Game Theory (Part 2)
Zhang Xiande stared at him quietly, his calm exterior masking a look of fascination with a poorly executed performance.
He didn't immediately press further, but slowly raised his long, slender finger, pointing to a slightly raised mound in the distance, and continued, "If we were to consider building a freight transfer station for the railway here, what do you think would be the biggest challenge? And how would we overcome it?" His questions were more direct. The words "railway" and "freight transfer station" were like sharp blades, cutting into You Jiale's weak defenses, making him feel an inescapable sense of embarrassment and pressure.
"Hehehe, boss, that's a really professional question!" You Jiale scratched the back of his head, forcing a carefree smile, while inwardly he was thinking: Railway freight transfer station? Challenge? Overcome? If I knew, would I be here pretending to be clueless! This thing is giving me a headache.
He coughed twice, deliberately raising his voice to try and change the subject: "Hey boss, this place looks pretty desolate. If we really want to do something big, we'll have to consider everything, right? The biggest challenge is..." He deliberately dragged out his words, glancing at the abandoned factory buildings in the distance, pretending to be thoughtful, but his mind was racing, hoping to get away with it. "Hmm... I think the biggest challenge is definitely money! How much money will we have to throw into such a big project? And look at this lousy place, the roads are bad too. To transport things, we'll definitely have to build roads first, which will cost a lot more! Without money, everything else is pointless!" He finished speaking and nodded smugly, a "I'm right" expression on his face.
As for how to overcome it… You Jiale was even more clueless. He scratched his cheek, his eyes darting around, avoiding Zhang Xiande's gaze, which seemed to see right through him. “As for overcoming it…” he said vaguely, “It definitely requires the government to take the lead, big bosses to fund it, and some professional teams to plan it out. We ordinary folks shouldn't worry about such big things, right? Anyway, as long as we can boost the economy and improve people's lives, that's a good thing!” He grinned at Zhang Xiande after saying that.
On the way back, silence fell again in the carriage. You Jiale stole a glance at Zhang Xiande beside him; his profile remained calm, as if the conversation had left no trace on his mind. Every ray of light and shadow passing by the window seemed to interrogate You Jiale about his flawed explanation, sending chills down his spine. He felt like a primary school student who had failed an exam, anxiously awaiting the teacher's verdict.
Finally, Zhang Xiande broke the silence.
“You seem to have forgotten a lot of things.” His gaze fell on the fleeting scenery outside the window, his tone so flat that it betrayed no emotion.
You Jiale's heart skipped a beat, as if he had been suddenly called on to answer a question, and he instantly became nervous. "Boss, this really isn't my fault!" He deliberately scratched the back of his head, speaking in an exaggerated tone. "Who told me to fall down the mountain and break my head? But don't worry, boss! The railway thing... sigh, my brain is really a bit foggy right now, but!" He deliberately emphasized his words, patted his chest, and tried to appear energetic. "I guarantee that 'Leji Delivery' will be a huge success for you! I'll remember that!" After he finished speaking, he looked at Zhang Xiande with a firm gaze, hoping to use this guarantee to divert his attention and cover up his previous embarrassment and guilt.
Zhang Xiande turned his head, his sharp gaze fixed on You Jiale. "Did you break it? Assistant You, if you're willing to tell me the truth, I'm all ears. But if you're going to spout nonsense, the consequences might not be good."
You Jiale felt as if his heart had been squeezed tightly. Zhang Xiande's words struck him like hammer blows, making his temples throb.
But is this really the time to be completely open and honest with each other?
He knew in his heart that this Boss Zhang was the only powerful figure he could cling to in this unfamiliar era. If this big tree fell, he didn't know how he would survive with his own limited abilities. This was no joke; he might lose his life someday without even realizing it.
More importantly, You Jiale was self-aware. Even if he was a smart man, he lived in a peaceful era. The so-called local bullies or political and business tycoons he knew back then, even those operating on the fringes of the law, lived in a peaceful world. Unlike now, this was a historically chaotic era, an era where nine out of ten recorded stories were tragic. If one day, the situation depicted in TV dramas—underground party members being arrested and tortured—actually, he couldn't bear it.
Thinking about this, You Jiale's mind was in complete turmoil, with various ideas swirling around: Should he just tell half the truth? Should he blurt it all out at once? But he wasn't sure; would Zhang Xiande believe him? If he knew that there was another soul inside him, wouldn't he burn him as a monster? Besides, was the original You Jiale really just a simple superior-subordinate relationship with Zhang Xiande?
Taking a deep breath, You Jiale tried to suppress the panic on her face and put on a serious expression.
“Mr. Zhang,” You Jiale began, her tone calm and collected, a departure from her usual frivolous manner, “I understand what you just said. I didn’t mean to hide anything from you.”
"Since I woke up, I feel like there's a gap in my head, and I can't remember many things."
"But I don't know what happened, it was like I suddenly had a breakthrough, and a lot of strange and wonderful ideas popped up all at once."
He paused, looking at Zhang Xiande with a complicated expression. "You're my boss, I know that very well. Without your support, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to do anything. This 'Leji Delivery' was something I worked incredibly hard to get started, and I wanted to do it well so that I could earn you more money and help you solve those current problems..." You Jiale's voice carried a hint of earnestness; he wanted Zhang Xiande to understand that he was still somewhat useful and that he needed to rely on him.
“As for the ‘deception’ you mentioned,” he said hesitantly, “there are some things that I haven’t fully figured out myself, and I don’t know how to tell you… But believe me, if I really did something that made you misunderstand, it was absolutely not intentional, and I would never do anything that would harm the company’s interests…” He mustered his courage, looked at Zhang Xiande, and hoped to gain the boss’s trust.
“Mr. Zhang,” You Jiale said, making his request for the first time so earnestly, “I know you might not believe everything I say right now. But could I ask you for a favor? If one day I really do encounter some danger, but on the premise that I, You Jiale, have not done anything to wrong you or Zhang’s Industries, could you… spare my life?” His tone carried a hint of fear; he knew this was a risky request, and the air seemed to freeze.
Zhang Xiande remained silent for a moment, gazing intently out the car window. The wheels rolled over the cobblestone road, making a slight vibration.
Zhang Xiande looked sharply at You Jiale, "Since you say you have amnesia, why don't you go to the hospital to get it checked out?"
You Jiale's eyes flickered. "I've seen it, boss."
Zhang Xiande frowned slightly: "And the result?"
You Jiale quickly explained, "The doctor said they couldn't find any specific cause. It might be temporary amnesia caused by the impact. Maybe it will get better on its own after a while, and it won't affect my normal life and work."
Zhang Xiande's gaze held a hint of scrutiny, and his tone carried a trace of uncertainty: "Is that so?"
“You are well aware of your situation,” Zhang Xiande finally spoke, his tone low and slow, “and you also know very well how to survive.”
His gaze slowly returned to You Jiale, his eyes no longer as aggressive as before. "I can understand that you don't want to tell the truth." He paused, his voice slightly low and hoarse, carrying an indescribable calmness. "But the fact that you can weigh the pros and cons and know how to survive shows that you are pragmatic."
“You said you have secrets, you have confusion, and I believe you.” He paused, then added, “At least, I believe you now.”
You Jiale's heart jolted, realizing that Zhang Xiande had not completely let him go; this was only temporary.
“You can live,” Zhang Xiande said, his tone shifting. “However, you’d better remember what you said today.”
He opened his mouth, but in the end he only responded softly, "Mm."
As the car drove into the city lights, the windows reflected the two people with different expressions.
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