Zhan Jingrui pushed away the cup.
"Alright, it's getting late. You have work tomorrow, so let's stop here. I'm heading back."
Xu Zheng quickly stood up to stop him, stammering, somewhat embarrassed.
"Don't rush off. I've been talking for ages, but I haven't gotten to the real point yet."
"Top student. For the sake of us being deskmates for so many years, can you do me a favor?"
So, this enthusiasm had a hidden agenda.
Zhan Jingrui looked at him, his face flushed red and neck thick from drinking, and suddenly realized the sorrow of being an adult.
This meager bit of classmate affection was about to be exploited as soon as they met.
"Tell me."
"I know it's not right. We haven't been in touch for so many years, and as soon as we meet... I'm too ashamed to say it, which is why I've been dithering until now. But I'm truly desperate!"
"My dad and mom divorced later, right? My mom and I have had a tough time these past few years."
"Using the money my mom got from the divorce, I started a company making smart home accessories. Everything was from scratch, it was very hard, and it's been really difficult to keep it going."
"Actually, our technology and quality are decent, but we're small-scale and can't find big companies to cooperate with. Zhan Group's branch in Sucheng is so large, if you could just divert a little business to me..."
So, that was the reason.
Zhan Jingrui refused him, "I'm sorry, I just returned to the country and haven't reported to the company yet. I don't know anything about the company's affairs."
Xu Zheng quickly added.
"I know, I know, I'm discussing it with you. I'm not trying to force you using our past connection, nor do I want to make things difficult for you. How about this? Go to my company. Tomorrow morning, take out two hours, even just one hour, and visit my company."
"Confirm that I'm not lying. Give us a chance, and let me talk to your company's sales representatives, and I'll be satisfied."
"I'm not asking you to give me orders directly, just give me a chance to prove myself, okay, old classmate?"
Seeing a flushed, red-necked adult speak so humbly to another man, even a heart of stone would have been moved.
Moreover, he had genuinely considered him a friend in his heart.
He patted his shoulder and smiled before leaving.
"Call me tomorrow morning before you head out."
The next day, to show his professionalism, Zhan Jingrui also changed into a white shirt and black trousers, slicked his casual hairstyle back, and applied styling gel, dressing like a business elite. He set off with Xu Zheng.
On the way, Xu Zheng drove while cautiously and enthusiastically introducing his company, its affiliated factories, and various products.
He had instructed in advance the previous night that important guests would be visiting today and that all corners of the company should be tidied up.
Unexpectedly, Zhan Jingrui didn't play by the rules; he wanted to go directly to the factory.
"To the factory? Look at you, all clean. The factory is dirty and noisy..."
Zhan Jingrui insisted, "Just to the factory. Less talk, more action."
"What's there to see in an office building? You won't let me see any confidential documents anyway, it's all superficial. If you sincerely want me to give you business, let me see your true self. Or are you just boasting and don't have the confidence to let me see?"
"No, no, no, how could I? As long as you don't mind the dirt or the mess, we'll go to the factory."
Actually, Xu Zheng was very flustered.
After all, he himself hadn't been to the factory many times, and he couldn't even recall the name of the person in charge there.
He wanted to call someone in advance to make arrangements, to put on a good show, but the great master was sitting right beside him, and he didn't even have a chance to make a phone call.
He could only hope he wouldn't make a fool of himself today.
He braced himself and led Zhan Jingrui towards it.
The factory park was a bit far from the office building commercial area, and they were setting off from home.
With traffic jams and stops, it took nearly two hours to reach their destination.
The factory had been operating for over an hour. As soon as they reached the entrance, they could hear the sounds of various machines operating.
Xu Zheng had intended to take Zhan Jingrui to see the semi-finished and finished product workshops, and the warehouse, which were relatively cleaner and more presentable departments. However, he directly headed for the dirtiest, most chaotic parts production workshop.
Various lathes and milling machines, and automated operation machines were arranged in rows.
Employees wearing gray coveralls, white gloves, and gray baseball caps worked busily behind the machines.
Zhan Jingrui, who studied cutting-edge intelligent equipment research and development, had spent years learning abstract professional terms from textbooks. He had very few opportunities to see and operate in a workshop setting.
Therefore, he was very interested in this.
He walked past each machine and said to Xu Zheng.
"Alright. Let's start the tour from here. Introduce it to me."
Since it had come to this, Xu Zheng stopped pretending and said with a fawning smile.
"I usually run errands and negotiate big deals outside. I don't have time to come to the workshop to study these things. Wouldn't it be difficult for you to ask me to introduce them? If you really want to understand, I'll find a professional for you. Please wait a moment."
He patted the shoulder of an employee who was operating a machine and asked him to call the workshop supervisor.
The employee told him that the supervisor was on leave today.
"Then the deputy supervisor? Call the deputy supervisor."
"The deputy supervisor is upstairs attending a production meeting."
Well, what a coincidence? In such a large workshop, not a single leader could be found?
"Go, go up and call that workshop supervisor down."
The employee didn't recognize him and shook his head, saying, "No. Factory regulations state that employees cannot leave their posts without authorization during work hours. What if something happens? You go call them yourself."
Xu Zheng was stunned by his retort. Seeing Zhan Jingrui still staring at him, he forced a smile and said.
"How about you wait a moment? I'll go up and call them."
Zhan Jingrui hadn't expected him to still be so nonchalant.
As the company's CEO, he had no basic understanding of his own products.
"You're really useless, Xu Zheng. With your attitude of not respecting the profession, you still want me to give you orders?"
"Oh, top student, old deskmate! Don't jump to conclusions so quickly! You know I've never been sensitive to these things since I was a child. Give me a chance, give me a chance, I'll go up and call people, okay?"
As they were talking, an employee noticed someone walking in the workshop and pointed to her, saying to Xu Zheng.
"Find her. If you have any questions, ask her. She's an apprentice trained by our supervisor, she knows the most."
Xu Zheng followed his gaze and saw a short person in a gray coverall, pushing a small cart with tools, checking machines one by one.
She even knew how to repair machines, so she should know something about this. He quickly went to find that person.
"Hey, hey, come here."