chsdbacks Chapter 37 Going to HSBC Again
Chapter 37 Going to HSBC Again
In Lin Zhou's study, he was fast asleep, slumped over a desk covered with drawings. The desk lamp still cast a warm yellow light, making the dark circles under his eyes appear faint. A pencil was still between his fingers, the tip leaving a shallow ink mark on the drawings.
The drawings on the table were spread out in large quantities. The top one was a structural diagram of the air fryer. The curvature of the inner pot, the distribution of the heating elements, the temperature control and mechanical timer layout were all marked in dense detail. Even the screw types and installation positions were not omitted.
Flipping down reveals disassembled component drawings, from the inner liner to the micro motor driving the fan, from the circuit diagram of the thermostat to the stamping mold design of the outer shell. Each drawing is precise and detailed, with handwritten notes by Lin Zhou next to it, indicating the requirements for material selection and the process difficulties that need to be paid attention to during processing.
At the very bottom was a thick instruction manual. From product introduction, usage steps, cleaning methods to troubleshooting common problems, Lin Zhou had meticulously copied everything down in neat handwriting. He even considered the needs of different users and added cooking time and temperature suggestions for several special recipes. The edges of the paper were slightly curled from repeated reading, and there were a few drops of coffee that had accidentally splattered on it—he hadn't had a good night's sleep for several days in order to finish this.
As the light outside grew brighter and a clear birdsong drifted in through the window, Lin Zhou abruptly lifted his head from the table, a throbbing, dizzy headache washing over him. He rubbed his sore eyes, his gaze falling on the mountain of blueprints and instructions piled on the table. He stared blankly for a full half-minute before belatedly slapping his forehead, muttering in frustration, "What an idiot!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it was filled with deep regret. When he took over the newspaper, he didn't do anything himself; he just left the professional tasks to the professionals. But once he got involved in the development of the air fryer, he couldn't help but do everything himself, handling everything from design drawings to instruction manuals by himself. He was so busy that he forgot his original intention.
"When it comes to recruiting talent, we have to find professionals!" Lin Zhou muttered to himself, standing up and stretching, his bones creaking all over. He went to the bathroom, splashed his face with cold water, the icy touch instantly clearing his foggy mind. Looking at his reflection in the mirror—dark circles under his eyes, a tired expression—he couldn't help but shake his head. If this continued, he'd collapse from exhaustion before the factory even started operating.
After a quick wash, Lin Zhou took a few slices of bread and a carton of milk from the refrigerator and hurriedly finished his breakfast. The bread was a little hard, and the milk was still cold from being taken out of the refrigerator, but he ate it quickly, his mind already on finding people and purchasing equipment. He put down the milk carton, grabbed his coat and car keys, and went out.
In the parking lot downstairs, his car gleamed with a calm luster in the morning light. He had specifically bought this car after purchasing the house, firstly for convenience, and secondly because in this era that values status, a nice car would give him more confidence when interacting with others. Lin Zhou opened the car door, got in, started the engine, turned the steering wheel, and drove towards HSBC Bank.
Lin Zhou gripped the steering wheel, his gaze focused on the road ahead, but his mind was racing, calculating the types of talent he needed. Electrical engineers and mechanical designers—these would be his future backbone, providing ideas and guiding their research and development. He also needed production managers, as well as sales and purchasing personnel familiar with the home appliance industry. Each position was crucial and indispensable.
Besides, production equipment is also a major issue. Air fryer production requires a series of specialized equipment such as stamping machines, injection molding machines, and assembly lines. This equipment is expensive, and most of it needs to be imported, resulting in long procurement cycles, as well as transportation and installation/commissioning problems. Lin Zhou increasingly felt that this matter was fraught with difficulties, and that he couldn't possibly move forward quickly on his own. He needed to find a reliable person or organization to help connect them.
With this in mind, he became even more determined to go to HSBC. He had experienced HSBC's strength and efficiency when he deposited 100 kilograms of gold there last time, and through the house purchase, he had also gained considerable respect for Li Huiting's professional abilities. As a financial institution, the bank had extensive connections and abundant resources; perhaps it could help him find suitable talent and equipment suppliers.
A little over half an hour later, the car came to a smooth stop in front of HSBC Bank. Lin Zhou got out of the car, straightened his suit, and stepped into the bank lobby. The lobby was spacious and bright, with a gleaming marble floor that reflected the dazzling light of the crystal chandelier on the ceiling. Several staff members in professional suits were working efficiently and methodically. There weren't too many customers, and everything seemed orderly.
As soon as Lin Zhou entered, his gaze was drawn to the figure at the front desk. Annie was standing behind the front desk, holding a document in her hand and looking down at it. Her long, black hair was neatly tied back, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck. Her well-fitting business suit accentuated her upright posture and capable demeanor.
Seemingly noticing the commotion at the door, Annie looked up, her gaze meeting Lin Zhou's. She paused for a moment, then a look of realization flashed in her eyes, and she quickly recognized the young man before her. After all, it was extremely rare for a customer to deposit a hundred kilograms of gold in a bank at once, and Annie had a particularly strong impression of Lin Zhou.
She immediately put down the documents in her hand, a professional yet warm smile appearing on her face, and nodded slightly to Lin Zhou: "Good morning, sir! It's a pleasure to see you again. May I ask what business you're here for today, and if you need any assistance?"
Her voice was gentle and pleasant, with just the right amount of politeness and friendliness, which calmed Lin Zhou's somewhat agitated mood considerably.
Lin Zhou strode to the front desk, smiled at Annie, and said, "Hello, Ms. Annie. I'm not here today to conduct routine banking business; I'd like to consult you about something."
"Please go ahead," Anne leaned forward slightly, adopting a posture of attentive listening. "I will do my best to help you in any way I can."
"It's like this," Lin Zhou said slowly, organizing his thoughts. "I'm currently setting up a home appliance factory, mainly producing a new type of appliance. The factory site is basically finalized, but we lack relevant professionals, such as engineers, designers, production management, and sales personnel. We also need to purchase a batch of production equipment. I'm thinking that HSBC has extensive connections and abundant resources, so perhaps they can give me some recommendations or guidance. I wonder which department or person I should contact at the bank?"
Annie was surprised when she heard Lin Zhou's words. She had thought Lin Zhou was just a young man from a wealthy family, but she didn't expect him to have plans to start his own business and set up a factory, and to target the home appliance industry right away. Her boldness was truly admirable.
However, she quickly composed herself, her professionalism allowing her to react swiftly. She pondered for a moment, then quickly came up with an idea, looking up at Lin Zhou and saying, "Mr. Lin, regarding the situation you described, I think Manager Li Huiting from the Asset Disposal Department should be able to help you. Manager Li has worked in the bank for many years; she not only has excellent business skills but also a wide network of connections and access to many high-quality resources. She has helped many clients solve similar talent and equipment procurement problems before."
She paused for a moment, then added, "And I remember that Manager Li handled your property purchase matters before, so you should already know each other, which will make communication easier."
Lin Zhou was immediately delighted to hear the name "Li Huiting." He did indeed remember Li Huiting; when he bought the house last time, she was not only professional and efficient in helping him find a suitable property, but also provided him with a lot of professional advice throughout the contract signing and property transfer processes, saving him a lot of trouble. Unexpectedly, Annie had also recommended her this time when looking for talent and equipment, which saved him a lot of effort.
"Okay, thank you so much, Miss Annie." Lin Zhou sincerely thanked Annie. "I'll go talk to Manager Li now."
"You're welcome, it's my pleasure." Annie smiled and nodded, pointing towards the elevator on one side of the lobby. "Manager Li's office is on the third floor. After you take the elevator up, walk straight down the corridor, and it's the third room on the left. There's a nameplate on the door, it's easy to find."
"Okay, I understand." Lin Zhou thanked Annie again and turned to walk towards the elevator.
Taking the elevator to the third floor, I stepped out and was greeted by a quiet and tidy corridor. The walls on both sides of the corridor were light gray, and the floor was covered with a soft carpet, making walking almost silent. Every so often, there was a wall lamp, its warm yellow light creating a calm and professional atmosphere.
Following Annie's directions, Lin Zhou slowly walked down the corridor. The office doors on both sides of the corridor were all closed, and occasionally the faint sounds of conversation and typing could be heard from inside; everything seemed orderly.
He quickly stopped in front of the third room on the left. A metal plaque hung on the door, clearly engraved with the words "Asset Disposal Department - Li Huiting" in both Chinese and English. The font was simple and elegant, exuding a capable air.
Lin Zhou took a deep breath, straightened his collar, and made sure he looked presentable. He knew that this communication with Li Huiting was crucial, not only for finding suitable talent and equipment, but also for the progress of the appliance factory's preparation.
He raised his hand and gently knocked on the door with his knuckles, the force just right—not too forceful, but loud enough for the person inside to hear clearly.
"Please come in."
A clear and melodious female voice came from the room; it was the voice of Li Huiting that Lin Zhou remembered.