After thinking for a moment, Chen Cheng said, "Draft a salary increase plan. From now on, the wages of front-line employees will increase by 7% every year."

"For management positions, you guys should also set an appropriate internal increase."

"Once our salary levels are 30% higher than our peers, we can then appropriately reduce the annual increase."

Meng Yanchen frowned. "In that case, our profitability cycle might be significantly delayed."

Chen Cheng replied, "I'll discuss that issue with you in a moment."

"First, let's talk about anti-involution."

Meng Yanchen was stunned for a moment. "Anti-involution?"

"Yes," Chen Cheng nodded. "Group overtime must not exceed ten o'clock at night. No overtime unless absolutely necessary."

"If there's a shortage of manpower, hire more people. Don't force the work of two people onto one person's head."

"Optimize internal management processes. Don't hold meetings that don't need to be held, and don't do daily or monthly reports that aren't necessary."

"Streamline administration and simplify the structure. Don't engage in that whole formalistic routine."

"This..." Meng Yanchen was dumbfounded. How could a startup not have overtime?

"Chairman Chen, we are still in a high-speed expansion phase. This is not the time to slam on the brakes."

Chen Cheng nodded. "I understand. I just don't want to build the company's expansion on the exploitation of our employees' physical health."

As he spoke, Chen Cheng smiled. "Now, let's talk about the profitability cycle issue you mentioned just now."

"To be blunt."

"I never planned on making money through Ruilan."

Meng Yanchen: "..."

You're so noble, you're so great.

"In three years, I plan to expand the proportion of the employee stock ownership plan to 30%."

"You can discuss it with your father. If you plan to exit by then, I will buy back all the equity in your hands at three times the price."

Meng Yanchen was starting to find Chen Cheng's thoughts incomprehensible.

His impression had always been that someone like Chen Cheng was a shrewd and experienced hunter.

Layout, ambush, and a one-hit kill.

And now you're telling me you want to share your prey?

"Chairman Chen, then why did you buy Ruilan?" Meng Yanchen pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. "From Company Name's disclosure, to the exposure of Company Name's financial fraud, and then to Company Name's open takeover..."

"I can see the shadows of deliberate actions in all of it."

"The scandal of Company Name's financial fraud being exposed wasn't just a coincidence with what followed, was it?"

The corners of Chen Cheng's mouth curled slightly. As expected, some things couldn't be hidden from a smart person.

"Do you already have the answer in your heart?"

Although he had guessed the answer long ago, hearing Chen Cheng say it still made the corner of Meng Yanchen's mouth twitch.

Indeed, this whole affair had been a conspiracy against Company Name from the very beginning.

No, it was an overt ploy.

If Company Name hadn't courted death themselves, Chen Cheng wouldn't have had this opportunity at all.

"You went to such great lengths to swallow Company Name, not to make money, then what for?"

Chen Cheng smiled faintly. "Company Name is too ethereal, like a castle in the air. I need some industrial investments to solve social employment and expand my actual influence."

"I don't want some rich playboy to pop up one day, stand in front of me, and say, 'Hi, buddy, how about you sell me your company?'"

"'Need financing? I'm not greedy. How about 10 million for 10%?'"

"'Too little? Then I'll add more. 50 million for 20%. It's doubled, buddy, don't be ungrateful.'"

"..."

Meng Yanchen understood everything in an instant.

Company Name had indeed been too dazzling over the past two years.

The tree that stands out in the forest will surely be destroyed by the wind.

Chen Cheng was actually feeling a bit apprehensive in his heart.

"So, I'm treating Ruilan as a public welfare project. I never thought about actual profit."

"I have countless ways to make money."

"It's like what I told you just now; I don't need to gain anything by exploiting my employees."

Meng Yanchen pondered for a few seconds and let out a long sigh. "Yanshan Investment will not withdraw its investment."

A smile immediately curled onto Chen Cheng's lips.

"Good, let's leave it at that."

Chen Cheng gave a greeting and, without minding Meng Yanchen, hung up the phone directly.

Meng Yanchen looked at his phone, which was emitting a long dial tone, and was dazed for a moment.

How does this person give off a feeling like my father? He's too sophisticated.

Halfway through this conversation, Meng Yanchen had even considered the triple buyback Chen Cheng mentioned.

But as soon as Chen Cheng stated his original purpose for acquiring Company Name, Meng Yanchen's thoughts changed instantly.

Even though they were peers, at this moment, he felt that Chen Cheng was truly monstrous.

He was too calm.

Meng Yanchen couldn't understand how this person, who had clearly achieved so much,

could still be so calm, indifferent, and low-key.

Investing is about investing in people!

He was already on Chen Cheng's chariot; there was no reason for him to say he wanted to get off now.

Of course, it was also because Guokun's investment in Ruilan wasn't that large; even if it was lost, it wouldn't be a devastating blow.

Chen Cheng cooked two bowls of noodles and placed them on the breakfast counter, then turned back to the room to wake Qiao Xichen up.

"Little lazy pig, do you want to eat breakfast before sleeping?" Chen Cheng gently stroked Qiao Xichen's cheek with his finger.

Qiao Xichen smacked her lips and reached out to scratch the spot where Chen Cheng had just tickled her.

After a few seconds, Qiao Xichen suddenly opened her eyes. "What time is it?"

Chen Cheng had a smile on his lips as he glanced at his phone. "Almost nine-thirty~"

"Phew~" Qiao Xichen immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared me to death."

"I cooked noodles. Want some?"

Qiao Xichen shook her head. "I want to sleep a bit longer. When I wake up, I'll eat brunch."

As she spoke, a bright smile curled on Qiao Xichen's lips. "I want to eat Fresh Shrimp and Tofu Pot, heehee~"

Chen Cheng rolled his eyes at her. "You're even ordering dishes now."

"Hehe~" Qiao Xichen looked at Chen Cheng and giggled foolishly. "It's because your cooking is delicious."

"Go to sleep," Chen Cheng smiled and pinched her nose. "I'll make Fresh Shrimp and Tofu Pot for you at noon."

He pulled up the corner of the quilt and didn't bother her further, turning to leave.

He ate both bowls of noodles by himself.

After eating, he picked up his laptop and started typing.

Chen Cheng hadn't read the original novel and could only write based on the TV series he had seen.

Fortunately, he had a good memory and could clearly remember every detail.

His hand speed was also not an issue; it wasn't an exaggeration to say he could summon the 'power of the keys' with a shout.

The script for Empresses in the Palace was 120,000 words, and the original novel was 1.5 million words.

Chen Cheng estimated that if he focused on writing, he could finish it in a week.

If he wrote when he was free and put it aside when he was busy, it would probably take one or two months.

However, with Chen Cheng's personality, he would obviously just write whenever he felt like it.

It would be good if he could write it—or rather, copy it out—within a year or so.

As for whether the writing style was good or not, he didn't care.

At worst, after finishing it, he could find a screenwriter to polish it up.

In any case, it would still need to be adapted into a script by a screenwriter.

"Smells so good~"

At Eleven-thirty, Qiao Xichen reached out and hugged Chen Cheng, who was standing in front of the stove cooking.