Chapter One: Rejection Settled

At 2:17 a.m., Zhou Jiming received his seventh rejection of the night. The email came from Linchuan SwiftLink Technologies. Three lines thanked him for his interest, informed him that he did not match the position, and wished him a brilliant future. It was signed not by a person but by the Talent Development Center. Jiming stared at the words brilliant future and laughed. He sat in the dark office from which the electricity had already been cut. Beyond the windows, Linchuan's elevated highways burned like rivers of light. Court papers, employee compensation agreements, and an overdue utility bill covered his desk. Three years ago he had left a major technology company to build Refraction Logistics and solve the last three kilometers of fresh-food