In the evening, past nine o'clock, many workers from the electronics factory had finished their shifts. However, in a private room within the staff canteen, there was a lively atmosphere of toasting and conversation.
This was arranged at Qin Chuan's specific request. Originally, Ye Meiyun would have surely wanted to host a grand welcome banquet for him at a high-end restaurant, but Qin Chuan politely declined.
He and Ye Meiyun were not outsiders; it was just a simple dinner, and there was no need for extravagance.
Even so, the meal served in the factory canteen was quite generous, complete with two bottles of Maotai.
Qin Chuan, Ye Meiyun, Section Chief Xu, and Engineer Li sat facing each other around a modest table, enjoying the food and engaging in pleasant conversation.
The topic of their discussion naturally revolved around the main subject of the evening – the electronic storage lockers!
After inquiring, Qin Chuan learned that both Ye Meiyun, Section Chief Xu, and Engineer Li had genuinely put in a great deal of effort to create the electronic storage lockers. The real challenge wasn't the materials, but the control system.
After all, it was only 1998, and this field had always been a weakness in China. Developing a system specifically adapted for electronic storage lockers was exceedingly difficult.
To overcome this, they had sought extensive help. After many inquiries, they found top-tier talent in this area from the Chinese Academy of Sciences by investing a significant sum of money. After more than a month of dedicated research and development, they finally succeeded.
Subsequently, the remaining time was spent on repeated experimentation, refinement, and improvements. In the blink of an eye, over three months had passed.
As of yesterday, after no less than a thousand experiments, both Ye Meiyun, Section Chief Xu, and Engineer Li were confident that the electronic storage lockers had no flaws.
This led to Ye Meiyun calling Qin Chuan to share the good news.
Upon hearing the twists and turns involved, Qin Chuan couldn't help but stand up, raising his wine glass.
"Sister Yun, Section Chief Xu, Engineer Li, I'd like to propose a toast to all of you!"
"You have all truly worked hard!"
"Compared to your strenuous efforts, I, as a shareholder, have had it too easy. I merely offered an idea and then left, leaving all the difficulties for you."
Hearing Qin Chuan's words, Section Chief Xu and Engineer Li quickly stood up.
"Boss Qin, you are too kind with your words!"
"This was all our responsibility, as it should be! As it should be!" Section Chief Xu said first.
Engineer Li chimed in, "We researchers, apart from understanding some technology, are far from being big bosses like you in other aspects."
"Now that the electronic storage locker has been developed, its future promotion and sales will depend on you, General Manager Ye, and you, Boss Qin!"
To this day, Section Chief Xu and Engineer Li were unaware of Qin Chuan's true background. In their minds, they clearly viewed Qin Chuan as a protégé of some powerful elite, which was why they dared not put on airs when Qin Chuan spoke so politely.
"Xiao Chuan, Section Chief Xu and Engineer Li are actually very right," Ye Meiyun said softly, standing up at this moment.
"We are a small team, and as a team, we have our respective roles from the start."
"You indeed did not participate in the specific research and development process of the electronic storage locker, but the brilliant inspiration for this idea came from you. Furthermore, after the electronic storage locker is made, you will be responsible for its sales and promotion."
"Therefore, everyone is equal; no one has contributed more or less. Everything is done willingly."
Qin Chuan nodded. This was clearly stipulated in the contract they had signed that day, and he was well aware of it.
However, given his experience and life journey, he wouldn't say such things at the dinner table because his position was not suitable. Ye Meiyun was the most appropriate person to do so.
"Even so, the top talents like Section Chief Xu and Engineer Li are like national treasures, giant pandas, to any enterprise at any time. They deserve the gratitude of us laymen who don't understand technology!"
"So, I must propose this toast again!"
With that, Qin Chuan tilted his head and finished his drink in one go, his actions swift and unpretentious.
"Boss Qin, you're too kind! We'll drink it too then!"
Section Chief Xu and Engineer Li were clearly moved by Qin Chuan's display and quickly raised their glasses, emptying them.
Ye Meiyun noticed this and said with a wry smile, "Since you've all drunk, I can only accompany you."
Saying this, she tilted her swan-like neck and drained the Maotai in her glass.
Perhaps due to drinking too quickly, a captivating blush appeared on her fair and beautiful face. In the lamplight, the mature beauty of the woman was alluring.
Qin Chuan noticed Section Chief Xu surreptitiously swallowing as he stared at Ye Meiyun's chest.
As if sensing he was being watched, Section Chief Xu snapped back to attention, and upon realizing it was Qin Chuan, he gave an awkward smile and picked up a soft drink on the table to conceal his guilt.
Qin Chuan, however, paid it no mind. For a mature and alluring woman like Ye Meiyun, it would be abnormal for men *not* to look. Desire is human nature, something ingrained in one's bones. Only in the coffin would such thoughts cease.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, when everyone was full, Qin Chuan proposed to go and see the finished electronic storage locker.
"Everything has already been prepared!"
"Come, follow me to the laboratory!"
Ye Meiyun stood up and led everyone to the laboratory.
As they pushed open the laboratory door and turned on the lights, Qin Chuan's eyes immediately lit up.
On a cleared space stood several three-dimensional light steel cabinets, all uniformly colored in blue and white.
The cabinet doors were blue, while the rest of the body was silver-white. This color scheme was very natural, shimmering attractively under the lights, almost identical to the electronic storage lockers he had seen in his later life.
The cabinet doors were square, each approximately 300mm in area, with a height of over 270mm and a width close to 500mm.
In the very center was a glowing port, beneath which was a numerical keypad, similar to a computer, and buttons marked "Deposit" and "Withdrawal."
Everything was manufactured precisely according to the design drawings Qin Chuan had provided, executed perfectly.
At the same time, Qin Chuan also saw different configurations, such as six-door, nine-door, twelve-door, and even more.
This could almost meet the needs of many organizations.
Qin Chuan reached out and gently touched, then tapped, the storage locker. It emitted a dull sound, indicating sturdy quality.
"Let me try its functionality."
Finally, he pressed the "Deposit" button. Immediately, there was movement at the glowing port, a buzzing sound, and a small piece of paper appeared. Then, with a "pop," a tightly closed cabinet door automatically opened without anyone touching it.
Qin Chuan's eyes lit up completely. He took out the small slip of paper and was surprised to find it had four digits instead of the barcodes he expected from his later life.
"This is the password!"
Section Chief Xu, standing nearby, explained, "When a customer comes to retrieve their items, they simply input the password on this slip of paper, and the cabinet door will automatically pop open."
Qin Chuan tested it on the spot, and the password worked.
"What if a customer unfortunately loses this small slip of paper and forgets the password? What should they do then?" Qin Chuan posed another crucial question.