"Chen Lin, quit your job and come work for me." Wu Jun didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point, making a promise. "As for salary, whatever you’re making now, I’ll double it."
Hearing Wu Jun’s words, Chen Lin was surprised, astonished, and also a little confused.
She had known Wu Jun for over a month and had a basic understanding of his situation.
Wu Jun ran a small supermarket and had also contracted several hundred mu of rice paddies back in his hometown of Ping Shan County, preparing to sell rice. She had even helped him purchase the trademark for the rice.
Chen Lin’s impression of Wu Jun was that of a small-time, sole-proprietor boss who had ideals, ambition, and the courage to strive for more.
’But... to not even ask what I make now and just offer to double it? Isn’t that a bit too generous? Did he just come here this early in the morning to joke with me?’
"Wu Jun, you..." Chen Lin smiled and shook her head. "Stop teasing me. If you have something to say, just say it."
"I’ve already said it," Wu Jun said, spreading his hands. "I’m starting a company, and I’m short on people right now. I really need you."
"Are you serious?" Seeing that Wu Jun didn’t seem to be joking, Chen Lin asked him for confirmation again.
Wu Jun said, "Of course I’m serious. Do you really think I’d come all this way just to play this kind of joke on you? Am I that bored in your eyes?"
"But, this salary..." Hearing that Wu Jun was offering her such a high salary before the company was even established, Chen Lin felt a little overwhelmed by the favor.
’Even if we’re friends, this offer is a bit too high.’
"The salary is what I said it is," Wu Jun said, then asked Chen Lin, "What’s your current salary?"
Chen Lin had been with this company for two years. Thanks to her outstanding performance, she earned more than most of her colleagues. After her base salary, commission, and deductions for social insurance and housing funds, her monthly take-home pay was over 6,000 yuan.
In Shimen City, where the average monthly salary was less than 4,000 yuan, a young woman earning over 6,000 was already doing quite well. If she accepted Wu Jun’s offer, her take-home pay would be over 10,000 a month.
"About 4,000 a month right now," Chen Lin said, not daring to tell the full truth. She gave a more conservative number. Doubling 4,000 would still be 8,000, which was higher than her current income.
"In that case, I’ll round it up for you. A base salary of 10,000." As soon as Wu Jun heard the number Chen Lin gave, he knew she wasn’t being truthful. Not wanting to press her for the exact figure, he simply offered her the same deal he gave Wang Qidong.
Both Wang Qidong and Chen Lin were being recruited before the company was even founded. In other words, Wu Jun planned to cultivate them as core members of his team.
Once the company was established, they would be considered founding members. For that, Wu Jun was more than willing to pay this kind of salary.
Wu Jun was decisive, and Chen Lin didn’t waste any time either. She went to submit her resignation letter on the spot.
Chen Lin had been doing well at her job, so her sudden resignation without any warning left her colleagues dumbfounded, and her boss was also very surprised.
Seeing Chen Lin pack her things and leave with Wu Jun after resigning, everyone shook their heads and sighed. The office beauty had been lured away by a handsome guy!
He still had the contract template his aunt had helped him with last time. Passing by a print shop, Wu Jun printed another copy.
At the KFC outside the wholesale market, Wu Jun and Chen Lin signed the contract, which helped set her mind at ease.
’Chen Lin gave up a stable job to join me. I have to give her some kind of assurance.’
"This contract is just temporary. Once the company is established, we’ll have a lawyer draft a formal one," Wu Jun said, handing a signed copy of the contract to Chen Lin.
"I told you it wasn’t necessary." Chen Lin smiled and shook her head. From her interactions with him, her impression of Wu Jun was that he was very reliable and responsible; he definitely wouldn’t trick her into quitting and then just disappear.
It was almost noon, so Wu Jun ordered a meal for two. They ate and talked, discussing the matter of establishing the company, the materials they needed to prepare, and the various permits and licenses they would need to obtain in the future.
Wu Jun had tentatively named the company Junheng Trading Co., Ltd., taking the "Jun" from his own name and combining it with "Heng" from the "Tycoon" part of "Resource Tycoon." Chen Lin said they needed to prepare at least five options, as the Administration for Industry and Commerce would check for duplicates.
Wu Jun came up with five more names on the spot, but he still liked his first choice, "Junheng," the best.
To register a company, you needed a registered address, and the property type for the office location had to be commercial-use.
The small supermarket Wu Jun was currently renting was classified as residential property, so Chen Lin told him he would have to lease an office space first.
After talking for over an hour, the two finally left KFC and went their separate ways.
Wu Jun, familiar with the process, found the same real estate agency he had used to rent his warehouse and called the agent from last time.
Led by the agent, he toured several office buildings.
The agent mentioned that there was a villa district next to the Tianyuan residential complex with villas zoned for commercial use. Although the location wasn’t as prime as the office buildings, the villas were more impressive and had a more elegant environment, and the price was about the same.
Wu Jun had heard of the West Sanzhuang Villa District; many shell companies rented villas there to set up shop. He had the agent take him there for a look.
In the end, Wu Jun settled on a small, two-story villa with six rooms, three reception halls, and 285 square meters of space.
Although it was called a villa, which sounded very high-end, the rent wasn’t expensive. At 6,000 yuan a month for a full-year lease, it was even cheaper than the warehouse he was renting in Xiao’anshe, mainly because it was less than half the size.
The agent contacted the landlord, they signed the contract, and after paying a year’s rent—costing over 70,000 yuan—Wu Jun received the lease agreement and three keys to the villa.
By the time he finished renting the villa, it was already five in the afternoon. Wu Jun found a small, elegant restaurant and arranged to meet Chen Lin, giving her the lease agreement.
Chen Lin brought Wu Jun some good news: she had asked an acquaintance at the Administration for Industry and Commerce to check, and "Junheng Trading Co., Ltd." was available for registration.
Now that the issue of the company’s registered address was resolved, they could start the official process the next day.
"Order whatever you like. It’s my treat this time." After they finished talking business, Wu Jun handed the menu to Chen Lin, letting her order.
"You decide. Anything is fine," Chen Lin said with a smile, pushing the menu back to Wu Jun.
"I’ll do it then." There was no need to push the menu back and forth over ordering. Wu Jun took the menu and looked down to make his selections.
This was, by his count, the fourth time they had eaten together, so he had a pretty good idea of what Chen Lin liked to eat.
Watching Wu Jun order several dishes that were all her favorites, Chen Lin felt a stir in her heart. ’I can’t believe he’s so thoughtful. He knew my tastes after just a few meals together.’
She thought back to the time they went to a movie after dinner and felt a pang of regret. ’Why wasn’t I more proactive then?’
’If I had let go of my reservations and taken the initiative to hold his hand, would we be in a different kind of relationship by now?’
Seeing him again now after about half a month, she noticed his aura was completely different from before. He had become much more confident.
Half a month ago, he was still a sole proprietor, a small-time boss. Now, he was about to start his own company and become a real boss.
The more Chen Lin looked at Wu Jun, the more she felt he was exceptionally charming. As she watched him, she found herself getting lost in a daze.
"Chen Lin? What are you spacing out about?" After handing the menu to the waiter, Wu Jun waved a hand in front of her face.
"Ah, nothing, nothing..." Hearing Wu Jun’s question, Chen Lin snapped back to reality, her face instantly flushing red all the way to her ears.
’I actually spaced out just staring at him. How embarrassing!’