At this moment, Su Yipeng, who had been weighing the pros and cons, finally made up his mind. Looking at Anxin and Xiao Liu, he smiled and said:

“I haven’t even decided to sign the contract with Anxin yet, and you two are already planning dinners?”

Xiao Liu froze. What’s going on? Just a moment ago, he could tell their director was leaning toward Anxin. Why the sudden change of mind?

Meanwhile, Anxin remained calm, her tone casual:

“Brother Su, that’s a bit unfair. Even if we don’t sign the transport contract today, we can still be friends. As the saying goes, business may fail, but relationships remain. We can always meet up for a meal, contract or no contract.”

Anxin had already deciphered Su Yipeng’s little game. This man had clearly decided to collaborate but, as a leader, he needed someone to pave the way for him to appear more composed. Since she was the one seeking the deal, she had no problem playing along.

Sure enough, Su Yipeng pointed at her, a smile tugging at his lips, pretending to be both amused and exasperated.

“Anxin, you’re such a sharp girl. What should I even say to you?”

Anxin immediately stood up, flashing a bright smile. “Brother Su, let’s work together this time, alright? Give me a chance to learn from you.”

Her words sounded like a plea for cooperation, but they cleverly positioned Su Yipeng to agree without hesitation.

And as expected, Su Yipeng nodded, using her words to smoothly make his decision. “Alright then. Here’s to a successful collaboration.”

Anxin beamed, standing quickly to shake his hand. Her fox-like grin spread wide.

“Successful collaboration, Brother Su!”

The handshake sealed the deal. The negotiation was complete, and the rest went smoothly. Anxin declined the pre-drafted contract template offered by Xiao Liu and instead drafted one on the spot.

Her contract was far more comprehensive and detailed than anything Xiao Liu had ever seen. It even included clauses about breach penalties, with a payment schedule: an upfront deposit of 10,000 yuan, 5,000 yuan after two-thirds of the transport was complete, and the remaining 10,000 yuan upon full completion.

Su Yipeng and Xiao Liu were both left stunned. Su Yipeng, impressed, couldn’t help but praise her:

“Anxin, this contract is so thorough and well-written. You must have spent a lot of time honing these skills.”

Even Xiao Liu had to admit that the contract was leagues ahead of those he had signed with the provincial transport company.

Anxin smiled modestly. “Brother Su flatters me. Growing up in a poor family, I learned early on to put in extra effort. I just wanted to ensure our collaboration would be smooth and successful.”

Her humility made Su Yipeng burst into laughter. “Haha, well said, Anxin! Here’s to a smooth partnership!”

Beneath his hearty laugh, Anxin’s lips curled into a sly smile. Everything had gone exactly as planned. As someone who had transmigrated from the 21st century, she understood better than anyone the importance of drafting contracts that safeguarded her rights while avoiding potential scams.

Why wait for others to draft a trap-filled agreement when you can draft one yourself, ensuring mutual benefit while securing your own interests?

This era wasn’t yet accustomed to contracts with robust legal protections, and Anxin could fully leverage her modern knowledge to stay ahead.

When the deal was finalized and Anxin left Riverside Road with the 10,000-yuan deposit, she realized her back was drenched in sweat.

She couldn’t help but smile wryly. So, this is what it feels like to earn your first pot of gold. I didn’t look it, but I was nervous as hell. Thankfully, it all worked out.

Now, she had to think about how to persuade Kaizi to bring his truck team over to help her fulfill the contract.

Back in the second-floor office, Su Yipeng sipped tea leisurely. Xiao Liu stood nearby, still confused.

“Director, the transport work hasn’t even begun. Why did you let Anxin take a 10,000-yuan deposit? Isn’t that risky?”

Su Yipeng chuckled. “Xiao Liu, you’ve worked with me for years. Can’t you see that young lady has real skills?”

Xiao Liu hesitated. He couldn’t deny Anxin had been impressive, but still, giving her such trust seemed too much.

Su Yipeng continued, “Anxin isn’t someone who’d run away with a small amount of money. She’s not after short-term gains. Her eyes are set on longer-term opportunities, such as building a lasting partnership with us. Her legal knowledge and confidence in drafting that contract prove she’s no ordinary person. She’s not the type to risk everything for a mere one or two thousand yuan.”

Though Xiao Liu still didn’t fully agree, he nodded. “So that’s why you trust her so much, Director.”

Seeing Xiao Liu’s half-hearted response, Su Yipeng placed his tea down and fixed him with a serious look.

“Xiao Liu, compared to Anxin, you’re still far behind. You’ll oversee this transport project. Use this chance to work closely with her and learn everything you can.”

Xiao Liu was stunned. “Learn? What does she have that I don’t?”

Su Yipeng didn’t explain further. What Anxin possessed—calm intelligence, meticulous planning, impeccable negotiation skills, and deep legal knowledge—was something Xiao Liu lacked entirely.

If someone like Anxin worked as his assistant, Su Yipeng thought, he might have achieved far more by now, perhaps even advanced to higher positions.

A faint smile played on his lips. Alright, Anxin. Show me what you’ve got. Maybe I can help you achieve your ambitions while realizing some of my own.