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The "One Bowl of Fresh Food" project achieved a key breakthrough, and Wu Kezhi, unusually generous, said: "Yuming, take everyone out for a meal, the company will reimburse you."

Lin Yuming excitedly called out, "Come on, come on! The boss is treating today, so don't be shy!"

Although Wu Kezhi couldn't go because of other matters, he specifically instructed, "Eat well, don't try to save me money."

"Thank you, Mr. Wu."

The group went to a nice local Shanghainese restaurant near the company and ordered a private room.

Once all the dishes were served, Lin Yuming raised his glass: "Well done today! Especially the interns, their performance exceeded expectations. Come on, on behalf of Group Four, I'd like to toast everyone!"

Everyone stood up and clinked glasses.

Sun Yiqiu was a little nervous; this was his first time attending such a work dinner.

He looked at the beer in his glass, unsure how much to drink.

"Xiao Sun, do as you please." Lin Yuming noticed his unease. "Drink as much as you can, don't force yourself."

"Thank you, Manager Lin."

Gao Sicong was very active, constantly putting food on Lan Qianyi's plate: "Qianyi, try this crab roe tofu, it's their signature dish."

"Thank you! I can do it myself." Lan Qianyi moved the bowl away a little.

"You did a great job today!" Gao Sicong said casually. "If you hadn't gotten the purchase order, the negotiations wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

"Everyone contributed," Lan Qianyi said calmly.

Zeng Hao and Qiu Shuang were chatting about their respective investigation experiences, while Li Xiaoxian quietly ate his food, occasionally chiming in with a word or two.

Sun Yiqiu sat next to Su Ning and asked in a low voice, "Brother Su, are there any things we should be careful about at these kinds of gatherings?"

"Drink less alcohol, eat more, and don't talk nonsense," Su Ning said simply.

"oh oh."

Halfway through the meal, Lan Qianyi suddenly stood up and said, "Excuse me, I'm not feeling well, I'll head back now."

Lin Yuming asked with concern, "What's wrong? Should I take you to the hospital?"

"No need, I just have a bit of a headache, I'll be fine when I get back." Lan Qianyi picked up her bag. "Everyone, take your time eating."

"Then be careful."

After Lan Qianyi left, Gao Sicong felt a little disappointed: "Why does she always keep to herself?"

"It's his personality," Zeng Hao said from the side. "But he's very capable, so it's normal for him to be a loner."

Sun Yiqiu recalled Lan Qianyi's quick thinking at the seafood market earlier that day and felt a sense of admiration.

But then I remembered her always distant attitude and felt that this girl was a bit hard to understand.

The dinner party continued, and the atmosphere became lively.

The interns began to relax, chatting about school and their future plans.

Gao Sicong said he wanted to stay in the energy group and learn from Mr. Ma.

Hao Shuai said the technology group was interesting and he wanted to develop in the direction of fintech.

Zeng Hao complained that the work in the Comprehensive Group 2 was messy, but stable, which was suitable for someone like him who had a family.

Qiu Shuang said that the strategy department has access to high-level personnel and a broad perspective.

Li Xiaoxian felt that the risk control department was highly professional and suitable for in-depth development.

When it was Sun Yiqiu's turn, he stammered, "I...I haven't thought that far ahead yet. Let's focus on mastering the basics first."

Lin Yuming patted him on the shoulder: "No rush, take your time. You did a good job today. Pudong is so far away, and it was raining heavily, but you persevered."

"Of course," Sun Yiqiu said with an embarrassed smile.

Suning didn't say much, quietly eating his food, occasionally chiming in with a word or two.

Lin Yuming leaned closer: "Su Ning, your data analysis today was a huge help. The boss said that the data you calculated to deduce customer traffic based on the table turnover rate is incredibly accurate."

“I just happened to get it right,” Su Ning said.

"Come on," Lin Yuming laughed. "You're a hidden talent, kid."

The meal lasted until after nine o'clock. Lin Yuming went to pay the bill, and the others left one after another.

Gao Sicong and Hao Shuai drove off separately, while Zeng Hao, Qiu Shuang, and Li Xiaoxian took the subway together.

In the end, only Suning and Sun Yiqiu remained.

"How do you get there?" Su Ning asked.

“I…I’ll take the bus,” Sun Yiqiu said. “There should still be a last bus.”

"I'll give you a ride," Su Ning said. "It's on my way."

"Oh? No need, no need, that's too much trouble."

"No trouble, let's go."

Sun Yiqiu couldn't refuse any longer, so he followed Su Ning to the parking lot.

Upon seeing Suning's BYD Tang, Sun Yiqiu was somewhat surprised: "Brother Su, is this your car?"

"Yes, for transportation." Su Ning opened the car door. "Get in."

The car was clean, with little decoration, and only a faint scent of air freshener.

As the car drove into the night, Sun Yiqiu looked at the neon lights outside the window and sighed inwardly…

Just a day earlier, he was worried that he didn't know anything.

A day later, he actually attended the celebration banquet and even got into a colleague's car.

"Brother Su, thank you for today," Sun Yiqiu suddenly said.

"no need thank me?"

"Thank you for teaching me, picking me up in Pudong, and now taking me home," Sun Yiqiu said earnestly. "If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have made it."

“You’re the one who’s been persevering.” Su Ning looked ahead. “Pudong is so far away, and it was raining heavily, but you kept counting heads without slacking off.”

“I just… don’t want to disappoint my mom.” Sun Yiqiu’s voice was lower. “She bought me a new suit, and I can’t run away wearing it.”

Su Ning glanced at him in the rearview mirror: "Your mom treats you very well."

“Yes.” Sun Yiqiu nodded. “My dad passed away early, and she raised me all by herself. It wasn’t easy for her. So I think… I want to work hard so that she can have a better life.”

"Will do."

The car was quiet for a while.

Sun Yiqiu mustered his courage and asked, "Brother Su, when you first came to the company, were you like me? Did you not know anything?"

Su Ning thought for a moment and said, "Pretty much. But I have a foundation, so I can learn faster."

"You're amazing," Sun Yiqiu said sincerely. "Your English is so good, and your data analysis skills are incredible. I wish I could be like you someday."

"Take it slow," Su Ning said. "Learn a little every day, and when you look back after three months, you'll find you've made great progress."

"Ok!"

The car drove to an old residential area near Sun Yiqiu's home.

"Brother Su, let's park here. The roads inside are narrow and difficult to drive on," Sun Yiqiu said.

Suning stopped the car: "See you tomorrow."

See you tomorrow! Take care on your journey, Su-ge.

Watching Sun Yiqiu run into the residential area, Su Ning sat in the car for a while.

This young man is clumsy, but hardworking.

Cowardly, yet persistent.

……

The car restarted and drove into the night.

When Sun Yiqiu returned home, he opened the door quietly, afraid of waking his mother.

But Sun Xiuqin was still awake and waiting for him in the living room.

"Mom, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I've been waiting for you." Sun Xiuqin looked him up and down. "Have you been drinking?" "Just a little beer." Sun Yiqiu quickly replied, "The project made progress today, and the boss is treating us to a celebration."

"That's great to celebrate," Sun Xiuqin smiled. "It means you did a good job."

“Hmm.” Sun Yiqiu nodded, then hesitated for a moment, “Mom, today… today a colleague brought me home.”

"Colleague? Male or female?"

“It was a man named Su Ning. He taught me a lot,” Sun Yiqiu said. “He drove me there in his own car. He was a really nice guy.”

"Then you should thank them properly," Sun Xiuqin said. "When working outside, relationships with colleagues are very important."

"I know."

After washing up and lying in bed, Sun Yiqiu thought about everything that had happened that day...

The insistence on counting heads, the embarrassment of being asked to leave by security, the excitement of a successful negotiation, the lively dinner, and the warmth of Suning taking him home.

Although there are still many things I don't understand, and although I still feel insignificant.

But at least he's moving forward.

Wearing the "armor" his mother bought him, he learned to be a soldier on this unfamiliar battlefield.

……

After successfully securing the "One Bowl of Freshness" project, General Manager Wang Yunlai made a special trip to Qu Zhonghui's office.

"President Qu, Wu Kezhi's performance this time was truly outstanding." President Wang said with a smile, "He resolved such a difficult situation in half a day and even obtained the real data. With this kind of ability, he should be given a chance."

Qu Zhonghui leaned back on the sofa, slowly sipping his tea: "President Wang, work ability is only one aspect. You know, when the company promotes people, we consider their overall qualities."

“But Wu Kezhi’s performance is undeniable,” said General Manager Wang. “The fourth team has the fewest members, but their project success rate is quite high. This time, with Yiwanxian, if it weren’t for him, the project might have failed.”

“I know,” Qu Zhonghui put down his teacup, “so I’m willing to give him a chance.”

Mr. Wang's eyes lit up: "Mr. Qu, you agree?"

“But there are conditions.” Qu Zhonghui held up one finger. “First, he has to come to me in person to talk and express his desire for a promotion. Second, he has to find someone to replace him in the fourth comprehensive group. The fourth group can’t be left unattended, right?”

Mr. Wang was stunned: "Find someone to replace you? This..."

“That makes perfect sense,” Qu Zhonghui laughed. “If he’s going to get promoted, someone has to fill his vacancy. Finding a suitable person proves he has the ability to develop a team. Isn’t that the right thing to do?”

The words sounded very respectable, but Mr. Wang felt something was off.

"Manager Qu, that position in Group Four...it's not easy to find someone, is it?" Manager Wang tentatively asked. "The salary isn't high, the pressure is great, and you also have to..."

He didn't say aloud that he would have to take the blame.

"That's why I'm testing Wu Kezhi's abilities. Go talk to him. I've set the conditions; whether he accepts them or not is up to him."

After leaving Qu Zhonghui's office, General Manager Wang returned to his own office and paced back and forth.

He understood Qu Zhonghui's intentions all too well; this wasn't an opportunity, it was a trap.

Should Wu Kezhi find someone to take his place?

Who would be willing to go to Group 4 and become the "professional scapegoat"?
If Wu Kezhi can't find someone, his promotion will naturally fall through.

Qu Zhonghui could say, "You see, it's not that I didn't give him a chance, it's that he himself didn't have the ability to build a team."

Even if Wu Kezhi does find the person, that person won't last long.

The situation will become even more chaotic in Group 4, and even if Wu Kezhi gets promoted, he will still have to deal with this headache.

There are pitfalls everywhere.

But Mr. Wang still decided to go to Wu Kezhi, just in case.
What if Wu Kezhi really wants a promotion?

……

In the General Affairs Office, Wu Kezhi was reviewing materials for a new project.

Then Mr. Wang called, "Mr. Wu, come to my office for a moment."

"Mr. Wang, is there something you need?" Wu Kezhi asked as he entered Wang Yunlai's office.

"That's good. You handled the 'One Bowl of Fresh' project beautifully, and General Manager Qu is very satisfied. He said he's willing to give you a promotion opportunity."

“…” Wu Kezhi raised an eyebrow but did not speak.

"However, there are two conditions," General Manager Wang said, forcing himself to speak. "First, you have to personally talk to General Manager Qu and express your desire for a promotion. Second, you have to find someone to replace you in Group Four."

After speaking, President Wang observed Wu Kezhi's expression.

Wu Kezhi smiled after hearing this.

"Mr. Wang, do you think anyone would be willing to join Group Four?" he asked directly.

"Well... there's always someone willing to take on the challenge," Mr. Wang said, sounding unsure of himself.

"Challenge?" Wu Kezhi's smile widened. "Challenge what? Challenge how many scapegoats you'll take in a year? Challenge how to complete a project with minimal resources? Or challenge how to deal with President Qu's various 'arrangements'?"

Mr. Wang was speechless when asked the question.

“Mr. Wang, I appreciate your kind offer,” Wu Kezhi said calmly, “but I don’t want this opportunity.”

"Mr. Wu, please reconsider. A promotion and a raise are always a good thing..."

"Is this really a good thing?" Wu Kezhi interrupted. "If I get promoted, who will take over Group Four? Lin Yuming? He's only just become capable of handling things on his own. Are we going to leave him here to be tormented?"

He shook his head: "Forget it, Mr. Wang. I'm fine and comfortable in Group Four. Whether I get promoted or not doesn't matter to me."

"But……"

“President Wang,” Wu Kezhi looked at him seriously, “Do you know why President Qu made this condition? Because he knows that no one wants to come to Group Four. He wants me to understand that if I want to move up, I have to make others tread the same path I’ve walked before.”

Mr. Wang sighed.

Wu Kezhi is right; he understands this perfectly well.
However, as the general manager of the new business departments, there are some things he cannot say outright.

"Alright, since you've made your decision, I won't say anything more. But Mr. Wu, your abilities... what a pity." Wang Yunlai said, looking at Wu Kezhi with a face full of regret.

“It’s no pity,” Wu Kezhi said. “Being able to do a good job on the project in Group Four and train a few people is more meaningful than a promotion.”

……

Wu Kezhi returned to the fourth comprehensive team, and Lin Yuming came over and asked, "Boss, what did President Wang want to talk to you about?"

"President Qu said he would give me a promotion opportunity, on the condition that someone is found to replace me in Group Four," Wu Kezhi said casually.

Lin Yuming's eyes widened: "This is a promotion? This is a trap!"

"Knowing it's a trap, would you still jump in?"

"Of course I'm not jumping!" Lin Yuming said. "Whoever comes to Group Four is doomed. Boss, you're refusing?"

"Refused."

"You should have refused!" Lin Yuming said indignantly. "President Qu is just taking advantage of the fact that you can't find him and is deliberately making things difficult for you."

“It wasn’t entirely about making things difficult,” Wu Kezhi said. “He wanted me to know that it wouldn’t be easy for me to climb the ladder. I either had to humble myself and beg him, or I had to find a way to get out of this mess myself.”

“Then we’ll just not ask him for help,” Lin Yuming said. “We’ll achieve the same results in Group Four.”

"Correct."

In the afternoon, Qu Zhonghui received a reply from General Manager Wang, informing him that Wu Kezhi had refused.

But he wasn't surprised at all; instead, he laughed.

“I knew it.” He said to Ma Jianguo, “Wu Kezhi’s temper is such that he would rather be a local tyrant in the fourth group than come up to be my deputy.”

"So, are we just going to call it quits?" Ma Jianguo asked.

"Forget it?" Qu Zhonghui shook his head. "This is just the beginning. We'll tame him one day."

"But he doesn't want to."

"There will be a way." Qu Zhonghui tapped the table. "Isn't the 'One Bowl of Fresh' project a perfect example? There will be plenty of opportunities to come."

Ma Jianguo understood: "You mean..."

"No rush, take it slow." Qu Zhonghui smiled meaningfully. "The game of the workplace has to be played one step at a time. Wu Kezhi is a good player, but even the best player can make mistakes."

The success of Yiwanxian project has actually complicated Jin Chen Capital's grand strategy.

...(End of chapter)