El carnívoro

Lin Weiping was dragged out of bed early Sunday morning by her mother, who had come to the city to visit her. She was in a very bad mood after listening to a phone call from her old classmate's son. She cleared her throat, half-closed her eyes, and finished the call. Just as she was about to sneak back to get some sleep, her mother stopped her and asked, "What did you promise him at dinner yesterday? It sounds like you've changed your mind now."

Lin Weiping was only thinking about sleeping, so he lazily replied, "Yes, I told him to register a company in Hong Kong, which would offer better tax benefits."

Her mother persisted, saying, "But you promised yesterday, how can you change your mind so easily? We can't be so untrustworthy."

Lin Weiping glanced at his mother's very serious face, knowing that if he didn't explain clearly, his usually straightforward mother would get angry. He could only sigh inwardly, abandoning the idea of going back to sleep, and explained to his mother: "Yes, yesterday that kid said he wanted to start a trading company. I thought since he's your classmate's son, I could help him. Besides, our company bought a commercial property in the development zone at a high price. Because it faces the sea, it's being used as a vacation home by the young owner, which is a shame not to take advantage of the development zone's policies. My original idea was to lend him the property certificate for registration, so your classmate's son could enjoy three years of income tax exemption and VAT reduction for free. I think he understands very well how much he'll benefit from it. Yesterday his eyes lit up when he heard this, and today..." The fact that they called so early to finalize things is proof enough. But this guy is a jerk. Last night, they were the ones who suggested having dinner together. Including his wife, there was one more person than us, and he's a small business owner worth millions, plus he's a man. He wanted me to do him that favor, and he had the nerve to not even be polite, making me, a working-class person, pay for the several hundred yuan meal. And today he has the nerve to call again asking for this "bargain." He's a businessman; he can't be unaware of this kind of tactic. I offered him this benefit yesterday, and he didn't even give a response. Why would I be stupid enough to help him again? No way.

"But why did you recommend him to start a foreign-invested enterprise?" The mother, who had a technical background, was confused by her daughter's reasoning. She felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She just wanted to figure out what had happened on that phone call first.

The daughter sneered, "He called me so early in the morning, I couldn't just bluntly refuse him, so I steered the conversation to another discount. I was basically telling him I wasn't going to help him. He got the hint after a few words. Hey, I suspect he's regretting losing out on something so small right now." With that, she went to wash up, feeling smug.

The mother followed her in worriedly and said, "Actually, this is just a small favor for you. Please, for the sake of me, do me a favor. It's not good to go back on your word like this."

Lin Weiping flatly refused: "No, I help people based on who they are. If the other party is obviously not on the right track, I might as well help a random passerby. Besides, even though my private use of the company's property certificate doesn't affect the company, I still have to bear the consequences."

After hearing this, the mother couldn't ask her daughter for anything more; after all, her daughter wasn't as important as her classmate. But after thinking about it again, there was still a lingering unease...

Feeling a lump in my throat, I couldn't help but say to my daughter at the dinner table, "Aping, you may not realize it yourself, but the tone of your voice is really unpleasant."

His words were arbitrary, like he was giving orders. Like yesterday at dinner, he only briefly asked for everyone's opinions before ordering all the dishes himself. And what happened then?

There are two of your elders at the table, how could you do this? And now, with her son's matter, you've turned on her again over a single disagreement, showing absolutely no consideration.

At least say a few nice words. This kind of behavior isn't good; it'll offend people. Don't think you're so powerful.

Since graduating and being assigned a job, Lin Weiping had rarely heard her mother criticize her. Knowing that her mother, who was somewhat doting on her daughter, wouldn't criticize her based solely on two incidents from yesterday unless she was truly fed up, she paused for a moment, then earnestly leaned on the table and asked, "Am I really speaking so tactlessly right now?"

Mom frowned and said, "Would I lie to you? Even your father says you sound so stiff and businesslike when you call home these days. You're right, that's called lacking strategy."

You can distrust anyone, but Lin Weiping believed her parents would never lie to their daughter. It seemed her words really had a problem. She thought seriously for a moment and said, "Mom, you know it's not easy for a young woman like me to be in a management position second only to the head of a large foreign company. Countless people resent being managed by a woman, especially a young woman. When I first got promoted to HR, I even got a perm to look older, hoping to project a more serious image. Maybe I adjusted my tone of voice then too. Over the years, sitting in this position, it's possible that it's subtly influenced me. I didn't intend to be so aggressive in my personal life; maybe this is just an occupational hazard."

Mom sighed and said, "Your dad and I don't care. We know it's not easy for you to build this empire all by yourself, but we understand. Others won't think that way. People you manage may outwardly obey you, but they won't feel comfortable inside. They'll feel disrespected and won't be on your side. When you need to ask them for help in a big situation, see who will help you. People you associate with will think you're young and arrogant, lacking manners, difficult to get along with, and prone to making mistakes. No one will treat you sincerely; there will only be relationships based on mutual benefit. China is still a country where personal connections matter. If you have good relationships, everything is negotiable; if you don't, everything will be handled strictly by the book, and they might even hold you back. Don't be fooled by your seemingly strong career, tough skills, and wide network. You're working yourself to the bone, exhausting yourself. You're 29 years old and you've only just found a boyfriend, yet people who manage large corporations still manage to be decent people. You're right, you just lack strategy."

Lin Weiping knew that her mother's words had logical flaws, but they still conveyed her meaning in a roundabout way. Had she really become such an unapproachable person? This question made Lin Weiping think for a long time.

two

Springtime weather is warm and pleasant, and people feel lazy, but a whole host of things are still coming up, forcing Lin Weiping to work himself to the bone. Even Engineer Wang, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, joined in the fun, spontaneously calling Lin Weiping in the morning to invite him to dinner that evening.

This old gentleman was a very meticulous, old-fashioned intellectual. His technical skills were impeccable, but he was utterly clueless about social niceties. He was originally a founding member of the company, but he frequently and inappropriately contradicted the opinions of the boss, who had some knowledge of the field. The boss tolerated this until the company started production, finally getting rid of him. Lin Weiping often assisted him in arguing with the foreign engineers who provided the equipment. These arguments fostered a close friendship between the two, improved her English, and secured her prominent position, which clearly benefited her future career. When Engineer Wang made a rare dinner invitation, Lin Weiping guessed he must have something to discuss with her, so she didn't hesitate to cancel her date with her boyfriend, which she had arranged the previous week. Although she was approaching thirty, she didn't want to devote too much attention to her boyfriend, so she ignored his complaints on the phone. However, after a moment's pause, she remembered her mother's suggestion and felt that this might be a bit too harsh. She quickly called her boyfriend to tell him that the boss's second wife was coming the next day, and that arrangements for the following days were impossible, asking him to find his own entertainment. This was a way of informing him beforehand, not ignoring his concerns.

Lin Weiping entered the private dining room at the crack of a second. Unsurprisingly, besides Engineer Wang, she saw two other men inside. One of them, slightly younger, seemed a bit surprised that Lin Weiping was so young, glancing at her several times. Engineer Wang explained frankly that the bespectacled, imposing middle-aged man was Shang Kun, from a well-known hydraulic components manufacturer in the city, currently considering a project similar to Lin Weiping's factory. The younger, white-collar-looking man was Liao Huizheng, the project's preliminary office director. They had wisely brought in Engineer Wang, and Lin Weiping believed they had taken a crucial step in the right direction.

Engineer Wang said directly, "Xiao Lin, your company's products have good prospects. President Shang feels that his products and this product are basically the same type of customers, so he is also preparing to invest in this SWS project. However, they are not familiar with SWS at the moment, and I can't give a comprehensive answer. At most, I can check the technology and equipment. So I called you out to hear your opinion. I hope it won't be too difficult for you."

Looking into the sincere eyes behind Wang Gong's reading glasses, Lin Weiping knew that this was helping to create an adversary, which was obviously detrimental to the company, and even more so to her if acquaintances saw it. However, she couldn't bear to refuse this earnest and stubborn old man, and smiled and said, "Of course, as long as today's conversation ends at the door of this private room, I think there will be no problem. If everyone goes to SWS together, it can also attract customers and boost popularity."

Upon seeing her agree, Liao Hui casually placed a thick "Feasibility Report" on the table and said in a slightly smug tone, "Please give me your expert advice, Miss Lin."

Lin Weiping knew that the report must be his masterpiece. He was absolutely confident in its success. The idea of seeking expert critique was definitely not his true feeling, but rather the feeling of Shang Kun, the person who had paid for it. Judging from Liao Hui's appearance, he seemed to be the kind of person her mother described as "young and arrogant, lacking manners, difficult to deal with, and prone to making mistakes." Lin Weiping seemed to see her own former arrogance reflected in his face, and she secretly became wary, reminding herself not to appear shallow again and be looked down upon. However, she didn't hold back in praising him: "Wow, such a detailed report! Engineer Wang, back then, it was a project the boss made on a whim. We only hastily put together a report to appease them when it came time to approve the foreign investment registration. If Manager Liao had considered things as thoroughly, Engineer Wang could have avoided so many arguments with the boss." Since she hadn't looked at it yet, she was at least conscientious enough not to call it meticulous, leaving room for ambiguity.

Fortunately, Shang Kun was a sensible person. He smiled and gently scolded, "Xiao Liao, how can we hog Miss Lin's meal? Come on, let's eat and chat."

Upon hearing this, Lin Weiping happily pushed aside the report and first filled his rumbling stomach. Since no one drank alcohol, the dinner ended quickly and was somewhat dull, a common occurrence when socializing with unfamiliar people without alcohol.

After the meal, out of consideration for Lin Weiping, they decided not to change locations. Shang Kun ordered four cups of good tea to be brewed, and then they officially got down to business.

Lin Weiping only flipped through a few pages before realizing the report was all show and no substance, a mere collection of technical jargon. While detailed after removing the fluff, the content was highly impractical, clearly the work of an amateur. However, to save face for Liao Huizheng, she forced herself to pretend to read on carefully, while internally struggling with whether to speak the truth and point out the problems directly, or to play along and give a perfunctory answer. Only after turning the last page did she make her decision, respectfully handing the report back to Liao Huizheng with both hands and asking, "Manager Liao, are you a project management major? It's a very well-written report."

Liao Hui said modestly but with a hint of pride, "Thank you for your kind words, Miss Lin. I am an engineering student and I am currently pursuing an M degree."

"Ah, so it's because of the combination of practice and theory." Lin Weiping smiled and turned to Shang Kun, saying, "Manager Liao's ability to understand the SWS project, which was previously unfamiliar, so much, and to write such a beautiful and detailed report, is truly remarkable. He considered almost everything that needed to be taken into account, even the details of the future staff accommodations. It's truly impressive." She then had a change of heart and didn't say that Liao Huizheng had a thorough understanding, a brilliantly written report, or comprehensive considerations. She thought that Shang Kun's hard work and achievements couldn't be due to luck; he was, after all, a shrewd old fox, and he should understand the implication in her words. This matter should be left unresolved; there was no need to damage the relationship over someone unfamiliar like Shang Kun. Things change, and who knows when they might run into Liao Huizheng again? Her mother's advice was crucial. She believed that given Liao Huizheng's experience and somewhat overconfidence, he would only understand the literal meaning of her words, and he was probably still pleased that someone was praising him in front of his boss.

Wang Gong didn't catch the hidden meaning in her words and asked with some doubt, "Xiao Lin, you really don't have any objections?"

Faced with Engineer Wang's question, Lin Weiping was embarrassed and didn't know how to answer. Shang Kun smoothed things over, saying, "Xiao Liao has been with me for the past six months, visiting so many factories. He should be considered a semi-expert by now. After all, he studied engineering, so he understands things more easily and knows more details than I do. How about this, it's getting late, and everyone has worked hard all day. I'll take Engineer Wang home first, and Xiao Liao can take Miss Lin home. But I would also appreciate it if Miss Lin could take some time to consider this project again and give me some valuable advice."

Lin Weiping vaguely saw Shang Kun's eyes flicker when he said the word "details," but she couldn't tell from his words whether he really understood her meaning. After thinking about it, she decided not to say anything more, said goodbye to everyone at the door, and drove home.

three

Back home, after washing away her fatigue, Lin Weiping leaned against the bed, watching TV and lost in thought. The dinner party had nothing to do with her, so she didn't dwell on it. Her only concern was why the second wife, who had just visited at the end of last month, was here again; she didn't seem like a very career-driven person.

Thinking about facing the second wife, Lin Weiping couldn't help but take three deep breaths to calm himself. Years ago, the boss ventured into Southeast Asia, marrying a local woman to obtain citizenship. They had three mixed-race children: two sons and a daughter. Unexpectedly, after settling down, his business flourished, making him a leader in the country's industry. At this time, he felt inadequate towards his wife, who had a different cultural background, and developed a series of Chinese girlfriends outside the marriage. Meanwhile, the second wife was a cunning bar hostess who schemed to make a name for herself, giving birth to a son of pure Chinese descent for the boss. The boss was overjoyed and overcame all obstacles to bring her into his home as his second wife. Although she later moved out, the boss always brought her to overseas Chinese gatherings, and because of his son, he spent much more time at her house. Therefore, her presence seemed to surpass that of the first wife.

The second wife shared all the traits of a concubine, constantly creating a disturbance to assert her importance. Most of these disturbances fell into the category of unreasonable demands, often making life difficult for her subordinates. The general manager, a second-generation overseas Chinese, didn't speak Chinese, so everyone's grievances were directed to Lin Weiping, leaving her to both appease her staff and endure the second wife's tantrums—a situation she was caught in the middle. Therefore, the mere thought of the second wife's arrival gave her a headache. And this time, it wasn't just a headache; the second wife hadn't come with the boss but alone, and instead of flying directly, she had detoured to her parents' home. There must be a hidden reason behind this. But she racked her brains but couldn't figure out what it was.

Just as she was going through a lot of twists and turns, a phone call came to her cell phone. She looked at the unfamiliar number and realized it was Shang Kun's cell phone when she answered. She thought to herself, "What a person! What a person!" Without hesitation, she agreed to go out immediately to the place he specified so that they could talk in detail.

Talking to intelligent people is a very pleasant experience. Often, you say one sentence and the other person already understands the whole meaning; a single glance is enough for them to grasp the message. Shang Kun is such a person. Although he appears authoritative without being angry, Lin Weiping has seen many people like him. Since there's no conflict of interest, she can muster her courage and get through to him. Moreover, she sees in Shang Kun the realization of her long-conceived plan. Tonight, she must persuade Shang Kun to consider her plan, which has already been rejected by both the boss and the general manager.

Shang Kun was slightly disappointed to see Lin Weiping looking so relaxed in a cotton T-shirt and jeans after changing out of her smart business attire, and even had some doubts about her abilities. However, he still handed her the feasibility report and said sincerely, "I'm very sorry to have asked Ms. Lin out so late, but I think it's necessary for you to tell me what I couldn't say earlier. After all, this is an investment where I'm putting a lot of money into it, and I really hope you'll offer your guidance."

"Mr. Shang, you're too kind. Since it was Engineer Wang's request, I will naturally answer all your questions." She took the report from Shang Kun and placed it on the side of the table without even glancing at it. "What do you think of this report, Mr. Shang?"

Shang Kun was taken aback by her attitude towards the report, realizing even more clearly that it was beneath her notice. He had previously approved of Liao Huizheng's report, only seeking broader input because it was a new industry and he was unsure of its feasibility. Lin Weiping's complete rejection made him uneasy: was their original plan truly so worthless, or was this young woman simply arrogant and overconfident? Therefore, he carefully chose his wor

……