After the special bonuses were handed out.
Su Chen cleared his throat. "Ahem. Besides this being a celebration banquet, there’s something else very important I need to announce today."
"From now on, our company’s salaries will be paid out on the first of every month."
"What! Are we getting paid today?" Bai Xiaobo shot up from his seat. "This is great! I’m pretty much broke after that trip to the Capital City."
Zhang Li, however, pouted slightly. "Boss, are we getting last month’s salary on the first of this month?"
Many companies pay last month’s salary on the 15th of the current month, and some don’t even pay until after the 20th.
If that were the case, Zhang Li would only be getting a few hundred yuan.
Su Chen shook his head. "Meiweilai Company has always paid the current month’s salary within the current month. On the first of this month, you’ll be getting this month’s salary."
HISS!!!
Brother Fang Chang sucked in a sharp breath. ’What kind of move is this?!’
’The month has barely started and he’s already paying out salaries?’
’What if the employees just quit?’
’Wouldn’t he be out a whole month’s salary?’
However, the doubts in Brother Fang Chang’s mind were soon answered.
Su Chen said, "Shengnan, go ahead and announce everyone’s pay. Our company’s situation is a bit complex, so everyone should check their pay carefully from now on."
Liu Shengnan picked up a small ledger.
"Ahem, Bai Xiaobo, gross pay for this month: 4,500 yuan. Net pay: 112 yuan."
Bai Xiaobo leaned back in his chair. "Sister Shengnan, you’re not a very good accountant, are you? You got my numbers all wrong. With my bonus this month, I should have at least six thousand!"
Liu Shengnan sighed. "It’s not wrong. Let me break it down for you."
"Bai Xiaobo, on July 10th, one portion of pickled fish for lunch, eight buns for dinner. On the 11th, one portion of pickled fish for breakfast, three portions of garlic eggplant for lunch, one portion of pickled fish..."
HISS!!!
Bai Xiaobo jumped to his feet, agitated. "Did I really eat that much?"
Liu Shengnan nodded helplessly. "Yes. If you think something is wrong, you can come check with me."
"Are you saying I ate away my entire salary for this month?"
Liu Shengnan nodded again. "Yes. If you want to earn more, you can eat less next month."
Damn!
Xiaobai sat down, completely dumbfounded, his head buzzing.
’What the hell is this situation?’
’Usually, I just enjoyed the delicious food every day without having to pay for it. Since it was all settled at the end of the month, I never realized I ate so much!’
’No, this isn’t right.’ He was indignant.
’I have to hear how much everyone else ate.’
"He Shuting!" Liu Shengnan’s expression was hard to describe. "Gross pay: 1,800 yuan. Net pay... Shuting, I don’t know how to put this. You owe the company over 1,900 yuan."
"Huh?" He Shuting was even more baffled.
’I worked my butt off for a month, and not only did I not make any money, but I actually owe the company?’
’Wait... How is that possible?’
"Do you want me to read you the itemized list?" Liu Shengnan asked.
Shuting recalled how she had to eat four buns every morning for the past few days and quickly waved her hands. "No, no, that’s okay. Mine is fine."
Sister Shengnan nodded. "Alright. Next up is me."
Everyone waited expectantly for Sister Shengnan to announce her own salary.
’In the past, hearing about someone’s high salary would just make you feel sour and jealous!’
’But now?’
’All I want to hear is who owes the company the most money!’
"As for myself... I’ve checked and there are no errors. Um, next!"
Damn!
’Is that even allowed?’
"Aunt Fang, gross pay: 2,500 yuan. Net pay: 2,000 yuan!"
You could count on Aunt Fang. She ate just the right amount every day. Hearing her salary, Aunt Fang grinned from ear to ear. "That’s a lot, that’s a lot!"
After the salaries were announced, the originally cheerful celebration banquet took a gloomy turn, and everyone started to look dejected.
"This company is brutal. The employees have to take out loans just to work here!" Jiang Yuan whispered.
Brother Fang Chang tugged on her sleeve, signaling for her to keep quiet at a time like this. "Can’t be helped. Who told everyone they couldn’t control their mouths?"
Just then, Su Chen stood up again. "What’s wrong? Is everyone unhappy?"
A few of the employees didn’t say anything, but it was clear they were upset about their pay.
Especially He Shuting. The thought that she still owed the company two thousand yuan made her scalp tingle!
"Shengnan, bring me that other ledger."
Su Chen held another ledger. "There’s one more thing to announce."
"In July, Meiweilai Company’s total revenue was 148,000 yuan. Including the money from the after-school meal program, the total is 250,000. Of that, 20,000 is from service fees, which will now be distributed to you as bonuses."
"Shuyu and Zhang Li’s bonuses will start from August. In other words, this bonus is for last month. Hmm... it won’t be divided by position. Everyone gets the same amount!"
Su Chen paused. "Four thousand yuan!!!"
Hearing this, He Shuting, who had been on the verge of death just a moment ago, suddenly revived. "What? Four thousand? My bonus for last month is 4,000?"
"Damn! I knew Brother Chen wouldn’t do this to me! There’s no way I could survive on just over a hundred a month!"
"Hehe, as a cleaner, I feel a little embarrassed earning six thousand..."
This move left Brother Fang Chang completely stunned.
’The damn bonus is more than the salary?’
Liu Shengnan smiled and said to everyone, "Last month, our business was just getting started. August has only just begun, and we’ve already secured a 40,000 yuan order from the Capital City. I believe our bonuses will be even bigger next month!"
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
An excited Bai Xiaobo led the applause.
’Isn’t this awesome?’
’It feels like all we did was wander around, took a trip to E Province, a trip to the Capital City, and we still got over four thousand yuan?’
’And the key thing is, we got to eat so well every day!’
’Where else could you find a job like this?’
He Shuting was feeling much better now.
’Four thousand. After paying back what I owed the company, what’s left is still more than my previous salary. Yep, I’m very satisfied!’
Brother Fang Chang watched the group’s mood shift from disappointment and gloom to collective excitement and nodded in approval.
’Boss Su really knows what he’s doing when it comes to running a company.’
Once everyone’s excitement had calmed down a bit, Su Chen said, "Alright. Enough chitchat. The money’s been paid, the business is settled. Now, let’s eat!!!"
"Charge!"
Everyone lunged with their chopsticks toward the large platter of mutton on the table.
Eat!