My "fate" with the Great Emperor

　　I remember when I was still working at another company—one day, I was having tea and chatting with a partner of mine. She was all excited as she told me about a gala event she’d attended just a few days earlier at some other company. She said there was one particular performance that had left a lasting impression on her: employees from that company had donned costumes creatively crafted from their own product packaging, performing a lively dance. She remarked how incredibly innovative the act was—it not only promoted the company’s products but also highlighted its unique corporate culture. At the time, I asked her what kind of business the company was in. She replied it was a spice manufacturer called “Dadi.” Yet, as time passed, all I could vaguely recall was that a company had once put on such an impressive show—but even the name of that company seemed to fade away in my memory.

　　In the blink of an eye, it was 2010—a year I had been considering a career transition as part of my personal professional plan. By that point, I’d already spent a full three years working in sales in the faraway Southwest region, far from home. This year, I hoped to find a suitable job that would allow me to return to my hometown, Shandong, and build a new chapter there. So, I started keeping an eye on job postings within my industry. One day, by sheer chance, I struck up a conversation about this with a colleague who happened to be in the same field. She’d previously worked at Dadi Company and casually mentioned that Dadi was currently hiring. “You should give it a try,” she suggested, adding, “They might even be recruiting in Shandong.” To top it off, she briefly shared some insights into the company’s culture and operations. From that moment on, everything fell into place: the interview went smoothly, followed by comprehensive training—and just like that, I officially became part of the Dadi family.

　　Here, I soon had the chance to witness firsthand the innovative program my partner had once described to me—what had been mere "legend" now became "proof in person." As the clock struck August 2011, our company joined forces with the U.S. Soybean Association to warmly welcome guests attending the "North-South Exchange Meeting" of the feed industry community. We were eager to craft a special evening event for them, and given the unprecedentedly stellar lineup of performers, we decided to add a few fresh faces to the show. After a brief competition, I was fortunate enough to become one of the new talents joining the cast. Though I didn’t get to perform in that much-talked-about act, as one of my colleagues quipped, I’d officially entered the "entertainment world" myself. And so, from simply "seeing it with my own eyes," I found myself fully immersed in the heart of it all.

　　Whenever I calmly reflect on this experience, I realize that perhaps this is exactly what Chinese people often refer to as "fate"—a predestined connection woven into the fabric of life. And now, all I can do is cherish this "fate" deeply.