Chapter 41

Three months later, Huacheng Technology completed the renovation of its R&D and production base in the hydrogen energy industrial park, and the company's team expanded from just a few people to dozens. Peng Kun poured everything he had into it, even investing the operating funds he had set aside for the nursing home.

At the same time, Zuo Xutong's patent application passed the examination and he received the certificate, finally bringing results to his years of hard work.

The R&D center has moved to the hydrogen energy industrial park, but Zuo Xutong hasn't moved out of the nursing home, mainly because she's worried she'll be leaving soon and will have to move again. The company is gradually getting on track, but there's still a significant gap compared to leading hydrogen fuel cell companies outside the province, and she's still undecided about her future.

The transportation from the nursing home to the hydrogen energy industrial park is not convenient. Zuo Xutong has to take two buses every day to get to the company. Despite this, she has refused Peng Kun's offer to give her a ride to and from get off work several times. She just can't bring herself to use her boss as a driver while secretly planning to switch jobs.

One day after get off work, Peng Kun passed by the R&D department and saw Zuo Xutong packing her things. He went over to her and said, "Let's go together. I was just thinking of talking to you about the company's next phase of R&D plans."

Upon hearing this, Zuo Xutong quickly put down her backpack and suddenly remembered something, saying, "Oh dear, I almost forgot, I haven't read the failure analysis report that Luo Qiang submitted this afternoon. You go back first, I'll leave later."

Peng Kun frowned: "Why do I feel like you've been avoiding me lately?"

"No, no," Zuo Xutong denied immediately, but her heart was beating faster than usual.

Seeing Peng Kun's skeptical look, she quickly changed the subject: "President Peng, I just investigated the latest R&D progress of several hydrogen fuel cell companies. Currently, the company with the highest rated power for hydrogen-powered heavy trucks is Chaoma. Their product has been iterated twice, and the current model has reached 180kW." As she spoke, Zuo Xutong slung the backpack she had just put down back over her shoulder. "Why don't we talk as we walk?"

Peng Kun didn't press further. He'd been preoccupied with financing and had no time or energy to pay attention to his subordinates' thoughts. The automated production line for 5,000 fuel cell stacks per year was already built, but Hu Zhengrong's 250 million yuan in financing hadn't arrived yet. According to the agreement, the funds should have been received by this week at the latest, leaving only three days until the agreed deadline.

During their conversation, the two had already reached the parking lot. Just as they got into the car, Peng Kun received a phone call. He didn't know what the person on the other end said, but his face instantly turned pale. He said, "I have to go to the city first," and started the car.

Zuo Xutong nodded without asking any questions.

He drove incredibly fast, and half an hour later, he stopped the car directly in front of a financial building. A security guard saw this and immediately stepped forward to remind him, "Sir, you can't park here!" Peng Kun ignored him, hurriedly got out of the car, and rushed into the building without even taking out the keys. Zuo Xutong quickly helped him lock the car, explained a few words to the security guard, and then quickly followed him inside.

The two took the elevator to the 12th floor. There was no one at the front desk. Peng Kun grabbed an employee who was about to leave work and asked eagerly, "Where is General Manager Hu's office?"

The other person glanced at him in surprise and casually replied, "He hasn't been to the company these past two days."

Peng Kun's heart sank. He disregarded subtlety and asked bluntly, "Were you taken away by the regulatory agency?"

The man's expression changed slightly, and his voice became wary: "How did you know? Who are you?"

Peng Kun's shoulders slumped, and without saying a word, he turned away dejectedly.

Zuo Xutong had already guessed that General Manager Hu was an investor in the company. Since becoming the acting R&D director, she had more channels for obtaining information. Now it seemed that this financing deal was likely to fall through.

The two got into the car. Peng Kun's face was frighteningly gloomy. He gripped the steering wheel without saying a word, and it took him a while to remember to start the car. However, the direction he was driving was not the way back to the nursing home.

The car drove aimlessly around the streets. He was dazed and his thoughts were in turmoil. If there hadn't been a living, breathing person sitting next to him, he probably would have acted even more erratically. He didn't speak, and Zuo Xutong didn't dare to ask. The car was unusually quiet, and the air was tense and suffocating.

At this moment, Zuo Xutong also realized the seriousness of the situation. It not only concerned the life and death of Huacheng Technology, but also determined whether the nursing home could continue to operate. If the financing failed, it would have a devastating impact on both the company and the nursing home.

Peng Kun drove around in circles for half an hour before finally stopping in front of the Financial Building. Worried about his mental state, Zuo Xutong mustered her courage and whispered, "Mr. Peng, how about I drive?"

Peng Kun nodded weakly, mechanically pushed open the car door, and almost lost his balance after getting out of the car. He held onto the car door for a while before walking around to the front of the car and getting into the passenger seat.

Zuo Xutong drove back to the nursing home with a heavy heart. After the car came to a stop, Peng Kun didn't move for a long time. She didn't dare to get out of the car alone, so she could only sit quietly in the car with him.

Outside the car window, the sky gradually darkened, and the dim light of the streetlights shone through the glass onto Peng Kun's face, making him appear extremely pale. Zuo Xutong curled up in her seat, barely daring to breathe, let alone break the silence.

After a long silence, Peng Kun finally spoke: "You can leave now."

Zuo Xutong was slightly taken aback, turned her head to look at him, but didn't know how to respond.

"Hu Zhengrong has been arrested for suspected financial corruption, and the company's cash flow... has dried up." His voice was hoarse, filled with undisguised despair.

Zuo Xutong then realized that he didn't want her to get out of the car, but rather to leave the company.

"What should we do then?" she asked dryly. She had indeed been paying attention to job postings recently, but with the company in deep trouble, she was starting to feel conflicted again.

What to do? Peng Kun shook his head with a wry smile. Because the letter of intent stipulated a 90-day exclusivity period, Peng Kun had not contacted any other investors after signing the agreement with President Hu.

"Then... what about the nursing home?" Zuo Xutong hesitated for a long time before finally asking cautiously. She desperately wanted to hear a reassuring answer: the nursing home had enough operating funds, and the elderly would live out their later years without worrying about food or clothing. However, Peng Kun remained silent, his expression growing increasingly pained.

Zuo Xutong immediately understood; the nursing home couldn't hold on any longer. She remembered what Grandma Zou often said: "Life here is so good; I want to live a few more years."

Her heart ached. There were more than 30 elderly people in the nursing home. Should they be left to wander the streets again?

Winter is here, and leaving the nursing home will likely be the last winter of many elderly people's lives.