In doing business,
做生意时，
time is so important that it is often made the essence of a contract.
时间很重要，因此它通常是合约上不可或缺的条件。
Delays in payment or delivery of goods are not to be tolerated.
延迟付款或交货都是不被容忍的。
That is why people say, "Punctuality is the soul of business. "
难怪有人说：“做生意最重要的就是守时。”