Financial success and romantic happiness

So, just as it was 10 a.m., Lin Chuan was continuing to learn about workshop statistics from Wu Min when Zhang Mingde suddenly called, asking him to come to his office immediately.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Chuan could sense that Zhang Mingde's sudden call for him to go back must not be anything good.

Wu Min looked over with worry in her eyes and said, "Lin Chuan, you have to be careful with someone like Manager Zhang. Calling you back so suddenly can't be anything good."

Lin Chuan nodded and said, "I understand, Sister Min. I'll go check what's going on. I should be fine."

Wu Min nodded, her eyes filled with worry for Lin Chuan, a feeling somewhat like a girlfriend worrying about her boyfriend.

After saying goodbye to Wu Min, Lin Chuan went to Zhang Mingde's office. Unexpectedly, Zhang Mingde suddenly slammed several photos of Lin Chuan and Shu Qiao together on the table, threatening, "Lin Chuan, now you'd better tell me the truth. You got in here because of Shu Qiao's connections. Let me tell you, if you tell me the truth now, I might consider helping you out. But if you keep lying, these photos will be sent to President An's desk immediately, understand?"

Lin Chuan had been at Longteng Company for two days, so he roughly knew that General Manager An was the company's vice president and a high-ranking leader.

Lin Chuan knew that these few photos alone could not prove that he and Shu Qiao were related by marriage.

However, if Zhang Mingde uses these photos to cause trouble, and given that he is only an intern, this will definitely be detrimental to his future development within the company.

After thinking it over, Lin Chuan came up with an idea and said, "I know Supervisor Shu, but our relationship is far from being nepotistic. Manager Zhang, if you're going to make a scene based on these few photos, it will be detrimental to me, but will it benefit you?"

Zhang Mingde narrowed his eyes, his gaze like that of a venomous snake: "Lin Chuan, you're still beating around the bush with me. You still won't admit it, huh? Let me tell you, if the company really finds out that you two are related by nepotism, you and Shu Qiao will both be fired."

Lin Chuan couldn't help but clench his fist.

Zhang Mingde, that bastard, framed him, and he could completely tolerate it.

But I never expected that this bastard would drag Qiao Jie down with him.

Just as Lin Chuan was pondering a solution, three workers from the workshop walked into Zhang Mingde's office. One of them was chubby with a square face. Lin Chuan recognized him; his name seemed to be Chen Qiang, and he had a very good relationship with Zhang Mingde in private.

Chen Qiang was clearly there to flank Zhang Mingde. After entering the office, he first poured himself a glass of water from the water dispenser, then smiled at Zhang Mingde and asked, "What's going on? Is there something wrong with this new guy?"

Zhang Mingde coldly said, "You got in through nepotism, and you still won't admit it. Team Leader Chen, you know how strict the company is about investigating nepotism. If you're caught, you'll be fired immediately."

Chen Qiang raised an exaggerated eyebrow and laughed, "I knew it! So many people are vying for that workshop statistician position. So you got in through nepotism?"

Lin Chuan watched Chen Qiang and Zhang Mingde's coordinated attack, completely unaffected by their behavior, and sneered, "You say I'm a crony, but I say you're a crony too. Anyone can say that, right? Besides, I was hired by President Zhao openly and honestly. If I'm fired, doesn't that mean President Zhao is also involved?"

Zhang Mingde's face turned cold: "Are you trying to use President Zhao to pressure me? President Zhao might have protected you once, but do you think he'd protect you a second time?"

Lin Chuan said calmly, "I don't know if President Zhao will protect me or not, but I know she definitely won't agree with your claim that I'm involved in nepotism."

Zhang Mingde retorted angrily, "I told you, don't try to intimidate me with President Zhao, understand...?"

Before Zhang Mingde could finish speaking, Zhao Peiling's calm voice suddenly came from the office doorway: "Who's talking behind my back?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuan looked surprised, not expecting Zhao Peiling to arrive at this time.

Zhang Mingde was startled and quickly stood up, his face full of surprise.

As for Chen Qiang and his two lackeys, they both looked towards the office door with fear in their eyes.

A moment later, Zhao Peiling walked into Zhang Mingde's office with her hands behind her back and said calmly, "Manager Zhang, I think I heard you mention my name just now. What's going on? Did I do something wrong, so you're talking about me behind my back?"

Zhang Mingde hurriedly said, "Mr. Zhao, where are you? I'm discussing some issues with Lin Chuan right now."

Zhao Peiling's voice remained calm: "Oh? What's the problem? Tell me!"

Chen Qiang chuckled maliciously, "President Zhao, it's been confirmed that Lin Chuan got in through nepotism and should be fired."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuan couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Mr. Zhao is on his side now.

That bastard actually complained about him in front of General Manager Zhao! How stupid!

As expected, upon hearing this, Zhao Peiling narrowed her icy eyes and said, "Do you have any evidence? I approved the hiring of Lin Chuan. Do you think I have a bad eye? Did I misjudge him?"

Zhang Mingde's expression changed, and a conflicted look appeared in his eyes.

Clearly, he was also hesitant about whether to show those photos to Zhao Peiling.

After hesitating for thirty seconds, Zhang Mingde, perhaps having decided to take the plunge, walked up to Zhao Peiling, showed her the photos, and said, "Ms. Zhao, look, these are the pieces of evidence I've collected."

After reading it, Zhao Peiling sneered, "Manager Zhang, can you please focus your attention on the company's profits? You're always scheming about these useless things. What's wrong with Lin Chuan and Shu Qiao having a meal or chatting together? If this counts as nepotism, then I think 70% or 80% of the people in the company got in through nepotism."

Zhang Mingde's face darkened: "What General Manager Zhao says is true."

Zhao Peiling then said seriously, "The company opposes any form of nepotism, but that cannot be used as a means for colleagues to attack each other."

"For Longteng Company to grow, it needs everyone's sincere cooperation, not undermining each other, understand?"

Zhang Mingde quickly bowed his head and said, "Yes, General Manager Zhao."

Chen Qiang also lowered his head and remained silent, clearly also feeling very scared.

Lin Chuan sneered inwardly.

He knew Zhao Peiling would definitely help him this time; these people were utter idiots!

Zhao Peiling immediately tossed the photo into the trash can, then said sternly, "I don't want to see this kind of trivial bickering again. Now, get back to work and don't let me see this backstabbing again, understand?"

Zhang Mingde's face was as black as charcoal, and his brows furrowed even more when he glanced at the photo that had been thrown into the trash can.

Zhao Peiling then looked at Chen Qiang: "Team Leader Chen, I remember you're the workshop manager, right? There must be a lot going on outside right now, so you've come here to escape the hustle and bustle?"

Chen Qiang quickly replied, "No, Mr. Zhao, I just came to get a glass of water. I'll get back to work now, let's go!"

After Chen Qiang finished speaking, he walked quickly toward the office door, and his two lackeys hurriedly followed him.

Zhao Peiling walked over with a cold face. Two of her subordinates were waiting for her outside the office.

Every morning, she would take a walk around each workshop to check on the production situation. This morning, she happened to be in Workshop 1 when she encountered Zhang Mingde's slander, which is why she helped Lin Chuan out of the predicament in time.

At this moment, Zhang Mingde felt both frustrated and confused.

What was frustrating was that he had just been reprimanded by General Manager Zhao to his face.

What's puzzling is how Lin Chuan manages to escape his attacks time and time again? Why does Zhao Peiling seem to side with Lin Chuan? Could there be some kind of relationship between them?

Lin Chuan knew Zhang Mingde was unhappy, and he wanted to make him even angrier, so he smiled and said, "Manager Zhang, can I clear my name now? I didn't get in through nepotism, did I?"

Zhang Mingde looked at Lin Chuan with a sullen expression: "Yes."

Lin Chuan deliberately said, "Oh dear, you really scared me to death just now. If you had really made a scene with President An, how could I have stayed at the company? But now it seems like I'm doing just fine."

Zhang Mingde said coldly, "Go out and get to work."

Lin Chuan added fuel to the fire for Zhang Mingde: "Manager Zhang, you just framed me so falsely, shouldn't you apologize? Otherwise, if we start arguing again and General Manager Zhao finds out, I wonder who he'll talk about more, you or me."

Zhang Mingde gritted his teeth and said, "You, Lin Chuan, you've got some skills. I apologize to you, I'm sorry."

Lin Chuan smiled and said, "Manager Zhang is truly a man of great manners. No wonder you were able to become a manager. I'll get back to work now."

After finishing his sentence, Lin Chuan left the office with a victorious smile.

As soon as Lin Chuan left, Zhang Mingde angrily pushed all the documents on the table to the ground, scattering them everywhere. He was so angry that it seemed like white steam was coming out of his nose.

Before we knew it, it was 11:30 a.m.

Lin Chuan had just finished eating in the cafeteria when an unfamiliar colleague approached him and told him that General Manager Zhao wanted to talk to him about something.

Lin Chuan's heart skipped a beat after hearing this.

After all, why would Zhao Peiling suddenly contact him in the middle of the day?

Did Zhang Mingde retaliate?

Lin Chuan knew nothing, but he still nodded to the colleague who had handed him the message, and then hurriedly walked into Zhao Peiling's office. He saw Zhao Peiling looking down at the documents, wearing a white shirt with her chest being pushed up.

Lin Chuan didn't beat around the bush with Zhao Peiling. As soon as he saw her, he immediately asked, "President Zhao, you wanted to see me?"

Zhao Peiling didn't even look up: "What's going on between you and Manager Zhang? Why is he targeting you? What happened between you two?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuan was also in a state of utter confusion.

Anyway, Zhang Mingde had a problem with him from the very beginning of his employment.

But he didn't know where Zhang Mingde's hostility towards him came from.

Lin Chuan said helplessly, "To be honest, Mr. Zhao, I don't know either. When I first joined the company, I was very polite to Manager Zhang, but Manager Zhang was hostile towards me. I'm telling the truth; I didn't provoke him at all."

Zhao Peiling raised her head, a hint of mystery in her eyes: "In the future, when you work in the company, you must be more careful, listen to everything around you, keep an eye on everything, and leave a trace of everything. I know you are a smart person, and you should know what I am."

"Also... could you go and close the door first? I have something important to discuss with you."