Yu Feng's efficiency was indeed high. Three days later, the glue-making master from Dongshan arrived in Hancheng. Yang Jian drove to Hancheng train station to pick up the master, whose name was Jiang Bin.
Jiang Bin was in his forties, of medium build, slightly thin, with a buzz cut and glasses. He looked quite spirited, like an office white-collar worker.
"Mr. Yang, I didn't expect you to start a factory and your own business at such a young age. Truly remarkable."
Jiang Bin was a very talkative person. As soon as they got in the car, he started chatting with Yang Jian. His standard Mandarin was very approachable.
Yang Jian smiled awkwardly as he drove. "Mr. Jiang, you make me feel so ashamed. It's precisely because I'm young that I lack experience, foresight, and vision. The factory fell into difficulties as soon as it opened, and I had to ask you to come and rescue us."
"It's alright. It's normal for young people to face some setbacks. It's part of the growth experience. Don't be discouraged. The more difficult it is, the more you must press forward. I only know that your glue has problems. Could you tell me the specific situation first?"
"Okay, it's like this. The timber processing industry in our hometown is developing rapidly, and I have some connections in the construction industry, so I started this formwork factory. I had my cousin go to Dongshan to learn glue-making techniques for a period, and he started production after returning.
Originally, my cousin and the others planned to produce a batch of formwork first to test the quality. If the technology was up to par, they would proceed with mass production. However, I was too eager for quick success. In order to cover a development zone's construction sites comprehensively with our products, I blindly invested five to six hundred thousand yuan in large-scale production without verifying the quality of the formwork.
The final result was that the formwork began to delaminate and crack after just one use, clearly indicating substandard glue quality.
We had no choice but to ask someone to invite you over for guidance. Please state any requirements you have. You must help me revive this formwork factory."
Yang Jian spoke very sincerely. He felt that Jiang Bin was genuinely skilled and also a very easy person to get along with.
"Mr. Yang, your account differs slightly from what Mr. Liu, the introducer, told me. He said he wanted me to be the factory manager, and that it would involve a technical stake."
"Factory manager? Then tell me, what does a technical stake mean?"
Yang Jian was a bit surprised. The Mr. Liu that Jiang Bin mentioned should be an acquaintance of Yu Feng, perhaps Yu Feng wanted to find someone with both technical and management expertise for him.
Jiang Bin considered for a moment before saying, "Mr. Yang, to be frank, I have a master's degree in Chemical Engineering from Dongshan University. Three months ago, I was also the owner of a large-scale board factory. My construction formwork not only held a significant share in the domestic market but was also exported overseas."
"Wow, Mr. Jiang, you are a master! How could you stoop to come to our small place?"
Before Jiang Bin could finish, Yang Jian was startled by his credentials.
Jiang Bin gave a wry smile. "I'm no master. I'm just a down-on-his-luck debtor now."
"What happened, Mr. Jiang?"
"Alas, I won't go into the details of starting the business; it's a tale of bitter tears. Let me give you a brief introduction. My previous board factory was a major taxpayer in our county, with an annual output value exceeding one hundred million. I was indeed very successful in those years.
But about a year ago, under the instigation of fellow bosses, I became addicted to gambling. In less than a year, I lost the board factory entirely and incurred debts of over ten million yuan.
My wife divorced me, took our two children, and kicked me out of the house. I left with nothing.
Relatives and friends who once surrounded me now avoided me, afraid I would ask them for money.
Beset by lawsuits and pursued by creditors, I became homeless. It was Mr. Liu, whom I met during my early entrepreneurial days, who took me in. I worked as an ordinary technician in his factory.
A couple of days ago, he asked me to come here, saying you needed a technically proficient factory manager and that there was an opportunity for a technical stake. He suggested it might be a chance to make a comeback. But from your tone, it seems you only want a technician."
"Mr. Yang, that's my situation. If you feel I am not trustworthy, you can send me back to the train station now."
Jiang Bin was very dejected, feeling that Mr. Liu had tricked him, intending to get rid of him to avoid paying an extra salary.
Another boss ruined by gambling. This Jiang Bin's experience was rather unusual. A net worth of over a hundred million lost in less than a year, turning him into a destitute defaulter. The more glorious he was in the past, the more pathetic he was now. The fickleness of the world and the coldness of human relationships – this was a true roller-coaster of fortune, leaving one sighing.
Yang Jian suddenly didn't know what to say and casually asked, "Mr. Jiang, what kind of gambling did you play?"
"Baccarat. I was led to the casino by a peer boss and became addicted. Now that I think about it, I was probably scammed. It's too late to regret it."
"If you had money in your hand right now, would you still gamble?"
"No, the lesson was too profound. My life was ruined by gambling. From now on, I won't even play games like Dou Dizhu."
Yang Jian nodded. "It's very good that you have this realization. With your abilities, you will definitely make a comeback."
Jiang Bin gave a wry smile. "Mr. Yang, are you saying this because you plan to send me back to the train station?"
Yang Jian was taken aback. "No. On the contrary, I hope you will stay. Talents like you are hard to find even with a lantern. Mr. Jiang, to be honest, I run a casino. I'm worried you might reject me."
"No, no. People who can run casinos are capable. Those who gamble do so out of greed, always wanting to get something for nothing. You casino operators merely provide a venue. Where there's demand, there's a market. You're operating the market; it's a case of one willing to hit and one willing to be hit. Why should I reject you?"
"That's good. Actually, I prefer to run businesses. Running a casino was to accumulate capital. Currently, I have very good resources, but I lack technology and management experience. If you don't mind my factory being small, I hope you can stay."
"The factory being small doesn't matter. As long as you give me a platform, I am confident I can bring your enterprise to my previous scale, or even bigger and stronger. This is because the real estate industry across the country is entering a phase of rapid development. Both construction formwork and decorative panels have very broad prospects, and the market is large enough."
Through their brief conversation, Jiang Bin felt that Yang Jian was an ambitious person and had a straightforward personality, not someone who liked to play dirty tricks. They should be able to cooperate.
Although he was down on his luck and desperately hoped someone would appreciate him and give him a platform to develop, Jiang Bin was more afraid of being exploited. What if he handed over his technology, the company grew, and then he was kicked out, all his efforts in vain?
"Mr. Jiang, we are like a pillow meeting a sleepy head. You need a platform, and I can provide it. Although this platform is a bit small, it will allow you to unleash your full potential.
I need technology and management experience, and you lack neither. We each get what we need, and I believe we can cooperate very well."
Yang Jian immediately made his decision. He had to keep Jiang Bin.