Efficiency often rose and fell with deadlines.
When a task was breathing down their necks, people discovered just how efficient they could be.
Li Yang of the Xingxing Mould Factory was extremely pleased with the efficiency of the mould-making work for the "Jida University Science and Technology Laboratory" project.
He even felt a faint swell of pride.
For a state-owned enterprise to finish everything on the third day after receiving an assignment wasn't merely difficult. It was extraordinarily difficult.
The moulds were finished that morning.
Li Yang called their regular courier and shipped them to Yan Xiao straight away.
After sending them off, he even made a point of calling Yan Xiao.
Of course,
Yan Xiao was barely awake when he took the call.
Only after mumbling into the phone for quite a while did Yan Xiao finally understand what Li Yang was telling him.
"Thank you so much. As soon as we have any results, we'll let you know."
"No problem. We look forward to a long-term partnership," Li Yang said politely.
After hanging up, Yan Xiao went straight back to sleep.
As usual, he got up at noon.
Instead of going to school, he headed to Jida University to ask his senior, Shen Chunfeng, about the project's progress and let him know about signing for the delivery.
When Yan Xiao arrived at Jida University, Shen Chunfeng was busy in the laboratory.
With nothing else to do,
he decided to wait.
He had only waited about half an hour
when Shen Chunfeng came out of the laboratory. Spotting Yan Xiao, he immediately said, "Yan, perfect timing. Since you're here, I won't have to call you. It's finished. Let me get it for you."
As he spoke, Shen Chunfeng turned to head back into the laboratory.
Yan Xiao caught his