The next day, when Ye Chen woke up, it was already noon.
Ye Chen thought to himself, "This is bad. HeРІР‚в„ўs never gotten up this late before."
He scrambled out of bed, quickly washed up, and dashed out of the house.
At the delivery point, Zhang Dafu looked outside with a puzzled expression, thinking how odd it was for Ye Chen to be this late—it just wasn’t like him.
After all, besides Zhang Dafu, Ye Chen was the earliest among the employees every day.
Zhang Dafu wasnРІР‚в„ўt angry about Ye Chen being late; he knew Ye Chen had money to spare and worked hard.
Nevertheless, he called Ye Chen several times, but no one answered.
At that moment, a convoy approached from afar, and Zhang Dafu knew those were people sent by the head office to commend outstanding employees.
Yesterday, he had already received notification from the head office because Ye Chen always arrived early, and his performance was good.
Zhang Dafu hadnРІР‚в„ўt called ahead; who wouldРІР‚в„ўve thought Ye Chen still hadnРІР‚в„ўt arrived today?
If the head office found out he was late, claiming to be an outstanding employee, wouldnРІР‚в„ўt that be embarrassing?
Sweat started beading on Zhang DafuРІР‚в„ўs forehead, and upon seeing the people stepping out of the vehicle, he hurried over to greet them.
"Manager Lu, welcome to our store," Zhang Dafu respectfully said.
Seeing the sweat pouring down Zhang DafuРІР‚в„ўs forehead, Manager Lu asked curiously, "Dafu, are you not feeling well? Why are you sweating so much?"
"Thank you for your concern, Manager Lu. IРІР‚в„ўm fine; itРІР‚в„ўs just too hot," Zhang Dafu quickly explained.
As he spoke, he ushered Manager Lu into the office and had someone prepare tea and water.
"Dafu, thereРІР‚в„ўs no need to be so polite. WeРІР‚в„ўre here to acknowledge some outstanding employees today. All three are in the store, right?" Manager Lu got straight to the point.
"Yes, I informed them yesterday about the head office visit, so they are all here," Zhang Dafu replied.
Then, he handed the prepared tea to Manager Lu, "Manager Lu, youРІР‚в„ўve had a long journey. Please have some water."
He did this to stall for time since Ye Chen still hadnРІР‚в„ўt shown up.
If word got out about the outstanding employee being late, where would his reputation go?
Manager Lu, being courteous, said, "No need; we still have other stores to visit later. DonРІР‚в„ўt waste time; just call in those three outstanding employees."
Hearing this, Zhang Dafu broke out in cold sweat. How was he going to conjure up three people when he hadnРІР‚в„ўt seen Ye Chen yet?
Noticing Zhang DafuРІР‚в„ўs troubled expression, Manager Lu asked, "Dafu, is there a problem?"
"No, no problem. IРІР‚в„ўll call them in right now," Zhang Dafu said as he started to leave.
He found the girl in charge of logistics, Wang Jia, urgently saying, "Little Jia, quickly call Ye Chen and tell him to hurry up to the store."
After speaking, he called in the two outstanding employees waiting in the store, Xiao Zhang and Little Wang, into the office.
Upon seeing the outstanding employees enter, Manager Lu gratefully said, "WeРІР‚в„ўre here today to commend our outstanding employees. ItРІР‚в„ўs because of your hard work, through all weather, that the company has achieved great success. You are the pride of the company, you are..."
Manager Lu suddenly stopped mid-sentence, furrowing his brow.
Initially, when Zhang Dafu brought in Xiao Zhang and Little Wang, Manager Lu didnРІР‚в„ўt say anything. He thought he could muddle through.
But now that Manager Lu paused mid-sentence, it was clear heРІР‚в„ўd noticed.
"Dafu, there are only two people here. I may have poor eyesight, but I can still count," Manager Lu joked to ease the tension.
Zhang Dafu, with a tense expression, said, "Manager Lu, our top performer has never been late before. I donРІР‚в„ўt know what happened today."
He explained while wiping his sweat, fearing Manager Lu would be upset.
"Oh, itРІР‚в„ўs okay. Have you called him?" Manager Lu asked kindly.
"I did, but no one answered," Zhang Dafu replied honestly.
Manager Lu understood the fierce competition in the courier industry and that such hardworking and high-achieving employees were valuable to the company, deserving of better treatment.
He smiled at the two outstanding employees and said, "In the future, the company will improve your benefits and increase various subsidies. You must balance work and rest. If you overwork, it will be the companyРІР‚в„ўs loss. Remember to take precautions against heat and seek relief in hot weather. DonРІР‚в„ўt push yourself if you feel unwell."
Hearing Manager LuРІР‚в„ўs heartfelt advice, Xiao Zhang and Little Wang were moved to tears, "Thank you for your concern, Manager Lu. We will work even harder for the companyРІР‚в„ўs bright future."
These were actually words Zhang Dafu had coached them to say beforehand, but Manager Lu smiled and nodded.
Then, he looked at Zhang Dafu and asked, "Dafu, why havenРІР‚в„ўt you called yet?"
"With you here, how can I make a call?" Zhang Dafu thought to himself.
"Go ahead and call."
Feeling wronged, Zhang Dafu took out his phone from his pocket.
Dialing Ye ChenРІР‚в„ўs number, a voice came through, "Grandpa, your grandson is calling you, grandpa, your grandson is calling you..."
Zhang Dafu suppressed his anger, listening to the voice.
"Grandpa, damn it, why donРІР‚в„ўt you answer the phone quickly."
But the call remained unanswered...
Seeing Manager Lu chatting with the two outstanding employees, Zhang Dafu stood there with the phone, knowing that Manager Lu, being older, had a poor memory.
HeРІР‚в„ўd heard from other station managers that Manager Lu often forgot what heРІР‚в„ўd said halfway through a conversation.
Maybe today, in his chat with the employees, heРІР‚в„ўd forget about Ye Chen.
After a while, Manager Lu burst into laughter, "I just love chatting with you young folks. It makes me feel much younger, and your suggestions are greatly helpful for the companyРІР‚в„ўs future development."
He continued, "The company needs young, ambitious talents like you. You are the companyРІР‚в„ўs tomorrow, you are the companyРІР‚в„ўs future."
Seeing them getting along so well, Zhang DafuРІР‚в„ўs expression relaxed a bit, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
Just when he thought things had blown over, Manager Lu suddenly looked his way and asked, "Did the call go through?"
Hearing this, cold sweat broke out on Zhang DafuРІР‚в„ўs forehead again, "Manager Lu, I called several times, but no one answered."

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