Chapter 475: Chapter 475

"Haven’t you heard? This is a part-time job. She’s also the Government’s visiting director. Now she’s taking on a manager role too. My goodness, she’s making a killing!"

Manager Tuo picked up the megaphone, looked at his notes, and announced, "I will now explain the compensation system and reward levels. Everyone listen carefully. It would be best to note this on your phones or make a recording. Our benefits are real and effective."

"Damn, looks like it’s for real."

The crowd instantly fell silent.

Manager Tuo continued, "First, there’s no distinction between permanent and temporary employees. We only have star ratings, from the lowest Zero-Star to the highest 10-Star. The higher your star level, the better the benefits and treatment! The first 100 employees to reach 3-Star will be directly promoted to team leader, and the first 10 employees to reach 5-Star will be promoted to squad leader.

"Furthermore, 5-Star employees and above will receive daily necessities, free vegetables and steamed buns, food for a family of three, accommodation in a single room, and a rechargeable electric scooter!"

The crowd couldn’t help but buzz with amazement. These perks seemed too good to be true. One person works, and the company supports their family of three? Could this be real?

Manager Tuo continued, "Now, I bet you’re all curious about how to advance in star level and about the salary system, right? Let’s start with employee wages. Pay is calculated daily based on completed work and issued as points. These points can be exchanged for factory food and various supplies. They can also be converted to Virtual Coin at a 1:1 ratio in the app. However, Virtual Coin cannot be converted back into points. Points cannot be traded but can be used to purchase items for others. Points and Virtual Coin are considered of equal value."

Everyone in the crowd let out a collective sigh of relief. As long as points can be exchanged for Virtual Coin, that’s good enough. If worst comes to worst, we can just convert our earnings ourselves.

Manager Tuo flipped through his notes and continued, "Second, star levels are determined by the total accumulated points from your work. Once you have enough total points, your star level will increase. Spending or exchanging points does not affect your star progression.

LV1: Requires 10 total points. Benefits include: [1] Two free cafeteria buffets per month. Assigned to a 16-person dormitory room with a monthly fee of 1 point.

LV2: Requires 100 total points. Includes LV1 benefits plus: [2] Two free VIP servings of rice or steamed buns per month. Assigned to an 8-person dormitory room with a monthly fee of 5 points.

LV3: Requires 1,000 total points. Includes LV2 benefits plus: [3] Three free VIP servings of vegetables per month and one cold-weather garment. Assigned to a 4-person dormitory room with a monthly fee of 10 points.

LV4: Requires 5,000 total points. Includes LV3 benefits plus: [4] Unlimited free cafeteria buffets per month for the individual. Assigned to a 2-person dormitory room with a monthly fee of 50 points.

LV5: Requires 10,000 total points. Includes LV4 benefits plus: [5] Unlimited free cafeteria buffets per month for the whole family. [6] Provision of an electric scooter. Assigned to a luxury single room with a monthly fee of 100 points."

The crowd grew excited, listening intently and gasping at each announced benefit. Some were already calculating. Just the two free meals and two servings of steamed buns at LV2 each month are worth 8 Virtual Coin! But then there are the vegetables at the next level...

Watching the people below counting on their fingers, Manager Tuo smirked inwardly. Fools. Do you really think you can outsmart Boss Jing? Still dreaming of reaching 5-Star and then slacking off? Naive. There’s a minimum monthly point requirement. Besides, you’ll soon find that 5-Star isn’t enough. You’ll want to reach 7-Star, 8-Star, even 9-Star for even better treatment, driving you to contribute even more frantically to the factory. What’s that saying? Wool comes from the sheep’s back—or, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. But offering things ’for free’ always makes people feel like they’re getting a great deal.

Manager Tuo recalled something Jing Shu often said: Remember, free things are often the most expensive. Chasing after ’free’ usually means you end up paying more in other ways.

Indeed, he thought, observing the frenzy below at the prospect of free daily meals for their families. Shaking his head, Manager Tuo continued speaking:

"Perhaps this is a bit abstract. Let me give you an example. Take Collector Zhang San, Inspector Li Si, and Team Leader Wang Erma, who are here with us.

Zhang San’s task this week is to collect 100 tons of rotten corpse insects, valued at 1,000 Virtual Coin. Upon completion, he will be rewarded with 100 points.

Once Zhang San finishes, and Inspector Li Si verifies the collection meets standards, Zhang San receives his 100-point reward. Li Si, as the inspector, earns a commission of 1% of the task value—that’s 10 points. Team Leader Wang Erma, upon successful re-inspection and approval, earns a commission of 0.1%—that’s 1 point.

Now, if an inspection reveals the work is substandard, the one who correctly identifies the issue receives a 20-point bonus. However, the worker—Zhang San in this example—would be docked 10 points. If the initial inspection by Li Si was faulty, for example, he approved substandard work that was later caught, he would also be docked 10 points. If anyone feels there’s an injustice, they can appeal to a squad leader or someone of higher rank. If an investigation confirms misconduct by management, their managerial position can be revoked.

So, with his 100 points, Zhang San would reach LV2. He’d have 100 out of 100 total points needed for that level. He could enjoy two free buffets a month, receive two servings of steamed buns, and have the right to live in an 8-person dormitory, for which he’d pay a 5-point monthly fee.

He could also exchange his points for Virtual Coin. However, I’d advise against it. A buffet in our cafeteria costs only 1 point, which is much cheaper than eating outside."

A commotion erupted from the crowd. Hearing about these enticing benefits, people eagerly asked when work would start and how positions would be assigned.

Someone also asked, "The dormitory building is so small, and it’s already packed. If some people live in four-person and two-person rooms, what about the others?"

Manager Tuo slammed his fist on the table. "Good question! Now, let’s address accommodation. LV1 employees will be assigned to 16-person rooms. LV0 employees will have to stay in the hallways. If it gets too crowded even there, they’ll have to move out of the factory premises entirely. There are still a few days before work officially begins. During this time, the factory will post various small jobs. Those who earn the most points from these initial jobs will get to choose their preferred permanent work assignments first.

Job positions are limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis according to those initial point rankings. I’ll post a list of all available job types shortly."

Just then, a man with a scabby scalp jumped up from the crowd onto the stage. His face was a mask of dissatisfaction, and he spoke in a mocking tone, "Director Tuo, I’ve been listening for a while. Are you just feeding us a bunch of empty promises? All these great-sounding benefits and star levels... isn’t this just a way to get us to work our butts off for nothing, with no real security? How is this any different from digging up corpses every day?"

Manager Tuo frowned. He glanced at a few other restless individuals in the crowd, then, composing himself, he said, "If you have questions, please ask them. If there’s something about our factory’s compensation or treatment that you’re dissatisfied with, now is the time to say so."

Lai Ziba smirked, casting a glance at the silent Zhang Zi in the crowd below before turning back to Manager Tuo. "It’s not that I’m complaining, Director Tuo," he said, "but this whole system you’ve cooked up is too damn complicated. I can’t keep track of it all. I just want a straightforward deal: I work hard every day, and you give me the daily benefits of a 4-Star employee—room and board included. That’s it. Why bother with all these fancy schemes?"

Jing Shu walked out slowly from a corner, a faint smile on her lips. "Oh?" she asked. "So, your meaning is you want to do nothing and get free room and board every day?"

Lai Ziba looked her up and down, then from head to toe again, and finally asked, "And who are you?"