Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 432 The Second Key Figure

Dongyang County, at the junction of the development zone and the old town, once boasted the once-glorious Hongqi Shopping Mall, now a place even dogs wouldn't go. Yet, the time-honored Tian Tian Liangpi (cold skin noodles) is still alive and thriving.

It seems a bit wasteful to travel all the way from the new urban area where the county government compound is located just for a four-yuan bowl of cold noodles.

Oh, the price has gone up. It's four yuan and fifty cents now.

It's not worth it at all.

But for teachers Zhai Da and Shen Rui, there was no more suitable place.

The last time I met with Teacher Shen Rui was at the "Hongtu OS" launch event in Beijing. Zhai Da invited Shen Rui and his former homeroom teacher Ding Rong to attend, but the latter was pregnant and couldn't go.

In his grand plan to return to Dongyang, Zhai Daxin considered three locals to be particularly important, as they were crucial to the "harmony among people." County Magistrate Li Kangda was one, and Teacher Shen Rui was the second.

Teacher Shen opened a bottle of Assam milk tea she had taken from the small refrigerator and asked, "How is Xiao Wei? How is her condition?"

"Personally, I think she's fine now. At this stage, she's more inclined to have a cool and aloof personality, probably because her living environment is relatively stable and monotonous, and there are no external factors that could cause further change. However, she is quite comfortable with herself."

Shen Rui nodded. He still cared about Lu Wei quite a bit. After the incident, Lu Wei was the first person to intervene, offering guidance, protection, and job opportunities.

Of course, after getting together with Zhai Da, I felt generally at ease.

If we can meet again, we can assess whether what Zhai Da said is accurate.

While smoothing the burrs off the chopsticks, Zhai Da asked, "How's things at school? Is work going well?"

Shen Rui nodded: "With you as the top scorer, Maofang Middle School is now a key municipal school, and the funding has become much more abundant, so things are naturally going smoothly."

"Oh? The toilets were renovated?"

No, not at all.

Zhai Da:
So where did the funds go? Can't we address the students' urgent and pressing concerns?
Are the younger students still playing Connect Four in a long, straight line?

Three enoki mushrooms, eliminated!

Shen Rui smiled and said, "The teaching building has added a lot of multimedia facilities. In addition, we have recruited many teachers with intermediate or higher professional titles and backbone teachers. We have also recruited some top students from surrounding villages and towns and provided them with full scholarships. The teaching quality has indeed improved. As for the toilets, it is very troublesome to renovate the toilets in the old building. The original toilets are only so big on campus. If they are converted into individual stalls, more space will be needed."

"You seem to know this very well."

"I am now the deputy director of academic affairs, so I have more responsibilities."

A pair of large hands appeared between the two: "Here comes the large portion of cold noodles."

Zhai Da didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up a couple of chopsticks, mixed them together, and started eating heartily, finishing half a bowl in no time.

"Teacher Shen, you must have heard about my plan to invest in Dongyang."

Shen Rui pushed up his glasses: "Of course, everyone in Dongyang who is even slightly well-informed already knows."

“I remember when I came back last year, Wu Yue and I went to you to ask for advice on the company’s development. At that time, it was still ‘Yueda Catering’. Your suggestion of a ‘standardization manual’ helped us a lot. Yueda was able to grow so quickly and now has an annual revenue of about 300 million yuan. That conversation was very helpful.”

Teacher Shen Rui simply smiled.

"Utopia also needed your help in the early days. You were the one who found the courtyard for us at No. 99 Luochuan Road. Later, we said we wanted to invite you to come out of retirement, but you refused. Then we said we wanted to invite you to visit Harbin, but you refused again."

The waiter came over again.

"Here comes the large portion of rice noodles."

"It's mine too, just leave it here."

Zhai Da placed his second copy aside and said, "Teacher Shen, I wonder if you will refuse us again now that we're back?"

He didn't use "I," he used "we."

Because it's not just him who's returning; it might also include the other boys and girls in that courtyard.

Teacher Shen Rui asked doubtfully, "Xiao Zhai, the premise of coming out of the mountains is that one is in the mountains. Do you think I have gone into seclusion?"

"For you, the political teacher at Maofang Middle School is like a mountain, and so is the deputy director of academic affairs."

"Then why do you think a 'political teacher' can help you? This is very different from the educational institutions of the past."

Zhai Da did not answer the question of what the difference was between "Shen Rui and an ordinary political teacher".

The perception of human talent is a vague concept and is difficult to describe in detail.

A PhD from Renmin University, a researcher in social sciences and industry with twenty years of experience, a psychology expert, and someone who hit it off with Mr. Yu Donglai after their first meeting and wanted to spend a lot of money to invite him to Henan Province—these could all be reasons.

But more importantly, it's the feeling I have after a long period of contact since my rebirth.

If we're talking about someone in Dongyang with a broader perspective than County Magistrate Li Kangda, then Teacher Shen Rui is definitely a top contender. His vision extends far beyond Dongyang County.

A person who persistently conducts research, pays attention to various industries horizontally and observes decades of changes vertically, and adheres to his own "social science research" is by no means just a political teacher.

Similarly, such a person should not be content with being a political teacher for life.

Moreover, Shen Rui was known for his leisurely lifestyle at school.

Zhai Da knew very well that the reason they couldn't pull it up before was because some conditions hadn't been met.

It should have been achieved by now.

“Teacher Shen Rui can help me, and I can help Teacher Shen Rui. In the new era, there shouldn’t be people who actually live in the mountains, either because the road down the mountain is too difficult, or because the scenery down the mountain isn’t good enough.”

"To be realistic, with the research institute returning to Dongyang, the involvement of local resources is inevitable, and we need your capabilities."

"To put it romantically, Dongyang's desire to take over the research institute is like the relationship between water and a pond, or ditches and reefs. It's best to fill them in beforehand, and if they can't be filled in, it should be pointed out. Dongyang also needs your capabilities."

After Zhai Da finished speaking, he stopped wasting words and focused on dealing with the large portion of rice noodles in front of him.

Teacher Shen Rui kept rubbing the disposable chopsticks, peeling off the burrs and debris layer by layer.

He seemed to be thinking and hesitating.

He undoubtedly has a deep understanding of Dongyang and possesses valuable connections and expertise, enabling him to contribute to the successful establishment of the Mechanical Core Research Institute in Dongyang.

I still have this bit of confidence.

Is it really impossible for an ordinary employee to play their role?

He once had high expectations for Zhai Da, but he never thought that these expectations would be fulfilled so quickly. So much so that when the boy who posted the "Let the rich get rich first and then get rich together" note on the classroom blackboard, the boy who shouted through a loudspeaker in the Utopia courtyard, the boy who had already made a great name for himself outside, actually stood in front of him.

I feel like I'm not mentally prepared yet.

After a long silence, Teacher Shen Rui sighed and said, "Zhai Da, you're not a student anymore, so you should understand. At my age, my lifestyle has become ingrained, and it's not easy to make changes."

Yes, as the first college student from Dongyang to be admitted to a prestigious university, and as the pride of the previous generation in Dongyang, he is already over forty years old.

No matter what the initial reasons were for choosing the current life, no matter what the initial purpose was for waiting or accumulating something, making a decision is never easy.

In fact, they weren't that confident.

Zhai Da calmly said, "Teacher Shen Rui, age is not important. What's more important is how much vision you have ahead of you. Otherwise, whether you're 20, 40, or 90, it's all the same."

"Here comes the large bowl of beef tendon noodles."

"It's mine too, just leave it here."

Shen Rui glanced at the smiling owner of the cold noodle shop, then at Zhai Da: "Are you implying whether I'm still able to eat?"

Zhai Da: "I'm just not full. You should know that liangpi (cold skin noodles) is nothing more than hydrogel."

Shen Rui blinked a few times, and finally laughed out loud.

"So, what do you want me to do for you?"

Zhai Da said earnestly, "As for what you can help with, you should be the one to guide us. In other words, you should tell us that there are no obstacles or reefs, and even devise better methods."

"If you're worried about things at the school, you don't need to resign. I don't care whether you're hired or not, and of course, I won't make you pay out of your own pocket to do it. Is that alright with you?"

After a long silence, Shen Rui slowly said, "Give it a try. Whether you get the job or not, it's no big deal to help you out. Actually, I'll give you advice on anything you ask me."

Ultimately, what Zhai Da wanted to do was also what he hoped to see. This motivation from "comrades" was far more driving than "material things."

Zhai Da: "But it's different. If there's a chance, I'd still like to pull you out of the wool textile school."

So Shen Rui got straight to the point: "Have you been to Sunma Village?"

Zhai Da asked curiously, "You've heard about it too? It spread so fast?"

Wasn't it just decided yesterday afternoon?

“It’s not just hearsay; it’s the only place in Dongyang that’s suitable. If it were any other place, the first thing I would do is advise you to move to Sunmazhuang.”

Zhai Da laughed and said, "Look, it matches up right now, it really is Sunma Village."

After telling Teacher Shen Rui about what happened after I returned yesterday, Zhai Da said, "Basically, Sunmazhuang has been decided. We're just waiting for people from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the province to come after the Spring Festival to start the approval and filing process."

"Sale or lease?"

"I'm inclined to sell it, after all, it's a significant asset."

"We suggest paying the land transfer fee in installments and promising tax deductions. With your scale, this is easily achievable. If the tax deductions and revenue targets are met, the land transfer fee will be partially refunded, theoretically reducing land costs by 80%."

Zhai Da opened his mouth: "I am entitled to the policy of selling at 70% of the reserve price."

"Isn't that even better? You're not a scammer, why would you be afraid of getting something for free?"

Shen Rui's suggestion wasn't written in the rules, but it was negotiable. Dongyang had no precedent for this, but many investment negotiations in other places had similar practices, which were not against the rules.

This also reflects the "breadth of perspective" he has gained from his long-term focus on industrial changes.

After quickly finishing his portion, Shen Rui said, "Let's go to Sunmazhuang again later. The land there isn't perfectly straight; it borders several villages and towns. We should pay attention to their land use situation. I haven't been there for several years."

Zhai Da laughed and said, "So eager? After all, it's the Spring Festival."

Even so, the person still went to the cashier to pay.

Oh well, more overtime.

"Boss, it's on the bill. How much?"

Unexpectedly, the owner of the Tian Tian Liangpi shop, that chubby auntie, shook her head and said, "No money, no money!"

Zhai Da was taken aback, wondering if Teacher Shen Rui had already paid? He hadn't seen it.
The auntie's face crinkled with laughter as she pressed down on Zhai Da's hand, which was about to reach for his money: "Boss Zhai, you're coming back. This is for the whole of Dongyang. Um, I'm not good at talking."

"You don't recognize me, but I've always known you. I've been coming here since elementary school, and I'll continue to come here to eat often, all for free!"

"Our pride in Dongyang is coming back, how could we possibly accept your money!"

Zhai Da tried to lift his hand, which was being held down, but found it very heavy.

Only then did he notice that the other diners in the shop had also been looking in his direction, and that he had actually been recognized long ago.

Zhai Da ultimately couldn't pull out the 20 yuan note from his wallet, even though it was practically nothing to him anymore.

He just smiled at the older woman and said, "Then I'll bring lots of people to eat cold noodles here in the future, what should I do?"

"It's all free! It's all free!"

Outside the Tian Tian Liangpi shop, Zhai Da exhaled a breath of air carrying the aroma of chili oil; Teacher Shen Rui was already waiting outside.

"Have you paid?"

"I didn't buy it; I can afford it."

Shen Rui didn't ask what could "hold up" it, he just smiled and said, "That's good."

The two walked together toward the edge of the Hongqi Shopping Mall and took a taxi to Sunmazhuang to take a look.

We should look at Li Kangda's perspective, and we should also look at Shen Rui's perspective.

In the taxi, perhaps finally realizing that Shen Rui's identity was no longer just that of a teacher from his alma mater, Zhai Da had many more questions to ask.

"Professor Shen, why did you choose to come back and become a teacher? Back then, a PhD from Renmin University was highly sought after, right?"

Shen Rui pondered for a moment, a hint of reminiscence in his expression.

"Similar to what you just experienced?"

"What was the payment for the cold noodles?"

"Yes, that's the money for the cold noodles."

Shen Rui no longer regarded Zhai Da simply as a student and junior of his school, and was finally willing to talk about some past events.

Looking out the window, heading from the old town towards the new town, the buildings on both sides of the road resemble a scroll painting of time.

It's getting better and better.

"Twenty years ago, I was the first college student from Dongyang to be admitted to a prestigious university. My father died early, my mother was an ordinary worker in a wool mill, and my uncle was not yet the factory manager. I grew up eating sweet potatoes and millet, and often mooched off neighbors."

After the blunder of "fainting in the exam room," he noticed Zhai Da, a student, and then kept a close eye on him.

Perhaps it's because Zhai Da and he have many similarities.

Even more difficult.

"The year I was admitted to university, knowing my family was struggling financially, neighbors and fellow villagers pooled together 300 yuan, each contributing 50 cents or a dollar. The county government gave me 500 yuan, and the school awarded me 200 yuan, totaling 1000 yuan to support my studies. Dongyang was known throughout the country for its poverty at that time. I cried and kowtowed to everyone before embarking on my first step in my academic journey, vowing to return and contribute to my hometown after completing my studies. My mind was filled with the thought that fortunes change over time."

"The rest of the story is nothing special, and it would even be pretentious to talk about it at this age. The poor boy only had ambition and self-esteem, nothing else. The big city and the completely different values ​​eroded his self-esteem into inferiority. In the 1990s, the impact of this was even greater than it is now, and the social atmosphere was also more complex."

"So I spent my days with books, willing to read any kind of book, but unwilling to look at reality."

"From my undergraduate years to my doctoral graduation, I spent nearly ten years in a state of self-destruction. If I hadn't been smart enough, I would have had a hard time graduating. Back then, job placement was guaranteed, and I had a diploma after all. But I couldn't get over my own conscience, so I chose to come back and become a teacher. Looking back now, it was nothing more than a spiritual self-redemption and a self-abandonment in action."

"I thought I could handle that thousand yuan, but I found out in the end that I couldn't."

Zhai Da pursed his lips, also filled with emotion.
Right after I finished the college entrance examination, the other party repeatedly reminded me that as a college student from a small town, the clash of values ​​in big cities was the first hurdle I needed to overcome.

This is clearly a personal pain for Teacher Shen Rui.

Twenty years later, it can be recounted as "sentimental," but back then, when they were eating pickled vegetables and steamed buns in their dormitories in northern Beijing, how agonizing and internally draining must have been for the previous generation of pride from Dongyang?
Have young hearts ever been gently broken?
As Shen Rui was speaking, he suddenly burst into laughter, as if he had remembered something very funny:
"When I was about to leave Beijing, I realized that I hadn't actually spent a single penny of that 1000 yuan. I supported myself entirely through odd jobs and scholarships, but it seemed like I had spent ten or even a hundred times more of that money."

"So before leaving Beijing, there happened to be some social events, including a donation for national defense. I donated 1000 yuan, thinking that if I couldn't meet everyone's expectations, maybe this would make sure that everyone didn't waste their money. Of course, later I went to each of them to repay the principal and interest with my own salary."

"I never expected that years later, through an introduction, Mr. Yu Donglai learned that he had also participated in that donation. We hit it off immediately, and that was part of the reason."

In the taxi, Shen Rui turned to Zhai Dacheng and said earnestly:
"So, Xiao Zhai, that bowl of cold noodles cost more than twenty yuan, and the expectations of the entire Dongyang city for you far exceed 1000 yuan. But the more this is the case, the more you need to understand this."

"You can do difficult but right things, but you don't have to think that you have to do them. There's no way out if you're stuck in a dead end, and it can even make you blind and ignore everything else."

After a moment, Zhai Da slowly nodded.

He then laughed and said, "But Teacher Shen, I don't believe the claim that you've 'given up to yourself' after being a teacher for so many years."

When conducting research, the other party also interacted with enterprises of all sizes, old state-owned factories, and government departments in Dongyang, provided guidance to many local business owners, and did their best to take care of their hometown.

For example, just now, County Chief Li Kangda knew about Shen Rui, and his words showed him great respect, indicating that they had obviously discussed matters before.

The most typical example is Yu Donglai, the general manager of the wool textile factory, who was introduced to Shen Rui through a friend. Shen Rui also provided some suggestions on product direction, which saved the wool textile factory.

As for why the wool mill in the previous life couldn't be saved, it can only be said that people eventually run out of strength, or perhaps it's the butterfly effect.

If he hadn't reported the Japanese who had been arrested for handling foreign trade orders, the wool mill wouldn't have been suddenly cut off from its vital artery, and it probably wouldn't have had the motivation to fully accept Shen Rui's help and reforms.

"If it's not giving up on yourself, then what is it?"

"Who knows? Maybe they're waiting for me?"

　Chapter 1 is a bit long; Chapter 2 will be a little later.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)