Today is my lucky day. Otherwise, why would I meet such a good person like
you? I'm so excited! I thought you'd be as sarcastic as Manager Lu, but I didn't
expect you to know so much."
He Xiaopeng cried as he said, "I can finally hold my head up high and be
someone. I can finally get rid of the label of useless trash. And shake off those
creditors who threaten me when I can't pay my debts.."
It seemed like he would not be able to stop talking anytime soon.
Lu Ming sighed softly in his heart. He patted He Xiaopeng's shoulder
comfortingly. He had always been tolerant of talented people like him. They
would be a great help to him in the future.
Lu Yaohua would never have dreamed that his prejudice turned away a
promising talent.
It helped Lu Ming achieve his goal instead.
Ever since Tang Wenyi and Lu Ze gave him back-to-back gifts, Lu Yaohua had
followed suit.
They are indeed family, thought Lu Ming
They are indeed alike.
After some time, He Xiaopeng regained his senses and said embarrassedly,
"Tm sorry, I didn't mean to lose my composure."
On the first day of the partnership, he was crying his eyes out in front of the
boss. This was too embarrassing!
Does he think that I'm too fragile? he wondered.
Just as he was feeling a little lost, Lu Ming handed him a tissue and smiled. "It's
alright.I can understand how you feel. Just cry if you feel wronged. There has
to be a way to vent."
He Xiaopeng felt he was like a duckweed that had found a home. He was about
to have a place in the industry.
He Xiaopeng wiped his tears embarrassedly. "I don't usually do this. Today is
an exception. From now on, I'll definitely follow you wholeheartedly! Please be
assured."
"Then the investment in new energy cars is decided. I will be responsible for all
the costs you spend on research during the planning process. Of course, I will
give you a fixed salary every month. As the research progresses, you can tell
me if you need anything"
Lu Ming took out the freshly printed document and said, "See if there are any
problems on it. If not, sign it."
He Xiaopeng nodded. When he saw his monthly salary of 300 thousand yuan,
he said in astonishment, "Isn't.. Isn't this too high?"
"Not very high. If it weren't our first partnership, Id probably have offered a
higher salary
Higher?
Based on He Xiaopeng's experience, the market salary was around 100
thousand yuan. Now his salary was triple that, and it would increase at a later
stage. He thought this was too good!
At the thought of this, his eyes reddened again. How lucky am I to have met
such a good boss, he thought.
So he signed his name without hesitation. Lu Ming signed beside his signature.
Before he could heave a sigh of relief, He Xiaopeng said in disbelief, "Your
surname is Lu too?! Don't tell me you are related to Manager Lu?
How could there be such a coincidence in this world???
The person who sent him to hell had the surname Lu, and the person who
pulled him back to heaven this time also had the surname Lu!
On a closer look, they seemed to look alike.
How could they be unrelated! he wondered.
"The Manager Lu you're talking about is my biological father."
Lu Ming did not intend to lie to him. Since the two of them were in a
partnership, he thought he should be upfront rather than resort to covering up
the truth. It would save him some trouble in the future.
Father!?
He Xiaopeng suddenly felt that he was being toyed with by this pair of father
and son. This good person was actually sent by Manager Lu?he thought. So
Manager Lu regretted his decision but did not want to let nme off the hook That
was why he got Lu Ming to follow me!
He flew into a rage out of humiliation. "Do you guys take me for a fool?! One
moment, you'Te calling my project trash, the next moment, you're saying that
my project is very good. You're both in cahoots! Liar! So you're the young
master of the Lu Corporation! Are you saying those words just becausel don't
know the inside story?!
The flames of anger overwhelmed him and he instinctively forgot that Lu Ming
had been scolding Lu Yaohua not long ago. His only thought was that he had
been fooled!
He was so grateful to Lu Ming. But nowhe thought perhaps Lu Ming was
calling him an idiot behind his back!
Well, as Id said, how could there be apie falling from the sky, especially with
my bad luck, he thought. Is this the truth then? He was disappointed and sad.
Anyone who felt betrayed would probably have the same reaction.
He looked at the documents on the table and said, "I'm unworthy of your Lu
family! Let's cancel this collaboration! l'd rather be buried with my hard work
than let you trample on me!"
"You're mistaken. I don't know Lu Yaohua well
Lu Ming quickly explained. He did not want to let go of the talent he found just
like that.
"Don't know well?
He Xiaopeng sneered and said, "Which father and son in the world don't know
each other well? Can't you find a better excuse? Isn't this too perfunctory? Do
you really think I'm a fool? Perhaps in your eyes, Im a fool! I actually believed
your nonsense!"
Lu Ming said helplessly, "Im telling the truth. Why don't you believe me?
"Who the f#ck would believe you! Your dad just angered me into leaving and
you came to sign a contract with me. How could you have kind intentions?! Did
you regret your actions and want to rope me in?! Let me tell you, I won't work
with you in this lifetime! Give up!"
He Xiaopeng said angrily.
He had offered his sincerity and warmth. He didn't expect that the other party
was just using him!
He thought he could not have been more unlucky!
Lu Ming did not knowwhat to say. Could he say that all of this was a
coincidence? However, the person in front of him clearly did not believe it.
After all, he already hated Lu Yaohua to the core.
"Do you thinkI have premonition powers? You came to my construction site. I
didn't force you, right?
He tried to reason with He Xiaopeng to prove his innocence.
However, He Xiaopeng refused to listen. "You guys have been monitoring me!
No matter where I go, you guys appear just in time. Didn't I fall into your trap
by coming here? That's right! This was all planned by you guys"
Look! Lu Ming thought.
A fine young man is driven to this state by Lu Yaohua.
This is close to a delusion of persecution!
Lu Ming held his forehead. He had been busy with work all day long. He did not
have the time for silly tricks, let alone collaborate with his enemy.
The truth is not what you think.. Since you insist that you're right, are you
interested in going somewhere with me? I can take you to see the truth if you
After you're done looking at it, you can decide if the contract is void. Is that alright?"
Seeing how sincere he was, He Xiaopeng nodded uncertainly. In any case, he had nothing to do now. He would know if Lu Ming was sincere or faking it if he went along to investigate.
So the two of them got into the sports car. The scenery outside the window kept whizzing by like time.
Meanwhile, He Xiaopeng was on tenterhooks as he took out his phone from time to time to take a look. He thought to himself, Is it possible that my rejection has infuriated the Lu family, so they are kidnapping me? Then they will make me do research in a godforsaken place until I achieve the final
product. Then I will be of no value to them.
No, no, no. This is a lawful society. If they really do that.
It did not seem like there would be any consequences!
No matter what, the Lu family is a well-known family in Shanghai. How could an ordinary person like me imagine the kinds of connection that they have established over the years?
He began to regret his decision. If he had known better, he would not have said those words on the spot. He would not rest in peace if he died leaving the fruit of his labor in their hands!
He clenched his fists at the thought of this. What should I do? If it was really as he thought, what should he do now? He did not want to die just like that. He wanted to live to promote new energy cars!
"W-where are we going?"
He asked faintly.
If Lu Ming said anything menacing, he would immediately break the car window and jump out.
"The cemetery, of course."
Lu Ming did not know what he was thinking, so he said truthfully.
"C-cemetery?! I, I did not do anything. Have you even thought of where I want to be buried? I don't want to die yet! Let me out of the car quickly! Otherwise, I'd fight you to the death!"
Seeing that He Xiaopeng was about to break the car window and jump out, Lu Ming was stunned.
Are we really on the same frequency? he wondered.
It's just a visit to the cemetery, he thought. Why does he act like his life is at stake?
He quickly pulled him back and said, "Calm down! I don't want your life! I…"
"Bullsh*t! If you don't want to take my life, why would you take me to the cemetery? Aren't you threatening me? Let, let me tell you, this is a lawful society! Even a rabbit will bite when cornered!"
22?
What is going on?
Lu Ming looked bewildered. "You're thinking too much. I really don't want your life."
Besides, what is the point of having a cold corpse? he thought.
Only those who are alive could create more value.
"You're still lying to me! Have you already prepared the tools for the crime?"
He Xiaopeng looked around, trying to find a murder weapon.
However, this was all his conjecture. Lu Ming would not put any weapons in the car for no reason.
Lu Ming was amused by his actions and did not know whether to laugh or cry. He thought, Do I look like a vicious person? He said, "Don't you want to see the truth? The truth is in the cemetery."
"It means that I can only see it after I die?!"
Huh?! Lu Ming thought.
Was that what I meant?
Lu Ming glanced at He Xiaopeng and said, "You can see it even if you are alive. In case you do anything dangerous again, let me tell you first. Lu Yaohua has two wives. The first is my mother, and the second is the mother of the young master of the Lu family. My mother is in the cemetery."
Young Master Lu?
Isn't it this person?
He Xiaopeng's mind went blank for a few seconds.
"Why don't you get it? I mean, Lu Yaohua had a son with his second wife, my half-brother."
"Isee."
So he is his half-brother?
He Xiaopeng was stunned. "Aren't you the rumored rich second-generation heir who only knows how to drink and have fun?!"
"Do I look like him?"
Lu Ming asked.
He Xiaopeng thought for a moment and said, "… Not really."
As soon as he finished speaking, the car stopped. After he stepped onto the ground, he felt that all of it was real. The first things he saw were the flowers and rivers in the mountains. If not for the cemetery, this might be a good place to retire.
Is this where the rich are buried? he thought.
He remembered seeing this place on television before. Every inch of land was worth money. Those who could buy a place like this were all rather rich. He wondered if Lu Yaohua loved his first wife so much that he buried her here.
He knew very little about Lu Yaohua.
He only knew that after the divorce, he married the missy of a prestigious family.
Lu Ming seemed to know what he was thinking. He said, "Lu Yaohua didn't love my mom. Back then, he couldn't wait to get rid of us. Why would he bury her here? I was the one who moved my mom's grave here. After all, when I went to visit her the last time, I was stopped by Lu Yaohua's current wife. She
wouldn't let me sweep the grave."
Although he had taught Tang Wenyi a lesson, he still felt that it was not enough.
Before He Xiaopeng could react, a middle-aged man in a simple blue overall walked forward and said, "Mr. Lu, are you here to pay your respects to your mother?"
"Yes."
Lu Ming nodded slightly. "Take me to her grave."
"Please follow me."
The three of them walked in the direction of the North Mountain. Not long after, they saw a lonely grave in front of them. Around it were hundreds of flowers blooming and dancing in the gentle breeze.
After handing the sacrificial offerings to Lu Ming, the middle-aged man left.
Lu Ming lit the incense first and said, "I think Lu Yaohua must have told those outsiders that he divorced his ex-wife amicably. Actually, both parties were very unhappy back then. It was mainly because he became successful and felt that my mom was not worthy of him. He clearly did not lack money and
was rather rich, but he would rather hire a good lawyer than pay child support.
He cut ties with us as soon as possible and my mom died from overwork as a result. Lu Yaohua was ruthless and was motivated by self-interest only. If possible, I don't want to have his surname at all. I don't want to be close to my enemies, so I wasn't lying when I said that I didn't have a good
relationship with my father."
He Xiaopeng fell silent.
This made me seem a little mean, he thought.
He did not expect such a rich person to have such a miserable past.
"The winters were very cold, but even so, we still had to live. No matter what we did, we still had to live. Back then, I used to wonder every day—what should we do to survive? Once I had a craving for the wontons by the street. I was so hungry that I couldn't walk. Mom pawned her silver pocket watch. It
was a gift from my grandmother before she passed away."
Just to satisfy Lu Ming's craving, she was willing to exchange the most precious thing for her child. It was obvious that Lu Ming's mother loved him very much..
keep calm, understand
I didn't understand at the time. In order to support Lu Yaohua's career, Mom gave up her stable and well-paid job and came all the way to Shanghai. How could Lu Yaohua be so heartless? Before they even got a divorce, Lu Yaohua had his eyes on his second wife.
Not only did he abandon his wife and son, but he also wanted to erase our existence. His wife, Tang Wenyi, ordered every company in Shanghai not to hire my mom, leaving her no choice but to work low-paying jobs. There were many times when I woke up at night and saw her doing handiwork.
All those years, Lu Yaohua didn't care about me and my mother. He didn't even know when my mom passed away. We were so poor that we had nothing to eat. Once, Mom hadn't eaten for two days, but she fed me the remaining bread so that I could grow. She even lied to me that there was more."
How could there be more?
The bit of bread was scavenged from some nook or cranny.
Lu Ming paused for a moment and continued, "Mom would have starved to death. So I looked for Lu Yaohua to borrow some money. But I did not get to see him. Instead, I ran into Tang Wenyi. She made me kneel in the rain and gave me a sum of money if I promised not to look for them again."
He had to survive.
He had no choice but to accept her money.
"Mom and I were in dire straits. We could not even compare with the beggars living under the bridge, so we would beg or pick up trash by the roadside. I remember that one time, Mom accidentally walked past the Lu Corporation with trash in her hands. She just looked from afar and did not say anything.
But I know then that we and Lu Yaohua belonged to different worlds.
After a few years of not seeing each other, Lu Yaohua came to find me. I thought that he finally wanted to apologize, but to my surprise, it turned out that my younger brother, whom I'd never met before, had uremia. They wanted me to offer up my kidney for him, so I gave them a scolding."
Lu Ming exhaled deeply and said, "Mom was headstrong all her life and was never willing to bow down to them. However, when she fell seriously ill in bed and was delirious, she said, 'This building is really tall!' Before she died, she was afraid that I would never be able to make a name for myself under
Tang Wenyi's oppression, so she asked me to look for Lu Yaohua.
But I didn't go because I'd rather starve than be laughed at by them."
If the system had found me sooner, would Mom have passed away? Lu Ming wondered.
However, he knew that his mother's passing was not within his control. Lu Yaohua and Tang Wenyi were the culprits!
He raised three incense sticks and bowed to the grave, then stuck them into the ground. As he burned the paper money, he said, "Mom, thank you for giving birth to me and raising me. Even in the most difficult circumstances, you would not abandon me. Even now, I still remember your teachings.
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to repay your kindness.
But I won't let go of anyone who killed you! I'll make them go to hell to accompany you. I hope you can rest in peace. If there's a next life, you must be born into a happy family. The good partner you choose will definitely love you wholeheartedly."
He had never believed in ghosts and gods.
But when it came to his mother, he hoped for good karma.
He wanted his mother to see him as he was now. Her once frail son had grown up and had the resources to deal with the Lu Corporation.
"Recently, I destroyed the Lu Corporation. Did you see that? From now on, I will build a company bigger than the Lu Corporation. So what if it's the Tang family in Beijing? As long as it's someone who bullied you back then, I will pull and cut the person down!"
Lu Ming said firmly. This was his vow.
He was not aware that He Xiaopeng was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped. Putting aside the gossip about the rich, just the latter part of the story told him that this person was responsible for a series of consecutive losses that the Lu Corporation suffered! How could this young man, who had just
graduated, force the Lu Corporation to restructure its assets?
In He Xiaopeng's opinion, Lu Yaohua had abandoned his wife and son to pursue fame and fortune, never expecting his son to become so successful.
Lu Yaohua had raised a formidable opponent with his own hands.
He had brought it on himself.
If Lu Yaohua had not made this choice, he would not have fallen to such a state.
Now he completely believed that the relationship between this father and son was not good. When he thought of what he said not long ago—only ghosts would believe Lu Ming's story—his face became flushed. It was too embarrassing!
I refused to believe that he was telling the truth.
Leven retorted that they were monitoring me. Lu Ming did not know me at all. Why would he spend time monitoring me?
This is so embarrassing! he thought.
If he had not been overwhelmed by anger, he would definitely remember how Lu Ming sounded when he mentioned Lu Yaohua. Did that sound like he was talking about his family? He was obviously talking about his enemy!
What was I thinking?
The other party had helped me out of goodwill, but I thought he was up to no good!
With his status, why would Lu Ming need to specially deal with me? Lu Ming could easily destroy the Lu Corporation. If he really wants to harm me, won't he be able to finish me off easily?
Even if he doesn't do it personally, there are many people who will be willing to be Lu Ming's hitmen.
They could kill me by subtle means, without spilling blood.
Before he could think of a way to break the heavy atmosphere, Lu Ming stood up and said, "I need many capable and talented people to achieve my ultimate goal. If you don't want to go against the Tang family, I can understand that. After all, everyone wants to protect themselves.
I will give you a sum of money to develop a new energy vehicle that can send shock waves throughout China. By then you can make a name for yourself. I will give you the right to choose."
He Xiaopeng looked at Lu Ming's back and felt that he had become much taller for some reason.
Lu Ming told him everything. He wondered if he was worthy of this trust. No, no, no. Perhaps Lu Ming already trusted me. Otherwise, why would he tell me everything? He Xiaopeng thought.
If that was the case, Lu Ming had let down his guard with him.
Moreover, even if he chose to back out, Lu Ming would still give him some money to start a business. If it was anyone else, they would definitely coerce him to follow them or let him perish on his own.
In fact, when he heard that they were going to deal with the Tang family, he instinctively wanted to back out.
No matter how ignorant he was, he knew how powerful the Tang family was in the capital! They had been an established family for many years. The Lu Corporation was nothing compared to the Tang family!
But.
These words stirred up a thousand waves in his calm heart. Perhaps Lu Ming could really do it?
Perhaps we could really start a new era together.
Just thinking about it gave him goosebumps!Lu Ming saw that there was something wrong with his expression and thought that he was afraid. He thought to himself, Is he afraid? There are really too few capable and bold people. But it makes sense. These people are not stupid. And I am only the boss of a few companies.
He sighed lightly. He had helped the other party by giving him money. Perhaps in the future, he might be able to obtain He Xiaopeng's help. That was enough for him.
"Twill pay you…"
"T've decided! I'll follow you from now on! I'll follow wherever you go. You're my boss!"
'When He Xiaopeng said this, his eyes shone with a dazzling light. His tone was so resolute that one instinctively knew that he was telling the truth.
In fact, he was.
'The unexpected answer puzzled Lu Ming. "Aren't you… afraid?"
"Tm afraid! But compared to being afraid, the excitement of being able to defeat the Tang family has taken over! I think that since I want to make a career out of it, I might as well make a big deal out of it! The goal to defeat the Tang family is not bad! Boss, I'm willing to bet everything I have on you! I
believe in you!"
Lu Ming had trusted him unconditionally.
So he would trust Lu Ming a hundred times, a thousand times more!
He Xiaopeng said passionately again, "My project won't be called Little Peng Smart Cars anymore. Let's call it Deer Cry Smart Cars! Just as the poem goes, Yo, yo, the deer cries, eating the wild flowers. I have guests, drums, and trumpets!"
It was just a name. It could not be compared to the friend he had just found!
Thave really picked up a treasure this time, Lu Ming thought.
He patted He Xiaopeng's shoulder and said, "What I want is a talent like you! Thank you for believing in me. I will not disappoint you."
With the system in hand, the Tang family was nothing.
So he had let nature take its course and picked up a capable subordinate just like that. What he needed to do next was to develop new energy cars on the newly purchased land!
One day, Lu Ming stood on a tall building and looked down. He turned to the bespectacled man beside him and asked, "Where did Little He go? I don't think I saw him recently. Could he have gone to scout talents again?"
He thought that Little Peng was only talented in car development. He did not expect that in just a few days, the people He Xiaopeng recruited gradually formed a team. They were all from famous car companies, large parts companies, and famous Internet companies!
He was very surprised by this. This person had so many connections.
'Then he found out that He Xiaopeng's previous workplaces were all well-known companies, such as UC and Alibaba.
So there was a reason why He Xiaopeng knew so many people in the industry.
A bespectacled man named He Tao was the first to be recruited. He graduated with a master's degree in automobile engineering from Tsinghua University. He was a straight-A student.
"Lhave a junior who's quite capable and suitable to be recruited for research, so I woke up early today and connected with him. I think it won't be long before I successfully convince this junior to come here."
After spending a few days together, they realized that He Xiaopeng was quite articulate. He could easily lead people into a trap. By the time they came to their senses, it was already too late—they had fallen into his trap!
Lu Ming sighed. How amazing!
Lu Yaohua actually scolded someone who is an all-rounder?
Every time he thought of this, he would laugh out loud.
This is so interesting! he thought.
He Tao nodded in agreement and said, "Currently, our team has gathered many outstanding talents. We've basically settled the downstream industry chain. All that's left is to start researching prototypes. When this junior joins us, we can officially start work with a few who are still in the midst of
consideration."
It was almost time.
Lu Ming knocked on the railing rhythmically and said, "Just tell me if the funds are insufficient. What I don't lack is money."
"Sure."
'The boss was so generous that even the experienced and knowledgeable He Tao was a little stunned. Initially, he thought that it was Lu Ming's honor to be able to meet He Xiaopeng. But now, it seemed that the two of them complemented each other.
'The talent happened to bump into the discerning talent scout.
Everything was perfect. They were really going to accomplish something big this time!
It would be difficult to imagine that they could not do it.
Unsurprisingly, He Tao's juniors and a few people who were considering the matter decided to join the project and the research began smoothly.
In the early stages, they did not meet with any big trouble. It was not until He Xiaopeng reached a technical bottleneck that he walked around in frustration in the hallway and muttered, "What should we do? What should we do? We have to think of a solution quickly."
Although his background was the Internet and electric cars were very well-developed, compared to traditional car companies like BBA, there were technological difficulties that he could not resolve.
How could he integrate his new concepts with the traditional classic mold?
This was a problem that no smart car company could solve!
What he needed to do was to constantly innovate and break through!
"Te found some information for you. You can take a look."
When Lu Ming heard that there was a problem here, he specially used his connections to track down hidden information. He hoped that it could help the development of their car.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Tesla headquarters.
In the top-floor office, a brown-haired man in a gray shirt was happily taking stock of his earnings on Dogecoin. He was humming out of tune and muttering from time to time, "Very good, another million USD."
He was the man who manipulated Dogecoin behind the scenes—Elon Musk!
On top of having citizenship of three countries, he had been Times' Person of the Year several times. The company under his name was one of the top 500 companies in the world and countless celebrities fawned on him. Now he had another nickname—one of the top three richest men in the world.
As for the rise and fall of Dogecoin, it was all part of his plan. After all, he had planned to make a killing from the moment he joined the game.
Nowadays, netizens said that he was cold-blooded and heartless, but he did not deny it. No matter what, he was a businessman. Businessmen had always valued profits and that was normal.
He suddenly paused, his gaze fixed on a certain spot.
He thought that he would be the only victor, but he did not expect that someone would earn as much as he did!
Now, through this series of ups and downs, this person had become one of the top 10 Dogecoin investors in the world. His ability naturally could not be underestimated!
Could this be the work of an old acquaintance?
But when he saw that the IP address was in China, he fell silent for a long time.
Since when did such a powerful person emerge in the East? he wondered.
Is there going to be a change?
Which big shot is this?Musk flipped through the magazine in his hand and chose to call the landline phone. "Mary, come to my office. I have something to tell you."
Indeed, no matter what, he was curious about the mysterious person who was on par with him. Who could this person be? he wondered.
Just as he continued to mull over it, his secretary, Mary, knocked on the door and walked in. Her ponytail swung beautifully with every move she made. "Boss, is there anything I can do for you?"
"Help me find out who this IP address belongs to? Or rather, its exact location."
Musk spun his laptop around so that the other party could see what was on it. "I want to have the information in half an hour. I can't wait to know who he is."
"alright, please wait a moment."
'Asa big company, Tesla could easily find someone to help them.
However, not long after, she was slapped in the face.
She looked at the piece of paper that had yet to be filled with information and frowned at the person in charge of the Internet. "Mr. Carter, did you really check carefully? How could this be the only information available?"
"This IP address has been deliberately covered up by someone. Just cracking it took me a lot of effort. Finding this little information is already very impressive."
Carter shrugged and said helplessly.
"Are you sure? Your computer skills are better than that, right?"
Mary had been here for decades and knew the standards of her colleagues. Carter ranked among the top 100 in the world, not just in the United States. She had never heard of such a powerful hacker in China.
"Tm grateful that you think too highly of me, but unfortunately, I have to admit that I've met a capable person. If possible, I really want to meet that hacker."
Carter's eyes were full of excitement and interest.
To be honest, he had not seen a Chinese person with such high computer skills in almost 10 years.
Mary sighed softly. She hoped that her boss would not be too angry. She had thought that it would be easy to find the information, but she did not expect to meet a bottleneck. With this little information, it was no different from not investigating.
She entered the office for the second time and placed the information in front of Musk. She said, "Sorry, Boss, this person's information is very well concealed. This is the only clue we have."
"Is there nothing Carter can do?"
Elon glanced around. Other than useless chatter, the only useful thing was that the IP address was in the southeast of China. However, he only knew the general location. He didn't even know the gender or age of the other party.
'Well, the investigation was quite fruitless.
He held his forehead and said, "Forget it. Since the other party doesn't want us to know, there's no need to investigate further. Isn't there an ancient saying in China? 'If fate wills it, we will meet.' So when it comes, we might meet."
Mary was vaguely relieved. I'm glad you aren't angry, she thought.
She did not want to become the boss's punching bag for no reason.
Just as she was about to leave, the office door was pushed open by a foreigner again. "Boss, the department doesn't have enough money. We need more money!"
If it were anyone else, Musk might have hesitated.
However, the person in front of him was his trusted aide, the vice president of Engineering at Tesla—Bowers. In addition, he was responsible for the development of the autopilot software. If this was really developed, they would become the first in history!
So what if he needed some money?
"alright, I understand. I'll get Mary to transfer the money to you later."
He paused for a second and asked, "Oh right, have you got any results? Or new discoveries? You know, this project has been going on for almost three years."
If there were still no new developments, he would start to doubt if they should continue. After all, he had been throwing money into the project these past few years, and every now and then, there would be none left. The project was a gold-devouring beast.
If not for the fact that he was rich enough, the company would have shut down long ago.
"Ihave some clues, but I don't know if they will work."
In order to succeed, Bowers and his team were so worried that their hair had turned white. They tried various solutions every day, but they did not work. If someone could provide them with a good idea, the plan would definitely go better. Unfortunately,
'They were pioneers.
'When Musk heard that he had some ideas, his expression finally improved a little. He said, "That's good. We have to do it before anyone else comes up with an answer!"
This way, they could dominate the market in advance.
"Weill try."
Shanghai.
He Xiaopeng frowned as he looked at the data in his hand and said, "Do the samples here fall short? Why does it feel wrong?"
"Short?"
Aman who looked about the same age as Lu Ming looked up from his mechanical tool and said, "I shouldn't have made a mistake, right? I've entered the numerical data a few times. It's all correct."
"Your teacher should have already taught you to write six digits after the decimal point. This way, it will be more accurate. Don't belittle these numbers. They often play a critical role. Isn't there a saying? Details determine success or failure."
He Xiaopeng said earnestly.
Faced with the mistakes of his junior, he would try his best to be tolerant because it was very normal for young people to make mistakes. Furthermore, he was a newbie. It was better to teach him slowly.
"Twas given an overview previously. I've been so busy recently that I forgot. I'l definitely include more decimal places next time."
The man scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and said, "T!l recalculate now. I'l get someone to give you the modified numbers later."
He Xiaopeng returned the research data to him and looked at the spot where the sound of an electric drill was coming from. He observed for a while and suddenly picked up a hammer to smash it! A clear dent appeared in the freshly-made car shell.
"Not enough."
He rubbed his chin and pondered for a moment before saying, "Change the materials. Use high-intensity steel."
Initially, his planner stated that ordinary steel plates would save a lot of money. However, since he no longer lacked money, he should try to rely on good materials. At least, the car would be sturdier now.
"Are you sure? Although it will be much safer, if the entire car is made of high-intensity materials, then this money…"
Are we expending too much money? Xia Heng wondered.
Xia Heng was pulled over by his good friend, He Tao. He had just resigned and was resting at home. Since he had nothing to do, he came over to join in the fun..Atlas Studios
It was only when he joined the team that he realized that the research project here was quite novel. Moreover, the team was harmonious and they were all experts in related fields. They only needed to figure out what to do with their car every day. They did not have to engage in complicated political
struggles and did not have to worry about any nonsense.
This was the workplace he had dreamed of.
In addition, his salary was rather high, so he came over without hesitation.
Although he had heard about the boss's wealth, he was still surprised by He Xiaopeng's actions.
"I think you should do as Brother Peng says."
He Tao patted him on the shoulder and said habitually, "This guy is a perfectionist. No matter where he goes, he wants to achieve the ultimate balance. If you go against Brother Peng, he may keep pestering and haunting you."
"Haunting me?"
Xia Heng looked at him and then at He Xiaopeng. This was too scary.
"Boss… Do you agree?"
It was not that he was being petty, but his previous superior was really too stingy. Even if he had money, he was unwilling to use more for research and development. Every time He Xiaopeng needed money, he had to be at his boss's heels.
The reply would be: "Did you really not pocket the money? Where exactly did you spend the money? Are the materials that expensive? My friend is also from the industry. The materials on his side are very cheap—about 10 yuan."
Those are f*cking wholesale goods from the mall run by volunteers! He Xiaopeng thought.
Who would dare to use such cheap products?
If he doesn't have the money, why would he do research?!
However, as he did not want to offend anyone, he endured it until the day he resigned.
He Tao more or less knew about this matter, so he said, "Whether we want quality or quantity, this was what the boss said a few days ago. Just go ask for money if there isn't any left. He won't make things difficult for us."
In his heart, Lu Ming was rich and mysterious.
He wondered where he had gotten so much money at such a young age.
Could he be some rich kid? he wondered.
"Taozi is right. We can't disappoint the boss. As long as we use the money on proper things, he won't say anything. Besides, if we really succeed, we might be able to leave a mark in history!"
He Xiaopeng encouraged them.
As expected, the second half of his sentence moved Xia Heng. After all, who in the world did not want to achieve hegemony?
"Alright! T'll change the materials immediately!"
Just as Lu Ming was sitting on a stone slab and looking at a map, he heard the sound of high heels behind him. He instinctively turned around but was suddenly blinded. A unique fragrance reached his nose.
"Guess who I am?"
Lu Ming said helplessly, "How old are you? Why are you playing a child's game? Can you let go of me?"
"No, you have to guess who I am before you let go."
Her crisp voice was playful and lively. Needless to say, she must be charming.
Lu Ming raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "I can't guess. Why don't you give me a hint? Do we know each other?"
"Big baddie! Of course we know each other!"
Seeing that she was angry, Lu Ming quickly said, "I know who you are. Your voice is so nice. It must be Little Yu, right?"
"Hmph, you barely passed."
'The other party retracted her hands. Before he could get used to the sudden brightness, he saw Chu Jinyu drawing close to him. As both of them were feeling each other's breaths on their skin, she chuckled and said, "Do you know me now?"
Lu Ming's pupils constricted abruptly.
He felt that that was too close!
"… Yes."
Chu Jinyu saw that his expression was calm, as if he was not provoked at all, and could not help but feel a little disappointed. Immediately after, when she unintentionally caught a glimpse of his reddened ears, the corners of her lips curled up.
Could this be proof that Brother Lu Ming is also interested in me? she wondered.
At the thought of this, she sat beside Lu Ming casually and said, "Brother Lu Ming, you were feeling shy just now, right?"
Shy?
How could I be shy? he thought.
But only the beating heart just now could show that he was lying.
Lu Ming suppressed his complicated emotions and said, "No."
"Really?"
Chu Jinyu met his gaze and asked.
"Why bother with this matter? Oh right, why are you here? Are you passing by?"
After coughing a few times, he changed the topic stiffly.
Chu Jinyu was delighted but smartly did not pursue the matter. She said, "I'm not passing by. I came specially to look for you to see what you've been doing recently."
She had just come over when she saw Lu Ming staring intently at the thing in his hand. The sun cast a golden glow on him, making him seem like a messenger from heaven.
For some reason, her heart rate sped up again. She stood rooted to the ground for a long while before coming back to her senses.
He's so good-looking! she gasped.
She paused for a moment before continuing, "By the way, let me tell you something. After my mom found out that this piece of land would be transformed into a new technology park, she wanted to enter the smart car industry. The future prospects in this industry are not bad. She did an investigation for
more than half a year and finally made up her mind after seeing the news."
"What do you mean?"
Lu Ming asked.
Chu Jinyu explained, "She wants to open a branch company in Shanghai. The location is that piece of land beside here, so she wants to talk to you. It's best if we can reach an agreement. My mom is a real business woman who only cares about profits. Understand?"
In other words, she was implying that he should not stand on ceremony when the time came.
Chu Jinyu's mother?
He thought of the woman sitting on the chair the last time. She exuded a strong aura that left a deep impression on anyone who saw her, especially those sharp eyes. It was as if she would pounce the next second and bite her enemy's neck swiftly.
Business woman?
Perhaps she is a born business woman.
Smart cars were a new force to reckon with, just like smart phones from a few years ago. Now, every businessman would want a piece of the pie. As for Han Qianjing,
He was quite interested.
Awhile ago, he had heard from others that Han Qianjing was the business overlord of the traditional manufacturing industry, or rather, the boss of the industry. Her status was extraordinarily high.
If he could use this opportunity to gain some benefits, his plan would progress more smoothly.
Han Qianjing wanted the land and he wanted the resources. It was a win-win situation.
"If you betray your mom like this, won't she hit you if she finds out?"
Chu Jinyu said nonchalantly, "She expected me to do this, but she still told me. This means that she doesn't care at all."
Does she not care, or is she planning to use her daughter to win my favor? he thought.
Lu Ming did not think that such a shrewd big shot would do something useless..
Did your mom say anything to you before you left the house?"
Chu Jinyu thought for a moment before she came to a realization and said, "I remember now. Because she said something very ordinary, I didn't take it to heart. She asked me to have a good chat with you."
She did not know the specifics of what she was supposed to chat about. At that time, she only felt that it was a bit baffling. She guessed that perhaps her mother was starting to acknowledge Lu Ming.
A look of understanding flashed across Lu Ming's eyes. Have a good chat.' The meaning behind these four words was not simple. Han Qianjing was indeed an old fox to have thought of using her daughter to get a favor from him.
He wondered if she predicted that he would be soft-hearted towards Chu Jinyu.
However, since Chu Jinyu already told me not to be polite, why should I back down? he thought.
He rubbed his temples. To be honest, he didn't like dealing with people who were too shrewd. The matter was supposed to be a piece of cake, but it had been made so complicated that he was losing his brain cells.
Chu Jinyu looked at his gesture and realized that something was wrong. She asked, "Do you know what my mom meant?"
"I think I understand."
For a moment, she did not know if she should say that he was too smart or that he was like her mother.
Otherwise, how could he have understood so quickly?
"Is it good or bad?"
"It depends."
Lu Ming patted her shoulder and said, "Don't worry, this matter is quite simple."
Simple? she thought.
How could it be simple?
She felt that she had become the only fool among the three of them. Clearly, she was not stupid and was even smarter than ordinary people. Why could she not keep up with her mother and Lu Ming?
She took out her phone and looked at the time on it. "I should go back."
"Well, goodbye."
Lu Ming watched her leave and fell into deep thought.
He Xiaopeng frowned and said, "That's not right! Old Xia, how's the data this time?"
"It's much more stable than before. According to the values we observed and the previous test with the model car, we should have succeeded this time."
Confused, Xia Heng asked, "Everything is in place now, but why can't it fly? Be it materials or parts, we used superior-quality goods."
What is going on? they thought.
"Perhaps flying cars can never be a reality?"
Amember said dejectedly.
"No! We can definitely do it! We're just a few steps away from victory!"
He Xiaopeng insisted. But they wondered what exactly was wrong.
He Tao touched his freshly bandaged wound and said, "Speaking of which, when I was sitting inside, I heard a thud. I guess there's a problem with our engine?"
"Engine?"
Xia Heng walked over to the scattered parts, looked around, and touched them. "We assembled these together. How could there be a problem?"
He Xiaopeng held the model car and spun the pulp board unconsciously. He wondered if it was really impossible to succeed. However, things had already reached this stage and Lu Ming had invested a lot of money. If he could not develop anything, how could he help Lu Ming take down the Tang family?
He felt inexplicably powerless. These days, he had been working on various kinds of research day and night. If not for the fact that his body needed sustenance, he would have sacrificed his mealtimes. But he ended up with a pile of crap!
Is it really impossible? he wondered.
Or should we give up just like that?
He pursed his lips and looked at the densely packed numbers on the whiteboard. They were close to getting to the solution but did not know where they fell short.
"Do you have any other ideas?"
The others shook their heads.
They were a little disheartened now. No one wanted their hard work to be wasted.
But the truth was right in front of them. Even if they were unwilling to accept it, they had to admit it.
Forget it? Xia Heng thought.
Forget what?
Should we really give up?
Xia Heng seemed to want to say something, but He Xiaopeng regained his usual vigor and said, "Since we can't think of anything, let's get external help! Maybe others will have some ideas!"
They heaved a sigh of relief.
They thought that this project would end here. After all, they had been working for him for so long and were reluctant to give up.
Fortunately, their boss was not such a person.
He Tao asked curiously, "What external help are you referring to?"
"Just a few people I know. I wonder if they have time to come over. They should be free, right? Let me try first."
He Xiaopeng took out his phone and dialed a familiar number. He said, "Hello, Professor Zheng, it's me. My name is He Xiaopeng. Didn't we talk last time? It's good that you remember me. I've already left the company and started researching cars… Yes, yes, yes, I hope you can come over."
"Mr. Ma, are you free? I really need your help now. I'm working on a big project. If I accomplish it, it will definitely stun the whole country! But I've encountered a big problem. I've tried many solutions, but they didn't work. Now, I'm close to succeeding. Can you come and help me?"
"Big Sister Hua, I've called you Big Sister. Can you come over and help me? This matter isn't big or small… I'm really not joking with you. Why don't you come to the western suburb and see for yourself? Let me tell you, you'll definitely be interested. It's definitely something new that you haven't seen
before!"
"Alright, alright. I'll wait here for you."
He hung up and saw his team looking at him expectantly. He smiled and made an OK gesture, then said, "They'll be here soon. As for their identities, you would have seen them in magazines and newspapers, and on television before."
22?
So amazing?
Everyone was even more excited on hearing that.
This was a rare opportunity!
He Tao winked and said, "Great! You have a lot of connections. You know so many people."
"Professor Zheng has students from all over the world, so it's normal for him to run into his own students. But I didn't expect Mr. He to call so many people over. I'm afraid he's really in trouble, right?"
'The middle-aged man's features were very serious, and he had a dignified aura. "I'm a chief engineer in aerospace, Ma Jie."
Gasps could be heard all around. Even hands had stopped moving.
'They often saw this person being interviewed on television. He was at a level that they were trying their best to reach.
"Ican't compare to these two. At most, I'm familiar with foreign knowledge. As the saying goes, the melding of the east and the west, right?"
The woman in the white dress curled her lips and said, "My name is Hua Youying. My English name is Sigrid."
Although some of them were unfamiliar with her, when they heard the English name, their eyes widened in tacit understanding. She was a big name that was being headhunted by various big companies overseas!
How does Boss know foreigners? they wondered.
He Xiaopeng seemed to know what they were thinking and said, "I met Ms. Hua because of a collaboration between our companies. She is very thoughtful and talented."
They looked enlightened.
Zheng Bingxu glanced at the parts on the ground and said, "What did you call us over for this time?"
"Lwant to make a flying car."
The professor was shocked at first, then he said, "It's good for young people to have ideas, but aren't you indulging in fantasy? Cars are called cars because they run on the ground. You're crazy!"
"But isn't this a good idea? Besides, He Xiaopeng has already done the last step."
Hua Youying stood forward and said.
"The last step?"
Zheng Bingxu rubbed his crutch and said, "How can you guarantee that this is the last step? What if the equations you calculated previously were all wrong and you were all going in the opposite direction? If that was the case, it would have been better to not have started."
On the other hand, when Feng Jie heard this, he looked interested. He walked forward and began to study the flying car. Based on his years of experience with machinery, it should not be too difficult.
"Professor Zheng, would you like to give it a try?"
Zheng Bingxu hesitated for a few seconds and said, "I'd like to see what tricks you guys can pull off!"
Out of curiosity, he walked over to help.
He Xiaopeng looked happy. He knew that no matter how ridiculous his project was, as long as he did something, the professor would not ignore him.
He looked at Hua Youying and said, "How is it? How is it?"
Hua Youying clicked her tongue in wonder. "Where did you find a tycoon? If I'm not mistaken, these materials alone are worth millions of yuan, right? Especially since you bought so much! Doesn't your boss have any objections?"
"Of course not. He was quite supportive of my doing so."
He Xiaopeng patted his chest proudly and said, "There's a team working on a new energy vehicle next door. We're in charge of making the vehicle fly."
"New energy source?"
He Xiaopeng seemed to have mentioned this to her before. Back then she cheered him on, saying that someone might really invest in him. She did not expect that not long after, an investor really took a fancy to the project.
Hua Youying chuckled and said, "I knew it. Gold will shine eventually."
With that, she went to study it with the others.
Looking at his teammates who had yet to come back to their senses, Xia Heng said, "What are you waiting for? Are you going to rest? You haven't done anything today, right?"
They immediately turned their attention back to their own work.
"This cable is connected to the single rotor. This cable is a common axis. This and this are both discs, but where is this one…"
Ma Jie looked at the multicolored electric wires in his hand. His head ached and sweat rolled down his face. In order to calm himself, he took a few deep breaths. He looked at Zheng Bingxu. This person had taught so many students and developed many top-notch talents in this industry. He should know
better than me, right? he thought.
"Professor Zheng, have you understood?"
After pondering for a moment, Zheng Bingxu said, "This cable is connected to the turntable. Look, isn't there another cable here? Although it's similar to an ordinary car, the details are completely different. It's obvious that they had put their hearts into manufacturing this."
'When he first heard about the flying car, he almost thought that Little Peng was joking with him and that these people were playing around. Now it seemed that he was biased.
"Why?"
Hua Youying asked.
"Because the last time this car took off, I heard the sound of the engine, so I think the source of the problem should be here, right?"
These words reminded Ma Jie to locate the engine and touch it. Although he did not know what effects some of the cables had, at least every connection seemed to be in the right place. "Can't be. Isn't this fine? How could there be a problem?"
"Yes, that's what puzzled me. It's obviously fine, but it makes a noise. We even fiddled with it again afterward, but it's still the same problem."
Astrange silence fell over the group.
Zheng Bingxu looked at the model car beside him and skillfully pressed the button to drive it. The car flew into the air.
Did it succeed? they wondered.
But the big car did not succeed. What's the reason?
Hua Youying took out her phone and said, "This project is very interesting. I think my friends will know something. Let me find external help."
The external help that we invited is looking for external help again?
What kind of a cycle is this? he wondered.
He Tao suppressed his urge to curse and pretended to be calm.
"David, I'm facing a difficult problem. The car I am developing is making noise… No, no, no, of course I know that this means that there's a problem with the engine, but we've already looked at it. There's nothing wrong with the engine. Every connection is in the right place. Have you encountered such a
situation? Okay, thank you."
"Elijah, let me ask you a question. Do you know why the engine is clearly fine, but it still makes a strange noise? We've already checked several times… This is not an ordinary car. My friend is developing a flying car. His engine is problematic… Okay, I understand. Thank you."
Hua Youying asked a few friends in a row, but because they had never come into contact with such things, they knew nothing. She looked at the phone numbers that she had already called and spread her hands helplessly. "Looks like we have to solve this problem ourselves."
But the key was
They could not think of anything at all right now!
Have you settled the matter?"
A voice suddenly came from the door, breaking the silence. Everyone instinctively looked in that direction.
Ayoung man in a gray jacket was greeting them. Just as they were wondering who this person was, He Xiaopeng excitedly went up to him and said, "Boss! You're finally here. Our research is still at a bottleneck. No one here knows how to resolve it."
Boss???
Why is this person so young?
Could he be a rich second-generation heir from some family?
Based on what He Xiaopeng said, they wondered if the boss would have any solutions.
Ma Jie was the first to ask, "Boss, did you get a certain big shot to solve our problem? Is the person a local or a foreigner?"
"Boss?"
Lu Ming chuckled and said, "I didn't invite a big shot. I just came to take a look. I'm not considered a big shot. I only know a little more than you."
Look! some of them thought.
What arrogant words!
If this was said to ordinary people, perhaps there would be nothing wrong with it, but these three people in front of him were all people who were known as dragons and phoenixes in their respective fields. He knows a little more than us?
How is this possible! they thought.
If he was really that capable, they would have heard of his name before.
In just a few words, this mysterious boss was thought to be someone who liked to brag. He seemed out of touch with reality. They wondered if such a person was really reliable.
"Young man, it's good to be confident, but if you're too conceited, you'll be hit hard!"
Zheng Bingxu looked him in the eye and said, "I've been in this industry for decades and have accumulated a lot of experience. How can someone your age compare to me?"
"professor Zheng is right. Ability, technology, and experience are indispensable in the field of mechanical engineering. I don't even dare to say that I know more than you, but you're just a little kid. I'm afraid you haven't even got a foot in the door. I wonder where you get your confidence from."
'Ma Jie was not as reserved as the professor. In his opinion, Lu Ming was a liar, so he naturally did not have a good character. He didn't think he should give Lu Ming face.
"May I know what your major was in university? Automotive engineering or manufacturing design?"
Initially, Hua Youying was also a little displeased, but after seeing He Xiaopeng's attitude, she felt that there was something more to this matter. This person might not be as simple as he seemed. Besides, she trusted He Xiaopeng's judgment, so she asked out of curiosity.
Lu Ming shook his head. "I didn't graduate from this field."
"Judging from your tone just now, I thought you were very powerful! So you're just a layman? As expected, the layman simply enjoys the show while the professional recognizes the artistry. I advise you not to get involved in this. If you can't come up with a solution, won't that be embarrassing?"
Ahint of contempt flashed across Ma Jie's eyes. He thought that if the other party was talented, he might praise him a little. However, if he continued to brag, he would be playing them like monkeys.
Lu Ming could roughly understand why they thought that way. Hence, he was not angry. He said calmly, "I have seen Little He's designs."
"Just because you've seen the designs doesn't mean that you know anything. It's a question whether a complete novice can understand them or not."
Zheng Bingxu said solemnly.
"Boss, do you really know what went wrong?"
Xia Heng directed his attention to them. He was listening to the conversation with interest and asked curiously.
"There's a problem with the engine."
Lu Ming walked forward and looked at the engine. The researcher had given him a copy of the structural chart. Although he did not know the specifics previously, based on the current situation, his guess should be fairly accurate.
"Tsk, I'm afraid you didn't get the right answer from someone, right? There was indeed a problem with the engine, but we didn't find the source, so how could you have found it?"
Ma Jie stood at the side and said impatiently, "Don't tell me you're going to dismantle the engine later and cause us some trouble? You're wasting time for no reason. I don't have that much energy."
Thave to go back and continue researching rockets! he thought.
The researcher who was sent to inform Lu Ming about the problem was shocked. He remembered that he did not say that there was a problem with the engine at that time. He only talked about the general situation and the structure of the car. He wondered how the boss knew that there was a problem?!
Could it be… he thought.
Is the boss actually an expert who hides his abilities well?
Lu Ming pointed to a certain spot and said, "According to the person sent by Little He, we should have succeeded this time. However, we are only one step away from success. We can resolve the problem by reducing the winding cable here."
Ma Jie looked at him suspiciously and said, "Are you joking? How could it be resolved so easily?"
How could we not have solved such a simple matter after working for so long? He's probably talking nonsense.
Just as he was about to ignore Lu Ming, Zheng Bingxu pondered for a moment and asked, "What's the reason?"
First of all, this car is flying in the sky. Other than the airflow that needs to be considered, the reason why it split up was entirely because the engine oil pressure was too low. When the speed slowed down, it should have made a sound. When it accelerated, it became very quiet, but it still couldn't hold out
for too long. This was just surface calm.
Lu Ming had memorized the high-tech design plan not long ago. Therefore, after seeing the car structure, he could immediately confirm that there was no problem. The only problem was the wiring.
He Tao seemed to have thought of something and said in surprise, "Yes, yes, yes! That was it! When I increased the speed, the sound actually disappeared suddenly! I almost forgot about this!"
Everyone was shocked.
What the hell?! they thought.
The boss is right!
Is he guessing blindly or does he really see the problem?
It is unbelievable!
They thought that their boss was bragging, but he turned out to be right!
However
'They wondered if that was the right solution.
'They were also confused, so they looked in unison at the three people.
Hua Youying gasped. This was a good idea, but the person who gave the answer… was actually a layman. It would be embarrassing to tell others, but she had to admit that this was reality.
She adjusted her glasses and said, "A very reasonable judgment, but if we want to reach a conclusion, I can only say that the specifics still need to be experimented on. I wonder what Mr. Ma and the professor think?"
Ma Jie's brain had completely shut down.
He wondered if he could not compare to a little devil like Lu Ming, He had entered the research institute at a young age and was considered a genius.