Rebirth 03: Starting a Business After Giving Up a Secure Job

Chapter 139 Sharing the Glory

With only five days left until the Spring Festival, the festive atmosphere in Chengdu is getting stronger and stronger.

On the sixth floor of the International Building in Pidu District, the office area of ​​Fengchi Digital is decorated with small red lanterns and the character "福" (fortune), exuding a festive atmosphere.

Everyone is looking forward to the arrival of the Spring Festival.

Before the Spring Festival holiday, the company will hold a "New Year's Gathering" at the Crowne Plaza five-star hotel in Chengdu.

Seven outstanding employees from Shenzhen—Wu Wenjie, Zhou Bin, Lin Xiaoqiang, Lin Xiaowen, Wei Zejun, Xie Xiaodong, and Zhang Ming—are flying to Chengdu.

This was the first time that Lin Xiaoqiang and Lin Xiaowen, siblings, had ever flown on a plane, and they were filled with excitement throughout the journey.

Lin Xiaowen peered out the porthole at the sea of ​​clouds, and after landing, she exclaimed to her brother beside her, "Brother, the city looks so magnificent from the air!"

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She decided to keep the boarding pass as a souvenir.

Seven people dragged their suitcases out of the arrival hall.

The company arranged for driver Xiao Wu to pick them up from the airport in a Buick GL8 minivan.

Xiao Wu was holding up a sign that read "Fengchi Digital Technology," which Lin Xiaoqiang spotted from afar.

"General Manager Wu, General Manager Zhou, Manager Lin, thank you for your hard work. The boss sent me to pick you up."

The black van was spacious and imposing, with soft and comfortable leather seats. The brother and sister sat down and couldn't help but gently touch the seats.

Lin Xiaowen looked at the street scene rushing past the window and admired Lin Feng even more.

After driving for forty minutes, we entered Pidu District.

The company headquarters is located in the International Building, a 30-story glass curtain wall building that looks very impressive from a distance.

"We're here. Our company occupies the entire sixth floor." Xiao Wu parked the car and led everyone into the building.

The lobby was very grand, with marble floors that gleamed like mirrors. Tan Zhao, the administrative manager, was already waiting in the lobby.

"General Manager Wu, General Manager Zhou, Brother Qiang — welcome to the Chengdu headquarters."

Tan Zhao swiped his card to let everyone enter the turnstile and take the elevator to the sixth floor.

"The building in Shenzhen is an old research institute building that we rented, so the conditions are a bit harsh. This headquarters building is a Grade A office building; the boss rented the entire floor," Tan Zhao said as the elevator doors opened.

Stepping out of the elevator, you are greeted by a wall displaying the logos of Fengchi Digital Technology.

Two pretty new girls were sitting at the front desk. When they saw Tan Zhao arrive with his entourage, they immediately stood up to greet him.

"Welcome, welcome!" The receptionist's voice was very sweet.

Walking past the reception desk, you enter a spacious office area. Rows of workstations are neatly arranged, computer screens are lit, and employees are either on the phone or typing on keyboards.

The walls are adorned with company culture slogans and performance rankings. Several private offices are partitioned off near the windows, one of which has a "General Manager" sign on its door.

When Xu Qiang, Su Wan, Zhou Zhongcheng, and others saw their colleagues from Shenzhen arrive, they immediately stepped forward to greet them warmly, shaking hands and hugging them.

"Mr. Wu! You're getting more and more handsome!"

"Brother Qiang, are you fully healed?"

Lin Xiaowen quietly looked around. The modern office conditions at the headquarters were indeed much better than those in Shenzhen.

"Is General Manager Lin here?" she asked Tan Zhao.

"He's in the office, just finished a meeting." Tan Zhao pointed to the general manager's office. "I'll take you to the conference room to rest for a bit. The boss will be here in a bit."

The conference room was large, seating more than twenty people. Bottled water, fruit, and snacks were laid out on the long table. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of the city, and the teaching buildings of Xichuan University of Technology could be seen in the distance.

Lin Xiaowen walked to the window and looked at Lin Feng's alma mater.

She really envied her classmates who could go to university. Lin Xiaowen's grades were not bad, but her family was poor and could not afford to send her to university.

Ten minutes later, Lin Feng, wearing a dark overcoat, walked into the conference room with an upright posture.

"You've all had a long journey."

Lin Xiaoqiang immediately stood up straight, and respectfully greeted him as if he were a soldier meeting a superior officer, "Boss!"

Wu Wenjie and others also sent their greetings.

Lin Xiaowen looked at Lin Feng, her heart suddenly racing, and whispered, "Brother Feng—"

Lin Feng's gaze fell on her, and he nodded slightly, his eyes filled with a tenderness that no one else possessed: "You must be exhausted from the journey. Sit down for a while and have some water."

A simple sentence made Lin Xiaowen feel sweet inside.

Lin Feng led everyone on a tour of the headquarters, pointing to the national city distribution map on the wall: "Chengdu is the headquarters, Shenzhen is the starting point of Tongcheng Life Network, and after the New Year, Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, and Huizhou will launch simultaneously. Our Tongcheng Life Network aims to become the number one local life platform in the country."

Everyone listened with great enthusiasm.

Looking at Lin Feng's spirited appearance, Lin Xiaowen's heart was filled with admiration and love.

After the visit, Lin Feng asked the driver to take them to the Crowne Plaza Hotel to rest and recharge for the New Year's gathering the next day.

That afternoon and evening, Tang Lei and Yang Chengang arrived in Chengdu one after the other.

Lin Feng personally drove his newly purchased black Audi A6 to the airport to pick him up.

On the streets of 2005, the Audi A6 was definitely a symbol of status, exuding a calm and sophisticated aura that drew frequent glances from passersby.

Tang Lei arrived first in the afternoon. When he saw Lin Feng personally driving to pick him up, he quickly stepped forward to shake hands: "Brother, you're too kind. It's too kind of you to come and pick me up in person."

"Brother Lei, we're like family, you're coming to Chengdu, I have to pick you up." Lin Feng smiled as he opened the car door and drove Tang Lei to the hotel.

In the evening, Yang Chengang also dragged his suitcase out of the airport.

Now, he and Tang Lei are famous all over the country with "Lilac Flower" and "Mice Love Rice". They are surrounded by people wherever they go, but they always maintain respect in front of Lin Feng.

Without Lin Feng, they wouldn't have the popularity and income they have today.

Lin Feng drove Yang Chengang to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, and that evening Lin Feng treated Tang Lei and Yang Chengang to dinner at the hotel.

The five-star hotel is luxuriously decorated, and the food in the restaurant is also quite good.

The administration had arranged rooms in advance for the two singers and seven outstanding employees.

The following evening, the Crowne Plaza Hotel's largest banquet hall was brightly lit and bustling with activity.

The small crystal hall was packed with employees from the Chengdu headquarters, outstanding employees from Shenzhen, and company management, all dressed neatly and with expectant faces.

The huge banner on the stage backdrop read: Fengchi Digital Technology 2005 Spring Festival Gathering.

Flowers were placed on both sides, and the lighting and sound engineers were all in place, creating an extremely lively atmosphere.

At 7:00 p.m. sharp, the host went on stage to announce the official start of the New Year's gathering.

The audience erupted in applause.

Lin Feng, dressed in a tailor-made dark suit, slowly walked onto the stage.

The well-tailored suit accentuated his tall and handsome figure, and his calm and composed demeanor made him look nothing like a college graduate who had only been out of school for half a year. Instead, he resembled a seasoned young entrepreneur.

The audience fell silent instantly, and all eyes were on him.

Lin Xiaowen, as an outstanding employee, sat at the main table, wearing the champagne-colored dress that Lin Feng had bought for her, her long hair tied up, making her particularly eye-catching.

She stared intently at Lin Feng on the stage; this man on the stage was her light!

Lin Feng picked up the microphone and spoke in a loud voice.

Good evening, everyone.

"In the past year, we have become a national channel for MP3s, a top player in the ringback tone industry, and a leading platform for the Shenzhen branch of Tongcheng Life Network. We have also gained hundreds of brothers and sisters."

"Thank you all for your hard work this year."

The audience erupted in applause! Lin Feng gestured for silence and continued, "This year, 2005, we stand here embarking on a new journey. We already have a presence in six core cities across the country, and we expect to enter more than twenty cities nationwide by the end of 2005. At that time, we will have a team of several thousand people, becoming a benchmark for local lifestyle platforms nationwide!"

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the audience and lasted for a long time!

After a long while, the applause subsided, and Lin Feng raised his voice: "Next, we will proceed with the most important part of this New Year's gathering: the award ceremony for outstanding employees of the year."

"Over the past year, our employees have worked very hard and made contributions to the company. Among them, ten people have been at the forefront of hard work and taking the lead. They are the backbone of the company and role models for everyone."

He pronounced the name slowly and deliberately.

Wu Wenjie!

'

"Zhou Bin!"

"Lin Xiaoqiang!"

"Lin Xiaowen!"

"Xu Qiang!"

"Wei Zejun!"

"Xie Xiaodong!"

"Zhang Ming!"

"Zhou Zhongcheng!"

"Tan Zhao!"

Each time a name was called out, cheers erupted from the audience.

When Lin Xiaowen heard her name called, she was still incredibly excited, even though she had been mentally prepared.

She was just a girl from the countryside. When she first arrived in Shenzhen, she worked in an electronics factory doing the most ordinary and basic jobs.

She never imagined that, a year after joining Lin Feng's company, she would be recognized as an outstanding employee of the group. She certainly never imagined she would stand on the company's grand stage to receive an award.

Lin Xiaowen stood up somewhat awkwardly and followed the others onto the stage to receive the award.

Ten people stood in a row, each one looking radiant!

At this moment, Zhao Ling, the finance manager, pushed a small cart onto the stage.

The car was covered with a red velvet cloth, giving it a mysterious feel.

Lin Feng walked to the cart and reached out to lift the velvet cloth.

There was a full 300,000 yuan in cash, neatly stacked in piles on the cart.

"Wow!" Everyone in the room exclaimed, their eyes widening in surprise.

In 2005, 30,000 yuan in cash was the entire year's income for an average employee. Ten outstanding employees each received 30,000 yuan, paid out in cash!

Lin Feng picked up the first certificate of honor and walked up to Wu Wenjie.

The host read out his award citation: "Wu Wenjie, General Manager of the Shenzhen Office, stabilized the MP3 supply chain, promoted the implementation of the local life network, safeguarded the company's foundation, and expanded its territory."

Wu Wenjie took the certificate from Lin Feng with both hands and accepted the three stacks of cash with a smile.

"Thank you, boss!"

Lin Feng patted him on the shoulder: "I trust you with both Shenzhen and Huizhou."

"7

After Zhou Bin from the Technology Development Department, came Lin Xiaoqiang.

The host said in his opening remarks: "Lin Xiaoqiang, the manager of the ground promotion department, led his team to run through every street and alley of Shenzhen. He stepped forward in times of crisis to protect the company, showing his iron will and responsibility."

Lin Xiaoqiang took the certificate from Lin Feng, straightened his back, and gave a military salute!

The audience erupted in applause.

"Thanks, boss! It's worth working for you! From now on, wherever you tell me, I'll go! I'll go through fire and water without batting an eye!"

When it was Lin Xiaowen's turn, the host read: "Lin Xiaowen, quality control supervisor, is meticulous and conscientious, upholding the bottom line of quality, and has built a brand guarantee for the company."

Lin Feng walked up to her, smiled, and presented her with the certificate and cash.

Lin Xiaowen gazed at Lin Feng with deep affection in her large, watery eyes. She said excitedly, "Brother Feng—thank you!"

Lin Feng smiled at the girl and said softly, "You are excellent, I am proud of you!"

Lin Feng presented awards to the other seven people one by one, and his words of encouragement touched their hearts.

Everyone was extremely excited as they received the cash and certificates.

The employees in the audience were thrilled, filled with envy and admiration.

Working under Boss Lin really makes money, and you can really be seen, recognized, and respected.

After the awards ceremony, the ten outstanding employees stood on the stage and took a group photo with Lin Feng.

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause once again.

Next came the climax of the entire evening.

"Now, let's give a warm round of applause to welcome our guest, an old friend of the company, Tang Lei, the singer of 'Lilac Flower'!"

The screams and applause nearly lifted the roof off.

By 2005, "Lilac Flower" had spread throughout the streets and alleys, and everyone could hum a few lines along.

Tang Lei, dressed in a handsome suit, stepped onto the stage with a guitar in his arms.

"You said you love lilacs the most because your name is lilac—"

As the gentle singing began, everyone in the audience softly sang along, their phones and flashlights flashing incessantly.

Lin Xiaowen hummed along. This song was one of her favorite tunes.

After the song ended, the applause continued for a long time.

Yang Chengang then took the stage, and the atmosphere became even more explosive as soon as the dynamic prelude started.

"I love you, I love you like a mouse loves rice —"

The entire audience joined in a sing-along, clapping and swaying, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere. The employees let loose, cheering and applauding, bringing the evening to its climax.

After the two songs were sung, Lin Feng went on stage again to thank the two singers and to extend New Year's greetings to all Fengchi employees.

After the performance, the banquet officially began.

After everyone was seated at the main table, Lin Feng sat in the head seat, with Tang Lei and Yang Chengang on his left and Wu Wenjie, Zhou Bin, Lin Xiaoqiang, Lin Xiaowen, and the other ten outstanding employees on his right.

A table laden with delicious food and overflowing with fine wine, filled with joy and celebration.

The employees lined up and took turns toasting the boss.

"Happy New Year, Mr. Lin!"

"Boss, we'll definitely work harder next year!"

Lin Feng raised his glass to each person, responding gently without a trace of bossy airs.

Wu Wenjie stood up, holding his wine glass: "Boss, I, Wu Wenjie, went from being a small stall owner in Huaqiangbei to today's branch manager, overseeing operations in two cities. It's all thanks to you that I had the opportunity. I toast you!"

The two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

Lin Xiaoqiang, holding his wine glass, said, "Boss, you pulled me out of my most difficult time, gave me your trust, and gave me a future. I'll stick with you for life!"

Lin Feng nodded: "Do a good job. You and your siblings are the people I trust the most."

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Then, Lin Xiaowen stood up with her wine glass in hand.

Her face flushed slightly, and her eyes were filled with tenderness.

"Brother Feng, I don't know what to say. I just want to thank you for taking care of me and believing in me. I will work harder in the future and not let you down."

Lin Feng smiled and reminded her, "Drink slowly, don't choke."

A word of concern is worth more than a thousand words.

Throughout the banquet, laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air, with toasts, blessings, and clinking glasses all blending together.

Everyone was immersed in the joy of the harvest and full of hope for the future.

All night long, Lin Xiaowen's eyes never left Lin Feng.

The stage was dazzling, the lights were radiant, but in her eyes, none of them could compare to the brilliance of the man before her.