002 Striking Gold: The Prospector’s Salary Doubled
On the other side, at Galaxy Film Company.
Fragmented sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting mottled patterns across the walls. Above, the ceiling threatened to collapse at any moment, hanging precariously.
In the office area, discarded documents were scattered across the workstations. Every sign spoke of decay and desolation.
Yet, from within a similarly dilapidated meeting room came a series of firm, resonant voices.
“My dear family, do not fear difficulties. As the saying goes, crisis carries opportunity within it. We must learn to find chances amid adversity!
This company was failing before, but now it’s under my leadership.
I have my own plans for its development...
Please keep your worries to yourselves!
As long as I’m here, there will be soup for you all...”
At the employee rally, Pei Duoduo wore a red Chanel suit. Her long curls were tied up into a high ponytail, neat and crisp, making her look both capable and charming.
As she spoke, her eyes full of encouragement swept across the faces of the employees seated on either side of the conference table.
But unfortunately, these veteran employees looked back at her with mixed expressions—eyes clouded with confusion and disbelief.
Daxia Film was currently in a period of decline.
Galaxy Film was insolvent.
The former owner had fled, burdened with debts.
If it weren’t for three months of unpaid wages, most would have left long ago.
Who would stay in such a broken company?
No one could understand what kind of courage this unusually beautiful young woman must have had to stand up now and vow to turn things around.
And to utter such reckless bravado...
“President Pei, most of the staff have left already. How do you expect the few of us to carry on the business?”
A round-faced female employee finally spoke up from the chipped, elongated conference table.
She glanced around and saw her former colleagues nodding in agreement.
Jobs weren’t easy to come by nowadays.
Yet none wished to see this beautiful new boss quit and run off after only a few years.
There might not be anyone else willing to take over.
Better to disband early and find a more stable job.
For the working class, time was the most precious commodity.
“That’s a good question!”
Pei Duoduo gave an approving look.
Folding her hands on the worn table—its rough surface uncomfortable to the touch—she smiled warmly at those present.
“Before I answer, let me ask you all a question: why do we make films?”
“Why?”
After a brief moment of hesitation, the remaining veteran employees began to voice their opinions.
“Box office!”
“To please the audience!”
“To make a profit!”
They spoke with authority.
How else had Galaxy Film ended up bankrupt?
“To please the audience, earn box office revenue, make money to fund the next film, and keep this cycle going so the company can survive!”
One summarized.
Pei Duoduo shook her head, “That’s not the point!”
The veterans fell silent.
If that wasn’t the point, then what was?
The new boss’s question was so tricky!
What exactly did she want to hear?
Was she just stalling for time?
“My family, we make films for art!
When we stop worrying about money and wholeheartedly refine a work, it will naturally shine brilliantly on the screen and capture everyone's attention!”
Seeing no response, Pei Duoduo guided the conversation skillfully.
Everyone suddenly understood.
Indeed, chasing after money rarely yields results. But if you focus on the work itself, both the audience and box office will be naturally drawn in.
The new boss was truly unique.
But...
The round-faced woman spoke again, “President Pei, making films requires a project team working together. But as the most crucial part, where can we find suitable directors in today’s film industry?”
“Yes, the film industry is so restless nowadays. Few are willing to settle down and polish their craft. The well-known directors are mostly old now and unlikely to come out.”
“Even if they wanted to, we probably can’t afford them! Not that I doubt your abilities, President Pei, but the cost-performance ratio is just too low...”
The employees shared their insights.
They too had a say in the current state of affairs.
Otherwise, how could Daxia Film have declined?
“Everyone, calm down. I do have a candidate in mind.”
Pei Duoduo smiled brightly. “Starshine Company is regarded as a leader in the industry, both in the capital and across Daxia, right?”
“And in business, you have to benchmark! We can poach talent from their company!”
The room immediately buzzed with excitement.
“Yes, Wu Ping from Starshine is excellent. Although his film ‘Lover in the Night’ didn’t do well at the box office, it won the Swan Award, showing his artistic merit!”
“That may be, but Wu Ping has stock options at Starshine. He’s unlikely to jump ship anytime soon.”
“That’s true. Then as a second choice, Wang Xingxing would be fine. His film ‘Chrysanthemum’ also won domestic awards.”
When it came to Wang Xingxing, the staff agreed he was the best value candidate.
They eagerly looked at Pei Duoduo, waiting for her to decide.
If they could lure him over, Galaxy Film might survive for another ten or even twenty years.
For now, with nowhere better to go, they’d stay and see.
But Pei Duoduo shook her head again. “Wang Xingxing isn’t suitable. As to why, I think you all know. Bringing someone like that here would disrupt the company atmosphere!”
Her tone was firm and righteous.
The employees couldn’t help but nod.
Indeed, Wang Xingxing’s character was questionable.
No one wanted to work with him—it would be inviting trouble.
“My family, I’ve done some research. Director Qian is quite good. I heard Cheng Jie wants to push him out. We can definitely keep such talent!”
Pei Duoduo no longer beat around the bush and directly named her candidate.
A bit of democracy now and then was fine, but the company’s steering wheel must remain in her hands.
After all, the path forward couldn’t be conventional.
However, as soon as she finished, several employees grew restless.
“Bringing in such a lousy director—can Galaxy Film even survive?”
“Yeah, Starshine isn’t stupid. If they’re kicking him out, it must be because he’s worthless.”
“President Pei, we can’t just hire anyone!”
The subordinates murmured anxiously.
Pei Duoduo raised her hand, and the crowd immediately fell silent.
All eyes were on her.
She was pleased by their reaction.
It showed they took her seriously as their boss, making future work easier.
“My family, young people need time to grow. We can’t judge a hero by a single performance!
I don’t know about others, but I’ve investigated Director Qian. He’s hardworking and serious about his work...
Most importantly, though his last three films flopped at the box office, you can see his artistic pursuit in the finer details!”
Her words were sincere.
Though the employees remained puzzled, they found no grounds to object.
The boss seemed to make some sense.
Qian Lang had long been branded a bad director, but Pei Duoduo’s lavish praise suddenly made him seem different.
“Ding ding!”
Her phone buzzed.
Pei Duoduo opened the message.
“My family, good news! Qian Lang has been fired!
Hurry to wait beneath the Starshine building. If you’re late, someone else might snap him up!
Whoever recruits Qian Lang will get double their salary!”
Pei Duoduo was ecstatic, her eyes shining with intelligence.
Last month, she had awakened the Supreme Loss-Rebate System!
Whenever investments failed, the system would refund double!
Moreover, the more she invested, the system would upgrade and increase the refund multiplier.
After thorough SWOT analysis, she decided to invest in the film industry.
Buying Galaxy Film was just the beginning.
Qian Lang, this flop, was the linchpin!
She had always wanted to poach him, and now the opportunity had finally arrived!
“Long live the boss!”
Hearing about the doubled salary, several employees’ eyes sparkled as they vanished from the meeting room in an instant.
“My family, be sure to show Director Qian how sincere we are!”
Pei Duoduo called after them anxiously.
But no one was left in sight.
Still, their execution was impressively swift!