Chapter 141: The Farm Is Ready to Pay Wages!

Chapter 141: The Farm Is Ready to Pay Wages!

[Congratulations, the special medicinal wine has been successfully brewed and is now ready for use!]



Zhang Lin hadn't expected the farm's notification system to be so thorough, alerting him even about such a minor matter. Perhaps it was because the special medicinal ginseng was a game-produced item?

He immediately retrieved the medicinal wine from his desk drawer. This special medicinal wine, when consumed regularly, had unique effects, enhancing one's physical constitution by +1. With consistent use and some dedicated training, it could boost one's 100-meter sprint to under 9.5 seconds, long jump to over 9 meters, weightlifting to 242 kilograms, and even make one's romantic encounters more satisfying.

Finishing a jar of this wine, he could easily win a gold medal at the Olympics.

He quickly grabbed an empty glass, poured a small cup of the medicinal wine, and downed it without hesitation, then resealed the jar.

The effects of the wine were immediate and noticeable.

As soon as he finished the glass, he felt a warm, comfortable sensation all over his body, as if he were soaking in a luxurious hot spring. The warmth was so pleasant that it made him feel relaxed and content.

This was a clear indication of the wine's remarkable properties.

However, the best results would come from combining the wine with regular exercise.

He left his office, planning to get some physical activity. The farm was full of tourists, and there were no suitable places to exercise, not to mention he didn't want to be gawked at like a monkey.

So, he decided to ride his scooter to the sweet peach orchard. Digging holes, planting trees, and filling them in could count as exercise, right?

It was reasonable for the boss to experience farm work firsthand.

The sweet peach trees he had initially planted had already sprouted tender leaves, making the area even more lush and green.

After parking his scooter, Zhang Lin approached the area where the farm workers were busy.

The workers planting the sweet peach trees were all game-recruited employees, each one diligent and loyal, with no one slacking off.

"Boss!"

"Boss!"

"..."

Seeing Zhang Lin arrive, the nearby workers greeted him enthusiastically.

"Give me a hoe; I want to try planting today," Zhang Lin said, finding an excuse to take a hoe from one of the workers and asking for guidance on how to plant.

The worker, though puzzled about why the boss would leave his comfortable office to do manual labor, earnestly provided instructions.

Zhang Lin began swinging the hoe, digging holes, and planting trees. As he worked, he noticed the warm, pleasant sensation growing stronger. Despite the physical exertion, he didn't feel particularly tired; instead, he felt invigorated.

When the warm sensation finally faded, he broke into a sweat, and his arms started to ache.

The effects of the medicinal wine had worn off.

He put down the hoe and examined himself. A single glass of wine wasn't enough to show significant changes in his physical condition, but the warm sensation was undeniably magical. He believed that if he drank a couple of glasses daily and exercised more, he could significantly enhance his physical constitution.

While he had no plans to compete in the Olympics, he could always show off his abilities if the opportunity arose, playing the part of a hidden expert among the common folk.

Thinking of the famous "I don't love money," "I don't love beauty," "I'm very ordinary," and "I have nothing" B-king personas, he could imagine himself saying, "I don't love exercise" and then casually breaking an Olympic record.

Of course, this was just a thought, and he wasn't that bored.

Just as he put down the hoe, his phone rang. It was his secretary, Zhong Miaoying, calling.

She must have something important to report from the resort.

He answered the call, and her report came through: "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Cao from the county Industrial and Commercial Bank is here to discuss the panda research project with you."

"Understood. Please entertain him for a moment; I'll be right back," Zhang Lin said before hanging up and heading back to the office center.

When he arrived at the office, Zhong Miaoying was entertaining three people: a balding man and two younger individuals.

Zhong Miaoying seemed to be on familiar terms with the balding man, which wasn't surprising given her father's connection to the bank.

In a small place like Youcheng, they all belonged to the same social circle.

The term "county elite" referred to people like them.

"Uncle Cao, this is our boss, Mr. Zhang," Zhong Miaoying introduced as Zhang Lin entered.

Mr. Cao, upon seeing Zhang Lin, stood up with a smile and shook his hand. "Mr. Zhang, it's an honor to meet you. I'm here to discuss the panda project with your Liyuan Farm. The county has already briefed us, and we will need to work closely together moving forward."

"Mr. Cao, please, have a seat and enjoy some tea," Zhang Lin replied cordially. After they sat down, he called the finance department's Wang Jingjing and Chu Shang to join them.

He wanted them to handle the initial discussions.

Soon, Wang Jingjing and Chu Shang arrived.

After introducing them to Mr. Cao, he had the two young men he brought along start discussing the project details with Wang Jingjing and Chu Shang in the adjacent finance office.

For a project already approved and coordinated by the county, there was no need for him to be directly involved; he could leave it to his subordinates.

If I had to do everything myself, what kind of boss or leader would I be?

"Uncle Cao, have some tea!" Zhong Miaoying refilled Cao Rui's cup.

"Miaoying, your tea-making skills have really improved," Cao Rui praised, taking a sip. He then continued, "Mr. Zhang, your Liyuan Farm is about to pay salaries tomorrow. Your highest-earning employee this month will receive 55,000 yuan."

"In a place like Youcheng, for a small farmer to earn such a salary, it's really impressive, Mr. Zhang. This is all thanks to your efforts."

"All the employees have worked hard to earn it," Zhang Lin replied, not surprised that Cao Rui knew about the farm's employee salaries.

Liyuan Farm's salaries are processed through the bank, which means the payroll is first sent to the bank for verification before being distributed.

As the branch manager of the Industrial and Commercial Bank, Cao Rui naturally has the authority to see this information if he chooses to.

However, the employee who received 55,000 yuan is not Lin Muxue, who is the highest-paid.

Lin Muxue earns 40,000 yuan a month, plus bonuses and full attendance, bringing her total to around 50,000 yuan.

The one who took home 55,000 yuan is Old Guo, and this was for a month he didn't even work full-time.

He is now the chief bamboo craftsman at the Bamboo Culture Garden.

This old man works hard, and being a master-level craftsman, the bamboo products he makes are expensive. Just from the commission on the bamboo products, he earned 25,000 yuan in less than a month. The rest of his income came from live-streaming shares and advertising, totaling 30,000 yuan, bringing his total to 55,000 yuan.

The other bamboo craftsmen earn significantly less, with the second and third highest earning between 30,000 and 40,000 yuan.

Actually, this high salary should have gone to Lin Dahai. He was the one who first gained popularity and even competed in live streams with Master Zhao.

Unfortunately, Lin Dahai couldn't control his desires and didn't understand his own capabilities. He thought he could become an independent internet celebrity and master craftsman, not realizing that his success was due to the Bamboo Culture Garden's unique attributes.

When he left, he even thought he had gained fame and that the Bamboo Culture Garden had benefited from his presence.

Cao Rui smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang, you're too modest. In Youcheng, I haven't seen any company where an employee earns 55,000 yuan just by working hard. Moreover, in the Bamboo Culture Garden, other bamboo craftsmen also earn more than 15,000 yuan, with many earning 20,000 yuan, even though they haven't worked a full month. Once they do, their salaries will be even higher."

"Which company in Youcheng can pay so many employees 20,000 yuan? Even in big cities, how many companies can offer such salaries?"

"Mr. Zhang, your creation of the Bamboo Culture Garden is truly commendable. I can assure you that the county will use your employees' salaries as a benchmark, which will be a great honor for the county."

As he praised, Cao Rui suddenly changed the subject, "Mr. Zhang, I reviewed your Liyuan Farm's financial status today. Your farm has a substantial daily operating fund and salary budget. I think you should consider entrusting the Industrial and Commercial Bank with the management and distribution of these funds."

"Uncle Cao, our farm's salaries are already processed through the Industrial and Commercial Bank, and our daily financial management is also handled by the bank," Zhong Miaoying said, a bit puzzled. As Zhang Lin's secretary, she naturally knows about these matters.

Moreover, as the branch manager, Cao Rui should already know this.

Cao Rui smiled, "Miaoying, there's a difference between simply using the Industrial and Commercial Bank and formally signing a business proxy agreement with me."

"Oh!" Zhong Miaoying was taken aback but quickly understood. Even though the farm is already using the Industrial and Commercial Bank, if they formally sign a business proxy agreement with someone, that person will get the credit.

The farm hadn't actually signed such an agreement with anyone yet.

Zhong Miaoying realized this but found it odd that a branch manager would go to such lengths for this business.

If Cao Rui knew what she was thinking, he would probably shake his head. Her lack of social experience and sensitivity to power dynamics is why she was placed as a secretary at Liyuan Farm rather than in a county position.

After all, Liyuan Farm is developing rapidly. Even without considering the panda research project, the farm's daily profits already exceed 3.5 million yuan.

That's a significant amount, enough to make a county branch manager of the Industrial and Commercial Bank eager to please.

So, after speaking with Zhong Miaoying, he looked at Zhang Lin with a hint of expectation.

"Manager Cao, I'll have the HR department prepare a business proxy agreement and backdate it a few days. We can sign the documents later. For now, let's enjoy some tea," Zhang Lin said, understanding Cao Rui's intentions. This was a minor matter for him.

After all, it wouldn't affect Liyuan Farm, and since the county chose this branch for the panda project, they must be close.

So, giving Manager Cao some face would be beneficial, and they should remember this favor.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang." Cao Rui, having achieved his goal, smiled and picked up his teacup for another sip.

When he left, he was in a very good mood.

Similarly, many employees at Liyuan Farm were also in high spirits as the day of salary distribution approached.

For the newly hired employees, this would be their first paycheck at Liyuan Farm.

Especially the bamboo craftsmen at the Bamboo Culture Garden, who have been working hard since their hiring, were eagerly looking forward to payday.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end