These words immediately elicited a burst of laughter.
A freeloader? Working at Moon's Fang Pastry Shop? Head Pastry Chef?
What kind of nonsense is this? How did this kid even get a director position at our research company?
Shangguan Bei simply smiled slightly, looking at Lu Chen, as if she genuinely appreciated his humor.
Lu Chen continued, "Moon's Fang Pastry Shop, I think some of you have heard of it. Our pastries are the best in Yunzhou City. Everyone is welcome to patronize us. From now on, you can enjoy a 30% discount on pastries by showing your work ID!"
The laughter grew even louder.
Ouyang Bihua's sarcasm deepened. He curled his lip, "Moonlight Fang, I've heard of it. The head pastry chef there? Mr. Lu, you're not simple. But does that prove you're qualified to be our research director?"
A chorus of agreement erupted, everyone finding Lu Chen quite laughable.
Lu Chen scratched his head, his expression suddenly turning serious:
"Who says a pastry chef can't be a research director? Gentlemen, you're all too superficial. Can a person's job, superficially, determine their career and development? I believe that with ability, one can be a beggar or an emperor. You need to break out of your own mental frameworks! Otherwise, it will affect your research development and achievements!"
This did make some sense. Anyone in research knows that this is similar to invention; it requires leaps in thinking, and fixed patterns are unacceptable.
But coming from Lu Chen, it just sounded so jarring.
Ouyang Bihua coldly stared at Lu Chen, then clapped his hands twice: "Not bad, not bad! Mr. Lu is indeed insightful, well said. However, being a research director isn't something you can just talk about. Mr. Lu, why don't you tell us directly what abilities you think you have to qualify for the position of research director?"
"Exactly!"
Everyone echoed in agreement.
Lu Chen chuckled: "Telling you all is fine. From a young age, I received instruction from a very profound old monk. He was an absolutely miraculous old monk, traveling far and wide, omnipotent, his hands comparable to Hua Tuo, able to revive the dead and heal the wounded, saving countless lives. It was under his tutelage that I became someone with exceptional medical skills and a particular expertise in Chinese herbs."
He spoke these words calmly and without changing his expression.
His medical prowess couldn't be revealed, so this was the only way he could say it.
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Bei, who had been listening quietly, couldn't help but chuckle, thinking her Chen-gege sounded quite impressive. So, she looked at him with even more admiration, a gaze overflowing with deep affection.
This gaze, not far away, infuriated Ouyang Bihua. He felt an urge to tear Lu Chen to pieces.
Meanwhile, Du Haoqi, seeing Ouyang Bihua's expression, felt heartbroken.
At this moment, the crowd erupted in laughter again:
"This young man is hilarious! Has he been reading too many martial arts novels? How can he say something like that? What kind of magical old monk? This is really interesting. Am I listening to some kind of story?"
"I think Miss has been fooled by this guy. Such nonsensical talk, and he can be the research director? It's ridiculous! I've lived for over sixty years and never seen anything like it!"
"No matter what, I'm against him becoming the research director. He's utterly unfit! It's a joke! If someone like that is the research director, why should we continue working?"
"If he can be the research director, even a child could open a traditional Chinese medicine shop."
...
These words became increasingly offensive, which actually made Ouyang Bihua, who was already in a bad mood, feel a little better. He looked at Shangguan Bei with a cold smile.
Du Haoqi, however, couldn't help but look at Lu Chen.
In her eyes, Lu Chen appeared remarkably calm amidst the laughter of the crowd. A confident and wicked smile played on his lips. Though he said nothing and offered no proof, his words sounded utterly absurd.
Such overwhelming confidence!
If Du Haoqi hadn't met Lu Chen before, she might have been dismissive, thinking this young man was simply arrogant and ignorant. But after what happened before, she felt a sense of awe towards him.
What an amazing young man! He could diagnose so much just by looking at him. What a wealth of experience and superb medical skills that required!
She had consulted many senior professors and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in the area, and none of them could offer such insightful opinions. Although his explanation of "prosperous but not dissipated, strong but not drained" was incredibly embarrassing.
Du Haoqi knew that her colleagues and superiors who were currently mocking Lu Chen would soon be proven wrong.
She looked at Ouyang Bihua again, a hint of pain suddenly appearing in her indifferent eyes.
She thought to herself: "Bihua, do you really think Lu Chen only won Miss Shangguan's heart and became the research director because of his smooth talk and good luck? You think you can unite others to veto him? Not so easy!"
Because he truly has ability!
Ouyang Bihua had previously mentioned Lu Chen's appointment as research director to everyone, even stirring up trouble by saying he had no real ability and only relied on luck and smooth talk, which made everyone unhappy.
This was also the reason Lu Chen initially encountered so much hostility.
Lu Chen, however, didn't care what those guys were saying. He did notice Du Haoqi secretly watching him. Her gaze was quite complex. A slight smile appeared on his lips as he pulled out a pen and paper from his desk and began scribbling.
*Slap!*
Suddenly, a crisp and loud sound rang in everyone's ears, instantly silencing the mocking laughter.
It was the sound of someone slamming their hand on the table!
Of everyone present, only Shangguan Bei had the right to slam her hand on the table.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, Lu Chen grabbed Shangguan Bei's hand that had been slamming on the table, cupped it in his palm, and gently rubbed it. He said, "Why are you slamming the table? The table is hard, your hand is soft. Look, it's all red."
In public, how cheesy!
Suddenly, everyone understood even more clearly: this brat must have bewitched Shangguan Bei to become the research director! Wasn't this just living off a woman? They were even more disdainful.
But what Ouyang Bihua witnessed was almost driving him mad.
While gently letting Lu Chen massage her hand, Shangguan Bei coldly addressed everyone, "I'm very sorry, truly very sorry. So, in everyone's eyes, I've always been this incompetent? All along, aside from the title of the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family, I've never been worthy of being your leader, have I?"
These words immediately caused everyone to exchange bewildered glances, some even panicking.
Who dared say Shangguan Bei wasn't worthy?
Even if she wasn't the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family, she was absolutely worthy! Leaving aside the fact that she built this research company single-handedly, her current mastery of biotechnology alone makes her a leader in the field!
If she didn't run this company now, she could definitely become the research director at any other biotechnology research company.
Of course, her immense talent at such a young age was due not only to the strong financial support of her family, allowing her to have whatever she wanted, but also to her misfortune.
But what right did that jovial chief pastry chef have?
Under Shangguan Bei's persistent questioning, everyone quickly shook their heads:
"No, how could Miss be unworthy? Miss is absolutely a genius!"
"Under Miss's leadership, we've been able to overcome one biological challenge after another!"
"Miss is absolutely worthy! This company would be nothing without her!"
"Yes, look at the Dragon Elixir that Miss developed, how much profit it generates for the company every year!"
...
As they spoke, it almost sounded like flattery.
Shangguan Bei retorted, enunciating each word clearly: "Then, do you think the person I think is qualified to be the company's research director is unworthy? You all started by mocking me, but didn't consider whether the person I appointed as the company's research director would be an ordinary person? Just like Director Lu said earlier, you can't break out of your own mindset!"
These words left everyone somewhat dumbfounded.
After a long while, someone finally spoke up in a weak voice: "Miss, that's because Mr. Lu... Mr. Lu's opening remarks were really a bit far-fetched!"
Everyone quickly agreed. Lu Chen scratched his head and said casually, "Wasn't that just to cater to everyone's aesthetic standards? From the very beginning, everyone thought I didn't seem like the type to be a research director. So, I'll just make everyone happy!"
His words only made everyone more embarrassed.
Ouyang Bihua gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, then Director Lu..."
He emphasized the title.
"Then please introduce your abilities?"
Before Lu Chen could speak, Shangguan Bei spoke first. She looked at a man around fifty years old, with a thin appearance, and said, "Uncle Gu, what do you think of the thirty-odd kinds of Chinese herbs I asked you to collect to treat my leg ailment?"
Uncle Gu was slightly taken aback, then replied, "While I know most of these herbs, there are a few I've only heard of but never seen, and several I've never even heard of. However, after personally collecting them according to the pictures you gave me, and understanding their medicinal properties, to be honest, I'm quite impressed."
His tone became more serious:
"These herbs are extremely rare and lost varieties, almost exclusively found in primitive tribes on the borders of China, and even the people of those tribes know very little about them. It's truly astonishing that the person who prescribed the medicine knew them. And the combination of these thirty-odd herbs gives me a glimpse of a very brilliant traditional Chinese medicine combination therapy."
As she spoke, she looked earnestly at Shangguan Bei and continued,
"Miss, I believe the person who prescribed the medicine will have further and more careful processing of these herbs. I hope to be that person's assistant and learn these processing methods. It's very possible that I can use this to set up several research projects, mainly targeting various diseases caused by stagnation of qi and blood in the human body, and perhaps even conquer a few medical challenges."
As she spoke, a fervent light shone in her eyes.