Chapter 11: Project Launch and Unfair Division of Labor
As the first light of dawn began to paint the sky with a soft, cold glow, the towering structure of Hongyu Group's office awakened in the morning haze. Its glass facade shimmered like an immense mirror, reflecting the hazy outlines of the city, exuding a sense of cold authority and grandeur, akin to a silent giant watching over the unfolding drama of the workplace within.
In the market department's conference room, the atmosphere was taut, like a bowstring pulled to its maximum tension. Colleagues filed in, their footsteps blending with the shuffling of chairs and murmurs, creating a cacophony of sound. On their faces, some wore masks of calm, others struggled to hide their anxiety, their eyes reflecting the mix of anticipation and unease about the unknowns of the new project. The projector cast a pale, ghostly light, displaying the preliminary project plan on the screen—each word and chart felt like an unsolved riddle, crucial to the success or failure of the months ahead.
Team Leader Chen Feng entered the room with measured steps, a thick project binder slamming onto the table with a sharp sound, instantly silencing the room. Every gaze in the room turned toward him, and the silence became so intense that the ticking of the wall clock seemed to echo, each tick striking deep into everyone's heart.
"Everyone, today marks the official launch of our new product promotion project, a key business initiative for this quarter. This is a task we cannot afford to fail," Chen Feng's gaze was sharp as he scanned the room, his eyes as penetrating as a general examining his troops, filled with a commanding authority and immense pressure. "Now, I will announce the division of tasks."
As the names and assignments were read aloud, murmurs of either excitement or resignation rippled through the room. When Zhang Liang's name was called, Team Leader Chen paused, cleared his throat, and said, "Zhang Liang, you're responsible for compiling the sales data and user feedback for similar products over the past five years. This report must be delivered to me within a week, as it's the cornerstone for the subsequent marketing strategy. There must be no mistakes."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a subtle shift occurred in the room. A few satisfied glances, like hidden daggers, darted toward Zhang Liang, and whispers filled the air, thick with an air of schadenfreude. Zhang Liang's heart sank as though a massive stone had just struck him, and he felt a wave of suffocating pressure. He knew that what appeared to be a simple task of data collection was, in reality, a "hot potato." The vast amount of data from the past five years had to be organized in just one week, an impossible feat. Moreover, he needed to extract valuable insights from the sea of information—an endeavor no less daunting than finding a hidden treasure in a vast desert.
He instinctively clenched his pen, his knuckles turning white, but he maintained his composure, lifting his gaze just in time to meet Li Qiang's smug eyes. Li Qiang's smirk was almost predatory, his gaze unmistakably saying, "Hmph, let's see how you stand out now. Go ahead and 'struggle' in that corner."
"Leader, one week is too tight. The data is incredibly intricate, five years' worth…" Zhang Liang mustered the courage to speak, his voice tinged with urgency and a hint of frustration, trying to negotiate for more time.
"Don't make excuses. Everyone's tasks are challenging. Why should yours be any different? Get moving and work efficiently. I believe you can handle it," Chen Feng frowned slightly, cutting him off with a tone that left no room for debate, the look in his eyes questioning his "capability," as if accusing him of hesitating before even starting.
When the meeting ended, colleagues began to file out, some eagerly discussing the "glorious" parts of their responsibilities, while others paired up to plan their next steps. Zhang Liang, however, felt like a wilted plant, dragging his feet back to his desk. Looking at the piles of documents in front of him, a sense of helplessness and anger flooded his mind.
"System, what am I supposed to do? Li Qiang has clearly set me up with this impossible task, and there's no way I can finish this in a week. Isn't this just a deliberate attempt to make things difficult for me?" Zhang Liang desperately called out in his mind, his voice laced with frustration and a sense of helplessness, like a lost child in a labyrinth, desperately searching for an exit.
"Hey, Zhang Liang, stop sulking like a bitter melon! 'Misfortune is the source of fortune, and fortune lies within misfortune.' This seemingly dreadful situation may actually hold an opportunity for you. Yes, the data is overwhelming and tedious, but this is exactly the chance you need to delve deeper into the market and uncover the hidden details of your competitors. Think about it—while others are focused on superficial tasks, you can lay a solid foundation, unearthing the 'gems' that others miss. When you reveal them, they'll be left stunned. Don't panic—take it step by step, I'll guide you along the way," the system's vibrant voice filled Zhang Liang's mind, offering both a sense of hope and a bit of playful encouragement, like a ray of light piercing through the gloom.
Zhang Liang took a deep breath, adjusting his emotions, and responded quietly, "You make it sound easy, but I have no choice but to give it my best shot. I won't let this 'hard nut' get the better of me."
With renewed determination, Zhang Liang quickly opened his computer and logged into the company's database. Keywords entered, and a flood of sales data and user feedback poured onto the screen, overwhelming him as the pages continued to load. Rubbing his tired eyes, he began formulating an initial plan: categorize the data by year, then break it down further by product type, trying to make sense of the chaotic sea of information.
As he worked, his colleague Wang Hao passed by, glancing at his screen with a mocking grin. "Oh, Zhang Liang, such a tough task. You'd better step up your game. One week, huh? Looks like you'll be burning the midnight oil. If you don't finish this, it'll set the project back, and the responsibility will fall on you."
Zhang Liang ignored his sarcasm and continued working, though his impatience grew, his fingers moving faster as the mouse clicked furiously. At that moment, Su Yao gently approached, handing him a cup of tea and softly saying, "Zhang Liang, don't rush. This task is difficult, but I believe in you. Take a sip of tea, and relax for a moment." Her voice was soft as a spring breeze, soothing some of the tension in his heart. He gratefully accepted the tea, nodding with renewed resolve in his eyes.
For the next few days, Zhang Liang worked like a tireless machine. By day, he was glued to his computer screen, carefully analyzing each line of data, documenting every insight. By night, the office was bathed in the glow of bright lights, with only him remaining at his post. The silence was broken only by the hum of his computer and the occasional sound of his cough. Mountains of instant noodle cups piled up at the corner of his desk, and the coffee stains in his cup bore witness to his exhaustion and determination.
Yet, every time he felt like giving up, the system's encouraging voice rang in his mind:
"Zhang Liang, keep pushing! 'A tree that grows from a small seed and a tower that rises from the earth,' all this tedious data work is the foundation of your future success. Every piece of data you analyze, every insight you extract, strengthens your position in this project. Don't let up!"
With the system's motivation, Zhang Liang gritted his teeth and pressed on, ultimately submitting a thorough and insightful report before the deadline. The report not only sorted the sales trends of similar products over the past five years and the differences between peak and off-seasons but also extracted key product pain points and user needs from the feedback, accompanied by preliminary marketing strategy suggestions based on the data.
Team Leader Chen Feng took the report, flipping through a few pages before his eyes widened with surprise and admiration. Looking up at Zhang Liang, his tone softened, "Zhang Liang, I didn't expect you to do so well in such a short time. I must admit, I underestimated you. This report is valuable, and as we move forward with the project, I trust you'll continue to perform."
Zhang Liang's heart swelled with mixed emotions—relief from his hard work paying off, pride from earning recognition, and anticipation for the challenges ahead. He nodded slightly, saying with conviction, "Leader, thank you for your recognition. I will continue to do my best."
Summary: In this chapter, Zhang Liang faces an unfair division of labor in the new product promotion project, where he is tasked with a monumental data organization job. With the system's guidance and the wisdom of Laozi, he tackles the challenge head-on, using selflessness and professionalism to complete the task successfully and earn his leader's recognition. In the next chapter, as the project advances, new challenges such as resource conflicts and team coordination issues may arise. Stay tuned to see how Zhang Liang continues to navigate these obstacles and further his career journey.