Development Philosophy

"Alright then!" Huang Sixiao said, though his heart ached for the money, he couldn't really say anything else.

Huang Xiuyuan continued to instruct, "Brother Dachang, you take on the role of security manager for the time being. Recruit a few more security guards from Pubian, and make sure they are honest people."

"No problem."

"Also, urge Han Hai to move the equipment out as soon as possible."

Huang Weichang nodded.

After discussing some rough arrangements, he and Lu Xuedong discussed the arrival of applicants tomorrow, as well as the future structure of the company.

He intended to implement a company model that leaned toward the Huawei model, though it required certain changes; the company's fundamental laws had to be established.

As for the company name, after discussions between Huang Xiuyuan and Lu Xuedong, three backup names were determined. When it came time to change the registration information, they would use whichever one was available for registration.

Then there was the company's management framework, employee promotion system, salary and benefits system, and finally, the most important thing: the company's development philosophy, direction, and near-term business operations.

When discussing the development philosophy, Huang Xiuyuan's eyes grew distant, gazing out the glass window at the pitch-black mountain ridges in the distance, until a ray of sunlight suddenly scattered from the east, dispelling the darkness before dawn.

"The road ahead is long and winding, I shall search high and low," he sighed softly, then immediately steadied himself and said with ironclad resolve:

"We are a technology company; technology is the foundation of our existence. If one day we stop developing technology, we will lose our life."

Lu Xuedong was filled with excitement and fighting spirit: "This is a difficult path, I shall strive alongside you."

"I have decided: the company's development philosophy shall be: The path of scientific research, until death do us part; people-oriented, benefiting the world."

The sky had just brightened.

A notice was posted at the entrance of the garment factory.

Inside the finance office, Accountant Li and two others each had a landline, busy calling employees to come and settle their wages.

Before eight o'clock in the morning, dozens of female workers had already rushed to the factory gate.

The old man guarding the gate sat on a small stool, slowly puffing on a dry pipe, and only got up to open the gate when he saw the crowd of female workers approaching.

"Uncle Zhang, is Shorty Han really paying the wages?" a middle-aged woman with buck teeth asked, somewhat disbelieving.

"Is that you, Azhen?" Uncle Zhang took another puff of his pipe and replied slowly, "Boss Han sold the factory; there's a new boss now."

Azhen grew nervous: "Then who do we get the money from? Is the factory still going to operate?"

"Go to the finance office to collect it. The new boss is paying. The factory won't be making clothes anymore."

Hearing that there were wages to be collected, Azhen breathed a sigh of relief. Although it was a pity to lose her job, at least she could get the back pay owed to her.

Dozens of female workers swarmed into the finance office, and with the employees arriving one after another, Huang Sixiao hurriedly had the security guards maintain order.

Inside the finance office.

"Name? ID card," the finance clerk asked hurriedly.

The employee at the front of the line took out her ID card: "Hu Cuihua, I'm from Group 6."

"Three months of back pay, totaling 5,437 yuan. Check if it's correct. If it is, sign here. If you can't write your name, use your fingerprint."

The dark and thin Hu Cuihua said hurriedly, "That's the exact amount."

"This is your severance pay. You worked in the factory for three and a half years, so you get four months of base salary as compensation, totaling 4,800 yuan. Thank the new owner!" the clerk added with a sigh.

"Thank you! The new boss will surely make a fortune."

"There's actually severance pay?"

"The new boss is a truly good person, unlike that wicked ghost Shorty Han."

"I wonder what the new boss does. If he's hiring, I'll definitely come here to work."

The employees whispered among themselves, and seeing Hu Cuihua receive her money, everyone's spirits soared.

It was a tragedy; severance pay was a matter of written regulation, yet these employees were so grateful for it. Behind the world's factory lay the blood and sweat of countless workers.

In the office next door, Huang Xiuyuan was filled with mixed emotions. He didn't know how to describe his feelings; there was no joy in being praised, only a silent sorrow.

As noon approached, Huang Weichang, acting as Huang Xiuyuan's assistant, went to the kitchen to order lunch.

The few kitchen staff left behind were honest helpers whose culinary skills were only mediocre. The previous person in charge was a distant relative of Han Hai and had long since left with him.

The head chef and his small clique had sought other employment before the New Year.

Now, they could only make some simple home-cooked meals, though Huang Weichang had already thrown away many of the ingredients left behind.

He had discovered that these ingredients included gutter oil and ham sausages that had been expired for over half a year. Unable to determine if the other ingredients were safe, he had no choice but to throw them all away.

He had rushed to the Hongcao Town farmers' market to purchase a new batch of ingredients.

In the factory manager's office.

Huang Weichang and a kitchen helper placed the food and rice on the table, then complained to him: "That Shorty Han is truly a piece of work, actually feeding the workers gutter oil and expired food."

"This cafeteria used gutter oil?" Lu Xuedong, who had just picked up his chopsticks, immediately stopped.

Huang Weichang hurriedly explained, "Don't worry, Brother Lu, these are things I just bought at the market. I threw away all the previous ingredients."

"Eat," Huang Xiuyuan said, not particularly surprised. In the era of the great internet boom, he had seen all sorts of bizarre things and had even experienced them firsthand.

Reassured, Lu Xuedong began to eat ravenously.

Halfway through the meal, Huang Sixiao and Accountant Li knocked on the door and walked in, carrying a document.

Huang Xiuyuan set down his bowl and chopsticks: "Have you two eaten yet?"

"Not yet, we'll go eat in a bit." Huang Sixiao wasn't overly formal.

Meanwhile, Accountant Li, standing to the side, appeared slightly nervous.

"Brother Dachang, go tell the kitchen to add a few more dishes and two sets of tableware."

"Alright."

Huang Xiuyuan then asked: "How many people settled their wages this morning?"

"So far, a total of 285 people have settled, with a total expenditure of 2,024,386 yuan. There are still 76 people who haven't come to settle yet," Accountant Li reported the detailed figures.

"Thank you both for your hard work on this."

"It's no trouble, it's all part of the job." Accountant Li didn't get carried away; although the new boss paying out severance like this seemed a bit foolish, following such a generous boss was still better than following a heartless wretch like Han Hai.

Besides, those employees were all villagers from the surrounding areas, and doing this could also earn him a good reputation.

"Accountant Li, prepare the bank loan documents over the next few days. April is almost here, so let's not have the bank coming to chase us for payment when the time comes."

"I'll organize them as soon as possible; I estimate I can have it done by tomorrow."

Before long, Huang Weichang arrived carrying the food.

The five of them had a simple lunch together in the office.

Around two o'clock in the afternoon, his phone rang.

It turned out to be Xu Yaomin from Career International. He had chartered a bus to bring 30 applicants to Shanmei and was already nearing the highway exit.

"Brother Dachang, drive to the Pubian highway exit to pick up a bus. The license plate is Yue B7283H, and it's a blue bus. You have Xu Yaomin's number, right?"

Huang Weichang nodded: "I wrote it down in my notebook."

It was still that same beat-up pickup truck.

Watching Huang Weichang drive off, he couldn't help but wonder how many people they would be able to recruit this time; after all, the current environment could only be described as destitute.

If it weren't for his relatively sufficient funds, the appeal would be even lower.

Over half an hour later, the beat-up pickup truck led a blue bus into the factory grounds.