Chapter 40: How Can the Sparrow Know the Ambition of the Swan?

Under the scorching sun, the black Mercedes stood silently, yet it exuded an intangible sense of oppression that seemed to freeze the surrounding air, making the entire world feel like a mere backdrop to its presence.

The rear door opened, and a long leg clad in black silk stockings and a high-heeled shoe emerged. Just by looking at that leg, one could tell its owner was surely a stunning woman of great charm. Indeed, as she stepped elegantly out of the car, Zhang Ziqiang’s eyes widened: beautiful, truly beautiful.

The neighbors, who had already grown accustomed to the sight of the Crown sedan, were once again drawn in. The men, without exception, stood like gaping geese, their eyes wide and necks stretched, their heads following the woman’s every movement.

She wore a professional short-sleeved suit dress, a style with shoulder pads and a cinched waist that was the height of fashion for the era, in a composed dark brown accented by slightly oversized white buttons. Her jet-black hair was cut to the ears and permed into a trendy "wire" style. Bright red lipstick added a touch of warmth to her cold, thin lips. With a slender waist, long legs, a pert bottom, willow-leaf brows, phoenix eyes, and a heart-shaped face, she was the epitome of a cool, elegant career woman. Her gaze was icy.

The woman did not shy away from Cheng Shi’s appraising look. She met his eyes directly, walked over with brisk strides, extended a hand, and said in a cool, mezzo-soprano voice, "Hello, Mr. Cheng. My name is Lu Zaixue. I am the General Manager of High-Tech Precision Instruments."

Her tone was clearly that of someone raised with a Western education; she spoke differently from most people of that time. Her business-like tone, balanced perfectly with professional detachment and politeness, was not warm, yet it did not make one feel uncomfortable. Cheng Shi had dealt with many such formidable women in the business world before his rebirth. In the marketplace, which is like a battlefield, women have to be tough and cold to survive. So, he was not surprised.

Cheng Shi took her hand, gave it a symbolic shake, and released it. "Hello," he replied, neither servile nor overbearing.

Cheng Shi had heard of that factory; it was founded by the patriotic overseas Chinese Lu Yiming. It was one of the few large-scale private enterprises in Xiangdong City during that era.

Lu Zaixue continued, "I am here on behalf of my company to invite Mr. Cheng to serve as our Technical Director."

Zhang Ziqiang snapped out of his daze, blinked, and instinctively blurted out, "No way, we got here first."

Lu Zaixue turned to look at Zhang Ziqiang. Standing at one meter seventy and wearing heels, she was slightly taller than him, looking down with a hint of cold arrogance and disdain. She said flatly, "As far as I am aware, Mr. Cheng has already rejected your factory’s offer. Even if he were already your employee, he would still be free to choose a company better suited to him."

Damn it. I can’t out-argue her, what do I do?

Zhang Ziqiang choked, becoming even more flustered, and looked at Cheng Shi nervously.

Cheng Shi said, "I have no intention of joining any company for the time being."

Lu Zaixue countered, "Mr. Cheng, it wouldn't hurt to hear our terms first. In addition to an annual base salary of 100,000, we can provide Mr. Cheng with the best research environment and benefits in the country."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. At the massive state-owned Machinery Factory, the factory manager’s official salary was only seven or eight hundred a month—less than ten thousand a year. This woman was offering Cheng Shi one hundred thousand just like that! And all she required was his technical expertise. Even if they let him go after two years, wouldn't he have earned enough to last a lifetime? When exactly did the ancestral grave of the Cheng family start emitting such good fortune?

Zhang Ziqiang was panicking: Damn it, I can’t outbid her either.

Cheng Shi shook his head. "It’s not about the money."

The onlookers were even more astonished: With a salary that high, and Cheng Shi still won't take it?! He’d rather stay in this storage room, working himself to the bone helping others with parts?! Is his brain stuck in a door?

Lu Zaixue was rejected outright, yet she showed no sign of irritation. Her face remained calm as she asked, "What are your salary expectations, Mr. Cheng? We can negotiate."

Cheng Shi shook his head again. "I said, it’s not about the money." Why won't these people believe him? It was exhausting to repeat himself so many times.

Lu Zaixue took out a business card and handed it to him. "Mr. Cheng, should you ever change your mind, you can call me." With that, she nodded to him and turned to get back into the car, acting as if no one else existed.

Zhang Ziqiang’s fragile self-esteem was deeply wounded. He stared at the beauty’s retreating back, thinking, *I hate being looked down upon by beautiful women, and I hate being ignored by them even more.*

Cheng Shi tucked the card into his bag and said to Zhang Ziqiang, "Hey, stop daydreaming. Are we in a hurry to work or not?" The workshop had no air conditioning; it was better to get the work done in the morning while it was still cool.

Zhang Ziqiang replied, "Right, right, let's go. But don't worry, my dad was afraid you’d be hot, so he’s already had people move an electric fan and some ice blocks into the workshop."

Once in the car, Zhang Ziqiang said, "Buddy, you’re a real stand-up guy. I was so worried you’d run off with her just now." For any man, this was a windfall from heaven—a beautiful manager showing up with a high salary offer. What he couldn't understand was why Cheng Shi would turn it down.

Cheng Shi smiled but said nothing. He was already earning ten or twenty thousand a day from the auto plant. Once he expanded and hired workers, he could earn even more. He could work whenever he wanted, change products based on his own judgment of future technology and markets, and he didn't have to report to anyone or wait for anyone’s permission. But he didn't plan on explaining this to Zhang Ziqiang; someone with a "hired hand" mentality would never understand. It was like a wild goose trying to tell a sparrow that if it flies higher, it can ride the wind and break free from the constraints of tree branches and eaves.

Upon arriving at the auto plant, they saw from a distance that Zhang Guohua was already waiting downstairs with his technical staff. Cheng Shi thought to himself: *It seems you really are backed into a corner by your superiors.*

From far away, Zhang Guohua reached out to grab Cheng Shi’s hand. "Comrade Cheng Shi, thank you so much for coming. You are truly the savior of our auto plant." In truth, after hearing from Zhang Ziqiang yesterday, he had assumed Cheng Shi was just fobbing the boy off.

Cheng Shi said, "Manager Zhang, no need for formalities. Before we start working, let’s sign a liability waiver first. I need your signature, your fingerprint, and the official company seal. Zhang Ziqiang will sign as a witness."

A strange expression flickered across Zhang Guohua’s face. "Very well," he said.

Cheng Shi thought: *Tsk, tsk, you’re still up to no good, trying to pin the blame on me.*

After the agreement was signed, Cheng Shi said, "Please have your technical staff dismantle the machine tool."

Zhang Guohua asked, "Aren't you the one supposed to fix it?" He had been thinking that if Cheng Shi couldn't fix it, he would force him to give his own machine to the auto plant. In any case, the Machinery Factory certainly wouldn't be getting it back.

Cheng Shi sneered, "I only agreed to come and take a look. I never said I would do the work."

Zhang Guohua gritted his teeth in silence: *You little fox, you’re far too cunning.*

Zhang Ziqiang, unaware of the hidden agenda, asked his father, "Dad, is there a difference between us taking it apart and him doing it?"

Zhang Guohua replied vaguely, "No difference."