Chapter 360: I Can Beg for Help, But Not from This Kind of Person

"He's got some nerve—this engineer's acting like a tiger trying to swallow the sky or a turtle swallowing the earth. Hao Ge, guess what he wants?"

Mu Weimin, who had just been thrown out, was blushing with shame and started venting to Hao Jian.

"He actually wants the trademark naming rights for Fenghua clothing—and says he doesn't want much, just three years. I fucking can't believe it—why doesn't he ask for the Queen Mother's foot-washing water instead?"

Hao Jian: "."

Li Factory Director: "."

The unnamed young man: "."

The three of them stared, dumbfounded, at Mu Weimin, who looked defiant and resentful.

Hao Jian was stunned—he simply couldn't imagine the guy would demand Fenghua Clothing's naming rights. This wasn't even about him; it was aimed squarely at Pei Wencong, the major shareholder of Pengcheng Red Bull.

Li Factory Director and the other man, however, were shocked that Hao Jian had sent such a person to deliver the gift.

Delivering gifts is a skill—not just anyone can do it.

Hao Jian, face grim, crouched down and picked up each fruit, placing them back into the basket.

Li Factory Director also crouched to help, and after they finished, he sighed with complex emotion: "Looks like we've been caught in the crossfire. Hao Factory Director, what exactly is your grudge with them? How could—"

Hao Jian was still seething—how could he have a good temper?

"Being caught in the crossfire? That's your own weakness. Don't blame others."

"."

Ignoring Li Factory Director, Hao Jian walked to Cao Yuanmao's door and started banging hard: "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

After half a minute, Cao Yuanmao finally opened the door, his expression just as displeased.

But Hao Jian's face suddenly shifted like a magic trick—from gloomy to sunny, even showing a faint smile.

"Engineer Cao, we're all gardeners—let's talk calmly. Why get so worked up? Throwing out a whole basket of good fruit? That's embarrassing to be seen."

Cao Yuanmao glanced coldly at Hao Jian and said: "You were right outside the door just now, yet you sent some nobody to negotiate with me? You were the one who disrespected me first."

"."

Hao Jian was furious—he was who now? Who was he to disrespect Cao?

But Cao Yuanmao's next sentence made Hao Jian's expression change completely.

"Also, Hao Factory Director, you're mistaken—I'm not a gardener. Don't try to cozy up to me. Some things can be discussed, but you need to show real sincerity."

"You're not a gardener?"

Hao Jian stared at Cao Yuanmao, utterly incredulous.

Cao Yuanmao's face might be ugly, but it carried all the classic features of a gardener—and more importantly, his Mandarin was perfectly native.

Foreigners speaking Mandarin always had a foreign accent—you could tell immediately. But Cao Yuanmao's accent was indistinguishable from a mainland Chinese's.

At that moment, Li Factory Director walked over and whispered to Hao Jian's ear: "He used to be a gardener, but later became a U. . citizen. Pepsi's top management has no mainlanders—you didn't know this?"

Hao Jian clenched his teeth, then sighed helplessly.

Cao Yuanmao looked at the defeated Hao Jian and said smugly: "Hao Factory Director, I know you can't make decisions on this. So please notify Mr. Pei to come speak with me directly.

This year, all our production lines need maintenance—maybe next month—"

"You're not worthy!"

Hao Jian's high-pitched roar startled everyone nearby.

Cao Yuanmao was sprayed with saliva and stood stunned for several seconds before bursting into rage.

But Hao Jian's fury was even greater.

"You traitor who forgot your ancestors—how dare you negotiate with me? Go beg your foreign daddy in your dreams! Don't ever let me see you again—you look like a collaborator. I can't stand the sight of you."

"."

Even Li Factory Director was stunned.

Hao Jian had spoken at the Pengcheng Young Entrepreneurs Conference—how could he now sound like a shrew? Wouldn't that make him a laughingstock?

Hao Jian didn't care about laughter—he spat out his venom, finished, turned, and walked off with Mu Weimin, giving Cao Yuanmao no chance to reply.

Only when they got into the Crown car outside did Hao Jian finally catch his breath.

Mu Weimin was even angrier than Hao Jian, head bowed: "Hao Ge, should we even beg this guy? I feel so humiliated. Why don't you just send me back to Factory Seven to manage production?"

"Sigh~"

Hao Jian slowly waved his hand and said calmly: "Weimin, as a business leader, not knowing how to beg is a missing skill—many things can't be done without it. But—"

Hao Jian raised his voice again, passionately: "But we can beg people—we absolutely will NOT beg dogs!!!"

"So we don't beg this guy."

"."

Over the years, as Hao Jian and the others had clung to Li Ye's luck, their tempers had been shaped too—if their personalities didn't match, they'd long since been purged from the circle.

"Yeah yeah, we won't beg him," Mu Weimin nodded, but then remembered something and whispered: "But what about Mr. Pei? Should we still tell him?"

Hao Jian snapped: "Telling Old Pei is the same—what I just said? That's what Boss said. Old Pei might be even harsher than me."

"."

"Boss?"

Mu Weimin stared blankly at Hao Jian, suddenly realizing how far behind he'd fallen.

For years, he'd only ever seen Hao Jian as his superior—he'd barely seen Jin Peng, let alone anyone higher.

In the past year, Chen Ergou, Ma Qianshan, and Zou Zhiguo had all been sent out to lead departments, but Mu Weimin had stayed by Hao Jian's side.

【Am I really a backward element? What does Hao Jian mean by "even harsher"? How harsh could it possibly be?】

"You go ahead, Hao Ge. I've got food at home—don't worry about me."

Mu Weimin returned home and waved Hao Jian off.

He had his own courtyard, fully equipped with a fridge and stove—he often cooked for himself.

As he opened the gate, several dark shadows rushed to him, nuzzling his legs and panting warmly.

"Wait a bit! I didn't bring leftovers today—I'll boil some noodles, we'll eat together."

Mu Weimin had loved dogs since childhood; after coming to Pengcheng, he raised several good ones, training them to pass the time.

Whenever he attended banquets, he always brought home leftovers for them. When there were no leftovers, he still made sure they ate at least eight-tenths full.

Dogs shouldn't be fed too full—it makes them disobedient.

But before his noodles were done, the factory phone rang.

"Factory Director Mu, Pepsi has notified us—production will halt for maintenance starting tomorrow. Please remove all products and raw materials."

"Fuck."

Mu Weimin cursed, his anger rising sharply.

It was supposed to be next month—now they were openly bullying him.

Mu Weimin called Hao Jian, who replied: "Handle it yourself. You can't keep asking me."

"I—"

Mu Weimin wanted to tell Hao Jian to replace him—he wanted to return to production management.

After all, Li Ye had said a company couldn't lack a sharp-minded leader, but it couldn't lack solid middle managers either.

Mu Weimin was content—he didn't want to be the boss anyway; it saved him from constant anger.

But Hao Jian hung up, leaving Mu Weimin feeling stifled.

The noodles were done, and the dogs gathered around Mu Weimin, eyes fixed on their meal.

But Mu Weimin's anger suddenly erupted.

"What's the rush? What's so great about a bowl of noodles? Let's go out—eat something good!"

After Hao Jian and the others left, Cao Yuanmao was equally furious.

He first ordered the workshop to halt production for maintenance the next day, then spent a long time calming himself before dialing a number.

When the call connected, Cao Yuanmao spoke gently: "Hello, Uncle Chen? This is Cao Yuanmao. I'd like to speak with Chen Juming."

If Hao Jian and Mu Weimin had been there, they'd have been shocked—Cao Yuanmao could sound so "refined."

Moments later, a woman's voice came on the line.

"Hello, Brother Cao? Hehe, what brings you calling me?"

"Don't call me Brother Cao! I've told you a hundred times—call me Yuanmao, and you're Juming."

"Hehe, I'm used to it—I can't change overnight."

Cao Yuanmao had met Chen Juming while she was studying in the U. ., though she'd just arrived while he was about to finish his master's.

Later, when Chen Juming took a job with Guangdong's Foreign Trade Bureau, she coincidentally met Cao Yuanmao again.

But by then, Cao Yuanmao was already Pepsi's technical lead in Pengcheng—a golden-collar earning tens of thousands of dollars a year.

He then pursued Chen Juming, but his poor appearance kept him from winning her.

But after Chen Juming was forced out of Guangdong due to the Fenghua trademark squatter incident, returning to Dongshan and settling in Lin Qiuyan's father's factory, she lost contact with everyone in Guangdong—except Cao Yuanmao.

Under these circumstances, Chen Juming grew closer to Cao Yuanmao. During a conversation, he accidentally learned the "truth" behind her false accusations.

At first, it meant nothing—he just cursed Factory Seven and offered her some emotional comfort.

But then Pengcheng Red Bull appeared, and both saw it as an opportunity.

Cao Yuanmao swore he could manipulate Pei Wencong and get revenge for Chen Juming.

Chen Juming thought she could negotiate with Pei Wencong to secure Fenghua's naming rights for Lin Zisheng's clothing factory.

With that naming right, she believed she could clear her name.

For example, both sides had originally agreed on certain terms, but they simply failed to reach a final agreement—it wasn't that she deliberately stole their trademark.

Cao Yuanmao had wrongly underestimated the firmness of Pengcheng Seventh Factory, thinking a small factory's naming rights could never be as important as Pengcheng Red Bull's fate.

"Juming, I've already shut down Pengcheng Red Bull's contract manufacturing plan. They'll soon realize their mistake."

Far away in the provincial capital of Dongshan, Chen Juming gripped the phone, a chill running down her spine. Though Cao Yuanmao's tone was gentle, the mere utterance of "Juming" brought back the image of his face.

Ugly as it was, it didn't matter if you didn't think about it—but once you did…

"So will they give us the naming rights? Even just for a year?"

"Sigh, Juming, why are you so fixated on clothing? Listen to me—resign, come over to Pepsi, and I'll arrange a position for you. Your salary will be at least five times what you're making now."

"."

Chen Juming was sharp—she immediately caught the hidden meaning in Cao Yuanmao's words.

She sighed and said, "I just want to clear my name. You know—registering a trademark in Lighthouse is completely free."

"Yes, yes! Come work for me instead! Maybe later you can even become a Lighthouse citizen."

"No, I—"

Chen Juming hesitated, unsure how to respond, when she heard several dog barks.

"Senior Cao, have you gotten a dog?"

"No? That sound outside is strange."

Cao Yuanmao also found it odd, then put down the phone and walked outside.

"Hello? Senior Cao? Senior Cao? I'm hanging up!"

Just as Chen Juming was about to hang up, she suddenly heard a piercing scream.

"Hello? Hello? Senior Cao!"

Chen Juming called out repeatedly, but all she heard were faint dog barks and a fading, mournful howl.

(End of Chapter)