Chapter Fifty-Four: A Wonderful Afternoon Moment
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Old Liu’s wife had developed diabetes—a costly affliction that strained Old Liu’s modest salary to the breaking point. Upon hearing Lin Cheng’s words, his eyes immediately shimmered with tears.
“I’m uneducated, so I can’t express much, but I won’t forget Director Ma’s kindness. And thank you!” he said earnestly.
Lin Cheng smiled gently. “It’s only right. If your family ever faces difficulties, you can reach out to our manager Tao Lu.”
The elderly man, his hair streaked with gray, rapidly repeated his thanks like a sudden gust of wind scattering the last threads of composure Tao Lu held. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she hurriedly pulled a business card from her bag—she carried both Chen Yan’s and her own—and carefully placed it in Old Liu’s trembling hand.
“Uncle Liu, please don’t be like this. If you ever need help, just call this number. I’m always here for you,” she said softly.
This scene was quietly observed by Guan Xiaomeng, who had been silently following them. She bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes misty, yet she held back her emotions, making no sound.
Ma Hongtao thought to himself: In the past, when officials from the city, county, or the parent company came down, it was all just formal rhetoric. But Lin’s approach was different.
This boss’s son truly was remarkable—he knew how to comfort workers in difficulty. It showed he genuinely cared about the factory.
On Sunday, Chen Yan accompanied Tao Lu to the Zhongmeida headquarters to sign the contract for the management of the Meichen Gift Factory.
Zhongmeida agreed to help package the old weaving machines from Workshops One and Three as assets, using them as collateral for bank loans.
Zhongmeida also assisted with new loans, most of which would be used to purchase stationery production lines and machine tools manufactured by Zhongmeida itself.
It was a perfect win-win: the machinery department of Zhongmeida would achieve results, and the headquarters wouldn’t need to mobilize cash flow. A single contract had resolved much of the cash flow pressure.
Chen Yan had never expected Lin Cheng’s idea to be so readily embraced by Zhongmeida.
In truth, the concept Lin Cheng shared with Chen Yan was inspired by the state-owned enterprise mixed-ownership reform strategies that would emerge more than a decade later.
After all, “state-owned enterprise mixed reforms” were not conjured from thin air but arose from practical experience.
It was just that in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang regions, the approach was more flexible and effective, eventually promoting it nationwide.
Lin Cheng did not attend the signing ceremony. Instead, he visited several imported stationery stores.
Amid the dazzling array of colorful stationery, Lin Cheng moved as if engaged in a sacred ritual, carefully selecting each item—from exquisite pens to vibrantly hued sticky notes.
He returned fully laden, clutching a bundle of carefully chosen supplies, already envisioning a brand-new blueprint in his mind.
On a sunlit afternoon, with a hint of anticipation and mystery, Lin Cheng arranged to meet Yu Yan and Yao Jingying...
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Outside the library, the shadows of the sycamores flickered dappled patterns, as if nature itself had composed a prelude to the creative feast about to unfold.
The three sat in a corner, the air tinged with the subtle scent of ink and the weight of history.
Neat bookshelves stood silently on either side.
Soft light fell upon Yu Yan’s delicate face as she sketched with her precise and charming compass, ruler, and markers.
Yao Jingying’s fingertips gently brushed the paper, as if each stroke conjured a fairy tale world from within her youthful heart.
Yu Yan’s lines were fluid and exact, every curve reflecting her meticulous attention to detail; every color carried an emotional undertone.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment, broken only by the rustling of pen on paper and the occasional whispered discussion.
They drew inspiration from imported stationery products, transforming Lin Cheng’s ideas into tangible sketches.
From initial outlines to refined details, every sheet of paper realized the vision Lin Cheng had brought back for the future.
Unnoticed, the evening’s golden light quietly bathed the entire library.
When a staff member gently reminded them of closing time, the trio exchanged smiles brimming with pride and joy.
Lin Cheng took the dozen or so drawings, which combined youthful imagination with practical considerations, and exclaimed, “This is perfect! Exactly what I wanted!”
At that moment, it was not only an affirmation of the work but a cherishing of these precious times.
Of course, the design fees were Tao Lu’s responsibility...
On Monday, Chen Yan, Tao Lu, and Guan Xiaomeng returned to the gift factory; several cars were parked outside.
They went straight to Director Ma Hongtao’s office.
Many people were gathered below, their expressions charged with excitement.
Lin Cheng and Chen Yan entered with Ma Hongtao and another man, finding several middle-aged men in suits engaged in a heated argument.
“Old Ma, listen. Don’t think everything’s settled just because the factory’s been contracted out. The planning bureau has already designated this whole area for residential use. It must be developed for real estate, you hear me? This factory is going to be torn down sooner or later…”
This man did not care about the factory itself!
He only started panicking and losing his temper when he heard the Meichen Gift Factory had been contracted out.
Chen Yan, upon seeing the scene, turned around and opened the office door.
Everyone stared at the young man holding a stack of drawings.
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Chen Yan then spoke loudly, “Everyone, don’t panic. I’ve verified that the city’s latest white paper is titled ‘Accelerating and Enhancing Southern Urban Development.’”
“It calls for rectifying the landscape along Taihu Lake, implementing throughways, and strengthening urban public space landscapes… This has nothing to do with demolition or land requisition.”
“Besides, the land of Meichen Gift Factory belongs to Zhongmeida Group. Even if real estate development proceeds, that’s Zhongmeida’s business. May I ask which company you’re from, trying to lay claim to Zhongmeida’s property?”
“You’re talking nonsense!” a man who looked like a secretary sneered dismissively.
“He’s the CEO who signed the contract with the headquarters,” Ma Hongtao quickly explained.
The man was taken aback. Who was this person?
His intention to seize the gift factory’s land was not as the boss had described! But their Longsheng Real Estate really didn’t dare to provoke Zhongmeida.
What was this young man’s relationship with Zhongmeida?
Weighing pros and cons, the man could only shoot Chen Yan a fierce glare—this meant the matter was far from over.
Ma Hongtao, who had just been weakened by the developers’ pressure, wondered how hundreds of workers would make a living if the factory was demolished.
Chen Yan’s words immediately revived his spirits.
“What’s this?” Ma Hongtao eyed the rolled-up drawings with some confusion.
“Director Ma, these are design proposals from our Cherry Media. Contact those managers we brought from Shanghai and have them start producing some.”
Ma Hongtao said “good” several times, studying the drawings. As a professional, he found them striking—more appealing than anything he’d seen on the market.
“Director Ma, these designs need copyright registration. Start by testing the waters with our original provincial distributors, then connect with sales channels outside the province. We aim to spread nationally as quickly as possible. We’ll build the Meichen brand, and anyone who wants to use it in the future will have to pay.”
Chen Yan’s eyes gleamed with sincere cunning.
Ma Hongtao only showed one set of drawings to the Shanghai team he invited to learn from them.
These people would not only receive wages under the gift factory’s system but also a separate salary from Cherry Media—effectively bringing the entire Meichen Gift Factory team under their control.
Ma Hongtao had long considered himself part of Cherry Media. The headquarters’ senior management would look after him personally, but everything else was uncertain. As for the gift factory, he was eager to let it go soon!