Rebirth 70: I am a Koi

After Hanchuan left, the uneasiness in my heart did not dissipate, but became even stronger. I kept telling myself to trust him and believe that we can overcome the current difficulties. However, that inexplicable worry, like a vine, tightly entangled my heart.

I forced myself to work. Now we are the only ones who can rely on ourselves in the base. I decided to take a risk and use the special growth method in the space system on some crops. This method can greatly shorten the growth cycle of crops and increase yields. If successful, it will be a strong proof to convince Chief Liu and even other investors.

However, the operation was not as smooth as I had imagined. Due to slight deviations in technical parameters, some crops showed adverse reactions, and the originally green leaves began to turn yellow or even wither.

"Manager Mu, what's going on? Is there something wrong with the method you are using?" Sister Zhang, who is in charge of field management, asked anxiously, with a hint of doubt in her tone.

"Yeah, these seedlings were fine yesterday, why did they become like this today?" Other employees also gathered around, talking about it.

I suppressed my inner anxiety and carefully checked the situation in the field, with beads of sweat oozing out of my forehead. "Everyone, don't worry, let me take a look at the situation first."

"What are you looking at? Isn't it obvious now?" Someone in the crowd grumbled in dissatisfaction, "I think our base will be destroyed by her sooner or later!"

Hearing this, my heart sank. I understood that the base was like a ship swaying in the wind and rain, unable to withstand any blow. If the problem could not be solved as soon as possible and the storm could not be calmed down, all the previous efforts would be in vain.

At this moment, my cell phone rang. It was Bai Hanchuan calling. I was delighted. "Hanchuan, have you been to the city? How is the matter going?"

"Jinli, I..." On the other end of the phone, Bai Hanchuan's voice sounded a little weak, "I've encountered a little problem here..."

Before I could ask more questions, the call was suddenly disconnected, leaving only an unsettling busy tone. My heart suddenly rose to my throat, and an ominous premonition came to my mind.

At this moment, Accountant Liu from the Finance Office came running over in a hurry, sweating profusely, "Manager Mu, something bad has happened, the bank..."

Before Accountant Liu finished speaking, my heart skipped a beat, and a sense of foreboding quickly spread. Could it be that the bank had also heard about this and was planning to cut off our financial support?

"What happened at the bank? Don't be anxious, just talk slowly." I tried to stay calm and helped Accountant Liu sit down on a chair nearby.

Accountant Liu took a breath, his face pale. "The bank... the bank informed us that they need to re-evaluate the loan qualifications of our base and need us to provide the latest financial statements and operating conditions..."

My head buzzed and I almost lost my balance. Re-evaluating loan qualifications? I knew exactly what this meant. The bank had lost confidence in us and might have to call back the loan early!

"How could this happen? Wasn't it fine before?" I forced myself to calm down and asked.

"Well, it's because there have been too many rumors in the base recently," Accountant Liu said helplessly, "The bank probably heard some news and is worried that we can't repay the loan, so..."

I took a deep breath and tried to keep myself calm. Now was not the time to panic. The more times like this, the more I had to keep a clear head.

"I understand. I will deal with this matter as soon as possible." I comforted Accountant Liu and immediately called Bai Hanchuan, but no one answered the phone.

A deep feeling of powerlessness came over me, and I felt like I was trapped in a quagmire. The more I struggled, the deeper I sank.

In the evening, Bai Hanchuan dragged his exhausted body back to the base. His originally thin face looked even more haggard, his eye sockets were sunken, and his beard had sprouted. He looked like he had aged ten years.

"Hanchuan, how are you? Are things going well?" I walked up to him and looked at him with heartache.

Bai Hanchuan forced a smile and shook his head. "Don't mention it. The situation at the bank is worse than I thought. They asked us to provide detailed financial data for the past three years and conduct a field investigation..."

My heart sank, it seemed the bank had bad intentions this time.

"What about in the city? Have you contacted new sales channels?" I asked, hoping to hear some good news.

"Alas," Bai Hanchuan sighed, "Although the new marketing plan has attracted some customers, our competitors are not pushovers. When they saw that we were doing well, they immediately launched similar promotional methods and maliciously lowered the price. Now our order volume has not only not increased, but has..."

Before he finished speaking, I understood what he meant. Our situation was more difficult than we had imagined.

"Don't lose heart, we can definitely get through this." I held Bai Hanchuan's hand and gave him a firm look.

I know that the current situation has reached a critical point. I must unite all employees as soon as possible and let everyone work together to overcome the difficulties.

The next morning, I gathered all the staff at the base and prepared to hold a mobilization meeting...

I stood on the podium in the conference room, looking at the employees with different expressions below, feeling mixed emotions. During this period of time, the base encountered an unprecedented crisis, and the internal conflicts also broke out at this time.

"I know that some unpleasant things have happened in the base recently, and everyone is holding their breath." I took a deep breath and said sincerely, "But now the base is at a critical moment of life and death. I hope everyone can put aside their prejudices, unite, and overcome the difficulties together!"

As soon as I finished speaking, there was a whisper among the crowd. Some people looked hesitant, but more people looked disdainful, even mocking.

"Manager Mu, it's easy for you to say that. Who transferred us here and there before? Now that something has happened, you want us to work like slaves again. How can it be so easy?" A harsh voice sounded in the crowd. The speaker was Wang Dazhuang, who was transferred from the technical team to the logistics team by me.

"That's right, why do we work so hard and still have our wages deducted in the end, while some people can just sit back and reap the benefits?" Someone on the other side echoed.

I suppressed my anger and patiently explained, "There were indeed some problems with the previous work arrangement, but I am also thinking about the development of the base. The most important thing now is to resolve the crisis at hand. Once we get through this difficult time, I promise that everyone's efforts will be rewarded!"

However, my explanation did not have much effect. Instead, the discussion in the audience became louder and louder, and some people even began to loudly accuse me and Bai Hanchuan.

My heart sank gradually, and a deep feeling of powerlessness came over me.

At this time, Bai Hanchuan stood up. His face was livid, but his tone was unusually calm. "Everyone, I know that everyone has resentment in their hearts, but please believe us, we want the base to be better than anyone else. Now, what we need is unity, not infighting!"

His words were powerful and the meeting room gradually became quiet.

I looked at Bai Hanchuan, my heart filled with gratitude. He knew how much I was suffering and that I needed his support.

However, just when we thought things were turning around, Bai Hanchuan's phone suddenly rang. He picked up the phone, and his face became increasingly grim.

"What?... How could this happen..." His fingers holding the phone turned white due to the force.

After hanging up the phone, Bai Hanchuan took a deep breath and said to me: "Something happened with the supplier. They united to boycott us and cut off all supply of raw materials..."

My heart sank completely.

The conference room was so silent that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone's face was filled with shock and despair. The supplier's suspension of supply meant nothing.

I felt as if my body was drained of strength, and my vision went dark. Could it be that we were really at the end of our rope? Could it be that all my efforts were in vain?

"Don't worry, we still have a chance." Bai Hanchuan's voice sounded in my ears, with a barely perceptible tremor, but still firm and powerful.

I raised my head and met his deep gaze, which was full of fatigue but also burning with an indomitable fire.

Yes, we still have a chance! I took a deep breath, suppressed the despair in my heart, and told myself that I couldn't give up, and I couldn't let Bai Hanchuan bear it all alone.

"Hanchuan, what should we do?" I tried my best to make my tone sound calm, but I knew that there was still a hint of trembling in my voice.

Bai Hanchuan didn't say anything, but just held my hand tightly. His palms were cold, but they gave me unlimited strength.

"Let's sort out our thoughts first and see what other resources we can fight for." Bai Hanchuan's voice was low and calm, like a lighthouse guiding the direction in the darkness.

In the following days, we worked almost non-stop to troubleshoot the problem and find a solution. I used all the connections I could to contact new suppliers, but the responses I received were all perfunctory and rejection.

I know that there is someone behind all this, and this person is most likely...

I didn't dare think about it anymore. The anger and hatred in my heart almost swallowed me up.

"Don't lose heart, we can definitely find a new way out." Bai Hanchuan saw my frustration and gently held me in his arms. His embrace was warm and strong, which made me feel a little comforted.

I know that he is under tremendous pressure now, but he still stands firmly by my side, protecting me from the wind and rain.

"Hanchuan, I..." I raised my head and wanted to say something, but Bai Hanchuan gently covered my mouth with his hand.

"Don't say anything. I know what you want to say." His voice was low and gentle. "We are one. No matter what happens, we have to face it together."

I nodded and buried my head in his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat.

I know that the road ahead is still full of fog and I don’t know what new challenges are waiting for us. But I believe that as long as we support each other, we will be able to overcome all difficulties!

At this time, there was a knock on the office door, and the secretary's voice came from outside the door: "Mr. Bai, Mr. Li is here..."