Chapter 749: The Unpredictability of Life

By the banks of the Rhine River, night had fallen. Besides the occasional passing boats on the water, twinkling lights dotted the scene. This 865-kilometer-long river in Germany boasts a landscape that is unique both day and night, which is why the Germans affectionately call it "the cradle of Germany."

A man in his forties sat motionless on a bench by the river, reeking of alcohol for several hours, with several empty beer cans piled at his feet.

German beer is famous worldwide, and there is no other nation that loves beer quite like the Germans. Both locals and visitors usually bring some bottles and a bag of sausages to linger by the Rhine River.

However, Angela Merkel sat alone, staring blankly at the river, mumbling to herself.

It was all the fault of the European debt crisis. What was once a rewarding job had dissolved into nothing as the company teetered on the brink. After receiving her last paycheck, Angela Merkel grabbed her personal belongings and swiftly joined the ranks of the unemployed.

Mortgage payments, her wife’s Christmas travel plans, her daughter’s birthday gifts, and her son’s tuition loomed over her like a mountain, suffocating the head of the family. She couldn’t even face the hopeful young man she once was.

Losing her job felt like a bolt from the blue, leaving her mind blank. Wandering aimlessly by the Rhine River, she tried to drown her sorrows with can after can of beer, attempting to numb herself with alcohol.

Drinking away her sorrows only deepened her despair!

Just like a fuse igniting an explosion, one after another, European countries affected by the debt crisis became collateral damage. Companies either laid off employees or went bankrupt, turning into the main stories in the newspapers.

Unemployment rates in various European countries remained high, even a simple cleaning job had countless people competing for it.

This was just the beginning of a tragedy; one could hardly imagine that in the future, her family would be torn apart and the efforts of decades would become a huge joke.

At 42 years old, she was in midlife, knowing the ways of the world, with none of the fighting spirit she had in her youth left. She could no longer compete with the younger generation.

What kind of talent was being weeded out by different companies? The competition intensified, making people like Angela Merkel—older and with declining energy—early victims of the crisis transfer.

After finishing her last can of dark beer, Angela Merkel staggered toward the Rhine River, reflecting the lights and shimmering under the night. The Rhine at night seemed like another world.

"Hey! Sir, are you alright?"

A voice called out from afar.

Angela Merkel turned her head to look; it was a police officer on patrol. They were always vigilant, keeping an eye out for drunken individuals who might accidentally fall into the Rhine, as they often pulled such unfortunate souls out of the water each year.

"I’m fine, officer! Couldn’t be better!" Angela Merkel waved at the patrolling officer on the bicycle, trying to show she was still coherent.

"Better head home soon! It’s a bit chilly at night!"

Though Germans are known as one of the most rigid peoples in the world, they do not lack warmth. The officer waved back at her kindly.

"Okay!"

Angela Merkel didn’t want him to see through her feelings. She forced a few chuckles to disguise her immense frustration.

Had it not been for the officer’s concerned inquiry, she might have already plunged into the dark waters of the Rhine, dancing her last dance with the world.

Typically, drowning victims jump into the water without needing instruction.

She watched the officer walk away, turned back, and approached the Rhine again, swaying and staggering as the alcohol distorted her nervous system.

“Sir! You seem confused.”

Huh?! Who is it?!

A deep male voice spoke behind her.

A surge of unnameable anger ignited within her, and she quickly turned around, shouting without caring who it was.

"Who are you? Stay out of my business! Can’t you see I’m trying to deal with my issues? You bastard!"

“You’re really butting into someone else’s affairs. Want to fight? Bastard, come on! Let’s have it out like men. I’ll smash your bones!”

"You bastard, come on! Come on!"

Angela Merkel fell into a hysterical state, angrily waving her fists like a wounded beast.

Normally, she would never lose control like this.

But now, with nothing left to lose, she felt free to act out.

Anyone who knew her well would hardly recognize Angela Merkel, a man who usually followed the rules.

Completely abandoning her usual politeness, Angela Merkel unleashed all the anger and frustration she had bottled up, like a gladiator trapped in the arena, issuing a death challenge to everything in sight.

Indeed, beating up that annoying guy, or getting beaten up in return, seemed like a good option. Perhaps that was what she truly wanted.

However, the imagined punches did not come crashing down on her. Looking through her blurry, drunken eyes, Angela Merkel finally saw a figure in a black coat and hood quietly standing before her, devoid of any warmth.

The hood obscured the person’s face, and in the dim light, their features remained a mystery.

"You, who are you?"

A chill unexpectedly rushed through Angela Merkel; the stranger felt very strange, almost lifeless.

Her frantic emotions faded, as if icy water had been poured over her, and the last remnants of her anger quickly disappeared. After venting, Angela Merkel slowly regained her clarity.

She was just an ordinary, law-abiding citizen, not a domineering thug.

"Sir! You seem confused.”

The stranger spoke again, still calm and collected.

"I apologize, sir. Please forgive my earlier outburst. I lost an important job today, and I’m not feeling well. I’m leaving now."

Angela Merkel shook her head and glanced around; there were few people by the riverbank. She did not want to stay there any longer. Her foolish behavior just now was not what a good husband and father should do.

"Please wait!" The figure in black called out to Angela Merkel, handing her a business card. "I believe I can help you, or perhaps I hope to receive your help. There is a job offer here, if you’re interested?"

Angela Merkel stared blankly at the business card, watching as the figure bowed slightly and then turned to leave.

Her mind went blank again.

…

Bach, the head of the Sigru Microprocessor Research Company, had just entered his office when he found a straggler occupying his desk. That guy even greeted him, "Hey! Mr. Bach! Good morning!"

Seeing a recently laid-off employee sitting in his office, even worse, in his own big chair, Bach suppressed his anger and said with a pale face, "Angela Merkel? Why are you here again? Didn’t you finish your procedures? I remember you were fired three days ago."

In the highly hierarchical German society, this was nearly intolerable.

He wanted to call security to throw this unruly person out. Bastard! This is a laboratory, not a park; people don’t just come and go as they please!

Bach didn’t consider that the internal security in a microprocessor research company was extremely strict, and outsiders should never be able to enter, especially someone whose ID and access card had already been confiscated.

"I’m sorry, life is unpredictable; I’m back."

Angela Merkel smiled slightly, bracing herself against the desk as she stood up.

It truly was incredible how unpredictable life could be. Even now, she felt like she was dreaming, never imagining that the incredibly lost and frustrated person from days before would regain her fighting spirit and stand before her former boss with newfound confidence, occupying his position.

"Damn it, get out of here!"

Bach was furious; he was sure that this former researcher had lost her mind.

"Sorry, Mr. Bach, before you kick me out, please take a look at this document."

With an air of calm, Angela Merkel pushed a document across the table. As a researcher, she was not skilled at socializing or negotiating, but the recent ups and downs had made her realize a lot.

Being stuck with pure technical work meant being pushed around; managing was the way to go if she wanted to succeed.

"You!"

Bach’s gaze involuntarily fell to the document on the table. As he focused on it, his expression turned pale. Reluctantly, he picked it up and flipped through the pages, but his face didn’t improve at all.

"Hmm?" Angela Merkel suddenly found herself enjoying the feeling of having everything in her control; it was wonderful, even more fulfilling than when she was buried in research, creating breakthroughs and achievements.

Contending with others was indeed endlessly enjoyable!

"Alright! Angela Merkel! You win. I’ll arrange the handover of work as soon as possible."

Bach looked defeated. This former employee had sound reasoning backed by the orders from a new employer to take over the Sigru Microprocessor Research Company.

"Hehe!" Angela Merkel calmly pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

"It’s done, Mr. Adam!"

>> Microprocessor company acquisition completed

>> Proceed with the next steps

>> Human resources management progress: 81.2%

>> Preparing to acquire CNC high-precision machine tool factory, eleven options available, filtering begins now…

>> Selection complete, execution begins…