Rebirth: Fan Debiao rises from the Liaobei land

The news that Gangzi had taken people to Jinbihuihuang and spent an afternoon there spread throughout Kaiyuan the next day.

Old Qian slammed his fist on the table in his office, furious: "That bastard Fan Debiao, trying to pull this on me!"

Standing next to him were three people: a tall, thin man wearing a gold chain, named Huang Mao; a bald, fat man named Da Zhuang; and a man wearing glasses, who was the accountant Lao Sun.

"Boss, this can't just end like this," the blond-haired guy spoke up first. "Fan Debiao sent Gangzi and his men to sit here all afternoon. Isn't that a slap in the face?"

Da Zhuang chimed in, "If you ask me, we should just take some men and smash up Victoria!"

Old Qian glanced at him: "Smash it? You try smashing one and let me see. Don't you know what kind of relationship Chief Chen of the police station has with Wu Derong?"

"We can't just suffer this in silence," said Huang Mao.

Old Qian took a drag of his cigarette and squinted. "Gangzi... Gangzi from Fourth Road. This kid's tough."

"What's so tough about it?" Da Zhuang retorted. "Even if it's tough, can it be tougher than us brothers?"

"You know about what happened to Old Scar the year before last, right?" Old Qian asked.

Da Zhuang was taken aback: "Old Scar? The one Gangzi beat up and hospitalized for three months?"

"Yes," Old Qian said. "Old Scar had seven or eight men, Gangzi was alone, and he had a steel pipe. In the end, Old Scar's whole gang ended up in the hospital. This incident caused a sensation throughout Kaiyuan at the time."

Yellow Hair whispered, "Boss, how about... we go find Scarface? He has a grudge against Gangzi, maybe we can get him to handle it?"

Old Qian shook his head: "Old Scar is involved with that (drug) now, stay away from him. If you get involved with that stuff, your life is over."

Old Sun pushed up his glasses: "Boss, if we can't get through this with force, let's try something more subtle."

"How so?"

"Keep poaching people," Old Sun said. "We'll offer double wages to Victoria's supervisors, managers, waiters, and chefs. Without people, even if Fan Debiao is capable, he can't manage."

"Right!" the blond-haired guy exclaimed, "I heard those waitresses at Victoria only make four hundred a month. Let's give them eight hundred, I bet they'll come!"

Old Qian thought for a moment: "Eight hundred? That's too little! If we're going to dig, we'll dig deep! Five thousand for a young and pretty girl! Two thousand for the chef! Four thousand for the manager! I refuse to believe that money can't buy people out of their lives!"

Da Zhuang was startled: "Boss, how much will that cost?"

"You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub!" Old Qian stubbed out his cigarette. "Once we squeeze Victoria out of business, we'll be the only dominant player in Kaiyuan! How much money won't we make back then?"

"Oh, right," Lao Qian added, "when poaching people, just say we don't offer escort services, it's all legitimate. Let's get them here first."

"What if they come and find out it's not true?"

Old Qian laughed: "Once you're here, you can't just leave. Once you've entered this magnificent gate, it won't be so easy to leave."

That afternoon, the lavish recruitment operation was escalated.

At Victoria's place, it was kitchen helper Xiao Li who received the call: "Come work for us, it's 1200 a month, room and board included!"

Then Xiaoli, the receptionist, also received the message: "Girl, what's the point of working as a waitress at Victoria? Come to Jinbihuihuang, you can earn five thousand a month, just by sitting down!"

The most amazing thing is that even Ma Dashuai, who cleans the toilets, got contacted: "Brother, come work for us cleaning, it'll be eight hundred a month!"

The next day, Victoria started acting strangely.

At 10 a.m., Chef Zhang from the kitchen approached Fan Debiao, rubbing his hands together, and said, "Brother Biao, I...I want to resign."

Fan Debiao was taken aback: "Master Zhang, you were doing so well, why do you suddenly want to resign?"

"Um... something came up at home." Master Zhang avoided looking Fan Debiao in the eye.

"If you have something to do at home, just ask for leave. There's no need to resign," Fan Debiao said. "With your skills, you're doing quite well at Victoria."

After stammering for a while, Master Zhang finally said, "Give me two thousand over at the Golden Splendor place."

Fan Debiao understood.

"Master Zhang, six hundred a month here is a bit low," Fan Debiao said. "How about this, I'll raise it to eight hundred. If you work for a while longer and do well, I'll raise it again next month."

Master Zhang hesitated: "Brother Biao, it's not about the money..."

"What's the matter?" Fan Debiao asked.

After hesitating for a while, Chef Zhang finally told the truth: "My daughter... works as a waitress at Jinbihuihuang, and she gets paid 5,000 a month. She said they're short of a head chef and wants me to go there; they'll pay me 2,000."

Fan Debiao's heart sank.

Old Qian is really going all out.

"Master Zhang, what kind of waitress does your daughter work at Jinbihuihuang? She earns five thousand a month?" Fan Debiao asked. "Do you know how much a normal waitress earns a month?"

Master Zhang shook his head.

"Four hundred," Fan Debiao said. "Even the best restaurants in Kaiyuan only pay their waiters five hundred. Do you think it's normal for Jinbihuihuang to pay five thousand?"

Mr. Zhang was stunned.

"Old Qian's place has escort services," Fan Debiao said. "Your daughter going there isn't as simple as just serving dishes. You need to think this through."

Master Zhang's face turned pale: "Brother Biao, my...my daughter said he's just a normal waiter..."

"Can a normal waiter earn five thousand?" Fan Debiao patted him on the shoulder. "Master Zhang, go back and have a good talk with your daughter. If she still wants to work at Victoria, I'll raise her salary to six hundred a month. Although it's not as much as five thousand, it's clean money."

Master Zhang nodded and left.

Just as Fan Debiao breathed a sigh of relief, Awei rushed over: "Brother Biao, something terrible has happened! Xiaoli at the front desk, Xiaohong and Xiaofang, the waitresses, and two kitchen helpers are all going to quit!"

Fan Debiao was in a bind: "Did Jinbihuihuang poach them all?"

"Hmm!" Avi said, "The Golden Splendor company has announced that young and pretty waitresses will start at five thousand a month. Chefs and helpers will get double the pay."

"Does Mr. Wu know?"

"I don't know yet, I was just about to go up and report."

"Let's go together."

The two went up to the third floor and knocked on Wu Derong's office door. Wu Derong was on the phone. When he saw them come in, he waved his hand to indicate that they should wait a moment.

The person on the other end of the phone sounded like a leader. Wu Derong nodded and bowed obsequiously, "Yes, yes, Director Wang, don't worry, it will definitely be arranged properly... Okay, goodbye."

After hanging up the phone, Wu Derong's expression was grim: "What's wrong?"

Fan Debiao explained the situation.

After hearing this, Wu Derong slammed his fist on the table: "That bastard Lao Qian! If he can't play the game, he'll poach our players!"

"Mr. Wu, what do we do now?" Fan Debiao asked. "Five have already left today, and I reckon more will leave tomorrow."

Wu Derong lit a cigar, took a few puffs, and asked, "Debiao, do you have any ideas?"

Fan Debiao thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Wu, I think we should do it this way."

"explain."

"First, stabilize the core," Fan Debiao said. "The head chef, the security captain, and the service supervisor are the key people. If we stabilize them first, our framework won't collapse."

"How can we stabilize it?"

"Raise wages and talk about feelings," Fan Debiao said. "Chef Zhang's daughter works at Jinbihuihuang. He was going to leave too, but I persuaded him to stay. Let's raise his salary to 800 and help his daughter find a proper job here."

Wu Derong nodded: "Okay, this is acceptable."

"Secondly, expose Lao Qian's tricks," Fan Debiao said. "Golden Splendor pays waiters 5,000 and chefs 2,000, which is completely abnormal. How much money does Lao Qian have to spend like that? I guess he just lures people over first, and then finds an excuse to withhold their wages once they arrive."

"That makes sense," Wu Derong said. "I know Lao Qian; he's incredibly stingy."

"So we need to let our employees know that Lao Qian's promises are all empty promises," Fan Debiao said. "I heard that people who went to Jinbihuihuang before didn't even get their full salary for the first month; they said they'd hold it for two months."

Awei chimed in, "Yes, I have a cousin who worked there. They promised 800 a month, but in the end they only gave her 500 and withheld two months' wages."

"That makes things easier," Fan Debiao said. "Third, we'll give our employees tangible benefits. We won't compete with the old money on high salaries; we'll compete on stability and welfare."

"What benefits?"

"Seniority bonus," Fan Debiao said. "After a year of service, you get an extra fifty yuan per month. After two years, you get an extra one hundred yuan. There are quarterly profit sharing; when Victoria's business is good, we take five percent of the profits each quarter and distribute them to long-term employees. In addition, we provide subsidies for employees' children's schooling; and we help contact hospitals for their parents' medical treatment."

Wu Derong thought for a moment: "How much will this cost?"

"Mr. Wu, you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub," Fan Debiao said. "These are extraordinary times; we have to invest. Once we've crushed the old money, the market will be ours. How much money can't we make back?"

Wu Derong took a few puffs of his cigar, gritted his teeth, and said, "Fine! We'll do it your way!"

"There's a fourth point," Fan Debiao said. "Let those who went to Jinbihuihuang and regretted it come back and give their accounts. Tell them how Lao Qian cheated them and how he withheld wages. That way, those hesitant employees won't dare to leave."

Wu Derong looked at Fan Debiao and suddenly laughed: "Debiao, you're quite the character now, you've got a whole repertoire of tricks up your sleeve."

Fan Debiao chuckled: "I learned it all from General Manager Wu."

"Stop flattering me," Wu Derong said. "Get it done right away. How much money is needed? Go to the finance department. You write the report, I'll approve the paperwork. I only have one requirement—keep people calm and bring down Lao Qian!"

"clear!"

Fan Debiao and Awei left the office. Awei whispered, "Brother Biao, you're really something. Even General Manager Wu listens to you."

"This isn't about listening to me, it's about listening to reason," Fan Debiao said. "Awei, quickly call Master Zhang's daughter over, I want to talk to her personally."

"it is good."

In the afternoon, at the Victoria staff canteen.

Fan Debiao called over a dozen people who were leaving. They sat at the long table, each with a different expression—some were embarrassed, some were confident, and some were hesitant.

Fan Debiao stood at the front and cleared his throat: "Gentlemen, I heard someone's going to work at Jinbihuihuang, with double the salary. I understand, who doesn't want to earn more money?"

No one spoke.

"However, I have to remind everyone of something," Fan Debiao said. "Is it normal for Jinbihuihuang to pay its waiters 5,000 yuan and its chefs 2,000 yuan? In Kaiyuan, even the best restaurant waiters only make 500 yuan a month. Why is Lao Qian paying 5,000 yuan?"

Someone whispered, "Their business is just good."

"Business is good?" Fan Debiao laughed. "A lavish business like that isn't even as good as our Victoria's. Where does he get the money to pay everyone high salaries?"

Whispers began to circulate among them.

"I heard that people who go to the glitz and glamour don't even get their full salary for the first month," Fan Debiao said. "They withhold two months' salary and deduct all sorts of things. In the end, they don't even earn as much as they would at Victoria."

A waitress stood up: "Brother Biao, my cousin worked there, and it's true. They agreed on 800 a month, but only gave us 500, and they held back two months' rent."

"Did everyone hear that?" Fan Debiao said. "Old Qian is just making empty promises, trying to lure people in first."

"Can we get a raise here?" someone asked.

"Yes," Fan Debiao said. "Starting next month, all employees' salaries will increase by 20%. Those who have worked for a full year will receive a seniority bonus of 50 yuan per month. Those who have worked for two years will receive an additional 100 yuan. Every quarter, Victoria will distribute 5% of its profits as dividends to everyone."

There was an uproar below.

"And that's not all," Fan Debiao continued, "We subsidize our employees' children's schooling. We help them contact hospitals for medical treatment. Does Jinbihuihuang offer these benefits?"

"No!" someone shouted.

"So, everyone, think it over carefully," Fan Debiao said. "Is it better to go to a glittering, empty promise, or to work at Victoria and get a real salary and benefits?"

After the meeting, Fan Debiao called Master Zhang and his daughter to his office.

Master Zhang's daughter is named Zhang Xiaomei. She is in her early twenties and is quite pretty.

"Xiao Mei, I heard you're going to Jinbihuihuang?" Fan Debiao asked.

Zhang Xiaomei nodded: "Brother Biao, they'll give you five thousand over there..."

"Do you know how to earn that five thousand?" Fan Debiao asked.

Zhang Xiaomei paused for a moment: "So... you're a waitress."

"You can earn five thousand just by serving dishes?" Fan Debiao said. "Xiaomei, I won't lie to you, Jinbihuihuang offers escort services. If you go there, you won't just have to serve dishes, you'll also have to drink with the guests. If they drink too much, you'll have to entertain them with other things."

Zhang Xiaomei's face turned pale: "Brother Biao, I...I don't know."

"Now I know," Fan Debiao said. "If you still want to work as a waiter, you can work at Victoria. I'll pay you six hundred, which isn't as much as five thousand, but it's clean money. Your dad's here too, so we can look out for each other."

Zhang Xiaomei looked at her father. Master Zhang nodded: "Daughter, listen to Brother Biao. Brother Biao is an honest man, he doesn't lie."

"Then...then I'll work here," Zhang Xiaomei said.

"Okay." Fan Debiao smiled. "Awei, process Xiaomei's onboarding."

By the time he finished dealing with these matters, it was already evening. Fan Debiao returned to the security room, where Gangzi was drinking tea.

"Brother Biao, you've had a busy day," Gangzi said.

"You bet." Fan Debiao sat down. "Old Qian's move was ruthless; he poached our talent directly."

"Want me to take some people for a stroll around the magnificent Golden Palace?" Gangzi asked.

"No need," Fan Debiao said. "Let's remain calm and wait for Lao Qian to reveal his weakness."

Just then, Da Liu ran in: "Brother Biao, news just came from Jinbihuihuang that three of the five waiters who went there today are making a fuss about coming back."

Why?

"I only found out when I got there that I had to drink with customers," Da Liu said. "If you don't, your salary will be docked. One girl was groped by a customer and she burst into tears on the spot."

Fan Debiao and Gangzi exchanged a glance.

"See? What did I tell you?" Fan Debiao said, "Old Qian's true colors have been revealed."

"Then what do we do?" Da Liu asked.

"Bring those three girls back," Fan Debiao said. "Tell them that Victoria welcomes them back anytime. Their wages will remain the same, and there will be no further investigation."

"clear!"