Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

Chunshen, in front of the National Guest Bookstore.

Chen Guobin was carrying a bucket of water, a car-wash towel draped over his shoulder. He circled a black BMW X5, working up a sweat.

”Brother Bin, you’re driving a BMW worth over two million, and you’re still washing it yourself?”

Wang the Bald from the photo studio next door chimed in, cracking open sunflower seeds as he spoke with a teasing smile.

”My son bought the car, but I have to pay to wash it. Gotta save where you should and spend where you must.”

Chen Guobin replied loudly, a smile on his face.

”Brother Bin, no offense, but what are you saving money for? To buy a house and find a wife for Xiaosen? Does he even need that?”

Wang the Bald pressed on with a chuckle.

’Buy a house and find a wife for Xiaosen?’

Chen Guobin froze at the words, his hands stopping their motion. A strange wave of negativity washed over him.

’It’s not always a good thing when your son is too successful. He’d earned tens of billions of US dollars in two years. The few hundred thousand in his own bank account wasn’t even enough for Chen Yansen to buy two wheels for his car.’

Lao Chen swallowed hard with a GULP, but the saliva went down the wrong pipe. He started coughing violently, his face flushing red.

Seeing this, Wang the Bald hurried over to pat his back, asking in confusion, ”What’s wrong? Why so worked up?”

Over the past year, owners of agricultural processing plants from all over the area had started treating Chen Guobin like a ’Grand Emperor’. They would come by every few days to curry favor, bringing gifts of tea, cigarettes, rice, or rapeseed oil.

During holidays, the fruit farmers from Beishan would deliver crates of crisp pears, grapes, yellow apricots, and honey peaches.

And you couldn’t refuse them!

They’d drop the stuff and run!

Since Chen Guobin didn’t know how to cook and couldn’t possibly eat it all himself, he would share the gifts with the neighboring shopkeepers.

This was the main reason Wang the Bald was so quick to call him ’Brother Bin’. It was worth noting he used to just call Chen Guobin ’Lao Chen’.

”It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Just choked a bit,” Chen Guobin said, catching his breath and waving his hand dismissively.

But he soon fell back into a daze.

Chen Yansen had always been his greatest motivation. When his son was little, he had to earn money for milk powder. When his son was in school, he had to earn money for tuition. After his son started high school, he had to save up for a house.

In this life, besides Liang Hui Zhen, his son was his only purpose.

But with Wang the Bald’s reminder, Lao Chen suddenly realized: Chen Yansen didn’t need him anymore.

It seemed there was no point in him minding this bookstore any longer.

At that moment, Chen Guobin’s mind was filled with the image of a young woman in a linen dress, her smile as beautiful as a blooming flower.

”Chen Guobin, we’re married!”

”Brother Bin, I’m pregnant. I’m scared, what should I do?”

”Let’s name our son Chen Yansen. It’s catchy and has a nice meaning.”

”Brother Bin, save me...”

As the memories flooded his mind, two streams of clear tears rolled down from Lao Chen’s eyes.

’Hui Zhen!’

Chen Guobin raised his arm and wiped away the tears. His lips turned down unconsciously before he let out a long sigh, forcefully suppressing the deep sorrow within him.

In that instant, Lao Chen lost all desire to continue washing the car.

He packed up his things, pulled down the bookstore’s rolling metal gate, and drove off toward the Salt Industry Company’s residential complex.

”Brother Bin, closing up shop?” Wang the Bald called out, his face full of confusion.

After returning home, Chen Guobin picked up Liang Hui Zhen’s photo frame, packed a few changes of clothes, and walked out the door. He got in his car and sped onto the highway.

「Elsewhere.」

Having received the news, Tang Lixin’s brow furrowed tightly when he learned Chen Guobin had ’run off’. He was terrified Chen Guobin might leave and never come back, and his heart began to pound.

”Boss, should I give Mr. Chen a call?” his assistant, Zhao Siyuan, suggested from the side.

”Alright. And no matter where he’s going, have the Inspection Institute send someone to follow him. Safety first.”

Tang Lixin looked tense, showing a level of concern for Chen Guobin that even surpassed what he showed for his own father.

Zhao Siyuan quickly took out his phone and dialed Chen Guobin’s number.

”BEEP... BEEP... BEEP...”

The continuous beeping for over ten seconds made Tang Lixin extremely agitated.

”Hello? Secretary Zhao? What’s up?” Chen Guobin asked casually, wearing a Bluetooth headset.

”Brother Chen, I brought you two cans of new tea from Guniu Mountain, but I saw your bookstore was closed.”

Zhao Siyuan told a bald-faced lie, probing for information.

”Oh, you’re too kind, Secretary Zhao. Never mind the tea. I’m heading out of town today to see my son in Xucheng.”

Chen Guobin replied truthfully.

’Going to see his son?’

Tang Lixin’s tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

He gave a faint smile, returned to his mahogany desk, and resumed his usual calm and collected demeanor.

’As long as he’s not running away, everything is fine.’

Last year, with Chen Yansen’s support, Chunshen’s local agricultural products had generated over three billion in annual sales. This created nearly ten thousand jobs for the county, and the income of fruit farmers on Beishan had increased several times over.

The entire county’s GDP had risen by 33.6% year-on-year!

When he attended a meeting in the city last week, his superiors had specifically praised his work performance in 2012.

Having tasted the benefits, he was naturally determined to hold on tight to Chen Yansen.

Meanwhile, Chen Yansen, who was squatting by the pond feeding his fish, received a call from his security team.

”I understand. Just follow behind him. Thanks for your hard work.” After hearing the report, Chen Yansen immediately gave his instructions.

’What’s gotten into Lao Chen?’

’At his age, he’s going on a spur-of-the-moment trip?’

He couldn’t help but roast his father internally after hanging up.

But he was his own father, after all. Chen Yansen wasn’t as heartless as his words might suggest.

He had secretly assigned a security team to ensure Lao Chen’s safety.

An hour later, the security team reported in again: Chen Guobin’s destination was most likely Xucheng.

Chen Yansen didn’t think much of it. ’If Lao Chen wants to come, let him. As a model youth of the 21st century, it’s not like I have any shameful secrets to hide.’

With that thought, he turned and went back to the living room, locking his cosplay outfits—like Pikachu, Huluwa, the Teletubbies, Rainbow Cat, and the Bull Demon King—into the safe on the third floor.

’Now it’s foolproof!’

Chen Yansen squinted, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

”Come to the Delta.”

Once everything was taken care of, Chen Yansen sent a text to Ye Qiuping.

’Neither he nor Lao Chen knew how to cook, so of course, he needed to find a chef.’

”Should I wear the Sixth Child cosplay?” Ye Qiuping replied.

”We’re changing the theme today. Go buy a chef’s uniform, and don’t forget the hat.”

Chen Yansen replied in an instant.

”A chef? A new scene?” Ye Qiuping froze for a moment, involuntarily squeezing her legs together as a certain instructional video popped into her mind.

’The kitchen? Won’t that be uncomfortable?’

Ye Qiuping didn’t dare ask more. On her way, she passed by Huamao Mall and obediently bought a pure white chef’s uniform.

At three in the afternoon, a black X5 slowly drove into the Delta Villa District.

”Whoa! I don’t know who this kid takes after. He’s amazing at making money, and he’s just as amazing at spending it.”

Chen Guobin followed the route planned by Gaode Map without a single wrong turn. After registering with the gate guard, he drove into the complex.

Number 108!

Three minutes later, Chen Guobin saw a standalone villa in the distance with a number plate by the entrance.

Hearing the noise outside, Chen Yansen didn’t get up. He remained lounging on the soft couch by the pond, leisurely sprinkling fish food.

Judging by his technique, it looked more like he was feeding pigs.

For this reason, Song Yuncheng had even reminded him: ”Feed them less! You’re turning these koi into boar!”

Chen Yansen couldn’t be bothered to listen. He liked his fish plump.

”KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—”

Lao Chen knocked on the wooden door.

”The door’s unlocked.” Chen Yansen rolled over. His voice was quiet, but it reached Lao Chen’s ears with perfect clarity.

Chen Guobin walked into the courtyard, clutching the photo frame.

Chen Yansen glanced over, amused. ’I can’t believe he actually brought Mom with him.’

As soon as Lao Chen entered, he saw Chen Yansen lounging lazily and immediately wanted to say something. But then he thought again, ’What’s the damn point?’

’Chen Yansen wouldn’t listen to him before he was eighteen, and he certainly wouldn’t listen to him after.’

So, without even a greeting, Lao Chen started wandering around with Liang Hui Zhen, muttering to himself with a grin, ”Hui Zhen, look at this huge house your son bought! It’s so much bigger than ours. And look, he’s even raising a few pigs in this pond...”

”Pah! Hui Zhen, my mistake. They’re fish, not pigs. That little brat, feeding the fish like they’re hogs.”

”Ooh, this living room is huge. You’d definitely love it...”

Lying on the soft couch, Chen Yansen listened to Lao Chen’s rambling and couldn’t help but give a knowing smile.

As Chen Guobin wandered on, he found himself at the kitchen door. The house was so large he thought it was a guest room and was about to go in for a look, but as he lifted his foot, he came face-to-face with Ye Qiuping, who was just about to walk out.

”Who are you?”

”I should be asking you that. Who are you?” Ye Qiuping retorted.

She had only just arrived. The moment she walked in, Chen Yansen had pushed her into the kitchen, not the bathroom.

Before she even had time to prepare, she heard Chen Yansen say, ”Five dishes and a soup will be fine. Nothing too complicated. The ingredients are in the fridge, figure it out yourself.”

Ye Qiuping was so angry she had to laugh. ’Seriously? You’re really treating me like a chef?’

”I’m Chen Yansen’s father. And you are... the chef, I presume?” Although Chen Guobin thought this household chef looked a bit too young for the job, he figured she might just be a good cook.

’Chen Yansen’s father?’

Ye Qiuping studied Chen Guobin carefully. There was indeed a clear resemblance around their eyes and brows. A flash of joy went through her, but then she remembered her role and had to bite the bullet. ”Hello, Mr. Chen. I’m President Chen’s private chef.”

”Oh, well, I’ll let you get back to it.”

Chen Guobin wasn’t suspicious at all. He continued his tour with Liang Hui Zhen.

For President Chen’s immersive role-playing experience, Ye Qiuping had meticulously chosen an extremely professional-looking chef’s uniform, making her highly believable.

Therefore, Chen Guobin didn’t notice anything unusual at all.

Watching Lao Chen’s back as he muttered to himself, Ye Qiuping quickly dashed into the courtyard and ran up to President Chen. ”Your dad is here! Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?”

”Why would I need to tell you beforehand?” Chen Yansen asked, looking genuinely curious.

”...” Ye Qiuping was filled with regret. Why hadn’t she bought a pack of rat poison?

”My mom’s here too. Should I have told you about that as well?” Chen Yansen added.

”Your mom is here too?” Ye Qiuping’s pupils constricted in shock.

”Mhm, in my dad’s arms,” Chen Yansen said matter-of-factly.

”...” Ye Qiuping suddenly remembered the photo frame in Chen Guobin’s arms and rolled her eyes wearily.

She was no match for Chen Yansen’s games!

Dejected, she went back to cooking.

A little while later, Chen Guobin, having completed his tour, returned and said to Chen Yansen, ”Call Meng Jie over. We can have dinner together. Let your mom meet her.”

”Maybe next time. You’re holding Mom, you might scare the poor girl,” Chen Yansen refused flatly.

”Er... that’s true. Hah, my mistake for being too hasty.” Chen Guobin pulled up a chair and sat by the pond, his eyes gazing blankly at the few pig-like koi.

”Do you like the house?” Chen Yansen asked.

”It’s too big. Exhausting to live in,” Chen Guobin commented.

Chen Yansen was amused. The villa he bought for Chen Guobin in Chunshen was three hundred square meters, while this one was five hundred. It was indeed a lot bigger.

”Should I buy you one, so Mom can have a change of scenery too?” Chen Yansen asked again.

”No need. I’ll just stay for two days and then head back,” Lao Chen said, shaking his head.

”What about for the New Year?” Chen Yansen frowned.

”I’ll be with your mom back home,” Lao Chen said with finality.

”Fine, suit yourself.” Chen Yansen dusted off his pants and turned to head into the kitchen.

Lao Chen didn’t bother him, and he wouldn’t proactively interfere in Lao Chen’s life either.

The next morning, Ge Yue, the managing director of Apple Asia, arrived at the Zhuxianzhuang Science and Technology Park with seven or eight staff members in tow.

They came for two reasons: first, to negotiate the architecture licensing for the Orange Z1 Instruction Set; second, with the proportion of shipments from online sales channels growing ever higher, the importance of Pinbei could not be ignored.