Chapter 406: System Test

After playing poker, a few people lined up to wash up then returned to their beds, each tossing and turning.

Ren Ziqiang was restless because he and Wang Linlin had sweet talks again. Cao Guangyu was agitated because he chatted online about some flirty stuff with Ding Xue. Zhou Chao was excited after reaching a climax in a web novel, feeling like he was about to soar.

Jiang Qin came out of the bathroom, glanced at the three restless ones, and thought to himself that these silly college students each had their joy.

He placed the washbasin under the desk, turned on his computer, started dealing with work emails, and did a few sets of ab exercises until late at night before climbing into bed and sighing deeply.

Being the boss is not easy. Besides having more money, the rest isn’t playthings.

After sleeping until nine the next morning, Jiang Qin got out of bed, quickly tidied up, and then called Dong Wenhao and Lu Feiyu. The three went to the Wanzhong Mall in the city center and took the elevator straight to the fifth floor.

Over this period, the technical department at Pintuan has expanded to fifty-three people, now surpassing the combined number of people in the marketing and business departments.

“How did it become so many people?” Dong Wenhao was very surprised.

Jiang Qin smiled, “We’re registered as an IT company. Programmers are the face of our office, better to recruit more, to avoid being throttled in a few years.”

Lu Feiyu looked around, “Where’s Sister Su Nai?”

“She now lives in the Jing Garden of the development area, biking to and from work every day. She’s probably still on her way now.”

“Eh, hasn’t she been learning to drive?”

Jiang Qin broke into laughter at the mention of driving tests, “Su Nai failed her driving test twice on subject two. I offered to pull some strings for her, but she didn’t want it. She’s quite proud, though all you need for subject two are hands, right?”

Lu Feiyu: “…”

“What’s wrong? You look like you’re out of sorts?”

Dong Wenhao coughed, “Feiyu also failed subject two twice, always stumbling at the reverse parking.”

Jiang Qin exclaimed, “No worries. Work hard and devote your youth to the company; later I’ll just get you a driver.”

Lu Feiyu’s eyes lit up, “Boss, you’ll provide a driver for me?”

“No, I’ll have him teach you how to reverse park while he’s not driving for me.”

“…”

While they were talking, some programmers came over to greet them enthusiastically.

These newly recruited programmers weren’t familiar with them, as they newly joined and don’t work in the same area; chances to get familiar were scarce.

But seeing Dong Wenhao and Lu Feiyu’s badges, they immediately knew these were the leaders.

Whether it’s the technical, marketing, or business department, their badges all say Pintuan, but those with the privilege to wear the number 208 are key leaders, commonly referred to as higher-ups.

Like their young manager, his badge also only features the number 208, plain yet imposing.

It wasn’t something Jiang Qin did on purpose. He’s been busy developing the Linchuan Business Group and the Golden Silkwood Fund over the past year, and such nitty-gritty details weren’t his concern.

Currently, Pintuan doesn’t have a proper HR department; all handled by Yue Zhu and Bao Wenping from Wanzhong, it became a historical issue.

However, retaining the 208 title isn’t without benefits; at least everyone knows there’s a secretive senior organization, which helps consolidate leadership.

“Hey boss, what brings you here?”

As the three chatted, Su Nai came out of the elevator and walked up to the technical department’s entrance, looking at them.

She no longer wears dungarees. Now in a white blazer, she has a cosmopolitan woman feel, half-stepping out of school into society.

“Came for a surprise check to see if you’re working hard.”

“I’ve been pouring all my energy into work that I can’t even pass my driving test,” Su Nai said, clearly irritated by the topic.

Hard work serves the boss to make money, but the driving test? That’s personal, and despite the boss making money daily, she’s failed repeatedly with no one to complain to.

Jiang Qin thought, this is a classic case of blaming the world for own failures, “Let’s talk about something serious. How are those three projects coming along?”

Su Nai nodded, “The internal management system is almost done. The product management system is undergoing stability tests, and as for the Pintuan app, we just started. About sixty percent of the technical department is new and not yet up to speed.”

“Not bad, the progress is reasonable. Can I try it out?”

“Sure.”

Following Su Nai, Jiang Qin and his team went to the former office of President He, now the development office for Pintuan’s internal management system.

Upon logging into the internal management system, Jiang could view the five major business groups.

The first business group is for Zhihu operations, the second for Pintuan, the third for Xitian, the fourth for Linchuan Business Group, and the fifth for Golden Silkwood Fund.

Each business group has its general manager overseeing various managers.

As the boss, Jiang Qin could use the highest-level privileges to issue tasks online to all the general managers, create tasks for them to confirm.

The general managers could then add tasks to lower departments, set reminders, receive feedback online, and send updated reports back to Jiang Qin.

This system is an adaptation of the logistics park’s, except it transfers specific content and performance status instead of order IDs from warehouses.

The original version is indeed not comprehensive yet; it lacks financial management, tax information, and expense claims, but it’s sufficient for current Pintuan operations.

“Does it work well?”

“Not bad, it’s got the right feel.”

Jiang tapped the mouse twice, “Notify all departments to start trials, let everyone get used to handling affairs online. We’ve sharpened our tools, now time to act like a regular army.”

Su Nai nodded, “Feiyu, stick around and help me draft a notification document for the branches.”

“Got it, Sister Su Nai.”

Though now a leader responsible for the Headline News sector, Lu Feiyu, in front of Su Nai, still prefers the junior role.

Jiang then tried the product management system, acting as a merchant, experiencing uploading products, setting prices, order inquiries, and review management.

“Can this be simplified further, so that all operations could be done on one page?”

“This version is already simplified.”

Jiang looked at Su Nai, “We need to consider merchants who are not proficient with computers. When I first used a computer, I didn’t even know to click in the search box on Baidu.”

Su Nai thought hard, “I’ll discuss a simplified plan with them later.”

“Alright, add another feature called shop discounts.”

“Shop discounts?”

Jiang released the mouse, “Similar to our Pintuan coupons. We provide a base for merchants to create their own coupons.”

Su Nai blinked, “Doesn’t that conflict with our discounts?”

“No conflict. Merchants can input a price, set a discount, and the page will show a grayed original price next to the discounted price.”

Jiang gestured, “When merchants opt for automatic discounts and combine it with our main site coupons…”

Dong Wenhao suddenly raised his hand, “I get it, it becomes that attractive double discount on other websites, and we only need to cover the main site discount costs?”

“Right, Wenhao, you understand it well.”

“Are there really merchants who would offer discounts voluntarily?” Lu Feiyu was skeptical.

“It’s voluntary to offer discounts or not. Some chain enterprises have sales targets and voluntarily lowering prices to meet these isn’t impossible, saving us the step of negotiating supply prices.”

Jiang turned to them, “Remember Pintuan has a function called good review rankings?”

Dong Wenhao nodded, “Remember, Feiyu and I even worked overtime to help them get good reviews.”

“Voluntary discounts boost sales and exchange for good reviews, climbing the ranks. This will distinguish Pintuan’s model from other sites.”

Su Nai mostly got the boss’s point; let those interested in boosting sales or keen on rankings discount their own goods, then combine with the main site’s discount to create double discounts.

With this feature, their field agents no longer need to run around negotiating discounts because competition will naturally lead to a price war.

It’s like the costly promotions of group buying; once the platform’s ecosystem is established, competing merchants within the system will lower prices for various reasons.

“You know, whether it’s Lashou, Nuomi, or other miscellaneous sites, their understanding of group buying is still very primitive, thinking it’s just about moving the service industry online.”

“We have the duty to show them what true pure online operations entail. Scare the hell out of those bastards.”

Su Nai glanced at her boldly grinning boss, “Should we deliver this product system to merchants first?”

Jiang shook his head, “We don’t have that many merchants onboard yet, don’t need this for now. This system is like a nuclear bomb, needs to be detonated at the key moment. Keep it hidden until it’s time to start the stealing home plan.”

“Got it.”

“Damn, Xuemei isn’t here. Was I a bit handsome just now?”

Dong Wenhao gave a thumbs up, “So handsome I couldn’t keep my eyes open.”

Jiang looked at Dong Wenhao approvingly, “By the way, Su Nai, there’s another task for you. The Headline News sector will become an independent forum after the New Year, discuss it with Feiyu, and better get the app direction set too.”

Su Nai took a deep breath, “Boss, I slightly regret helping you with the internal management system.”

“Why?”

Su Nai pursed her lips, “Just thinking about how in the future you can just generate a task for me to complete without even showing up gives me a headache.”

“Complaining about hard work but you’ve not missed out on bonuses!”

Jiang thought to himself that as a lone fighter it’s fine, but why drag others into this struggle: “Okay, you two discuss it. I’ll take Wenhao for a stroll around the mall.”

After speaking, the two left the Pintuan branch office and took the elevator to the third floor, leisurely heading to the rest area.

“Wenhao, I’ve let Lu Feiyu take charge of an independent project. What do you think?”

“Whatever the boss arranges is best.”

Jiang looked at him, “Don’t you feel I might be favoring one over the other?”

Dong Wenhao immediately shook his head, “I’m happy focusing on Zhihu. As for the news business, I don’t understand it at all. Feiyu is professionally trained. Boss, you’re simply putting the right person in the right place.”

“What if one day the Headline News is more valuable than Zhihu?”

Dong Wenhao bit his lip, “Then… then can I make a request, boss? If one day Zhihu becomes less important, I’d like to be your personal secretary.”

“That won’t do. By then, you’ll probably need a personal secretary yourself, who’s ever heard of a secretary serving another secretary.”

Jiang patted his shoulder, “Just keep up the good work. You’re even more crucial in my plans, just a bit later than Feiyu.”