Finance and economics section of Donghai City.
[The Linglong Chamber of Commerce, established by the Linglong Club, claims to have raised its employees' base salaries by 20%. Many netizens praise them as conscientious entrepreneurs, while others believe they are engaging in malicious competition and disrupting the market. Expert Wang, what is your opinion on this?]
On TV.
A middle-aged man with slicked-back hair, thick lips, small eyes, and a neat suit pushed up his glasses.
He is an economic expert invited by the financial program of Donghai City TV.
"The question you just asked, host, is also one I've been paying attention to recently. I can say with 100% certainty that the Linglong Chamber of Commerce's actions are malicious hype, shameless, and utterly unethical. They have damaged market unity, maliciously manipulated netizens' emotions, and are trying to erode the fighting spirit of young people by raising wages."
Expert Wang spoke with great passion, almost spitting out his saliva.
He was clearly agitated.
The host then asked, "However, many netizens feel that a pay rise would benefit them. I've read many comments where people say their salaries haven't increased in over a decade."
Expert Wang: "Host, let me put it this way. I'm a farmer's son, and I've always had a tough life. These young people today haven't experienced the hardships we went through. They don't really understand the harsh realities of life; they just think being poor is the worst reality. But that's not true. We were starving back then, and we still managed to achieve success through our hard work. Why haven't these young people's wages increased? It's because they don't work hard. They're inconsistent and lack perseverance. The Linglong Chamber of Commerce's hasty announcement of wage increases is only encouraging their laziness. A country, a nation, without diligent people, will become stagnant, devoid of any motivation!"
The female host nodded.
"I understand. So, Expert Wang, you think that Linglong Chamber of Commerce's hype is actually maliciously amplifying netizens' inertia, right?"
"That's absolutely right!"
Expert Wang pushed up his glasses again.
"I have been studying economics for over 20 years and have studied Western economic history in depth. As you know, the West has many developed countries, right?"
The host nodded.
Expert Wang continued, “The developed Western countries were established after the Industrial Revolution. Thanks to their rapid production efficiency, their goods were distributed throughout the entire planet, and their economies reached unprecedented heights. But now they are no longer what they used to be; they have gradually been replaced by us. We are now the largest industrial economy on the entire planet, and our goods are found all over the world. What is the secret to this? It is our diligence and hard work. For example, if a Western product requires secondary processing, workers in other countries are paid 10 yuan, while our workers are paid only 5 yuan. If it were you, which would you choose?”
The host replied with a smile, "Of course I'd choose the 5 yuan one!"
Expert Wang spread his hands and laughed smugly, "Isn't that right? It's precisely because we are hardworking and our prices aren't high that our orders keep coming in, and that's why our country will continue to prosper. On the other hand, what about the West? Heh, because they are lazy, their economy is in continuous decline. A worker only works three days a week and still gets high wages and benefits. Some supermarkets are only open a few days a week. With that kind of efficiency, how can they possibly be good?"
The host was nodding as well.
“I also travel there from time to time. I’ve also learned a bit about it. They don’t seem to be particularly enthusiastic about going to work, and their work enthusiasm isn’t high. They also don’t seem to be particularly pursuing a better life.”
"Hey hey hey! That's the problem! The pursuit of a better life is the common desire of all mankind. They have lost their ambition, their motivation to improve, and their fighting spirit. So even if their technology is stuck 10 years ago, they have no innovation at all now."
"I understand now. The wage increase proposed by the Linglong Chamber of Commerce is actually a disguised way of encouraging people's laziness!"
Expert Wang smiled and said, "That's right. If they really raise wages, then these companies will pass on the increased costs to consumers. For example, if a product used to sell for 10 yuan, but after the wage increase, the burden on companies will be greater, and the product may sell for 15 yuan. In this way, everyone's cost of living will still increase, so most netizens can't see through this."
...
The broadcast of the Donghai City financial program sparked a huge discussion in society.
Previously, netizens who shared a unified perspective have gradually begun to diverge.
At the same time, it also pushed for the rejection of Linglong Club's proposal to increase wages by 20%.
This has made many people who originally wanted to work for Linglong Chamber of Commerce enterprises hesitate.
After all, their first consideration when changing jobs is salary, and now that salaries aren't increasing, they have no reason to change jobs.
Victory Group, conference room.
The main members of the Donghai City Chamber of Commerce gathered here.
"President Shen's move is brilliant! This solves our previous worry about employees leaving, and at the same time, we can accuse the Linglong Chamber of Commerce of undermining unity!"
"Yeah, let's see how arrogant Hu Ling can be this time. She's still naive. She wants to bring us down with these online emotions, but it's not that simple. Hahaha!"
Everyone in the conference room burst into laughter, and Shen Xingang laughed as well, saying, "Hu Ling is still a bit too green to compete with us!"
...
Linglong Club in the East District.
Hu Ling had returned to her office, and the main members of the Linglong Chamber of Commerce had also arrived.
They were also hesitant.
"Sister Hu, since our proposal has been rejected, I think we should just forget about it. After all, raising wages would only hurt us..."
"Yes, Sister Hu, our company's profit margin is already low. If we really raise wages by 20%, it will definitely have a big impact on our business, especially on our working capital..."
...
Hu Ling remained unmoved as they chattered on.
"Corporate profits? Haha, yes, that's it. We've adjusted the product's profit margin to 4%. Didn't they say that raising wages would dampen employee morale? Well, let's tell them clearly that this wage money comes from our own pockets. Let's see what they have to say then!"
Upon hearing Hu Ling's words, many members of the Linglong Chamber of Commerce present looked rather grim. To pick something out of one's own teeth is to risk one's life.
However, seeing Hu Ling's determined gaze, they dared not refuse. After all, Hu Ling held the vast majority of shares in their company, making her the largest shareholder. They could not change the decision Hu Ling made.
So the matter was settled.
The meeting adjourned.
Hu Ling kept Lin Meiyu and Chen Zhe behind.
"Sister Lin, you have connections in the media, could you help me get in touch with them? I also want to do a program!"
"Huh? What kind of program?"
Lin Meiyu asked, somewhat surprised.
Hu Ling smiled slightly; "Of course, it's a financial program! You should also invite that expert Wang over; I want to have a televised debate with him."
Then she looked at Chen Zhe; "Could you go find some people for me..."
...
Shen Xingang received a call from Wang Dequan.
He informed Hu Ling that he wanted to invite him to participate in the program.
Shen Xingang was somewhat worried, feeling that this was a trap set by Hu Ling.
Wang Dequan, on the contrary, was quite confident.
"President Shen, you don't need to worry about that. Although Hu Ling is a businesswoman, I am an expert in economics. Trying to debate with me on TV is like showing off your skills in front of Guan Yu. It's overestimating yourself. I only need to say a few words to make her feel ashamed and leave the stage!"
"Are you really confident?" Shen Xingang asked.
Wang Dequan chuckled; "If President Shen doesn't believe me, you can come and watch. I'll show you how I humiliate Hu Ling!"
Hearing Wang Dequan's confidence, Shen Xingang nodded; "Okay, I'll be there!"
Donghai City Wealth Express section.
The host, holding the microphone, addressed the camera and the audience: "Recently, there has been a very hotly debated topic in Donghai City: should wages be raised? I believe many of you have seen related reports online. Today, we have invited many well-known entrepreneurs from Donghai City..."
Hu Ling, accompanied by Chen Zhe and Lin Meiyu, slowly walked out from backstage.
A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. Among the audience members were recent graduates and middle-aged people; most of them were ordinary people like those in everyday life.
The host then introduced expert Wang and Shen Xingang, whose remarks on television that day had garnered some support.
The two groups of people sat opposite each other, one on the left and one on the right.
The host first asked Hu Ling, "Ms. Hu Ling, we've had a heated discussion recently about whether wages should be raised. The Linglong Chamber of Commerce was the first to raise this issue. As the president of the Linglong Chamber of Commerce, what are your thoughts?"
Hu Ling smiled and then looked at the audience below the stage.
"I think you shouldn't be asking me this question; you should be asking everyone else!"
The host had communicated with them beforehand, so she naturally handed the microphone to the people in the audience.
A middle-aged man took the microphone and stood up.
He spoke with a heavy accent: "Hello, host, hello, Mr. Hu. My name is Yang Weidong. I am thirty-eight years old and I am a taxi driver. I have been driving a taxi for eight years. At first, my income was okay, enough to support my family and pay for the house. But in recent years, I feel that it is getting worse day by day. Many people do not have high incomes, so they are reluctant to take taxis. If everyone's wages can be increased, then they will be willing to take taxis, and my income will naturally improve."
The host nodded and then handed the microphone to the next person.
A boy wearing glasses, who looked like a college student, stood up.
"Hello, host, Mr. Hu, and hello to all viewers! I am a recent college graduate with a degree in Business Administration. I graduated from an ordinary university. My parents worked hard to send me to college, and we originally thought that after graduating, I would get a good job with a higher income to help support the family. However, jobs are so hard to find these days, and the salaries we can find are very low. For example, at my previous company, they only gave me a base salary of 4,500 yuan, but my rent plus basic living expenses amounted to 4,000 yuan. I didn't dare to have any other expenses at the end of the month. Even when I was sick, I could only stay in my rented room and tough it out. My only entertainment was playing games, watching videos, and reading novels. I didn't dare to go out with friends at all. So I hope that my salary can be increased."
Several people spoke in a row, all in favor of raising wages. But one man took the microphone. He looked refined and well-dressed, and his income was clearly not low.
"My opinion differs from theirs; I do not agree with raising wages!"
...
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