If everyone is reborn, who will work for capital?

Chapter 33 Grasp both aspects firmly.

With the rental arrangements settled, Geng Zhi immediately returned to Lanzhou University.

He packed up all his postgraduate entrance exam materials and personal belongings and brought them back to Shanghai, officially settling down at Shanghai Jiao Tong University to prepare for the exam.

The National Day holiday has just ended, and his new home in the Nordic Doctor Garden is already neatly arranged. Meanwhile, the company name verification for "Jiaotong University Matchmaker" has also been successfully completed.

According to the wishes of the legal representative, Ma Chunmei, the company was named "Magic City Wonderful Encounters Technology Co., Ltd."

I'm speechless about the name, but the company name doesn't really affect the business. After all, the big spender is Ma Chunmei; as long as we provide the emotional support, we'll go with whatever she says.

With the name approved, the next step is formal registration, which requires submitting a bunch of materials and confirming the shareholder's identity.

While the profit margin of "Jiaotong University Matchmaker" is limited, it is a key starting point for Gengzhi's future social networking landscape and has enormous strategic value, so it must be operated properly.

Ma Chunmei is unreliable, and I need to prepare for my exams. My most urgent task is to find a partner who can truly handle things and get things done.

After much deliberation, he decided that Li Haipeng, a promising salesman, was the best choice.

……

On the evening of October 7th, the charcoal fire sizzled and smoke filled the Fatty's BBQ restaurant.

Geng Zhi and Li Haipeng sat facing each other, with iron skewers piled up in front of them and foamy beer in their glasses.

After several rounds of beer and drinks, most of the grilled skewers were gone, and the atmosphere was lively.

"Brother Peng, with your sales skills, you'll be rising through the ranks at New Oriental, won't you? I think in another two or three years, the position of regional sales director will be yours for the taking." Geng Zhi handed over a skewer of grilled meat, deliberately praising him.

"Brother Geng, you're just watching the show from the sidelines." Li Haipeng tilted his head back and took a big gulp of beer, a self-deprecating smile on his face. "I've been working for four years since I graduated from university, and I've only been a sales supervisor for a year. Regional director? That's a million miles away from me."

"Huh? That can't be! Your promotion path is that rigid?" Geng Zhi asked, revealing his curiosity at the right moment.

"Newcomers start as specialists, and after a year or two they might be promoted to supervisor. Supervisors want to become city managers? At least another three to five years. From city manager to regional director... that depends on luck and connections; the competition is fierce. To be honest, I'd be grateful if I could even reach the threshold of city manager within five years."

"Brother Peng, weren't you a top salesperson before? You have a whole set of sales methodologies; you should be getting promoted quickly!"

"Sigh," Li Haipeng sighed deeply, his face dimming slightly, "This industry is very complex. Ability is only part of it; seniority and networking are also important. As for me, I'm good at sales, but as for anything else..."

He shook his head and didn't say anything more.

"Oh. So, Brother Peng plans to continue down the sales path?" Geng Zhi probed.

"Yes, I've been doing this for four years, I've gotten the hang of it, and I quite like sales." Li Haipeng nodded.

"You took the postgraduate entrance exam three times to thoroughly understand the market. With that kind of dedication, you might be even more successful in a different field. Haven't you thought about jumping out and trying something else?"

"I don't plan to for the time being. I have a lot of experience and connections at New Oriental, and I know a lot of people here. I can't bear to leave." Li Haipeng waved his hand.

In his eyes, Geng Zhi was just a college student who hadn't yet been hardened by society. There was no conflict of interest between them, and the relaxed atmosphere of barbecue and beer meant that he would answer almost any question without any suspicion.

Geng Zhi handed over a sizzling, oily piece of roasted chive, then suddenly changed the subject: "Brother Peng, have you sorted out your personal life yet? Still single?"

"Huh? Yeah, you're single." Li Haipeng was taken aback.

"Is it that you're not in the mood to look, or that you haven't met the right person?"

"I'm busy, and it's hard to find someone I click with. I think I should focus on building my career first, then start a family," Li Haipeng said honestly.

Geng Zhi swallowed a bite of grilled abalone, put down the bamboo skewer, and his gaze sharpened: "When Brother Peng talked about 'establishing a career,' did he mean becoming a minor city manager in five years?"

Li Haipeng was taken aback by the sudden, sharp question. After a few seconds of silence, he smiled and asked in return, "Brother Geng, what...do you mean by that?"

"I feel sorry for you." Geng Zhi raised his glass and clinked it against Li Haipeng's, making a crisp sound.

He sat up straight, looking directly at him: "At New Oriental, you're selling standardized courses. Your abilities are confined to that sales funnel. But your talents go far beyond that."

Li Haipeng's lips moved slightly, but he didn't reply; he just listened quietly.

"Your real strength lies in your ability to accurately grasp the anxieties of highly educated individuals and then tailor solutions for them. But at New Oriental, you can only utilize about 30% of that skill at most."

Straightforward words are like a small hammer, striking the mark each time.

He first acknowledged, then subverted, making his meaning very clear: You are very capable, but your stage is too small.

"Besides, you yourself said it's a seniority-based system there. In terms of seniority, you can't compete with the older folks; in terms of networking and managing upwards..." Geng Zhi chuckled, "I don't think you're the kind of person who's good at playing both sides, Peng Ge, are you?"

"Then what makes you think you can get promoted faster than others? If you can't get promoted, how can you talk about 'establishing a career'? If you can't establish a career, does that mean 'starting a family' will have to be postponed indefinitely?"

Geng Zhi's series of questions were logically sound and each sentence hit home.

Li Haipeng felt as if his outer shell had been peeled away, a little dazed, and a little restless as if his hidden sore spot had been touched.

"Boss lady, another pitcher!" he suddenly shouted, raising his hand, his voice a little louder than usual.

When the beer arrived, he poured himself a full glass and gulped down half of it.

"Brother Peng, are you willing to accept this?" The straightforward voice wasn't loud, but it carried a scorching heat that made Li Haipeng almost unable to look him in the eye.

"...I'm not reconciled!" Li Haipeng uttered three words, tilted his head back, and downed the remaining wine in his glass in one gulp.

"Then why not try changing it?" Geng Zhi pressed on relentlessly.

"How will it change?" Li Haipeng asked instinctively.

"I've heard that New Oriental is known as the Whampoa Military Academy for entrepreneurs, and quite a few outstanding individuals have gone out to start their own businesses."

He rattled off a list of names like a menu: "Luo Yonghao, who runs Bullog.cn; Xu Xiaoping and Wang Qiang, who run ZhenFund; Hu Min, who runs New Channel Education; Jiang Bo, who runs Jiangbo Education; and Tang Ning, who runs Yixin… Oh, and I heard even Luo Xiang, the teacher who teaches the bar exam, is preparing to start his own business. Aren't they all enjoying success in both their careers and love lives?"

Li Haipeng's eyes widened as he listened, especially at the name "Luo Yonghao," which he had never heard of before!

How come this college student knows more about New Oriental's "List of Former Celebrities" than I do?

"The ones you're talking about... are all famous teachers; they make a living through their teaching skills. I'm just a salesperson, it's different." Li Haipeng shook his head, feeling that this approach wasn't working.

"Precisely because you're in sales, you need to play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses!" Geng Zhi immediately chimed in, "Just use what you're best at—sales—to start a business, and the path will be clear, won't it?"

"Start a business... through sales?" Li Haipeng murmured repeatedly, his voice a mixture of seven parts confusion and three parts intense curiosity. "How exactly... how?"

Geng Zhi laughed, picked up the freshly served beer and filled his glass, saying slowly:

"It's very simple. Focus on both career and love, and make sure both are strong."