After hanging up the phone, it was late, and he figured Jiang Nan Fang must be hungry. Zhan Bei Jue put away his phone and asked the nurse working beside him.
"What can she eat in her condition right now?"
The nurse glanced at Jiang Nan Fang. "As long as it's not food that triggers allergies, spicy or greasy, she can eat anything."
Zhan Bei Jue humbly asked, "What counts as triggering food?"
"Beef, lamb, seafood, eggs."
Zhan Bei Jue understood. "Thank you."
He then took out his phone again and called A Zhong. "Bring lunch when you come."
"Jiang Nan Fang hit her head. Buy her some monkey brain to nourish it."
"..."
Jiang Nan Fang looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Who wants your lunch?"
"Don't think that because your uncle made a big mistake, you can win me over with such petty favors."
"Hurry up and go. I'm annoyed seeing you right now. Maybe I'll get better faster if you stay away from me."
Zhan Bei Jue was used to her harsh scolding. Especially today, since her uncle was in the wrong first, he didn't take anything she said to heart.
"Look at you now. For the sake of public appearance, I have to manage this, lest I scare others when we go out."
"Who told you you're Zhan Bei Jue's ex-wife? When you embarrass yourself, I embarrass myself too."
"Don't worry, once you change your clothes and no longer threaten public appearance, I won't stay even if you beg me to."
"..."
This venom-tongued scoundrel, she would never expect him to say a single decent thing in his life.
Public appearance?
Does he think he looks so great!
She couldn't get through to him, and Jiang Nan Fang was too lazy to argue further. Her swollen face made her eyes ache, so she leaned her head to the side and closed her eyes to rest.
Neither of them spoke to the other, just sat there in silence.
After an unknown amount of time, A Zhong arrived.
He carried a clothing box in one hand and a takeout box in the other.
Seeing Jiang Nan Fang, his expression was a little awkward.
"Mr. Zhan, Miss Jiang..."
Zhan Bei Jue raised his eyelids from his phone and glanced at him. "Did you buy the monkey brain?"
"Yes, I did."
"Watch her finish it, and then you can go after she changes her clothes."
"...Alright."
"For the next month, don't eat anything else. You'll eat monkey brain with her for a month."
"...?"
"You've been unbelievably stupid lately, making frequent mistakes. If it weren't for your consistent performance over the past few years, I would have replaced you."
Zhan Bei Jue stood up. "From now on, do not associate with Zhou Jin Bei without good reason, and do not hide anything from me."
"There's no benefit in associating with the Zhou family other than lowering your intelligence. You better be careful."
With that, he looked at Jiang Nan Fang again.
Seeing that her saline drip was almost finished, he instructed A Zhong, "Call a nurse to change her IV. I'm leaving."
"Don't leave until you change your clothes and finish the monkey brain."
Although she had been on IV drips for a week straight, it didn't delay Jiang Nan Fang's work progress.
The National Grid project bidding was imminent, and she had to get her copyrighted old products from Dan Guo into production at Hua Tai before the bidding closed.
After the products were successfully put into production, she would participate in the bidding under Hua Tai's banner, and she was busy for nearly a month.
During this month, Jiang Nan Fang worked day and night, sometimes at the factory, sometimes at the supplier material selection sites.
Sometimes in the office tender team, sometimes in meeting rooms.
For her goal, she lived a fulfilling and busy life, even forgetting what festival it was.
It wasn't until the initial bidding ended, and her team successfully entered the second round of selection, that everyone collectively clamored for a celebration.
Only then did she realize it was the end of the year.
At Zhan's, there were new projects starting, year-end summaries, company year-end parties, and plans for the coming year.
Zhan Bei Jue was constantly on the move, as busy as her, having lost the original meaning of life.
It wasn't until the bidding ended that Vice President Gao went to his office to find him.
"Mr. Zhan, we've entered the second round of screening."
Zhan Bei Jue, who was signing documents for A Zhong, looked at Vice President Gao impatiently.
"Has Greed fallen so low that making it to the second round is worth celebrating?"
It definitely wasn't for that reason.
Vice President Gao met his gaze with a worried expression. "No, I came to ask if you know which other companies besides us have entered the second round."
"Just say what you want to say. Vice President Gao, I don't have time to listen to you beat around the bush."
"Hua Tai also entered this year."
Vice President Gao looked as if he were facing a great enemy.
"A while ago, we visited Old Man Zhang, wanting to acquire Hua Rui and Hua Tai. It didn't work out, did it? You know what happened afterward. Who bought them in the end?"
So that's what he was worried about.
Zhan Bei Jue already knew that Jiang Nan Fang was managing Hua Tai now.
Seeing how scared Vice President Gao was, it showed that Jiang Nan Fang had some ability and was managing it very successfully.
"Who bought them? Just say what you want to say."
"Could it be that they think we'll lose to them in this bid?"
Vice President Gao slid his swivel chair forward a bit and looked at him very seriously.
"There is indeed a possibility."
"I've been acquainted with the deputy director of the bidding project for many years, and I specifically asked him today. Hua Tai's bid document is very well done."
"And according to his estimation, Hua Tai is very likely to be our biggest competitor this year."
"The key is that they have been almost unheard of for the past few years, and suddenly they reappear..."
"I'm not afraid of losing a project and being embarrassed, but I'm afraid of losing to them and being embarrassed, Mr. Zhan, do you understand what I mean?"
Zhan Bei Jue's expression was placid. "So what do you plan to do now?"
Vice President Gao said, "I've reviewed Greed's bid multiple times and called everyone for meetings to study it. What we've submitted is indeed our limit, and it's also perfect."
"But to ensure foolproof success, I want you to take some time out to look at it personally again."
Vice President Gao's action had two purposes.
First, to have Zhan Bei Jue review it again to see if there were any areas for improvement, so as to increase the chances of winning.
Second, there was also an element of wanting to shift responsibility.
After all, I told you in advance, and you've personally reviewed it. If we fail again, it won't be my sole problem.
Zhan Bei Jue saw through his thought process completely, but he also understood that his actions were not unreasonable.
He nodded and said, "I understand. Send it over. I'll look at it when I have time."
That night was Little New Year's Eve.
Madam Zhan had already arranged the first Little New Year's Eve dinner for the mother and son after their reunion for many years at home.
But Zhan Bei Jue was busy until eight in the evening and hadn't returned.
Madam Zhan called to ask him when he would be back.
Zhan Bei Jue was looking through the bid documents with a serious expression.
"I'm not coming back tonight. I'm working overtime. Eat by yourself."
"...Are you that busy? It's Little New Year's Eve..."
"Ah Jue, tell Mom the truth. Are you really that busy lately, or are you still mad at me because of that vixen?"
Zhan Bei Jue was calculating a crucial data point and didn't have time to chat with her.
"Think whatever you want. I'm hanging up. Don't call anymore. I'm staying up all night tonight."