Chapter 495: Stock Incentive Plan

The little rich girl recovered from her cold very quickly and soon reverted to her usual bossy self.

However, she was actually unhappy about recovering so fast. It seemed too quick, especially since she hadn’t even needed another bottle of medicine.

And she didn’t witness “Lu Zhishen battling Xuanzang” either…

Once she recovered, Jiang Qin got busy. He tirelessly started implementing an employee stock ownership plan within the company and established a partnership company to serve as the stockholding platform for the team.

May 20th, the eighteenth day of the fourth lunar month.

The first round of stock shares was distributed to longtime employees of 208 based on their levels and contributions.

Then came the branch managers and supervisors…

Almost everyone whose tenure met the requirements and who passed HR’s assessment received varying shares of stock.

On the morning of the rollout, after publicly posting and signing the stock agreement, employees from Linchuan to the major cities and markets were thrilled.

For them, it meant no longer just working for a salary.

As everyone pushed forward, the company flourished, dividends rolled in, and wealth piled up; it was exhilarating to think about.

“I feel like I’m nearing financial freedom.”

Wei Lanlan rested her chin on her hand, looking out the window: “Su Nai, what do you think?”

“Had I known this, I wouldn’t have bothered getting my driver’s license.”

“Why?”

Su Nai pursed her lips: “I think I might actually be able to afford a driver in the future.”

Dong Wenhao looked up: “Notice how the boss’ promises are actually edible?”

“Is the boss Ma Liang, the Magic Brush?”

“The first four words are about right.”

At three in the afternoon, the stock ownership plan released by the team was uploaded online, followed by considerable media coverage and discussions among executives from competing businesses.

Envious, right?

Definitely.

Even Buddha would exclaim in admiration; such profound envy.

Many even contemplated switching jobs, hoping Kang Jingtao would dig into their branch and let them conveniently defect…

On the evening of the twentieth, as the city lights came on and the night deepened, news of the stock plan fermented throughout the day, creating buzz on many financial channels until late at night.

Meanwhile, in a rundown eatery in an urban village in Shanghai.

Jiang Tao, Pan Dongzi, and a few former team supervisors sat together, watching the news in silence and then silently drinking.

They had faced huge ups and downs this month, thinking it would be a great harvest, only to lose everything in the blink of an eye.

But human nature is resilient, healing itself when faced with unavoidable truths.

They had almost comforted themselves into good spirits, hence coming out for drinks, but the news broke them again.

“Have you… found a job?”

“I’m delivering water now. Big water barrels.”

“How much do you make?”

“Just over two thousand, barely enough to get by. Surviving first, then will see.”

“What about Old Pan?”

“After this Tonight’s Headline’s news, I had several interviews, all rejected. So, I’m giving up, thinking of going back home to start a small business. It’s good timing with the kids starting school. I don’t want to miss their childhood.”

Jiang Tao became silent then suddenly slammed his glass down: “It’s all Song Xiong’s fault! If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have lost our jobs and even missed out on shares!”

Pan Dongzi glanced at him: “We can’t blame him entirely; we were blinded then.”

“Yes, but it was Song Xiong who threw the lard at us. If I find him, I’ll beat him half to death!”

“Has he gone into hiding?”

“I was drunk and smashed his door last night. Damn it, not a sign of him.”

“I heard the team is going after him for spying; wonder if that’s true…”

Jiang Tao took a deep breath: “Even if he goes to jail, he deserves it. But he cost us so much; how do we settle this?”

Pan Dongzi patted his shoulder: “No one sells regret medicine; we were just too naive.”

“If only we had stood firm with the team…”

Pan Dongzi’s words trailed off as he downed his drink.

Everyone fell silent at the sight.

Life is full of choices and countless options; they undoubtedly chose the worst one at the most critical moment.

Thinking back on the meeting, they had eagerly signed the resignation agreements, almost desperately rushing into LaShou Network’s arms to kiss Kang’s stinking feet.

Now, they realized they had voluntarily left a place many would kill to get into.

Especially today’s news certainly showed what it means to miss out on formidable wealth.

But according to the law of conservation of energy, when some lose, others gain—like those who leaped at the chance to switch jobs.

On the afternoon of May 21st, Jiang Qin landed in Shanghai and met Zhu Jinfu, the former head of LaShou Network’s Shanghai branch.

“Boss, I’ve switched sides for the better.”

“Oh, Mr. Zhu, I’ve heard a lot about you. They say you’re a lot like me?”

Zhu Jinfu nodded fiercely: “Yes, I’ve fully embraced our corporate culture, just waiting for the right moment to switch. Kang Jingtao was a bit late, or I’d have already fought for the team!”

Jiang Qin patted his shoulder: “I can tell you aspire to progress. The team needs talents like you.”

“I won’t let you down, boss.”

“By the way, Mr. Zhu, what’s your full name again?”

“Zhu Jinfu.”

Jiang Qin was impressed, thinking Xu Kaixuan’s name was lucky but here was an even luckier one.

Both gold and wealth; truly an auspicious sign.

This isn’t superstitious; think about that spy, what’s his name? Song Xiong.

Great, he handed all his managers over.

Sure enough, after Song Xiong was poached by LaShou, he handed their managers over to himself. Superstition proves true again.

“Kaixuan?”

“Boss, I’m here.”

“Let’s call a meeting for all staff later. Also, it’s time to water the money tree.”

“Right away, boss.”

In the afternoon, the Shanghai division held a full meeting where every department wrapped up the ‘Battle for Shanghai,’ earning nods from Jiang Qin.

Ye Ziqing and Cui Yiting flew in from Shanghai, not for the meeting but to see the market they had lost, closing a chapter left over from their Suixin Group days.

They arrived during the summary session and joined in.

“The Shanghai market is a crucial link in our group buying strategy. Thanks everyone for your hard work.”

“I’m not one to stir emotions. No more words; it’s all in the money.”

“Clearing the market is just the beginning; everyday operations are the true focus. Let’s keep sticking together to become faster and stronger.”

On stage, Jiang Qin opened his suitcase to reveal stack after stack of red bills, distributing them by department, which made Cui Yiting lose focus for a moment.

Honestly, back when she was with Suixin, she thought Zhou Zhenhao was a good show-off, but he didn’t come close to Jiang Qin.

After the bonuses were handed out, a few stacks remained in the suitcase. Jiang Qin broke the seals and threw them out, sending red banknotes flying everywhere, causing a scramble.

Cui Yiting hadn’t planned to grab any; after all, she wasn’t a team employee. Wouldn’t it be shameful to snatch their money?

But what she couldn’t understand was why the young Mr. Jiang, with his lavish gestures, seemed to be intentionally throwing money at her face.

His cool gaze, his flamboyant actions made her, a nearly thirty-year-old woman, blush and her heart race. Was he being overly domineering, like something out of a novel?

Even Ye Ziqing was confused: “Yiting, why did you grab so much?”

“He…he seemed to deliberately throw it into my arms,” Cui Yiting shared her thoughts.

“That can’t be. The boss knows you’re not from our company.”

“I don’t know, maybe he’s trying to recruit me? Honestly, I’m tempted…”

Cui Yiting thought this was the most reasonable explanation; otherwise, why would someone throw money at another company’s employee? It was too absurd.

While they were talking, Jiang Qin came down from the stage and glanced at the thick stack of cash in Cui Yiting’s hands, saying, “Sorry, it seems you’re not with our company, I gave this to the wrong person.”

“What?”

Jiang Qin took the money back, pocketing it with pleasure while calling everyone out to dine.

Eighty thousand was thrown out, and more than twenty thousand was collected back, but the impact was genuinely worth eighty thousand. Damn, he had pulled this stunt before, and it was still so effective.

Cui Yiting was baffled, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

But Ye Ziqing, having been around them more, could guess Jiang Qin’s thinking.

“The boss just threw about eighty or ninety thousand, a third of which was aimed at you. The effect was achieved, and he collected back a third, but everyone remembered him throwing eighty or ninety thousand.”

Cui Yiting was speechless: “Kang Jingtao lost fairly, didn’t lose unreasonably…”