Chapter
14.1: Buy Me a Book
In the negotiation room, Du Ran was still talking.
"Actually, of the three of us, I look the most capable,
but it's Di Chong who's the most thoughtful. Zeng Qiang and I usually focus
solely on research and are rather single-minded. Unlike Di Chong, he's actually
quite sophisticated and understanding."
Chu Qianmiao thought of the large handful of hazelnuts.
Yes, Di Chong had thought to bring her that handful of
hazelnuts when he came to ask her questions. He truly was a man of worldly
wisdom.
The thought made her even sadder. She had been touched by
those simple hazelnuts, and eating them brought her warmth. Now someone had
revealed their true nature—they weren't simple at all; they were a slick and
sophisticated enterprise. The simple hazelnuts were touching, but the
sophisticated hazelnuts made her feel like she'd accepted a bribe she shouldn't
have.
Chu Qianmiao touched her neck. The taste of hazelnut skins
seemed to rise from her throat.
The Du Ran issue was quickly resolved, leaving the
negotiations with Di Chong at a stalemate.
Chu Qianmiao couldn't help but admire Ren Yan. During that
dinner, he had clearly analyzed the negotiations, analyzing every possible
scenario, including the most awful. Now, the shy Di Chong was navigating that
ugliest scenario, playing guerrilla warfare with the company's negotiators.
He said, "If you don't agree to my terms, there's
nothing left to discuss. Let's not waste any more time. Go back and have
President Zhou think it over. It's not worth delaying the company's market
capitalization."
The company's negotiators said, "Why bother with this?
You'll gain nothing in the end. It's better to quit while you can and still get
the shares we agreed on." Di Chong refused, firmly insisting on more
money. He refused to accept the nonsense of a work-related invention, insisting
the patent belonged to the three of them. He would not transfer the patent
without the company's additional payment.
The company's negotiating representative gradually lost
patience and became more assertive: "Di Chong, just because you disagree
doesn't mean it's invalid. Don't take yourself too seriously. Whether you
accept it or not, patents filed for work-related inventions belong to the
company. That's an established fact. Since you have such an attitude, there's
really no point in discussing this. Forget about the additional money, and from
this moment on, you'll have no share in the shares!"
Di Chong's shyness finally cracked, and a hint of ferocity
emerged from beneath the cracks.
He pounded the table and said, "Is this how you treat
the company's technical heroes? Fine, fine, I'm going to sue you in court! I
wonder how Hanhai will ever go public!" Don't think I don't know. If a
company seeking to go public encounters disputes and lawsuits over trademarks,
patents, proprietary technologies, or franchises, it won't even pass the
listing review! If you're bullying me like this, I won't tolerate it anymore.
Let's all fight to the bitter end!
…
Chu Qianmiao couldn't bear to watch any longer. It was too
ugly. She was completely acting out the worst possible scenario that Ren Yan
had preconceived.
For a moment, she was filled with disappointment. She
couldn't tell whether she was disappointed with human nature's sudden reversal
or disappointed with herself for prioritizing interpersonal relationships.
***
Before get off work ended that day, the final outcome of the
matter was announced.
Zeng Qiang and Du Ran would continue working in the
company's R&D department, and they would still receive company shares.
Chu Qianmiao initially felt Zhou Hanhai was too generous and
felt bad for him. But after listening to Qin Qianyu's evaluation, she realized
that Zhou Hanhai wasn't really at a disadvantage at all.
"Mr. Zhou is definitely a smart guy. These days,
technically savvy people are hard to come by. This time, he put aside past
grudges and used equity to retain two technicians. Not only did he prevent the
loss of talent, but he also earned a good reputation and two new people who
have come back from their mistakes and are now working tirelessly for him. It
was well worth it," Qin Qianyu said.
Thinking of this, Chu Qianmiao felt that Zhou Hanhai was
truly remarkable. He could do things so thoroughly. Qin Qianyu was also truly
remarkable. He seemed so cheerful, yet he could see through Zhou Hanhai's
actions so thoroughly.
As for Di Chong, he had nothing. Dissatisfied with the
company's decision, he immediately resigned from Hanhai Home Textiles. It's
said that the scene was ugly as he was packing his things. He kept calling Zeng
Qiang and Du Ran traitors and said he would sue the company and make everyone
who bullied him regret it.
As he was about to leave the company with his belongings,
Chu Qianmiao encountered him in the hallway.
Di Chong remained shy, but that shyness could no longer
conceal the greed and ambition radiating from his eyes.
Chu Qianmiao had originally wanted to ask, "Teacher Di,
are you facing some family hardship and in urgent need of money?"
These days, everyone has a sudden, unspeakable secret.
But after meeting Di Chong's eyes, Chu Qianmiao decided she
didn't need to ask.
She paused. Di Chong, however, noticed her and approached
her, saying, "Lawyer Chu, I'm so glad to meet you! Were the hazelnuts good
the other day?"
Chu Qianmiao was taken aback, then nodded, "They were
good."
"I'm glad they were good. Then it wasn't in vain that I
brought them to you!"
Chu Qianmiao remained silent.
Di Chong was indeed sophisticated. He was reminding her,
"You ate my hazelnuts." She wondered if he would make any demands on
her next.
"Lawyer Chu, you come from a big law firm. You're not
just a lawyer, you're a good person. You're different from others—you're
enthusiastic and kind! So, Lawyer Chu, please help me sue this company. They're
really bullying me!" Di Chong said, cradling a cardboard box filled with
his personal belongings. His tone, the way he held the box, sounded and looked
vulnerable and pitiful.
But beneath his pitiful exterior lay a sense of discontent
and unreasonableness. He had become quite ugly.
Chu Qianmiao said, "I'm sorry, I work in non-litigation
practice, not litigation."
Di Chong's expression turned awkward. Then came a sudden
realization.
"Heh," he chuckled. "How could I forget?
You're in cahoots with them. How could you possibly help me with a lawsuit?
Just keep colluding with them. I'll just throw that handful of hazelnuts in the
trash!"
With that, he turned and left, clutching the box.
Chu Qianmiao felt her anger and blood rushing to her head.
It turns out people can be so unbearable when they turn
against each other.
Though she was warm and easily moved, she wasn't a
good-tempered person. She certainly wasn't the saint who could remain
indifferent even when someone called her a garbage can.
"Stop!" Chu Qianmiao called out to Di Chong.
She quickly stepped forward and circled around to Di Chong.
"Di Chong, your hazelnuts aren't made of gold; you
can't use them to gain favors. No one's bullying you today; it's you who's
become greedy. Do you know when people are at their ugliest? When others refuse
to meet your excessive demands, and you suddenly turn hostile and lash out with
insults! How ugly!" She pulled out her wallet, pulled out a fifty-yuan
note, and placed it on the lid of the box Di Chong was holding. "This is
for your hazelnuts, no more, no less. The rest is for a book, 'Speak Well, Live
Well.' Remember to read it!"
With that, she turned and walked away, unconcerned with how
much more of Di Chong's ugliness he'd let out or what he was mumbling.
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