Chapter 63 Meeting and Detailed Discussion with the Visiting Management Reserve
"And the atmosphere here is probably more...simple and casual."
Shi Wan thought of Lao Zhou and Sun Xiaojun, and also of the scene where the cats from the farm would often wander into the office at will.
If someone is someone who strictly adheres to rules and regulations, they might find this kind of scenario somewhat uncomfortable.
Isabella laughed on the other end of the phone, "Don't worry about that. I talked to her about your farm when I was on a business trip before. She was very interested in your philosophy and products, and she also saw the reports about your awards. She said that she would rather go back to a large, hierarchical company like this, a vibrant, warm, and growing place."
"As for the environment... she said she loves cats, but she's too busy with work to keep one. I think the environment isn't a problem for her, but rather a plus."
Hearing this, Shi Wan's concerns were largely dispelled.
A manager who is exceptionally capable, shares the same values, and loves cats is a rare find.
“That’s wonderful,” Shi Wan said with genuine joy. “I’m really looking forward to meeting and talking with Miss Su.”
“Okay! I’ll give you her contact information, and you two can arrange a time.” Isabella was always efficient. “Trust me, you two will definitely make a great team.”
After hanging up the phone, Shi Wan's emotions remained unsettled for a long time.
She walked to the window and looked at the gradually becoming orderly outline of the factory buildings in the western second zone, feeling as if the burden on her shoulders had lightened a bit.
If Miss Su Qing is truly as Isabella said, then the development of District Two will undoubtedly proceed even more smoothly.
Bingbing sneaked in at some point, nuzzling her leg with its head and asking her with its big eyes what good thing had happened.
Tangyuan jumped down from his cat tree, walked over with light steps, and sat down at her feet, looking up at her.
The two cats sat side by side like they were pasted together, their round heads tilted back, their bright eyes staring curiously at Shi Wan. They were so cute that Shi Wan felt her heart was about to explode.
She knelt down, stroking their fluffy heads with one hand each, and softly recounted what had just happened.
"Our farm may be welcoming a new partner soon, a very capable older sister who will help us manage Zone 2."
Bingbing meowed twice indifferently to show its welcome.
Tangyuan flicked its tail, sniffed the air, and said seriously, "Mi hasn't tested her yet."
Shi Wan was amused by him, "Of course, she has to pass the test of our farm owner, Tangyuan. How about you come with me next time I ask her to come for a meeting?"
Tangyuan gave her a high five, which she took very seriously.
Shi Wan pinched his little paws and casually checked if he needed his nails trimmed and his foot hair shaved, which scared Tangyuan so much that he ran away screaming.
Shi Wan waved her hand to chase away the cat hairs that remained in the air nearby after the cat left. Then she opened the chat window with Xing Lin and told him about Isabella's recommendation of Su Qing, along with a summary of Su Qing's impressive resume that Isabella had sent her.
"Agent: Isabella has recommended a manager; her resume is here. What do you think?"
She habitually asked for his opinion.
Xinglin responded quickly, starting with an objective analysis of the resume.
"Xinglin: His resume is authentic, and his work experience matches the management needs of Zone 2 by 92.5%. He has led three production line efficiency improvement projects at Chongyue Group, with an average efficiency increase of 18.7%."
This was followed by continued support.
"Xinglin: He is indeed a rare talent, and very suitable for our farm. I think you should meet and discuss it in detail."
Finally, there was a reassuring word.
"Starfall: Rest assured, regardless of whether a cooperation can be reached, the operation of District Two will not be affected."
He always did this, providing her with the most solid data support and the most reassuring confidence when she faced choices.
As Shi Wan looked at his reply, the last trace of uncertainty in her heart disappeared.
Following the contact information provided by Isabella, she sent Su Qing a polite text message inviting her to meet.
I received a reply quickly, in a concise yet polite tone.
"Hello Ms. Shi, I am Su Qing. Thank you for your invitation. I look forward to meeting you. You can choose the time and place."
Looking at this reply, Shi Wan could almost picture a rational and professional woman.
She replied that she would meet at the farm the next afternoon.
After putting down her phone, Shi Wan took a deep breath; the air seemed to be filled with an atmosphere of anticipation.
Her farm is absorbing more diverse and professional resources at a speed she never expected, and is steadily moving forward.
The following afternoon, sunlight slanted into the office building, casting a warm glow on the natural wood furniture.
Shi Wan had tidied up the office in advance, placing a pot of freshly brewed osmanthus black tea and several clean cups on the coffee table.
Based on her brief replies, she formed a vague guess in her mind about Su Qing's appearance.
His short, neat hair, formal suit, calm expression, and sharp eyes gave him the same aloofness as a senior executive of a large corporation.
Just as the appointed time arrived, the sound of a car engine could be heard outside.
Shi Wan got up and looked out the window, where she saw a low-key gray SUV parked in the parking area outside the gate.
The car door opened, and the first person to step out was a long leg dressed in well-tailored dark skinny jeans and simple ankle boots, followed by a figure getting out of the car nimbly.
Shi Wan was slightly taken aback.
The person who arrived was wearing a loose and comfortable light gray cashmere knit sweater, with lazy and casual shoulder-length slightly wavy hair, and a pair of thin-rimmed glasses. They looked more like a freelancer engaged in creative work or a gentle and elegant university teacher, far removed from the sharp and elite image one might imagine.
Su Qing closed the car door, looked up and surveyed the farm's environment. Her gaze swept over the cute and childlike sign at the entrance, across the under-construction Zone 2 in the distance, and finally landed on the office building, her eyes filled with scrutiny and assessment.
She walked calmly toward the farm gate.
Just then, several villagers from the surrounding area, carrying farm tools, passed by on their way home from the fields. They couldn't help but take a second look at Su Qing, a stranger, and her car, which seemed quite out of place in the rural setting.
A loud-voiced auntie asked curiously, "Young lady, who are you looking for? Are you here to buy something too?"
Su Qing stopped and turned to them, giving them a polite but not overly enthusiastic smile. "Hello, I have an appointment with the owner of this place to discuss some business."
"Oh, you're looking for Boss Shi?" The auntie suddenly realized and pointed inside enthusiastically. "She usually works in that small building in front, the one with the big orange cat sunbathing at the door."
"Thank you." Su Qing nodded in thanks, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over the aunt's mud-splattered trousers and rough hands. "Winter is coming soon, do you still have work to do in the fields?"
The aunt noticed her gaze, patted the corner of her clothes, and said, "We haven't planted anything yet, and the greenhouse has been dismantled. It's just that the weather is nice today, so I thought I'd go and turn over the soil to let it rest a bit so it'll be easier to plant next year."
Su Qing didn't say anything more after hearing this, only saying, "The weather is getting colder and colder, you should be careful not to get frostbite if you go out."
The aunt thanked her happily, said goodbye, and continued walking home.
This scene happened to be witnessed by Shi Wan, who came out to greet them. Her first impression of Su Qing subtly changed.
It's not the coldness one might imagine, but rather a restrained gentleness.
"Miss Su?" Shi Wan walked over and greeted her with a smile.
Su Qing turned her head at the sound, and after quickly glancing at Shi Wan, she smiled slightly, her smile more genuine than before.
"Hello Ms. Shi, I am Su Qing." Her voice was clear and steady, with a rational and pleasant quality.
"Please come in." Shi Wan welcomed her in and led her into the office building.
The two sat down on the sofa.
Shi Wan poured tea, and the rising steam carried the fragrance of osmanthus.
Su Qing's gaze swept casually across the room, lingering for a few seconds on the wall displaying photos of the farm's development. She then looked at the several professional books on animal husbandry and management piled up in the corner, a hint of appreciation and approval flashing in her eyes.
"Isabella described the farm as a paradise, and it truly lives up to its reputation. It's very peaceful and full of life." Su Qing picked up her teacup and gently blew on it, smelling the sweet fragrance of osmanthus.
"Miss Su, you flatter me. The farm is still small and in the exploratory stage," Shi Wan said modestly, but in her mind she was quickly assessing the other party.
Her composure and demeanor truly reveal her depth and character.
"Just call me Su Qing." She put down her teacup, turned her gaze to Shi Wan, and got straight to the point.
“Isa should have told you about my situation. I recently returned to China and am looking for a job where I can actually do things and have room for growth. I read the reports about you and the farm, and I am very interested in your ideas and products, especially your clear and visionary approach to the management of the first and second districts after winning the award.”
Her praise was specific and not vague, which made people feel very comfortable.
"Thank you." Shi Wan smiled.
"The second district is indeed just starting out and needs professionals to build a more solid framework. Your resume is impressive; you've reached such a high position on a platform like PetJoy. Why would you consider a small farm like ours?"
She still asked the question that had been bothering her.
Su Qing adjusted her glasses, her tone calm yet candid, "Large platforms have their advantages, but they also have their rigidity and constraints. Often, energy is wasted on internal processes and personnel balance, which distances us from the product and the users. I prefer the process of building from scratch, or from one to ten; it's more fulfilling. And..."
She paused, glancing at Huanhuan and Oreo running past the window. "The environment here is very therapeutic. I don't think this is a compromise; I think the value and meaning are more important."
These words were sincere, without any sense of superiority or deliberate obsequiousness, which perfectly matched Shi Wan's expectations for her business partners.
Professional, pragmatic, and sharing the same values.
Just then, the office door was gently pushed open a crack, and a fluffy orange head peeked in.
It's a pancake.
He had probably woken up and was coming to investigate, drawn by the scent of tea, snacks, and strangers.
He first glanced at Shi Wan, then his large eyes locked onto Su Qing, with a scrutinizing look that seemed lazy but was actually sharp, characteristic of felines.
Su Qing noticed him too. Unlike most people, she didn't immediately show surprise or try to wave or tease him. She just quietly looked at Bingbing with a hint of observation in her eyes.
Bingbing strolled slowly to Su Qing's feet with his signature pigeon-toed gait, sniffed around her, and then gently rubbed his big head against Su Qing's calf.
Shi Wan was somewhat surprised.
Although Bingbing is very affectionate, he is also very sensitive and usually chooses to approach harmless or friendly people.
If he sensed that this person was dangerous or uncertain, he would have run far away long ago.
Su Qing lowered her head, looked at the warm, fluffy orange at her feet, and a genuine smile appeared on her face.
She reached out, but instead of immediately touching Bingbing's head, she gently placed the back of her hand in front of Bingbing's nose so that he could become familiar with her scent.
Bingbing sniffed the air, seemed fairly satisfied, and made a soft gurgling sound in its throat.
"His name is Bingbing. He's a veteran of the farm. He's a bit chubby and has a big appetite," Shi Wan introduced.
"I can tell, he's very cute." Su Qing's voice was filled with laughter as she gently scratched Bingbing's chin with her fingertips.
Bingbing squinted its eyes in enjoyment, tilted its head back, and made an even louder gurgling sound.
This made Shi Wan feel even more favorably toward Su Qing.
The fact that this person was able to quickly gain the approval of Bingbing, a cat who is a foodie and lazy but has keen intuition, suggests that this person has a gentle and non-aggressive aura.
"Would you like to visit Zone Two?" Shi Wan offered.
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Author's Note: Me: Come smell me, do I smell good or bad...?
Tangyuan: Meow's test! Meow wants to test you! (Meows anxiously)
Shi Wan: What? Mi's going to take the postgraduate entrance exam? (Shi Xiaowan, the master of misheard lyrics)
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