Chapter 73: A Desperate Move
Pressed by everyone, Han Ping decided to just come clean.
"Brothers, I was wrong, I was wrong."
"It's true, I'm the one who took the initiative to ask Mr. Zhang for those four wells."
"But come on, I only did it because I saw you were all being suspicious, timid, and hesitant. I was kindly trying to take the burden off your shoulders!"
Before he could finish, the others jeered at him in unison.
"Pah!"
"Take the burden off our shoulders, my ass!"
"With your personality, if you thought for a second this measure wouldn't work, you'd have run as far as you could!"
"I'm telling you, Han Ping, you're a sly one."
"Including the previous well, your team has gotten five wells this year, and the results have been fantastic."
"When it comes time for the year-end assessment, everyone on your team, from top to bottom, is going to be rolling in money."
"But look at us! We're still scratching our heads trying to meet our annual targets!"
"How did you manage to hog such a good thing all to yourself?"
"No way! I heard Mr. Zhang and the others are already selecting wells for the next round—the last round. We have to go and demand more wells!"
And so, during the drinking that followed, Han Ping, now the target of everyone's resentment, was promptly drunk under the table.
As for the others, without another word, they seized the rare opportunity and, reeking of alcohol, stormed the plant headquarters to find Zhang Zhengmao.
However, they were stunned to find that when they arrived aggressively, Zhang Zhengmao's spacious office was already completely packed with people.
The captains and vice-captains of the other oil production teams were all crowded inside.
Unsurprisingly, they had also come to ask for wells.
This oil production plant wasn't massive, but it wasn't small, either.
When the profile control wells were first assigned, nearly everyone except Han Ping had been skeptical.
But now, seeing that every single well had produced positive results, even a fool could understand what was happening.
Just moments ago, the captains who had been drinking were envying Han Ping for getting four wells. Now, the captains in Zhang Zhengmao's office were envying them for at least getting one.
It was better than having no wells at all, right?
Looking at his office, which had been occupied for a full day and was more chaotic than a vegetable market, Zhang Zhengmao felt a headache coming on and decided on a desperate tactic.
He sighed helplessly, then beckoned everyone closer with a mysterious air.
Seeing this, the dozen or so people immediately swarmed him like cats that had been starving for days, their eyes filled with extreme eagerness.
Zhang Zhengmao deliberately glanced outside the room before whispering, "Your information is very accurate. We are indeed screening the next round of wells."
"And there are quite a few of them."
"However, while the screening is nominally my responsibility and that of our geological department…"
"If you inquire carefully, you'll find out that the reason these wells are so effective is all because of Party B's technology."
"Especially that kid, Liu Shang!"
"The real decision of which wells get treated and which don't? That all depends on Liu Shang."
"So, all of you crowding my office… you're barking up the wrong tree. It's completely useless!"
After hearing Zhang Zhengmao's words, everyone at the scene had a sudden realization. One by one, they left the plant headquarters, got into their cars, and rushed to the various construction sites to 'capture' the protagonist, Liu Shang.
And so, over the next few days, a poor, clueless Liu Shang was practically abducted from the construction site and taken to various oil production teams countless times.
Once they got their hands on him, it didn't matter if Liu Shang had eaten or if it was mealtime. A huge table of delicious food and good wine would appear, and a crowd of people would be there to keep him company.
Their motto was: if we can't get you stumbling drunk, we're not letting you go!
This led to Liu Shang approaching the sites like a thief in the following days. The moment he saw a vehicle from the oil field, he was like a mouse seeing a cat.
As a result, Liu Shang's time on-site was drastically reduced. Seeing him there became more difficult than winning the lottery.
When the plant manager, Pan Qingfeng, heard about this, he couldn't help but slam his hand on the table and curse.
"What the hell is wrong with those bastards? How did they manage to scare that kid Liu Shang away?"
"If Liu Shang spends less time on-site and it ends up affecting the results, I'll have their hides, every last one of them!"
...
As time went on, the results from the treated wells got better and better.
The moods of plant manager Pan Qingfeng and the other leaders grew more and more joyful.
Employee care packages and benefits at the plant became more frequent.
From top to bottom, the entire oil production plant was filled with a sense of relaxed happiness.
During a routine technical report meeting midway through the construction, just as the old expert Xu Tiande opened his PPT to begin, he was interrupted by Pan Qingfeng, who waved his hand dismissively.
"I say, Professor Xu, why bother with the report?"
"You know that for everything from well selection to technical research, your Liu Shang has been leading a team of our technicians."
"Even Mr. Zhang and I are assisting him. We know the situation with these wells better than you do. Do you still need to report to us?"
Following Pan Qingfeng's words, everyone present chuckled in agreement.
Pan Qingfeng then continued, "So, since you're here, let's just skip the formalities and chat!"
"By the way, Mr. Song, I have to remind you about something. You absolutely cannot treat Liu Shang poorly."
"He is the single biggest contributor to me, Pan Qingfeng, and to our entire plant."
"If it weren't for my respect for you, and the fear that Professor Xu and Mr. Zhong would have my head, we would have discussed poaching Liu Shang from you I don't know how many times."
"That little salary you're paying him… tsk, tsk, even I think it's embarrassing!"
Hearing Pan Qingfeng's words, Song Guangyuan simply smiled and replied politely that no matter who it was, as long as they made a true contribution to the company, the company would never treat them unfairly.
After the meeting, the others remained in the conference room to chat and discuss follow-up construction matters, while Song Guangyuan followed Pan Qingfeng to his huge office.
With no outsiders present, the two of them slipped back into the familiar, casual atmosphere of old friends.
"Tell me, Guangyuan, what's going on? I always get the feeling that you're very indifferent to that kid Liu Shang."
As he spoke, Pan Qingfeng brewed a pot of fine tea, and the two of them sat down on a comfortable sofa.
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