Liu Jun finally understood why Cui Bingbing had been smiling all evening with an attitude too good for a Big Four bank credit officer. She was secretly watching his show, and naturally, her mood was as happy as could be. Understanding this, Liu Jun was so frustrated he clawed at the wall, angry that his father had been hiding this from him.
Therefore, when Cui Bingbing invited him again for an in-person meeting, Liu Jun flatly refused. He happened to have business anyway – Song Yunhui personally called asking him to go to the equipment minor maintenance site to watch the special valve installation and debugging, basically an oral exam within the major test. Although Liu Jun’s product had already withstood testing in laboratory simulated environments, everyone knew on-site situations were ever-changing – if a crisp safety helmet fell from above, it could also knock equipment out of order.
Liu Jun brought Sun Gong, who was responsible for design, and three others from the design team. Five people squeezed into one car to rush to the Donghai Group. When they arrived, the valve was already installed. Sun Gong lovingly caressed the flange, looking at the surrounding environment of towering tanks and towers, then at his precious valve, his excitement beyond description. Liu Jun felt the same, but he was no longer just a simple engineer – he also had to represent Tengfei, had to put on the appearance of Tengfei’s general manager. Therefore, he could only restrain himself from using his sharp eyes to scan the surroundings, pointing out that the component was imported, and this component was also imported, thus making his domestic product appear even more outstanding.
But the Tengfei group was soon driven beyond the safety line by Donghai Group safety personnel wearing orange-yellow hard hats – the machines were starting up. Seeing this formation, the Tengfei group was all solemn. Even those originally confident became anxious amid the rumbling machine sounds. Liu Jun observed in all directions and listened carefully, deeply realizing that Donghai’s factory environment was vastly different from Tengfei’s. When these machines started, it wasn’t just one or two, but an endless expanse – countless pipelines instantly filled with gas and liquid, countless rotating shafts instantly spun. Only now could he understand the equipment chief engineer’s explanation last time. Indeed, if his valve had the slightest problem, what would shut down during repairs would be this vast area before his eyes. This kind of loss, he couldn’t bear. Song Yunhui’s initial agreement to let through special valves manufactured by a small company like Tengfei was truly enormous grace – what great risk must Song Yunhui who agreed to bear? Only with Song Yunhui’s agreement could his products enter the doors of large companies like Donghai. Liu Jun inwardly called himself fortunate.
After a while, a group of leader-like people passed by, including Song Yunhui. They walked and observed. When they reached Liu Jun’s group, Song Yunhui said to Liu Jun, “Not bad. No problems during startup are as difficult as a plane taking off safely. Go wait for me in the conference room – I’ll find you after making my rounds.”
“Can we follow and watch? We guarantee not to wander or touch anything. Technical personnel seeing more and gaining more knowledge make it convenient to design more suitable products later.”
Song Yunhui laughed: “Give an inch, take a mile. Alright, follow along, but don’t get lost. You can only walk paths our large group has trodden.”
This journey opened the Tengfei group’s eyes wide.
After leaving the work area where machine sounds became somewhat quieter, Song Yunhui stopped and said: “Let’s say a few words here. Several years ago, I undertook the important task of equipment domestication within our system. But after we designed the products, we encountered the difficulty of being unable to process them domestically or find components. Some equipment was too large, domestic equipment lacked sufficient power for physical processing. Others had domestic equipment with insufficient processing precision. In the end, though called domestication, all key components were imported – completely fake domestic products with final costs no lower than importing complete machines. That mission almost became my obsession. Little Liu’s company dares to take the path of independent innovation – I strongly support this. I hope you can endure loneliness, resist temptation, and continue walking the path of independent R&D. We at Donghai – I emphasize repeatedly – from a social benefit perspective, we must play an industry leader role, continuing to widely discover excellent independent R&D products and create conditions for domestication. From an economic interest perspective, encouraging domestication and encouraging competition are both necessary paths for effectively reducing our costs. Old Wang, consider forming this thinking into documents.”
An official surnamed Wang accepted the order. The Tengfei group, listening to Song Yunhui’s encouragement and support against such a grand factory backdrop, were each excited with surging emotions, feeling they had become those whom heaven would entrust with great responsibilities. But Song Yunhui immediately turned around, looking at Liu Jun with a half-smile: “Having you come to the site today is to let you fully understand the heavy responsibility of the products you provide. Also, if there are problems, it’s convenient for me to handle things on the spot, hehe.”
“Too grateful to Donghai Group.” Liu Jun couldn’t help but excitedly describe how, when his initial products entered the market, they were rejected by prejudiced enterprises as domestic goods, and how he later pretended to be a foreign enterprise to break in. This made Song Yunhui and others laugh in shock. But when Song Yunhui and others reflected on their usual thinking when choosing components, for safety’s sake, they might have the same thinking as the enterprise Liu Jun mentioned. Therefore, domestication had a long way to go – what most needed changing was people’s inherent prejudices.
Song Yunhui liked Liu Jun’s crab-eating and osmanthus-appreciating arrangement, saying he would go with Liang Sishen. Liu Jun thought that even someone as serious as Song Yunhui liked this recreational plan, so workaholic Qian Hongming would agree to come out and relax. He hadn’t seen Qian Hongming for quite a while and rather missed him. Indeed, Qian Hongming liked it very much, but then came another call saying that according to his schedule, he’d be on a train that day. He hoped Liu Jun would bring Jiali, who had been staying home, not venturing much outside the complex because he wasn’t home, so Jiali could occasionally put down Xiao Suihua to go out, get some sun and fresh air. Liu Jun was quite troubled. Previously, he hadn’t minded such things, but after being misunderstood by Shen Huadong at the hospital last time, he became cautious, primarily not wanting Qian Hongming to misunderstand. But Qian Hongming first mocked his caution. Liu Jun had no choice but to stick his neck out for his friend, inserting flowers rather than knives.
Returning to the company, the administrative manager joyfully notified Liu Jun to prepare for receiving distinguished guests, saying the former head of science, education, culture, and health, now CPPCC Vice Chairman Li, would come down tomorrow morning for research. The administrative manager very happily speculated that perhaps Tengfei’s high-tech enterprise application had reached high places, and since such important figures were descending so quickly, it indicated Tengfei’s application would very likely be certified. But Liu Jun’s heart sank – he had forgotten to connect his high-tech enterprise application with Cui Bingbing. Now, seeing even Vice Chairman Li personally coming to his door, should he put up a grass sign to sell himself? Otherwise, why would such a big CPPCC vice chairman so quickly descend on his small company? Wasn’t this using public office for private gain, using research as a pretext for matchmaking?
Liu Jun felt countless waves of disgust. He had suffered enough from government office bureaucrats and really couldn’t stand their work style. The result was good – his father secretly climbed high branches behind his back, and Lord Li immediately used public tools for private purposes. Regardless of whether Lord Li mentally linked his high-tech enterprise certification with marriage, first Lord Li using office channels to issue research notifications for matchmaking purposes was something he couldn’t stand. Too many complex flavors in this.
But disgust aside, he couldn’t ignore the research notification issued through Lord Li’s office. Every time government officials of any size toured Tengfei, didn’t they specifically request his accompaniment? Did he have the right to refuse? He could only spitefully veto the administrative manager’s suggestions for banners and worker lineup welcomes, keeping everything normal, not even posting a small notice, just letting Lord Li quietly enter the village without fanfare. But while Liu Jun felt disgusted, he worried about his high-tech enterprise certification application. If he angered Lord Li, would the application be ruined? That represented real tax benefits. Also… the big loan carrot Cui Bingbing had dangled…
Liu Jun was torn between one hand disgusted on the other. When awakened by a phone call, he realized he’d wasted over half an hour on this matter. But the call was from Cui Bingbing again. Cui Bingbing had arrived at the company gate but was blocked outside due to a lack of an appointment. Liu Jun had a headache – this mother-daughter pair, whichever one, was someone he couldn’t afford to offend. Now great – just because of his father’s unilateral decision, the mother and daughter treated his company like a back garden, coming whenever they pleased.
Liu Jun was unhappy waiting for Cui Bingbing in the office. Cui Bingbing entered the R&D center as if entering uninhabited territory, more leisurely than strolling in her courtyard at home. She paid no attention to the gazes of Tengfei engineers, going straight to Liu Jun, who had just put on a sky-blue lab coat and sat at a grinding wheel to sharpen blades. The Liu Jun before her eyes was very special to Cui Bingbing. She was a liberal arts student who had followed her parents through various environments since childhood, but she rarely visited masculine mechanical factories. Ordinary mechanical workers probably wouldn’t catch Cui Bingbing’s eye, but this one was different – wearing curved anti-flying metal chip safety glasses, concentrating on grinding some iron piece, the image was extremely unfamiliar yet novel. Liu Jun, who didn’t treat her arrival as important, seemed more attractive to Cui Bingbing than people wearing the most fashionable sunglasses. When Liu Jun finally turned off the harsh machinery and removed his glasses, Cui Bingbing saw Liu Jun look at her with an unkind smile.
Liu Jun was originally very troubled by Cui Bingbing’s arrival, but seeing her outfit – bright yellow T-shirt on top, dark blue jeans below – something familiar immediately flashed in his mind: the most common pH test paper that had been half-soaked in alkaline solution. His mood improved slightly.
“Can’t you have others do this kind of work?” Cui Bingbing was very patient, waiting until Liu Jun’s operations seemed finished before asking.
“Pleasure. What’s the matter today? You didn’t make an appointment today, so I’m afraid I don’t have time for you.”
“From our last conversation, I discovered you have no planning whatsoever for your company’s capital operations. I came to make you a plan, repaying you for fixing my car.”
“How does the car feel after maintenance?” Liu Jun asked while sitting at a vice bench to work.
“Much lighter – precisely speaking, the sound is much lighter.” Cui Bingbing familiarly went to get herself a stool.
“As expected – I estimated you’d have at most this one feeling. I temporarily do not need financial planning. When I need it later, I’ll consult you.”
“But I came to find you and said so much, yet did nothing at all. Won’t this cause your employees to gossip about you? How about you casually throw me an account book to look at…”
“That’s why I didn’t suggest you come. Also, your mother is CPPCC Lord Li your mother? Just got a call saying she’s coming to research tomorrow. My temple is so small – what could she see making a special trip out of the city in this heat? Very unworthy. Please tell her at home for me that it’s best not to come.”
“Hehe, she’s coming specifically to see you – I can’t help with this favor. Aunt Li isn’t my mother. My parents are both doctors. They’re longtime friends with Aunt Li, and I’m a classmate, plus friend, plus a colleague with Aunt Li’s daughter. My classmate is very annoyed that her mother ordered her to go on a blind date with you. She has a crush on her mother doesn’t approve of. I’m sticking my neck out for my friend to disrupt things, but seeing you do solid work, I can’t bear to harm you. That’s it. Want me to give you advice on ruining your impression with Aunt Li?”
“You came so persistently to see me today – it wasn’t for this, was it? Should have said so earlier.” Hearing that Cui Bingbing was unrelated to Lord Li, Liu Jun immediately viewed her differently. “Tonight I’ll treat you to dinner, and you can teach me secrets. Since you, the expert, came, I can’t let you leave empty-handed. Come with me to the finance office – whatever you see, help me with whatever.”
“Hey, you haven’t seen my classmate – don’t reject so quickly. What if it’s love at first sight? I need to ask clearly to avoid both sides hitting it off when they meet, then all blaming me for sabotage and chasing me together. Brother, these are imperial relatives – later, when you want loans, you can go directly to our branch manager.”
Liu Jun pretended to wipe sweat: “Can’t handle it, can’t handle it. Add another chip – Sunday I’ll treat you to crab-eating and osmanthus-appreciating.”
Only then was Cui Bingbing satisfied, happily abandoning Liu Jun to let him handle his business while she bounced off to find the finance office herself. Why would she need accompaniment? Liu Jun was also satisfied – adding lively Cui Bingbing to Sunday’s crab feast would save him from being alone with Jiali.
Cui Bingbing happily waited for dinner in the finance office, waiting until sunset with hunger pangs at the edge of the world. She firmly demanded to jump into Liu Jun’s supposedly special-performance car, constantly stealing glances at Liu Jun, who had worked hard all day, rambling to find conversation. But whenever she asked what was special about the car, Liu Jun flatly refused to explain. Cui Bingbing could only ask what Liu Jun liked to eat – she knew the city’s restaurants too well and could lead the way.
Liu Jun didn’t hesitate: “Want to eat the most authentic local cuisine?”
Cui Bingbing glanced at him sideways. She had already figured out Liu Jun’s background and understood the meaning behind his words. With his mother gone so long, and the big man having been abroad and starting businesses, probably not knowing how to cook much, saying he most wanted local cuisine meant he missed his mother’s flavors. She hesitated briefly: “You generally can’t get that in restaurants. Dare to go to my place?”
“You can cook?”
“Nonsense. Go around the world asking – who doesn’t know Divine Chef A’San? Listen to me – we’ll go to the supermarket first to buy two buns to fill our stomachs, then buy ingredients to cook at my place. Walking into the supermarket, order whatever you want to eat – you’re paying anyway.”
Liu Jun happily whistled: “A’San, I love you.”
In the supermarket, they bought groceries like a harmonious couple. While Cui Bingbing was picking baby bok choy, she suddenly felt something odd across from them. Looking up, she saw a great beauty glaring at them angrily. Cui Bingbing was clever – her eyes turned and she quietly stuck close to Liu Jun, who was comparing two boxes of mushrooms, pointing and discussing with Liu Jun which box of mushrooms was fresher. When Cui Bingbing looked up again, she smiled proudly – the great beauty had vanished into thin air. She also proudly whistled, though the sound was weak and muffled, earning her a mocking look from Liu Jun. Walking out of the supermarket, Liu Jun very consciously carried all the plastic bags, which made Cui Bingbing very satisfied.
Liu Jun originally thought that when he got to Cui Bingbing’s home, he should lend a hand. Unexpectedly, from the moment he entered, he became a repairman – from changing light bulbs to fixing faucets, to balancing tables and chairs, to repairing cabinet doors. Cui Bingbing’s single-person home was cut from the same cloth as her car – a complete embroidered pillow stuffed with rotten straw. When Cui Bingbing called him for dinner, he was still crouched under the bathroom sink, wrapping pipe thread seal tape, with a rust-stained plastic basin placed under the sink – this was how Cui Bingbing solved the leak problem. Cui Bingbing repeatedly apologized, but Liu Jun was no longer surprised. Someone shameless enough not to know about oil changes and burn transmission parts black – he had long given up expectations for Cui Bingbing.
But this meal was extremely satisfying. Cui Bingbing indeed made him a table of fresh, clean local dishes. Whether sweet, sour, oily, or salty, all were flavors he’d long missed, completely different from restaurants’ heavy oil and MSG. They opened a bottle of red wine, eating and chatting. Because Cui Bingbing had looked at Liu Jun’s account books, she gave Liu Jun many suggestions this time. Due to her work, she was well-informed, and her examples came readily, benefiting Liu Jun immensely.
Watching the table of dishes get swept clean and the wine bottle empty, Liu Jun reluctantly looked at the braised fish plate, hesitating: “Could you give me some rice? Your braised fish is so delicious – this sauce can’t be wasted. I’ll eat it with rice.”
Cui Bingbing was dumbfounded: “Fish sauce with rice? Aren’t you bothered by the fishy smell? I didn’t cook rice – thought these dishes would be enough.”
“We bought noodles – I’ll go cook some.”
“I’ll… do it.” Cui Bingbing stared wide-eyed, floating toward the kitchen like sleepwalking, really unable to believe someone dared use the fishiest fish sauce with noodles. But after she served the noodles, she witnessed it. “Big brother, even wild cats would feel ashamed compared to you.”
“Too delicious. A’San, your home still has quite a few things needing repair. I didn’t have tools today. Let me do another sweep and make a list – I’ll continue door-to-door service Saturday. Only requirement – cook another table for me to eat.”