Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 45 Old Wang Disappears
Orange Technology's small workshop.

The rusty roller shutter had only risen half a meter when Chen Mo frowned as he stared at the dust kicked up by Zhao Tiezhu.

It's been almost a week since I last came back; there must be a thick layer of dust inside.

Fortunately, it mostly contains electronic components, so at least it won't breed rats.

Yesterday, the two returned to their rented apartment, took a shower, and were finally able to get some rest.

Zhao Tiezhu was unusually well-behaved last night, finally giving himself a break and a good night's rest.

This morning, Chen Mo and Zhao Tiezhu returned to open the door with the explosion-proof box containing 10 prototype batteries to be sent for testing, so that their colleagues wouldn't think that Orange Technology, this small workshop, had gone out of business if the door remained closed for so long.

Sunlight streamed into the small, twenty-square-meter workshop through a small sliding window on one side.

Within the beam of light from the Tyndall effect, fine dust particles, stirred up by Zhao Tiezhu when he opened the door, floated, like a timeless, hazy filter being applied to the small workshop.

When Zhao Tiezhu left last time, the ballpoint pen that had rolled onto the ground and was not writing smoothly was still lying there, now covered in a layer of ash.

Even the solder wires scattered in the corners were covered with a dark yellow oxide film.

"Holy crap!" Zhao Tiezhu's work boots rolled across the ground, leaving a trail of obvious footprints. "Brother Chen! This dust is even thicker than the layer we wore yesterday!"

He picked up a bamboo broom from the corner of the wall and was about to start cleaning.

"Wait!" Chen Mo, carrying the green explosion-proof box containing ten prototype batteries, backed out of the small workshop: "OK! That's enough!"

Since the room is full of electronic components, it's impossible to spray water. Zhao Tiezhu can only use a broom to sweep away the dust bit by bit.

Chen Mo leaned against the door frame, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.
Ok? ? ?
Why isn't Old Wang's stall open?

Is something wrong?

Old Wang's stall was a bit strange compared to usual, but Chen Mo couldn't quite put his finger on it.

However, Chen Mo didn't have time to think about it, as he was already choked by the dust that Zhao Tiezhu had swept up.

Zhao Tiezhu swung the broom with great force, and the resulting dust cloud swirled in the beam of light.

"Tiezhu, slow down, or you'll choke!"

"Brother Chen! This little bit of dust is nothing!" Zhao Tiezhu waved his hand: "Years ago in our Northwest, when the wind blew, it would bring sandstorms everywhere!"

"Cough cough!" Chen Mo coughed twice, choked by the saliva, and said with a smile, "You're usually pretty clever, aren't you? You've managed to get this all over my face!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tiezhu grinned, revealing two rows of large white teeth. The broom drew an arc in the air and tucked into his armpit.

"Brother Chen, your face is precious! Come on! Let me wipe it for you myself!" He said, making a move to lean over, flicking his sleeve to reveal a section of his face.

"You little brat, you want to rebel, don't you?!"

Seeing Chen Mo make a kicking motion, he nimbly jumped back and took out a broom from under his armpit.

"But seriously, once our Orange phone is done, Brother Chen, could you please get us a whole vacuum cleaner so we don't have to go through all that trouble cleaning?"

After saying that, Zhao Tiezhu swept the dust twice more, deliberately scattering it towards Chen Mo, while he himself retreated to the other side and grinned foolishly.

"Brother Chen! Come on over here if you dare!"

This is probably a man's ability to find joy even in hardship!
After cleaning was almost done, Zhao Tiezhu dragged his broom to the doorway and whistled as he looked at the tightly closed roller shutter door of the stall next door. "Brother Chen! Have you noticed?" He poked the ground with the broom handle, shaking off the remaining dust, "Old Wang's signboard is gone!"

Back in the small workshop, Chen Mo, who was wiping his "workstation," paused, his gaze sweeping over the stall next door, where Old Wang used to work. Sure enough, he had sensed something was wrong before.

Old Wang's signboard is really gone!

Did they run away?
Could it be that when Lao Wang was pressing for repayment, he wasn't after his small Orange Technology workshop, but rather that he was genuinely facing difficulties?

Thinking about it this way, Chen Mo suddenly wondered if he had misunderstood him.

"Brother Chen!" Zhao Tiezhu raised an eyebrow at him and said, "Should I go find Old Zhang and ask about Old Wang's situation first?"

Although Zhao Tiezhu didn't want to gloat in front of Chen Mo, it was obvious that Old Wang's debt was most likely gone.

The creditor has disappeared, so why should I pay back the money?

"You get back to work first, and come over when you have time!" Chen Mo thought about it carefully. It was an open secret that Lao Wang coveted the production license of Orange Technology's small workshop.

In his past life, Chen Mo had seen him go through some difficulties, but in this life... could it be a butterfly effect brought about by himself?

Yes! That's true.

The reason for Lao Wang's disappearance actually stems from the following conversation.

B: Captain! We've found out that the target does indeed have a debt dispute with this Old Wang, and the two of them have a bet about developing a new type of battery.

A: Hmm! This further confirms that the target company is indeed the true developer of the battery.

B: Um, Captain! Since Old Wang and the target he's supposed to protect have a conflict, should we help resolve it?
A: Xiao Zheng! We're only responsible for protecting the target, not being their babysitters, you know?

B: Hey! Captain! I'm just worried that Old Wang can't handle losing and might do something rash, like stabbing his target.

A: Um, Xiao Zheng! Go and coordinate with the industry and commerce bureau, fire department, and tax bureau.

B: Captain! You mean...
A: Yes! That's exactly what I meant. If Old Wang has no problems with the business registration, fire safety, and tax authorities, then...
B: So we should trust his character?

A: No! Go and coordinate with the environmental protection, safety supervision, and market supervision departments. If he can pass these inspections smoothly, send plainclothes officers to keep an eye on his every move.

Remember, what we want is not to resolve the conflict, but to physically isolate him from the target.

If he really is a great saint, then we should give him a little trouble without revealing his identity.

B: Got it, Captain! It means we can't stay under the target's nose, so even if he has ulterior motives, there's nothing we can do!
A: That's right! The target is too important to the national new energy strategy, and there is no room for any mistakes. Report to me immediately if there are any changes.

In the bustling markets of North China, which business owner dares to confidently say that they can withstand scrutiny from the industry and commerce bureau, fire department, tax bureau, environmental protection bureau, safety supervision bureau, and market supervision bureau?

Then Old Wang couldn't even get past the first hurdle, let alone the grand feast that followed.

Old Wang believed that the world was a dog-eat-dog world, and that small workshops like Orange Technology should be his source of nourishment. But when stronger forces crushed him, it was as easy as autumn leaves being swept away by the wind.

B: Captain! The target has left carrying a green explosion-proof box.

A: Hurry up and follow them! Be careful not to let the target spot you!
B: Captain! No need to follow anymore, the target is coming towards me!

Seeing the young face beneath the motorcycle taxi driver's helmet, Chen Mo corrected himself, "Hey bro! Go to the Shenzhen Testing Institute, the one for 3C certification!"

(End of this chapter)