodded eagerly: "Got it, sir—I'll pass it on." Wang nodded, got back in the car, and we headed to the next site.
We repeated this all morning. By afternoon, as we sat in the car, Wang's phone rang nonstop.
The first caller: "Old Wang, my guys say you're rolling in it now—driving a fancy car?"
Wang replied: "Made a little money, found a good opportunity."
"You here to take me along for the ride?"
"Exactly. Got a project too big for me alone. Thought we could split it."
He was cut off by another call, from "Old Yang." "Sorry, gotta go—call you later," he said, hanging up.
"Brother Wang, you're back on top!" Old Yang said.
"Yep, back in business. We go way back, so I'll be straight: I found a profitable gig and need partners. Interested? Let's meet up to talk."
"Got it—send me the address." Wang ended the call.
By day's end, he'd taken over a dozen calls, each from a foreman with teams of 10 or more workers. He lit a cigarette, and I asked, "You knew all these guys well?"
"Decently," he said, before another call came in—this one from "Boss Zhang."
He answered: "Brother Hui."
"Heard you're making bank, Xiao Wang. Got a sweet deal? Save me a piece?"
"Sorry, this one's spoken for. Next time, you'll be first." Wang hung up.
I asked why he'd turned Boss Zhang down.
"Zhang was good to me—helped pay for my daughter's meds after the accident. The others? They all stepped on me when I was down," he said. I understood.
He then said, "Book a nice club for the night after tomorrow. I'll seal the deal with all of them."
"Got it," I said, pulling out my phone to call the manager of Shenghui Club, reserving Mr. Huang's usual private room for 7:10 p.m. that night. I told Wang, and he texted the time and address to everyone he'd spoken to.
Two nights later, I waited in the car while Wang wined and dined the foremen inside. I didn't hear their talks, but at dawn, he emerged, hungover, and tapped on my window. I unlocked the door, and he slid into the passenger seat, reeking of alcohol.
"It's done," he said.
Sure enough, days later, all the foremen signed project-based contracts with Wang—with a per-square-meter commission 15% higher than other sites. Meanwhile, Mr. Huang had sourced questionable building materials at a price just above cost. With labor and supplies secured, the project was ready to break ground.