Chapter 364: Recruit One More Talent

Boss isn't here, so the two of us drinking feels a bit pointless.

Zheng Guoping lifted the enamel jar: "Lao Si, pour some. It's fine if we don't usually drink, but the dishes are so tough today, let me have a drink with you two brothers."

Wei Shu, that guy, is very principled; he shook his head and firmly refused to drink.

Zheng Guoping kept going: "You call yourself the little encyclopedia, you must know this wine is grain essence, right? Drinking it has great benefits, like promoting blood circulation and removing stasis."

Wei Shu disagreed: "The drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Alcohol is metabolized by the liver; heavy drinking can cause fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even raise blood pressure, increasing the risk of stroke and heart disease."

It also damages the nervous system, leading to brain atrophy and memory decline, and harms male function—sperm quality deteriorates, erectile dysfunction becomes common, and infertility may result.

Listening to Wei Shu, Zheng Guoping held the enamel jar for a long while without daring to take a sip.

He immediately set the enamel jar on the table and cursed: "What the hell, I'm just having a drink, why bring up infertility?"

Wei Shu gave no rebuttal, returning to his taciturn silence, reading while eating, his eyes fixed on the book, so he picked up whatever he happened to grab.

Lu Cheng couldn't help but laugh; no wonder he's the little encyclopedia—though he majors in mechanical manufacturing, he also knows a lot about other fields.

Even with such distractions, this guy still holds the top spot in mechanical manufacturing.

"Alright, don't let him drink; the two of us will," Lu Cheng lifted the enamel jar and clinked it with Zheng Guoping.

After a sip, Lu Cheng asked, "Second, how's the matter we discussed earlier coming along?"

Zheng Guoping knew what Lu Cheng was referring to and hesitated for a moment.

Lu Cheng had set up a Research Institute, and honestly, many institutes now are run by old hands, so fresh blood is urgently needed.

To recruit talent for the institute, Lu Cheng has been active around the school lately.

So far he has persuaded eight people who are willing to work at the institute after graduation.

Among the eight is the little encyclopedia Wei Shu; they are all top talents in the department.

Convincing Wei Shu took just one sentence from Lu Cheng; the guy listens to Lu Cheng, perhaps because Lu Cheng exudes a certain leadership aura that wins him over.

But persuading the other seven isn't that easy; they already have coveted positions, like a large State‑owned Factory, or direct entry into a Department Committee, some can become engineer assistants right after graduation.

Even the Railway Department is good, but these people no longer care about salary; with their abilities, any unit they join will offer comparable compensation.

What they care about is career development—a place to realize their ambitions, where their expertise can shine and bring happiness to the common folk.

In the end, getting them to agree to Lu Cheng's institute took a lot of talking.

Actually, they follow Lu Cheng partly out of respect, because most classmates received his help while at school.

But not everyone is Lu Cheng's target; he wants only the truly outstanding.

Without this restriction, Lu Cheng could easily take as many people as he wanted.

Besides those eight top talents, the one Lu Cheng most wants to take is Zheng Guoping.

Don't be fooled by his swagger; his mechanical research is absolutely top‑tier in the department.

The problem is he's set on joining the One Machine Department.

"I'm telling Third, Lu Jingzhang, Director Lu, future Lu President, why do you have to cling to me to go to your institute?"

"The One Machine Department specializes in manufacturing large agricultural machinery; I personally prefer researching agricultural machines and have little interest in your Railway stuff."

Every time he uses this excuse, the more Zheng Guoping says it, the more Lu Cheng feels unwilling.

"Why so much nonsense? My buddy is now the institute director; if we don't find a project soon, they'll pull me out. Consider this a helping hand for my brother."

Zheng Guoping felt a bit helpless; he's often benefited from Lu Cheng, a native of Capital City, and this guy is so wealthy that he's a billionaire‑level student.

Even some professors don't eat as well as Lu Cheng.

The reason Zheng Guoping has put on weight these two years is that he's often piggybacked on Lu Cheng's meals.

The key is Lu Cheng is extremely generous; whenever he says he's craving something, braised pork appears at his mouth instantly.

That camaraderie is undeniable, so when Lu Cheng suggested he join the institute, Zheng Guoping was torn.

He wants to go to the One Machine Department but also wants to support Lu Cheng.

"You have so many outstanding talents, you could pick anyone else, why do you have to pick me?"

Lu Cheng said irritably, "I like you, is that okay?"

Zheng Guoping immediately retorted, "Don't, I don't like men."

"Are you a man or what? One word—going or not?"

Zheng Guoping sighed and compromised.

"Fine, fine, I'll go. That's that, I owe you! But we agreed beforehand—I'll work with you for three years, then I'll leave."

Zheng Guoping truly loves researching agricultural machinery; he believes that food is the people's heaven, and agricultural development is paramount.

To ensure the common folk can eat, be full, and eat well, agricultural mechanization is essential.

Three years is the biggest compromise Zheng Guoping makes out of respect for Lu Cheng.

Giving Lu Cheng three years, he thinks enough progress can be made on internal‑combustion engine research.

Zheng Guoping was upbeat this time, and Lu Cheng matched it; the two clinked their enamel jars and each took a big gulp.

The alcohol burned down to their cores, they grimaced and shouted, "So refreshing!"

Just then, the dormitory door burst open.

Lu Cheng looked up and said, "Hey Boss, you're back. Come on, earlier we said we needed another drinker, Second, quickly grab another jar…"

Zheng Guoping got up to fetch an enamel jar from the windowsill, but when he turned back, Li Youfu rushed in, grabbed the jar on the table, tipped his head back and gulped it down with a gurgle‑gurgle.

Zheng Guoping hurried to stop him: "Hey, hey, don't drink like that, watch out for infertility.

Ah yo yo, that's enough, that's enough… at least leave some for me, this wine is pricey, and being late doesn't mean I have to be penalized…"

Li Youfu wiped his mouth, and when he handed the jar back, Zheng Guoping turned it upside down, feeling a chill in his heart.

"Great, drank it all, not a drop left!"

"I'm telling Boss, you're overdoing it; it's only one bottle, and you just finished it…"

Zheng Guoping was still complaining when Li Youfu suddenly collapsed onto the bed, crying "Wuwu."

This scene left Zheng Guoping completely at a loss, and he met Lu Cheng's gaze, his face innocent.

"No, he even started crying? I'm the one who should be crying."

Lu Cheng felt something was off; a thirty‑year‑old Big Old Masters crying like a woman—just imagine how heartbreaking it was.

Even in this situation, Wei Shu's attention remained on his book; he probably could cling to the book and read until the very last moment of the End of the World.

Lu Cheng couldn't stay seated, stood up and walked to the bedside, patted Li Youfu and asked, "What's going on? What happened?"