Chapter 146: Talents in Place

Nanming City, at the temporary office of Master Kong Food and Beverage Company.

"Nice to meet you, Boss Lu. I am..."

Seeing the scholarly appearance of the man before him, Lu Kun immediately identified who he was, having already seen his photograph.

"Oh, my dear Brother Huang, I have been looking forward to a talent like you for a long time!" Lu Kun clapped him on the shoulder with practiced familiarity. To an outsider, it would seem as though they were old friends of many years.

Huang Mingbo felt a bit awkward and gave a sheepish smile. "I wouldn't dare, I really wouldn't dare."

Lu Kun understood. After all, Huang Mingbo was a highly educated intellectual who had stayed on to teach at his university for two years after graduation. He certainly possessed talent, but he might be lacking in the nuances of social interaction.

"As you can see, our factory isn't even fully built yet. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call my company a mere shell." Lu Kun patted his shoulder, pointed toward the busy construction workers nearby, and continued, "Take a good look—do you still dare to join me?"

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Huang Mingbo, having decided to burn his bridges, replied with his head held high.

"Sit, please, sit." Lu Kun patted his shoulder again, gesturing for him to take a chair so they could talk.

"Boss, I come from a rural background. I grew up gathering firewood in the mountains and catching fish in the rivers; I'm no stranger to hardship. You don't need to worry about me being unable to handle it. Since I was a child, I’ve known the principle that one must endure the bitterest of the bitter to become the best of the best..."

Huang Mingbo spilled his story to Lu Kun like beans pouring from a bag.

"I understand. For a kid from the countryside, it’s truly no simple task to jump over the 'dragon gate' and change one's destiny in this day and age," Lu Kun said with a smile, feeling a genuine resonance with the sentiment.

Huang Mingbo’s ability to skip grades and successfully get into Huadu Normal University, and then remain there as a teacher, relied not just on a clever mind, but likely on a desperate, burning drive from deep within his bones.

"Brother, let me ask you a personal question. I don't know if..." Lu Kun smacked his lips, carefully choosing his words.

"It’s fine. My reputation is already ruined, so there’s nothing to be embarrassed about." Huang Mingbo lowered his head, composed himself, and continued, "Actually, the truth is, someone set me up!"

"I’ve known that girl since we were children. I remember when I was still in middle school, she confessed her feelings to me. I told her I didn't want to rot in the countryside for the rest of my life, and I didn't want my future children to live like my parents, scratching a living from the soil forever. I wanted to escape the rural life, change the destiny of my entire family, and live a more brilliant life!"

"And then? How did you end up together?" Lu Kun handed him a few tissues and asked softly.

"She is a good girl! She said she would follow me forever and wanted to study for university with me. She isn't very clever, even a bit slow, but she is incredibly hardworking. After repeating two years of school, she finally got into Huadu Normal University." A mix of joy and tenderness crossed Huang Mingbo's face.

"You must have put in a lot of effort to help her through that process, right?" Lu Kun smiled.

"No. Most of it was her own doing. I only tutored her when I came home for the holidays." Huang Mingbo adjusted his glasses, let out a sigh, and shook his head.

"Then... did the girl's parents know you were dating?" Lu Kun thought for a moment before asking.

"Of course they knew. Our families have known each other for years; they didn't object to us being together, and were actually quite happy about it," Huang Mingbo chuckled.

"Then how could your school..." Lu Kun frowned. Logically, if the school had investigated the matter even slightly, the truth would have come out, and a simple warning or disciplinary notice should have sufficed.

"Where there are people, there is conflict. I was calculated against!" Huang Mingbo said with resentment.

"Oh? What happened?" Lu Kun raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

"It was during the title promotion assessment. There were three of us in the department with similar qualifications. I was certain of getting the promotion, but I never expected someone to seize on a pretext to ruin me," Huang Mingbo said, his eyes practically spitting fire.

"But, I heard that you were caught in a small grove..." Lu Kun said, looking conflicted.

"Rumors, absolute rumors! We were just there talking. We hadn't even had time to do anything!" Huang Mingbo immediately retorted.

"But..."

"Is it considered scandalous for lovers to hold each other?"

"Isn't it?"

"Is it?"

The two men stared at each other.

"Then why did the rumors spread so wildly?"

"Good news never leaves the door, but bad news travels a thousand miles. Add in people who wanted to stir the pot, and it’s no wonder the whole thing exploded."

"But how did I hear that you even got the girl pregnant?" Lu Kun felt a headache coming on.

"She was already pregnant before that; it had nothing to do with that incident. Besides, we are both of legal age, and I intended to marry her. Even her parents knew. Why is it wrong for us to engage in acts of love?" Huang Mingbo stated his position clearly.

Lu Kun: "..."

Fine. He couldn't be bothered with this mess.

"Then why did you decide to settle in Angui instead of returning home?" Lu Kun asked, considering his final question.

"The school hounded me to the end. They sent news of this whole business back to my hometown. I’ve practically become the 'disgrace of Yandu'," Huang Mingbo gritted his teeth.

"Whoa, how much hatred must they have had to be so ruthless?" Lu Kun frowned deeply.

Lu Kun didn't ask about the food industry, not wanting to show off his limited knowledge in front of Huang Mingbo. After all, the man was a teacher at a prestigious university; his foundational and theoretical knowledge far exceeded his own.

"Welcome to the Master Kong family. I hope you can contribute your strength to the company's growth and development," Lu Kun said, shaking Huang Mingbo's hand with a radiant smile.

"I certainly will, Boss. Please rest assured," Huang Mingbo said, visibly moved, unable to help himself.

With the matter settled, Lu Kun immediately had Chen Xiangyang take him to handle the residency registration. Chen Xiangyang, being a sharp individual, knew that this man had caught the boss’s eye and might one day become his superior.

Having finally recruited a high-caliber talent, Lu Kun would never let this fish slip away. Food and beverage enterprises might seem low-tech, but in reality, most people couldn't handle the complexities involved.

"Food is the first necessity of the people." When it comes to things people consume, safety is paramount. In the food and beverage industry, management is even more important than production.