Chapter 23 Interview
A week of interviews left Pei Song exhausted.
He sat in a cafe, looking through the interview records on his phone.
The first one is the largest local chain restaurant group.
When HR heard that he had opened a Michelin-level restaurant in Country D, his eyes lit up.
But when it came to the specific content of the work, Pei Song hesitated.
"We hope you can be the image spokesperson for the restaurant," the HR said enthusiastically, "With your status as a food blogger and your overseas study background, you are a perfect match for our positioning."
"What specifically needs to be done?" Pei Song asked.
"It's mainly about attending some events, shooting promotional videos, and promoting our new products on social media. Of course, I also need to attend dinners with some important customers occasionally..."
After the interview, Pei Song stood at the door of the building, looking at the offer in his hand.
The salary is indeed very tempting, but he knows that he does not want a "vase" position. He hopes to be truly involved in catering management and operations.
He crumpled up the offer and threw it into the trash can.
The second was an investment company that was attracted by his financial background.
The interviewer was very interested in his resume, especially his graduate thesis.
"Your derivatives pricing model is very innovative," the interviewer said, "and our investment department is in need of such talent."
But when it comes to the specific work, Pei Song found that this job requires frequent business trips and may even require him to be stationed abroad.
Thinking of his mother's current physical condition, he could only say with regret that he needed to reconsider it.
When he walked out of the interview building, he received a message from Shi Yanchen: "How was the interview?"
"Not quite appropriate." Pei Song replied simply.
The third is a management trainee program for a large hotel group.
The content of this interview is related to catering management, but the entire training process needs to start from the grassroots level.
"Considering your background, we can shorten your rotation time appropriately," the HR said, "but you still need to start from the front desk and guest room to learn."
Pei Song stared at the offer in his hand in a daze. Although it was somewhat different from his expectations, at least he could get involved in all aspects of hotel management.
Looking at the salary and benefits, it’s pretty decent.
"It's an opportunity after all," Pei Song said to himself, "It's better than nothing."
Shi Yanchen raised his head from the opposite side: "Are you ready to accept it?"
"Yeah." Pei Song smiled bitterly, "At least I can find a foothold first."
Shi Yanchen put down the documents in his hand, his eyes were sharp: "Just because you can't find a better one, do you have to wrong yourself?"
"But..." Pei Song hesitated, "There is no better choice now."
"When you were in Country D," Shi Yanchen suddenly said, "when you first received a reservation for a private meal, why didn't you work as a chef in a high-end restaurant? The salary was good back then."
Pei Song was stunned for a moment: "Because I want to make my own dishes and don't want to be restricted by the restaurant's menu."
"What about now?" Shi Yanchen looked at him, "Are you willing to start from room service? Don't you think this is a waste of your talent?"
"It was different back then..." Pei Song lowered his head, "The situation at home is like this now, I can't be willful anymore."
"Willful?" Shi Yanchen's voice was unusually harsh. "Is sticking to your ideals considered willful?"
Pei Song was silent.
"When you were running a restaurant in Country D, did you give up when you encountered difficulties?" Shi Yanchen continued, "Did you back down when you were nervous before the Michelin review?"
"That's different..."
"Why are they different?" Shi Yanchen interrupted him, "It's the same choice, why do you dare to fight hard in Country D, but have to compromise when you return to China?"
These words were like a wake-up call, leaving Pei Song speechless for a moment.
"I..." He clenched the offer in his hand, "but my parents hope that I can find a job as soon as possible..."
"Your father hopes that you will have your own career, rather than just finding a job to make a living." Shi Yanchen's voice softened, "Have you forgotten what he said in the hospital that day?"
Pei Song remembered what his father said, "You are not only the son of the Pei family, but also a capable young man", and his heart was moved.
"But..."
"When you were in Country D," Shi Yanchen looked him straight in the eye, "why should I invest in you to open a restaurant?"
Pei Song raised his head.
"Because I saw your ability, your love for food, and your determination to turn your dreams into reality." Shi Yanchen's voice was low and firm. "Are you worse now than you were then?"
This sentence was like a key that opened the shackles in Pei Song's heart.
Yeah, when did I become so timid?
You overcame so many difficulties in Country D, so why are you not brave enough to persist now?
"You're right." Pei Song took a deep breath and tore the offer in half. "I can't compromise like this."
A smile flashed across Shi Yanchen's eyes: "This is the Pei Song I know."
But Pei Song was still a little confused: "How can I find the right opportunity?"
"Don't be in a hurry." Shi Yanchen said, "Good opportunities will always come, the key is that you have to be prepared. During this time, why not think carefully about what you really want?"
Pei Song nodded, took out his mobile phone and deleted those inappropriate interview invitations.
Shi Yanchen looked at his profile, which was no longer gloomy, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly.
…
The quarrel in the yard woke Pei Song up from his nap.
He stood up and walked to the window and saw his grandmother sitting on a rattan chair in the yard, staring at his father with a bad look.
"Tell me, how much did it cost to send Pei Song to Country D for so many years?" Grandma's voice was full of obvious sarcasm, "Now he can't even find a decent job!"
Pei Song clenched his hands on the window frame. He was about to go downstairs but was stopped by Shi Yanchen.
"Wait," Shi Yanchen said softly, "Listen to the end first."
"Mom, Songsong just came back not long ago," the father explained helplessly, "He needs time to find a suitable job."
"Suitable?" Grandma sneered, "Look at your second sister's Xiaoyu, he has already become a supervisor in a bank in the provincial capital. What about Songsong? She travels around with a foreign friend all day long!"
"Mom, this is different..."
"What's the difference?" Grandma interrupted my father. "Just because you are the eldest, you can waste money like this? If your father and I hadn't sold everything we had to support your education, you wouldn't be where you are today? Your brother dropped out of school early because he had no money to pay for tuition!"
His father was silent, but Pei Song noticed that his shoulders were trembling slightly.