Chapter 919
The Plan to Develop Super-Tier 1 Cities
Faced with Wang Donglai's question, Nie Yun shook his head.
"It's not because the retail industry is profitable, but because this industry is the closest to ordinary people."
"A worker goes home from get off work, passes by a supermarket, buys some vegetables, meat, and daily necessities. His quality of life and his sense of happiness largely depend on what the supermarket gives him. Whether the products are good or not, whether the prices are high or not, whether the service is attentive or not. These things seem small, but they happen every day and affect the lives of millions of people every day."
"What I want to change is not the landscape of the retail industry. What I want to change is the little bit of warmth that ordinary people can feel every day."
Wang Donglai's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a nail, driven into the hearts of everyone present.
"Yinhe Supermarket may not make a profit, but it cannot allow its workers to be unable to buy safe and reliable vegetables. Yinhe Supermarket may expand slowly, but it cannot allow its employees to feel stifled here. Yinhe Supermarket may not have the highest profit margin in the industry, but it must have the best service, the best trust, and the best human touch in the industry."
"These are the true meanings behind the existence of Galaxy Supermarket."
He straightened up and looked around.
“President Nie, you just said you were worried that this path wouldn’t work. Well, let me tell you, as long as these people are still here, as long as those employees are still willing to work here, and as long as those customers are still willing to walk into our door—this path will never be blocked.”
Nie Yun stared blankly at Wang Donglai, then suddenly smiled.
That smile contained relief, determination, and something else that was hard to describe.
It's like someone who has walked in the dark for a long time suddenly seeing the light.
"Mr. Wang, I understand."
His voice regained its composure, carrying a brightness that seemed to have been ignited, as he said, "A profit margin of 3.2% is not the end, it's the beginning. What we need to do now is not to rush to make money, but to put down roots."
"Correct."
Wang Donglai nodded and added, "Put the roots in and wait for it to grow into a big tree."
Zhao Mingyuan smiled too, but the tension from before was gone, replaced by a sense of relief and ease.
"President Wang, President Yu, President Nie, I also have an idea."
He paused, as if organizing his thoughts.
"For the past three days, I've been thinking about one question: How can we get employees to truly feel like the store is their own home? Raising wages and giving bonuses are certainly important. But money alone isn't enough; we also need respect, opportunities for growth, and a future."
"I plan to implement a 'Golden Idea' program in the store. Any employee, whether a cashier or a cleaner, will be rewarded if they offer a useful suggestion that is adopted. Small suggestions will be rewarded with bonuses, and larger ones will be given promotion opportunities. This will let them know that they are in charge of this store."
Yu Donglai's eyes lit up: "This is great. Pang Donglai has a similar approach, but it doesn't have your system. If you develop this, it will become Galaxy Supermarket's own system."
Nie Yun nodded in support, saying, "Okay, go back and write the plan. We'll pilot it on Yihaodian, and if it works well, we'll roll it out to all stores."
Wang Donglai didn't interrupt, but just watched them discuss, a very faint smile on his lips.
Outside the window, all the lights in the mall were off.
Only the neon sign at the entrance remained lit, with the words "Galaxy Supermarket" standing out prominently in the night.
In the distance, the tower cranes at the Tang Imperial City construction site are still operating, and the lights accentuate the outline of this ancient capital with a history of thousands of years.
Wang Donglai suddenly recalled his feelings when he first saw Pang Donglai.
That wasn't a supermarket; it was the heart of a community, a place where people wanted to linger.
The elderly chatted in the rest area, children played in the children's area, and young people picked out snacks in the deli area.
Everyone has found their own corner here.
He wants to bring this feeling to more cities and to more people.
“President Nie,” he suddenly spoke.
Nie Yun stopped the discussion and looked at him.
"I don't look at Yihaodian's profit margin. This time next year, I'll only ask about two numbers. First, employee turnover rate; second, customer repurchase rate. If these two numbers are good, everything else is good."
Nie Yun paused for a moment, then nodded emphatically: "Understood."
"besides……"
Wang Donglai added, "Employee training cannot stop. Manager Zhao, the group of people you brought from Pang Donglai are now the backbone. But relying on them alone is not enough. We need to cultivate new backbones from local employees. In three years, we will open ten stores, which will require ten store managers, thirty store manager assistants, and a large number of team leaders. And we need to start training these people now."
Zhao Mingyuan took a deep breath and assured him, "Don't worry, Mr. Wang, I have a plan. Every new employee will have a three-month training period and a six-month on-the-job training period. Only those who pass the training can work independently. Core employees will receive at least two training sessions a year, going to Pang Donglai and other good supermarkets abroad to broaden their horizons."
Yu Donglai nodded in satisfaction: "Mingyuan, your plan is even more detailed than Pang Donglai's back then. It seems you've really put your heart and soul into it."
Zhao Mingyuan smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "President Yu, I'm a slow learner, so I can only put in the hard work."
"True skill comes from hard work and perseverance."
Yu Donglai said approvingly, "There are many smart people, but few who are willing to put in the hard work. I'm relieved that you think this way."
Nie Yun checked the time; it was almost eleven o'clock.
He stood up and said to Wang Donglai and Yu Donglai, "President Wang, President Yu, it's getting late. I'll go back and think about it some more, organize my thoughts from today, and give you the plan first thing tomorrow morning."
Wang Donglai nodded: "Go ahead."
Nie Yun and Zhao Mingyuan bid farewell to the two men and left the conference room.
In the corridor, most of the lights were off, with only the emergency lights still on, casting a dim yellow glow.
The elevator doors opened, and Nie Yun walked in, followed by Zhao Mingyuan.
The elevator doors closed and it slowly descended.
“President Nie,” Zhao Mingyuan suddenly spoke.
"Ok?"
“When I resigned from Pangdonglai to come to Tangdu with you, my wife disagreed. She said, ‘You’re a store manager, you’re doing so well in Liancheng, why come so far away?’”
Nie Yun looked at his reflection in the elevator door without saying a word.
“I told her that there are more places I want to go and more things I can do than in Liancheng.”
Zhao Mingyuan's voice was a little hoarse: "After listening to what President Wang and President Yu said today, I know I made the right choice."
The elevator arrived at the first floor and the doors opened.
The night breeze blew in through the crack in the door, carrying the warmth of early summer.
"We are building a career, not just doing business."
Nie Yun spoke softly, it was unclear whether she was answering Zhao Mingyuan or talking to herself.
The two walked out of the building and disappeared into the night.
In the conference room on the third floor, Wang Donglai and Yu Donglai were still sitting in their original seats.
The lights outside the window went out one by one, only the tower crane in the distance was still turning.
"Mr. Wang."
Yu Donglai picked up the glass of cold tea, took a sip, and said meaningfully, "What you said today wasn't just for Nie Yun's ears, was it?"
Wang Donglai did not deny it, and nodded, saying, "President Yu noticed."
“Nie Yun is a smart man, but he’s too impatient. He’s betting everything on you, trying to prove he made the right choice. This kind of mentality can easily back him up.”
Yu Donglai put down his teacup, his gaze becoming distant, and said, "So he needs someone to tell him that it's okay to go a little slower."
Wang Donglai nodded.
"Mr. Yu, do you know why I'm so determined to get Galaxy Supermarket?"
Yu Donglai thought for a moment and said, "I know it's definitely not about the money. You have a business that makes much more money than supermarkets."
"Correct."
Wang Donglai said, "Because the retail industry is the one that is closest to ordinary people. When a worker is on his way home from get off work, he passes by a supermarket and buys some vegetables and meat. Whether these things are good or not, and whether they are expensive or not, directly determines whether he is happy or not that day. I want ordinary people to be able to enjoy good things as well."
He paused, then softened his voice: "But good products alone aren't enough. You also need good service, a good attitude, and a good experience. Only people can provide these. Machines can't, algorithms can't. So, what I want isn't the most profitable supermarket, but the best supermarket for my employees. When employees are happy, customers are happy. When customers are happy, the supermarket thrives."
Yu Donglai looked at Wang Donglai and suddenly smiled. His smile held a sense of relief, a knowing smile that suggested he had found a kindred spirit.
“Mr. Wang, you know what? The first time I met you, I felt that we were kindred spirits. It’s not because you have a lot of money, it’s because you don’t care about money.”
Wang Donglai was taken aback: "Don't you take it seriously?"
“Yes. You make money not for the money itself, but to use it to do things. I was the same way back then. When I made money, I would give it to my employees and give discounts to my customers. My wife said I was a money-giving genius. I said, ‘Money can only come back if it’s given away. If it’s not given away, it’ll just die there.’”
He stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Wang Donglai.
"President Wang, don't worry about the Galaxy Supermarket. Nie Yun is a promising talent, and Zhao Mingyuan is a reliable man. With them keeping an eye on things, there won't be any major problems. In three years, when ten stores are open, those who laughed at you today will have to shut up."
Wang Donglai also stood up and walked to Yu Donglai's side.
"Mr. Yu, I would like to invite you to cut the ribbon in three years."
What ribbon-cutting ceremony?
"The tenth store."
Yu Donglai was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Great! Ten stores, I'll cut the ribbon."
Outside the window, the night was deepening.
On the distant construction site of the Tang Imperial City, tower cranes are still turning, like silent giants guarding the rebirth of this ancient capital.
After Yu Donglai left, Wang Donglai stood alone by the window, looking at the city outside.
"boss."
Nuwa's voice rang out.
Upon hearing Nuwa's voice, Wang Donglai's lips curled up slightly.
"Wa, do you think that in three years, there will really be ten Galaxy Supermarkets?"
"Based on data and model analysis, the possibility is very high. Given the group's cash flow, it could even reach a larger scale."
"But I know that's not what you care about. What you care about is whether those employees can really treat the store as their home and whether they can achieve the results they want."
Wang Donglai didn't speak, but the smile on his lips deepened.
“Wa, do you know, sometimes I feel that everything I do, whether it’s technology, business, or aerospace, is actually doing the same thing.”
"what's up?"
"To enable more people to live with dignity. To enable more families to live with hope. To make this country a better place."
Wa paused for a moment, then said, "Boss, I've heard you say that many times."
"is it?"
"Yes!"
She paused, her voice becoming even softer: "Every time, you did it, and every time, you succeeded."
Wang Donglai did not answer.
He simply looked out the window at the city, at the windows that were still lit up in the night.
Behind every window is a family.
Every family is trying to survive.
He wanted these people to live a better life.
It's not for any grand goal, nor for any great cause.
Simply because he was once one of those people.
Outside the window, the night was deep.
……
Tangdu City Courtyard.
Wu Qingsong's office is not large, but it is clean and tidy.
Aside from the necessary documents, there was only one photo frame on his desk, containing a picture of him working at the grassroots level when he was young.
From the window, you can see the entire skyline of Tangdu City. In the distance is the Xuanwu Battery Industrial Park under construction, and closer by is the outline of the old city. The old and new are intertwined, like a painting being drawn.
He sat on the sofa with a freshly brewed cup of Longjing tea in front of him. The tea leaves unfurled in the water and sank to the bottom of the cup.
He checked his watch; there were still five minutes until the agreed time.
There was a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in."
Wang Donglai pushed the door open and came in. No one followed him. In this kind of occasion, there was no need for a secretary or assistant.
"Manager Wu."
He nodded, his tone neither polite nor distant, but extremely calm.
"sit."
Wu Qingsong pointed to the sofa opposite him: "The tea was just brewed, have a taste."
Wang Donglai sat down, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
The fragrance of Longjing tea melted on his tongue. He put down his cup, and without exchanging pleasantries, went straight to the point: "Steward Wu, I've come here for one thing."
"I know."
Wu Qingsong leaned back on the sofa, his gaze calm: "I've reviewed your proposal for the 100,000-person recruitment conference."
"What does Steward Wu think?"
"I called Xiao Wang at two o'clock in the morning and asked him to help me check some data."
Wang Donglai did not ask what the data was.
He knew that once he reached Wu Qingsong's position, he had to make sure everything was clear before making any decision.
Wu Qingsong picked up his teacup, but didn't drink it. He just twirled it in his hand and asked, "Mr. Wang, do you know what the current permanent population of Tangdu City is?"
"Thirteen million."
Wang Donglai calmly replied, "Of these, 9.2 million are registered residents and 3.8 million are migrant workers."
"Do you know how much net population inflow Tangdu City was last year?"
"Of the 470,000, Galaxy Technology contributed approximately 120,000."
Wu Qingsong nodded and put down his teacup.
“Since Mr. Wang knows all this data, the rest is easy to discuss.”
"I know that President Wang is wholeheartedly for the good of Tangdu City and wants to develop Tangdu City into a super first-tier city and a prosperous metropolis among the top in the country."
"However, this cannot be achieved simply by increasing the population size and the industrial scale."
"This also places extremely high demands on our public services. Education, healthcare, transportation, and housing are all issues that need to be addressed, and even planned in advance."
"President Wang also manages a large company like Galaxy Technology Group, so he should understand that when the number reaches a certain level, many things become extremely complicated, and a change in one thing can have far-reaching consequences."
Upon hearing this, Wang Donglai naturally understood Wu Qingsong's thoughts.
It's simply that they felt his plan was too radical and wanted to be more conservative.
However, Wang Donglai's expression remained unchanged, calm and composed. (End of Chapter)