Chapter 85 An Interview[Part 2]
$150000.
For Zhou Yi, this amount was naturally insignificant.
But whether she was worth that much remained debatable.
If he offered her such a high salary from the start, it would be unrealistic to expect to win her over with future raises.
Women without money can be swayed by wealth, but women who already have money desire more than just that.
However, if he refused now, Jiang Ruolan might not lower her expectations to stay.
"Here's the deal: let's set a one-month probation period, and your monthly salary will be $150000 as you requested. How does that sound?"
"Of course, President Zhou. When shall we sign the contract?"
"Let's do it now."
Zhou Yi's decisive demeanor struck Jiang Ruolan as undeniably impressive.
Her smile deepened.
It seemed this President Zhou was generous and straightforward.
She appreciated leaders who were open and uncomplicated.
[Jiang Ruolan's Affection Points +1]
Zhou Yi thought Jiang Ruolan's increased affection was due to his agreement to her salary request.
In reality, it was because of the personality he had just displayed.
After signing the contract, the two shook hands with smiles.
From now on, they were business partners.
"How should I address you from now on?"
"Just call me Ruolan, President Zhou."
Zhou Yi got straight to the point with his requests.
"Alright, Ruolan. As you can see, I haven't purchased any office equipment yet. You'll need to handle that."
"Recruiting staff in the early stages will also be your responsibility. Once you've hired a new HR person, you can hand it over to them."
"Once the company's initial preparations are complete, we'll start formally discussing investment work. What do you think?"
Jiang Ruolan smiled and replied, "President Zhou, I'll make sure to complete these tasks well. Additionally, I have a few small suggestions."
"Go ahead."
"First, I think we should change your image. President Zhou, you're certainly handsome, but as a boss, you're missing something."
Jiang Ruolan had interacted with many bosses, so she knew exactly why Zhou Yi hadn't been able to retain people today.
As she said this, she observed Zhou Yi's expression to see if he would take offense.
If he was unhappy, she would have to be more cautious with her words in the future, even if her intentions were good.
But if Zhou Yi accepted her feedback without issue, she could be more direct moving forward.
This was her way of testing the waters with her new boss.
Understanding each other's boundaries would make their future interactions smoother.
Dealing with a boss was an art in itself.
Of course, Zhou Yi wasn't angry.
Even if he had realized her intent, he would've thought, Her first sentence was to compliment my looks.
Why would I be upset?
If Jiang Ruolan didn't have good intentions, she wouldn't have risked offending her boss by bringing this up.
Clearly, she was considering Zhou Yi and the company's best interests.
Hearing her words, Zhou Yi became somewhat intrigued. "Go on."
She pointed out the issue directly.
"Your attire."
Both at home and abroad, as the CEO of a company, this was essential.
For an already established company, what the boss looked like didn't matter much to the employees.
After all, he had already led the company to success, and his competence spoke for itself.
He didn't need to rely on appearances to project an image.
But Zhou Yi's company was new—so new that there wasn't even a desk in the office.
In such a case, not having the right attire was a problem.
As the saying goes, Even Buddha needs gold leaf, and a horse needs a fine saddle.
Zhou Yi pondered her words and nodded slowly.
"You're right. I hadn't considered that."
Zhou Yi smiled, showing no trace of anger, and Jiang Ruolan felt reassured.
This leader seemed like someone she could work well with.
[Jiang Ruolan's Affection Points +1]
With her worries eased, she continued:
"If you're free later, I can accompany you to purchase a few suits, President Zhou. Wearing a suit will make you look much more formal, and you'll need them for official occasions in the future."
As a professional executive assistant, Jiang Ruolan was well-versed in such matters.
"Sure, let's go now."
The two walked out of the CEO's office, and the empty office hall greeted them.
Before leaving, Zhou Yi instructed Jiang Ruolan:
"Buy large desks. Make sure the workstations aren't too cramped. Get high-quality tables."
"Especially the office chairs—make sure they're ergonomic. Sitting for long periods can cause physical strain otherwise."
"Add more potted plants in the office. They'll make the space feel more pleasant."
"Snacks and food are fine too. Set up a small corner for relaxation."
Before Zhou Yi could finish, the system continued to chime.
[Jiang Ruolan's Affection Points +1]
[Jiang Ruolan's Affection Points +1]
[Jiang Ruolan's Affection Points +1]
[Jiang Ruolan's Affection Points +1]
Zhou Yi paused and glanced at the woman beside him, who was listening with a smile. Does Jiang Ruolan... like leaders who treat their employees well?
It seemed so. Well, who wouldn't?
Understanding Jiang Ruolan's preference, Zhou Yi now had a clearer idea of how to win her over.
Looks and money were secondary. This woman valued personality and character.
Indeed, she was different from the typical young women.
She pursued something higher—a deeper, more spiritual connection.
Jiang Ruolan took note of all Zhou Yi's requests. She admired his attitude toward employees.
Previously worked in the country, she knew how bosses often treated their staff like beasts of burden, with little regard for their well-being or morale.
The two stepped into the elevator. Jiang Ruolan asked again:
"Just to confirm, the working hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM, right?"
"Yes, with a three-hour break from 12 PM to 3 PM."
[Jiang Ruolan's Affection Points +1]
Zhou Yi almost couldn't help but laugh. This woman was quite interesting.
"If employees work overtime, it's 100 dollars per hour, correct?"
"Yes, but unless it's absolutely necessary, tasks can be left for the next day. It's best to avoid overtime."
[Jiang Ruolan's Affection Points +1]
Zhou Yi thought for a moment. What else? Subsidies!
"Let's arrange transportation and housing subsidies too. Two thousand dollars per month in total."
"Life isn't easy for workers these days. Many people in Huaihai are from out of town, probably renting. Their salaries might not leave much after expenses."
Jiang Ruolan was genuinely taken aback. And then...
[Jiang Ruolan's Affection Points +10]
She smiled from the heart.
Standing downstairs, she looked at Zhou Yi with a gaze full of curiosity.
This young man had truly surprised her today.
Bosses start companies to make money—let's be honest, they're capitalists.
If she were in his shoes, would she have considered her employees' needs so thoroughly?
Perhaps at first, but once someone transitions from being a worker to a capitalist, many things change.
She had seen too many people who, upon becoming even a minor leader, completely changed their demeanor.
Staying true to one's principles was incredibly difficult.
"President Zhou, I'll say this from the bottom of my heart—your employees will be very happy."
At this moment, Jiang Ruolan wondered.
Could she witness the rise of a true enterprise, where employees genuinely loved their company and respected their boss?
Could she witness this young man become a true entrepreneur, not just another capitalist?
Even if it was just for Zhou Yi's original intentions, she would work hard to help him build this company.
This job was different from her previous ones.
Before, she worked just for the sake of working.
Now, there was a personal element to it.
She wanted to see this company become a legend, to silence the capitalists, to show them that not everyone treated their employees like beasts of burden.
She didn't want to hear bosses say, "Which company doesn't do 996 these days?"
She didn't want to hear bosses say, "You want overtime pay for working extra hours?"
She didn't want to hear bosses say, "You think a lunch break isn't enough? You want more rest?"
She hoped these words would be replaced by one sentence: "Huanyu isn't like that."