Chapter 36: The Core of Entrepreneurship

Yuan Minhua is indeed a versatile expert in administration and personnel; if she could join, it would save me a lot of worries.

After all, she was once a colleague, and knowing her background to some extent certainly beats hiring someone from the job market like Du Qiu did.

Now that the company is just getting started and Du Qiu’s funds are limited, he doesn’t want to introduce any angel investments.

The idea of hiring through a headhunter seems unfeasible because he probably couldn’t afford the salary.

Even if he could afford it, it doesn’t mean people would believe in his small, unknown company.

Yuan Minhua has many years of HR experience and some connections; she should be able to help quickly build up the company structure.

Time is quite important for Du Qiu.

“In an instant, there are a million possibilities…”

As he pondered, his phone rang.

It was actually Yuan Minhua calling, so he picked it up immediately.

“Big Doctor, you’ve started a business so soon?” Yuan Minhua’s voice was a mix of surprise and joy.

In Yuan Minhua’s view, it wasn’t strange for Du Qiu to start a business, but she was somewhat shocked that he started so quickly.

That day after the farewell dinner, when Du Qiu left first, she, Sun Hongming, and Liu Yaofeng talked for quite a while longer, and Liu Yaofeng praised Du Qiu’s software to the skies.

At that time, all three felt that if they could create this product, Du Qiu’s business venture would certainly succeed.

But Liu Yaofeng also said that it would still take some time for the software development to succeed.

“Yes, a thousand years is too long, we only strive for the present moment,” replied Du Qiu, quoting a great person’s saying, and then he asked, “Sister Yuan, have you found a good place to go?”

Yuan Minhua chuckled and said, “With a sincere invitation from the Big Doctor, no place is better than yours.”

Then, half-jokingly and half-seriously, “Just don’t exploit this poor girl too harshly, Boss Du.”

Du Qiu laughed and replied, “Sure, absolutely no 996! But…”

“There must be a mystery behind Boss Du’s ‘but,’ I’ll just wait for the leader’s instructions.”

“But we could consider doing a lockdown 712 at certain key periods,” Du Qiu suggested, thinking of how many software companies often take a group of programmers to a certain place for so-called closed development, which is essentially working 7 days a week, 12 hours a day.

“It seems Boss Du’s money isn’t easy to earn.”

“Sister Yuan, if you’re free now, come to the company. I’ll share the location with you.”

Du Qiu didn’t say more and hung up the phone, directly sharing his location.

But, just as he hung up, the ringtone sounded again.

It was Liu Yaofeng.

“Liu Yaofeng, did you really quit?”

“Yeah, I’ve set a new company speed record for quitting! Haha, I’m now a free man. Boss, where are you? I’ll come to you.”

“I’ll share my location with you. Hurry over.”

Du Qiu didn’t mince words. Liu Yaofeng’s participation was perfect for swiftly completing the control software’s hardware modification part.

Then he remembered Sun Hongming. After the farewell dinner they had made an agreement, but he wasn’t sure if Sun Hongming found a good job during these days.

Du Qiu also sent a WeChat message, “Brother Sun, as my startup is just beginning, I sincerely invite you to join.”

He shared the company’s location again.

However, after sending the message, there was no reply.

Du Qiu put away his phone and took the opportunity before Liu Yaofeng and Yuan Minhua arrived to wander around the office floors, finding that many rooms were closed and empty, though some of the offices in use still had some office furniture and supplies left.

This made it clear that business here was probably not so good, no wonder the lady boss was so determined to leave.

Clearly, these things and the equipment were used to offset the penalty for breach of contract.

As Du Qiu was looking through the offices, he had not reached the fourth floor when he heard Yuan Minhua’s voice calling out from the workshop.

“Du Qiu! Doctor Du!”

Du Qiu stepped out of the room and came to the corridor on the third floor, where he saw Yuan Minhua carefully walking into the workshop’s entrance.

“Sister Yuan, how did you come so quickly? Come on up and let’s check out our treasure land.”

Upon seeing Du Qiu in the office building corridor, Yuan Minhua instantly felt at ease.

To tell the truth, she had felt the area quite deserted when she made her way here from the main street, surrounded by old cars, which was quite intimidating.

But standing with Du Qiu on the third-floor corridor, overlooking the large workshop, she suddenly felt it was even better than Luxing Technology’s.

Luxing Technology didn’t have its own factory and looked more like an internet company; all that seemed necessary was a computer for the office.

This was inconvenient for many engineers in the R&D department who often had to travel to cooperative factories.

“This place is indeed a treasure land of feng shui. I didn’t expect there to be an industrial park in this area. There’s a subway from my place to here, just five stops.”

“Then it’ll be convenient for you to get to work in the future; no need to spend too much time on the road.”

“What’s our company’s name?”

“Dream Technology! Let every employee here achieve their dreams. How does that sound?” Du Qiu said with a smile.

“Hmm, not bad at all. It could serve as the core of the company’s corporate culture.”

Yuan Minhua felt Du Qiu’s words carried a unique confidence, so she asked further, “Who are the core people in this startup? What position can you give me, Big Doctor?”

Du Qiu laughed, pointed to himself, and then to Yuan Minhua, “Currently, it’s just the two of us. Oh, and soon Liu Yaofeng will join, making the three of us.

I also sent a message to Brother Sun, but there’s been no response so far. I don’t know if he has another offer or just hasn’t heard it yet.”

Yuan Minhua was taken aback; she really had not expected Du Qiu to truly start a business on his own. She had thought he would have several partners like Luxing Technology.

Such a large factory would cost a lot in rent; how much had Du Qiu invested? Could it be that this doctor was also a rich second-generation?

Absently, Yuan Minhua’s thoughts wandered.

“Big Doctor, Liu Yaofeng and I probably don’t have the capital to be your partners. Following you as employees and putting in some hard work is still doable.”

“Ha ha, Sister Yuan, don’t worry, no need for you to invest,” Du Qiu said, bursting into laughter.

“Boss, this place is not bad, with the factory and workshop connected. I no longer need to run around like before,” said Liu Yaofeng, looking around as he walked in, and upon hearing Du Qiu’s laughter, he immediately called out.

Du Qiu found a conference room, pulled the two in to sit down and briefly explained the current situation of the company.

Finally, he said, “As the core of entrepreneurship, for the moment, I can only offer you 80% of your previous salary at Luxing Technology.

However, I will allocate 8% of the shares as bonus equity for you to enjoy the company’s profit dividends.

Additionally, after ten years of service to the company, these will be sold to you at an agreed upon price.”

“Boss, isn’t 8% too much for just the two of us?”

Liu Yaofeng calculated that with a registered capital of 5 million, this share would require an investment of 400,000 to own, yet they could enjoy dividends for ten years before owning the shares.

“Of course, it’s not just for the two of you. Sister Yuan, what key positions do we still need to fill?”

Yuan Minhua counted on her fingers , “If, as you said earlier, you don’t want to manage the company in an all-around way, we definitely need a general manager.

Then we also need a financial manager, a sales manager, and since procurement of raw materials is also a crucial department, we need a procurement manager.”

Du Qiu continued, “So we need 4 more core members to form the management team of the company. Therefore, at least 6 people will share these 8% dividend shares.”

Yuan Minhua said, “I see. Then I’ll recruit these four positions as soon as possible to set up the company framework.

However, people we find through headhunters are likely to be expensive. I’m not sure if we can meet their salary expectations.”

“Sister Yuan, if there are suitable ones, acquaintances can be referred. Also, prioritize recruiting software engineers and electrical engineers like Liu Yaofeng.”

Du Qiu almost directly asked Yuan Minhua to pull people through her past connections.