Losing Money to Be a Tycoon - Chapter 146
Chapter 146: Boss Pei Gives an Imperial Sword
“Is everyone here? Let’s have a meeting.”
Pei Qian walked into the conference room. Everyone else quickly stood up and followed behind Wang Xiaobin into the conference room. They took their seats and squared themselves, their expressions solemn.
Ye Zhizhou could not help but feel moved.
Look at the scene!
In the past—when Old Liu held meetings, everyone would appear as if they were listening; but nobody actually paid any attention.
Everyone just wanted to hang around and take each day as it came. They purely did the work that they were assigned and nothing more. In any case, it was clear to everyone that in such an environment, it did not matter how hard they worked.
However, things were very different now.
The thought of Boss Pei becoming their new boss instilled new-found, genuine respect and submission in everyone. This was extremely impressive.
Pei Qian adjusted himself on his seat several times, feeling like he could not get comfortable no matter how he sat.
He could only say that Shang Yang Games was extremely stingy. Everything—from the seats at the work desks to the seats in the conference room—was very cheap. Nobody could feel comfortable on these chairs.
I just slashed Du Ruijie’s price by four hundred thousand yuan. I can take this money to give these people a salary raise and change the work desks and seats in this place. Once I have access to the funds, I will take some time to renovate all of Shang Yang Games. That would also be a good way to spend more money before settlement.
The uncomfortable chair made Pei Qian all the more determined to quickly assign jobs and leave this place.
Pei Qian looked at his Rolex and then made himself look as though he were in a hurry. In actual fact, he had nothing else to do for the rest of the day. He was prepared to pay his sleep debt.
“There’s not much time left. I’ll leave you with a couple of simple points.”
When they heard ‘simple points’, they immediately sat upright and prepared themselves to listen carefully to what was to follow. After all, leaders’ ‘simple points’ could always drag on for several hours.
Pei Qian took one look around the room and asked, “Who is Ye Zhizhou?”
Ye Zhizhou was startled.
What is the meaning of this?! Why did Boss Pei call me out right at the beginning of the meeting?!
Ye Zhizhou quickly stood up. “Boss Pei, I am!”
Pei Qian was not used to this behavior. He quickly waved his hand, gesturing for Ye Zhizhou to sit back down. “Sit down and respond.”
He turned to look at the chief planner and level designer, Wang Xiaobin. “Wang Xiaobin, level designing is an important job. It would be very difficult for you to juggle the jobs of both the chief planner and level designer.”
“From now on, Ye Zhizhou would be the chief planner of Shang Yang Games. Wang Xiaobin, work with him on this.” As Pei Qian talked, he observed Wang Xiaobin and Ye Zhizhou’s expressions.
Ye Zhizhou was absolutely confused.
Wang Xiaobin was stunned, and then… he seemed to be smiling subtly? Although his smile contained a bit of worry, it looked genuine for sure.
Huh?
There was something wrong with the plot, wasn’t there?
Pei Qian thought that pulling Wang Xiaobin down from the position of chief planner would cause him to feel stunned, shocked, confused, and then miserable. Now, there was none of that. Why was Wang Xiaobin so happy? He was not behaving as though there was infighting in this company.
How terrible.
Pei Qian observed the reactions of others. A few older-looking employees looked awful.
This was normal. Ye Zhizhou had only joined the company several months ago. People like Huang Sibo were supposed to be in charge of chief planning. He neither had the skills nor experience. Who would submit to him happily?
After being stripped of his position, Wang Xiaobin probably felt happy because he had not thought he would not be up to the task all along. He had been afraid that he would mess the job up.
In actual fact, he did not think that Ye Zhizhou would be up to the task either. That was why there was worry in his smile, too.
Wang Xiaobin was a man without much ambition. That was why he could remain so nonchalant about this change.
However, older employees were different.
What right does this little brat have to become the chief planner? Why didn’t he choose me?
The expressions on their faces were quite interesting to watch. Pei Qian nodded subtly. Indeed, this was the right reaction.
Infighting! Infighting! Infighting!
Pei Qian’s heart began to dance. However, on second thought, it did not seem enough to do just this. These people were colleagues after all. They saw each other day in and day out. Jealousy alone was not enough to blow the conflicts up.
Pei Qian had to agitate them even more. He pondered for a few seconds and added, “Ye Zhizhou, each month, you will have the right to fire one person without reason. Just let me know via message who you want to fire.”
Ye Zhizhou was even more confused. This was an imperial sword[1]!
This was not just about snitching; it was being able to fire people without reason. As long as he gave Boss Pei a name, the person would be asked to leave the company at once.
Pei Qian glanced at the older employees who already looked awful earlier; they were looking even worse now.
Not bad; this was exactly the effect he was looking for.
A chief planner they could not submit to had just been promoted. He was even given arbitrary powers to fire them without reason. He would surely use this power to take revenge on the older employees who had been bullying him. He would ask them to tie his shoelaces, he would flaunt his powers, and he would even threaten them with it.
As time went by, these people would be divided. Ye Zhizhou would be left alone as the leader, and he would leave behind an irreparable mess.
En, this plot was not bad!
Pei Qian looked at his watch. Time was running out. Although it was interesting to watch everyone’s expressions, it was time for him to go. He had to hurry home and allow nature to take its course; he needed to take a nap after all.
“After this, Shang Yang Games will have a two-step strategy.
“The first step: we will make changes to our current games. We will get rid of all purchase options but one. As to which ones we will get rid of and which one we will keep, Ye Zhizhou will decide on his own.
“The second step: every one of you is to think of a plan for a new game. Create a design manuscript. I will choose the best one to be Shang Yang Games’ new project.
“En… until the end of June, I want you to focus on the first step. In July, all of you will hand in your proposals. We will officially start on our new project.”
Pei Qian scanned the conference room. “Do you have any questions?”
Ye Zhizhou was the first to raise his hand.
Pei Qian acted as if he could not see him. He nodded and said, “Alright. Be dismissed.”
Boss Pei stood up and left the room chicly. Ye Zhizhou was left in his position with his hand still raised.
Everyone looked confused. Boss Pei said he had a few ‘simple points’. He really did have those few simple points. He spoke a total of fewer than ten sentences.
Ye Zhizhou wanted to immediately turn down the position of chief planner, but Boss Pei seemed to have been able to tell what he was thinking. He did not even give Ye Zhizhou a chance to speak before he left the room.
At that moment, Ye Zhizhou felt the glares of several older employees. They felt like knives in his back. The atmosphere in Shang Yang Games was once like still water. Now, it was like burning flames, slowly intensifying.
…
After leaving Shang Yang Games, Pei Qian was in a good mood.
En, there is no problem this time!
Although Old Liu was gone, promoting a man who had just joined the industry a while ago to the position of chief planner should be able to achieve the same results.
What’s more, this two-step battle strategy would ensure that the company would continue to incur losses for a while.
Firstly, in order to prevent Romantic Taoist and Bloody Battle Song from making a comeback, he had to take away all the purchase options and leave one. This would ensure that neither game would make profits. Then, he needed them to brainstorm to create a new game. Each person was to come up with one plan.
Pei Qian was considering whether he should pick the worst plan out of the lot or draw lots and leave it to chance. After careful consideration, Pei Qian decided to draw lots and leave it to chance.
He could not trust his own taste anymore.
Each time he set the trash can as his goal, he would end up creating something wildly popular. It was all becoming too much to bear.
The Lonely Desert Road and Game Designer had given him enough lessons.
Thus, Pei Qian decided that when the time came, he would draw lots and stick to whatever he chose. Of course, if the chosen plan was particularly good, he would re-draw the lots.
Apart from these matters, Pei Qian would not return to Shang Yang Games. Not only would he be able to minimize his influence on the company, but he would also turn that place into a disorderly, dark forest. He wanted the rules in that place to revert to the laws of the jungle.
The place would be in a state of total disunity. Ye Zhizhou would not be able to lead anyone. That would be perfect.
This way, Shang Yang Games would surely lose everything… right?
[1] This is a Chinese metaphor that represents arbitrary powers.
