After rebirth, I became a great master

Chapter 323 The Treacherous Minister
Station Director Shan Wendong will remain in his post.

For some, it's a catastrophe. For others, it's a tremendous opportunity.

Zhou Haoran was naturally in an advantageous position.

Zhan Yushan was going to take him to see Master Shan, which was actually an introduction.

This truly gave Gong Haodong, the director of the comprehensive channel, a bit of a shock.

Zhou Haoran was still somewhat reluctant. "What would I do at the exhibition booth?"

"Hmm?" Zhan Yushan was both annoyed and amused to see his displeasure. "I asked you to get to know Master Shan, and you still don't want to?"

Zhou Haoran said worriedly, "You don't mean you want me to be his assistant, do you?"

"Is this something you've been wronged by?"

Zhan Yushan found it all very strange.

Zhou Haoran sighed, "I'm busy! How about... how about this, I'll be your assistant, okay?"

"Ok?"

Zhan Yushan's eyes lit up, and he pulled him upstairs to find Master Shan, thinking that the kid had finally seen the light.

Becoming a secretary or assistant to a leader is the best path to promotion!

Zhou Haoran, however, thought differently. He said seriously, "However, if I become your assistant, it will only be in name only. I'm so busy that I don't have time to be by your side all the time. I'm going to be the deputy director of the sales department and an intern editor at 'Family Matters' magazine."

Zhan Yushan was so infuriated by him that he asked a fatal question: "Let me ask you, in the workplace, is ability more important, or connections?"

"relation."

Zhou Haoran blurted it out.

"It's good to know!"

Zhan Yushan snorted.

Zhou Haoran said, "Personal choice is more important."

"Ok?"

"This one……"

"If you have something to say, just say it."

Zhan Yushan noticed that he was stammering, which was not like his usual style.

Zhou Haoran was very close to him and could be considered his biggest backer in the unit, so he honestly spoke his mind, lowering his voice: "It's a good thing that Director Shan has stayed on. I'm just afraid that it's a case of the predecessors planting trees so that the successors can enjoy the shade."

"Ok?"

Zhan Yushan's eyes were like lightning.

Zhou Haoran shrugged. "You told me to say it."

Zhan Yushan paused for a moment, then slowly said, "After Master Shan stays in office, there will be a series of major actions."

"I can tell."

Zhou Haoran felt that the changes in his workplace recently were quite obvious.

The most prominent signal.

There are more cars in the workplace now!

Designated parking spaces have been marked out.

Two months ago, you could park anywhere because there were very few cars.

In the past two months, the unit has purchased at least twenty or thirty official vehicles.

It's really about winning people's hearts.

"Didn't you say before that our cafeteria's meal cards were technologically outdated? What were they called...?"

Zhan Yushan vaguely remembered him mentioning it.

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "Magnetic stripe card!"

"Hmm." Zhan Yushan nodded. "Is the technology behind magnetic stripe cards really that outdated?"

"Yes, it's very outdated. It's something that's been around for over ten years abroad. What's being promoted now is contactless IC cards, and it's a unified card system! It can integrate meal cards, access cards, and so on."

Zhou Haoran was quite interested in this topic.

Zhan Yushan didn't understand these things very well, so he asked, "Since you understand them so well, when you meet Master Shan later, you should tell him about it. He may be pushing for reforms recently, such as adopting a sign-in system."

"Sign in?"

Zhou Haoran was stunned.

Zhan Yushan said in a deep voice: "The atmosphere in the unit is too lazy. Being late and leaving early has become a common phenomenon. Director Shan intends to correct this unhealthy trend from the system level."

"It's not easy."

Zhou Haoran has the identity of a salesperson, so he can arrive late or leave early without any problem.

However, Hongxingtai is different from those private factories. It is a state-owned enterprise with many employees and many of them have powerful connections. Trying to correct their behavior could offend them to death.

Soon, we arrived at the seventh floor.

The core leaders of the organization are all on the seventh floor, which is the administrative floor.

The reason for choosing this awkward middle position is mainly because many people believe in the saying "seven up, eight down," and the office location of the unit's leadership was adjusted a few years ago.

Shan Wendong is in his prime, only in his fifties this year.

On the thin side.

Wearing black-rimmed glasses, he looked like a cultured person.

"Oh, you're Zhou Haoran? You know a lot about smart cards?"

Shan Wendong's knowledge of him came entirely from Zhan Yushan.

"Yes, I know it very well."

Zhou Haoran was not intimidated at all.

"How well do you know?"

Shan Wendong indeed became interested.

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "Number one in the country." Shan Wendong laughed heartily.

Zhan Yushan was speechless. "This kid is good in every way, but he's too young and sometimes his words are a bit off. But he's got some skills. If he dares to say that, he must know something about smart cards."

Shan Wendong nodded. "Then tell me, what are your thoughts?"

Zhou Haoran said seriously, "Our company's meal cards can be used for payment, which seems convenient, but they are not smart cards; they are magnetic stripe cards. Academically speaking, only those with a built-in chip can be called smart cards. In China, this is currently a blank market."

"Huh? Really?" Shan Wendong was slightly taken aback. He didn't know much about technology. "A friend of mine owns a company and recently ordered several systems, including a sign-in and attendance system. He said it's pretty good. Every employee has an employee card and needs to clock in and out to strengthen personnel management."

"what?"

Zhou Haoran was shocked.

No way?
Check-in/check-out system...

From a grassroots perspective, this was still a novelty and not yet widespread. It was only after he arranged for Qiao Hai, under the name of Zhongbo Software, to sell a batch of these products to private enterprises.

Could it be that this Master Shan's friend bought his own check-in system?

Zhou Haoran said in a deep voice, "Director Shan, I know about the attendance system you mentioned. Many companies abroad use this strategy for digital management. However, China is still relatively behind in this regard and still uses the magnetic stripe card model."

"Magnetic stripe cards and smart cards..." Shan Wendong was almost confused by his explanation. "What's the difference?"

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "There are many differences. Magnetic stripe cards do not have chips, so their functions are weak, unstable, and easy to crack. If it is a private factory, purchasing a sign-in system that mainly uses magnetic stripe cards is enough. It is cost-effective and has good application results. But our Hongxingtai is a large state-owned enterprise. It is best to keep up with the times and synchronize with international standards."

"In sync with international standards..."

Shan Wendong narrowed his eyes slightly, finding it quite an attraction.

Zhou Haoran then began to entice: "Recently, I heard that Crown TV has been planning several training courses, inviting local TV stations from all over the country to come and learn. Red Star TV is no worse than them. I really think we can seize this opportunity and create a model project in the national television industry!"

"A model project centered around smart cards?"

Shan Wendong was indeed deeply attracted by his words.

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "Yes, a model project for smart cards. Director Shan, smart cards are powerful. They can not only be used for attendance tracking, but also integrate many other functions, making them a true 'one-card system'."

"Can it replace a meal card?"

Shan Wendong felt this was a good opportunity.

Zhou Haoran said, "Yes, it can have a meal card function. And a door access control system on the first floor. Many large companies abroad have door access control systems, but in China, they basically rely on people to keep watch. Grandpa Wang in the downstairs guard room is very old, and he has to keep watch in the middle of the night. If you don't have a pass, you can't get through. With a door access control system, he can go home and retire."

"Access control systems, can they really do that?"

Shan Wendong's eyes lit up.

He had previously visited foreign television stations and felt they were superior in every way, which filled him with envy and resentment. Once there, there was no need for identity verification; everyone just carried a card.

The door opens automatically after you swipe your finger on the machine.

It's as amazing as it gets.

Unexpectedly, there are opportunities in China as well?
If Red Star TV launches this project, it could truly surpass Crown TV to become the number one in China! It would truly be a model project!
Zhou Haoran said with a smile, "It can all be done. We can integrate all these functions into one smart card. We can name it 'Red Star Card' and cover all aspects. Attendance, access control, meal cards, and even salary confirmation can all be improved by swiping the card."

Zhan Yushan felt a little uneasy listening to his incredible claims. "Haoran, are the smart card functions you're talking about really that powerful? Can they be done in China? I've never even heard of them!"

"It can't be done."

Zhou Haoran cleared his throat.

"what?"

Shan Wendong was greatly disappointed.

Zhou Haoran then smiled and said, "However, some of my friends have already applied for funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology and are focusing on advancing this technology. If it succeeds, it will be the first in China. Our unit can follow suit and get started before all our competitors!"

Which company does your friend work for?

Shan Wendong urgently needs political achievements. He was previously rumored to be stepping down, the biggest reason being his lack of political achievements.

Zhou Haoran said, "Fudan University."

"That's it..."

Shan Wendong was full of anticipation.

Zhou Haoran smiled and said, "Director Shan, from what I know, their project will definitely succeed. So I think if our unit wants to launch this project, we should start preparing as soon as possible."

"Yes, we should do it!"

Shan Wendong was deeply attracted.

Zhou Haoran said, seemingly unintentionally, "The smart card project involves very complex technology, and many aspects of the domestic system are insufficient, so we need to purchase a large amount of foreign currency. Our company needs to prepare foreign exchange reserves."

This is a project undertaken by a state-owned enterprise.

As long as the project is approved, you can make money.

Zhou Haoran disdained earning such illicit money.

The leaders won't let it go.

The profits from these purchases are substantial, and they are made using foreign exchange; the profits come from foreign exchange.

This is even more attractive to leaders whose wives and children live abroad.

"Haoran, if we want to move this forward, how long do you think it will take to get it started?"

Shan Wendong's decision to remain as station director urgently requires three significant changes.

"I can definitely get it done within six months," Zhou Haoran volunteered. "Director, if the station is interested in pushing this project forward, then just send me to keep an eye on it. I'll report the project's progress to you regularly!"

"can do it?"

Shan Wendong looked delighted.

When it comes to "high-tech" things like smart cards, practically none of the people at Hongxingtai understand them. Asking outsiders for help... that's just too unreliable. Over the years, countless state-owned enterprises, lacking internal staff and expertise, have had to seek external assistance, only to be thoroughly misled and suffer huge losses of state assets.

Zhou Haoran is one of us.

He spoke with great confidence and reason.

If he understands, that would be best!

At least there's enough trust.

You won't need to find so-called knowledgeable service providers outside to help you. Even if the project ultimately fails, you won't be embarrassed and cheated!
At this moment, Zhou Haoran acted like a sycophant, loudly proclaiming, "Director, I guarantee I will complete the mission!"

(End of this chapter)