Chapter 8

"Is there anyone who wants to volunteer? Or should we let the managers choose one of you? Wu Di, what are you thinking about?"

"Ah, nothing, nothing at all."

"I'll make you pay if you keep daydreaming. The company has already signed the sponsorship contract and is preparing to send a batch of employees for re-education. The first batch will go next week. In principle, one person from each branch, and the ten branches in the north will go first. Who is interested in volunteering?"

I do, I'm really interested! So much so!

Wu Di jumped up and shouted:

"I'll go!"

Seeing everyone's surprised looks, he couldn't help but lower his posture, scratching his head and mumbling:

"What's wrong?"

"Pathetic! Each business unit will discuss separately, look at the recent projects, and select one person. This Saturday, they will set off and return the following Saturday. By train, it will take four or five days just to get there, and then they will have to stay in the village. Don't think it's a free trip."

The meeting room erupted with a buzz. The few who had been eager to volunteer all shrank back, secretly glad that Wu Di was stepping up. Wu Di didn't think much about it, focusing instead on how to get Old Zhao to agree.

"Wu Di, you want to go? Come and go over the projects."

Projects? The bid for the Second Machine Factory is due this weekend, and we need to prepare the bid next week. Wu Di was startled, but then he realized that the bid submission usually takes two weeks, and he would be back by the following weekend, so it shouldn't be a problem. He went over the projects with the manager, and there was indeed nothing urgent. After further discussion, they decided that Wu Di would represent the Beijing branch for the first visit to Shantun Township.

"Oh, I forgot to mention, those who volunteer for the first batch to Sichuan Province will get a 2,000 yuan allowance!"

The meeting room erupted again, with everyone accusing General Manager Wang of playing games. Some even tried to reserve spots for the second batch, but General Manager Wang shut them down with one sentence:

"The second batch will either be the top salesperson from each branch or those who donate more than 1,000 yuan. You decide."

Everyone was speechless. General Manager Wang raised his chin slightly, feeling smug:

"Hmph! Try to outsmart me, and I'll outsmart you."

After the meeting, Wu Di considered whether to take the Construction Department's order from Li Qinglong. He later decided that the kid was also unlucky and decided to return the favor. However, Wu Di wanted to make it look natural, so he volunteered to accompany Li Qinglong to the Construction Department. They ended up just walking around the construction site and didn't even get into the main office. Li Qinglong led Wu Di to a small iron gate in the northeast corner of the site, which, as expected, was locked. It seemed that someone had suffered an unexpected disaster last time. Fortunately, they didn't run into the kitchen helper, or she would have scolded them.

Li Qinglong didn't disappoint Wu Di. After leaving the site, he proudly took out his phone and boasted to Wu Di:

"Brother Wu, it's a pity we didn't get into the compound, but I used to hang around there. Come, let me show you something."

He pulled up a photo of an excellence bulletin board, pointing to a large photo of Ou Changqing. Li Qinglong started talking:

"Look, this is the unlucky minister who lost his child. Poor guy, what good is a high position if his family is broken?"

"Shut up, my wife might be in someone else's arms right now, and you're talking to me about family."

"Damn, you're too cruel, brother doesn't criticize brother!"

"I have a child bride at home!"

"Really? Tell me, tell me, Brother Wu, Uncle Wu... Uncle Wu!"

Time passed in this light-hearted atmosphere. On Friday, they arranged for four bid documents to be purchased. The measures were effective, and the top-ranked manufacturers in the market didn't participate. Two local small manufacturers, however, eagerly paid 500 yuan. The bid opening date was two weeks later, so Wu Di felt relieved and packed his things, preparing to set off.

There was no direct train to Yang County, so they had to go from Beijing to Huashi and then transfer to a bus. Wu Di checked online and found that the journey from Beijing to Huashi would take over 40 hours, but it was a sleeper train, which was better than the hard seats he used to take when he was a student.

There was one team leader and ten representatives, a total of eleven people, who boarded the train with their luggage. To Wu Di's surprise, six of the eleven were girls, mostly information officers. It seemed that everyone was busy, and they were sending these young women, who usually just ran errands to design institutes and contacted designers, to the countryside. It was uncertain how many would end up crying.

The train left in the evening. With so many people, the train was lively. As soon as the train started, a card game was set up. The girls watched, while the men played poker. One of the team leader's colleagues even brought a stack of chips, and it was clear that he had planned this. It looked like they would have to keep a tight grip on their wallets; otherwise, the 2,000 yuan allowance might end up in someone else's pocket before they even got off the train.

The redistribution of income continued until lights out. Wu Di had good luck and won 200 yuan, smiling as he climbed up to the top bunk to rest. The team leader, indeed, was generous, and after a series of bluffs, he gave out a 2,000 yuan big gift, without changing his expression.

The big winners treated everyone to breakfast. After wiping their mouths, the team leader organized lunch, and the group continued to play. Sitting in the lower bunks for too long was uncomfortable, so Wu Di moved to a bench in the corridor to watch the game. The girls, who had lost their enthusiasm, stood or sat around, chatting idly.

A young man walked over, and Wu Di moved his legs to make room. Unexpectedly, the guy walked a few steps and stopped. Wu Di thought he was watching the game and didn't say anything.

The young man glanced at the bored girls and suddenly pulled out a flower hat, put it on, and bowed, saying:

"Friends, your little brother is in a dire situation, caught without a ticket. In desperation, I want to perform a few small magic tricks for the beautiful ladies. If you like it, ten or twenty yuan is fine, and a hundred or two hundred is even better. I thank you in advance!"

He then performed a standard magician's bow, took off his hat, and, to everyone's surprise, there were exactly six roses inside!

The girls giggled as they each took a rose, and the young man, encouraged, pulled out a live, wriggling rabbit from the hat!

"Hey, guys, take a break, this guy is interesting. I can't see where he could have hidden the rabbit."

The team leader noticed the young man and called for a pause to watch the magic.

"Magic is all about deception, but it's also a skill. Now that I'm so close to you, I'll give you a chance to see if you can figure out how I do it."

The young man bowed and took out a black cloth from his pocket, covered his hand with it, and then revealed a ceramic doll's head!

The girls looked around curiously but couldn't figure it out. The team leader offered him a cigarette and smiled:

"If you can light this cigarette without a flame, I'll donate 50 yuan!"

The crowd cheered, and people from other bunks gathered around, making the area crowded. The young man, encouraged, covered the hand holding the cigarette with the black cloth, slowly turned it a few times, and then shouted:

"Light!"

At the same time, he pulled off the black cloth, and everyone's eyes focused on the cigarette. They burst into laughter; the cigarette was still a cigarette, not lit.

The young man exaggeratedly looked at it, made a disappointed face, and said:

"This failed, let's try the next one..."

As he spoke, he slowly raised the hand holding the cigarette and chuckled:

"Thanks, which kind-hearted brother lit the cigarette for me?"

Everyone looked, and sure enough, the cigarette tip was glowing red and smoking!