Chapter 89: Salary Raises, Subsidies, Annual Meeting: The Fox

Room 206, Innovation Park.

“Hu Yun, have daily active users and order volumes recovered?”

Chen Yansen leaned against the desk, holding a water cup, asking Hu Yun from the data team.

“Boss Chen, the data normalized yesterday—1.06 million daily active users, 140,000 orders, total daily sales of 13.7 million yuan.” Hu Yun replied instantly, standing across from him.

Zhang Wenbo, Xiang Pengfei, Zhuang Rui, Zhang Yifeng, Meng Xibo, and others nearby all showed signs of relief—they knew the fake wine scandal had finally been weathered.

“Bo Bo, as head of customer service, you failed to report user complaints and public sentiment in time—your December bonus is canceled, and you won’t get a salary raise. Any objections?”

Chen Yansen looked at Meng Xibo.

In truth, Meng Xibo had sent a work email, but he treated it as a routine complaint and forwarded the user’s demands directly to Shennshen.com, angering customers who bought fake wine.

“Boss Chen, I take full responsibility—I understand. Next time, I’ll handle such situations with caution.”

After hearing his punishment, Meng Xibo exhaled in relief—he’d expected to be fired, but Chen Yansen had gone easy on him, leaving him filled with guilt and sorrow.

“Over the past few days, three customer service reps, one business development officer, and one editor resigned. Given SuperFan’s high frequency of daily updates, we’ll need to hire about ten more people—here’s the recruitment plan for each team.” Xu Dan handed over the documents, explaining.

“Understood.” Chen Yansen nodded slightly, expression calm.

These resigning students were simply worried the fake wine incident would affect their studies and resumes.

Let them go—Chen Yansen didn’t care.

“Everyone’s worked hard these past days. Next Friday, we’ll hold FoxTao’s first annual meeting in the Sky Garden. Oh, Xu Xingxing, tell everyone what prizes you’ve prepared.”

Chen Yansen smiled at Xu Xingxing.

“Twenty Apple 4 phones, thirty 2,000-yuan cash red envelopes, and thirty supermarket gift cards worth 1,000 yuan each.”

Xu Xingxing stepped forward and announced loudly.

“So, please all attend—those not present won’t be eligible for the raffle.”

Chen Yansen joked, then added: “Next week, I’ll adjust salaries for all positions based on FoxTao’s current progress. Also, excluding business development, every quarter you’ll receive a performance-based bonus of one to three months’ salary.”

Salary raise?

Quarterly bonus?

Zhang Wenbo and others exchanged glances, grinning with excitement—they knew they’d bet right. Working under Chen Yansen meant never being shortchanged on benefits.

The business development team reacted indifferently—they lived on commissions. With strong performance, they earned 50,000 to 60,000 yuan monthly in commissions alone; a few thousand in bonuses meant nothing to them.

“Also, considering new hires like Yuan Wei, I’ve decided to add a 20% housing allowance on top of everyone’s base salary.”

“Shortly, Xu Dan will send the new employee handbook to the project group—overtime on weekdays will be paid at 1.5x hourly rate, down to the fen; weekends at 2x; holidays at 3x.”

Chen Yansen added further.

“Boss, is work time calculated as six or eight hours?” Xu Xingxing asked.

This was the question Zhang Wenbo and Xiang Pengfei cared about most.

Whenever deadlines loomed, the tech team suffered most—often working from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“Eight hours, but the two-hour lunch and nap break counts within those eight hours—actual working time remains unchanged.” Xu Dan answered for Chen Yansen.

Still a six-hour workday?

Everyone looked at each other, eyes wide with delight—Chen Yansen’s string of perks had left them dizzy.

“Meeting dismissed!”

Chen Yansen waved them off after giving his instructions.

The team leads returned to their desks, sharing Chen Yansen’s benefit announcements with their members.

Instantly, cheers erupted on the second floor.

Even Xu Xingxing, the lowest-paid, could now earn 5,000 yuan pre-tax monthly with housing allowance, meal subsidy, quarterly bonus, and overtime pay.

That’s before the raise—after, it’ll be over 6,000 yuan pre-tax.

This income level is upper-middle class even in first-tier cities.

To be blunt, some professors at Xucheng College earn less.

Tech staff like Zhang Wenbo and Xiang Pengfei would earn even more.

When everyone else had left, Wang Zihao approached, concerned: “You okay?”

Wang Zihao stared at Chen Yansen—his eyes held no joy over the raise, only worry for his best friend.

“Just a police inspection—it’s like going home.” Chen Yansen felt warmth in his chest, patted Wang Zihao’s shoulder, and joked.

“You come back and immediately raise salaries, hand out quarterly bonuses, add housing subsidies—you’re overdoing it to calm everyone down!” Wang Zihao fretted for him.

“You’re overthinking. Go check job sites—without spending money, you won’t attract talent. Xu Dan spent a month hiring and got only Yuan Wei. Do you know how much a FoxTao intern makes monthly?”

Chen Yansen smiled, pulling Wang Zihao to the window, speaking seriously.

“Fine, you’re the boss.” Wang Zihao grinned thoughtfully.

“Money only grows when you spend it.” Chen Yansen breathed on the glass and wrote “money” with his finger in the fog.

After speaking, Chen Yansen left Room 206 and went into Cao Dahua’s office.

Normally, Old Cao had already left by now, but today he was still sipping tea on the sofa.

“Back?” Cao Dahua looked up at the noise and greeted him.

“Thanks, Old Cao.” Chen Yansen sat down heavily, poured himself tea from the pot, and sipped slowly.

“Let’s go—the principal is waiting. Don’t thank me; Principal Tang is your real benefactor.” Cao Dahua downplayed his role, subtly reminding Chen Yansen.

“I know.”

Chen Yansen nodded.

The two went downstairs, heading toward Tang Qingshan’s office.

On the way, Cao Dahua asked: “Why was it so noisy just now?”

Chen Yansen told him the truth, explaining FoxTao’s salary adjustment plan.

“Xiao Chen, your salary plan is terrible.”

Cao Dahua gasped, clutching his chest as if in pain.

“What’s wrong with it?” Chen Yansen asked.

“It hurts my self-respect.” Cao Dahua covered his face in mock despair.

He earned only 8,000 yuan net monthly—these students’ salaries were about to surpass his. Wasn’t that a slap in the face?

“Look, what can a teacher do? Maybe I should quit and work for you.” Before Chen Yansen could react, Cao Dahua half-joked.

“Old Cao, stop kidding. This job of yours is priceless.” Chen Yansen ignored him and kept walking.

“I’m serious—I’m not joking.” Cao Dahua waddled forward, catching up.

“FoxTao still needs a gatekeeper—how about you?” Chen Yansen pretended to think, then grinned.

“Get lost, you little rascal!” Cao Dahua burst out laughing, shaking his head helplessly.

They chatted nonsense all the way to Tang Qingshan’s office.

Before Chen Yansen could thank him, Tang Qingshan said: “You’re my student—I have to protect you. Besides, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’d do the same for any other Xucheng student.”

Cao Dahua stood behind Chen Yansen, silently sneering.

Knowing Tang Qingshan’s style, he knew that without his own subtle maneuvering, Tang wouldn’t have acted so quickly to help.

Chen Yansen smiled shyly, playing the obedient student, calling Tang “Teacher” repeatedly until Tang beamed with pleasure.

After about ten minutes, Tang Qingshan glanced at his watch.

Chen Yansen immediately understood, politely took his leave, then pulled Cao Dahua to Shuangqing Restaurant outside campus for dinner.

They clinked glasses, and before long, finished six or seven bottles of beer.

Cao Dahua took off his jacket, pulled his sweater up to his chest, revealing his round belly.

The office air conditioning blew hard, flushing his face red.

“When I first went into business, I caught the first wave of the internet boom. But I never cared about money—I believed teaching was the only way to fulfill my life’s purpose, so I joined Xucheng College.”

Cao Dahua spoke seriously of his past.

Chen Yansen just murmured “Mm,” “Ah,” and “Old Cao, you’re awesome,” not believing a single word.

After eating and drinking their fill, Chen Yansen flagged a taxi, told the driver to drop Cao Dahua off, then walked slowly back to campus.

Since he’d decided to raise salaries, he’d fully launch social recruitment and accelerate FoxTao’s growth.

Chen Yansen mused inwardly.

Meanwhile,

FoxTao’s salary adjustment plan was posted by Xu Dan on the campus forum, mainly to aid recruitment.

The six-hour workday, meal subsidy, overtime pay, housing allowance, and quarterly bonus left undergraduates dizzy with excitement.

They frantically revised and submitted resumes, fired up like they’d been injected with adrenaline.

That night, Xu Dan’s inbox was flooded with hundreds of job applications.

Many final-year students who had been preparing for spring recruitment switched their focus to FoxTao.

Previously, FoxTao’s benefits were competitive only within the province—many senior students aiming to earn money still prioritized Beijing, Shanghai, or Shenzhen.

But now, FoxTao’s compensation matched that of major cities.

In a dorm room,

Gao Yuxiang scrolled through FoxTao’s latest updates, feeling like he’d swallowed something foul—he’d just quit, and now FoxTao was raising salaries.

This is clearly targeting me!

Gao Yuxiang fumed. When the fake wine scandal broke, he resigned immediately, terrified of being implicated.

“Yu Xiang, I’m so jealous—you’re lucky. FoxTao’s benefits are amazing. I just submitted my resume—if I pass the interview, we’ll be working together again.”

At that moment, his roommate chuckled.

Gao Yuxiang’s face stiffened; he forced a awkward smile—he had never publicly announced his resignation from FoxTao, or even if people didn’t say it to his face, they’d whisper behind his back that he was disloyal.

At the same time, several former customer service staff, upon hearing FoxTao had announced a salary increase, felt deep regret.

One girl, bold-faced, had planned to message Xu Dan saying she wanted to return to FoxTao, only to discover she had already been blocked.

For Xu Dan, hiring customer service staff was effortless—she could recruit dozens in a single day; her current core task remained finding experienced category operators and business development personnel for Chen Yan.

Who had the stomach to deal with a few fickle little customer service clerks?

(End of Chapter)