Chapter 12: The Difficult Road of Data Collection
The morning light, like a delicate veil, gently swept across the city's streets and alleys, casting a soft golden glow over the towering office building of Hongyu Group. The building stood like a solemn, steel giant amidst the early sunlight, its glass facade reflecting a cold, glistening sheen, silently proclaiming the unyielding rules of the workplace within.
Zhang Liang sat at his desk, taking a deep breath as he swallowed the frustration and resentment caused by the unfair division of labor, much like swallowing a bitter pill. His eyes shone with determination as he quickly threw himself into the arduous task of data collection. He expertly opened the company's internal database and began typing a series of search keywords on the keyboard, expecting the information to flow smoothly like a tidal wave. However, a sudden "permission denied" message popped up on the screen—its bold red letters like a cold lock, ruthlessly barring him from accessing the crucial data.
"What's going on? I followed the procedure to request access to this data, why is my permission still restricted?" Zhang Liang muttered under his breath, his brow furrowed, filled with both anxiety and confusion. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and he wiped them away quickly before standing up and striding toward his colleague, Xiao Li, who managed the data.
"Xiao Li, I'm working on the new product promotion project and need access to some key data, but it seems like my permissions are restricted. Could you help me get access? The project deadline is tight," Zhang Liang said with a polite smile, his voice earnest, his eyes filled with expectation.
Xiao Li looked up briefly, glancing at him before answering slowly, "The permissions are set by higher-ups. I can't change them. You'll have to request access from the team leader." With that, he lowered his gaze back to his phone, uninterested in continuing the conversation.
Zhang Liang felt a sinking sensation in his chest, his face turning slightly pale. He muttered to himself, "This isn't that simple. Li Qiang is probably pulling the strings behind the scenes, intentionally blocking my access." Yet, he had no time to dwell on complaints. With a heavy heart, he walked straight to the team leader's office.
After knocking and explaining the situation, Team Leader Chen Feng furrowed his brows and made a call. A moment later, he looked back at Zhang Liang with a slightly apologetic expression and said, "Zhang Liang, this permission issue is related to company confidentiality regulations. I can't grant you full access for now. You'll need to make do and find alternative sources."
Walking out of the team leader's office, Zhang Liang felt a deep sense of helplessness but knew he had to find another way. He remembered a library near the company that housed a wealth of resources, perhaps he could find something useful there. So, he quickly packed his things and rushed to the library.
The library was an ancient European-style building, with towering stone columns and ornate vaulted ceilings, exuding a deep cultural atmosphere. But Zhang Liang had no interest in appreciating the architecture. Upon entering, the musty smell of old paper mixed with the faint scent of ink greeted him. He headed straight for the business section, following the index to find relevant books. However, as he flipped through one after another, he found that either the information was outdated, stuck in the market trends of years ago, or the content was incomplete—critical chapters and tables of data had seemingly been "eaten away" by the passage of time.
"What am I supposed to do? None of the data is complete. Is this all for nothing?" Zhang Liang bit his lip, his hands instinctively clutching the hem of his jacket. His eyes were filled with anxiety and frustration, his mind a tangled knot of confusion. Just as he was about to give up, the system's familiar, playful yet concerned voice echoed in his mind:
"Zhang Liang, don't hang your head like a wilted vegetable! 'Great things in the world must begin with the smallest details.' Yes, the data is tedious and hard to find, but this is exactly the moment when you need to focus, to dig into the tiniest fragments of useful information. Even if it's just a snippet, gather enough of those, and they'll become treasures. The library isn't working, then try the archive room. Don't give up easily—there's always a way to overcome difficulties!"
Zhang Liang's lips curved into a wry smile as he silently replied, "You make it sound so easy, but I have no choice but to try. I just hope the archive room will yield something."
Without hesitation, Zhang Liang rushed to the company's archive room. The room, located in the basement, was behind a heavy iron door, with dim lighting and a musty, decaying smell—a place seemingly sealed by time, holding the company's past in dusty folders. The attendant at the door was leisurely sipping tea and reading the newspaper. Zhang Liang approached with a smile and said, "Uncle, I'm Zhang Liang from the marketing department, here to access some project materials. Could you help me open the door and process my application?"
The attendant lifted his gaze, slowly setting the newspaper down, and retrieved a stack of forms from a drawer, tossing them onto the table. "Fill them out, and wait for approval. There are a lot of applicants today, so you'll have to wait."
Zhang Liang hurriedly filled out the forms and submitted them, then waited anxiously. An hour passed, but there were still several people ahead of him in line. Each time he tried to speak up, he was met with various excuses and dismissals, while the attendant ignored him, lost in his newspaper.
"Uncle, this project is urgent. Can you please prioritize me? I've been waiting forever, and they keep cutting in line." Zhang Liang's face flushed red, his voice tinged with impatience and frustration.
"Don't rush. Everyone's got something to do. Wait your turn," the attendant replied impatiently, not looking up from his paper.
With no other choice, Zhang Liang continued to wait. When his turn finally arrived, he was told that the form required approval from the department head. He had to rush upstairs to get Team Leader Chen Feng's signature before returning to the basement. After a lengthy ordeal, most of the day had passed.
Finally entering the archive room, Zhang Liang looked at the towering rows of filing cabinets, filled with dense files—yellowed papers and handwritten notes chronicling the company's past. He dove into the pile, finding a small space in the corner to crouch and began flipping through the brittle files, eyes wide with focus, not missing a single detail. His pen moved quickly across the notebook, the scratching of the paper resonating loudly in the silent room.
Time passed unnoticed, and Zhang Liang immersed himself in the data, eating a few bites of bread when he got hungry, drinking some water when he was thirsty, rubbing his sore eyes when fatigue set in, and pushing on. The dim light and the constant buzzing of mosquitoes in his ear as they bit him didn't phase him. It was as if the world outside didn't exist—only the precious materials mattered.
As evening fell and the archive room was about to close, the attendant called from the door, "Hey, kid, it's time to leave. Come back tomorrow."
Zhang Liang snapped out of his trance, his legs numb from sitting too long. He stumbled, nearly falling, and leaned against the filing cabinet to steady himself. Stretching his body, he looked at the thick notebook of notes in his hand, a complex mix of emotions flooding him—fatigue, but also the satisfaction of progress.
"Today was full of setbacks, but at least I've made some headway. Over the next few days, I need to push harder and complete the data collection," Zhang Liang silently mused as he dragged his weary body out of the archive room.
Summary: In this chapter, Zhang Liang faces multiple obstacles in his quest to collect data—restricted access to the internal database, outdated and incomplete library resources, and a frustratingly slow application process for the company's archive room. Guided by the system's advice and the wisdom of Laozi, he persists through each challenge with patience and determination, finding valuable information that propels him forward. In the next chapter, as the data begins to come together, new hurdles such as integrating the findings and handling skepticism from colleagues may arise. Let's see how he navigates these complexities and continues to rise in his career. Stay tuned for Chapter 13.