"The factory director thinks too highly of me. After all, the factory's strength is what it is. Otherwise, with just my words, no matter how eloquent I am, they wouldn't sign the order."
Director Han knew she was very capable. Although it was a pity they couldn't cooperate, out of admiration for her talent, Director Han treated Chen Lishu with great warmth.
"Don't call me director. I'm about the same age as your father. Just call me Uncle. You've helped Uncle so much today. I won't say thank you, but if you need anything in the future, just say the word."
Chen Lishu smiled and called out, "Uncle Han."
Having signed a major order, Director Han was in high spirits and treated everyone to a meal at a restaurant that evening.
Jiang Yuwei was still ill and did not join them.
Liu Yun finished eating first and packed a portion of the food in a bento box to take back to Jiang Yuwei.
By the time everyone had finished, it was past seven in the evening.
As they walked back to the guesthouse, out of concern, Chen Guoping, who was walking ahead, prepared to knock on the door to inquire about Jiang Yuwei's condition. However, as the conversations inside the room drifted out, Chen Guoping slowly lowered his raised hand, his expression turning extremely displeased.
Inside the room, Jiang Yuwei was sitting at the table eating. Liu Yun couldn't help but report on the day's events: "...You should have seen it, that person surnamed Chen ran back and forth four times today. She looked so exhausted. It was simply too satisfying."
"Who asked her to want to steal the spotlight? This time, let her have enough. Your 'feigning illness' trick is truly brilliant. It's exactly what we needed to curb her arrogance."
Jiang Yuwei finished the last bite of rice and said calmly, "Since it doesn't matter if I'm here or not, why should I go through that suffering?"
"Director, what's wrong?" Secretary Zhang saw that the few people standing at the doorway looked unhappy and asked, not understanding the situation as he entered.
The two people talking inside the room, upon hearing the commotion outside, their expressions changed drastically. Jiang Yuwei quickly lay down on the bed, while Liu Yun, acting as if nothing had happened, went to open the door.
The door opened, and they saw Chen Guoguo and several factory leaders standing at the door with grim expressions.
"Direc- Director, you're already finished eating?"
"If we hadn't finished, how would we know that you two comrades have such high ideological awareness?" Du Zhiming said with a displeased sarcasm.
Liu Yun and Jiang Yuwei both turned pale. They knew they had been overheard.
Chen Guoping, being a person of status and cultivation, although his expression was still not good, did not utter any words of criticism. "It's getting late. Everyone should get some rest early."
"Director, it's not what you think. Xiao Jiang and I were just, just..."
Liu Yun anxiously wanted to explain but didn't know how to begin.
Chen Guoping had no desire to hear any explanations. Regardless of the reason, he was utterly disappointed in these two narrow-minded individuals.
Indeed, one couldn't truly appreciate the difference without comparison. They couldn't compare to Xiao Chen at all.
When the factory directors saw Chen Guoping leave, they didn't say anything further and turned to leave. However, these two had now made a mark on them, and it would be best to avoid any further interactions.
Jiang Yuwei had never been so humiliated. Looking at Chen Lishu entering the room, the hatred in her eyes was almost enough to burn away her sanity. All of this was caused by Chen Lishu. If it weren't for her, she wouldn't have stooped to doing such things out of unwillingness.
The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt. Jiang Yuwei hid under her covers and cried all night. When she woke up the next day, both her eyes were swollen like walnuts.
No matter what, Chen Guoping's status as a provincial party committee leader was something her parents couldn't afford to offend. Jiang Yuwei dared not act childishly or play any clever tricks, and Liu Yun was even more timid. However, they had indeed hurt the feelings of a few leaders, and their attitude towards the two was lukewarm.
...
Since南海涛 had proof of employment, he also traveled in a sleeper berth. He arrived in Yangcheng five days after Chen Lishu made her phone call.
This was his first time visiting such a distant place. As soon as he got off the train, he felt a wave of heat wash over him. He hadn't expected the weather in Yangcheng to be so hot.
He first found a nearby guesthouse to stay, ate a simple meal, took a shower, changed his clothes, and then went to the military guesthouse that Chen Lishu had given him to wait.
The trade fair was nearing its end. Chen Lishu estimated that南海涛 should be arriving soon. As expected, when she returned from the exhibition hall that evening, she saw南海涛 waiting at the entrance and quickly walked over.
"When did you arrive?"
"This afternoon."
"Have you eaten? Shall we go out to eat together? I know a good snack place. Wait for me for a moment, I'll go back and get something."
Although南海涛 had already eaten, he kept quiet upon hearing her words.
"Xiao Chen, who is this?"
Seeing her talking to a strange man, a few leaders worried that she, being young and unfamiliar with the place, might be deceived. They immediately became alert and crowded around, sizing up南海涛 with suspicious looks.
"This is my friend. He came today to handle some business and knew I was here, so he came to see me."
So, it was a friend.
The few people immediately relaxed and said nothing further, all wisely turning to leave.
Chen Lishu tidied herself up briefly in her room and then came out again, heading to the restaurant she mentioned with南海涛.
The streets of Yangcheng already had quite a few private shops, and there were also many restaurants.
The two entered the restaurant, and since Chen Lishu had been there for some time, she was very familiar with which snacks were delicious. After ordering a portion for each of them, they got down to business.
"These are the contracts I've drafted over the past few days. You know, after looking at so many contracts every day, I'm quite handy at writing these now."
南海涛 took them and reviewed them, then looked up and smiled, "This trip must have been very rewarding, right?"
"Yes, I've gained a lot of experience," Chen Lishu nodded. "The goods amount to over fifty-seven thousand yuan. After deducting shipping costs and labor fees for intermediaries, each person gets thirty thousand, and we'll split the profits equally."
南海涛 nodded, and the matter was settled.
...
Ever since introducing the goods to Chen Lishu that day, Li Yuanchao had been feeling a bit uneasy. Seeing that the agreed-upon five days were almost up, he became increasingly anxious.
That was nearly sixty thousand yuan worth of goods. Even though it was a slight deviation from the expected eighty thousand, it was still over one thousand seven hundred yuan. Had the other party truly gone back on their word and decided to cut him, the intermediary, out?
Although there was an agreement, he didn't even know how to contact the other party. Li Yuanchao decided that if all else failed, he would ask his brother-in-law for the delivery address and track them down to get his money back.
While he was lost in thought, the old woman downstairs suddenly called out that someone was looking for him. Li Yuanchao, wondering who it could be, went downstairs and saw a man with glasses and a gentle appearance standing below.
"Are you Li Yuanchao? Hello, I'm南海涛. Chen Lishu sent me."