There was silence in Ji Hanxing's mind for quite a while.
[System assessment: host's test result: pass. Reward: 7 days of life.]
After announcing that, System 004 went berserk: [Why? Why?]
[How could you pass the test like this? This is cheating!]
Ji Hanxing said, "Just tell me, wherever I went, did I make them shiver? Did I act as a mobile refrigeration unit? Did I pass this test or not?"
The system fell silent. He had passed.
But the chill their test demanded wasn't this kind of physical cold! It was presence! Presence!
Ji Hanxing thought nothing of it. Presence was something you couldn't see or touch, far too mystical. Physically lowering the temperature was more reliable.
While he conversed with the system in his mind, his expression betrayed nothing, frightening everyone in the conference room into silence.
President Ji's complexion looked dreadful today, and with that expression, too-had some major problem arisen at the group?
Someone happened to glance beneath the table, and his eyes instantly widened. Why were there so many ice cubes under the table? He gently nudged the person beside him with his foot, signaling with his eyes for them to look beneath the table.
That person wore the same expression, which then spread from person to person, until everyone was staring wide-eyed at the ice beneath the table.
Had the Ji Group become so poor that it couldn't afford air-conditioning and had to rely on ice to cool the room?
But that wasn't right, either. All this ice cost far more than electricity!
Cold air gusted through the conference room as the fans swept the chill from the ice out in waves. Even Ji Hanxing couldn't help shivering, and he quickly switched off the fans.
Ji Hanxing looked up at everyone. Seeing them all staring at the ice beneath the table, he cleared his throat softly. "You've all seen this ice, haven't you?"
Everyone nodded. Not only had they seen it, they had felt it profoundly, too. The temperature was almost on par with a morgue.
Ji Hanxing beckoned, and Xue Hui immediately brought over a plate of ice. He reached out and picked up an ice cube between his fingers. "What do you all think of the quality of this ice?"
The ice cube in his hand was evenly shaped and crystal clear, with high transparency and purity. It was evident that both the quality of the water used to make it and the production methods were excellent.
Judging by the temperature in the conference room, the ice must have been there for quite some time. Yet its edges remained sharply defined, with no sign of melting.
The density of this ice should also have been excellent.
Soon, the corporate executives present listed these observations that could be made with the naked eye. Director Zhang of the marketing department was particularly enthusiastic, presenting his points clearly and logically.
Ji Hanxing watched the marketing director for a while before his gaze settled on the middle-aged man beside him, who had remained silent throughout. He slowly began:
"Minister Huang, as head of the procurement department, you should know a great deal about this. Why don't you give us your thoughts?"
Minister Huang's face twitched, his expression awkward. "Director Zhang has already covered everything very thoroughly. I have nothing to add."
Director Zhang glanced at Minister Huang beside him, then shifted his eyes and smiled at Ji Hanxing:
"President Ji, what exactly are you planning to do with all this ice? Don't keep us in suspense. Just tell us."
Xue Hui also looked curiously at Ji Hanxing. He didn't know what Ji Hanxing intended to do, either.
Unexpectedly, Ji Hanxing suddenly turned to Xue Hui. "Special Assistant Xue, introduce everyone to the ice you purchased and the ice factory behind it."
Xue Hui was stunned. Ji Hanxing wanted him to speak? What was he supposed to say?
Ji Hanxing prompted him, "This ice factory is a domestic ice-processing factory that Special Assistant Xue specifically selected. Special Assistant Xue, please introduce the factory to everyone."
With that, Xue Hui could pick up the thread. After all, when purchasing this batch of ice, Ji Hanxing had instructed him to buy from a domestic ice-processing factory. He had conducted market research before finally settling on this ice.
So this was what President Ji had been waiting for. Not telling me must have been a test, too! It's both a test and an opportunity. The time to demonstrate my abilities has come.
Xue Hui's brain worked furiously, his mouth running like a clockwork mechanism that never stopped. Presenting the results of his market research, he gave a detailed account of the domestic ice-processing factory called the Ice and Snow Ice Factory, from its beginnings through its growth and expansion.
Those seated in the conference room wore varying expressions. Some listened attentively; some were unconcerned, feeling it had nothing to do with them; some were even on the verge of dozing off. Ji Hanxing took it all in.
"President Ji, that concludes my report."
Ji Hanxing nodded to Xue Hui, then turned to the group executives seated there, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's. The person who had been dozing immediately snapped awake and sat bolt upright.
"What are your thoughts on this Ice and Snow Ice Factory?"
Some still didn't understand why Ji Hanxing had brought up this domestic ice factory. Could he be planning to enter the ice-making industry?
Others, however, already had countless thoughts racing through their minds. Director Zhang of the marketing department, for instance.
Combining the information Xue Hui had provided with some insights of his own, Director Zhang spoke at length.
"Personally, I think the ice produced by this factory is of excellent quality, as everyone just saw for themselves."
"President Ji, do you have any further comments or guidance?"
Ji Hanxing nodded slightly. "Director Zhang made some very good points."
His gaze settled once more on Minister Huang of the procurement department. "Minister Huang, what do you think?"
Everyone in the conference room also turned to look at Minister Huang in unison. They all understood now what President Ji had really been working toward with this whole elaborate setup.
Minister Huang's lips moved, opening and closing several times. He already knew that Ji Hanxing was targeting him today.
His hands twisted tightly together in his nervousness. Just as he was about to explain, Ji Hanxing raised a hand to stop him.
"Since Minister Huang won't speak, I will."
"The Ice and Snow Ice Factory's ice is of excellent quality. Whether it's industrial ice or edible ice, it meets the standards. It's also a long-established domestic brand, proven in the market and worthy of trust."
"As you all know, many of our group's businesses require ice. The medical device company under the group needs ice for disinfection and cooling, and the research laboratory also needs low temperatures for research and development."
"We previously used ice produced by Tasdon in Country M. Leaving transportation costs aside, the purchase price alone was three times the market price of ice."
"If its quality were truly outstanding, that would be acceptable. But there was a problem with their ice."
"Fortunately, it was discovered in time. Otherwise, our latest batch of medical devices awaiting shipment might have been severely damaged."
Ji Hanxing stared straight at Minister Huang. "Minister Huang, you were responsible for negotiating and purchasing this batch of ice, weren't you? You should have handled its acceptance inspection, too, correct?"
"Do you have anything you'd like to explain now?"