Chapter 74: Concealing the Edge

Deputy General Manager Tang took another sip of tea, allowing his mood to settle, and said meaningfully, “If you count as a fool, then many of the middle managers at Dafu could only be described as simpletons. You’re a restless person, and quite intelligent, but what you lack is experience—this is the impression you give me. As for what I admire, it’s your stubbornness and your disregard for personal gain or loss. On a human level, these are noble qualities, but in life, they are both strengths and weaknesses.

Everyone’s character changes in the crucible of reality. Smart people reflect, ponder, and learn to play to their strengths while making up for their shortcomings, making themselves more fit for society. The ignorant, however, do the opposite; they amplify their flaws at the expense of their strengths, exposing their weaknesses in abundance. Such people are destined to be weeded out by society. I believe you are one of the clever ones.”

“Play to my strengths and make up for my weaknesses? Or the other way around?” Jiang Fan frowned, repeating the phrases twice under his breath, before tentatively asking, “Wouldn’t these issues come up at any other factory as well? I don’t want to stay at Dafu.”

Seeing that Jiang Fan had caught on to some truths and was now at odds with his own stubborn nature, Deputy Tang continued, “Switching factories is easy. My uncle is about to open a massive factory in San Tun, Houjie that will employ over a hundred thousand people. If you want to go, just say the word. But if you stay at Dafu, we’ll still be able to sit and talk now and then, and you’ll have the chance to hone your character. After all, dealing with people you don’t like is the best kind of training. That’s my suggestion.”

Just wanting to chat from time to time hardly seemed like a convincing reason to stay, and Jiang Fan still found the rationale rather unconvincing.

He shook his head emphatically, replying, “You want me to go to Chen Anlong and say I want to stay? Over my dead body—I could never do something like that.”

Seeing that his words had made some impact, Deputy Tang went on, “You don’t need to talk to General Manager Chen yourself. He’ll come find you in the next couple of days. If you want to vent your frustration, when he does, why not trip up Deputy Li a bit? Someone like him deserves a few lessons.”

Jiang Fan didn’t know Tang’s true intentions in getting close to him, nor did he believe the talk of admiration and understanding. Still, the goodwill in the conversation was clear.

He thought to himself that until he had a better grasp of things, it was better not to lay all his cards on the table. So he changed the subject with a teasing tone, “Isn’t that guy your fellow townsman? Why ask me to trip him up? I’m not even at the factory anymore; how could I make trouble for him now?”

Tang immediately understood that Jiang Fan was probing his character. He couldn’t help but be impressed: for someone so young, and apparently impulsive, Jiang Fan was meticulous, shrewd, and knew well how to hide his intelligence. Such a rising star, and yet Chen Anlong thought he could win him over with petty favors—what poor judgment.

Knowing he had a purpose, Tang decided some honesty was in order, now that their conversation had come this far. “Don’t worry. Deputy Li’s little tricks are no threat to me, and besides, my ambitions don’t lie with Dafu. My time here is merely a stopover. The only reason I wanted you to trip him up is that I can’t stand his behavior. But in my position, openly embarrassing him would disrupt the company’s management system. If you do it, it’ll keep him in check and ease the pressure on the rank-and-file workers. You might even build some connections of your own.

There’s real talent among the workers; many extraordinary people are hidden in those ranks.”

Tang’s words made Jiang Fan keenly aware that, whether in dealing with people or in worldly experience, the gap between him and Tang was immense.

Though he knew Chen Anlong was trying to win him over, Tang had subtly revealed his own dissatisfaction with the status quo and ambition beyond Dafu. This kind of information could be used as bargaining chips to curry favor with Chen Anlong—a workplace taboo, yet Tang spoke of it without hesitation, an indirect display of sincerity.

Jiang Fan habitually scratched the back of his head, feigning ignorance. “I thought you wanted to use me as a pawn?”

Tang, seeing Jiang Fan was still playing dumb, replied obliquely, “I’m not so powerful yet as to use you as a pawn. As long as there are no misunderstandings between us, that’s enough.”

Hearing Tang’s hint, Jiang Fan responded more frankly, “Don’t worry, for now there’s no rift between us. As for whether we’ll end up on the same boat in the future, that’s up to fate.”

Aunt Qiu brought out the stewed pork and noodles, and Deputy Tang reached out, saying, “Let’s eat. As for the future, who can say? I’ve met many people since coming to Dongguan, but not a single real friend. You’re the first.”

Jiang Fan extended his hand in return, replying with a smile, “As long as you don’t sell me out, this friendship should last.”

With two Northeastern dishes, Tang fetched a bottle of Wuliangye from his car, and the two drank until nearly five in the afternoon.

True to his word, Tang split the bill evenly. As they parted, he said, “Rest for a couple of days. When they’ve gotten desperate enough, I’ll give them your address.”

Jiang Fan was taken aback, but quickly recovered, replying, “We split the bill, but I still owe you half a bottle of liquor—I’ll remember that favor.”

The address had been given to Tang by A’Ping, who was Chen Anlong’s secretary. But now Tang said he’d wait two days before passing it on, which suggested A’Ping was keeping something from Chen Anlong.

Jiang Fan once again found himself suspicious of the relationship between A’Ping and Tang.

He wanted to ask directly, but worried that prying into others’ personal affairs might put Tang in a difficult spot, so he held his tongue.

Tang, seeing Jiang Fan’s momentary pause, realized the issue. As he walked alone from the dumpling shop, he shook his head and muttered to himself, “This young man is just too clever. I’ll have to be more careful with my words in the future.”

Jiang Fan took a bus to the Humen precinct, and had waited barely ten minutes before Wang Wenyu came out the main gates.

Seeing Jiang Fan across the street, Wang Wenyu happily hurried over.

The precinct was located on a busy stretch in Humen, with plenty of traffic. Watching Wenyu cross in a rush, Jiang Fan called out, “Hey, slow down and watch for cars.”

Wenyu reached his side, took his arm, and teased, “So worried about your wife, are you?”

Jiang Fan bantered back, “It’s not worry, it’s concern. You’re nearly thirty, still hopping about like a kid, not looking out for traffic or yourself. How can I not worry?”

Wenyu shook his arm in protest, “I’m only twenty-one, and you’re already saying I’m almost thirty. Are you trying to upset me on purpose?”

Jiang Fan quickly hugged her, gently reassuring, “My mistake, my mistake. My wife isn’t even eighteen yet. Right now, I’m basically luring an underage girl—does that satisfy you?”

On the minibus back to Baisha, the two sat facing each other, arms around one another. Only then did Wang Wenyu notice the smell of liquor on Jiang Fan’s breath. “You’ve been drinking?”

Jiang Fan told her everything: about hitting Deputy Li, leaving Dafu, and his conversation with Deputy Tang, including the little contact he’d had with him so far.

Wenyu pondered for a long time. When they got off the bus and were away from others, she finally replied, “A deputy general manager overseeing more than a hundred thousand people, yet he’s still not satisfied. Such ambition is dangerous. If he’s being friendly with you, it can’t just be because you can fight—for someone with money, it’s easy to find a tough guy on the street. Why go to the trouble?

But you have no foundation, no real value to exploit. What does he really want?”

Jiang Fan, too, had been analyzing Tang’s motives. Seeing Wenyu lost in thought, he speculated, “Could it have something to do with your background?”

Wenyu shook her head. “What background? He can’t possibly know about that. Even if he’s guessed, it would only be in the last couple of days. But the first time he reached out to you, we hadn’t even met. There’s no way he could have known in advance.”