Rebirth: My college entrance exam score was stolen? I turned the tables and made a billion.

Liu Guangming held up three fingers.

"First, from today onwards, there will be no more job security, no fixed salary, and no more egalitarianism."

"We'll sign an individual employment contract: base salary plus commission. The more you work, the more you earn; the less you work, the less you earn; if you don't work, you're out!"

"Secondly, all those old-fashioned ways of working in state-run stores—knitting sweaters, playing chess, and drinking tea—must be put away."

"From now on, the store has its own rules: being late, leaving early, or giving customers a bad attitude will result in a fine for the first offense, and being fired for the third offense!"

"Third, everyone who stays will have a one-month probationary period."

"If I fail the assessment during the probationary period, I will settle my wages for that month and leave immediately."

"By the way, those who want to leave can go now."

After speaking, Liu Guangming stood in front of the counter with his hands behind his back, quietly observing the group's reaction.

These three conditions were certainly not something he came up with on a whim.

It is now 1992. Although the spring breeze of state-owned enterprise reform has begun, the ingrained mindset of "doing more or less makes no difference" is probably still deeply rooted in the hearts of veteran state-owned enterprise employees.

Why did Hongxing Grocery Store go bankrupt?

Besides the problems with the county's Bureau of Commerce and the business model, the most fatal problem is that these people are just slacking off!

They're not worried if there's no stock on the shelves; they ignore customers when they come to buy things.

If this toxic trend isn't eradicated, it'll collapse not just any grocery store, but even a gold mine.

He needs soldiers who can charge into battle, not servants kept in the shop.

On the other side, the hall was buzzing with activity as employees whispered among themselves, their faces displaying a variety of expressions.

Zhao Dashun clutched the four hundred-plus yuan he had just received, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

Probation period?

Base salary plus commission?

Isn't this just a capitalist's trick of exploiting people?

Zhao Dashun has worked at the Hongxing store for twelve years. Why should he have to put up with the attitude of a mere kid now?

If this kid can't even last a month, then I'll be left starving.

The female employee who had been pleading so desperately was named Li Guihua. At that moment, she was biting her lip tightly and twisting her hands around the hem of her clothes.

The man in the family is bedridden, and three teenagers are waiting to be fed.

Go out and find work?

It's not that easy!

These days, the streets are full of unemployed youth.

No matter how harsh the conditions are, as long as she can get paid monthly, she has to give it her all.

Time passed second by second.

Liu Guangming urged him on.

"Alright, those who want to stay, stand on the left. Those who want to leave, hurry up, I won't stop you."

Zhao Dashun was the first to jump out.

He sneered, shoved the money into his pocket, and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Don't listen to his nonsense, everyone!"

"What base salary and commission? I think he's just trying to trick us into working for him for free for a month!"

"I'm not putting up with this anymore!"

After saying that, Zhao Dashun walked out without looking back.

With him taking the lead, several older employees who were initially hesitant also followed suit.

"Exactly, they haven't even grown their hair yet, but they already think they're the boss."

"They're giving up their secure jobs, who wants to put up with this humiliation?"

"Let's go, let's take the money and go home to buy meat!"

The group of people hurried out.

As Zhao Dashun walked to the door, he didn't forget to turn back.

"Boss Liu, is that it? You really think this business is easy?"

"The supply and marketing cooperative is just across the street corner, and the farmers' market is a few hundred meters ahead."

"I'd like to see how long your shabby shop can last! Don't end up losing everything and crying in your mother's womb!"

Liu Guangming didn't even give him a second glance.

He gestured with his chin toward the door.

"No need to see me off, take care."

Soon, more than half of the group of twenty-two people had left.

The entire hall felt even more spacious.

Only five people remained.

Besides Li Guihua, there were two seemingly honest young women and two young men in their twenties or thirties who hadn't said much.

The five people stood on the left, looking lonely and uneasy as they stared at Liu Guangming.

Liu Guangming stepped forward.

"What are your names?"

Li Guihua quickly wiped her hands and hurriedly replied, "Boss Liu, my name is Li Guihua."

My name is Wang Mei.

"My name is Zhao Yan."

The two young men also gave their names: one was Sun Qiang, and the other was Li Dajun.

Liu Guangming nodded.

"Alright, since you've chosen to stay, I won't waste any more words."

"Be here at eight o'clock sharp tomorrow morning to report for duty."

"The first thing you need to do is clean this shop inside and out thoroughly."

"I'll buy all the tools and leave them here. The glass needs to be so clean you can see your reflection, and there can't be a single black footprint on the floor."

"Is it possible?"

All five nodded in unison.

Li Guihua quickly replied, "Yes! Don't worry, Boss Liu, we're experienced at this job, we'll definitely clean it thoroughly."

Liu Guangming smiled.

"Alright, you should go back and settle your families down as well."

"You're getting a day off today, but you'll still get your full pay."

The group of people were overjoyed upon hearing this and left, expressing their gratitude profusely.

As soon as they stepped outside, Wang Gui approached them.

He handed the account book and a cloth bag he was holding to Liu Guangming.

Wang Gui is having an incredibly good time right now.

Now that the money has been paid, the store is no longer under his management, and he has completely shirked his responsibility as the store manager.

"Boss Liu."

Wang Gui swallowed hard, his voice clearly ingratiating.

"This...this is the store's ledger; all the details are in it."

"This bag contains all the warehouse keys and main gate keys; I've sorted them out for you."

Liu Guangming took the item and handed it to Liangzi next to him.

Then, he took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Wang Gui.

"Manager Wang, this is your salary for the past six months, plus an extra fifty yuan, as a small token of my appreciation."

"I'm sorry you've been through this."

Wang Gui clutched the thick envelope, his eyes instantly reddening.

He originally thought that his money was definitely going down the drain, after all, he was a cadre, not an employee.

We can completely ignore this Boss Liu.

"Boss Liu, I'm so embarrassed."

Wang Gui wiped his face.

"I won't say anything else."

"Although this shop is now yours, once I return to the Commerce Bureau, if there are any paperwork, utilities, or other issues requiring stamps or approvals, just send someone to me, and I guarantee I'll personally handle it for you!"

"Thank you very much, Manager Wang."

Liu Guangming said something polite.

Wang Gui bowed repeatedly, then walked briskly out the door.

The entire Hongxing Grocery Store was now completely silent.

Liangzi pulled up a chair, sat down, and let out a long sigh.

"My God."

Liangzi rubbed his face and arms.

"When you were handing out the money just now, my heart was in my throat, I was afraid those people would come up and snatch it."

He looked around at the shop, which was even cleaner than a face.

Think back to those few thousand yuan I just sent out.

Liangzi's heart was pounding.

"However, Brother Guangming, we've spent almost all of our money."

"We've acquired the store now, and we've retained a few staff members."

"But what do we do next?"

Liangzi stood up, walked to the shelf, and tapped the wooden board.

"Across the street is the state-run supply and marketing cooperative. They sell rice, flour, cooking oil, needles and thread, and their prices are strictly fixed."

"If we also sell these things, we can't compete with their vast wealth."

"Selling watermelon juice and watermelon shaved ice? A store this big can't just have one counter."

He turned to look at Liu Guangming, his face full of doubt.

"What are we planning to sell next to fill this huge hole and still make a lot of money?"