Chapter 18: A True Mentor
On his first official day as a company employee, Li Tang didn't go to the main office building. Instead, he spent the whole afternoon settling into his dorm.
Not long after work hours ended, a skinny young man with narrow eyes walked in carrying a lunch box. Seeing someone new in the dorm, he paused in surprise but quickly regained his composure.
"You're the new guy from Group Six?" he asked.
"Hi, I'm Li Tang," he said politely.
"I'm Hu Yangyu. You look pretty young—mind if I just call you Xiao Li?" Hu sat down at the desk by the window, opened his lunch box, and the greasy aroma of cafeteria food filled the small room. "Didn't eat in the cafeteria?"
"No, I'll head out later and grab something."
He and He Runqi had planned to treat themselves to a good meal tonight—after all, landing a decent job was worth celebrating.
"This afternoon, HR posted the latest assignment notice. You, me, and two other newbies got assigned to the newly formed technical Sixth Group," Hu said while chewing. "I gotta say, the company's leadership really has it out for me. Besides me, the team's all rookies. How am I supposed to lead a team like that?—oh, no offense."
Despite his complaints, Hu couldn't fully hide his satisfaction.
In his eyes, the group leader position for the Sixth Group was already in the bag.
There were four people on the team. Whether by seniority or skill, he was the most qualified.
After seeing the announcement earlier today, his former teammates had already started congratulating him.
To celebrate what he considered a career milestone, he had treated himself to an extra marinated egg at lunch and even picked up two pounds of apples on the way back.
After dinner, he grabbed an apple, rubbed it on his shirt, and took a loud crunchy bite.
He clearly had no intention of offering one to his roommate, but he was in a chatty mood. "Honestly, I used to be in the First Technical Group. Great bunch of people. I'm really gonna miss them."
"Hopefully we can work well together too," Li Tang said with a polite smile.
"You're lucky to be working with me—it's going to be an easy ride," Hu declared confidently. "I once had a hard-ass team leader who made us climb mountains all day, always preaching about how young people need to learn. Total nonsense. In companies like ours, no matter how hard you work, if you don't have connections, it's worthless."
He went on, voice rising with emotion. "For nobodies like us, seniority is the only path forward. Look at me—I toughed it out for six years. Finally got my break. I'm one of the lucky ones. Some of my old teammates have been here nearly ten years and are still at the bottom. The third-party contractors have it even worse—no hope at all."
Was this what most people here thought?
Li Tang could hear the resignation and bitterness in Hu's words—small people, trapped in a big system.
The corporate world was a battlefield. Climbing upward took luck, talent, and—most of all—support from powerful allies.
"Li Tang! Let's go eat!" He Runqi shouted, excited as ever.
"Coming!"
Li Tang had considered inviting Hu along to dinner, thinking it might help build rapport.
But after listening to his words and tone, it was clear they weren't the same type of person—no point wasting energy.
If he extended a polite invitation and Hu actually accepted, that would be even more awkward.
He and Runqi enjoyed a delicious hotpot, walking through Yanjing's vibrant streets afterward, bellies full, cool night breeze blowing.
For some reason, He Runqi felt an unexpected surge of ambition. "Li Tang, do you believe it? One day, the two of us will do something big here—this city will be our stage!"
"What counts as something big?" Li Tang asked.
Runqi thought for a moment. Just then, a sleek Audi with four interlocking rings sped past.
"That! At the very least, we'll each drive one of those!"
"That car costs hundreds of thousands. It's expensive," Li Tang laughed.
Runqi looked up at the night sky, suddenly thoughtful. "Since coming back to Yanjing—especially after yesterday—I've realized a lot. Think about it: we got picked up in a company car, stayed at a fancy hotel for free, and today we both signed formal contracts. Isn't that odd?"
Li Tang's heart skipped a beat. Did he guess that I asked Qin for help?
"What do you mean?"
"I think Director Qin is just amazing! He's our true mentor!"
Li Tang's mind went blank. "He is?"
"Of course!" Runqi was practically glowing. "When I signed my contract today, HR told me Director Qin transferred me to the Resource Department and got me that official spot!"
His admiration had turned into blind devotion. "I swear, if Director Qin asked me to die for him, I'd do it without hesitation!"
Back in the dorm, they found Hu Yangyu already snoring away, sounding like a tractor. Fortunately, Li Tang was a sound sleeper.
The next morning, when he walked into the Resource Evaluation Department, the other staff eyed him curiously.
But with so many new hires every year, they weren't particularly enthusiastic—just curious.
The department had over thirty people, all in one large open-plan office, divided into six teams. Each group had its own section.
Li Tang found the Sixth Group's seats. Seeing an open desk by the window with a great view, he sat down.
"Hey—"
Hu Yangyu had just returned from breakfast, holding two buns. "That seat's mine."
"Sorry, I didn't know. I thought it was free," Li Tang quickly got up.
He was still new and wanted to stay respectful.
"Li Tang, come to my office," HR Director Li Liqun said, appearing beside him and tapping his shoulder.
In the HR office, she handed him a simple form. "You need to choose your preferred department."
"I have to choose?"
The form had only two options: Mineral Exploration Department and Resource Evaluation Department.
"Sign next to the one you want."
"Does every new hire sign this?"
Li Tang asked casually, then picked up the pen and decisively signed next to Resource Evaluation Department.
"You're the only one who needs to sign."
Li Liqun collected the form, finally relaxing a bit.
This was Li Tang's own choice—had nothing to do with her.
Still, her curiosity about Li Tang only deepened. Just who is this kid?
"If that's all, I'll get back to work."
"Actually, Director Qin wants to see you. Head to his office."
"Got it."
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