Jia De's so-called factory was located in a construction site in the southern suburbs of the city.

Since Luo Lan was traveling with the president of the department, he no longer had to drive his small van that only roared but didn't go anywhere. Instead, he took the opportunity to experience the feeling of sitting in the boss's seat in a luxury car.

It must be said that lying on the wide seat that was even softer than a sofa and drinking iced champagne from the rear refrigerator was indeed a taste that easily made people addicted.

Of course, it would be even more perfect if the champagne was replaced with cola.

When the vehicle drove off the flat highway and onto the bumpy temporary road, the roar of machinery became incessant, and the figures of trucks and excavators could be seen everywhere.

In a row of prefabricated houses, one could see banners hanging with the words "San Ye Construction Engineering Co., Ltd.", and further away, towering pile foundations were as dense as a forest.

Perhaps seeing Luo Lan's curiosity, Jia De took the initiative to explain, "The group plans to build a modern new energy automobile city here. Currently, the construction department is responsible for construction. After all the facilities are completed, they will be handed over to the manufacturing department. This project has been approved for a long time and was only implemented a few months ago."

No wonder Jia Xiya hasn't mentioned protesting forced demolitions recently. It turns out that the San Ye Group has temporarily shifted its target.

"What about the factory?"

"It will be demolished," Jia De replied. "It used to be a farm machinery factory. It has undergone several reforms, but ultimately it could not keep up with the needs of the times. Considering your special requirements, I can leave a factory building for you to use – although it is not under my control, I have already told them, and it won't hurt to leave it there for the time being."

"Are the personnel still complete?" More than the site, Luo Lan was more concerned about professional talent.

"Almost all gone," Jia De shrugged. "There is only one retiring old master and a dozen workers left. They are all considered family members. When the automobile city is built, the latter will probably be transferred to new positions."

Uh, it sounds a bit shabby... Luo Lan couldn't help but complain in his heart, but having something is better than having nothing. Although there is still a certain gap between this and the legendary design bureau full of experts and talents he expected, it is finally a start.

And after arriving at the destination, he lowered his psychological expectations again – what came into view was a slightly dilapidated factory building with an area of about five hundred square meters. The steel plate walls had already revealed mottled rust. Walking into the factory, the dust in the corners was almost thick enough to leave footprints, and the scattered machine tools were not much better, obviously no one had taken care of them for a long time.

Following Jia De up the stairs at the head of the factory building, as he approached the management room, Luo Lan keenly caught the sound of conversation coming from the room.

"Hey, I wonder when the company will demolish this place... Sitting in the same place every day, my butt is almost getting moldy."

"It's not bad to be idle, anyway, being transferred to a new company won't increase your salary, and you might have to work overtime every day. I'd rather sit still."

"What are you talking about," a rather elderly voice interjected, "Young people should be full of vitality."

"Vitality can't be eaten... If I could retire and get paid now, I guarantee I'd agree without saying a word."

"By the way, Master Xie, you should retire this time, right? I heard that the boss has persuaded you several times. Actually, even if you don't come to clock in, the boss probably won't say anything."

"I can't bear to leave this place... I've been here for almost thirty years. While it hasn't been demolished yet, I'll take another look."

"Or, I'll help you take some pictures?"

"You brat, can photos be the same as the real thing!"

"Wait, it seems like someone's coming—"

A rustling sound suddenly rang out in the room.

When Jia De's secretary pushed open the door, everyone in the room had returned to their original positions. Some were tidying up the documents on the table, and some were sitting in front of the computer typing, as if they had been busy before.

"General... General Jia, why are you here?" Seeing Jia De appear, everyone was stunned. Obviously, the "boss" they mentioned was not this member of the board of directors. It felt as if a high-ranking government official had suddenly come to an obscure village.

"Bringing a friend to visit," Jia De looked at the oldest person in the crowd, "You are Master Xie, right? I heard that you have worked here for decades?"

Luo Lan also turned his gaze to the other party. From the appearance, he was almost sixty years old. Only a sparse circle of hair remained on the top of his head. A pair of huge reading glasses hung on his nose. He was thin and held a discolored thermos cup in his hand. Apart from his relatively energetic eyes, he was no different from the old men coming and going in the tenement district.

Probably the only thing Master Xie could show off was his long seniority.

"Yes, you are right." The other party rubbed the cup and replied, with some flattery in his tone, "From the year I joined the factory, it has been exactly twenty-nine years this year."

Okay, this temperament is also far from those folk masters who possess unique skills and love to ignore everyone... Luo Lan's expectations fell to the bottom. It seemed that he might have to recruit people himself.

"You've really worked hard," Jia De smiled, "Coincidentally, my young friend is interested in the factory. You can take him around and introduce the situation of the factory building."

"Okay, okay." Master Xie looked at Luo Lan in surprise, "But the factory is about to..."

"If he likes this place, the factory can be preserved."

As these words were spoken, Luo Lan noticed that the other party's gaze towards him suddenly became ardent.

"May I ask what your name is?"

"Just call me Luo Lan."

"Okay, Mr. Luo Lan, please follow me!"

Master Xie led him to the factory area with great enthusiasm. Just as he was about to introduce the factory's long history, Luo Lan directly interrupted him, "Instead of that, I'd rather know what kind of work you've done before?"

"I've done almost everything..." Master Xie said with a smile, "From fitter to workshop director, and later I was also the deputy director for a period of time. When I was busy, one person had to do the work of three or four people. During the day, I arranged assembly line operations, and at night I taught the young men how to repair machines, until my eyes were no longer good."

Luo Lan couldn't help but stop, "Have you done design work too?"

"Hey, of course, although I don't have a formal university degree, the factory used to have night classes, and I learned a lot of things on my own. It's just that pens and rulers are no match for computers, and the company established a dedicated design department a few years ago, so probably no one cares about these paper drawings anymore."

"If I want a crawler tractor, and the requirements and specifications are different from those on the market, can you make it?"

"Tractor? Haha, I'm more familiar with it than I am with my own wife. It's not me bragging, Mr. Luo Lan, as long as you give me a few apprentices to help, I can grind one out with my eyes closed."

He asked in surprise, "In that case, why didn't San Ye Group recruit you into the design department?"

"Alas, the things they're fiddling with now can't do without computers. I heard that all the production lines in the new factory are automated, and robots take care of most of the work. All the people in the old factory have gone to sales and administration. Even if they invite me over, I can't do anything."

Master Xie's tone revealed a hint of loneliness.

And Luo Lan had a one hundred and eighty degree change in his opinion of him.

Ordinary image? Such employees won't steal the limelight;

Honest temperament? Isn't it easier to lead an honest team?

Not knowing how to use a computer is even a negligible problem. There are so many cheap draftsmen, you can recruit a dozen of them.

"Very good, very good," Luo Lan couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth and nod repeatedly.

"Ah?" Master Xie was stunned, as if he didn't understand what was good about this.

"The factory won't be demolished," he said bluntly, "I will transform this place into a new design bureau, and you will be my first chief engineer."

"Design... bureau?"

"That's right," Luo Lan stretched out his hand to the other party, "Welcome to join the Graycastle Design Bureau."