Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

Around noon, Wang Zihao sent a message, asking Chen Yansen to have lunch at the company cafeteria.

Half a month ago, under Chen Yansen’s direction, Xu Xingxing had approached the park manager and rented half of the cafeteria.

Orange Technology was a major taxpayer in Xucheng and wasn’t afraid to spend money. So, when it came to applying for fire safety, environmental, health, and food service permits, they naturally got the green light all the way.

Three days ago, the employees of Pinbei and Orange Technology started eating meals from their own cafeteria.

The chefs were poached from hotels. There were three chefs for breakfast, six for lunch and dinner, as well as eight kitchen assistants, seven servers, three cleaners, two procurement staff, and one cafeteria manager.

In total, there were 30 people, all of whom had signed employment contracts with Orange Technology.

They enjoyed benefits such as a 20% rental subsidy on top of their monthly salary, overtime pay distributed according to labor laws, five social insurances and one housing fund contributions, commercial health insurance, as well as holiday bonuses, a travel fund, and meal allowances.

The salary and comprehensive benefits, which were 20% higher than the market rate, made the three cleaning ladies feel like they had to mop the cafeteria floor a dozen times a day just to feel they were earning their pay.

Chen Yansen and Wang Zihao walked into the cafeteria. The left side was deserted, while the right side had a long line.

It wasn’t hard to see that the left side was the park’s own cafeteria, which almost no one wanted to eat at.

”Boss!”

”Brother Hao!”

The employees in line all greeted them.

Chen Yansen nodded slightly, picked up a tray, and got in line behind everyone else.

”Boss, why don’t you go first?” the young man in front of him suggested with a smile.

”No need. I remember you’re from Jinling. Are you used to the food in the cafeteria?”

Chen Yansen waved his hand and asked with a smile.

”Boss, you remember me?” Chi Kai’s eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

Although he was in charge of food category operations at Pinbei, he had only met Chen Yansen once on his first day of work and had never even spoken to him.

There were over twenty other category operators like him at Pinbei.

Therefore, Chi Kai was stunned to find that Chen Yansen not only remembered him, but even remembered where he was from.

”As the boss, shouldn’t I remember my employees’ names? Keep up the good work. I heard that when you were at Yihaodian, you made the food category number one in the whole company. I hope you can do the same at Pinbei.”

Chen Yansen patted Chi Kai’s shoulder and said with an encouraging smile.

”Yes, Boss. I’ll definitely work hard,” Chi Kai said with a wide grin.

Chen Yansen smiled and said no more.

He had a deep impression of Chi Kai, not because of his outstanding performance, but because when Xiong Li had done a background check, he discovered that Chi Kai’s departure from Yihaodian was less than glorious.

To put it simply, he had taken money from merchants and been caught.

However, he was well-connected and on good terms with his boss, so he was protected in the end and given a more dignified way out: a voluntary resignation.

Of course, this was just the result of the background check. When Xiong Li brought it up during the final interview, Chi Kai claimed he had taken the fall for his boss and hadn’t actually taken any kickbacks.

Faced with such a controversial candidate, most companies would have passed.

But Xiong Li felt Chi Kai’s professional skills were exceptional, so he reported it to Chen Yansen.

Chen Yansen glanced at the resume and decided to hire Chi Kai.

’People who are greedy for money work harder and more resourcefully than ordinary people.’

’Besides, the compensation Pinbei offered Chi Kai was almost double his income at Yihaodian.’

’If Chi Kai really dared to take money on the side, I have ways to deal with him.’

’I could make an example of him, and in doing so, warn the other category and Investment Attraction departments. It would be a way of making use of waste.’

Just as Chen Yansen had expected, within a few days of joining the company, Chi Kai brought in more than 30 A-list brands and over 100 B-list brands. His resources and negotiation skills were second to none.

”Are you going back to Chunshen for New Year’s Day?” Wang Zihao suddenly asked.

”I’m not. If you go back, say hi to Uncle Wang for me. Oh, right, Wine God Network gave me two bottles of aged Maotai a while back. You can take them to Uncle Wang for me.”

Chen Yansen said casually.

”Wouldn’t that be inappropriate? You should save them for Uncle Chen,” Wang Zihao said, shaking his head in refusal.

”It’s fine. I already sent the liquor for Lao Chen back home last time.”

Chen Yansen said with a smile.

”Senior, you’re here to eat too!”

Just then, a clear and playful voice came from behind them.

Chen Yansen turned to see it was Gao Hui, the girl who had asked for his autograph with an Orange Mobile Phone at the entrance of the Innovation Park.

Next to Gao Hui was Jiang Ruoxuan, who greeted him politely, ”Hello, Boss.”

”Is she new to your department?”

Chen Yansen ignored Gao Hui and looked at Jiang Ruoxuan to ask.

”Gao Hui is a part-timer in the Customer Service Department, but she’s also a freshman majoring in Visual Communication Design. So she’s a junior to me and Yuncheng.”

Jiang Ruoxuan explained.

”Oh,” Chen Yansen said, his tone flat.

’Perhaps because of his high Spirit value, he easily noticed Gao Hui’s subtle moves.’

’Gao Hui wanted to get close to him. Although she hid it well, he saw right through her at a glance.’

After Gao Hui and Jiang Ruoxuan had walked away, Wang Zihao asked curiously, ”That junior is so petite, like a little doll.”

”She may be small, but her mind is anything but. Stop staring. That girl is way out of your league; you can’t handle her.”

Chen Yansen reminded him in a low voice.

”Brother Sen, you don’t know me well enough. I’ve always been into big ones,” Wang Zihao said with a sly chuckle.

”Good to know,” Chen Yansen replied.

Under his guidance, Wang Zihao’s work abilities had improved by leaps and bounds, but when it came to women, he was still a blank slate.

”I’m tired of driving my 750. It’s just collecting dust in the garage. Interested?”

Chen Yansen asked after a moment of thought.

”Brother Sen, that car is over two million yuan! I’d be devastated if I scratched or scuffed it.” Wang Zihao’s eyes lit up, clearly tempted, yet he was a bit embarrassed.

Over the past year, he had earned quite a bit following Chen Yansen. Between the stock option compensation, salary, and bonuses, it was at least over two million yuan.

”Enough nonsense. I’ll have Xu Xingxing give you the keys this afternoon.”

Chen Yansen was doing this on purpose.

’No one knew better than him how many girls would show their most forward side when you cruised around the university and the city center in a car worth over two million.’

”Thank you, Foster Father,” Wang Zihao said, getting the hint.

The cafeteria had a total of seven serving windows, so the two of them reached the front of the line after just a few minutes of chatting.

Chen Yansen’s gaze swept from left to right. Chicken, duck, fish, meat, fruits, seasonal vegetables, drinks, desserts, ramen, and wontons—everything was available. No wonder they had hired 30 people.

With any fewer staff, they really wouldn’t be able to handle it.

The food was served on small plates, similar to the community canteens in Hu City, steaming hot and fragrant.

”I’ll have the saliva chicken, steamed fish head with chopped chili, steamed egg, and green vegetables, with a bowl of rice and a bowl of soup.”

Chen Yansen said to the server.

Wang Zihao ordered three dishes and a soup. He carried his tray to the payment terminal, and with a BEEP, it showed that his meal only cost 7.8 yuan.

Chen Yansen’s meal was 9.4 yuan. You could say these prices were basically at cost.

The company’s monthly 500-yuan meal allowance was more than enough.

Anyway, the cafeteria was run by the company itself, not for profit, but simply to ensure the employees ate and drank well.

Chen Yansen and Wang Zihao carried their trays over, and just as they sat down and took a couple of bites, Meng Jie came over.

Several mid-level managers from Pinbei and Orange Technology nearby watched with envy. They wanted to come over too, but without an invitation from the boss, they didn’t dare make a move.

The three of them ate and chatted. Meng Jie said out of the blue, ”Teacher Zhang is getting married on New Year’s Day. She invited me to be a bridesmaid. Are you two going back?”

”Teacher Zhang is getting married? Who’s the groom?”

Wang Zihao asked curiously, not forgetting to glance at Chen Yansen. After all, Chen Yansen had once said he wanted Zhang Li to be his stepmother.

”Our old history teacher, the tall, skinny one.”

Meng Jie gestured with her hands as she answered with a smile.

”Sigh! Lao Chen just doesn’t know what’s good for him! Teacher Zhang is so curvy, and he wasn’t even interested. Now the chance is gone for good.”

Chen Yansen sighed, an expression of profound disappointment on his face.

”Brother Sen, Meng Jun’s mom is still single,” Wang Zihao said with a teasing wink.

”What!? Chen Yansen, can you be any more ridiculous? You actually wanted to introduce Teacher Zhang to Uncle Chen?”

Meng Jie was exasperatedly amused. She grabbed Chen Yansen’s arm and giggled nonstop.

This scene happened to be witnessed by Song Yuncheng, who was just walking into the cafeteria. She forced a smile, but her heart still ached with a sharp pain.

’In terms of status, Meng Jie had always been Chen Yansen’s official girlfriend.’

’While I, on the other hand, can never be seen in the light.’

Chen Yansen’s senses were extremely sharp. He looked up, his gaze piercing through the crowded room, and instantly met Song Yuncheng’s eyes.

He gave her a thumbs-up, then tapped his lips.

Seeing this, Song Yuncheng’s cheeks flushed. She couldn’t help but smile, cursing him in her heart: ’Scumbag.’

”So, are you guys going back or not? Teacher Zhang specifically asked me to ask,” Meng Jie said, emphasizing her point when she saw the two of them laughing and not giving a straight answer.

”Big Sis, I’m definitely going back,” Wang Zihao replied with a smile.

”Orange Technology’s new product development is at a critical stage. I can’t get away right now.”

Chen Yansen casually made an excuse.

’When adults don’t want to attend a social engagement, there’s only one reason: they don’t think it’s worth their time.’

Meng Jie was slightly disappointed but didn’t say anything.

After the three finished lunch, Chen Yansen returned to his office. He called Xu Xingxing over and gave her the keys to the BMW 750, telling her to pass them on to Wang Zihao.

With nothing scheduled for the afternoon, Chen Yansen took a walk around Orange Technology’s R&D department.

The hardware design for the Orange C2 and Orange D1 was already complete.

The mobile phone factory in Shencheng City planned to produce 500 engineering prototypes of each model—first for testing, and second to release into the market to gather user feedback.

The Orange C2 was the flagship model, equipped with a Snapdragon MSM8260 dual-core processor, a 4.7-inch AMOLED screen, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. It supported 1080p full HD video playback and recording, with a 16-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

The system was Aurora OS 1.3, based on a customized Android 4.0, with a 2620 mAh battery and support for fast charging.

The Orange D1 was positioned as a thousand-yuan phone, with a MediaTek MT6573 processor, a 4.0-inch TFT screen, 512MB of RAM and 8GB of storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera, and an 1800 mAh battery.

As for the price, Chen Yansen hadn’t made a final decision yet.

With the successive launches of the Apple iPhone 4S, the Meizu MX, and the Huawei U8860, sales of the Orange C1 were bound to take a hit.

For a mobile phone in the fiercely competitive market of 2011, the life cycle was typically only eight to twelve months.

The Orange C1 had already been on sale for four months, meaning it had at most another four to five months of its golden sales period left.

Chen Yansen only stayed at the Science and Technology Park for a little over an hour that afternoon before driving back to Xuyuan.