Chapter 1: Brick-Moving System to Riches
Chen Xiao rubbed his eyes, confirming once more that the scene before him was not an illusion.
It was like an aerial imaging technology; a clear interface appeared before his eyes, displaying the following content:
“Brick-Moving System to Riches:
1. Basic Living Allowance: The system provides a daily basic living allowance. Allowance amount = Host’s basic salary X Basic Living Allowance Level.
2. Dedication Bonus: All bonuses received by the Host will be eligible for an additional reward of Bonus X Dedication Value.
Friendly Reminder: For every month the Host remains in their current position, 2 points of Dedication Value will be awarded. If the Host changes companies, all Dedication Value will be reset to zero, and the system will require 1 year to restart.”
It was like a user manual, very clearly explained. When Chen Xiao mentally turned the page, the second page displayed his current situation, which perfectly corroborated his understanding.
“Host: Chen Xiao (Dedication Value: 2)”
“Occupation: Dr. Feng's Robot - Business Specialist”
“Height: 178CM, Weight: 75KG”
“Physique: 75, Stamina: 60, Health: 70, Charisma: 80”
“Basic Living Allowance LV1: 8000 Yuan/day”
“Dedication Bonus: Factor 2”
“Asset Status:
Balance: 3200 Yuan
Real Estate: None
Vehicle: None”
Indeed, the basic living allowance was based on his current position’s basic salary, meaning the system paid him daily wages equivalent to his basic salary. Oh my goodness, so much money! The basic living allowance alone was 240,000 a month, easily reaching 3 million annually. So, even a basic living allowance could achieve financial freedom! Chen Xiao was so excited he nearly jumped.
It seemed he needed to work hard, strive for promotions and raises, and break through the ten-million annual salary mark soon. Huh? No, he looked at the explanation for Dedication Value again. It required him to remain in his current position for the Dedication Value to continuously increase.
His Dedication Value on the panel was 2, likely because he had joined the company last month, just completing one month. He wondered if his Dedication Value would accumulate or reset to zero if he got promoted.
“Changing positions without leaving the company will reset Dedication Value to zero, but the system does not need to restart!”
The system provided a timely explanation. Was this telling him to embrace a gardener's spirit and be permanently fixed in this salesperson role? Was the world's richest salesperson about to be born?
“Chen Xiao, meeting time!”
He was still pondering how to maximize the system's benefits when a colleague called out for a meeting. Today's meeting was to be chaired by General Manager Feng!
Feng Feifei was a 25-year-old postdoctoral fellow and an AI genius. After returning from studying in Germany, she inherited Dr. Feng Robot Technology Co., Ltd. from her father.
This company was founded by Dr. Feng ten years ago. The reason it was named Dr. Feng was Dr. Feng’s hope that Feng Feifei would pursue a doctorate and become an outstanding talent. Feng Feifei lived up to his expectations, achieving great success in AI artificial intelligence and returning to China after completing her studies.
After Feng Feifei returned, Dr. Feng handed over the “dying” company to her. After taking over, Feng Feifei also made diligent efforts, determined to make the company bigger and stronger. However, academic research and industrialization were two different matters.
Her abilities leaned more towards technology, and she lacked experience in product definition and market research, leading to a deviation in product development direction and a lack of market demand for the products. As a result, research and development funds were wasted, and without orders, the company's cash flow became tight.
Chen Xiao walked into the office and found almost everyone from the company already there. He went and sat next to his colleagues from the Marketing Department. Including him, there were only three people in the Marketing Department: Yuan Kai, the Marketing Department manager, and Wang Jing, a salesperson who had joined a few months before him.
After he sat down, he noticed many people in the meeting room were whispering and exchanging glances. At this moment, Wang Jing leaned over and quietly asked, “Chen Xiao, what are your plans?”
“What plans?” Chen Xiao looked at him, puzzled.
“Haven't you heard?” Wang Jing looked surprised.
Chen Xiao was about to ask again when the meeting room suddenly fell silent. He saw Feng Feifei walk in with a serious expression.
Feng Feifei was an extraordinarily elegant general manager. Her dark, sparkling eyes were like the brightest stars in the night sky. She wore a crisp professional suit, simple yet noble.
After she sat down, she first scanned the room and then said, “I’ve invited everyone here today mainly to report on the company's operational status!”
Chen Xiao sat up straight. He felt that beneath Feng Feifei’s radiant exterior lay deep exhaustion.
“The company’s newly developed drone project for bridge inspection, due to a misguided decision in its research and development direction, resulted in a huge investment of human and financial resources, and the product created cannot be commercialized. This means that half of this year has already passed, and the company has almost no orders!”
Below, in the meeting room, people started exchanging glances again. What Feng Feifei spoke of had already been discussed within the company; there had been hardly any orders for half a year. Although the company was not large, with over a dozen people, monthly salaries alone amounted to hundreds of thousands.
“So… the company's financial accounts are out of money!” Feng Feifei said despondently.
A ripple of louder chatter spread through the room.
“Is the company going to close down?”
“We still have a month's salary unpaid; they won't just not pay it, will they?”
“Sigh, women are naturally meant to be at home, raising children and supporting their husbands. Managing a company simply isn't for them. Look, she just took over for a year, and the company is already on the verge of collapse!”
“What should we do? I haven't found another job in advance. If I leave here, I'll be unemployed immediately.”
“Looks like I'll be collecting unemployment benefits for a few months.”
Chen Xiao suddenly became anxious. What the heck was going on? He had just gotten the system; his company absolutely couldn't close down! If it closed, he would have to wait another year for the system to activate.
He hadn't felt it before he had the system, but now with the system's benefits, he couldn't live without it! Chen Xiao thought of days without the system, and it was simply worse than death.
Feng Feifei tapped on the conference table, and the room quieted down slightly. She said, “For the company to reach this point today, I bear the leadership responsibility. Please rest assured, not a single penny of your salaries will be withheld!”
She had already sold her house at a low price. It was a newly renovated house she had bought with years of savings after returning from abroad, and she had to sell it at a discount out of necessity.
She intended to use this money to pay staff salaries and to make a comeback.
“I invited everyone here today to inform you about the company’s current situation. As you share hardships with the company, you have the right to know the company’s true financial status. However, please do not misunderstand; I am not announcing the company's dissolution!”
“No money, not dissolving, then what are we waiting for?”
“Exactly! The R&D direction was wrong; that's fatal. And for the second half of the year, they'll have to reinvest in R&D. Where will the money come from? Now there are no products, and no orders for a long time. How will these people's salaries be paid?”
The discussions resumed below. Chen Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. General Manager Feng, as long as you don't dissolve the company, I will definitely work hard to contribute to your company. You must strive to build a century-old enterprise! I am willing to move bricks for you until death!
Chen Xiao quickly calculated: if it lasted a hundred years, his Dedication Value would be 2400. If he could get a 100,000 Yuan bonus each year, he would receive an additional 240 million Yuan.
240 million? Chen Xiao was startled by his own thought. He looked at Feng Feifei again, as if seeing a gold mine, and couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.