King of Technology: A Fresh Start in 1983

Zhang Wei carefully studied the structure of this salad "mountain," repeatedly praising it: "Your masterpiece is so in line with structural mechanics!"

"The base part has a high density. Then, carrot strips are used to extend the upper edge of the plate upwards and outwards simultaneously, maximizing the support area."

"Then cover the area with cucumber slices like fish scales, so that they can support each other."

"Next, use pineapple chunks to build load-bearing walls, and then pour potato cubes, corn kernels, and peas mixed with salad dressing into the center."

"The design dimensions and construction sequence are precise and perfect; you're incredibly talented!"

Lin Yidan filled three large plates with the food and said modestly, "Teacher Zhang, you flatter me. I was just acting on my instincts as a foodie, plus a bit of persistence."

Just then, the waiter brought the pizza over.

She glanced at the salad on the table, then at Lin Yidan, and smiled knowingly.

This made Lin Yidan feel a little embarrassed.

Zhang Wei kept shaking his head and saying, "It's such a pity you didn't study civil engineering in your life."

Lin Yidan's face was filled with smugness: "Do I even need to learn this?"

"Actually, I've found that engineering isn't as unattainable as it seems."

"You're a graduate of a prestigious university, so all you know is a little more about things like airplane toilet doors and bus doors than me, right?"

Zhang Wei wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "You're absolutely right. Compared to literature, history, philosophy, art, and science, engineering is simply something that's closest to people's common sense..."

After stuffing a large piece of yellow peach into her mouth, Lin Yidan waved the knife and fork in her hand and mumbled something indistinctly:

"Hey, hey, I never realized you were such a person with common sense!"

"You don't even understand the most basic human decency, yet you dare to talk about common sense..."

Zhang Wei didn't hear what she said, but suddenly remembered the purpose of his trip.

He then asked, "By the way! You didn't forget to bring the market research report you mentioned, did you?"

"As expected, he has no empathy; all he thinks about is work..."

Lin Yidan rolled her eyes at him, then took out a thick document and a floppy disk from her bag and handed it over.

He smirked and said, "This is the paper version, this is the electronic version. But I'm warning you, remember not to copy or distribute it to others."

"This is for you, not for anyone else. They're hoping to make money off this information."

Zhang Weigang reached out to take it, but Lin Yidan had already pulled back, placing the documents on her lap and saying...

"No, I can't let you off so easily. I'd be at a huge loss. I have to set some conditions."

"I promise you, okay? Don't worry, I absolutely won't tell anyone or spread it."

"That's not what I meant, I meant the terms of the exchange. Hmm, let me think, what are you going to exchange for?"

Lin Yidan frowned, pondered for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "You have to promise me that, unless you're on a business trip or working overtime, you'll be available whenever I call you in your free time!"

Zhang Wei glanced at her, pondered for a moment, and silently withdrew his hand.

He picked up his knife and fork and continued cutting the pizza, no longer saying a word.

Lin Yidan suddenly felt a little flustered.

Unable to resist, she craned her neck, brought her face close to his, stared intently into his eyes, and tentatively whispered, "You don't want to?"

After a while of silence, Zhang Weicai said in a muffled voice, "It's not that I'm unwilling, those are two different things."

"I am very grateful that you were willing to help me obtain such useful market information."

"I'd be happy if we could get together sometime when we have free time."

"But linking the two together, and using it as a condition for exchange, just doesn't seem quite right."

"Then I don't understand. Getting the report is a good thing for you."

Lin Yidan continued, "It would be a good thing for you to get together with me."

"With two good things happening together, why are you suddenly unwilling?"

"I believe that one thing should not be used as a condition for another."

Zhang Wei continued, "It's as if I can't get this report unless I agree to meet with you later."

"I think this is blatant blackmail."

Lin Yidan was both amused and annoyed: "Why do you think that way? Why can't you interpret it as me expressing my desire to spend more time with you?"

Zhang Wei was taken aback and retorted, "Then why did you ask that? Why couldn't you just say it directly?"

Lin Yidan opened his mouth but couldn't speak for a moment, and a sense of helplessness, like "talking to a brick wall," washed over him again.

She could only weakly reply, "Because I'm a girl... I think I've been direct enough..."

"I thought you'd be thrilled and immediately agree, but alas..."

At this moment, Zhang Wei was preoccupied with figuring out the underlying logic of those words…

Lin Yidan then asked, "Hey, did your girlfriend never talk to you like this before?"

Zhang Wei shook his head: "Because the primary purpose of communication between two people is to ensure that the other party understands your meaning accurately."

The way you speak is easily ambiguous and can easily lead to misunderstandings.

"Oh..." Lin Yidan nodded as if she understood, "...I see."

"That must be how it is," Zhang Wei corrected earnestly.

"I told you so, what can you do to me? You understand that I was basically saying 'Oh, I see,' right?"

"I understand, but isn't this kind of communication exhausting?"

"Not at all! I think it's tiring when someone like you insists on explaining things in a complicated, word-for-word way!"

Zhang Wei stopped arguing.

Lin Yidan felt a surge of satisfaction, thinking she had finally gained the upper hand.

I just took a big gulp of Fanta to soothe my parched throat…

But then Zhang Wei spoke up again: "No, you've got it backwards."

"Why did you do it backwards?" Lin Yidan looked at Zhang Wei in confusion.

Zhang Wei continued, "According to what you just said, I have to come and keep you company whenever you call."

"It's as if this is a very painful thing for me, and I have to compensate with this market report in order to make me reluctantly agree."

"This illustrates two points. First, you are defaming yourself because you think I will only be willing to accompany you if you sell things like market reports."

"Secondly, you are slandering me because you think I would sell myself to get this report."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yidan quickly wiped her mouth and hands, picked up the documents and floppy disk, and handed them to Zhang Wei.

"Fine! I give up, please accept it!"

"From now on, I won't slander anyone anymore, and neither of us will betray the other. Let's not say anything more, okay?"

Zhang Wei happily took the report and flipped through it, repeatedly saying, "Thank you, thank you so much!"

Then he suddenly stopped and looked at Lin Yidan with a sincere expression.

"Actually, you don't need to use this report as bait at all. I would be happy to have dinner and chat with you."