However, the assistant readily agreed, wisely refraining from further debate with him.
Later, the assistant first contacted software development companies to request quotations, then sought out numerous drop-off points to gauge their opinions.
The reality was much as he had anticipated. While those drop-off points were initially quite interested, their attitudes changed immediately upon hearing that the Anxin Post Station was to be managed by Feitong.
Many drop-off points even chased away Feitong's representatives and declared that Feitong had the memory of a fish, only remembering seven seconds. Did Feitong forget their recent announcement, shifting the blame for lost packages onto the drop-off points? They were initially told they only needed to hold packages, nothing more, so why should they be made scapegoats now? Did they think people didn't use the internet?
If Feitong wanted to operate post stations, fine! Pay them! Pay them rent, labor costs, management fees, and so on. No payment, no discussion!
The assistant meticulously compiled this information into a report, estimating the costs Feitong would incur under these circumstances. He then made the cost figures bold and enlarged. Afterward, he placed this report on Yang Xu's desk.
Upon reviewing the report, Yang Xu remained silent for a long time.
He didn't believe his decision was wrong, but Feitong was currently facing many issues, and the cost of operating post stations was simply too high! If the investors had still been on his side previously, it would have been fine, but now, with all investors siding with Zhan Ruofeng, he couldn't get any money! xxs1
After much deliberation, Yang Xu reluctantly stated, "...Let's forget about it. No more post stations. For now, have all couriers deliver packages to that… Anxin Post Station!"
The assistant ignored Yang Xu's gritted teeth and continued, "Then, do we need to ask for user opinions before setting up post stations, like other courier companies?"
"Ask for what? Isn't there a text message notification?" Yang Xu said angrily. "If they disagree, are we really going to deliver to their doors? That's such a waste of time!"
The assistant opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. It was good enough that Yang Xu had abandoned the idea of opening post stations at this time. He wouldn't butt in on matters like this.
"Also," the assistant continued, "Mr. Yang, our company's resignation rate has been very high recently, and we are short of couriers. Do you think we should slightly increase their delivery commissions..."
"Increase what?!" Yang Xu scolded, furious. "I've given them a job opportunity, and they should be grateful! Who told them not to work hard enough? If they want higher wages, can't they just deliver more packages?"
The assistant suppressed the urge to retort. Feitong couriers already had the longest working hours in the industry. Did Yang Xu expect them to not eat, not sleep, and deliver packages twenty-four hours a day? No, even then, Yang Xu wouldn't be satisfied. He would surely think these couriers were still demanding money!
Seeing the assistant's silence, Yang Xu thought for a moment and said, "However, we can't do nothing. Go online and find some writers to publish several articles saying that delivering packages can easily earn over ten thousand a month! And find a few examples of people who deliver packages and directly earn a hundred thousand a month! That way, we can easily recruit people!"
"Earning a hundred thousand a month is too exaggerated!" the assistant exclaimed in shock. "How is that possible?"
"Why is it impossible?" Yang Xu said displeasantly. "Our regional managers at Feitong have reached that amount. Use them as examples for our promotions!"
The assistant was speechless. He wanted to persuade Yang Xu further, but Yang Xu scolded him, so he had no choice but to comply with his orders.
Soon, various posts hyping courier earnings of over ten thousand a month appeared on major platforms, gaining considerable attention. And these couriers were, without exception, from Feitong.
Many such posts also appeared on Zhiwei, even making it onto the hot list. Many people were tempted and wanted to try being a courier.
When Zhan Ruoqing noticed the trend, she immediately called Ye Zhi and informed her of the situation.
She asked doubtfully, "Ye Zhi, are Feitong couriers' salaries really that high?"
"It's fake," Ye Zhi stated confidently. "Feitong couriers have the lowest salaries in the industry. Especially recently, due to lost packages, Feitong has been deducting a lot from couriers' pay. If they can take home five thousand, they're lucky!"
"That's so exaggerated?!" Zhan Ruoqing exclaimed. "Then should you expose these promotional articles?"
"This…" Ye Zhi hesitated. "The tricky part about these articles is that they don't explicitly state which company's couriers they are, but many people are commenting that they are from Feitong, so it's not easy for me to clarify or debunk them."
"Why?" Zhan Ruoqing asked, confused. "I don't quite understand."
"Because Shunda couriers can indeed earn over ten thousand a month," Ye Zhi explained.
Zhan Ruoqing: "...I understand, so strictly speaking, these promotional articles aren't entirely false."
"Let's wait and see," Ye Zhi said. "Feitong's promotional articles are too exaggerated. They just want to lure new hires. Sutos will not stand idly by."
Zhan Ruoqing agreed and then asked, "By the way, we were going to have dinner together before, weren't we? When are you free?"
"I'm free this weekend. Can I bring a friend along?" Ye Zhi asked.
"Sure," Zhan Ruoqing agreed readily, then suddenly, she keenly seized on a key point. "A friend? Who? Do I know them?"
"Yes, you do. It's Qi Xuan," Ye Zhi replied.
Zhan Ruoqing: ...
If she didn't know Ye Zhi was a block of wood, she would have almost suspected Ye Zhi was about to make an official announcement.
"Why did you suddenly think of inviting him to dinner?" Zhan Ruoqing was curious.
"Isn't it normal for friends to invite each other to dinner?" Ye Zhi asked, confused. "If it's inconvenient, it'll just be the two of us this time, and I'll bring him next time..."
"No, no! It's not inconvenient at all!" Zhan Ruoqing quickly said. How could she, a third wheel, be absent from such an occasion? She, for one, loved to watch the excitement and even hoped for more drama.
A flash of inspiration struck Zhan Ruoqing, and she cheerfully said, "Why don't I bring my brother along too!"
"Alright," Ye Zhi agreed.
Not long after Ye Zhi hung up the phone, Feng Jie arrived at her office, looking travel-worn.
"Ms. Ye, I've completed my mission. The collaborations with those car manufacturers have been finalized," Feng Jie said, sighing with relief.
"Well done!" Ye Zhi nodded. "You've worked hard recently. Would you like to take a vacation?"
"No need, Ms. Ye," Feng Jie frowned. "Ou Minghan has suddenly started doubting my loyalty again. I can't take a vacation right now, otherwise, he'll think I'm being insincere and not genuinely gaining your trust."
Ye Zhi: ...
Who exactly is Ou Minghan trying to help?