Chapter 6 :The Difficult Start to Mastering the Business
The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the thin haze hanging above the city like a golden sword, casting its glow upon the towering, modern yet mysterious façade of Hongyu Group's skyscraper. The gleaming glass and cold metallic lines reflected the pale light of dawn, hinting at the bustling, challenging day ahead within the walls, filled with stories of ambition and competition.
With a heart full of anticipation and a touch of nervousness, Zhang Liang stepped into the market department's office area. He had hoped to be greeted by colleagues eager to help him navigate the intricacies of the business, but reality hit him like a bucket of cold water, instantly snapping him to attention. The office was alive with the clattering of keyboards and the hum of phone conversations, a cacophony of sound that filled the space. Colleagues were either hunched over their computers or rushing about their workstations. To him, the newcomer desperately seeking guidance, the glances he received were mostly indifferent, as though he were an irrelevant piece in an ongoing game of chess.
"This business process is like a tangled mess of yarn, impossible to untangle!" Zhang Liang muttered under his breath, gazing at the mountain of documents stacked on his desk. His brow furrowed in frustration and anxiety. Some of the papers were yellowed with age, their edges curled as though bearing the weight of years of market history, while others, new and glossy, were filled with dense text, intricate tables, and obscure jargon that seemed almost hostile. He randomly flipped open a report, and his eyes scanned titles like "Dynamic Adjustment Mechanism for Market Segmentation Strategies Under a Diversified Product Layout" and "Deconstruction of Competitor Marketing Tactics and Response Plans." His head spun, feeling as if he had wandered into a thick jungle of thorns and fog, unable to find his way out.
In the midst of his confusion, as he turned to a nearby colleague for help, Li Qiang's sarcastic voice rang out unexpectedly. "Oh, the great scholar, lost already? The business process is right there, plain as day. What, you're still hoping someone will hold your hand? We don't have time for that around here." Li Qiang stood up from his desk, strolling over with deliberate slowness. His gaze flashed with a hint of jealousy and disdain, and his lips curled into a slight, mocking smile. He leaned casually against Zhang Liang's desk, a gesture that made him resemble a lazy, self-assured "local tyrant," showing off his perceived authority.
Zhang Liang's heart sank, frustration and resentment rising up, but he knew better than to show weakness now. He took a deep breath, forcing a modest smile onto his face. "Li Ge, it's my first day here, and I'm still a bit lost. I'd appreciate any advice you could offer. Your experience is invaluable, and any pointers would mean a lot to me."
Li Qiang let out a dismissive grunt, then stood and nonchalantly rummaged through the stack of files. He pointed at an outdated market research report. "Here, take a look at this. Once you understand it, you'll have a basic grasp of the business." He slapped Zhang Liang on the shoulder, not too hard but with a teasing touch, then swaggered back to his desk, muttering to himself, "Newbies these days, so delicate. Can't do anything without hand-holding."
Zhang Liang watched him walk away, biting his lip, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists, the nails digging into his palms, sending a slight sting through his body. In his heart, he silently vowed, "Hmph, don't underestimate me. 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' I'll show you I can tackle this 'hard nut'!" As these thoughts swirled, Dao Ling's voice, laced with playful concern, echoed in his mind:
"Ah, Zhang Liang, don't let this small setback throw you off course! 'The difficult is done in the easy, the great in the small.' If they won't help, we'll just take it one step at a time. This is like climbing a mountain—if you keep your eyes on each stone underfoot and place your feet firmly, you'll reach the top. Start with these basic files, like an ant nibbling away at a bone. Break it down piece by piece, and before you know it, you'll figure it all out. And don't just focus on these regular documents; those so-called 'small players' around here might hold big secrets, offering you a unique 'inside perspective.' Go ahead, explore, don't frown. I'm watching you make a breakthrough!"
A faint smile tugged at Zhang Liang's lips, and he muttered in response, "It's easier said than done, but I'll try it your way. Hopefully, there's light at the end of this tunnel."
With renewed focus, Zhang Liang began sifting through the basic documents. Word by word, he studied them intently, consulting online resources whenever he encountered unfamiliar terminology. For complex data structures, he pulled out a pen and paper, manually working through the calculations. But the deeper he delved, the more challenging the problems became. The obscure mentions of "internal operational practices" and "key points for departmental coordination" left him feeling lost in a fog, unable to grasp their true meaning.
As the evening drew on and colleagues began to leave, the office lights flickered out one by one. Only Zhang Liang remained, his solitary desk lamp casting a dim, yellowish glow on his tired but determined face. He rubbed his aching eyes, staring at the mountain of documents still awaiting his attention. Deciding to change his approach, he headed for the archive room, hoping for a stroke of luck.
The archive room, tucked away in a corner of the building, was a dimly lit space filled with the musty smell of old papers, like a forgotten "treasure trove of knowledge" or a mysterious "labyrinth." Zhang Liang wandered through rows of towering bookshelves, brushing his fingers over the dust-covered folders. His sneezing echoed through the silence, slightly amusing yet tinged with frustration.
"Finding the right document here is like looking for a needle in a haystack!" Zhang Liang grumbled, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his eyes full of urgency. Just as he was about to give up, he spotted the cleaning lady bent over, sweeping dust from the corner. Inspiration struck him, and he hurried over, putting on a bright smile. "Auntie, you've worked here for a long time, right? You must know this archive room like the back of your hand. I'm trying to find old project files to study the business process, but I'm having trouble. Could you lend me a hand?"
The cleaning lady straightened up, stretching her back, then looked at Zhang Liang with a kindly gaze and smiled. "Young man, you look so serious. The old project files are in the back row, on the bottom shelf. They haven't been touched in years, so watch out for the dust."
Zhang Liang thanked her repeatedly and hurried to the corner where the files were stored. Sure enough, he found a few precious old project dossiers, their pages fragile and yellowed, but filled with detailed records of past projects—from initiation to execution and review. Many internal details and decision-making processes were clearly laid out, making him feel as if he had discovered treasure. Just as he was engrossed in reading, the security guard passed by on his patrol and, seeing Zhang Liang hunched over, curiously asked, "Young man, still working late?"
Zhang Liang shared his struggles with the guard, and the older man scratched his head, a look of realization crossing his face. "You don't know? When we used to run projects here, the motto was 'stabilize before advancing.' You had to know the market baseline before you tried anything new. Like that time..." The guard went on, recounting stories from the past. His words, though simple, held valuable insights. Zhang Liang listened intently, nodding and taking notes, the clarity of his understanding gradually sharpening. The complex web of business operations began to make sense.
Over the following days, Zhang Liang spent his days at his desk organizing files, summarizing his experiences, and integrating what he had learned with the old project case studies. By night, he delved deeper into the archive room, unearthing more hidden "gems" and frequently consulting with the cleaning lady and the security guard on small but crucial matters, such as "unwritten rules for document handovers" and "emergency resource allocation strategies." Through this arduous process, he shed his initial inexperience, steadily improving his business acumen and gaining a clearer understanding of the department's inner workings.
One morning, with the sun shining brightly, Zhang Liang walked into the office area with newfound confidence. He bumped into Li Qiang, who noticed the change in his demeanor and, somewhat surprised, remarked, "Oh, look at you, you actually got the hang of it already?"
Zhang Liang smiled and replied, "Li Ge, I owe it to your earlier 'guidance.' It made me realize that I have to rely on my own two feet. 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' The road may be tough, but I'm not giving up."
Li Qiang, sensing the underlying message in Zhang Liang's words, blushed slightly, mumbled something under his breath, and walked away.
Summary: In this chapter, Zhang Liang faces the complexities of mastering business processes and the indifference or even hostility of colleagues. Drawing upon the wisdom of Laozi's sayings, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" and "The difficult is done in the easy," he begins to navigate the challenging learning curve by meticulously organizing basic files and tapping into "folk wisdom." With his business understanding steadily improving, he now begins to uncover the hidden secrets of the department. In the next chapter, as Zhang Liang becomes more familiar with his work, he will face new challenges, including project execution tests and team collaboration issues. Let's see how he continues to navigate these obstacles and advance in his career. Stay tuned for Chapter Seven.