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The Ideal City

This is a work of fiction.

Ep01

What's wrong with you?

I'm sorry.

What's wrong with you?

Sorry.

No food on the metro.

You know?

I'll stop.

Sorry.

So inappropriate.

Eating on the metro?

So impolite.

We've arrived at People's Square.

Please take your belongings

and get off through the left door.

How did you do your job?

ZJ Construction Co., Ltd.

It's so loose.

Fix it.

Right away.

Mr. Yu.

Su Xiao.

Tell our department

not to walk around

when the district officials are here.

Jiajia.

No.

You can't use

28-mm rebar

Su Xiao, cost manager of ZJ Construction

to make benches.

The construction scheme

specifies

32-mm rebar

for the benches.

A difference of 4 mm

will lower its durability

and cause collapse.

Find the scheme and the drawing.

I'll check with you one by one.

Morning.

Morning.

Morning.

Is the scheme ready?

Also,

the distance between benches

shall not exceed 1 m.

You've got to stick to the drawing.

Or

I'll have an on-site inspection.

Put on your work badge.

If I deduct money

from the final account,

don't come crying to me.

Get ready, everyone!

What's happening downstairs?

It's because of

TK Construction's

Public Housing Project.

Workers are asking for late payments.

Mr. Pan is encircled.

Mr. Yu must want to kill himself.

Let's see.

Pay us!

What's all this?

This should be good.

Mr. Yu.

Call Mr. Huang of TK to come

right away.

Give me the file.

What happened?

The workers are asking for late payments.

Ask him to come ASAP.

We've already paid them.

Just ask him to come. Hurry!

Okay, I see.

Pay us!

We've paid our subcontractor.

Please trust us.

Stop making a scene here!

Let him get out first.

Come on.

We worked hard for the money.

Listen, guys.

What?

They went to your company?

Your blood pressure is too high.

Okay, I'll be on my way.

I'll come over soon.

Huang Lilin, General Manager of TK Construction

How soon?

15 minutes, at most.

I'm on my way.

This is ZJ,

not TK.

You need to...

Mr. Huang will be here in 15 minutes.

Pay us!

Pay us!

How about this?

Let him out of the car.

Listen to him.

We've paid

Yu Chao, manager of business department of ZJ Construction

TK already.

This will get you nowhere.

You're making excuses

to shift the blame.

We are not.

I can

show you

the invoice.

Who knows if it's real or fake?

It has the seals of both companies.

How could it be fake?

We don't care.

We know nothing about it.

You...

Just pay us.

Pay us!

Hello, Mr. Pan.

Soon.

15 minutes.

He'll be here in 15 minutes.

Hurry up!

Pan Jianhua, General Manager of ZJ Construction

Come on.

Pay us!

Is everything

alright?

Have some tea.

They can wait.

By the way,

when

Mr. Xia is here,

don't tell him about this.

Got it?

Pay us!

Ever since 1995...

Pay us!

Our company has always led the industry.

You can ask around.

ZJ is a well-established

construction firm.

How could we team up with a subcontractor

to deceive you?

You're in cahoots.

It's purely contractual

between our company and TK.

Just as the relationship

between TK and you.

Let him out of the car, alright?

Then, we can talk about money.

Okay?

Pay us first!

Then we'll let him out.

Pay us!

Pay us!

Stop it!

Quiet!

If you kept him in there, it'd be kidnapping.

If you let him go, then it's legitimate.

Do you want to break the laws?

Make the decision.

She's right.

Is it that serious?

It's just money.

It can't be that serious.

Even the police don't care.

Yeah.

Don't listen to her!

They're withholding our payments.

Yeah.

Well...

Dear friends!

Please calm down.

Let's talk this out.

We can solve the problem together.

Mr. Pan.

It's not our fault.

We've paid TK.

But the workers came after us.

Stop it.

No more explanation.

Solve it ASAP.

The officials will be here at 11 AM.

Make sure it's solved

by then.

Okay.

Give me that.

You told me 15 minutes.

It's 10 AM already.

Zhou Jun, team member of the district planning project

Honey.

How did you know

I was about to call you?

What for?

You passed the cost engineer certification.

Really?

Well.

Are you out yet?

No.

Try to stall your bosses.

Our front gate

is now blocked by a group of workers.

What happened?

Make them go away.

I don't know what happened.

Just try to stall them.

Well...

How am I supposed to do that?

They're coming.

Listen.

They're coming.

Do something about it!

Call him again.

Hello.

The number you've dialed

is busy.

Su Xiao.

You've been

calling me non-stop.

I almost

had a heart attack.

Mr. Huang.

You said you'd be here in 15 minutes.

It's already been

1 hour and 20 minutes.

This is a critical matter.

I went on my way right after

you called me.

It's the traffic...

That's enough.

Just tell me what you plan to do.

It's not like I'll never pay them.

It's just that we need money

for so many things.

I am short of cash.

Listen.

Give me two weeks.

Fine.

I'll see what I can do.

10 days.

I'll pay them in ten days.

Once you have the money,

you don't want to pay any.

You want to keep it for as long as you can.

Su Xiao.

Did I do something to offend you?

I am here

with utmost sincerity.

It's a challenging time for me.

Why can't you

be more empathetic?

Give me some time to make a plan.

Tell me.

What's your plan?

For every day you stall the payment,

they'll wait outside like this.

They've been working

day and night.

But when it's time to pay them,

you're acting like a cheapskate.

If you keep doing this,

I'll call in the legal department.

What?

Trying to scare me, are you?

I've worked with many contractors,

and none of them is like you.

A cheapskate?

What do you mean?

That's offensive.

I don't have a dime

in my pocket right now.

Young lady,

you sit behind your computer every day.

But we need to run around for business.

You stand on the moral high ground

and talk the big talks so effortlessly.

Do you know how hard it is to do a project?

They work day and night.

So do we!

I've endured more hardships than any of them.

Su Xiao, go get some tissue.

Do you wanna lose it all?

I don't have any money.

At 11 AM,

the officials will conduct supervision here.

Mr. Pan has given me

an ultimatum.

I've got 15 minutes left.

Don't make this harder for me, alright?

How am I making this harder?

Su Xiao gave me

a tight budget.

There's no room for profit.

I could only make a little money.

And you know where that went, right?

You...

Hello.

So?

How's it going?

I can't believe you. Hurry!

We're a few blocks away.

It'll take 10 minutes, tops.

I want to get it done, too.

I gotta go.

Su Xiao.

Mr. Yu.

What's the retainage

on the TK project?

About 15 million yuan.

Use it to pay the workers.

It is TK

that should pay the workers.

If we

solve the issue like this today,

it will soon become

a regular thing.

There will be people

blocking our front gate every day!

Don't you think I know that?

Do you have other suggestions?

Isn't TK

a subsidiary of Yinghai Group?

Zhao Xiankun, the President,

just said in an interview

that they'd never pay the workers late.

Yeah. Right!

Can't you solve this by yourself?

You want me to call Mr. Zhao?

Unbelievable!

Why did I even hire you?

Hello, Zhao.

It's me, Pan.

Hello.

My friend.

I am calling

to make a complaint.

TK, one of your subsidiaries,

is withholding payments from workers.

They're now

blocking our front gate.

My friend.

We don't have time

to fill you in right now.

The senior officials are coming

for workplace supervision.

They'll be here soon.

Mr. Pan.

Could you deal with it?

Mr. Pan, look!

They're leaving.

Let's go!

Let's go!

Bastard! He ruined my plan.

Hello?

Ms. Su.

With your budget,

we can only

get a 12% profit margin

under current

market situations.

I included

a 3% maintenance fee

in the budget

for outsourced labor.

But I know that

you can manage labor yourself

without outsourcing.

So, right now,

even if you don't do anything,

you can still

get a profit margin of 15%.

Yinghai Group TK Construction

Yes.

Good job. What's the matter?

You've got paid.

Work harder.

Look. The amount should be right.

Look! They've got a lot.

Look at you smiling.

Good, you're here.

Where should I put it?

Xia Ming, chief financial manager of TK Construction

You never listen to me.

You took it upon yourself.

Who told you to pay them?

They were not

blocking our gate.

Why can't you just stay calm?

It took me three days

and more than ten hours

to build the toy blocks.

But it'll only take

one second to destroy it.

That's what you almost did.

Stop with

this nonsense.

You know that

I, your uncle, am not well-educated.

Let me ask you.

If I hadn't gone there,

what would you have done?

We agreed on a number.

But Yu put a bite in the last minute.

Does he think I am an ATM?

I won't give him the money.

I'll see if he compromises.

What if he doesn't?

He wouldn't dare.

The officials are visiting them.

If they saw the workers

blocking the gate,

Yu would ruin his career.

My plan would've worked

if you hadn't come.

Then?

ZJ will pay them!

Then,

they can deduct the money from the final account.

Better than us paying them now.

Then everything will be fine?

Worst comes to worst, they can go to Zhao Xiankun,

report to the Group

and ask them to punish me.

The Group just

released an official document

banning any delays in payment.

Great, then!

Zhao Xiankun thinks

TK is profitable.

I'd like to show him

how we're struggling.

Why does it have to

come to this?

What do you mean?

Yinghai Group is like a giant tree,

providing us with shade.

But

only shrubs can grow under a tree.

There's no room for other trees.

Even the most thriving shrub

cannot be

as magnificent as a tree.

Don't you think I want TK

to be like a magnificent tree?

Zhao Xiankun deprived me

of power long ago.

The Group has control over

purchasing and recruiting.

How am I supposed

to be a magnificent tree?

You can just take back

what's taken from you.

Take back?

He's Zhao Xiankun!

Not an average Joe!

TK has accumulated

social and financial capital,

as well as experience.

What we need to do now

is to wait

for the perfect timing.

You mean...

A management buyout?

Indeed.

Gotta work late and can't have dinner with you. Go celebrate with Hongmei! My treat.

The main buildings of the Public Housing Project

are all topped off.

We've been working on

the renovation of the external walls.

We'll finish it on time.

This is key to

the welfare of people.

Yes.

You must deliver the project on time

with high quality.

Yes.

Also,

He Shengli, team leader of the district planning project

ZJ Construction

is a leader in the industry.

You need to be a role model.

We will.

Don't worry!

Quality

is central to our company.

We'll try our best.

Also, we're hoping

that you can come

for another on-site supervision

before we launch the project next month.

Okay.

Set it up.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Liu.

I've made a plan with the official.

Get it done on time.

Rest assured.

Hello.

I thought you don't have money.

Where did you get the money?

It's the kickback for you.

Look what you've done!

I am speechless.

I don't have any other options,

do I?

Don't worry, though.

I'll give you the money

that you were promised.

Don't worry.

Just wait for ten more days.

You're kind and generous.

We should meet up sometime.

Set a date.

Why isn't Zhou Jun with you?

He's working.

He's been busy lately.

I know.

I've only seen him four times this month.

Where are you

on the house-hunting?

Nowhere.

We can't afford the down payment.

Ask your parents.

It wouldn't

make any difference.

I don't wanna ask them

for their retirement fund anyway.

Wu Hongmei, head of HR of Yinghai Group

Hongmei, come in for a sec.

Coming.

You look like a goddess.

Do I look good?

Yeah, you look stunning.

Help me lace up the dress.

Xiao.

I think

you need to

consult your parents.

Try your best to get the down payment.

How can you get married

without a house?

If you decide to have a life together,

you need to have a stable home

to feel secure.

Right?

Too tight?

No.

Hongmei.

I passed Level 1

of the cost engineer certification.

You did?

Why didn't you tell me?

I just got the result this afternoon.

When I get my certificate,

I'll be able to get a raise.

If I'm lucky,

I'll be promoted to

project manager soon.

Then, lucky girl,

you should pay for dinner tonight.

No problem.

Look at you!

All you do

is play video games.

What about school

and homework?

How are you gonna tell your dad

when he comes back?

I don't even know what to say.

Do your homework!

Hurry!

It's hot. Careful.

Su Xiao asked me to be her bridesmaid

and you the groomsman.

I'm talking to you.

Did you hear me?

What?

She wants you to be the groomsman.

I can't.

Why not?

I've promised her already.

It's settled.

Add me!

Hongmei told me today that

if we don't start looking for a house,

it'll be too late.

I panicked a bit after hearing that.

But it's alright.

ZJ has a lot of projects.

When I get to manage projects,

I'll pick one carefully.

I'll pick one with a huge bonus.

So? Do I look good?

I wonder if I'll feel cold

wearing this on the day.

Yeah.

Projects with a huge bonus

are either on a tight deadline

or complicated.

You'd need to work day and night

and sleep on-site from time to time.

Will you manage?

No one in this industry

can get good pay without working hard.

I got lashed out today

that I only sit before my laptop.

It happens.

Not everyone

can be as professional as you.

What color

should I pick for my wedding shoes?

Gold, white, or red?

No white shoes.

By the way,

how about I invite my boss

to our wedding

as the officiant?

I don't know.

You've been working there for only a month.

He barely knows you.

Yeah.

So, I need to find a way

for him to know me.

I'll buy a pair of shoes in gold

to go with the wedding dress

and the evening gown. What do you say?

I also want to buy some earrings.

Do you like platinum

or gold?

Why is it still not set up?

We're ready.

But they haven't set up

the device yet.

All set.

God!

What was that? So inappropriate!

When did Ms. Li

get a boyfriend?

She wouldn't tell you

if she did.

Why are you late?

The supervisor is on holiday

and couldn't confirm the final account in time.

Hello, Zhou Jun.

Okay.

Okay.

I see.

What's wrong?

Okay.

Well...

Device malfunction in their office.

Today's video conference

has been canceled.

I'll say something real quick.

The Public Housing Project is almost done.

We've done great

in the past.

The officials are happy.

But

the closer we get to the end,

the more careful we need to be.

Let's keep up the good work

and finish the project well.

The Public Housing Project

benefits everyone.

Besides,

the quality of the houses

is very reliable.

There are many shops

in the neighborhood.

Also,

it has easy access to public transportation.

Is the official

called He Shengli?

I heard so.

Great.

You know what? He was my deskmate in primary school.

You're talking nonsense.

Why would I?

We were deskmates for three years.

We were close.

After his dad moved to Beijing,

we were pen pals for two years.

I'll go say hi.

We put a board here,

so that everyone

can pay attention.

Good day, sir.

I am the General Manager of TK Construction.

I am Huang Lilin.

Welcome, sir,

to supervise us on-site.

As a private company, it's an honor for us

to participate in

this project.

Both SOEs and private companies

can help develop the economy

and create values for our society.

But there's one thing

to bear in mind.

Every project is connected with the safety

of people's lives and property.

Yes.

We can't afford to be careless.

You're right.

Our slogan is

"Quality, quantity, safety."

It's not only a slogan,

but also the principle

that we stick to.

Good.

Sir.

Let's take a photo here.

Okay. This background is great.

Photo time.

Okay.

Dear guests,

please, to the front.

Closer.

Sir.

Huang!

To the front, please.

Huang!

Please.

Everyone.

Closer.

Together.

Look this way.

Please stand closer.

Is he really your classmate?

Great.

Okay.

It's been long since we last met.

Help!

Help!

Help!

Call the ambulance. Hurry!

Someone help!

Coming.

Over here.

Help!

Give me a hand.

There's someone over here.

Over here.

Give me a hand.

Help me!

Help me.

Call 120!

Where's the ambulance?

I've called them.

Strict control over quality!

How many times have I said it?

Is this how you follow through?

Why are you all quiet?

You always act like bosses.

What's wrong today,

acting like cowards now?

Those who work on-site...

Are you all empty suits?

Sorry, sir.

That's it?

And you guys

in the Business Dept...

Is this how you

manage the subcontractors?

Sir.

Our department

has been operating in compliance with

the review rules for subcontractors.

It's not the first time we subcontracted

our projects to TK.

The past cooperations

all went well.

This is just an accident.

An accident?

The workers demanding payment was an accident.

And this is also an accident.

How come there are so many accidents?

Your main responsibility

is to monitor the project

and conduct follow-up audits.

Mr. Yu,

examine your conscience and ask yourself.

Did you do any of that?

Mr. Yu.

Is there any issue with my evaluation

on subcontractors?

No. It's good.

However,

you submitted an evaluation

on subcontractors

right after the accident

and gave them

such a low score.

People will think

that we're trying to shift blame.

This is a project of ZJ Construction.

The superiors

can lash out at us.

But we, as employees,

need to fix the issue first.

I've archived

TK's bid proposal, contract,

and the final account docs.

I'll bring them to you after determining the damage.

It won't be higher than this, will it?

What's this?

1 million.

If those were

temporary walls, then no.

But we need to do an inspection

on other structures

before determining the damage.

What else are you hiding from me?

Nothing.

Stare me all you want!

I said nothing.

I've been

in the business for years.

I know what I am doing.

It's only a temporary structure

that will be demolished in months.

I was just being careless.

You call this careless?

Wang Yang

What?

Huang, everything alright?

What is it?

Are you alright?

What the hell do you want?

Say it, or I'll hang up.

I heard that

Zhao came back on his way

to the international conference.

It's okay. He'll clean up your mess.

Have you got nothing better to do?

You poached

all my clients.

So, I could only take a vacation.

What happened was a disaster.

I worry about your health.

TC and TK are sister companies.

Tell me if you need anything.

That's bullshit.

Wang Yang. I poached your clients?

It was because I am better than you.

It was because you are crueler.

Let's go find Wang Mingyu.

What for?

He's the VP of the Group.

He's in charge of construction.

Huang,

I don't even know where to start.

You're older than me

and more experienced than me.

The last time

when the workers were at ZJ,

you handled it swiftly.

Wang Mingyu, Chief VP of Yinghai Group GM of the EPC company

So, I pretended as if it never happened.

It's only been days

and you've gotten us

into yet another grave trouble.

Mr. Wang.

You made it sound like

I damaged the reputation

of our Group on purpose.

The Public Housing Project

is the icing on the corporate cake.

I know it. I am not stupid.

It was really just an accident.

I...

I am very distressed also.

There's no such thing as an accident.

But this was truly an accident.

Come on, Huang.

Stop hiding it from me.

I've known you for over ten years.

I could see through

every little trick of yours.

You need to think.

This is too big for you

to take sole responsibility.

If you don't tell me the truth,

the Group won't be able to help you.

Tell me.

How did it happen? Who's to blame?

Mr. Wang.

The only person who's responsible

for the accident is you.

What do you mean?

You wanna drag me down?

The accident happened

for two reasons.

Low-quality cement

and shoddy materials.

As the VP of the Group,

you oversee the construction and materials.

Both TK and the cement plant

are under your management.

So, you're to blame

one way or another.

You've been VP

for over a decade.

You're an executive director.

People in the Group and the Board

are watching you.

Be it questionable cement

or shoddy construction,

it will be used by others

against you.

Well...

Have some tea.

Well...

Huang told me about you long ago.

He said you're quite an intellect.

He was right about it.

He is quite manipulative.

Don't listen to him.

He's just talking nonsense.

All nonsense.

Young man,

I've been in this position for over ten years.

You want to scare me

with some big words?

That's ridiculous.

Alright, I see.

I'm in a meeting. Talk later.

Mr. Wang.

This is a list

of the media outlets on-site.

The Evening Post will be the first

to print out the news at 4 PM.

We don't have much time left.

You see?

This is his style.

He needs us to cooperate

but he acts as if

we are begging him.

The cap with

Zhao Xiankun's name on it...

What does it mean?

Among us,

he was the trickster.

He poached many projects

from other construction teams.

Of course, they wouldn't let him off easy.

He got encircled by a gang

and Zhao Xiankun fought for him.

The fight was brutal.

He got blood all over his face

and knocked off a few teeth even.

He got the cap back

and put it there

as a memento.

And then?

It's a clear message to others

that he's the most loyal follower

of Zhao Xiankun.

Sir.

Mr. Zhao, the President of Yinghai Group

is here to see you.

Xiankun.

Zhao Xiankun, President of Yinghai Group

What brings you here?

Sir.

I am here today

to apologize to you.

Hold on.

What's all this?

Why are you apologizing to me?

The Public Housing Project

is in the charge of

TK Construction,

one of our subsidiaries.

Don't apologize to me.

Apologize to our country

and the people.

We entrusted you

with the project,

and now what?

It's become

a Jerry-built project.

You're right, sir.

When you quit your job and started your own business,

I told you that

the quality of a project

is key to the safety

of people's lives and property,

and you can't be careless

or use shoddy materials.

You need to remember

the social responsibility of an enterprise.

The more power you have, the more responsibility you shoulder.

I've always been

keeping your words in mind.

And I've always adhered to those words.

But, truth be told,

as the company becomes bigger,

I got distracted

and haven't been managing it well.

Bigger or not,

distracted or not,

they're just excuses.

The root of the issue

is that you've become money-driven.

You've forgotten

the social responsibility of business.

You're right. I feel mortified.

But, please rest assured.

I will thoroughly investigate this matter.

I will strictly manage the company.

Are you here to talk the big talks?

Get out.

I am the contractor of the project.

I need to go check on

the scene of the accident.

It's my job.

I don't care who you are.

The manager's orders.

No one shall get in.

It's not up to your manager

to decide whether

I can go in or not.

Municipal officials and the MOHURD

will all come later.

Hello.

Hello, Mr. Du.

There's a Su Xiao from the contractor's company,

asking to go check on the site.

Okay.

Understood.

Okay.

I see.

Sorry.

Hello?

Okay.

I see.

Okay.

You can come in.

Thank you.

Ms. Li. What can I do for you?

Is there an issue

Li Xue, director of the district planning office

with the main works?

We've sent the material report for inspection.

The result will be out soon.

I can assure you.

There will be no issues.

The wall still collapsed, though.

You need to find who's responsible

and submit a report to the directors.

I gotta go.

Come in.

I've recalculated the difference

between the cost estimate and the final account

due to the accident.

Okay.

Mr. Yu.

I went to the scene of the accident.

What did you find?

The temporary wall was questionable.

I think it collapsed due to two reasons.

First, there was too much sand in the mix.

Second,

they didn't use the specified

425 cement.

You've done a great job.

Thank you.

TK Construction

created such big trouble

because of these tiny oversights.

The issue of the project

is not caused by TK's oversights.

No?

I printed out

the construction logs and the license of TK.

To be honest,

they were doing fine in site management.

But they saved on cement.

That was the fundamental issue.

Who knows if they'll

save on other things

when they shouldn't have.

You're right.

If there's a fundamental issue,

then nothing concrete can build upon it.

By the way,

the PM of the CloudJoy Project came.

He needed you to confirm the Bill of Quantity

for the final account.

You can go.

Okay.

Su Xiao,

it was a misunderstanding with the security.

I asked them to keep the journalists away.

I was afraid they're gonna take photos and report false news.

They'll only report false news

if you don't allow them to go inside.

Yes.

You're right.

I am so down on my luck.

It was just an accident.

But the officials happened to be there,

and now it's become a headline.

It wasn't an accident.

It's either you didn't

use adequate cement

in compliance with the BOQ.

Or,

you didn't use

the type of cement specified.

Su Xiao,

why do I feel that

you've got something against me?

Mr. Huang.

It's nothing personal.

I only want to be responsible for the BOQ.

During the first lesson in college,

our teacher told us that

a cost engineer is obligated to

keep the BOQ reliable.

Only if we keep the BOQ reliable

can we make sure the project is reliable.

What?

Nothing.

Su Xiao is giving me a lecture.

She's teaching me to be reliable.

Su Xiao,

go ask the chefs

in the cafe

to work overtime

and make extra food for ten.

Okay.