The phone interruption calmed Lin Weiping somewhat. She retrieved the documents she had compiled and bound the previous night and handed them to the security guard to give to the people in the meeting room. She believed that this detailed document, detailing the company's tax evasion and the establishment of slush funds under the boss's direction over the years, would allow the people in the meeting room to make a reasonable decision. She then packed her things in the car and hailed a taxi to go home and rest.
She wasn't worried about the impact of the information. She had calculated it: if the information fell into the hands of the ruthless boss, he might consider a fight to the death; the company might at worst suffer financial losses and penalties, but she, the operator, would likely end up in jail for a few days. If it simply fell into the hands of the second wife, she might not realize the seriousness of the matter and simply leave it unattended, which would make Lin Weiping's subsequent actions difficult. Fortunately, she had brought an accomplice this time. She believed this white-collar worker surnamed Mao would be able to explain to the second wife the consequences of releasing the information and the millions of dollars in fines the company would face. The second wife was most intolerant of such a vital company being fined a large sum; it would be like tearing out her heart. She also couldn't communicate with the old man in the hospital while acting on her own. Therefore, her only way to appease the situation was to compromise with Lin Weiping. Lin Weiping now just had to wait for her compromise.
However, Lin Weiping wouldn't call his parents to tell them about this until the final result was in. The older generation's thinking couldn't keep up with the pace of the present, and telling them would only make them worry themselves sick. Ever since he started university, Lin Weiping had been used to being self-reliant in everything. Even when he was in a car accident and had to be taken to the hospital for stitches, he only mentioned it casually when he returned home long afterward.
Should she talk to her architect boyfriend about it? Logically, she should, but Lin Weiping realized she hadn't yet found the feeling of being able to be submissive and dependent on him. Having been a domineering woman for so many years, she was finding it hard to lower herself and discuss her troubles with him. But this couldn't continue like this; for two people to stay together, they should be able to discuss things openly. Isn't it said that taking a step back can open up a whole new world? Perhaps this incident could be a turning point in their relationship. Lin Weiping also harbored a vague sense that this was a test for her boyfriend, a trial by fire.
After making the call, Lin Weiping briefly recounted the events of the morning to her boyfriend, Gong Chao, but deliberately omitted her conversation with Shang Kun. Then, she softly asked on the phone, "What should I do next?"
Her boyfriend, Gong Chao, was clearly stunned by the sudden event, but was then awakened by Lin Weiping's unprecedented vulnerability. A surge of masculine pride welled up inside him: "Are you at home now? I'll come over to be with you right away. Don't be sad. This kind of thing seems very hurtful now, but it's not so bad when you think about it later. Just treat it as an experience. I'm coming right away, wait for me."
Lin Weiping's tense heart was soothed by Gong Chao's words. Even the strongest person needs care, especially Lin Weiping who felt abandoned by everyone. Gong Chao's sincere signal without hesitation brought tears to her eyes. It seemed she hadn't made a mistake in calling. She took a deep breath, looked up to control her emotions, and said to Gong Chao, "Don't come out. I have some things to take care of at noon, and I have dinner appointments. I'll come over to your place tonight, and you can cook something nice for me."
Gong Chao's tone was still somewhat uneasy. He said anxiously on the other end of the phone, "That's fine, but don't suppress your emotions too much. Just be yourself. At worst, we can quit and come home to eat my food."
Lin Weiping was amused by his doting words, sniffed and laughed, "Okay, okay, with you saying that, I'm sure I'll be full of confidence when I go out later. Yes, at worst I'll be a housewife, who am I afraid of?"
After hanging up the phone, Lin Weiping's emotions stabilized considerably. Her mind, which had been swollen with incoherent thoughts, had finally cleared. She had a clearer head again and could consider the terms she would be negotiating with the Second Madam, as well as many follow-up matters. However, she was still preoccupied with the upcoming confrontation with Shang Kun. She had never been one to dwell on her emotions or be overly sentimental; her personality was characterized by looking forward, solving problems, and finding solutions.
She knew that given her current situation after leaving the company, she was at a disadvantage when negotiating with Shang Kun compared to the days before. Shang Kun, having navigated the business world for many years, would certainly not let this opportunity slip by. He no longer needed to offer high terms to lure her out of her previous workplace; the price he had just offered was already incredibly tempting. The upcoming dinner would undoubtedly be the actual negotiation table. How much benefit she could secure was irrelevant now; she would have to wait and see.
Lin Weiping carefully tidied her clothes and composed herself. Closing the door, she raised her eyebrows and threw herself into the next battle.
Shang Kun arrived first, giving him ample time to observe Lin Weiping, who was being led in by the hostess. Reliable sources indicated that this young woman was currently facing a host of worries, yet she appeared radiant and confident in her impeccably tailored business attire, showing no outward signs of distress. He immediately understood that although Lin Weiping was young, she had already moved beyond the stage of technical management and operations; she had likely reached a point where he could confidently entrust her with the management of tens of millions of yuan. He felt a surge of pride, as if he had unexpectedly encountered a capable general, and was deeply impressed.
Lin Weiping had just sat down when her phone rang, of all times. Seeing it was from the company, she could only give Shang Kun an apologetic look. Checking the time, she guessed that the second wife and the others had been discussing this in the office, barely eating or drinking, and had only just reached a conclusion. She sneered inwardly and pressed the call button: "HLLO?"
Unexpectedly, the other party was John Chen. He seemed to have some unresolved issues, speaking hesitantly. However, Lin Weiping quickly understood his feelings. He must have reached some compromises with the second wife regarding interests, and now he was having a hard time explaining himself to his old subordinates and friends. So she said tactfully, "John, if what I've done can help you in any way, I would be very happy. Please tell me directly, what are the conditions set by the second wife and her family?"
Shangkun University was founded early, when English requirements weren't as strict, and more than ten years had passed since graduation, so he had almost forgotten all his English. Seeing Lin Weiping speak so effortlessly and fluently, as if it were her native tongue, he felt a sense of admiration. Without disturbing her, he took it upon himself to order the food.
John sighed noticeably and said, "Lin, I really want to thank you." He still didn't mention the terms he had agreed upon with the second wife; that was a matter of his pride. "The second wife meant that you could propose your terms, and we could discuss them. There was no need to make things so tense."
Lin Weiping wondered who had initially pushed things to this point. But thinking about it was pointless; arguing verbally wouldn't help their actual interests. Besides, even though John was making the call, his wife and the others were undoubtedly watching, putting John in a difficult position. He didn't want to add to their burden. Therefore, he calmly said, "Let's not talk about things that are in the past. John, please convey to his wife that I have no other requests, only five. Some are compensation I deserve, and some are for the company's future. After all, I've grown with the company, and while this sentiment might be a bit old-fashioned, and she might not appreciate it, I still want to see things through. Please write them down. My personal requests are: 1. The phone bill will be collected by the end of this month, and the company will transfer it to my personal account after that; 2. My compensation will be calculated according to the relevant department's policy, based on last year's total income divided by..." "I will receive payment multiplied by the number of years I've worked for the company, plus this month's salary. I've included my bank account number in the document folder. Thirdly, this laptop has become an integral part of my life, so I won't return it to the company. Regarding my handover requirements, please refer to the list in the document: First, payments to these suppliers must be raised and settled by the end of the month, otherwise it will affect future supplies; second, this month's bank loan must be repaid on time, otherwise, a damaged credit record will make future loans difficult. These are all things that can be completed by the end of the month, and I will wait patiently."
John didn't answer immediately, probably having a brief discussion with his second wife about these requests, before saying, "Lin, it's rare that you're still thinking about the company's development. I've noted down your conditions, and I don't think there are any unreasonable requests. Can we discuss it a bit more and then I'll give you an answer?"
"Okay." Lin Weiping hung up the phone, thinking that John's reply must have come from the second wife, who understood English. The so-called discussion was just the second wife consulting with the Mao relative. Unless this Mao relative had been in charge of the overall situation, he probably wouldn't have caught on to the hidden meaning in her conditions. For the second wife and her group, the personal requirements at the beginning were probably the main focus of the discussion. Her two work handover requirements seemed very selfless and accommodating, but only those who had done it knew that when a bank lends money, they not only look at the company's strength but also at the character of the operator. The personal assessment plays a very important role. If she didn't settle the loan in her hands, her personal reputation would be greatly damaged. She couldn't risk ruining her reputation for the sake of temporary convenience. As for the relationship with the main suppliers, if she really cooperated with Shang Kun in the future, she would take the opportunity to settle the outstanding payments with them when she left, as a favor to them, so that they could have a long-term future together. Of course, these little schemes couldn't be said directly; they had to be packaged beautifully before being revealed to confuse others. Otherwise, if the second wife and her family develop a rebellious attitude, wouldn't everything fall apart?
Shang Kun waited for her to finish her call and then thought for a while before speaking up: "I heard your company has some big plans today?"
Lin Weiping figured the call would come soon, so there was no need to put her phone away. Seeing Shang Kun's question, she thought to herself that his information was incredibly accurate, showing how much effort he had put into the SWS project, including recruiting company employees to provide him with information. She could use his eagerness and determination to negotiate with him. She composed herself and smiled, "Yes, I've been eliminated." Since he already knew, it was better to be frank; beating around the bush would only make things worse.
Shang Kun appreciated Lin Weiping's straightforward attitude and then asked, "Political struggle?"
"No, it's the kind of phenomenon that often occurs when leaders of family businesses change, the so-called 'purging the court of corrupt officials.'" Lin Weiping saw that the dishes served were all fatty and heavy, and her appetite, which had been affected by her mood, shrank even further. But when she thought of the dinner that Gong Chao would be preparing for her that evening, a sweet feeling swept through her heart.
"Forgive me for saying this without any conscience, but this should be good news for me. At least you can get involved in our project more smoothly and earlier."
Lin Weiping didn't want to continue on a topic that was unfavorable to him, so he deliberately chose to say something that was absolutely in his favor: "President Shang and Engineer Wang have talked, right? I'd like to know Engineer Wang's reaction."
Shang Kun was no novice either, and asked with a smile, "Based on your understanding of Engineer Wang, what do you think his reaction will be?"
Lin Weiping smiled and said, "Engineer Wang is absolutely brilliant." He added in his mind, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be in such a hurry to negotiate with me."
Shang Kun remained noncommittal, trying his best to steer the conversation in his favor. He inwardly agreed that Lin Weiping's answer was flawless. If it weren't for Wang Gong's high praise and the addition of many details, he wouldn't have rekindled his enthusiasm, reassessed Lin Weiping, or offered this young woman an unusually high offer this morning. But Lin Weiping's offer was even higher, difficult for him to accept. He decided to seize this chaotic opportunity to act quickly and secure this talent at a low price.
He asked, "Based on the conditions you proposed this morning, can you come up with the millions of dollars in cash corresponding to your percentage of shares?"
Lin Weiping already had a prepared answer to this question, although it was a bit of a bluff: "I'm just a regular salaried worker, where would I get that much money? What I mean is that this part of the funds should still be lent out by President Shang, and we will draft another contract stipulating that I will repay it with dividends within a certain number of years. Anyway, the money you lend me is for a specific purpose, and I can't take the money that is deposited into the company for personal use."
"Wouldn't it be less stressful if you owned shares? The dividends are the same anyway. You could also avoid the depreciation of your invested capital."
"Does that mean President Shang has already agreed to give me a % share? Regardless of whether it's a phantom share or a real share?"
Shang Kun was momentarily speechless after she caught him out of his predicament, and immediately said without responding, "Shares are guaranteed to make a profit, so please consider it carefully, Miss Lin."
Lin Weiping couldn't press the matter too hard, so he decided to stop while he was ahead, which also dampened his momentum. But he still wanted to argue for his own interests: "To be conservative, the land price corresponding to my percentage of shares is the only one that's truly guaranteed to rise without loss. As for the dividends, I'm absolutely confident in myself. We're a future community of shared interests. If I'm happy, you'll only get richer, Mr. Shang. And let me make this clear from the start: if we lose money, I'll be even more deserving of the same level of loss as you."
Her tone was quite arrogant, but Shang Kun couldn't deny that everything she said was true. Giving her shares, besides considering the appreciation of land prices, also involved considerations for future operations. If Lin Weiping proved incompetent, replacing her would be easier and less of a worry. Giving her actual shares, however, would completely tie the two together. Was it worth taking such a big gamble for a manager?
Just then, John Chen called again, giving Shang Kun a moment to think. Lin Weiping, on the other hand, was a little more relaxed than him. She had limited assets, and since it was a do-or-die situation, she could always marry herself off and really live off Gong Chao.
After she finished her long-winded phone call, Shang Kun had basically weighed the pros and cons and, seeing her smug look on her face, asked, "Did you have a pleasant conversation?"
Lin Weiping nodded and said, "I completely and unconditionally agree to the conditions I proposed." Half of these words were meant for Shang Kun, but she didn't go into details, because Shang Kun was her future boss, and letting him know too much would be detrimental to her future.
“Alright, I’ll add my own bonus. Let’s compromise. As you suggested, I’ll lend you % of the funds, calculated at bank interest. You can draft a contract when you have time. We won’t discuss other things like equity shares. What do you think?” Shang Kun said seriously, placing his arms firmly on the table.
Lin Weiping had initially thought this would be a very difficult negotiation, and didn't expect Shang Kun to easily agree to her almost unreasonable demands. However, Shang Kun made the decision with surprising ease, leaving her momentarily stunned. Seeing this, Shang Kun pressed his advantage, saying, "I sincerely want to cooperate with Miss Lin." His words carried weight.
What could Lin Weiping say at this point? Although she had achieved early success, she was still aware of the weight of such recognition, especially towards a girl. She knew very well the extent of Shang Kun's appreciation for her. She wasn't ungrateful, but she wasn't one to express gratitude verbally either. In this situation, she could only look sincerely into Shang Kun's eyes and say, "Thank you, Mr. Shang, I understand."
Shang Kun handed her his car keys and said, "I'm sure you still have a lot of follow-up work to do. You can use this car for now, and we'll officially assign you a car when you come back later."
Lin Weiping stared at the car keys, speechless, her eyes welling up with tears. She'd suffered so much that day, and although Gong Chao had offered genuine comfort, it was this seemingly incongruous remark that struck her sore spot. She knew this was Shang Kun's way of winning people over, but with a boss capable of this, it was no wonder others were willing to go through fire and water for him. Success doesn't happen without reason. But she was also acutely aware of the situation, quickly suppressing her impulse as she took the keys, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Shang. This is exactly what I needed. I won't stand on ceremony."
Shang Kun keenly noticed that her eyes were slightly red, and he felt a pang of sympathy for this young girl, who had managed to remain so composed despite encountering so many things in a single day. "Is there anything else you need me to do?"
Lin Weiping really wanted to find a place to shed a good tear at this moment, but at this time he could only distract himself by talking: "President Shang, since we are already a community of shared interests, I have no need to hide anything from you. For the sake of the future, I must straighten out the relationship with the bank and the supplier. I have already designed the conditions that the company agreed to, but I hope that President Shang will not make our cooperation public before the end of the month, otherwise I am afraid that things will get out of my control if things drag on."
Shang Kun has already made such a big concession, so how could he disagree with these conditions? Besides, he is well aware of the pros and cons involved, so he readily replied, "I understand. You can rest assured that this matter will remain a secret between you and me for the rest of the month."
Lin Weiping said solemnly, "Thank you. I already anticipate that our future cooperation will be very pleasant." These were her heartfelt words, and she believed that Shang Kun would understand her feelings.
Next, she had to act quickly and meet with bank officials and suppliers before the second wife and her family, to gain a first-mover advantage. Although it was tiring, she could already see a bright future ahead.
Having a car not only greatly improves efficiency but also offers countless other conveniences. Shang Kun's Mercedes carries more weight than a hundred explanations from Lin Weiping. The supplier readily accepted Lin Weiping's guarantee, as if Lin Weiping himself would cover the payment even if the company didn't. The boy from the bank who used to specifically contact Lin Weiping insisted on practicing driving the car, completely ignoring the loan repayment issue. This filled Lin Weiping with gratitude towards Shang Kun once again.
What was even more heartwarming was the delicious meal Gong Chao had prepared after leaving get off work early in the afternoon. It was all light and refreshing home-style dishes, catering to Lin Weiping's current tastes, rather than some fancy feast, showing his thoughtful consideration. Looking at it, Lin Weiping could only excitedly say, "Gong Chao, my day has been more nerve-wracking than ever before, like fighting a battle. My heart was constantly on edge, and only here did I finally calm down. I was talking business at noon and didn't even have time to eat, I was so nervous I didn't feel hungry at all. Seeing your delicious food made me feel something, and God, I finally felt my body going weak!"
Gong Chao gently pulled her into his arms and said softly, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
These few words spoke volumes. Lin Weiping closed her eyes slightly, leaning against him, not thinking of anything, yet slowly regaining her clarity. What is a haven for the soul? What is a refuge for the soul? This, perhaps.
six
In the days that followed, Lin Weiping, unable to find peace, ignored Gong Chao's suggestion to relax and instead secluded himself to draft a timeline for the SWS project in collaboration with Shang Kun. Tasks requiring immediate action were implemented step-by-step through Shang Kun's involvement to expedite progress. Liao Huizheng and Engineer Wang of the SWS preparatory office sensed something amiss, but neither dared question their boss's wise decision, and naturally followed orders meticulously. During this time, Shang Kun was satisfied with Lin Weiping's arrangements, and Lin Weiping was satisfied with Shang Kun's progress; their collaboration grew increasingly harmonious, and their conversations naturally increased.
Finally, the end of the month arrived. After the second wife and her family had painfully complied with all her demands, Lin Weiping drove Shangkun's Mercedes-Benz to return the original documents. He then learned that John had been forced to return to his home country, and Xiao Chen hadn't fared well either, being demoted from cashier to cafeteria bookkeeper, her salary plummeting. The banks and suppliers, with their money safely in their pockets, were all delighted and, after learning the inside story, were very grateful to Lin Weiping. What was initially a very unfavorable situation had, through Lin Weiping's skillful arrangements, finally achieved a relatively satisfactory ending. From this experience, Lin Weiping learned a valuable lesson: he should always treat others and himself with kindness.
Turning the steering wheel to leave the company where he had worked for nearly six years, Lin Weiping was filled with mixed emotions. He wondered whether they would become friends or enemies; he estimated the latter was more likely. John was gone, and now the company was controlled by a junior boss and a relative surnamed Mao. The dynamic was completely different from before. If they met again in the business world, logically, it was a battle between two tigers, each relying on their own abilities, and there was no need for either to yield. Emotionally, John's departure had eliminated Lin Weiping's last remaining reservations. From now on, he could only wait and see.
After severing all ties with his former employer, the first person he needed to inform was Shang Kun. He'd been using that phone number frequently lately, knowing it by heart, and could dial it in the blink of an eye. Strangely, Shang Kun seemed to be quite free; his calls were almost always answered without much trouble. Perhaps when managing a company and truly smoothing out internal and external relationships, the person in charge could simply relax. Lin Weiping felt this skill was worth studying in depth.
As expected, the call went smoothly this time. Shang Kun knew who it was as soon as he saw the number and cut straight to the point: "Xiao Lin, the equipment design institute we contacted is arriving today. Although we can ask Engineer Wang to take care of the parameters, you should at least find some excuse to meet with them tonight. I can't do this for you."
"Perfect timing, Mr. Shang. I was just about to tell you that I can now step into the limelight. I've settled everything at the other company, so you can confront Liao Huizheng directly. He doesn't need to attend tonight's meeting. Also, it would be best if we met with Engineer Wang together to discuss things. We need to agree on what we've just said about our collaboration."
Shang Kun chuckled inwardly as he listened to the phone call. He hadn't noticed it before, only that Lin Weiping was unusually serious and unsmiling when working. Today, having officially taken over, her very first phone call was imposing and concise, as if she were the boss, not him. However, Shang Kun privately quite liked this assertive and straightforward work style. But he was a little confused about Engineer Wang's situation, so he asked directly, "Why are you giving Engineer Wang special attention?" People with such strong financial backing are sometimes easier to get along with, less sensitive.
While driving, Lin Weiping said without much thought, "You'll know after spending time with Engineer Wang that he's a typical old intellectual, someone who deserves more respect than anything else. The more you involve him, the more dedicated he becomes. So if we tell him that we just finalized the cooperation, he'll feel very respected. We're not trying to harm him; slightly concealing the truth will make things more pleasant for everyone."
Shang Kun couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Xiao Lin, I really admire you young people for being able to talk about unorthodox methods so confidently. Alright, before we deal with Xiao Liao, let's meet somewhere outside. You choose a place and we'll have lunch together."
It was time for dinner again. Neither of the two meals Lin Weiping and Shang Kun had eaten had been enjoyable. Today, she was determined to order her own food without any hesitation.
Shang Kun continued, "Our projects, such as the water and electricity infrastructure, will be up and running soon. Since you've left your original company, could you recruit a few suitable people to come and install them?"
Lin Weiping refused without hesitation: "No, my current job is stable. Poaching people would require a high price, which isn't worthwhile. People we recruit would be arrogant and difficult to integrate later. Besides, water and electricity aren't unique skills. We can hire a master-level technician from your company, Mr. Shang, who can train the new recruits. The installation of the main equipment will be the job of machine operators. When it's time for trial operation, I'll naturally influence the morale of my current employees and get those who were hesitant to come over on their own. That way, we don't have to pay too high wages, and it'll be easier to manage. But that's a matter for later."
Lin Weiping's clever calculations aligned perfectly with Shang Kun's philosophy, prompting him to nod in approval. In truth, asking Lin Weiping these questions also served as a test, and she had passed with flying colors. The amount of spending a manager can save is actually quite flexible; even a seemingly insignificant detail requires careful consideration, like planning a move three steps ahead in chess, taking all aspects into account. Lin Weiping had already mastered this art.
The so-called lunch break with Wang Gong was just a brief chat. But the fact that the two of them were together speaking with Wang Gong made a difference to him; the old intellectuals were very responsive to that approach. Without any prompting, the conversation quickly shifted to their meeting with the equipment design institute that evening. Shang Kun, naturally, had nothing to say. Wang Gong, an expert in the technology, and Lin Weiping, an expert in business, discussed the matter amongst themselves, with Lin Weiping always summarizing and concisely reporting the interim results to Shang Kun. Although Shang Kun wasn't familiar with the industry, his years of experience in management and business meant he knew the conclusions were impeccable. So, after a few moments, Shang Kun felt he was getting in the way. After lunch, he stood up and said, "You two continue your discussion; I'll go back and talk to Xiao Liao."
Lin Weiping smiled and stood up to see him off: "I'd like to trouble you again, President Shang, to assign us a secretary tonight to take meeting minutes. Although I can do these things myself, having too few staff in a new company gives a bad impression and makes people think we're stingy. If we give the impression of being too shrewd at our first meeting with the design institute, they'll be prepared for a tough battle when negotiating design fees later, which won't be very advantageous for us."
Shang Kun chuckled, "Xiao Liao's preparatory office may lack many things, but it's got all the essential personnel." Even Engineer Wang could hear the sarcasm in Shang Kun's words. After Shang Kun left, Engineer Wang complained, "It's still in the preparatory stage, nothing's settled yet, but our preparatory office already has secretaries, clerks, and translators. The young women just wait for meals and leave work all day, or they chatter and eat snacks, not at all like they're doing any work. Compared to when you were the same age, they're far behind."
Lin Weiping knew Wang Gong's temperament; he always liked to say things like "each generation is worse than the last." When she first started working for Wang Gong, she was unfamiliar with professional English and had to endure countless nagging from him, spending several nights struggling to understand the product manuals. However, Wang Gong didn't hold grudges. A month later, he praised Lin Weiping to everyone, and he's been praising her ever since. Lin Weiping understood his personality—focusing on technical details and not personal relationships—so she found him easy to get along with and even developed a respect and protective feeling towards this kind old man. With someone she didn't understand, like her previous boss, Wang Gong would often have become a bridge to be discarded after use. But she wondered what Shang Kun thought of Wang Gong. The fact that he still respected him showed that Shang Kun's ability to judge people and his interpersonal skills were quite remarkable.
Lin Weiping understood perfectly well that today's negotiation with the design institute was, needless to say, the final test arranged by Shang Kun. Before tonight's end, the talk of a 10% stake and Liao Huizheng's withdrawal were all just empty promises. Because she had been operating behind the scenes for some time, known only to Shang Kun and herself, Shang Kun could easily erase her involvement. Who knew how Shang Kun had negotiated with Liao Huizheng? Perhaps it was just a temporary excuse to send him away. If he wasn't satisfied with today's test, Liao Huizheng would be the one receiving the design institute tomorrow. But Lin Weiping considered this perfectly reasonable. In capitalism, the wealthy are king. Shang Kun had invested so much; of course, he had the necessity and the right to test the future general manager repeatedly. As long as he didn't go too far, and Lin Weiping wouldn't lose anything by getting involved now, she had no right to criticize him. However, Lin Weiping was confident in herself. After years of hard work, she is already well-known in the industry. If Shang Kun had the opportunity to conduct a test to score everyone, Lin Weiping believed that her score would definitely be in the top three. The only disadvantages were her gender and age.
Of course, Lin Weiping pretended not to know anything when they met, but she overheard Shang Kun standing in the hotel lobby, saying to the young woman beside him, "This is our new host for the SWS project, General Manager Lin. Xiao Lin, let's get acquainted. This is Xiao Liao's former secretary, Xiao Liang, right? Xiao Liang, you'll be working with General Manager Lin today." Lin Weiping thought to herself, "Just as I expected. Tonight, I'm still not clear-headed. The title of 'host' can be interpreted in many ways, depending on how others understand it." If she fails the exam tonight, it doesn't matter if the SWS project doesn't have a host, as long as the program director is in place.
Lin Weiping smiled and said to Xiao Liang, "Since President Shang has given such an order, then I will respectfully comply. Xiao Liang, go to the front desk to check on the availability of our meeting rooms. Ask them to open the door so you can go in and check it out. If you have time, review this document and prepare your notes. If they also book meeting rooms for the next few days, have them cancel them all." Then she said to Shang Kun, "President Shang, would you like to come with us to the rooms where the engineers from the design institute are staying? I plan to go with Engineer Wang to their rooms first to familiarize ourselves with them and ease the atmosphere, so we don't have a tense meeting." Although Lin Weiping knew she was only playing a supporting role, she still wanted to play the part convincingly. Only by playing her part well could she fully demonstrate her social skills.
Wang, puzzled, asked softly, "Why cancel the meeting room? We can only discuss the basic framework today; we'll need it for the next few days."
Lin Weiping naturally wouldn't reveal her true intentions to Engineer Wang, only giving the most superficial reason: "There are meeting rooms everywhere; we don't need to spend this much money on a hotel meeting room." Her real reason was that she planned to ask Shang Kun to use his company's meeting room after today's meeting. If he agreed, it would confirm her identity, allowing her to appear in public and move the project to a more substantive stage. If he didn't agree, she could go back to whatever she was doing, and say goodbye to the SWS project with Shang Kun. It could be seen as a test, but more importantly, it was a way to force Shang Kun to make a clear appointment.
The people at the design institute recognized Engineer Wang, but only after mentioning that they had previously worked for a certain company did they say "I've heard so much about you." Lin Weiping, of course, was determined to get acquainted with everyone, chatting with the senior engineers about colleagues across the country, and then, at an opportune moment, guiding the cheerful group to the meeting room. Once everyone was seated and the waitress poured tea, Lin Weiping, though still smiling, straightened his voice and said, "The three senior engineers must already be familiar with the requirements and parameters we provided. According to our approach, this production line will be the first of its kind in China. However, the lack of similar production lines in China isn't due to immature technology, but rather a lack of experience. The design and commissioning of this production line will not only break the foreign companies' monopoly on the Chinese market for related products, earning us high added-value profits, but for your design institute, the day we successfully launch production will also be the day you showcase your strength to your peers—a win-win situation. Today, we've met mainly to unify our thinking and finalize the design concept. The three senior engineers are kindly requested to speak frankly and without reservation."
Shang Kun chuckled inwardly. This girl knew that there were no reference materials available for the design of this first-ever production line in China, and the design institute would definitely use that as an excuse to raise the design fee. But she preemptively struck a chord, saying that this was already mature technology, readily available, and that the design institute would also greatly benefit from a successful design, immediately silencing any potential reasons or attempts by the design institute to demand a higher price. She was truly a clever person in every way.
After that, Shang Kun remained mostly silent, as he lacked expertise and couldn't even make decisions regarding the submission date for the initial design draft. However, unlike Xiao Liang, who was overwhelmed by a barrage of technical terms and numbers, he subtly observed the changing atmosphere between the lines. He could tell that the three chief engineers from the design institute had shifted their attitude towards Lin Weiping from condescending to treating her like a junior, to treating her as an equal and showing mutual respect. He could also see that Lin Weiping's speech was measured and controlled, occasionally interjecting with jokes, maintaining a relaxed and lively atmosphere without any tension. Clearly, Lin Weiping had subtly maintained control of the conversation throughout.
At the end, Lin Weiping unplugged the USB drive from his laptop and handed it to Xiao Liang, instructing her to print it at the business center. Xiao Liang felt instantly relieved; she had been worrying about how to write the meeting minutes. While printing, she looked at Lin Weiping's concise and to-the-point notes and was filled with admiration, developing a great deal of goodwill towards him.
Lin Weiping, however, remained vigilant. She knew it was time to ask Shang Kun for his opinion. So she addressed the three senior engineers who were whispering amongst themselves: "You three must have heard that our General Manager Shang is also involved in the chemical equipment manufacturing industry, which you are all familiar with, and that our company is currently one of the best in the country. Would you three be interested in visiting General Manager Shang's company tomorrow for guidance, and perhaps we could occupy his conference room for a few days?"
This was a veiled attack, a pretense to probe Shang Kun's attitude. While seemingly discussing the matter with the design institute, it was actually a test of Shang Kun's resolve. Amidst the cheers of the three senior engineers, Shang Kun, understanding their unspoken meaning, smiled and said, "That's a good idea. Xiao Lin, you'll bring the three senior engineers to my company tomorrow. I'll accompany them on a tour of the workshop, and Xiao Lin can also get to know your parent company." They exchanged knowing smiles. Lin Weiping knew the matter was settled.
seven
Thanks to nearly a month of meticulous behind-the-scenes planning, once things officially started, everything proceeded flawlessly according to Lin Weiping's predetermined schedule. His subordinates, whom Wang Gong had described as just playful girls, were now, as Xiao Liang put it, incredibly busy, practically invisible. Xiao Liang, a girl with a law degree and a self-taught bachelor's degree in business administration, possessed abundant energy and a clear drive for success, reminding Lin Weiping of his own early days in management. However, the thought of Xiao Chen's rosy cheeks, who had betrayed him, was like a bone stuck in his throat, causing his initial enthusiasm for mentoring to vanish. It was up to her; if she could break through the high-intensity work and prove herself, Lin Weiping would certainly not treat her unfairly.
Lin Weiping, on the other hand, had ample time to relax in his office, browsing the internet and indulging in leisure. A top-level manager should prioritize tasks, focusing on personnel management and a firm grasp of the company's overall strategy, rather than personally taking the lead. A manager preoccupied with trivial matters will inevitably lose sight of the bigger picture and fail to grasp the overall situation. This is probably why Shang Kun was always available when contacted by phone.
However, when Shang Kun needed to intervene, Lin Weiping could no longer remain complacent. After reviewing the revised draft from the architectural design institute, Lin Weiping compared it to the planning map and felt there were still some modifications that could be made. The new company was located in a newly planned industrial park, and according to the plan, most of the land there had already been allocated, awaiting development. The new company was situated along the park's main road, a prime location apparently obtained by Shang Kun through his connections. It seemed a waste not to capitalize on such a prime location, so Lin Weiping made a phone call to Shang Kun, explaining his ideas. "I know that a manufacturing company can't use factory land for tertiary industries, but is there a workaround? Could we outsource the canteen and such to a third party while still ensuring the workers' meals? How can we skirt the policy? If possible, Mr. Shang, could you arrange a meeting with the new company's neighbors to discuss this? I have a small suggestion; see if anyone is interested."
Shang Kun was indeed interested upon hearing this and laughed, "The canteen accounts for the majority of the logistics costs, and the expenses and management are an unfathomable bottomless pit. I've also considered your suggestion. Looking at the new factory area plan, just the canteen and its supporting facilities take up more than an acre of land, which pains me. That cost tens of thousands of yuan per acre, yet there's only input and no output. We're separated from our left neighbor by a side road, so it might not be useful, but our right neighbor is right next door. That boss is a good friend of mine; he makes toys, and we both have our eyes on this land. His family runs a labor-intensive enterprise with hundreds of female workers, so he must be even more worried about this than I am. Come pick me up in ten minutes, and I'll immediately arrange for us to go to the site together."
That's the advantage of talking to smart people: you give them one thing, and they think of ten; you have a good idea, and they immediately agree and act on it. Having only been working together for a short time, Lin Weiping and Shang Kun were already working seamlessly together, their teamwork remarkably harmonious, seemingly born partners. This made Lin Weiping reflect on his relationship with Gong Chao. When they spoke, one would point east while the other understood west. It wasn't that either of them was slow-witted, but rather that they were simply not on the same wavelength. Only when discussing things completely unrelated to work, like travel, literature, leisure, and food, would they find common ground.
Shang Kun walked a few steps to the road outside the company to wait for Lin Weiping's car, which puzzled Lin Weiping slightly. She knew that Shang Kun never acted impulsively; everything he did was planned. To interpret his few steps as Shang Kun being in a good mood because of the beautiful spring weather and wanting to leisurely stroll and enjoy the late spring air would be a misunderstanding. However, Lin Weiping couldn't guess Shang Kun's true intentions. After all, she hadn't known him for long and had limited information. Aside from the SWS project, where she was confident she could understand and even slightly manipulate Shang Kun's thinking, she was powerless to do anything else. But there was plenty of time, and Lin Weiping felt that since she was going to continue working with Shang Kun, understanding his other aspects was still very necessary. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated—that's what our ancestors said.
But Shang Kun opened the car door with a grin and said, "Xiao Lin, you sit in the passenger seat. I haven't driven my car in ages, and I've been missing it terribly. Let your old master drive it today." He got into the driver's seat and handed Lin Weiping a file folder. "Look at me, I've become an unofficial subordinate of yours. I ran around everywhere and finally got your business license approved. You'll have to treat me to a meal sometime to reward me."
Lin Weiping thought to herself that Shang Kun had had plenty of opportunities to drive the car he lent her recently, but she had never heard him mention it. Could this sudden action today be a casual gesture, like waiting for a car on a spring day? Definitely not. So the problem lay with the business license in her hand. His offer to drive was probably to free Lin Weiping's eyes, hands, and head to carefully examine the stack of documents. Thinking this, Lin Weiping didn't stand on ceremony and took out the original license to look at it. She was surprised to find that only the name "Lin Weiping" was familiar in the vice-chairman's section; all the other names were unfamiliar. What was going on? She looked at Shang Kun thoughtfully, wanting to ask, but held back. She didn't want to make a fuss and give Shang Kun a bad impression. So she took out the feasibility report on top. The report was basically copied from Liao Huizheng's submission. The two had agreed on this beforehand, feeling that since both parties had reached a consensus, it was dispensable and unnecessary to waste energy on it; as long as it was passable, that was enough. However, Lin Weiping still had a second thought and quickly glanced at the key content above. Seeing that there was no difference, he put it aside.
Then she took out an agreement, but Lin Weiping thought for a moment and decided to get straight to the point. She put down the agreement and found the company's articles of association. She skimmed through it, then read it carefully, but the more she read, the less she understood. It was filled with unfamiliar investment companies, chairmen, and directors. What did they have to do with Shang Kun? Meanwhile, the car had arrived at the industrial park. Seeing the newly built industrial park made it easy to understand the phrase "bustling with activity." The roads in the park were not well-maintained, making it easier for dump trucks loaded with sand and gravel to drive recklessly. When Shang Kun saw a dump truck coming from the other side of the temporary bridge, he obediently stopped on his side of the bridge to let it pass. After the car had passed, just as he was about to start the car in the swirling yellow sand, he suddenly heard Lin Weiping exclaim softly, "Good heavens, where did he go?" Then he saw her open the car door and run out, throwing off her coat and shoes, and plunge into the water under the bridge.
Shang Kun suddenly remembered that before the dump truck passed, there was a person pushing a bicycle on the bridge, but after the truck passed, the person and bicycle disappeared. Could it be that the person was pushed into the water by the truck? Shang Kun quickly jumped out of the truck and ran to the riverbank. Sure enough, he saw a young woman struggling in the water, while Lin Weiping was already shouting "Don't panic, don't panic!" and swimming towards the woman. Shang Kun couldn't swim, but he knew how difficult it was to rescue someone in the water. He had heard that even an adult who could swim could be driven to death by a drowning child. He hurriedly dialed the police from the shore while anxiously watching the situation in the water. Lin Weiping was amazing. She dodged the woman's wildly flailing hands, grabbed her long hair, and swam back to shore. Shang Kun immediately understood that this position was the least likely to be entangled by a drowning person. He quickly assessed the current situation, found the best spot to get ashore, and shouted, "Xiao Lin, Lin Weiping, this is the closest, come closer, come closer!"