Age of Legends

Chapter 211 Scored twice
Zhang Chen had dark circles under his eyes early in the morning, which Huang Huifen noticed. She assumed it was because he had been studying hard lately, but still said, "Even though you did the right thing, you should take care of your health!"

Zhang Zhonghua brought a pot of dumplings for breakfast and placed it in front of Zhang Chen, saying, "Son, eat quickly."

He and Huang Huifen have become more and more at ease lately. Although running their own company brings a lot of troubles, Zhang Chen has not held them back and is quite self-motivated in his studies, so they have no worries.

After sitting down, Huang Huifen ignored Zhang Chen and turned to Zhang Zhonghua: "You mean, this matter still needs to be discussed with your company. Your technical line is currently developing and has obtained patents, but your original company may still restrict you because of this? How can that be? Didn't you sign the leave-without-pay agreement that 'employees are allowed to start their own businesses, and companies shall not interfere'?"

Zhang Chen looked at the two men; he had heard them mention it yesterday and knew a little about it.

When Zhang Zhonghua started his business, the government department that provided support helped him avoid some legal risks. They mentioned Zhang Zhonghua's project, specifically the design patent for the 29-inch flat-screen CRT. Although Zhang Zhonghua applied for the patent, based on his relationship with Nanguang Company as an employee, Nanguang Company could still claim ownership of Zhang Zhonghua's subsequent research and development results as belonging to his former employer on the grounds of "invention in the course of employment."

This is a very serious problem.

If this point is investigated later, then the very foundation upon which Zhang Zhonghua is now starting his business will be rendered meaningless.

This was during a wave of layoffs in state-owned enterprises. In order to resolve employee issues, some companies offered lenient leave-of-absence agreements, such as not pursuing employees who started their own businesses in related fields.

But that's the general case. If a business starts to take off, there's no guarantee that there won't be some malicious people causing trouble in the company.

Zhang Zhonghua said, "The key issue now is that I applied for the patent after taking a leave of absence without pay. Although I signed a non-interference agreement with the company, the Patent Law states that inventions made within one year of leaving a job that are related to one's original job duties may be considered service inventions. It's hard to say, even with the agreement. They can still use this provision to block me."

Huang Huifen's face fell. "They dare!"

Zhang Chen knew that around 2001 was actually the last glorious period of flat-screen CRTs, and they would be replaced by LCDs with significantly reduced costs afterward. But one should do what is appropriate for the time being. During this period, he still supported Zhang Zhonghua in developing the technology, because they could make a fortune during this last period of glory.

The idea for creating the FD29 project was Zhang Zhonghua's, but the technical approach was rejected by the company's senior management. Zhang Zhonghua then used his spare time to design the FD project, which has been the culmination of his hard work over the years.

This hard work may now be in jeopardy.

My mother has a terrible temper; if she were to be stripped of her rights, she would storm the Heavenly Palace.

But that's unnecessary and useless; we can only rely on the law.

Zhang Chen then said, "Dad, you can sign another agreement with the company, namely a statement that Nanguang Company has abandoned the FD29 technology line. It will show that the company has already abandoned this line, and the breakthrough point for the line is based on your independent research and development."

"Yes, we're already doing that," Zhang Zhonghua said. "If only it were that simple!"

Zhang Zhonghua then said to Huang Huifen, "I plan to buy President Zhou two cartons of cigarettes and treat him to a meal today. It might cost a bit, but I'll try to finalize this matter over dinner."

Huang Huifen's expression changed several times before she finally said, "Alright then... How much will it cost?" She was distressed about the money, and even more distressed about spending it on something like this.

"It's only a few thousand... It's better to get it done than to keep dragging it out," Zhang Zhonghua said.

Having already made a decision, Zhang Zhonghua said no more and just ate his meal in silence.

Zhang Chen said, "Dad, if President Zhou can help us sign this statement, that would be best. If that's not possible, we can find the minutes of previous company meetings or internal notices about abandoning projects, which can also serve as evidence. If we can find a way to get them, it will be more beneficial to us."

Zhang Zhonghua thought for a moment and nodded.

Life is like a mountain; the path you choose will always lead to beautiful scenery, but it will also present some obstacles.

……

After finishing his meal, Zhang Zhonghua went back to the company to encourage his eight-person team, collect relevant materials, and then went to the new office of Nanguang Company.

Seeing the new company building in the distance, Zhang Zhonghua felt a pang of emotion. Back then, during the internal reassignment process, so many people wanted to join the new company, rather than face elimination by being transferred. He was no exception; he had considered joining the new company several times. His salary would be secure, his future prospects would be guaranteed, Zhang Chen was about to take the college entrance exam, and there would be times when he needed money in the future. At least his life would be stable.

But when the tide of fate sweeps in, one is often powerless to resist. Now that I've started my own business with a team, seeing Xinguang Corporation again, I no longer feel the same strong desire to join it as I did back then.

"I'm looking for Zhou Ping, Mr. Zhou." Zhang Zhonghua told the receptionist as he arrived at the company's front desk.

"Oh, it's Lao Zhang..." Many people in the new company were familiar faces and knew Zhang Zhonghua. He said, "Please have a seat. President Zhou is busy. I'll let you know."

Then Zhang Zhonghua waited in the waiting area, watching people go up and down. He asked several times, but each time he was told that President Zhou was in a meeting and he would get back to him later.

After waiting for quite a while, Zhang Zhonghua spotted a familiar face and quickly went up to him, "President Ding!"

The visitor was Ding Shenghua, whose wife, Li Jieyun, used to share an office with Huang Huifen. When Xinguang Company was established, Zhang Zhonghua was also a candidate for the position of technical project director. However, Ding Shenghua was adept at networking and defeated all his competitors, including Zhang Zhonghua.

Ding Shenghua had previously felt superior to Zhang Zhonghua, but he never expected that Huang Huifen would get involved with Chen Xuran, a famous female host in Fuzhou, and transform into "General Manager Huang" and even appear on television. Regardless of the actual difficulties Huang Huifen encountered, her level of fame made her a legend in the old Nanguang Company.

Moreover, it is said that Zhang Chen's grades have improved, reaching the level of a first-tier university.

Now Zhang Zhonghua has also started his own business.

Ding Shenghua's pride and arrogance seemed insignificant compared to Zhang Zhonghua's. Zhang Zhonghua, on the surface, was still quite polite, saying, "Oh, Zhonghua... what brings you here?"

"It's about discussing the previous technical line statement with President Zhou; we need President Zhou's signature."

"Oh, okay, I'll go tell him."

"Thank you!"

“It’s okay.

Ding Shenghua just left like that.

Zhang Zhonghua then waited all afternoon.

……

……

Zhang Chen arrived at school early in the morning. Actually, he was somewhat hoping to run into Shen Nuoyi on the way, mainly because Shen Nuoyi had been too torturous last night. Her words kept him awake all night. Eventually, he couldn't stay awake any longer and his rationality made them toss and turn in bed before finally falling asleep.

The two weren't that clingy; they wouldn't agree to go to school together in the morning. First, with so many people around, they wanted to avoid being seen. Second, there's too much uncertainty about going to school in the morning. Buses are always packed; you just get on if there's an empty seat. Given the unpredictable nature of Fuzhou's buses, one bus might have empty seats, while the next you might not even be able to squeeze on, unless you walk. But people generally don't walk to school in the morning.

But there are always some expectations along the way. What if we meet? And what will happen if we do meet?

In the daily grind of going back and forth between two points, sometimes you always hope to unexpectedly bump into that figure that will make your heart flutter.

Sometimes, just seeing it can make me feel good all day.

As time went on, I became increasingly numb. Those subtle feelings from back then seemed to have been lost, and I didn't know where I lost them.

Zhang Chen still didn't run into Shen Nuoyi on his way to school.

Yes, life doesn't offer so many coincidences.
It's like you just won five million, and on your way to cash out the next day, you find gold.

Don't be greedy.

As they entered the school, they spotted Wang Shuowei in the distance. This wasn't surprising, as Wang Shuowei usually arrived late. Zhang Chen had already gotten up late that day and had participated in a short family discussion, so he was even later than Wang Shuowei. He greeted him from behind. Wang Shuowei stopped to wait for him, and the two walked side-by-side.

Reaching the third floor of the teaching building, the sun was just rising high in the sky, its rays shining brightly on the classroom walls, creating a clear distinction between light and shadow as the light and shadow were blocked by the railings.

At the main entrance of the staircase opposite, Shen Nuoyi also appeared, with dark circles under her eyes and a smoky eye effect. Her eyes were tinged with gold, and she and Zhang Chen spotted each other at a glance.

Wang Shuowei paused for a moment, seemingly stunned by Shen Nuoyi's appearance, and remained silent. He had seen Shen Nuoyi in the courtyard many times before, and the young master Wang had always felt somewhat inferior, just as he did now.

As Shen Nuo and Zhang Chen locked eyes, their figures seemed to freeze in the light of the corridor.

He saw the sparkling light in Shen Nuo's eyes, and as he turned to enter the classroom, a faint smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

It turns out you really can find gold.

……

Today's moral education class turned into a monthly exam, which caused a lot of complaints from everyone.

"The school leaders must have ping-pong balls in their heads! Who would have a monthly exam right after the sports meet?! Are they crazy?!"

"Wow, that was so unexpected!"

"Oh no, I was playing games yesterday!"

The test papers were handed out, and then came a series of tests.

Senior year of high school seems to always be like this: endless practice problems, exams, more practice problems, a relentless trek through this swamp.

Zhang Chen laid out the test papers and treated doing the questions like a game, so he no longer felt bored.

Wang Shuowei chewed on his pen, burying his head in writing. He didn't bother to peek at Zhang Chen's problem-solving progress. After all, the monthly exam wasn't the goal, just a test. They were already in their final year of high school, and there was no point in deceiving themselves. Some people simply didn't write and went to sleep.

Years later, Li Runjia, who was first in his grade, became a doctor, healing the sick and saving lives, and gained a good reputation. Meanwhile, the one who used to sleep soundly became a boss, running several businesses from murder mystery games to car dealerships, gaining a lot of weight, and each had their own successful path. Only Wang Shuowei managed to lose tens of millions making a lousy game.

Zhang Chen glanced at him. Wang Shuowei looked at him like he was catching a thief, even covering the question in front of him with his hand, his eyes full of disbelief, "What, you want to copy mine?"

Zhang Chen really wanted to roll his eyes. Fine, this guy's going to die without me!

After a long, drowsy day of exams, the school bell rang in the afternoon, and everyone dispersed from the school building like caged birds returning to their forest, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, even though evening self-study and exams followed immediately.

The setting sun cast a warm, rosy glow on my skin.

It felt like after a day of torture, I could finally enjoy a brief moment of mental blankness and a return to the human world.

Everything became tangible: boys rushing out with basketballs to play, girls with slender figures in casual clothes. In the final year of high school, school uniforms were no longer mandatory. At this point, school leaders knew to relax the rules appropriately, and as long as you weren't too outrageous, they would generally tacitly approve.

"My head is all burnt. Hey Zhang Chen, what should we eat today? How about we go to that braised pig brain place to replenish our brains?"

Wang Shuowei spoke casually in the crowd.

Someone nearby was quite dissatisfied: "Corruption! You guys are simply...too corrupt!"

"That braised pig brain at that place on the old street is really good. Hurry up, we should still make it!" This was a serious suggestion, showing that he knew the place.

"I'm so envious!" someone exclaimed, drooling.

"Why don't we go together?" Wang Shuowei said. He was quite generous, so he was popular with people.

"No, no. I'll eat nearby." Everyone's mealtimes are pretty regular. We're all students, and we generally don't owe anyone favors. It's not fashionable for us to treat each other to meals; after all, we're all strapped for cash. Anyone with a bit of social intelligence wouldn't join in the fun; at most, we'd split the bill.

Wang Shuowei exchanged a few more polite words, but everyone else declined, so he didn't insist. Only then did he realize that his main buddy, Zhang Chen, hadn't replied yet, so he asked, "Hey, tell me, which restaurant do you want to eat at?"

Zhang Chen then glanced at him from the side.

No words were spoken.

Wang Shuowei suffered a brief cerebellar palsy. Those around him noticed from this sudden pause that something seemed amiss.

He then looked at the two of them.

Are there disagreements?
They remembered that Zhang Chen was with Shen Nuoyi yesterday. Shen Nuoyi was returning the favor, and even made a joke that was shared in the QQ group.

So today… and everyone subconsciously looked behind them. Behind the girls were Shen Nuoyi and Zheng Xue.

“You wouldn’t…” Wang Shuowei murmured.

"I have plans today too." Zhang Chen nodded, then stepped across the street.

The entire group suffered from cerebellar atrophy.

Because I clearly remember that yesterday Zhang Chen stepped out from the crowd and went to sit down at the noodle shop in front of Shen Nuoyi.

Is this guy trying to sabotage them? Or are they still not done eating at one restaurant?

Do you still want to relive it?
What kind of behavior is this?

Wang Shuowei wasn't so easily fooled. After a brief moment of surprise, he quickly stepped forward to Zhang Chen's side, laughing, "I know you perfectly well. I know you poop and pee when you move your butt. You just wanted to prank them, didn't you? Hehe, let's see how smart I am!"

"Then let's eat at this noodle shop? That works too!" Wang Shuowei didn't care if his suggestion was rejected. He had already pranked that group of people, and he was happy to watch the fun. Who wouldn't want to be the one having fun?

Meanwhile, the group of people on the other side collectively exclaimed "Tch!", realizing that Zhang Chen was just being deliberately mysterious.

"That son of a bitch is so wicked!"

"He's faking madness!"

"Zhang Chen's up to his old tricks again! He's messing with us!" Li Jiajun gritted his teeth in the crowd. "That kid's going to get beaten up!"

When Wang Shuowei followed Zhang Chen to the noodle shop and was about to sit down, he suddenly stopped.

I saw Shen Nuoyi also crossing the road.

Wang Shuowei looked at Zhang Chen, who had sat down at the table, and then at Shen Nuoyi, who followed the same route.

His eyes snapped back to attention after a brief moment of squinting.

Oh no!
You've won twice!
(End of this chapter)