101: Chapter 102 Talent Competition

The next morning. Apgujeong, Yunmengze Building.

By the time Qian Xu arrived, Kim Min-jun was already in the conference room. A document lay on the table.

"Good morning, Mr. Qian."

"Morning."

Qian Xu sat down.

"Regarding the store manager candidates we discussed last night."

"Have you sorted it out?"

"Yes, I have."

Kim Min-jun handed over the document.

"There are 28 current employees at the No. 1 store."

"Three have shown outstanding performance."

"But to be honest..."

He paused.

"None of them are really suitable to be a store manager."

"They lack management experience."

"And they've only been on the job for a week."

Qian Xu flipped through the document and nodded.

"Indeed."

"They're too young."

"The No. 2 store needs someone."

"An experienced store manager."

Kim Min-jun looked at him.

"Mr. Qian, do you have someone in mind?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu leaned back in his chair.

"The store manager of Lotte Mart in Hongdae."

"What's his name?"

Kim Min-jun was taken aback.

"Lotte Mart?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Their store manager."

"Should be quite experienced."

Kim Min-jun thought for a moment.

"I remember."

"His name is Park Seong-ho."

"He's in his early 40s."

"He's worked at Lotte Mart for over a decade."

"The Hongdae store has been open for three years."

"His performance has always been good."

"That's him."

Qian Xu nodded.

"I want to poach him."

Kim Min-jun was stunned.

"Poach the Lotte Mart store manager?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Isn't Lotte Mart trying to fight us?"

"Then we'll poach their people."

"Let their own backyard catch fire."

Kim Min-jun frowned.

"Park Seong-ho has been at Lotte Mart."

"For over a decade."

"Will he jump ship?"

"He will."

Qian Xu was certain.

"A Lotte Mart store manager."

"What's his monthly salary?"

"About 6 million won."

Kim Min-jun said.

"Plus bonuses."

"It's less than 100 million won a year."

"Give him double."

Qian Xu said.

"12 million won monthly."

"Year-end bonus calculated separately."

Kim Min-jun gasped.

"12 million?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"And."

"Give him a promise."

"If he does well at the No. 2 store."

"He'll be the regional manager for the No. 3 store."

Kim Min-jun looked at him.

"Mr. Qian, the cost..."

"It's not expensive."

Qian Xu smiled.

"A good store manager."

"Can save the No. 2 store half a year of detours."

"Besides."

"Poaching someone from Lotte Mart."

"Is in itself the best advertisement."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"Okay."

"I'll contact him."

"No."

Qian Xu stood up.

"I'll go personally."

"When?"

"Now."

Qian Xu checked his watch.

"He should still be at the store."

"Let's go."

Hongdae, Lotte Mart.

Ten o'clock in the morning.

Qian Xu and Kim Min-jun walked into the store.

There weren't many customers.

At least 30% less than before Yunmengze opened.

A few employees were stocking shelves.

Their expressions were somewhat tense.

"The store manager's office is on the second floor."

Kim Min-jun said in a low voice.

"Okay."

Qian Xu nodded.

The two went up to the second floor.

At the end of the corridor.

A door was half-open.

Voices could be heard from inside.

"Manager Park, this month's performance."

"It has dropped by 30% compared to last month."

"Headquarters is very dissatisfied."

"They demand that you come up with a rectification plan within three days."

Qian Xu stood at the door.

He looked inside.

A man in his forties was sitting at the desk.

He was wearing a Lotte Mart uniform.

His expression was exhausted.

Opposite him stood a man in a suit.

Likely someone from headquarters.

"I understand."

Park Seong-ho nodded.

"I will figure something out."

"It's not about figuring something out."

The man in the suit spoke sternly.

"It must be done."

"Lotte Mart is in Hongdae."

"We cannot be outperformed by a Chinese supermarket."

"This is the bottom line from headquarters."

The man in the suit finished speaking.

He turned to leave.

He saw Qian Xu at the door.

He was stunned for a moment.

"Who are you?"

"Qian Xu."

He smiled.

"The owner of Yunmengze Life Plaza."

The man in the suit's expression changed.

"What are you here for?"

"To have a chat with Manager Park."

Qian Xu said with a smile.

"It's none of your business."

The man in the suit glared at him.

He turned and left.

Qian Xu walked into the office.

Park Seong-ho stood up.

His expression was wary.

"Chairman Qian?"

"You know me?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"Of course I do."

Park Seong-ho gave a bitter smile.

"Yunmengze has been open for a week."

"Our store's customer traffic has dropped by 30%."

"Headquarters is pressuring me every day."

"It's hard not to know you."

Qian Xu sat opposite him.

"Manager Park, I came today."

"To have a talk with you."

"Talk about what?"

"Jumping ship."

Qian Xu said directly.

"Come to Yunmengze."

"To be the store manager of the No. 2 store."

Park Seong-ho was stunned.

"Are you joking?"

"I'm not joking."

Qian Xu looked at him.

"A monthly salary of 12 million won."

"Year-end bonus calculated separately."

"If the No. 2 store hits its performance targets."

"I'll make you the regional manager for the No. 3 store."

Park Seong-ho fell silent.

"I've worked at Lotte Mart for 15 years."

"I worked my way up from a regular employee to store manager."

"You want me to jump ship?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"How much does Lotte Mart pay you?"

"A monthly salary of 6 million."

"Less than 100 million a year."

"What I'm offering you."

"Is double."

"And."

He paused.

"What the situation is like at Lotte Mart right now."

"You know better than I do."

"Customer traffic is down 30%."

"Headquarters will only apply pressure."

"They won't give you any support."

"Do you think."

"How long can you last?"

Park Seong-ho lowered his head.

He was silent for a long time.

"Chairman Qian, why do you want to poach me?"

"Because you have experience."

Qian Xu said.

"Lotte Mart Hongdae store."

"Performance has been great for the three years it's been open."

"Which shows you have strong capabilities."

"I need someone like you."

"To help me manage the No. 2 store."

Park Seong-ho looked up.

"But if I jump ship."

"What will Lotte Mart think?"

"That's their business."

Qian Xu smiled.

"You just need to think clearly."

"Whether you want to stay at Lotte Mart."

"And be forced by headquarters to make rectifications."

"Or come to Yunmengze."

"Earn double the salary."

"And do something with more prospects."

Park Seong-ho looked at him.

"Chairman Qian, aren't you afraid."

"That I'm a mole sent by Lotte Mart?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"I'm not."

"Why?"

"Because I believe."

"No one will refuse."

"Double the salary."

"And a better future."

Park Seong-ho smiled.

"Chairman Qian, you are very confident."

"It's not confidence."

Qian Xu stood up.

"It's sincerity."

"Manager Park, take some time to consider it."

"This is my business card."

He handed over the card.

"Call me once you've decided."

"Valid for three days."

"I won't wait past that."

Qian Xu turned to leave.

Park Seong-ho called out to him.

"Chairman Qian, wait a moment."

"What is it?"

"I agree."

Park Seong-ho stood up.

"When can I start?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

Park Seong-ho was taken aback.

"So soon?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"The No. 2 store is opening next month."

"I need you to familiarize yourself with the situation as soon as possible."

Park Seong-ho took a deep breath.

"Okay."

"I'll report to Yunmengze tomorrow."

"However..."

"I need to resign from Lotte Mart first."

"According to the contract."

"I need to give one month's notice."

"Then let them wait for a month."

Qian Xu smiled.

"For this month."

"Your salary will be paid as usual."

"Double."

Park Seong-ho was stunned.

"Chairman Qian, you..."

"I said it."

Qian Xu looked at him.

"Sincerity."

"Manager Park."

"Welcome to Yunmengze."

Walking out of Lotte Mart.

Kim Min-jun followed behind.

His expression was somewhat excited.

"Mr. Qian, you really poached him."

"Hmm."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Park Seong-ho has been in the retail industry for 15 years."

"He is very experienced."

"I can rest easy handing the No. 2 store to him."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"But Lotte Mart over there."

"They will definitely explode."

"Let them explode."

Qian Xu smiled.

"This is just the beginning."

"There's even more ruthless stuff to come."

That afternoon.

Qian Xu returned to the office.

He opened his computer.

He began to write a document.

"Yunmengze Employee Compensation System Proposal".

He wrote very seriously.

He wrote until six in the evening.

Only then did he finish.

He glanced at the document.

He smiled.

Then he sent it to Kim Min-jun.

"Representative Kim, take a look at this."

"It starts being implemented tomorrow."

A few minutes later.

Kim Min-jun's call came through.

His voice was trembling.

"Mr. Qian, this compensation proposal..."

"Is it real?"

"It is."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Chinese and Korean employees will have 1:1 equal pay for equal work."

"Same positions."

"Same salary."

"Same benefits."

"No discriminatory treatment."

Kim Min-jun fell silent.

"Mr. Qian, do you know what this means?"

"I do."

Qian Xu said.

"It means the Korean retail industry."

"Is about to be shaken to its core."

The next morning.

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Building.

In the conference room.

All 28 employees were present.

Half Chinese, half Korean.

Qian Xu stood at the front.

He held the document in his hand.

"I called everyone here today."

"To announce something."

He held up the document.

"Starting today."

"Yunmengze is implementing a new compensation system."

"Chinese and Korean employees will have 1:1 equal pay for equal work."

"Same positions."

"Same salary."

"Same benefits."

"No discriminatory treatment."

The room was silent for three seconds.

Then applause erupted.

A Chinese employee stood up.

His eyes were red.

"Chairman Qian, is what you said true?"

"It is."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Here at Yunmengze."

"You will not be paid less than your Korean colleagues."

"Just because you are Chinese."

"Everyone."

"Will be treated equally."

The Chinese employee lowered his head.

His shoulders were shaking.

He was crying.

"I've worked in Korea for five years."

"I've changed three companies."

"Every time, the Chinese employees' wages were lower."

"The Korean employees' wages were higher."

"For the same work."

"I only earned half of what they did."

"I thought..."

"That this was fate."

"It's not fate."

Qian Xu looked at him.

"It's the rules."

"The rules can be changed."

"Starting with Yunmengze."

"Change."

The applause below was even louder.

A few Korean employees also stood up and applauded.

A Korean employee said.

"Chairman Qian, I support you."

"Fair competition."

"Is what a real workplace should be."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Thank you."

That afternoon.

This news spread throughout the Korean retail industry.

On the main page of Naver News.

The headline read:

"Yunmengze Announces 1:1 Equal Pay for Equal Work for Chinese and Korean Employees"

"Korean Retail Industry Compensation System Faces Impact"

The comments section exploded.

Some supported it.

"This is true fairness."

"Chinese bosses are much better than Korean bosses."

Some opposed it.

"This is destroying industry rules."

"Korean companies will be forced to raise wages."

Some were neutral.

"The market will provide the answer."

"If Yunmengze can make money."

"Other companies will follow suit."

Qian Xu sat in his office.

He looked at the news on his phone.

He smiled.

The phone vibrated.

It was a message from Park Seong-ho.

"Chairman Qian, I've resigned."

"I'll officially start tomorrow."

Qian Xu replied.

"Good."

"Welcome to Yunmengze."

He put down his phone.

He looked out the window.

The night in Hongdae.

It was brightly lit.

The war for talent.

Was just the beginning.

He wanted to show the Koreans.

What true fairness was.

What true respect was.