The programmer and his woman

"Director Wang," the voice came from behind, with a familiar and friendly tone. I turned slightly and looked across the end of the corridor, and saw a familiar figure - the company's senior architect Lao Gao, walking towards me. He had a smile on his face, and his eyes revealed a complex emotion.

"Hey, Lao Gao, how come you have time to come to my place today? It's an honor to have you here!" I teased half-jokingly, trying to ease the tense atmosphere brought about by this sudden meeting.

Lao Gao waved his hand, with a helpless smile on his face: "Hey, Mr. Wang, please stop making fun of me. I'm here to discuss something with you." He paused and continued: "Let's find a place to sit down and talk."

I nodded, secretly thinking about Lao Gao's intention. The "grudges" between the R&D department and the product department have always been circulating in the company, and as the director of the product department, I was naturally involved in this storm. Lao Gao is the core figure of the R&D department, and his attitude is crucial to whether I can carry out my work smoothly.

We followed Lao Gao to the company's leisure area. The environment here is really good. There are several comfortable sofas in the spacious space, and there is a small bar that provides a variety of drinks and snacks. We found a seat by the window and sat down. The sunlight outside the window poured in through the glass, making people feel warm.

Lao Gao took a sip of coffee, cleared his throat, and got down to business: "I've heard about the overtime in the R&D department that you talked to your colleagues about yesterday." He paused, as if weighing his words, "Actually, I think as management, we should focus more on cooperation and communication between teams, rather than fighting each other."

I nodded in agreement: "Yes, I think so too. Our product department and R&D department should be a whole. Only by supporting and cooperating with each other can we make good products."

Lao Gao seemed touched by my words. He continued, "Well, you are right. I thought about it yesterday and I think your design prototypes are not impossible to make. Of course, the specific implementation still requires further communication and negotiation between the two parties."

When I heard this, I was relieved. It seemed that Mr. Gao came to discuss cooperation this time, not to find fault. I guess he knew about the colleague in his department who worked overtime in violation of regulations. As the head of the department, he felt guilty because of his negligence in management. This time he came to me to show his goodwill. So I quickly asked, "So Mr. Gao means that we can start the research and development work first?"

Lao Gao nodded and added, "Yes, we can start, but there is still a small problem. I have just asked Xiao Li, who is in charge of website development, and he said that your design prototype is fine and you can start production. However, he is still missing some picture materials, so he can't start the work completely for the time being."

I frowned, thinking that this was indeed a problem. Picture materials are an indispensable part of product design. Without these materials, R&D work cannot proceed normally. So I quickly asked, "Does our product department need to communicate with the art department about these picture materials?"

Lao Gao nodded and said, "That's right. Your product department needs to communicate with the art department first and ask them to provide the required image materials as soon as possible. As long as we have these materials, we can start research and development work right away."

I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that this problem was not difficult to solve. As long as I communicated well with the art department, I could smoothly advance the research and development work.

I sat quietly at my desk, but my mind was in turmoil, constantly trying to figure out what Lao Gao was thinking. His seemingly careless olive branch actually concealed a deeper strategy. This was not just a simple gesture of goodwill, but more like a carefully planned chess game, designed to cleverly divert my attention from his department to the art department, so as to ease the tension between us and avoid possible struggles between the two departments. This move of diverting trouble to others was really brilliant, and I had to admire Lao Gao's deep scheming.

Just as I was lost in thought, Lao Gao suddenly broke the silence: "Mr. Wang, do you want to have some fun together after work?" His words were a little frivolous, but seemed to reveal some deep meaning.

I raised my head and looked at him in confusion: "What do you mean by having fun? Where are we going?"

Lao Gao smiled and said, "The bar near the company is a good place to relax."

I couldn't help but frowned: "No way, you are so old and still go to that kind of place, isn't that a place for young people?"

Lao Gao didn't seem to care about my doubts. Instead, he leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Life is short, so enjoy it while you can. I didn't have the chance to go to that kind of place when I was young, so I have to make up for it now. Moreover, I know a secret. Xiaolin, the human resources manager of our company, often goes to that bar to find men. Although she pretends to be innocent, she is actually a bitch at heart. When she is in the bar, she is very good at having fun and letting go. I even know that she has a black birthmark on her butt." He smiled sinisterly, as if admiring his masterpiece.

I couldn't help but feel a chill in my heart when I heard what he said. Such behavior is simply an insult and slander to women. I immediately waved my hands and said, "Forget it, forget it. I have never been to such a place, and I don't like to go there."

Lao Gao seemed a little disappointed, but he quickly adjusted his mood: "Ah, how can a man not go there to have some fun? But since you don't like it, you can treat me to dinner another day."

I smiled and responded, "Mr. Gao, you are so rude. You asked for it directly. But since you said so, I will obey your command. I will treat you to a meal some other day."

Lao Gao seemed very satisfied with my response. He patted me on the shoulder and said happily, "Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to take advantage of you. It's just that your product department has reimbursement for entertaining guests every month. In the past, the vice president always treated us. Now I heard that you have taken over her work in the product department, so naturally you will be responsible for reimbursing this expense. The company gives you a quota every month, and it would be a waste if you don't use it. Remember to use it this month, I'm always available."

I nodded, but I felt a little helpless. It seemed that I had to treat him to this meal. The boss valued this architect so much, and if I didn't satisfy him, it would be difficult to carry out the subsequent work. However, I had to find a chance to ask the vice president to see if there was really such a fund.

After Lao Gao left, I went back to the product department and decided to understand the situation of the art department first. After all, in the following work, the collaboration between our department and the art department will be crucial.

I walked over to the workstation of the product manager "Datou", who was an experienced veteran who knew all the departments of the company. I asked him about the art department, hoping to get some useful information.

Datou put down the work in his hands, pointed to the front of the company, and said with a smile: "Do you see that area? That is our company's art department. They are responsible for providing image design and creative support for various projects of the company."

I looked in the direction he pointed and saw a group of employees in casual clothes with unique temperament busy at work. I nodded to show that I understood. Then I asked, "I have a module that needs the assistance of the art department to make the drawings. Can I contact any of them directly?"

After hearing my question, Datou's expression became a little serious. He shook his head and said, "That won't work. Although the employees in the art department are all professional designers, you can't go to them directly. I made this mistake before, and I was severely criticized by the head of the art department."

I looked at him in surprise and asked in confusion, "Does the art department have a leader?"

Big Head nodded and said, "Of course. Every department in our company has its own person in charge and management. The art department is no exception." He pointed to a specific position and said, "See? That workstation is the position of the art director. She is the highest person in charge of the art department and is responsible for the daily management of the entire department and project coordination. Didn't you attend a meeting of their art department last time? It was chaired by their art director."

I think back to that art department meeting. The host was indeed a 30-year-old lady wearing glasses. Her cold face and unapproachable temperament left a deep impression on me. I couldn't help but sigh, maybe she really is the kind of person who is difficult to deal with.

At this moment, Datou seemed to see my doubts, and he continued, "Director Wang, you may not know this art director very well. She is indeed a difficult person to get along with, and it is not easy to ask her to do things. She always declines our requests on the grounds that the company has other important matters."

I nodded. As the saying goes, "The face reflects the heart", it seems that my intuition is not wrong. Since this art director is so difficult to deal with, I decided to ask Datou how they usually work with her.

"Big Head, if you have a drawing that needs to be produced by the art department, does it have to go through the art director first? How do you communicate with her and carry out your work?" I asked curiously.

Datou sighed and explained, "Director Wang, you may not understand this very well since you just arrived. Our department has a public relations budget every month, which is managed by the vice president. If we need assistance from the art department, we will first apply to the vice president for this budget."

It suddenly dawned on me that the funding Lao Gao had mentioned was real. I nodded and motioned for Datou to continue.

"Then, we will use this fund to buy some gifts for the relevant personnel in the art department or treat them to dinner or something. To be honest, it feels a bit like asking someone for a favor. But as long as we do a good enough job and make them satisfied, they will agree to our request." Big Head shook his head helplessly.

After listening to Datou's explanation, I couldn't help but feel helpless. How could this be the normal working process within the company? The art department should provide support and assistance to other departments in the company, but how come our product department is now begging them for help? This made me feel very puzzled and confused.

I sighed and said to Datou, "Is this really appropriate? Should we find an opportunity to communicate with the art director to see if we can improve the situation?"

Datou smiled bitterly and shook his head: "It's difficult, that's just how she is. We have tried to communicate with her many times, but each time we came back empty-handed. However, you don't have to worry too much, as long as we follow the procedures, treat her to meals and give her gifts, she won't make things difficult for us."

I patted Big Head's shoulder and said helplessly, "Hey, why do I feel that our product department is so mean? It seems that we have been spoiled by your accommodating attitude. Come on, take me to meet this legendary art director."

Datou looked at me with a puzzled and slightly worried look, and said hesitantly: "Director Wang, are you sure you want to go find her now? She is not at her workstation."

"Oh, then do you know where she went? I have something to talk to her about." I asked Big Head.

Big Head sighed and explained, "She probably hasn't come to work yet. Her working hours are never very regular. She often comes whenever she wants."

I frowned and asked in confusion: "It's already afternoon, she hasn't come to work yet?"

"Yes, this is already the norm." Big Head shrugged helplessly.

"So does the boss just let her do this?" I asked.

"It is said that the boss took great pains to hire this art director. She has high artistic attainments and rich industry experience, so the boss is particularly tolerant of her. Moreover, she has a relatively independent personality. If she is controlled too strictly, she might quit," explained Datou.

I pondered for a moment and understood why the company indulged her so much. But such indulgence undoubtedly added a lot of difficulties to our product department. I sighed and asked, "If she doesn't come like this, what should I do with the drawings I need to make? Time waits for no one."

Big Head thought for a moment and said, "If you don't need many drawings, just one or two, I can help you find Xiao Pingguo from their department. That girl is easy-going and she will usually help you with one or two drawings."

I shook my head. “I’m afraid there are more than one or two. They are pictures of a module, and there are quite a lot of them.”

Big Head frowned, "That's probably not going to work. There are so many drawings. If we bypass the art director and ask her team members to do it directly, she will definitely get mad when she finds out. You should wait for her to come."

"Will she definitely come today?" I looked at the empty art director's workstation and confirmed with Big Head again.

Big Head nodded and said affirmatively: "She will definitely come. As long as it is a weekday, she will definitely come to the company, but the time is not certain. Unlike that Chuisai, she is the real 'elusive'."

"Oh, who is this Chuisai?" I asked curiously, and became very interested in this mysterious person.

Big Head smiled mysteriously and said, "This Chuisai, she is a special person in our company. Sometimes she only comes to the company once every ten days or half a month, but you know what? Her salary is the highest in our company."

I widened my eyes and asked in disbelief: "Is she the boss of the company? How come she is paid so well?"

Big Head shook his head and said with a smile: "No, she is just like us, an employee. But her position in the company is very special."

I became even more curious and asked, "What does she do? How come she has such high pay and freedom?"

Datou explained: "She is our company's Baidu promotion specialist. You may not know this, but Baidu promotion plays a vital role in the company's development. In the future, all the products developed by our company will rely on her to promote them to more people. Her work results directly affect the company's revenue and reputation."

I suddenly understood and nodded, but I was still a little confused. I remembered that Xiaoxia also worked in Baidu promotion in the company. I once asked her for relevant knowledge and saw the Baidu promotion background she used. In my understanding, Baidu promotion is nothing more than spending money to do ranking. Although there are some skills, it is not difficult overall. This work can be done within the company, why can the referee have such high treatment and freedom?

I thought about it for a while, and I thought maybe I didn't know this kind of work well enough. Or maybe Chuisai had special talents and experience in this area, so the company gave her such a high salary and freedom. I was full of respect and curiosity for Chuisai.