No Talent

"Do you still need something?" Zhou Qi looked at Cai Xiaodong and Jiang Mingran.

Jiang Mingran looked at Cai Xiaodong, gesturing for him to speak first.

"General Manager Zhou, it's like this. We salespeople have hundreds of loyal clients. We need to supply these clients with products every month. If you adjust the production line, what about their orders?" Cai Xiaodong asked.

"We still have clients? Isn't this Tiantai's contract factory?" Zhou Qi asked.

"That's right, but we started building our own brand in 2013. Now, two-tenths of the factory's production capacity is for our own Baofeng clients…" Cai Xiaodong explained.

"You're in sales, you should have your clients' contact information, right!" Zhou Qi asked.

"Uh, yes!" Cai Xiaodong nodded.

"Then it's simple. You and your clients can resign. Go work for another pharmaceutical company. After all, you're bringing your own clients, so you'll be treated like honored guests anywhere!" Zhou Qi chuckled.

"Huh?" Cai Xiaodong was stunned. "No, General Manager Zhou, these are clients we've accumulated over nine years at our pharmaceutical factory!"

"There's no other way. Didn't I say that the company will no longer sell pharmaceuticals externally from now on!" Zhou Qi shrugged. "Or, if anyone doesn't want to leave, they can switch to selling hawthorn slices. Those won't be discontinued; I like eating them myself…"

Cai Xiaodong fell silent. For a moment, he couldn't tell if General Manager Zhou was joking or being serious.

"Of course, if you really want to stay, that's fine too, but you might have to transfer to the workshop to work on the production line!" Zhou Qi said. "Naturally, your salary won't be compromised. Whatever you earned before, you'll earn even more from now on."

"This…" Cai Xiaodong realized that General Manager Zhou was serious.

"Can I go back and discuss this with my team?" Cai Xiaodong asked.

"Of course!" Zhou Qi nodded.

After watching Cai Xiaodong leave, Zhou Qi stroked his chin. "Don't you think this Manager Cai looks a bit like that singer?"

"Jeff Chang?" Brother Bing said.

"Ah, yes, him! Even his voice sounds so similar!" Zhou Qi said. "And Zhang Zeyu looks a bit like Bai Jingting. This company has quite a few celebrity look-alikes."

"Cough, cough…" Brother Bing suddenly gave him a look. Zhou Qi followed his gaze and realized there were still people in the conference room.

"Jiang Mingran? Do you need something?"

"Didn't you ask me to stay?" Jiang Mingran said speechlessly.

"Oh, oh, I forgot!" Zhou Qi nodded. "I asked you to stay to discuss our future salary structure. How was the salary determined in the past? Were employees tiered?"

"Are you referring to the system like Alibaba and Tencent use, where employees are graded with letters and numbers?" Jiang Mingran shook her head. "No, General Manager Luo tried to implement something similar once, but it never came to fruition."

"Then how is the current salary calculated?" Zhou Qi asked.

"For positions in our company, the base salary varies depending on the department!" Jiang Mingran said. "For example, in the production workshop, the base salary for frontline workers is 1850. For higher positions like deputy team leaders, supervisors, and inspectors, it's also 1850, but they receive an additional 300 yuan in quality subsidies each month. Team leaders, at an even higher level, have a base salary of 2100, plus a 300 yuan team leadership bonus."

"Above team leaders are the production line leaders, whose base salaries range from 2400 to 2600. Several production lines form a production section, which has a section chief and deputy section chief, with base salaries of 3000 to 3500. Then there are the workshop directors. A general workshop director has a base salary of 4000 yuan. Although Director Mo Jiakang is a workshop director, he also manages the production, packaging, and quality control departments, so his monthly base salary is 4500."

"Because the production department requires frequent overtime, our factory's overtime pay complies with labor laws: 1.5 times the normal rate from Monday to Friday, double on Saturdays and Sundays, and triple on public holidays. With 12-hour shifts and two-shift operations, the monthly salary for frontline workers is around 4000 to 6000. Line leaders and team leaders average over 6000. Section chiefs earn between 6500 and 8000. Workshop directors generally earn over 8000."

Zhou Qi nodded. "What about other departments?"

"The sales department has a base salary of 3000 yuan, working from nine to five without overtime. However, they receive sales commissions, usually 1% of sales. Experienced salespeople can earn ten to twenty thousand a month, while new hires make around three to four thousand."

"The operations and design departments both have a base salary of 4200. They receive a 4% commission on new product sales. The three members of the media department: Lu Xiaowan is a top graduate from the broadcasting program at the Communication University. When she joined, she already had 800,000 followers online, so her base salary is very high. Her junior and senior classmates have base salaries of 8000. Additionally, they often do live streams to sell products and can earn a 3% commission on sales. In the four months since Lu Xiaowan joined, her lowest monthly salary was 14,000, and her highest was 16,000."

"Then there's the transportation department, with a base salary of 6500, plus transportation subsidies. The amount given depends on the distance of each trip. Within Dongguang Province, the subsidy is 600 yuan. For the Pearl River Delta region, it's 1000 yuan, and for the southeastern region, it's 1400 yuan. They don't travel outside the southeast."

"Wait…" Zhou Qi raised his hand. "Isn't the salary for the transportation department a bit high? Isn't transportation their main job? Why do they get subsidies?"

"This…" Jiang Mingran paused and looked around.

"What?" Zhou Qi asked in surprise.

"It's like this!" Jiang Mingran thought for a moment, closed the conference room door, then stood up and sat closer.

Was it that serious?

Her demeanor made Zhou Qi become more cautious.

"The people in the transportation department are all prima donnas, very difficult to please!" Jiang Mingran whispered. "When their salaries were only three to four thousand, we often heard about broken fuel tanks, stolen gas, engine failures, broken filters, and the like. Then they'd demand thousands for repair costs."

"General Manager Luo ended up driving with them a few times himself. When he was with them, there were no issues. But when he wasn't, problems would arise. They went through several drivers, but it didn't help; the vehicles still had problems…" Jiang Mingran spread her hands. "There was no choice but to increase their salaries and add subsidies!"

"Now that the salaries have been increased and subsidies added, along with restrictions on transport times, they're fined if they don't arrive within the agreed time. Only then did the vehicles stop having problems…"

Zhou Qi listened, speechless. It was obvious the vehicles weren't breaking down on their own; it was intentional.

"But if the vehicles go that fast, won't there be accidents?" Brother Bing asked from the side.

"There will be accidents. In the past five years, our transport vehicles have killed eight people…" Jiang Mingran spread her hands. "But the insurance company covers the fatalities. However, if a vehicle breaks down on the road, General Manager Luo has to pay. General Manager Luo felt that this was still quite cost-effective…"

Zhou Qi was greatly shocked. He could only say that this world was too bizarre.

"How many transport vehicles does the factory have?" Zhou Qi asked.

"Oh, we have 6.8-meter Dongfeng box trucks for long-haul transport, and three Wuling vehicles for deliveries to nearby areas…" Jiang Mingran said.

"Are these vehicles still at the factory?" Zhou Qi asked. "Did Factory Manager Luo not take them?"

"How could he take them?" Jiang Mingran said dismissively. "The accountants from Linlang and government officials are watching. He can't take the factory's assets. As for the money in the company accounts, that's another matter; there was no money left in them long before the decision was made to sell the factory."

Zhou Qi nodded and said, "Alright, have your finance department look into this. Research how to adjust the specific salary structure, then submit a report to me. As for this month's payroll, I'll transfer the money to the account later."

"Um, can I ask how the salary will be adjusted specifically?" Jiang Mingran asked. "Will everyone's basic salary be adjusted to 4500? Or will those who are more capable and hold higher positions get a proper increase?"

"This..." Zhou Qi paused, then looked at Brother Bing. I don't understand any of this.

"It definitely won't be suitable for everyone to get the same amount, that would just turn it into a 'big pot of rice' situation!" Brother Bing said. "But too large a gap also isn't suitable, it would go against our original intention!"

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Zhou Qi asked.

"I suggest we divide the salary into three parts!" Zhou Yibing said. "Basic salary, technical salary, and position salary!"

"The basic salary will be the same for everyone. As for technical salary, naturally, those who master technical skills can obtain it. As for which specific jobs are considered technical, let Mo Jiakang and them discuss it!"

"Position salary is for team leaders, section chiefs, and the like. We'll add a bit appropriately, but it definitely won't be as high as before!"

Zhou Qi nodded. After all, the frontline workers' salaries would definitely increase. Those who would see a decrease in salary were the management, like line leaders and section chiefs.

However, logically speaking, they wouldn't complain. The amount they lost would be compensated for in the cafeteria and accommodation. If they truly felt wronged, they could just leave!

"Oh right, isn't Linlang in charge of this? Let them handle it!" Zhou Qi said. "Since none of us understand it, why not let the experts do it!"

"They'll need to be paid!" Brother Bing said.

"When doing big things, you can't be afraid of spending money!" Zhou Qi waved his hand. "Right, hurry up and call Yining over to work in the human resources department, and then summon the family members. The sooner they come, the sooner they get paid! For the cafeteria, dorm management, cleaning, and internet cafe manager roles, none of them require technical skills. Arrange them for family members. Bring along anyone who has a dog at home; we'll give them a military dog designation."

"..." Even though he had heard it many times, Brother Bing was still speechless. He could only nod.

Speaking of which, he also missed his sister. He hadn't seen her in a long time.

"Um, Little Jiang, I'll transfer the money to you later. Regarding this salary reform, I'll have someone from Linlang get in touch with you about it!"

"Oh..." Jiang Mingran nodded, her expression dimming slightly.

She had already heard it. This was another boss who favored relatives. The position of head of the finance department likely wouldn't fall to her.

However, she was used to it. After all, wasn't the previous minister Luo Baofeng's wife, who couldn't even recite the multiplication table?

Watching Jiang Mingran leave, Zhou Qi praised Brother Bing, "She's talented! No matter what she's asked, she can answer directly. She understands this factory quite well."

"So, are you going to give her an important role?" Brother Bing asked.

"How can that be? She's not surnamed Zhou!" Zhou Qi shook his head. "Haven't you seen enough news about financial personnel running off with company money after falling for some handsome guy?"

"Then why don't you make her part of the Zhou family!" Brother Bing said. "This girl doesn't have a boyfriend yet. Although she's a bit older, 30, she's exactly three years older than you. A woman three years older brings good fortune, as they say. As for her looks, she's not a peerless beauty, but she's up to standard. She's more than enough for you."

"Forget it!" Zhou Qi shook his head. I'm busy developing another world, where do I have time for romance?

And even if she's capable, can she compare to Nico Robin?

"However, this is a viable path!" Zhou Qi pondered. "There are quite a few bachelors in the family. But this position really needs to be decided soon. Who in the family do you think is suitable to be the head of the finance department?"

"Someone in charge of money must be a very close person. But I don't know your lineage well. How about Zhou Zhisui? Your paternal cousin."

Zhou Zhisui was the eldest daughter of Zhou Qi's fourth uncle. They had a good relationship when they were young.

"No, she's already married!" Zhou Qi shook his head.

"Ah?" Brother Bing was stunned. "She's not that old, is she?"

"How is she not old? She's already 23!" Zhou Qi said.

"Uh, that's true..." Brother Bing nodded. For them, being twenty-seven or twenty-eight and not married was an anomaly in the Zhou family. It was normal for people to get married or hitched right after twenty.

For example, Zhou Qi's reason for not wanting to go home was that there were already little kids calling him uncle, and their height was almost as tall as his.

Zhou Qi added, "It doesn't necessarily have to be from our lineage. Once the factory is up and running, all eleven of our lineages will be one big family. So, if you know of anyone suitable from the others, just say so."

"Then, how about Brother Bo?" Zhou Yibing brought up another name.

"Brother Bo?" Zhou Qi was taken aback. "Teacher Zhou Wenbo?"

"It's him!" Zhou Yibing nodded. Zhou Wenbo was from their generation, but Zhou Qi's grandfather was the fifth in line, while Zhou Wenbo's grandfather was the eldest.

Therefore, Zhou Wenbo was more than ten years older than Zhou Qi. When Zhou Qi was just starting primary school, Zhou Wenbo was already a teacher at the school.

"You might not know since you moved away, but after our primary schools merged, Brother Bo taught at the township middle school for five years, then joined the brigade and worked as an accountant for over ten years until now..." Brother Bing said. "Among our Zhou family, he's the only one with accounting experience!"

"This..." Zhou Qi was speechless.

There are really so few talents in the Zhou family!

I'll have to set up an education fund later and hire some professional teachers to run training classes in the village.

We need to cultivate a batch of university students at least!

"Please invite him!" Zhou Qi said. "The village accountant only earns a pittance. Give him ten times that."

"Okay!" Yibing nodded. "I'll contact him when I get back..."

"When your sister arrives, remember to fire all those drivers in the transportation department!" Zhou Qi said. "Surely the family doesn't have anyone who can't drive, right!"

"We definitely do!" Yibing nodded. "We have many retired soldiers in the family, and they all know how to drive trucks!"

"Then there's no problem!" Zhou Qi nodded. "That's all for now. Oh right, find me another place to stay in the factory. I'm leaving first. I'll come back in a couple of days. If there's anything, send me a WeChat message. I'll check it around noon or in the afternoon. Don't call, I might not answer."

"Alright..."

After watching Brother Bing leave, Zhou Qi took out his phone, preparing to call Yan Yun.

But after thinking about it, he changed his target and decided to find Zhou Mingde instead.