After a few simple pleasantries, everyone was seated.
Guards stood by the door, ensuring no outsiders could enter. Even the water brought by the front desk had to be checked before being sent into the conference room.
Once everything was settled, the doors were closed and phones were silenced.
All eyes were on Mayor Liang Ren.
Liang Ren chuckled and slowly said, "President Jiang, you know why we are here at Kaiyuan Jewelry today. The 996 project is a major undertaking, a vital national asset that will affect the future of Modu. Therefore, we cannot simply let any company join. President Ma believes that Kaiyuan Jewelry has the strength to cooperate with you, and I do not object. However, I need to see the capabilities of Kaiyuan Jewelry."
Jiang Mengxin replied with a smile, "Kaiyuan Jewelry was jointly established by the Jiang family of Jinling and the Xiao family of Modu. We have ample funds and connections, so please rest assured, Mayor Liang."
Upon hearing this, Murong Ba on the opposite side sneered and said dismissively, "The Jiang family. When Old Master Jiang Dingbian was alive, they indeed had some influence. It's a pity that after the Old Master passed away, the Jiang family lost its backbone and declined, no longer being a prominent family. As for the Xiao family, they are a minor family that needs to curry favor with the Jiang family. What strength could these two combined possibly have?"
Jiang Mengxin's expression turned grim.
Suppressing her anger, she handed a report to Liang Ren.
"Mayor Liang, please take a look. This is our company's financial report, and it is very healthy. Furthermore, to join the 996 project, our company has specifically set aside 500 million yuan in a separate account to show our sincerity."
Five hundred million?
"Heh heh," Murong Ba chuckled, "A major project like 996 requires over a billion yuan to be invested annually. Your company has prepared only 500 million. How many months do you think that will last? It's laughable."
Everyone's faces darkened.
The situation was not optimistic.
Liang Jiadong said, "The main body of the 996 project is still the Ma family. Kaiyuan Jewelry is merely a collaborator with a very small stake. 500 million is sufficient."
"Tsk," Murong Ba turned his head away, refusing to engage further.
The atmosphere in the room became somewhat awkward.
"Ahem," Secretary Jia Zheng, formerly of the mayor's office, quickly changed the subject and said, "Funding is negotiable. The most important aspect is talent. According to the requirements we previously provided, Kaiyuan Jewelry will only be eligible to join the 996 project if they recruit ten top talents. President Jiang, how is your progress?"
Here it comes!
All eyes were fixed on Jiang Mengxin.
Jiang Mengxin was so tense she could barely breathe, her palms drenched in sweat. Trembling, she called out towards the door, "Please come in."
Immediately, three researchers in white lab coats entered.
Jiang Mengxin introduced, "These three are the high-caliber talents our company has recently recruited."
Murong Ba frowned, "Three? We require ten!"
Jiang Mengxin said awkwardly, "The requirements in the table you provided are extremely stringent. Talents of such unparalleled caliber are truly difficult to find. For our company to recruit three within such a short period is already commendable. If you give us a little more time, we will definitely be able to recruit the rest."
They wanted more time?
How could that be allowed?
Murong Ba was about to retort when Jia Zheng pressed his arm.
Jia Zheng gave Murong Ba a meaningful look: Don't rush.
Then, Jia Zheng said, "The time is indeed a bit tight. Whether to extend it can be discussed later. Let's see their profiles first."
"Alright," Jiang Mengxin placed the profiles of the three researchers on everyone's table.
Everyone flipped through the pages one by one.
Age, education, work experience – they examined each detail meticulously.
"Hmm? This isn't right," Murong Ba pointed to one person's profile and said, "Although this person pursued postgraduate studies at a 985 university, their undergraduate degree is from a 211 institution. This is not a direct lineage."
Jiang Mengxin was speechless.
Did they have to be so strict?
She said, "211 universities are also not bad. Moreover, the fact that they could get into a 985 for postgraduate studies proves their strong capabilities. Why focus so much on where they got their bachelor's degree?"
"Heh heh, this is falsification!" Murong Ba pointed out another discrepancy, "Look, our requirement is 20 years of work experience. This individual has only worked for 15 years in total. Can this meet the requirements?"
Jiang Mengxin fell silent.
It was only a difference of five years; did they have to be so rigid?
Under the strict scrutiny of Murong Ba and Jia Zheng, these three individuals were found to be lacking in one aspect or another. While they appeared good in most respects, none of them fully met the criteria.
If a perfect score were 100, these three would each score around 60, barely passing.
In fact,
In Liang Ren's opinion, these three were already very competent and qualified to participate in the 996 project.
If Murong Ba and Jia Zheng were not involved, Liang Ren would have easily granted Jiang Mengxin a grace period to find more such individuals.
The problem was... Murong Ba and Jia Zheng would not agree.
As expected.
Jia Zheng closed the profiles of the three individuals and said with a cold expression, "The 996 project is a great undertaking. Even one point short is unacceptable, let alone these three being forty or thirty points short! Jiang Mengxin, we gave you seven days, and you could only find talents of this caliber?"
Jiang Mengxin's face turned crimson.
She felt wronged and hurt.
Liang Jiadong, standing nearby, couldn't stand it and said angrily, "I think the qualifications of these three are quite good. Finding them in seven days is already commendable. Why must we be so rigid with the requirements?"
Jia Zheng displayed a cunning, fox-like smile.
He said, "Minister Liang, you are mistaken. For ordinary projects, we can afford to be a bit lenient. But not for the 996 project! It concerns the future of Modu, the future of the nation, and we cannot afford the slightest carelessness!"
He once again positioned himself on a moral high ground.
After a pause, Jia Zheng continued, "If Jiang Mengxin cannot find ten unparalleled talents in seven days, it is her incompetence. Using inferior replacements and falsifying information indicates that Jiang Mengxin's character is also lacking! How can such an incompetent and immoral person be entrusted with the 996 project? Furthermore, she doesn't even have the right to do business in Modu!"
Liang Ren, Liang Jiadong, and Ma Tengyun simultaneously gasped.
Danger!
Jia Zheng and Murong Ba were not only trying to prevent Jiang Mengxin from joining the 996 project, but they even wanted to drive her out of Modu!
Jiang Mengxin obviously understood their intentions.
Her eyes welled up.
She felt heartbroken and wronged.
But what could she do?
Liang Ren sighed deeply and delivered his final verdict: "The capabilities of these three are indeed good. However, the 996 project is of great importance, and we cannot afford any errors. With their current abilities, they are truly not qualified to undertake the 996 project."
This meant the three of them were not enough!
Jia Zheng and Murong Ba wore triumphant smiles.
Liang Ren looked at Jiang Mengxin and asked with some disappointment, "President Jiang, do you have any other talents?"
Did he even need to ask?
Of course not!
And the consequence of not having them was singular – Kaiyuan Jewelry would not be able to join the 996 project, and even worse, Jiang Mengxin would be expelled from Modu.
Jiang Mengxin's heart plummeted to her stomach.
She clenched her fists, feeling alone and helpless.
At this critical juncture.
A series of crisp phone rings suddenly broke the suffocating silence in the conference room.
Huh?
Everyone frowned and looked around, only to realize it was Lu Ming's phone that was ringing.
Lu Ming gently opened his phone and answered.
The first words from the other end were: "Mr. Lu, ten unparalleled talents have arrived. Please come out to welcome them."