Departure Blue Label Factory

Lin Yuan arrived at the office building where the Lanbiao Factory was located, riding in Zhang Yan’s car.

“Do you want me to go up with you?” Zhang Yan asked as Lin Yuan unbuckled his seatbelt.

“No need, I just have an interview. You can look around. If it takes too long, I’ll let you know in advance, and you can go back first. I’ll take a taxi back later.”

“I’ll wait for you in the car.”

Lin Yuan then turned and entered the office building.

Lanbiao Factory had only opened a branch company here, occupying one floor. Lin Yuan first took the elevator, then reported his number at the front desk, and waited for the front desk girl to check his appointment record. Finally, he was led to a small conference room.

The interview had been arranged by Lin Yuan long ago, through a connection made by his mentor.

Before long, the door to the small conference room was pushed open, and a line of interviewers from Lanbiao Factory filed in.

Lin Yuan also stood up in time to greet them.

After some polite exchanges, Lin Yuan sat alone on one side, and the eight individuals from Lanbiao Factory sat on the other side.

Too many people from Lanbiao Factory came, so much so that they couldn't fit on one side of the conference table and had to add two more chairs.

“Hello, CEO Lin.”

Even though Lin Yuan didn't intend to inflate his own worth, based on the reputation he had built at Good Group, even if Lin Yuan was currently a de facto unemployed person, the other party still addressed him as “CEO Lin.”

Lin Yuan felt a little dazed, wondering if this was his standing in the industry?

“Hello, CEO Zhang.” Lin Yuan had just received business cards from everyone present, so he naturally knew their names. The person sitting opposite him was the head of the Purple Gold branch of Lanbiao Factory. However, awkwardly, Lin Yuan hadn't prepared any business cards.

“The moment we received CEO Lin’s resume, we immediately reported it to the group headquarters. To be honest, we are very interested in CEO Lin. We hope that both sides will have an opportunity to cooperate.”

Lin Yuan was a bit unaccustomed to such a formal opening, so he chose to get straight to the point, “Thank you for the compliment, CEO Zhang. I have the ability to help your company achieve technological catch-up in the delivery sector, bringing your delivery costs to the same level as Good Group.”

“Haha, CEO Lin is indeed straightforward. This is indeed what concerns us most right now. The delivery sector of the food delivery industry is a typical labor-intensive industry, very sensitive to delivery costs. Good Group’s cost reduction and efficiency improvement have put enormous pressure on us.

To be frank with you, our headquarters’ two top executives, the CTO and CFO, are already on their way. They want to discuss this with you in detail.

Our biggest problem now is not how to catch up with Good Group, but that we know nothing about Good Group. We hope CEO Lin can enlighten us.”

Lin Yuan responded very directly, “That’s absolutely no problem. Good Group’s delivery algorithm was developed by me personally, and I can tell you about it right now. The government’s investigation report on Good Group’s delivery optimization results, which mentioned a 16-point cost reduction, is basically consistent with reality.”

The CEO Zhang opposite him was stunned for a moment, then reacted, “Lin Yuan… you are truly a straightforward person. You’ve given us such a big gift right off the bat.”

Then he quickly whispered to the person next to him, “Write it down.”

Although government work reports are public, the accuracy of such reports is random.

Because the people employed by the public sector are a mixed bag. Some are incredibly capable, while others are incredibly incompetent.

So for large enterprises, such work reports can only be used as a reference. Especially when it comes to certain data indicators, they need to be carefully scrutinized.

But now that Lin Yuan has also confirmed it, that work report is basically fine.

“CEO Lin, please wait a moment, I’ll make a call to headquarters.”

“Okay.”

Once CEO Zhang, the boss, left, the atmosphere became quiet. The remaining people didn't talk to Lin Yuan, and Lin Yuan also felt awkward initiating conversation with them.

Lin Yuan even read a hint of fawning respect on their faces.

After a while, CEO Zhang finally returned.

“CEO Lin, I apologize for the wait. I just had a brief communication with headquarters, and since you are so straightforward, I will also be direct on behalf of headquarters.

We have done some preliminary research. To be honest, we even hired many consulting firms to inquire about Good Group’s situation this time. We also used all available channels.

We originally thought that Good Group’s move this time was a simple public relations operation. Alas, unfortunately, we were all wrong.

We didn’t expect that Good Group actually had such a powerful weapon. With a 16-point reduction in delivery costs, we are now very passive.

Therefore, we are willing to pay any price to solve this problem in the short term.

If Lin Yuan is willing to join us, money, stock options, consulting fees, etc., etc., in short, you can name your terms.

But we are concerned about one thing.

Please forgive my bluntness, but business is like a battlefield.

Feigned surrender and espionage are common occurrences. Do you understand what I mean?”

Lin Yuan didn't react for a moment; he had considered many possibilities. For example: would the other party ask him to show his hand first, asking him some key technical questions and so on.

He had originally thought the interview would be a clash of technologies, but he never expected it to be a Three Kingdoms drama.

“You’re worried that Good Group and I are putting on a show?” Lin Yuan, with a puzzled expression, unveiled the hidden meaning.

“Uh… Lin Yuan is indeed straightforward.”

How could Lin Yuan not be straightforward? He actually hadn't been in the IT workplace for long. He belonged to the type who rose too fast and hadn't yet adapted to the communication style of senior management in the workplace.

“We are indeed very worried about this. We have already made one wrong move, and if we take another wrong step now, it could very likely lead to irreversible consequences. In the internet industry, there are countless unicorns that have fallen off a cliff and died.

Our company’s core business is food delivery, unlike Good Group, which has other businesses to support it. Once we lose our competitive advantage in the food delivery industry, it’s equivalent to declaring our own demise.”

Lin Yuan asked curiously in return, “Then how do you think Good Group and I could trick you?”

Lin Yuan was actually genuinely curious, because even if he really wanted to be malicious, he couldn’t think of any specific tricks. He was the type who wanted to be a bad guy but didn’t know how.

“Is CEO Lin joking?”

“No, I’m sincerely asking for guidance.”

“Uh…” CEO Zhang opposite him reacted for a while before remembering that Lin Yuan was only in his early twenties. He had some self-doubt, wondering if he was overthinking things.

“For example, after you join us, the technology you provide us might include a few key points that infringe on Good Group’s patents. Then we would be embroiled in patent disputes, which would put us in a very passive position. If it were even more extreme… I mean, if… suppose you were a commercial spy for Good Group, it wouldn’t be impossible to frame us for stealing a competitor’s trade secrets.

At that time, our public image would be completely ruined, and we would also be caught in massive commercial compensation disputes.”

Lin Yuan’s worldview was also refreshed. He was too lazy to argue about “I was fired by Good Group” or anything like that, as he figured the other party would still be uncertain even if he said it.

However, Lin Yuan keenly realized a question, “So far, although we haven’t talked much, CEO Zhang doesn’t seem to have asked me a key question—do I actually have the ability to help you improve the efficiency of the delivery end?”

CEO Zhang smiled lightly, “After our headquarters received the news of your interview, they immediately dispatched the CTO and CFO here. We have naturally conducted investigations, and those commercial consulting firms aren’t useless, what do you say, CEO Lin?”

Lin Yuan really wanted to reply to him, ‘Say what? I don’t understand. Do commercial consulting firms even do that?’

“Then I understand. In short, it’s one sentence now. You believe in my ability, but you doubt my motives.”

“Haha,” everyone present was amused by Lin Yuan’s straightforwardness. Because conversations at this level rarely contained such blunt words. “CEO Lin, you are right.”