Back at the Steel Cup T-Shirt Factory,
Suho first strolled through the workshop and the shiny new canteen, reminding everyone about the company sports meet next month.
Afterwards, he returned to his office to sort out the endless headache that was system funds.
Charity—done. $800,000 gone for the orphanage.
Game company—check. He’d already triggered another spending spree by ordering renovations and renting more office space at Horny Princess Interactive. That would cost at least $2 million, maybe more.
Good. At this rate, the $8 million system fund might actually vanish on schedule.
Suho leaned back comfortably and reached for his water glass—only to find it bone dry. He froze, then sighed.
Right, Cho Rin was at the orphanage today handling deliveries and bus research. No wonder nobody had refilled his glass.
"Even the emperor pours his own water when the empress is out," he muttered, trudging to the dispenser like a defeated king.
Not long after he sat back down, there was a polite knock.
"Come in," Suho called.
The door creaked open, and in walked Jiang Cheng, one of the quieter workers in the factory. The man bowed, half nervous, half respectful.
"Mr. Suho, good day."
"Sit. What is it?"
Jiang Cheng perched on the edge of the chair, like a student caught sneaking snacks into class.
"Mr. Suho, I... I wanted to ask something small. It’s about the canteen. I heard you’re hiring cleaning staff. My wife—she’s hardworking and very neat. If possible, I’d like her to join. We’re not asking for much salary; even $2,000 would be enough. Once the staff dormitory opens, we’d just like a couple’s room."
The man blurted it all in one breath, then sat stiffly, eyes shining with hope.
Suho blinked, then chuckled. He thought it was going to be some earth-shattering request. For Jiang Cheng, though, this was life-changing.
"Hold on. Let me check with HR."
He picked up the phone. Five minutes later, Suho hung up, looking half amused.
Turns out the HR department hadn’t hired a single cleaner yet. Why? The factory’s location was too remote, and most applicants were older women who found commuting impossible. Some who showed up backed out when they heard the canteen wasn’t finished yet.
Suho shook his head.
"Alright, no problem. I’ve already told HR. When your wife joins, just get her registered. And forget about $2,000—she’ll get $4,000. Plus all the benefits every employee enjoys."
Jiang Cheng shot up, bowing deeply. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI(F)ire.net
"Thank you, Mr. Suho! Truly, thank you!"
He could hardly believe it. Outside, cleaning jobs barely paid $2,000. Here, not only $4,000, but also benefits. If he counted it properly, it was basically double.
Suho waved him down.
"No need to be polite. Cleaning staff are employees too. Equal treatment. Now, how’s the workshop lately? Any complaints?"
Jiang Cheng brightened.
"Mr. Suho, the workshop is much better now. Director Li’s been leading well. Everyone’s morale is high. Honestly, the workload that used to take a week? We finish in three days now!"
Suho froze.
What? No overtime, no pay cuts, yet output had doubled?
"Explain. How?"
Jiang Cheng grinned.
"Director Le set up a competition. He divided us into two groups. Each week, whichever group produces less has to treat the other to dinner. With this, everyone works like their life depends on it!"
"..."
Suho rubbed his temples. Of course it was Lee Wonho again. Yesterday he’d heard the sales interns were somehow pulling in orders already. Now production had turned into a battlefield.
These people—why couldn’t they just slack off like normal employees?
"Efficiency is fine, but don’t overdo it. Rest when you need to. Health matters too."
Jiang Cheng nodded earnestly, more moved than ever.
"Mr. Suho, don’t worry. We’re fine. Yes, we’re a little tired, but we recover after work. Unlike other factories—day and night overtime until people are half dead. Here, we finish early, we rest, and we even get to enjoy life."
He grew almost emotional.
"Yesterday after work, we went to the new leisure room. Those massage chairs—ah, Mr. Suho, they’re like magic! Fifteen minutes and the day’s fatigue vanishes! Everyone says the same: We’re willing to work hard for you."
Suho sat back, helpless.
Massage chairs, sports meets, air-conditioned offices... And now his employees were too motivated.
This wasn’t capitalism. This was chaos.
Chen Mo leaned back after Jiang Cheng left, his mind a mess.
Normally, a boss should be moved when employees work hard and trust him like family.
But his system didn’t want him to make money. The more efficient they were, the faster his funds disappeared.
And Lee Wonho? That old fox was stirring things up again.
"Looks like I’ll have to promote him," Suho muttered darkly. "Somewhere far from the workshop... Maybe a broom inspector. Or tea-tasting supervisor."
The question was who would replace him?
His eyes fell on Jiang Cheng’s file. Honest. Diligent. The type who would never invent "weekly competitions" that doubled output behind his back.
Perfect. Yes. A loyal donkey was better than a scheming horse.
Suho scribbled a mental note: Talk to Lee Wonho later. Kick him upstairs. Put Jiang Cheng in charge.
Lee Wonho sat like a king in his chair, legs crossed, sipping tea.
Wu Yu entered with the devotion of a disciple carrying water to a monk.
"Brother Wonho, thank you for the tip. Without you, we’d never have signed the orders so quickly!"
"No need to thank me," Lee Wonho said, waving his hand like an emperor. "I only whispered a few reminders. The orders are yours. And remember, our clothes are top-notch. Good quality, fair price. That sells itself."
"But still," Wu Yu insisted. "If you hadn’t told us to go out on Saturdays and Sundays, we’d never have thought of it."
Yes, that was Lee Wonho’s latest "innovation." When everyone else rested, his team stalked customers like hawks.
The result? Contracts signed left and right. Even the two rookie salesmen started pulling in orders.
Lee Wonho leaned back smugly. Jin Wu leaves, and I hold the fort. I should get a medal.
"Alright, enough flattery. Keep chasing orders. The workshop’s efficiency has doubled. When Jin Wu’s million-dollar order finishes, your two new deals won’t be enough."