Paying to work is unheard of.

Li Weidong never dreamed that Hu Zi could come up with such a trick.

Isn't this just selling jobs?

If the company takes the money but then goes out of business, those who paid for the jobs will be severely ripped off.

Shen Xiaoyan also thought of this, her brows furrowing: "His behavior... is too wicked, isn't it?"

Li Weidong looked at the middle-aged man and asked, "You guys are here too, paying to work?"

Eight hundred yuan is no small amount. Even if an average family saves every penny throughout the year, they might not be able to save that much.

Now you're handing it over for a job? Aren't you afraid of being scammed?

The uncle smiled憨厚ly: "At first I didn't want to come, but after discussing it with my family, I felt it was worth it."

He counted on his fingers and analyzed, "Look, after he starts working, he can earn two hundred yuan a month, plus various subsidies. He can earn that money back in just four months."

"After four months, the money is guaranteed, much better than farming or doing odd jobs!"

Someone nearby chimed in, "That's not all! The boss said that with a stable job, there's also a pension! It's like working for a state-owned enterprise."

"Working in a state-owned enterprise isn't something you can just get by paying money. Now you can get a job by paying money. Isn't that a great deal?"

The others nodded in agreement.

Li Weidong frowned: "Didn't you think about what would happen if the company went bankrupt? Wouldn't all the money you paid be wasted?"

"What are you pouring out!"

Someone immediately retorted: "How could such a big boss's company go bankrupt?"

"Exactly. Besides, look at the Yimeng Group next door, isn't it doing very well?"

"If the boss were really just trying to make money, he wouldn't need to apply for the job."

"Yes, yes, I heard that they're only hiring thirty people this time. If the boss really doesn't want to do a good job, why doesn't he just hire a few hundred people and charge each of them eight hundred yuan?"

"I've already inquired. This boss is the agent for Kongfujia liquor in northern Inner Mongolia. That liquor is so profitable, he doesn't need this little bit of money!"

Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, and many expressed great confidence in Tiger's company.

Li Weidong couldn't help but sigh.

No one knows Tiger's skill level better than him.

This company looks respectable now, but in reality, with Tiger's half-baked skills, it would be a miracle if it could even succeed!

Those job applicants are definitely going to waste their 800 yuan.

But he said that these people obviously wouldn't believe him...

"never mind."

Shen Xiaoyan pulled him aside and said, "Respect other people's fate; we can't worry about so much."

Li Weidong knew this made sense, sighed, and followed her into the company.

...

Inside the office of Black Tiger Agriculture.

Looking at the money laid out in front of him, Master Hei was full of surprise: "Is all of this what you collected today?"

"Um."

Tiger nodded, beaming with pride, and said, "Each person pays an entry fee of 800. We recruited 30 people today, totaling 24,000, and it's all here."

Master Hei frowned: "This is illegal fundraising. If someone reports it, we'll be in big trouble."

Tiger, however, didn't care at all: "What illegal fundraising? We're not doing nothing. We've hired people, aren't we? We're going to start a company!"

"Besides, we're leading farmers to grow greenhouse vegetables, which is a good deed, so why should the higher-ups care!"

Master Hei tapped his fingers on the table, lost in thought and remaining silent.

Tiger reassured him, "Godfather, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"Now that we've recruited people, I'll give the order to have them go and talk to farmers about cooperation."

He became more and more smug as he spoke: "When the time comes, we'll be just like Li Weidong, buying vegetables from farmers, packaging them, and then selling them. That way, we can make a living, right?"

"It just so happens that you're planning to formalize your business as before. Once the company grows bigger, you can close down those casinos and such."

"Even bathhouses can now operate legitimately without worrying about being investigated."

Hei Siye was persuaded and nodded, saying, "Alright, we'll do as you say, but there's one thing."

He said seriously, "Of the profits from the beverage business, 40% must be given to me separately, and the remaining 60% can be used by you to manage the company."

Tiger patted his chest and assured him, "Alright!"

Anyway, he had money in his own hands, plus the deposit of more than 20,000 yuan, so the company could get running in the early stages.

Once the money makes more money, the best days are yet to come!

...

Tiger went to great lengths to recruit people and actually managed to hire a few technical staff.

Many farmers also approached us, offering to grow crops in greenhouses.

When the news reached Li Weidong, he hadn't even reacted yet, but Zhang Bin burst out laughing.

What are you laughing at?

Li Weidong was somewhat puzzled.

Zhang Bin said with a smug look on his face, "Just now when I was at work, I happened to see two farmers going to their company, and guess what?"

“Those two farmers are the ones I visited before. They're both lazy. I don't even need to say anything; they can't get past their village chief alone.”

"They probably realized they couldn't work for our company, so they went to Zhao Huzi instead!"

Li Weidong suddenly realized and couldn't help but shake his head: "Tiger's company used to charge a lot of money when they recruited people. Now that he's eager to achieve some results, he'll definitely accept anyone who comes along."

"There will be times when you lose out by cooperating with farmers like this."

All the hardworking and honest farmers have been absorbed into his company, so what good products can be left?

Tiger's tough times are yet to come!

Li Weidong didn't bother with him and focused on working with Shen Xiaoyan to figure out how to make the company bigger and stronger.

The two of them spent all day and night in the office, looking at various documents and making plans. They worked tirelessly day and night, which even made Zhao Xiulian feel sorry for them.

But more than anything, there was worry.

That day, during dinner...

Zhao Xiulian scolded, "Look at you, you've lost so much weight. Did you not eat properly when I brought you food?"

Li Weidong set up a bed at the company and lived there every few days, working like he didn't care about his life.

"Mom feels like something's not right..."

Zhao Xiulian frowned: "Ever since Xiaoyan came back, you've become even busier, you're practically living at the company. Tell your mother the truth."

She looked troubled: "Do you really like her?"

"This little wild one is almost eighteen. If you mess around, what if you end up with a child?"

"If word gets out, our Zhao family will be shamed. You can't make a mistake!"

In Zhao Xiulian's heart, she had long accepted Shen Xiaoyan. After all, putting aside her status as a widow, Shen Xiaoyan's other qualities far surpassed those of her peers.

The problem is, there's already a Zhou Xiaoye!

Zhao Xiulian stared at Li Weidong: "No, the more I think about it, the more uneasy I feel. Starting tomorrow, you are not allowed to stay at the company anymore. You have to come home to sleep every day!"