Get the Knives Ready

After lunch, led by Ayase Sonoko, the three children gathered all the bowls and chopsticks, washed them clean, and put them away.

"Dr. Chen, I'd like to donate some money to this elementary school." Zhao Wanyu leaned close to Chen Mengchuan, speaking softly as she took out a stack of cash.

Chen Mengchuan smiled, took it from her, and counted it. There was 1,000 yuan in cash.

"Miss Sonoko, Miss Zhao Wanyu would like to donate some money to the school, hoping it can be used to buy things the children need," Chen Mengchuan said after finding Ayase Sonoko.

"Really?" Ayase Sonoko looked at Zhao Wanyu with delight.

Zhao Wanyu smiled shyly. Before Ayase Sonoko could bow, she bowed first and handed her the money.

"Thank you, Miss Wanyu." Ayase Sonoko happily accepted the money and bowed.

"It's only a small token." Zhao Wanyu felt somewhat embarrassed.

From this island woman, who was not especially beautiful or striking, she saw a certain spirit and positive energy. It made Ayase Sonoko seem full of sunshine, and Zhao Wanyu vaguely understood why Chen Mengchuan had traveled all the way from Shanghai City, crossing mountains and ridges to reach this remote, impoverished place.

Yet Zhao Wanyu also had some doubts. Ayase Sonoko clearly had not known Chen Mengchuan before, but from their interactions, Chen Mengchuan seemed to possess a deep... familiarity and ease around her. It felt as though he had known her for decades.

"You knew her before, didn't you?" Zhao Wanyu asked Chen Mengchuan.

Chen Mengchuan gave a complicated smile and did not answer. He merely asked, "I'll be staying here for a few days. Are you planning to stay with me, or go back on your own?"

"I want to stay. This place is very different," Zhao Wanyu replied.

"Got it." Chen Mengchuan smiled.

There were still classes in the afternoon, so Ayase Sonoko did not continue hosting them. Chen Mengchuan found a Xu family near the school, took out some cash, and explained that he wanted to stay for a few days. The Xu couple gladly and politely cleaned up two empty rooms and let the two of them move in.

After calling his parents to let them know he was safe, Chen Mengchuan called Sun Zhongyong.

After discussing the progress of the office renovations, Chen Mengchuan got to the point.

"Brother Sun, Xia Science Academy will come to you later about software testing and bug fixes. Make things difficult for them. Insist on a contract: 500,000 yuan per person per day, for at least four days, and the more days the better. Have them pay 70% upfront," Chen Mengchuan said.

Sun Zhongyong felt a little panicked upon hearing that. Was this extorting Xia Science Academy?

"Will that work? Mengchuan, don't stir up trouble."

Chen Mengchuan smiled. "If they don't come looking for you, then it won't work. But if they do, negotiate it that way. Push the price as high as you can."

"Alright, I'll remember that. I've already started arranging recruitment for the company. I took it upon myself to bring Xiaoxiao into the company. You don't mind, do you?" Sun Zhongyong asked.

"Brother Sun, you can make the decisions on those matters. At this stage, the only thing I can help with is finishing the technology as quickly as possible. Talent like your cousin? Hire as many as you can get," Chen Mengchuan said with a smile. He was somewhat surprised that Gu Xiaoxiao was willing to join their company. After all, everything he had now was still nothing but a moon in the well, a flower in the water—nothing tangible to show for it.

"Haha, her salary demands weren't low. I had to bargain hard to get her down to 30,000 Huaxia Yuan a month. I figured you'd probably agree, so I said yes."

Chen Mengchuan understood Gu Xiaoxiao's potential value even better than Sun Zhongyong. If she proved reliable and was properly trained, she could be of great help with much of Chisako's maintenance work in the future. A monthly salary of 30,000 was practically a steal.

"Brother Sun, I don't know much about HR, but she's a top Stanford graduate. If she went to Shanghai City, it probably wouldn't be hard for her to find a job paying a million a year. Would she really be willing to come for 30,000 a month?" Chen Mengchuan asked.

"You brat, don't flatter her just because she's my cousin. Knowing you mean well is enough. Once the company gets on track, I'll find a professional to adjust our salary structure."

Chen Mengchuan chuckled.

"Be careful out there," Sun Zhongyong added after giving him a few more reminders. He did not ask where Chen Mengchuan was.

After hanging up, Chen Mengchuan felt a warmth in his heart. Sun Zhongyong was upright, efficient, and a dependable partner.

Knock, knock, knock! Zhao Wanyu knocked on the open door.

Chen Mengchuan turned his head and saw Zhao Wanyu carrying a large bowl of fresh goat's milk.

"The lady of the house asked me to bring you some goat's milk."

"Thanks." Chen Mengchuan hurried over to take the goat's milk. Then his phone rang again.

Seeing that he had a call, Zhao Wanyu smiled and gestured for him to answer it. She said she would go outside and take a look, then turned and left.

Chen Mengchuan answered the phone.

"Brother Chuan, it's Xiao Guo." Guo Siming's voice came from the other end.

"Team Leader Guo, don't bother apologizing. Stop right there. Just tell me what this is about. I really don't have that much time to chat with you," Chen Mengchuan cut him off.

"Brother Chuan, are you still angry with me..."

"Are you going to get to the point or not? If not, I'm hanging up." Chen Mengchuan was getting irritated.

"No, no, no, Brother Chuan, I'll talk, I'll talk. There's a problem in Xuan Yuan's logical chain structure. We've fixed most of the bugs, but conflicts keep occurring. Xuan Yuan's logical core was written by you, Brother Chuan, so the academy hopes you can come back and recheck the logical conflicts and repair the logical core structure," Guo Siming said cautiously.

"Team Leader Guo, you've come to the wrong person. I may have worked at Xia Science Academy before, but I never had anything to do with the Xuan Yuan Project. How could I possibly be capable of repairing its logical core structure?" Chen Mengchuan sneered.

There was hope! Guo Siming's expression brightened slightly, and he hurriedly said, "Brother Chuan, you're still angry with me. I've already come clean to the academy—you were the Xuan Yuan Project's chief person in charge. The dean said you're welcome to return to Xia Science Academy at any time, with a 20% pay raise. Where are you now? How about we meet and talk?"

"Is that so? Then I'm truly sorry, but I've started a company with a friend, and I'm near the Kunlun Mountains. I'll probably be here for a while, so meeting in person may not be convenient. How about this? I'll give you a number, and you can talk to my friend. He's our company's general manager. If you can persuade him, then I'll give it a try. How does that sound?" Chen Mengchuan smiled.

"Sure, sure, sure!" Guo Siming breathed a sigh of relief.

After giving Guo Siming Sun Zhongyong's number, Chen Mengchuan hung up and called Sun Zhongyong directly.

"Brother Sun, the fat sheep has arrived. Get the knives ready."

During the transition period, there will be four updates a day. After Chapter 30, it'll be pure hardcore technology! Please keep reading!