Chapter 034: Don’t Mess with Me, or I’ll Make You Cry to a Rhythm
The renovation work inside the shop was nearly complete, and at this moment, Qin Yuelan was sitting on a brand-new stool, organizing documents.
“Hello, I’m looking for a job,” Zhang Tianfeng said as he took a seat.
Qin Yuelan looked up in delight, but the moment she saw who it was, her expression shifted to one of embarrassed annoyance. “Boss, is this really the time to joke around with me?”
“I just wanted to ease the tension a little. You’re the first lieutenant I handpicked—if the pressure crushes you, I’ll be to blame.”
“It’s not your fault; I brought this on myself,” Qin Yuelan replied with a bitter smile.
She realized she had underestimated the situation.
Back when she had a sudden inspiration to combine her late-night food stall with a job placement business, it had achieved some success, but nothing substantial. Once major capital entered the scene, the force it brought was overwhelming.
She had already set her sights on a shop, negotiated the price, and was only waiting to sign the contract and hand over the money. But then Xu Juncong arrived, and with a price twice as high, snatched the deal away from her.
Next came price wars for the factories. No matter how much they lowered their prices, Xu Juncong’s side always offered fifty less. Qin Yuelan had every reason to suspect that if she stopped charging the factories, Xu Juncong’s side might even start paying them.
It was truly a dead end—she racked her brains and couldn’t see how to survive, let alone mount a counterattack.
“Have you lost confidence already? Don’t tell me I misjudged you.”
Zhang Tianfeng looked around theatrically. “Is this still the Qin Yuelan who dared venture out alone with only a few thousand yuan, hoping to strike it rich? Miss, may I ask your name?”
“Boss, I haven’t slept a wink these past two nights. Look at me—I’m worn out.”
“No, you still look as beautiful and charming as ever. The only thing is, your makeup’s a bit heavy.”
“Boss!” Qin Yuelan grabbed Zhang Tianfeng’s hand. “Boss, I really have no way out. Please, give me some advice!”
“Yuelan, let’s keep it proper in public, please.”
Zhang Tianfeng glanced around and saw that the workers were all busy outside. Lowering his voice, he said, “Actually, I’ve had a way to deal with them for a while.”
“Boss, go on. I promise I won’t breathe a word.”
“I’ll just tell you one key thing: the bigger the operation, the greater the investment. If the follow-up service can’t keep up, cracks will appear.”
Qin Yuelan didn’t ask questions immediately but sat silently, deep in thought.
The first part was easy to understand.
Yuanli Group had opened thirteen job placement agencies in Tangwan Town all at once. Each shop had at least five full-time employees, plus temps out recruiting customers and handing out flyers.
With free lunches, summer supplies, rent, housing costs, and more, each agency probably spent about six thousand yuan a month on average.
At that cost, they’d have to secure eighty percent of Tangwan Town’s factories and keep the agencies crowded every day just to break even.
But what about follow-up service? Qin Yuelan pondered for a long time but still couldn’t figure it out.
She looked up and said, “Boss, I don’t quite understand that part. Can you explain?”
“How much do you know about the human resources market?”
“Not much, but not little either. At this stage, it’s a blue ocean—anyone can make money with just a bit of effort.”
“Have you ever noticed if our competitors care about the workers after they’re placed?”
“Of course not. This business is all about one-off deals. Once the worker’s hired, it’s over. If there’s no money, who would keep serving them?”
“That’s exactly our breakthrough—differentiation.”
Qin Yuelan paused, recalling that in Xiyan City, Zhang Tianfeng had said something similar, then broke into the market by selling clothing advice disguised as something else, making a fortune.
Zhang Tianfeng’s idea was simple: since the entire job placement market was a one-shot deal, he’d offer something akin to after-sales service in e-commerce.
He could sell workers a limited-time package—for example, at five yuan each. If the worker left within fifteen days of being placed, they’d get a new job assignment for free, and they’d keep helping until the worker found a position.
Zhang Tianfeng wasn’t worried about people gaming the system. In this era, most people were in it to make money, not to mess around.
Of course, once he rolled this out, Xu Juncong’s side wouldn’t sit idly by. They might even send people to deliberately create trouble.
But that was fine—the second advantage of Bole Company would come into play.
Small scale, low investment! Staying power!
Buying this shop only cost fifty thousand. Qin Yuelan was supposed to get equity, with no base salary.
Chen Jiaqi was currently paid three hundred a month, rising to six hundred after probation; Hongmao and his sixteen underlings got two hundred a month, rising to four hundred after probation.
All in all, the monthly expenses totaled just over ten thousand, while Bole Company still had a cash flow of four hundred thousand—enough to last for forty months.
Xu Juncong’s side couldn’t hold out that long; he’d probably launch an all-out assault within two months, and if he couldn’t win, he’d have to pack up and leave.
So Zhang Tianfeng wasn’t at all worried about Xu Juncong sending people to cause trouble. At worst, he’d just spend money to play along.
At this stage, it was all about survival of the fittest.
After hearing Zhang Tianfeng’s strategy, Qin Yuelan suddenly understood.
“Don’t play by the opponent’s rhythm—just stick to our own. Use differentiation to crack open the market and build a good reputation?”
“That’s about right. With Bole and this industry, I intend to invest time and money. There’s no way I’ll quit halfway.”
Zhang Tianfeng stood up. “But if you can’t do it, I won’t hesitate to find someone else.”
“Boss, do you have another plan you haven’t told me about?”
“What makes you think that?”
“Workers are already placed—why would they quit for no reason?” Qin Yuelan grinned. “Are you setting another trap for Xu Juncong?”
“No, don’t imagine things! I’m not that kind of person.”
Seeing Zhang Tianfeng hurriedly rise and turn to leave, Qin Yuelan was certain he still had plans he hadn’t revealed.
“All right, just tell me when you need my cooperation. I’ll support you wholeheartedly.”
“Then I’ll leave you to your work.”
Zhang Tianfeng had two plans he hadn’t shared—both confidential and beyond Qin Yuelan’s current comprehension.
In the future, people with talent and ability would be highly valued and fiercely contested. The reason he entered the job placement market was to prepare for this, to seize the opportunity before others noticed, and to reap the rewards from the talent market.
That was why he came up with differentiated strategies.
He wanted to use the soon-to-be-launched “protection package” to break into the market. Once the first step was taken, everything else would fall into place.
The second, more hidden purpose was to screen his employees.
Up to now, he still didn’t fully trust Qin Yuelan and was holding something back.
This was a test—for only in the face of real danger would someone’s true nature emerge.
If Qin Yuelan could really hold out, Zhang Tianfeng would reward her with unimaginable wealth.
As for the others, those who could stay would stay; those who couldn’t, he wouldn’t bother with. Based on their current potential, they weren’t enough to make him regret their loss.
As he stepped out onto the street, a Crown sedan pulled up in front of him.
The window rolled down, cold air rushing out, and there was Xu Juncong’s smiling face.
“Boss Zhang, making your rounds so early? Don’t bother. I’ve secured all the factories; your side is finished. Better go home and rest.”
“You’d better not pick a fight with me, or I’ll make you cry in perfect rhythm.”
“Still putting on a brave front? Fine, let’s see whose tears are more rhythmic.”
Xu Juncong laughed heartily, rolled up the window, and drove away.
Showing off in front of me? Looks like you’re digging your own grave!