Chapter 145: Private Virtue and Ability

For Lu Kun, the "third-day" ceremony was a routine affair; he had already held it for his first three children. This time, however, the guest list was short, lacking the lively, bustling atmosphere he had experienced back in the countryside. The banquet was simple and understated.

Once the formal proceedings were concluded, the gathering devolved into the usual scene: men huddled together to boast and play cards, while the women gossiped about family affairs. There was hardly anything worth noting.

...

Ring, ring, ring.

"Hello? What is it?" Lu Kun rubbed his face, picked up the receiver, and asked.

"Congratulations, Boss! A son! I wish the little boss a dashing appearance, sharp eyes, a life of peace, happiness through all four seasons..."

"Alright, alright, that’s enough with the pleasantries. I’ve heard the same thing to death these past few days. Get to the point," Lu Kun said with a laugh, chiding Chen Xiangyang, who was buttering him up on the other end.

Can money buy you anything? Yes. Even the management at Huakun Group was swallowing their pride to praise Lu Kun’s newborn son as "dashing and handsome"—it was truly beyond belief.

"Boss, there’s a bit of a tricky situation. I need your input before I can make a decision," Chen Xiangyang said, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

"What is it?" Lu Kun asked, rubbing his forehead impatiently.

"It’s about that expert management talent you asked me to find for our Master Kong Food and Beverage Company," Chen Xiangyang mumbled.

"You found someone?" A hint of surprise colored Lu Kun’s voice.

"I found him, but it’s a bit complicated," Chen Xiangyang muttered, clearly finding it hard to speak.

"What’s wrong? Is he unhappy with the salary?" Lu Kun asked quickly.

"It’s not that. He’s quite satisfied with the pay. It’s just that... well, the guy has some baggage," Chen Xiangyang said, stumbling over his words.

"Give me the details. What’s his story?" Lu Kun cut through the hesitation.

"His name is Huang Mingbo. He was a teacher at Huadu Normal University, specializing in food processing and safety," Chen Xiangyang explained.

"So what happened? Just tell me straight, or I’ll come over there and deal with you myself!" Lu Kun joked. He understood the principle that it is easy to find gold but hard to find a good general.

"Heh, Boss, you know how society is these days. First-tier talent goes to the government, second-tier to state-owned enterprises, and third-tier to foreign firms. If we want to pick up a bargain, we can't expect perfection."

"Just tell me what happened. Unless the man lost his mind, why would a professor at a top university throw away his iron rice bowl to join a food company that doesn't even have a factory built yet?" Lu Kun asked bluntly.

"That guy Huang was already fired by Huadu Normal University," Chen Xiangyang said with a shrug.

"Why was he fired?" Lu Kun had suspected there might be some trouble.

"They say he was reported for molesting a female student. Heh, heh, heh..." Chen Xiangyang chuckled unethically.

"..." Lu Kun was speechless.

"Are you trying to hire a pervert for Master Kong? If his character is that bad, what good is his degree?" Lu Kun snapped.

"Boss, don't be so quick to judge! I looked into it; the truth isn't like that at all," Chen Xiangyang hurriedly explained.

"Then what is it?" Lu Kun pressed.

"Actually, that teacher Huang and the student he allegedly 'molested' have known each other for a long time; they were childhood sweethearts. Huang was a stellar student and skipped several grades. His girlfriend was years behind him and struggled academically, taking two years to finally get into Huadu Normal. By the time she got in, Huang had already been teaching there for two years. As soon as they reunited, the old spark reignited. Two young, healthy people, blinded by passion, went into the woods at the school's 'Lovers' Slope'... and things got quite intense."

Lu Kun rubbed his temples. What on earth was this?

"And then?" Lu Kun asked, stroking his chin. If that was the case, the man's "crime" wasn't actually that serious.

"Then? They were reported and dragged straight to the principal’s office for a lecture," Chen Xiangyang laughed.

"What’s their status now?" Lu Kun asked.

"He was fired, and she was forced to withdraw," Chen Xiangyang said seriously.

...

"Does he have any issues with the salary we offered?" Lu Kun asked.

"No issues there, but..."

"Speak your mind," Lu Kun frowned.

"The teacher is asking Master Kong to provide a large advance payment," Chen Xiangyang said, sounding just as exasperated.

"How much? And what does he need so much money for?" Lu Kun rolled his eyes. The starting salary he offered was one thousand—a mid-range salary even for a foreign enterprise.

"Thirty thousand!" Chen Xiangyang held up three fingers on the other end, his mouth twitching.

"Whoa! That much? Why does he need so much cash?" Lu Kun’s eyebrows jumped. Last year, the two-story building he bought in Gui'an, including the land and nearly three hundred square meters of space, only cost twenty thousand.

"He got his girlfriend pregnant. To make it easier for the child to get a residency permit, he needs to buy a house in Angui," Chen Xiangyang explained.

Lu Kun understood. The man’s previous housing had likely been reclaimed by the university, and after such a scandal, they couldn't face their families back home. Since Chen Xiangyang had approached him with a good offer, Huang probably decided he wanted to settle his family in Angui.

"Go ahead and agree to it. I’ll meet him in person first before we finalize anything," Lu Kun instructed.

"Understood."

Lu Kun didn't care much for Huang Mingbo's personal drama; that was his own business. The couple had acted out of mutual consent and paid the price. As an outsider, he could simply sit back and watch. Compared to his subordinates' private morals, Lu Kun valued their professional ability far more.