Chapter 1: I wouldn't do it for a monthly salary of 3,000 yuan

It was a scorching summer afternoon, the sun blazing like fire.

Inside the Yan Province Talent Recruitment Market, the noise was deafening, and waves of heat rolled through the crowd.

Li Changye stood in front of a makeshift stall, fine beads of sweat trickling down his forehead.

Behind the recruitment booth, a portly middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairstyle and a thumb-thick gold chain around his neck was idly picking his teeth.

He was the boss, Wang Dahai, here to recruit.

At this moment, he squinted, casually glancing over the resume Li Changye handed him, a look of undisguised disdain on his lips.

“A fresh graduate… Jincheng College? Never really heard of it, just a regular undergraduate, right?”

Wang Dahai tossed the resume onto the table, his plump fingers impatiently tapping the surface: “Expected salary three thousand five to five thousand? Young man, do you perhaps misunderstand something about yourself?”

His obese body leaned slightly forward, and he spoke in a condescending tone: “How about this, seeing as you’ve just graduated, I’ll give you a chance. Three thousand a month, three-month probation period, salary at 80% off, which is two thousand four. This is already a very good salary.”

“Young man, don’t aim too high; you should focus on dedication and striving for ideals, don’t always talk about money, it’s vulgar!”

Li Changye listened, his brows tightly furrowed, a surge of anger rushing to his head.

This wasn’t recruitment; this was blatant exploitation!

He took a deep breath, suppressing the humiliation and anger in his heart, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible: “Boss Wang, I understand your company’s regulations, but I believe salary is a reflection of personal ability and value. Although I am a fresh graduate, I participated in several projects during my time at school, and my professional skills…”

“Stop! Stop!” Wang Dahai waved his hand impatiently, cutting him off: “Ability? Now, there are university students everywhere; what we lack least are people with ‘ability.’ Your little bit of project experience is nothing in the face of the real market!”

Li Changye's face flushed slightly, he clenched his fists, and said in a deep voice: “Supervisor Wang, three thousand a month, with no guarantees, not even the five insurances and one housing fund, and even deducting salary during the probation period… With all due respect, these days, at three thousand a month, not even a dog would do it!”

Upon hearing this, Wang Dahai reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, slamming the table, his greasy face instantly turning a liver-like shade of red.

He pointed at Li Changye's nose, cursing loudly, his voice suddenly rising, sharp and piercing:

“If you want to do it, do it; if not, get out! I’m telling you, Great summer lacks everything but people!”

Li Changye's face was ashen; he was about to turn and leave.

But just then, a scene unfolded that made him widen his eyes in disbelief.

“Boss Wang! He doesn’t want to do it, but I do!”

“Boss Wang, look at me! I’m from Yan Province Vocational Technical College, much more practical than his Jincheng College! I can accept three thousand a month!”

“And me! Boss Wang, I don’t need three thousand, two thousand eight is fine! Just give me a chance!”

Among the crowd, there were indeed several university students, like sharks smelling blood, scrambling to extend their hands, presenting their resumes to Wang Dahai, their faces displaying humble and eager, fawning smiles.

A young man wearing black-rimmed glasses, looking refined and about twenty years old, even pushed directly to the front.

He said to Wang Dahai with extreme earnestness: “Boss Wang, if a dog won’t do it, I will! I’ve just graduated, I don’t seek treatment, only a platform for learning and gaining experience! Please give me this opportunity!”

Seeing this, the anger on Wang Dahai’s face instantly transformed into a smug, sinister grin.

He glanced at Li Changye, his eyes full of the victor's showmanship and mockery.

Then, he unhurriedly pulled out a few resumes from the students’ hands, pretending to flip through them, perfectly striking a pose.

Li Changye stood rooted to the spot, as if struck by lightning, his heart a turmoil of mixed emotions.

He gave a bitter laugh, feeling that this world was truly too crazy, so crazy that it filled him with waves of absurdity and disgust.

Just then, a cold, mechanical, emotionless electronic synthetic voice suddenly echoed in his mind:

“Ding-dong!”

“Detected that the host has encountered extreme professional discrimination, personal humiliation…”

“Emotional fluctuation value has reached the critical point…”

“Meets the binding conditions for the ‘Conscientious Entrepreneur System’…”

“System binding in progress… 10%… 30%… 70%… 99%… 100%!”

“Conscientious Entrepreneur System binding successful!”

“Congratulations to host Li Changye, you have successfully activated this system and received a Newbie Gift Pack! Would you like to open it immediately?”

This sudden voice made Li Changye jolt.

System?

Such a good thing actually happened to him?

He shook his head vigorously and hurriedly shouted, “Open immediately!”

“Newbie gift package has been opened.”

“Congratulations to the host on obtaining the following initial support resources:”

“One, Startup Capital: Ten million summer yuan in funding support each month (Specialized funds, already deposited into the system's virtual account. Note: These funds can only be used for the company's legitimate operations and employee salary and welfare expenses, and must not be used for the host's personal consumption. The system will conduct 24-hour full monitoring and auditing of fund flow.)”

“Two, Company Entity: ‘Huanyu Group Co., Ltd.’ (The system has automatically completed all legal procedures for the host, including business registration (registered capital of one billion summer yuan), tax registration, bank account opening, etc., and has obtained a super license covering over 99% of all industry business scopes. The legal representative has been automatically changed to Li Changye. Relevant licenses and certificates have been stored in the system space.)”

“Three, Top-tier Office Building: The entire building of ‘Cangqiong International Center’ Tower A (Located in the core financial district of Yan Province CBD, 88 stories high, ownership belongs to the system, the host's company can use it permanently for free, without paying any rent, property fees, or utility and internet fees.)”

“Four, Host’s Initial Personal Treatment: Monthly salary of three thousand summer yuan (after tax, automatically issued by the system on the 1st of each month). The host does not participate in any form of profit sharing from the company. Subsequent salaries will be progressively increased based on company scale, employee satisfaction, and social contribution.”

This barrage of information made Li Changye dizzy.

Ten million in startup capital! A group company with a registered capital of one billion! An 88-story skyscraper in the CBD core area, free to use!

“Wait, three thousand a month?”

Li Changye finally regained a shred of rationality from his shock, and he quickly asked in his mind: “Why is my monthly salary only three thousand? And I don’t even participate in profit sharing? I’m the founder, chairman, and CEO of this Huanyu Group!”

The system’s voice remained cold: “This system is called the ‘Conscientious Entrepreneur System,’ aiming to, through the host’s efforts, create a model enterprise that is truly people-oriented, gives back to society, and leads the healthy development of the industry, improving the current employment environment plagued by severe internal competition and rampant exploitation, and providing fair, dignified employment opportunities and development platforms for the vast number of workers suffering in the internal competition. The core beneficiaries of this system are the company’s employees and society, not the host personally.”

“Therefore, your existence is more as an executor of the system’s will. Please, host, correct your mindset and clarify your mission.”

Li Changye was dumbfounded.

After all this, he was conscripted by the system, becoming a “tool man” to benefit the working class?

He owned a massive group with a registered capital of one billion, ten million in startup funds, plus an entire skyscraper, yet his own monthly salary was three thousand, not even enough to fill his stomach?

“Then what’s in it for me?” Li Changye wanted to cry but had no tears.

“The host will gain a healthy business empire, the love and respect of countless employees, and a better society. These are far beyond what money can measure,” the system replied without a hint of emotion.

Li Changye's mouth twitched. Well, it sounded grand, but when he thought about his three thousand monthly salary, he felt a pang in his heart.

However, something was better than nothing.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his complex emotions.

He turned his head and glanced at Wang Dahai, who was still recruiting, a cold sneer on his lips.

You don’t want to hire people? What a coincidence, I want to hire people too.