Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

Although by 2013, the ownership and use of air conditioners had increased significantly, in a small town in Huian, there were still many people who couldn’t afford to buy or run one.

Come summertime, the nearby banks and telecom company lobbies would be packed with elderly people seeking refuge in the air conditioning.

They were all local folks and neighbors, so it wouldn’t be right to chase them away.

Most of the space in the Cloud Speed Service Station was taken up by shelves and the warehouse, but fortunately, there was a little room by the entrance for a few small folding stools.

Uncle Zhou took out an old radio, half-closed his eyes, and enjoyed the cool summer air, a look of contentment spreading across his face.

Wu Lei shook his head with a smile. He stuffed the pickled beans into his flatbread. One bite revealed a crisp, fresh, and fragrant flavor that added a nice touch.

”Brother Lei, from the looks of it, the Qingcheng D2 SE is selling even better than the Qingcheng D2. I really don’t get it. It’s only 200 yuan cheaper, but the performance is a lot worse,” Hu Peng said, looking puzzled.

”200 yuan? Sigh, Xiaohu, I’m not trying to lecture you, but just think about it. How many people in Anfeng Town earn 3,000 yuan a month?” Wu Lei shot him a look and said irritably.

Huian, much like Xijiang, the Central Plains, and Sichuan, was a major source of migrant workers. Over sixty percent of the young and able-bodied population made their living in places like Hu City, Shencheng City, and Jinling.

The people who stayed behind were either filthy rich or dirt poor.

Relying on just a few meager acres of land, they were lucky to even scrape by. And they were supposed to buy a smartphone?

Buy jack shit!

Wu Lei was an Anfeng native, born and raised. He understood the local situation far better than an outsider like Hu Peng.

”Heh, I guess you’re right,” Hu Peng said, scratching his head.

He paused, then added, ”Still, our company’s benefits are great. We have social security and a base salary, and I take home eight or nine thousand yuan a month. It’s exhausting work, for sure, but the pay is high. My high school classmate graduated from college and works in Jinling, but he doesn’t even take home 5,000 yuan a month.”

”That’s for sure. The boss treats his employees really well,” Wu Lei agreed.

”You mean President Liao?” Hu Peng pressed.

”What are you talking about? The one who really gave us a raise was President Chen. Before Cloud Speed was sold to Senlian Capital, I was just a regular deliveryman for them. Forget a base salary and bonuses; the commission per delivery was even ten cents less than at other courier companies,” Wu Lei said with a scoff.

”My younger brother just finished his college entrance exams. He probably only scored around 300, so more school is hopeless for him. I heard they’re building a new factory in Shencheng City. If I could get him a job there, my parents would stop worrying,” Hu Peng added.

”Forget about it. The Shencheng Factory won’t even start production until the end of the year,” Wu Lei said after a moment’s thought. ”I checked the company intranet yesterday. The Southern China Region is hiring Kuai Pao Deliverymen. You could have him try that.”

”A deliveryman? Exposed to the wind and sun... that’s even harder work than ours,” Hu Peng said with a slight frown, looking hesitant.

”You want to make money but you’re afraid of hard work? You should know, this is for a full-time rider. After three months, you even get 500 stock options. That’s a job other people couldn’t get even if they paid for it,” Wu Lei snorted.

The team of Kuai Pao Riders was constantly growing, but the number of external hires was always small, mainly because they prioritized hiring internally.

Under Senlian Capital, it wasn’t uncommon to find entire families working for Chen Yansen. For example, a son might be a Kuai Pao Deliveryman, his father a Cloud Speed courier, and his mother an employee at the Orange Phone Factory.

Of course, some employees’ children were also hired by the company after graduation. Some worked in investment attraction or operations at Kuai Pao, while others became R&D engineers at Cloud Speed, Pinbei, or Orange Technology.

It was all just a matter of proportion.

”Xiaohu, I brought my bank card! Hurry up and help me buy the phone!” Brother Li, who had returned, called out.

Hu Peng finished the last of his soy milk and quickly got up to help him.

「Meanwhile.」