Back to the Past to Become a Fishing King-Chapter 557 - 320: The Ultimate Test, Stir-Frying Grain in an Iron Wok (Part 2)

Steadily stirring with the shovel, although it's not heavy, after a long time, it becomes really exhausting.

Besides, there's the constant bending and straightening work. Not long after, the muscle groups in the arms and lower back started to protest.

If it were just these tasks, Xiaobao might be able to endure a bit longer. After all, carrying feed on the first day had given him a little confidence.

What was even harder to bear for Xiaobao was standing at the stove with the steaming heat, as if ready to roast a person dry.

It was currently the hottest part of the summer, with the stove underneath and a charcoal fire burning, working and stir-frying the sprouts. Just thinking about it was torturous!

In less than half an hour, Xiaobao's T-shirt was completely soaked with sweat. He looked like he'd just been fished out of water, with large beads of sweat constantly trickling from his nose and forehead.

"You're sweating a lot; once this batch of sprouts is done, take a break!" Uncle Liu, not wanting to torment Xiaobao, saw his poor condition and offered a reminder.

"Okay!"

Xiaobao responded and sped up his flipping motions.

After patiently finishing stir-frying this batch of sprouts, Xiaobao wiped his sweat with his sleeve, looked around with a dry throat, looking for a place to quench his thirst.

At this moment, Uncle Liu magically appeared with a large 3.5L Fuguang cup filled with tea.

"Here, take this! You mustn't lack water when stir-frying sprouts! This large cup should be enough, but if not, I'll get more!"

"Thank you, Uncle Liu!" Xiaobao took the cup, unscrewed the lid, and gulped down nearly a third of the tea, still feeling unsatisfied, truly tasting the sweetness of the tea for the first time.

"Uncle... who usually does the sprout frying? Are they on leave?" Xiaobao tilted his head, curiously asking like a little curious baby.

This question was actually well thought out by Xiaobao. Uncle Liu seemed too capable in the factory, giving Xiaobao the impression that he could do anything. Something felt off.

"No one is on leave; I've temporarily transferred him to the night shift! Zhang Yang specifically assigned you the sprout-frying task. If you can stick with it, you can join the team! If not, then back to where you came from!"

Unexpectedly, Uncle Liu was straightforward this time, revealing that the test was specifically designated by Zhang Yang.

Hearing that this task was a named test by Zhang Yang, Xiaobao scratched his head, a bit unsure of what it all meant.

"Well, I'll give it a try..."

Although Xiaobao said he'd try, he felt a bit uneasy inside. Working like this felt like being thrown into a furnace, and if he had to do this for a long time, Xiaobao thought he might go crazy.

"Take a rest and drink some water. I've got to go to the bathroom!" Uncle Liu waved his hand and headed toward the door.

Once Uncle Liu left, Xiaobao felt more and more something was off. Involved in a legitimate test, he felt somewhat cautious, pulling out his phone to call his uncle.

"Uncle! It's Xiaobao! Just now, working in the workshop with the supervisor, he mentioned that this challenge was arranged by Zhang Yang specifically. What should we do? I'm a bit unsure!"

Listening to his nephew's complaints, Xie Tianhao's mouth curled into a smile. "What's there to be unsure about? In ancient times, apprentices had to show sincerity and test their resolve! Did you think you'd just effortlessly gain others' approval?"

"But... this place is unfit for humans! In the scorching weather, you'd been heated even with no clothes on, and there's a fire beneath..." Xiaobao was nearly breaking down hearing his uncle.

"I don't care about the fire or whatever. To gain respect, one must suffer first. Just listen to me: if you want recognition, first show your attitude. No matter what's assigned, as long as it doesn't kill you, exhaust yourself to the fullest! Can you handle that?"

"Yes!" Xiaobao resolved fiercely, biting his lip and nodding vigorously at the phone, making a significant resolution.

"Alright then. Get to work, drink plenty of water, and don't just bear discomfort! Have the right attitude, but also report issues timely! Don't just foolishly work. If you get it right, the possibility of staying with Zhang Yang's team is quite high!"

"Alright then, I'm hanging up!"

Beep, beep! At the other end, the call ended. After Xie Tianhao put down the phone, his smile broadened.

Likely, young people like Xiaobao may not realize what intentional evaluations indicate.

But Xie Tianhao knew failing the test could see one dismissed for any excuse or reason, back where they started.

If one passed, joining such a young team could lead to substantial growth opportunities for his nephew. As long as his nephew persevered, any prior preparatory effort he made wouldn't have been in vain.

Ha! This Zhang Yang, quite a character! Xie Tianhao mused.

...

While the greenhorn Xie Xiaobao was being twisted and turned by the workshop's large iron pot, elsewhere, the involved party was living comfortably.

In the recently set-up office, Chen Xiu was leisurely crossing his legs high up, even placing his shoe on the desk.

In front of him stood another young man of similar age.

"President Chen, we've completed this round of product selections! What do you think..."

"Once selected, continue with the live streaming and selling tonight! Why report this to me? Is there a problem?" Chen Xiu glanced at the staff, his voice not loud but very commanding.

"There's something I need to report! But after I say it, don't get mad!"

"Go ahead, I won't get mad! As long as it's not a matter of principle, we can talk!" Chen Xiu nodded.

"I heard a rumor that someone in our product selection team received money! So, the selected products... you know!" The subordinate didn't spell it out but hinted at the issue.

"What? That's crazy! Are you sure?" Chen Xiu's tone rose on hearing this.

"You can find a way to investigate!"

"Alright, got it! Go get Wang Yin for me!"

"Okay, okay!" As the subordinate left, he faintly smiled.

Recently, Chen Xiu's team had been expanding rapidly. After getting through the initial phase with Zhang Yang's guidance, Chen Xiu's team now had over fifty members and continued growing.

In any team's development, issues large and small can arise; where there's people, there's strife. The subordinate reporting a problem actually had a previous grievance with Wang Yin, thus concocting half-truths.

Wang Yin, one of Chen Xiu's childhood buddies, is a trusted lieutenant.

He joined the team slightly later, but his role in live-stream merchandizing and product vetting showed the trust placed in him.

Chen Xiu's lack of persistent probing seemed to pin suspicion on Wang Yin, but really, he was performing a facade for the subordinate.

"What's up, Old Chen? Busy and all, cut to the chase!" Wang Yin impatiently remarked.

"It's important! Just now, Xiao Cui complained to me! You, boy, pocketed the hefty bribes for product selection?" Chen Xiu said unhurriedly.

"Damn it! Making up stuff like this! Is Xiao Cui crazy or am I?" Wang Yin blurted out angrily!

"No need to explain; our friendship assures me of your trustworthiness! I don't mean about taking money, but I'm curious if you've offended someone in the team?"