500: Chapter 500 Shameless Old Thief! Moral Price Quotation? Sorry, you can't kidnap me!

Chapter 500: Shameless Old Rogue! Moral Quoting? Sorry, You Can't Kidnap Me!

"I think Mr. Ji is doing a great job of piggybacking on Guodilao's fame!"

"Is it because the treatment for ordinary servers is too good that there's not enough marketing budget?"

"Yeah! Have you guys never wondered why Nine Fragrance Hotpot's marketing budget is so severely lacking?"

"I was wondering why I hadn't heard of Nine Fragrance Hotpot before. Turns out it's just a lack of marketing funds!"

"The profits must have been distributed to the ordinary employees... *sob sob sob*!"

"Good piggybacking!"

"..."

At Guodilao's headquarters, Lei Mingwei's face was ashen.

If Ji Guoxiong were standing in front of him, he would definitely curse, "Shameless old rogue!"

But he also had to admit that being able to talk about piggybacking on popularity so high-mindedly, and doing it so well that netizens praised it and supported it overwhelmingly... that was truly a great skill!

The live interview continued, and Ji Guoxiong explained in a low, somewhat embarrassed voice:

"The catering industry is a capital-intensive industry. Every branch we open carries risk... We haven't accepted any other capital investments, so our funds are relatively tight. We need to spend every penny where it counts most!"

All the netizens seemed to feel Ji Guoxiong's hardship!

Then they heard Ji Guoxiong say, "To be honest, Guodilao is a great catering enterprise. They have promoted China's hotpot cuisine to the whole world, and their salary and welfare guarantees for employees are also top-tier in the industry... I respect and recognize them very much... In many of our management systems at Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain, we are actually imitating Guodilao..."

Hearing Ji Guoxiong's high praise for Guodilao, many netizens started to disagree:

"I didn't expect Mr. Ji to hold Guodilao in such high regard!"

"But I think Jiuxiang does better in terms of employee benefits. They actually give two days off a week!"

"Mr. Ji is truly too humble!"

"..."

Ji Guoxiong concluded, "...And our goal at Nine Fragrance Hotpot is also to become a great catering enterprise like Guodilao!"

Chen Xiao smiled and encouraged him, "I wish Mr. Ji all the best in achieving your wish!"

"Thank you!"

On the screen, many netizens were also encouraging Ji Guoxiong and cheering for Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain.

Others, seeing Ji Guoxiong praise Guodilao, commented that Ji Guoxiong had a 'grand vision'!

However, Guodilao's Deputy General Manager, Chen Jianyun, was thinking about another problem...

If Guodilao criticized Nine Fragrance Hotpot for piggybacking on their popularity in the future, would they be scolded by netizens for 'lacking vision'?

This was truly a question worth pondering!

Chen Xiao asked curiously, "So will you continue to piggyback on Guodilao's popularity in the future?"

Ji Guoxiong smiled sheepishly and didn't answer... but the host understood his meaning, and all the netizens understood it too!

"Hahaha... Mr. Ji means he'll keep on piggybacking!"

"Nicely done!"

"Mr. Ji is so interesting!"

"Guodilao's side must be turning green with envy!"

"If the marketing budget isn't enough, you have to piggyback on popularity with all your might. I support Jiuxiang to keep piggybacking!"

"Exactly, save as much as possible on publicity and marketing costs so more money can be given to the employees!"

"I support it too!"

"For a conscientious entrepreneur like Mr. Ji, piggybacking on Guodilao's popularity is giving Guodilao face!"

"Right, right, right. This is Mr. Ji acknowledging Guodilao's status in the industry!"

"Guodilao should feel honored to have Mr. Ji piggyback on their popularity!"

"..."

At Guodilao's headquarters, the faces of Lei Mingwei, Chen Jianyun, and other executives indeed turned green... This was never-ending!

And piggybacking on their popularity and traffic was giving them face? It was their honor?

Sorry, they really couldn't accept that!

"Then let's look at the next question!" Chen Xiao glanced at the question card and asked, "Netizens are very curious. Can servers at Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain really earn over ten thousand a month?"

"That's true, but not entirely!" Ji Guoxiong explained the salary system for ordinary servers at Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain in detail, then concluded, "So this 'over ten thousand a month' definitely has some inflation. Not every server in every hotpot shop can earn over ten thousand. Only during May Day, National Day, or the New Year, when you add overtime pay and profit sharing, can more servers earn over ten thousand. During other periods, their take-home pay might be around seven thousand. In other remote small counties, it might be even lower, as profits are lower there and the base salary would be lower too!"

Chen Xiao added, "I heard it's two days off a week, with room and board included, plus social security!"

Ji Guoxiong nodded, "Yes!"

Chen Xiao laughed, "I feel like even people at our TV station want to go work as servers for you!"

She was telling the truth; not everyone at the TV station had a permanent staff position.

As for monthly income, many people didn't earn as much as Jiuxiang's servers!

Ji Guoxiong said, "That requires strict screening and training!"

In the livestream room, a group of netizens were drooling with envy:

"I want to go be a server at Jiuxiang too!"

"Servers can even get store profit dividends. That's truly conscientious!"

"When will you open a branch near my house? I want to apply to be a server too!"

"I'm so envious. Triple pay on holidays? I've never even seen overtime pay!"

"I'm crying. I only get one day off a week!"

"I haven't had a day off in a month, and my salary isn't even as good as their servers!"

"Heh... My factory hasn't paid me for two months. Who can be more miserable than me?"

"Can I say that I came to Shenzhen to work, but all kinds of benefits and treatment are worse than those of inland servers? I don't even have social security, I make less money, and the treatment isn't as good..."

"Me too!"

"And it damn well includes room and board... I'm 'making money in Shanghai and spending it in Shanghai'—don't even think about taking a cent back home!"

"..."

Chen Xiao sighed, "Nine Fragrance Hotpot is truly a conscientious enterprise... just like Donglai Supermarket!"

"I can't agree with that!"

Chen Xiao looked in surprise at Ji Guoxiong, who was disagreeing with her.

Ji Guoxiong continued, "In every aspect, our Jiuxiang is not as good as Donglai Supermarket. Many of our employee benefit systems are not yet perfect and are far inferior to Donglai Supermarket!"

"For example, our servers still have to work a full day, from ten in the morning until ten, eleven, or even twelve at night... that's over ten hours a day!"

"They stand for the whole day, welcoming and seeing off guests. It's truly very hard work!" Ji Guoxiong took a deep breath and said, "So our Nine Fragrance Hotpot doesn't deserve the title of a conscientious enterprise yet, because our company's strength and capabilities are still limited, and there are many areas that need improvement... but we will work hard in that direction!"

Faced with such humble and sincere remarks from Ji Guoxiong, many netizens not only didn't criticize him but instead began to support him even more:

"I believe in Mr. Ji!"

"Don't look at what a person says, look at what they do. Mr. Ji is already doing very well!"

"I also think Jiuxiang is doing great!"

"Definitely. After all, the servers are getting top industry treatment and profit dividends. Of course they should share in the company's ups and downs. If the company makes money and remembers to share it with employees, then when the company loses money and employee treatment drops, the employees will definitely be able to accept it!"

"The catering industry is hard to work in right now. Many shops have closed down. Mr. Ji has already worked very hard!"

"Think about Guodilao's magnificent report with quarterly profits reaching 1.5 billion... We really don't need to be too strict with Jiuxiang. They've already done their best to treat their employees well!"

"Right, right, right! Jiuxiang makes far less than Guodilao, yet they can still give their employees such good treatment. It's not easy!"

"Much more conscientious than Guodilao!"

"Just maintaining it as it is now is already very good. Jiuxiang shouldn't be dragged down. Keep it up and strive to become the next catering giant!"

"Exactly! Jiuxiang should still aim for profit!"

"An enterprise like Jiuxiang is exactly the kind that should be making money!"

"..."

Lei Mingwei and Chen Jianyun, who were following the live interview, looked at each other.

"Moral kidnapping probably won't work... I'm afraid it would backfire on us!" Chen Jianyun said in a low voice, "When the time comes, Jiuxiang Catering will definitely guide public opinion and turn the heat on us. They're thick-skinned enough that they could definitely pull off something like that!"

Lei Mingwei nodded helplessly, "Yeah!"

He finally understood why Ji Guoxiong had spoken so highly of their Guodilao just now.

So this was the trap!

They had just publicized how abundant their profits were... Nine Fragrance Hotpot was far inferior to Guodilao in all aspects; it was just a small company. On what grounds could they be asked to distribute even more profits to their employees?

Why shouldn't it be Guodilao setting the industry example instead?

The moment they dared to fan the flames, Jiuxiang could lead the fire right back to them.

Then, through a comparison of salaries and benefits, it would make Jiuxiang look even better and more conscientious toward its employees!

Lei Mingwei knew very well that Jiuxiang Catering definitely had the strength to guide public opinion like that!

After all, they had already experienced it!

He couldn't help but sigh, "Spark Entertainment behind Jiuxiang Catering is also very strong!"

"Indeed very strong!"

Not only Chen Jianyun, but other employees in the marketing and PR departments were all nodding.

After their observations over the recent period, they actually acknowledged Spark Entertainment's promotional strength!

At this time, the host Chen Xiao also smiled and started the next question: "Some netizens are curious. When will your Nine Fragrance Hotpot open for franchising?"

"Jiuxiang probably won't open for franchising," Ji Guoxiong explained. "We only do direct-managed stores. Some people might invest in branch stores, but they all fall under our Jiuxiang's unified management."

"Why not open for franchising?" Chen Xiao asked in confusion. "Wouldn't that allow you to expand your scale in a short time? Isn't franchising more profitable?"

Ji Guoxiong replied almost without thinking, "To ensure the treatment of our employees, to ensure the level of service, and to ensure the quality of ingredients... Once we open for franchising, it becomes difficult for us to manage directly!"

Ji Guoxiong's words received almost unanimous praise from the netizens!

"It's clear that Mr. Ji isn't the type of boss who's eager for quick success and instant benefits!"

"He's not like those quick-recruiters who only know how to fleece franchisees!"

"I really want to franchise! Please, Mr. Ji, open for franchising! I want a franchise spot!"

"How can I invest? I want to invest in shares of a branch store!"

"..."

Chen Xiao feigned confusion and said, "I feel that if Jiuxiang took advantage of this wave of popularity to open for franchising and expand its scale, maybe you could go public for financing and develop even better, right?"

"If our company went public, we would have to guarantee annual profits to stabilize the stock price. We would have to be responsible to investors and shareholders!" Ji Guoxiong said helplessly. "While getting a large amount of capital in a short time can indeed lead to rapid development, I don't like letting an enterprise expand too quickly. It becomes very difficult to manage, which would make me feel very uneasy. I prefer for Jiuxiang to take it one step at a time!"

"So as for whether to go public or not, we at Jiuxiang are quite indifferent. It doesn't matter either way... Previously, several capital firms wanted to invest in us and push us to go public for financing, but we rejected them... Moreover, I'm afraid they would make Jiuxiang cut costs and increase efficiency. It's not easy for the employees!"

At this point, Ji Guoxiong even gave a calm and breezy smile.

However, the live bullet comments exploded again:

"'Cut costs and increase efficiency'... I was just 'cut' by that!"

"Mr. Ji is truly too steady. He doesn't even want the chance to rake in money by opening for franchising!"

"Seriously, Mr. Ji, open for franchising! I can pay a hundred thousand in franchise fees... even three hundred thousand is fine. I can also guarantee the welfare and treatment of employees. Please, I just want to work with you!"

"I love Mr. Ji's attitude of not colluding with capital!"

"He talks a good game, but maybe they'll open for franchising one day, maybe they'll go public one day!"

"Opening for franchising is good! My money is jumping in my pocket! I want to follow Mr. Ji!"

"Some companies clearly have ridiculously high profits, yet they still lay people off every day. Mr. Ji is the truly conscientious one!"

"I just knew Mr. Ji was different from those flashy, cheap types. Those types only know how to expand, finance, go public, and fleece investors... Mr. Ji wants to run a business steadily. This is a true entrepreneur!"

"So all the good companies don't go public?"

"Mr. Ji, hurry up and go public! The A-share market needs you to save it. As long as you go public, I'll definitely buy your stock!"

"..."

Although there were still netizens disagreeing and not quite believing Ji Guoxiong...

They were quickly drowned out by the praise and acclaim for Ji Guoxiong!