Chapter 39: Company Structure
The next morning, a plane from Shanghai landed at J City airport, bringing Gu Wanrong and Tong Shenyi back.
A pre-booked ride was waiting. After picking them up, they headed to their temporary office in the Wealth Building.
“President Gu, this is the compiled list of the group’s companies and fixed assets. Please check for any errors or omissions.” Tong Shenyi had compiled the information the previous day and printed it out in the temporary office.
Gu Wanrong took the document, reviewing it and comparing it to her records. “There are basically no errors or omissions,” she said, noticing Tong Shenyi’s markings on the plots of land she had purchased. “Is there something special about this land?”
“President Gu, the transfer of the land from the auction house will take about three days. After that, it will officially belong to the group.” Tong Shenyi explained.
“Okay,” Gu Wanrong nodded. “Since the transfer takes three days, we’re not in a hurry. Let’s wait until the 56th floor of Xi Yuan Lai is renovated before recruiting employees.”
“Okay, President Gu. I’ll submit the employee recruitment list for your review later.”
“He Yuxia has moved to J City. You can also assign some work in J City to her during this month-long renovation period. Don’t handle everything yourself; it’s too tiring.” Gu Wanrong realized she had assigned all tasks to Tong Shenyi, feeling that he was doing too much extra work as the CEO, and thus thought of He Yuxia.
Tong Shenyi nodded, understanding that he would delegate many tasks to He Yuxia. After all, she was the only employee currently hired, and her salary had already been paid.
After discussing the tasks for Xi Yuan Lai Food Company in J City, Gu Wanrong took out the food recipes she had won in the 100-pull. “I have some food recipes here. They’re supposedly the optimal formulas for these food types. The pickled pepper rice noodles and exploding belly powder recipes are perfect for Xi Yuan Food Processing Factory in C City.”
Tong Shenyi considered this. Although Gu Wanrong claimed these were optimal recipes, it was best to make samples first. “Pickled pepper rice noodles and exploding belly powder are local C City delicacies, suitable for Xi Yuan Food Processing Factory. They can try making a batch of samples.”
Gu Wanrong didn’t think too much about it. “Send a box to me once you have samples. I want to try them.”
Studying in J City for a month, Gu Wanrong already missed the food from her hometown in C City. She was also curious about the taste of the system’s supposedly optimal recipes.
New product launches are complex. If the recipes were indeed optimal, it would simplify many steps, but many processes would still remain, Tong Shenyi pondered.
However, Tong Shenyi was unaware that Gu Wanrong wasn’t familiar with this process. Hearing her mention sending samples, he decided to go to C City to see Liang Zhongwei and expedite the production of the samples, as Gu Wanrong seemed eager for production and launch.
Ideally, the samples would be ready before the 56th-floor renovation was complete. He would then quickly complete the remaining processes after recruiting employees in J City.
After formulating his plan, Tong Shenyi said, “President Gu, I will urge Liang Zhongwei to produce the samples within a month. After recruiting employees for Xi Yuan Lai Food Company, we’ll quickly launch the pickled pepper rice noodles and exploding belly powder, achieving Xi Yuan Lai’s first success.”
Seeing Tong Shenyi’s serious assurance, Gu Wanrong also became serious. “Good. I hope under your leadership, we successfully launch Xi Yuan Lai.”
However, hearing Tong Shenyi’s assurance, Gu Wanrong realized that her assumption that the system’s recipes would immediately lead to production and launch was wrong. She decided to research the process later.
Tong Shenyi continued, “Yi Shang Entertainment Company is now under your name. As CEO of Qian Yuan Group, I have no information on its management personnel. What are your plans for it? Will you appoint the managers, or should I recruit them?”
After hearing Tong Shenyi, Gu Wanrong realized that after appointing him as CEO, she had only informed him that Yi Shang Entertainment was under Qian Yuan Group but had forgotten to mention that she had already obtained its management personnel from the system. She felt a little embarrassed. “I’ve hired Tong Shenwu, a former high-level manager from Hollywood’s MDM Entertainment, as CEO of Yi Shang Entertainment.”
The similarity between Tong Shenyi and Tong Shenwu’s names struck Gu Wanrong.
Tong Shenyi’s surprised yet understanding reaction further piqued her curiosity.
“You and Tong Shenwu?” Gu Wanrong asked.
“I know Tong Shenwu. We’re like siblings,” Tong Shenyi explained.
“Since you’re siblings, you must know each other and have contact information. I don’t need to give you hers.” Gu Wanrong said.
But what did “like siblings” mean? Half-siblings? Gu Wanrong was confused by the term but dismissed the thought. She wasn’t sure what she had just thought.
Unaware of Gu Wanrong’s fleeting thoughts, Tong Shenyi explained that he and Tong Shenwu, as orphans raised and trained before signing a ten-year contract to work for Gu Wanrong, were not yet known to Gu Wanrong. Gu Wanrong’s superiors would clarify any questions.
Afterwards, Gu Wanrong explained the newly acquired shares in Ruian Airlines (15%), Pulan Airbus (45%), and Si Pu Bo Te Shipping (73%) to Tong Shenyi.
He Yuxia submitted a recruitment brochure outlining the positions, number of employees, and salary and benefits for Xi Yuan Lai.
The brochure categorized positions in sales, marketing, R&D, production, quality control, procurement, and finance departments.
Tong Shenyi had been too busy discussing group matters with Gu Wanrong to create this brochure himself; he had delegated the task to He Yuxia, who was efficient and highly skilled in finance.
Gu Wanrong and Tong Shenyi quietly reviewed the draft brochure.
After carefully reviewing it, Gu Wanrong looked up at Tong Shenyi, who was waiting for her opinion. “What do you think of the recruitment brochure, Manager Tong?”
“The proposed positions and number of employees seem reasonable.”
“Then let’s use this recruitment plan.”
Gu Wanrong found the positions reasonable but, aware of her lack of expertise, sought Tong Shenyi’s opinion. His agreement confirmed her decision.
However, Gu Wanrong decided to revise the salary and benefits.
Given He Yuxia’s higher-than-market salary and benefits, including housing and a car, Gu Wanrong assumed the proposed salary and benefits for other employees would also be competitive.
The brochure listed salary, benefits, and working hours at the highest market rates.
Comparing this to her past experiences, Gu Wanrong felt it was good, but only relatively.
For example, the brochure listed lunch allowance, communication allowance, and high-temperature allowance. Reflecting on her past experiences, she added breakfast and dinner allowances, commuting allowance, housing allowance, overtime allowance, filial piety fund, and medical allowance.
Annual leave was increased by 10 days, and salaries were increased by 20%.
After her revisions, Gu Wanrong declared, “Okay, I’m done.”
Tong Shenyi and He Yuxia, after seeing Gu Wanrong’s revisions, were amazed. It was better than a civil servant’s benefits.
“President Gu, are you sure about this?” Tong Shenyi asked for confirmation.
“Yes, recruit using this plan.” Gu Wanrong firmly nodded, expressing her conviction.
“I think being your employee would be a joyful experience,” Tong Shenyi commented.
“It’s nothing to brag about,” Gu Wanrong modestly denied.
Gu Wanrong genuinely intended to offer these significantly higher-than-market salaries and benefits. She believed that, given her company’s profitability, providing better treatment for her employees was right. Furthermore, she was already considering whether to build or buy housing for employee benefits, as housing allowances weren’t as good as company housing.