Chapter 111: The Contract Signing

Well, I resigned this afternoon, feeling somewhat melancholic. Tonight, I’ll sort out my emotions and outline the plan. Starting tomorrow, I’ll begin stockpiling drafts, and the update schedule will become fixed, preparing for a major launch upon publication! Brothers interested can join the group: 212856808.

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“Ah... Unit 1812 in Building 6? How did you come to know about this listing? The owner said they’ve never contacted any agency, nor informed other agencies about renting the place,” Fang Wenjun exclaimed upon hearing Zhang Wei’s words.

After entering the listing for Unit 1812 in Building 6 from the owner’s data, Fang Wenjun had initially not intended to conceal the listing. She called Li Qin directly to arrange a viewing, but after contacting Li Qin, she learned she was unavailable that evening.

She rescheduled the viewing for the next day but feared that once the listing was entered into the system, someone else might rent it out that very night. This led her to consider withholding the listing information.

Moreover, she had only shared a general description of the property with Li Qin, never the specific unit number, so she wasn’t worried Li Qin might inform Zhang Wei about the viewing. Even if she did, no concrete information could be gained.

Puzzled and concerned, Fang Wenjun could not fathom how Zhang Wei had learned about Unit 1812. The owner had stated they would not yet contact other agencies. Fang Wenjun had never seen Zhang Wei access the owner’s data, yet Zhang Wei had quickly found two three-bedroom listings for rent.

At first, the group present doubted the authenticity of Zhang Wei’s listings, seeing that Fang Wenjun had searched all day without success, while Zhang Wei, absent all day, had suddenly produced two listings. However, Fang Wenjun’s shocked expression convinced them the listings were genuine.

“So, what do you mean by this? You sound quite certain that Unit 1812 is also for rent. Didn’t you say you couldn’t find any three-bedroom rentals?” Zhang Wei smirked subtly, his tone laden with implication.

“Zhang Wei, what are you insinuating? It sounds like you’re accusing Wenjun of hiding listings. If you have no proof, don’t make baseless accusations,” Li Lin said sternly, reprimanding Zhang Wei.

Li Lin’s words caused a shift in the room’s atmosphere. Hiding listings was more common and more covert than falsifying orders. Though seldom punished, it was a serious issue.

Though Zhang Wei hinted at Fang Wenjun concealing listings, he hadn’t outright accused her. Li Lin, appearing to defend Fang Wenjun, was actually exposing Zhang Wei’s unspoken suspicion.

With her extensive experience, Li Lin could infer from their exchange that Fang Wenjun deliberately withheld the listing, while Zhang Wei happened to know about it.

The core issue now was ownership of the listing. Li Lin’s statement implicitly accused Fang Wenjun of hiding the listing. If Fang Wenjun admitted to having found the listing but not disclosing it, she would be proven guilty of concealment.

If she denied it, then the listing belonged to Zhang Wei, and Fang Wenjun would lose her claim to the listing and its client. Li Lin’s words effectively blocked Fang Wenjun’s options.

“I… I said earlier that an owner was interested in renting out a property. It’s the owner of Unit 1812 in Building 6. Since it wasn’t confirmed if they wanted to rent it out, I didn’t mention the listing earlier. I didn’t expect Zhang Wei to have contacted the owner as well,” Fang Wenjun said nervously, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

“Since Fang Wenjun can’t confirm the listing’s availability, but Zhang Wei has confirmed it’s for rent, this listing will be assigned to Zhang Wei. Let’s move on,” Su Ning said firmly, closing the matter.

Su Ning could see the situation clearly: both had encountered the same client and found the same listing; Fang Wenjun concealed the information, Zhang Wei disclosed it.

Fang Wenjun was now in a bind—either admit to concealing the listing or concede the listing to Zhang Wei. As store manager, Su Ning had to show leadership and chose to assign the listing to Zhang Wei, thereby removing suspicion from Fang Wenjun.

The contest over the listing ended with Zhang Wei’s victory. One used intrigue, the other transparency; neither strategy was inherently superior—success depended on the individual and circumstances.

The evening’s event continued, but Fang Wenjun was visibly downcast. She couldn’t understand why her hard work led to such an outcome, especially since Zhang Wei hadn’t earnestly searched but suddenly found two three-bedroom rentals. She felt unfairly treated.

The next day, Zhang Wei successfully arranged for Li Qin and her husband to view the properties. The first was Unit 1506 in Building 8, featuring a decent layout and complete appliances, renting for 6,800 yuan per month, though the interior was somewhat worn.

Afterward, Zhang Wei took them to Unit 1812 in Building 6. Its layout matched Unit 1012 in the same building, fully equipped and well renovated, with a monthly rent of 7,200 yuan.

After comparing the two, Li Qin and her husband preferred Unit 1812 but hoped to negotiate a lower price through Zhang Wei.

This time, Li Qin stayed to avoid losing the opportunity, fearing the property would be rented as soon as she left. Zhang Wei invited the owner to meet, arranging a face-to-face negotiation between client and landlord.

Often, issues that cannot be resolved over the phone are easier to settle in person. Most people care about saving face; disputes over a few hundred yuan might escalate on the phone, but in person, shared experiences and conversation make it difficult to hold grudges over small sums.

After meeting, under Zhang Wei’s mediation, both parties reached a basic understanding. Li Qin and her husband promised to treat the property as their own and maintain it as well as it was now.

Owners care not only about rent but also tenant quality, fearing irresponsible renters who might damage their property, resulting in costly repairs that could equal half the rent.

Renting to a respectable couple with stable jobs reassured the owner. With a pleasant negotiation atmosphere, the owner agreed to rent the property to Li Qin and her husband for 7,000 yuan, payable every six months.

Li Qin and her husband, not greedy and urgently needing a home, accepted the offer immediately, satisfied with the property.

Seeing the agreement, Zhang Wei wanted to prevent any last-minute issues. He brought both parties directly to the agency’s office. Xu Ming, having received Zhang Wei’s call, had Wen Fang prepare the rental contract. The entire signing process took less than half an hour.

The real estate industry is fiercely competitive. A sought-after listing can attract attention from numerous agencies. Until a contract is signed, unexpected issues may arise at any moment. Speed is paramount in this business.