Chapter 322 - 281: We Can Make This Needle

Chapter 322: Chapter 281: We Can Make This Needle

Li Dong didn’t bring it up, either. Some things were better left understood than said aloud.

...

Li Dong had just gotten downstairs when he sent Li Yang a WeChat message. Less than three minutes later, Li Yang appeared at the main entrance.

He was wearing a light gray polo shirt provided for the Huaxuan training. When he saw Li Dong, he walked over in just a couple of steps.

"Well now, kid." He raised his hand and gave Li Dong a solid pat on the shoulder.

"You’ve gotten so tall."

Li Dong chuckled.

"Uncle, I’m only nineteen. I’m still growing, so it’s normal to get a little taller."

Li Yang laughed heartily.

"Alright, alright. As long as you’re healthy. Now I’ll have a good report for your mom if she asks."

The two exchanged some pleasantries, then noticed it was mealtime.

Li Yang beckoned with a wave.

"Come on, Uncle’s treating you. The cafeteria here at Huaxuan is delicious—better than a lot of restaurants outside."

Li Dong smiled and followed Li Yang into the Huaxuan cafeteria.

...

Li Dong had heard about cafeterias at big tech companies like this online before.

Things like Alibaba Xixi having six or seven cafeterias to choose from, Tencent Binhai Building having different cuisine on every floor, or the famous pork chops at Byte Jiliang Mountain...

Li Dong had always treated them as mere stories, but today, stepping into Huaxuan’s massive cafeteria was a real eye-opener.

The cafeteria was vast, with a wooden grille ceiling overhead. A main aisle ran down the middle, flanked on both sides by more than a dozen food stalls lined up in a row.

Sichuan, Hunan, Cantonese, Suzhou-style... each cuisine had its own section.

Li Yang, knowing his way around, pulled Li Dong over to a Sichuan food stall.

"This one’s the best. Stir-fries, twice-cooked pork, mapo tofu—the menu changes every day."

Li Dong gave a silent thumbs-up in his mind—not for the cafeteria, but for his uncle.

’He’s only been in training for a short time, yet he’s already scoped out the best stall.’

They each got a stir-fry, a vegetable dish, and a bowl of rice, then carried their trays to a table by the window.

Outside the window was the Huangpu River. A cargo ship was slowly gliding past the cluster of skyscrapers in Lujiazui.

Li Dong took a bite of rice. It was actually really good. Li Yang was also eating with gusto.

As they chatted, the conversation naturally turned to the factory.

Dongyang Hardware Processing Factory had officially joined Huaxuan’s "core supply chain" system in the second half of last year. Right after that, thanks to a major internal initiative at Huaxuan, their order volume immediately jumped up a tier.

Now that Li Yang was in this core training program, he had also landed a position with the expanding "Supply R&D Group." His future work would involve branching out into the optical path inspection sector.

After listening, Li Dong put down his chopsticks.

He looked at his uncle with a wide grin.

"Uncle, I knew it. I’ve been saying since I was a kid that you were destined for great things."

Hearing this, Li Yang reached out and gave him a light smack on the head.

"Don’t get cheeky, you little brat."

Just then, Li Yang’s phone rang.

He put down his chopsticks, pulled it out of his pocket, glanced at the screen, and answered.

"Hello?"

"Yeah, you’re here?"

"Oh, we’re in the cafeteria."

"Which cafeteria?"

"The main building. By the window near the Sichuan food stall. Come on over."

He hung up. Li Dong had already put down his chopsticks and was getting ready to leave.

"Uncle, looks like you’re busy. I’ll get going."

Li Yang waved his hand dismissively.

"Hey, what’s the rush? It’s nothing. It’s just that graduate student from your school, Yan University. We spoke on the phone a few days ago."

"He arrived in Shanghai today. I wanted to have a proper chat with him and see what he’s like."

He looked up and smiled at Li Dong.

"Since you’re here, you can help your uncle size him up."