Chapter 690 - Evaluation
Chapter 690: Evaluation
Hearing Xiao Luo’s appraisal of his reports, Tan Zisheng’s face turned red as he could not come up with any rebuttal. He was impressed with Xiao Luo’s quick analysis and that he knew at a glance their data was not derived from doing their market research but copied from elsewhere.
However, Bai Xia did not take it well, and Xiao Luo’s words provoked her into taking a defensive stance. “There are many business geniuses in the world, and they don’t need relevant experiences to craft out a perfectly realistic business report!” she snapped.
“Is that so? And do you think that you’re one of them?”
Xiao Luo laughed coldly and tossed both the reports on his desk. “Then tell me, can you make it the top three in your major in terms of results?”
“I…”
Bai Xia was momentarily lost for words, as her results have always been hovering around the average mark.
Xiao Luo glanced at her and added, “All these so-called business geniuses who graduated from the world’s top management school would take up internships or work to gain relevant experience. So, have you done that?”
Bai Xia was blushing in shame, as she found it hard to respond to Xiao Luo’s words. She had barely made any effort to enhance her job prospects before she graduated and spent more time on leisure activities. Yet, she resented what she heard, and her eyes glowered furiously and almost looked like they were throwing out flames.
“Now, let’s go back to your project plan. So, you guys want to start a logistics company? Your business proposal merely states that e-commerce is now the mainstream mode of conducting business and correlates it to the flourishing logistics industry. I agree with you guys on that point. But your project plan does not address many critical issues, and hence, cannot succeed. Logistics companies are proliferating everywhere, and there are many giants in this industry such as ZTO, STO, and YTO.”
If you guys want to establish a new logistics company and try to take a slice of the pie, I have a question for you—based on what? Just because you graduated from a key Engineering University of Project 911 means nothing. Or are you guys just being delusional? I don’t know if you, Tan Zisheng, can withstand hardship, but I am sure that Ms. Bai Xia certainly cannot. Do you know that to establish a logistics company, you would have to personally carry out every stage of packaging and transporting in the early phase? Does she look like she can do that kind of job?”
Xiao Luo rejected both proposals, but he appreciated Tan Zisheng’s courage, so he held back his criticism. He grabbed the reports and passed them back to him. “That is my opinion, take the reports away. Although I have funds for investment, I cannot invest in your projects, unfortunately!” he said.
Tan Zisheng took the documents back from Xiao Luo, but he felt no resentment, despite putting in a great effort in preparing them. Xiao Luo’s blunt appraisal was like a bolt of lightning striking him as he thought they were well-crafted and would have received high praise from any boss who read it. Before this, he was very confident of Xiao Luo investing in this project but had not expected such an outcome. It was disheartening, but Xiao Luo had concluded that their proposals were trash.
“Zisheng, don’t listen to him. He’s insulting us on purpose, and he’s just a conman. He is nothing but a jerk with minor accomplishments and is trying to act like a big shot. Words from such people are nothing but noise pollution to our ears. Let’s go!” Bai Xia hissed. She was still trying to defend her fiancé.
As for this obnoxious girl, Xiao Luo ignored her altogether. Even Su Li and Shen Qinyan took no notice of her, as she was too self-centered. It seemed like the entire world revolved around her. Probably the day she lost the support of her family, she would likely suffer more insults in her social circle.
Tan Zisheng disagreed with Bai Xia as he felt that Xiao Luo was correct. He also believed that Xiao Luo was exceedingly capable and took a different tack. “Mr. Xiao, I would like to be your personal assistant if you would kindly allow me to. I don’t need any compensation, and all I want is an opportunity to learn from you!”
Eh?
Everyone who heard this was shocked, and their opinion of Tan Zisheng instantly changed. He willingly humbled himself and wished to learn, which was a rare quality for fresh graduates.
“Are you crazy, Zisheng? This jerk is looking down on us, and you still want to work for him? He will put us through hell!” Bai Xia cried frantically. She was anxious as she did not expect her fiancé to make that request.
“You best remain silent. I’ve had it with you, and I intend to ask my father to call off our engagement when I return home. You are such a self-righteous silly woman, and I can’t afford to keep compromising my position by having you around. You can keep your arrogant attitude to yourself and treat others any way you choose.” Tan Zisheng was seething and could not refrain from expressing his disappointment in her.
Bai Xia froze in shock. Her family had been searching for ways to align themselves with the powerful Tan family for a long time. If Tan Zisheng called off their engagement, her father’s company would be in dire straits without the support of the Tan family. It could even result in the company being muscled out by its competitors, forcing it to wind down. It was also the primary reason she needed to marry Tan Zisheng.
“Zisheng, you… What are you saying? Don’t… don’t joke about this matter. You’re scaring me.”
“Scared? Why weren’t you scared when you insulted Mr. Zhang and Mr. Xiao earlier? Bai Xia, let me make it clear to you once and for all—I will not put up with your unbearable bossy attitude anymore. From now onwards, we shall part ways, and may our paths never cross again. You can take it like we don’t know each other and do not have a relationship at all,” Tan Zisheng retorted. He had finally lost his patience with her.
Bai Xia pulled Tan Zisheng’s sleeves and pleaded, “Don’t do this to me, Zisheng. You know I can’t live without you. Zisheng…”
“Please, don’t bother me again.”
Tan Zisheng pushed her away mercilessly and looked at Xiao Luo respectfully. “Mr. Xiao, please give me a chance to learn from you,” he said.
“I would love to, but I am just a boss behind the scene. I don’t deal with the running of the company,” Xiao Luo replied, rejecting him outright. He was going off on his honeymoon trip with Su Li, and he had no time to take on a new apprentice. And Bai Xia’s attitude influenced his impression of Tan Zisheng somewhat negatively.
“Mr. Xiao…”
“Go, could you please don’t interrupt our meal?”
Su Li, who had been quiet, suddenly cut off Tan Zisheng. She had had enough of these students who were merely there to seek knowledge.
Tan Zisheng was taken aback and replied, “Ms. Su, I have been observing you, and in my mind, it doesn’t appear that you are associated with Mr. Xiao. This matter is between Mr. Xiao and me, so can you please stay out of it?”
Zhang Dashan laughed and said, “Tan Zisheng, I thought you were smarter than that. You couldn’t even tell the relationship between my brother and lady Su, and it tells me you’re so terrible at observing people. So, I’ll tell you—they are married. If you’re telling lady Su to stay out of this, then you should leave now. Just leave and stop interrupting our happy mealtime.”
Su Canye raised his brows and said, “That’s right, I can’t help but comment. You have a pig of a teammate, but now you are becoming one yourself.” He turned and spoke to Xiao Bei, “Little princess, say it with me—Pig!”
The little girl was fond of her uncle, so she blinked innocently and mimicked him. “Pig!”
Although she was speaking proper Chinese, her pronunciation wasn’t perfect, and she pronounced the word “pig” as “big.” But the tone of her child-like voice made it sound rather cute.
“Not ‘big,’ it’s ‘pig,’ you little piggie!” Su Canye responded, correcting her in his unique way.
“Big, big,” Su Xiaobei cried, trying to correct her pronunciation.
Su Canye cracked up. “Little princess, from whom did you learn to speak like that? How could your pronunciation sound so funny?”
“What’s the problem? She’s just saying that you’re a pig,” Zhang Dashan quipped with a laugh.
“…” Su Canye was speechless.