Chapter 277 School Anniversary
In the following days, Li Tang busied himself briefly with the aftermath of purchasing the building.
As the Spring Festival approached, Li Tang called He Runqi, instructing him to bring back the workers he'd taken overseas. Regardless of circumstances, he didn't want to hold up anyone during such an important family reunion holiday. Progress on the project or making money could wait.
Both He Runqi and Alice returned to Yanjing from Australia.
With everyone back, it was the perfect time to hold a company-wide employee meeting. However, the other floors in the Yunding Building had yet to be renovated, so there wasn't a large enough meeting room to accommodate over a hundred people. Instead, everyone had to remain seated in the open office area, watching as Li Tang, He Runqi, and Alice stood at the front.
"Here's the microphone; say a few words to everyone." Dai Yingchi was well prepared.
Li Tang took the microphone, then promptly handed it to Zhou Zhihan standing beside him. "Grandpa, say something to everyone."
The company had specially established an inspection department for Zhou Zhihan, appointing him its head. His responsibilities included supervising everyone from general managers down to cleaning staff.
Zhou Zhihan shook his head. "It's your company; why should I speak?"
"Fine then." Li Tang raised the microphone to his mouth and coughed lightly. Realizing the sound wasn't very loud, he put it aside entirely and addressed everyone loudly. "Over the past year, we've accomplished a great deal. I won't review every achievement here, but each of you has shone brightly in your role. The company will never shortchange any employee!"
Everyone broke into applause at his words, not least because they had recently received generous year-end bonuses. Employees who had worked for at least one year received a minimum of more than ten thousand yuan, averaging around twenty thousand yuan. The longest-serving employees received bonuses exceeding fifty thousand yuan. Such high income was genuinely impressive, especially when compared to the average monthly salary outside, which was barely one or two thousand yuan. Beyond higher wages and allowances, the company's bonuses were exceptionally generous.
With money in their pockets and the Spring Festival around the corner, everyone was naturally delighted.
"My goal is for each of you to afford a home in Yanjing!"
Li Tang was serious about this goal. He'd even negotiated with the neighboring real estate company: "I've arranged a special discount. Any employee purchasing a home from the developer next door will receive a 10% discount. A down payment for a home is around one hundred thousand yuan. Those of you with sufficient savings shouldn't hesitate—buy quickly while the opportunity lasts!"
His earnestness stemmed from genuine concern. Buying a roughly 100-square-meter apartment required a down payment of about 100,000 yuan and a monthly payment of just over a thousand yuan, which wasn't challenging for most of his employees. Housing prices hadn't risen dramatically yet, but he knew that within a few years, they'd skyrocket exponentially. Whether employees could seize this final chance would depend on their determination and luck.
Naturally, newly hired staff might struggle to buy property within a single year. Li Tang wasn't everyone's parent; he couldn't individually cater to every employee's needs.
Hearing the encouragement to buy homes, the employees began whispering to each other. Homeownership was a significant commitment involving considerable expenditure and debt, making it hard for some to decide quickly.
"I promise everyone that next year, our company's average income will double!"
Li Tang's words weren't empty promises. The year 2003 marked the beginning of a dramatic upswing for many minerals, signaling substantial industry growth.
"Our tasks remain heavy. Brothers and sisters, whether our company continues to grow next year depends entirely on how hard each of us works!"
The office erupted in excitement at the prospect of doubled income.
"Are we confident?" Li Tang shouted passionately.
"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison.
Such youthful energy was the hallmark of his team. The company was young, yet it had already secured a solid foundation everyone could see.
After the meeting, employees formed small groups, discussing eagerly.
"Should we buy apartments?"
"What about a small 60 to 70 square meter apartment behind the office? The commute would be easy. A 30% down payment is only around 60,000 yuan."
"I plan to work here long-term and trust Mr. Li. With the discount, I'll definitely buy."
"I just asked Director Dai. The discount might only last until the end of this year."
"If we want to buy, we should act quickly."
"If Mr. Li's right about doubling income next year, paying off loans won't be stressful at all. Owning a home is much more comfortable than renting—we can get better furniture too."
"We should all buy apartments in the same building. That way, we can hang out more."
Having savings and promising futures, many were eager to establish roots here.
He Runqi followed Li Tang into the office, his small, round face noticeably darker from the intense sun exposure in Pibala.
"Dinner at my place tonight?" he asked hesitantly.
"We have the staff dinner tonight!" Li Tang reminded him. "You're so busy you forgot."
"Oh right," He Runqi nodded. "Li Tang, my parents came here from our hometown. They'd like to meet you, but if you're too busy, we can skip it."
"What do you mean?" Li Tang appeared genuinely displeased. "You're being too formal. Your parents are my parents!"
Moved, He Runqi almost burst into tears and was momentarily speechless.
"Come on, let's visit your home." Li Tang now understood why He Runqi invited him earlier—it was because his parents had come.
"Right now?" He Runqi checked the clock; it was still early before closing.
"Your parents are here—we must properly host them." Li Tang considered briefly before deciding. "We have the staff dinner, but your parents also deserve a warm welcome. Let's reserve a private room at the hotel where we're dining."
"No need—they can eat at home." He Runqi felt embarrassed.
"That's unacceptable!" Li Tang insisted, walking toward the exit with him.
Upon reaching He Runqi's home, they saw several people gathered.
"These are my parents," He Runqi introduced a couple dressed in new clothes, smiling warmly.
"Hello, Uncle and Auntie!" Li Tang warmly greeted them. "I've always urged Runqi to invite you here more often. Look at his spacious home! You must visit frequently."
Holding their hands, he pointed upward. "I live upstairs. We're neighbors, so you're welcome anytime. My parents often visit too. If you meet them, you can all go sightseeing together."
"Nice to meet you," they replied cheerfully, speaking in thick local accents.
"This is our village chief," He Runqi indicated an elderly man holding an unlit tobacco pipe, who nodded politely.
"And this is Town Chief Wang," He Runqi continued, glancing nervously at Li Tang, worried he might be displeased by strangers in attendance.
"Who might this be?" asked Town Chief Wang, dressed neatly, extending his hand confidently.
"Our company's boss!" He Runqi suddenly remembered to introduce him. "His name is Li Tang."
"Oh my!" Town Chief Wang stumbled slightly, gripping Li Tang's hand harder in shock. Realizing he'd previously seemed impolite, he grasped Li Tang's hand with both hands. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me."
"Please don't worry, Chief Wang," Li Tang respectfully reassured the older man.
"You don't look like a boss," remarked the elderly village chief respectfully upon learning Li Tang's identity.
"What should a boss look like?" Li Tang smiled.
"Like this," the chief gestured, puffing out his stomach exaggeratedly.
Li Tang laughed. "Then indeed, I'm not much of a boss. Runqi and I are classmates. You're all elders to me."
"You speak very well, young man," the chief praised, giving a thumbs-up.
After chatting briefly, Li Tang sensed the village and town chiefs had a purpose for their visit.
"Chief Wang, is there something you wanted to discuss?" Li Tang proactively inquired.
"After word spread that you were hiring people from our area, many have approached us to ask if there were similar opportunities—"
The village chief interrupted eagerly. "Our village has become famous. People visit daily, either to see relatives or just to pray at the village tree, hoping for jobs."
"Dozens from our village went abroad, earning ten thousand yuan monthly plus accommodations, clothing, and transportation," He Runqi's parents explained proudly, glancing fondly at their son, who had brought wealth and opportunities to the village.
"Did everyone receive their wages?" Li Tang asked.
"Yes!" the parents responded simultaneously.
"The village households received money cards. Each family receives payments regularly," the village chief praised. "You're a very genuine boss!"
"I should thank you all. We'll rely on your continued support next year," Li Tang responded sincerely.
"After receiving wages, our whole village pitched in to repair roads, making them smoother," the village chief added. "Come visit anytime—we'll welcome you warmly."
"Definitely—I'll visit personally when possible," Li Tang laughed happily.
Finally, Town Chief Wang asked hesitantly, "Mr. Li, do you plan to hire more workers?"
An ordinary villager who leaves home can now earn ten thousand yuan per month. What an extraordinary opportunity to escape poverty and create wealth! If more villagers could have similar job opportunities, the entire town's economy would undoubtedly flourish.
Seeing Li Tang move his lips but remain silent, Town Chief Wang quickly reassured him again, "People from our region are honest and hardworking. If you provide food and accommodation, even if the salary isn't ten thousand yuan a month—even one or two thousand yuan would be fine—recruiting more people would still be beneficial."
Li Tang felt genuinely troubled by this request. This type of job was only temporary, and even his own company's employees did not earn that much money. The high wages were offered simply because the workers were sent abroad to work for Lianying Mining, not for his own company.
"You may have heard from Runqi already—we're primarily a technology-driven company, and we rarely hire general laborers. This current situation is indeed unusual," Li Tang explained carefully. He found it difficult to refuse directly but knew he had to clarify, "All I can promise is that if similar opportunities arise in the future, I'll certainly contact you, Chief Wang."
"Alright, alright, I'll wait for your good news," Town Chief Wang responded, clearly disappointed. Nevertheless, he respectfully handed Li Tang his business card. "If you ever consider investing or building factories in our area, or if you need to recruit workers again, please feel free to contact me."
"Certainly," Li Tang nodded.
He Runqi, aware that inviting Li Tang here would likely put him in an awkward position, had initially felt uneasy. "Our Mr. Li is very kindhearted," he interjected. "He will definitely look after our fellow villagers if another chance arises."
"You've traveled such a long way to be here. Please allow us to treat you all to a proper welcome!" Li Tang changed the topic cheerfully, easing the tension.
"Would that be appropriate?" Town Chief Wang hesitated.
"Of course, there's nothing inappropriate—we're all family here," Li Tang replied warmly. Turning to He Runqi, he asked, "Right, Runqi?"
"Yes, yes! The meal has already been arranged. We can head over immediately!" He Runqi quickly led the group toward the restaurant.
As everyone headed to dinner, Li Tang drove alone to the Shenxia Group building. Not long after he arrived, Li Xinqi hurried out of the office building after work, rushing straight into Li Tang's arms. Completely ignoring the curious gazes of her colleagues, she embraced Li Tang affectionately.
At that moment, employees were streaming out of Shenxia Group headquarters, many recognizing Li Xinqi instantly.
"Is that Li Xinqi's boyfriend?"
"He looks pretty ordinary."
"Ordinary? Clearly, you have no idea who he really is!"
Overhearing their whispers, Li Tang felt slightly uncomfortable. "Aren't you worried people might gossip?"
"Let them gossip all they want—why should we care?" Li Xinqi replied nonchalantly, though she quickly stopped being overly affectionate and took his hand as they walked away together.
"Our company is having a gathering tonight. Would you like to join me?" Li Tang asked.
"You're not taking me out for dinner alone?" she playfully complained.
"A lot of young women in our company have their eyes on me. I'm bringing you along to show them I'm already taken," Li Tang joked.
"So am I the flower, or are you the flower?" Li Xinqi teased.
"You're the flower; I'm the leaf," Li Tang replied humorously.
When Li Tang and Li Xinqi arrived at the company's banquet, employees from Li Tang Shengshi Holdings immediately began cheering.
"Welcome, Lady Boss!"
"Best wishes, Lady Boss!"
"Come on, give us a kiss!"
"This drink is to wish the boss and lady boss many healthy children!"
Amid laughter and cheerful banter, the gathering came to a pleasant end, bringing closure to the past year's hard work. After the event, employees who lived far away and had no pressing tasks were allowed to leave for home early to celebrate the Spring Festival.
The following day, Li Tang bought New Year gifts and delivered them to Li Xinqi's home. Initially, he had wanted to bring her home for the New Year, but as their relationship wasn't formally established yet, he abandoned the idea. Instead, he prepared gifts and got ready to board a flight back to Zhucheng to spend the festival with his family.
As Li Tang was checking in, he unexpectedly ran into Liu Chengpeng, who was boarding the same flight.
"Mr. Li, you're taking this flight too?" Liu Chengpeng greeted him enthusiastically.
Li Tang had booked first class but decided to sit briefly with Liu Chengpeng in the waiting area to chat.
"How have you found your time working at the company?" Li Tang casually asked, realizing he'd hardly had the chance to speak privately with Liu Chengpeng.
"I really like it. Everyone's young, friendly, and we have common interests. We even play sports together after work," Liu Chengpeng replied, still somewhat timidly, looking downward. "I've officially signed a labor contract with the company."
"That's excellent news," Li Tang said warmly. "Even though we're an exploration technology firm, we still greatly need skilled computer technicians. Future exploration work will also heavily rely on digital solutions."
"I'll definitely do my best," Liu Chengpeng earnestly assured him. Then he shyly added, "Mr. Li, I called my mother earlier. She learned it was you who helped me secure this job and mentioned wanting to invite you over for a meal during the New Year. Would you have time?"
"Of course! I love free meals!" Li Tang laughed heartily. "Our mothers are colleagues anyway; they probably share meals often. Let's bring our parents together."
"That'd be wonderful!" Liu Chengpeng visibly relaxed.
After boarding, Li Tang went to first class, and they didn't continue talking. However, after landing and exiting the airport, their paths crossed again. As they reached the exit, both sets of parents were indeed waiting together expectantly.
"They're here!" Liu Zhenfen excitedly exclaimed when she spotted her son. "I knew since you two worked at the same company, you'd be on the same flight!"
"It really is quite the coincidence," Tang Chuqiu responded warmly.
After greeting their own parents, Li Tang politely acknowledged Liu Zhenfen and her husband. "Hello, Uncle and Auntie!"
"Here, these sneakers are the latest style your Uncle Deng picked especially for you," Liu Zhenfen handed Li Tang a shoebox. "We're truly grateful that Chengpeng found a great job in Yanjing thanks to your recommendation."
"Chengpeng says it's a great position—regular hours, nice colleagues, and good salary," added Deng Jiaquan, Liu Chengpeng's father, who worked at the education bureau and was naturally sociable. "This gift is just a token of our appreciation."
Li Tang glanced at his parents questioningly. "Should I accept this?"
"Of course, you should," his mother kindly responded.
"Then, thank you very much!" Li Tang passed his luggage to his father and accepted the gift with both hands. He quickly took out a box from his own backpack. "Here's some roast duck from Yanjing. It's fresh and should be eaten within a few days."
"You're so thoughtful!" Liu Zhenfen beamed happily as she accepted it.
After a brief chat, everyone headed towards the parking lot, then drove home.
"Mom, how much were those shoes?" Liu Chengpeng asked curiously once inside the car.
"A hundred yuan," she answered promptly.
"That's all?" Liu Chengpeng felt slightly embarrassed.
"My monthly salary is just over a thousand yuan. Spending a hundred yuan on shoes is already expensive," she replied defensively.
"Chengpeng, Yanjing's different from here. Don't develop vain habits," his father gently advised while driving.
"I understand," Liu Chengpeng murmured, deciding not to tell his parents about Li Tang's actual status as his employer. He hesitated, fearing revealing Li Tang's true success might unintentionally hurt his parents' feelings. Parents often compared their children with others, and hearing the stark contrast might not be pleasant.
Deng Jiaquan had heard rumors from colleagues: "I've heard Li Tang is doing quite well in Yanjing. Since you're both in the same company, what's the actual situation?"
"He really is impressive," Liu Chengpeng admitted reluctantly.
"Then you must maintain a good relationship with him. Mutual support is vital in professional circles," his father advised.
"I understand," Liu Chengpeng replied, knowing he might never be in a position to support Li Tang.
Back home, Li Tang unpacked a suitcase filled with brand-new clothing. "Xinqi chose these outfits—newest fashions—for you, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa."
"What good is clothing without bringing her home to meet us?" his mother teased, holding the colorful clothes appreciatively. "Very bright colors, but quite nice."
"These are international designer brands!" Li Tang added playfully.
"Designer or not, since my future daughter-in-law chose them, I love them!"
"I just wanted you to know these cost tens of thousands yuan."
"Tens of thousands! What material are these?" she asked, astonished.
"It's not about the material, but the famous designers and handmade craftsmanship."
"Handmade? The tailor downstairs charges pennies for sewing."
"You're teasing me again," Li Tang chuckled.
Watching mother and son banter warmly, Li Zaiqiang gently interjected, "Xinqi is a great girl—beautiful and polite. You must cherish her."
"I definitely will. Otherwise, she wouldn't spend this much money on clothes!" Li Tang joked.
His mother then handed him an elegantly printed invitation from her drawer. "This came from our school principal. Apparently, they've heard you're successful in Yanjing. It's an invitation for the upcoming school anniversary. They're inviting distinguished alumni and successful figures from various fields."
"Am I considered successful now?" Li Tang smiled faintly.
"The main event is fundraising," she explained calmly. "If it bothers you, you can ignore it."
"It's still my alma mater—I'll attend." Li Tang checked the invitation date.
"Don't feel pressured into donating excessively," she cautioned gently.
"What's the donation for?"
"The school needs new dormitories due to increased enrollment. Funding approval is difficult, so they're trying to raise funds themselves."
Li Tang considered briefly, then kept the invitation. "Understood."
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