When I am reborn, I just want to be a top student

Lotus City.

As a city of moderate size with a permanent population of over four million, it's not a significant number on a national scale.

However, Liancheng became famous because of a company.

On the Douyin platform, a local supermarket in Liancheng became very popular, and its popularity has only grown over time.

This company is Donglai Pang!

Donglai Pang's popularity on Douyin was not accidental, but rather at Wang Donglai's behest.

In his previous life, he had heard of Donglai Pang's great reputation, so Wang Donglai personally had a very good impression of the company.

It can be said that Donglai Pang fulfilled the dream of a working-class person.

Even if you're just a security guard or a cleaner, you can earn a decent salary as long as you work hard.

In this life, the main reason why Wang Donglai improved employee benefits at Galaxy Technology was precisely because of this.

Despite being an ordinary person, I still wanted to try things out even after gaining the power of the system.

Just as the entire internet was debating the Huangtuan Waimai incident in Henengli Community and Ele.me's subsequent formation of full-time delivery riders, Wang Donglai arrived in Liancheng with executives from Yinhe Technology and Nie Yun.

Yu Donglai had received the news well in advance and made preparations for the reception.

Originally, Yu Donglai's idea was to simply provide a simple reception, but given Wang Donglai's status and position, a special person came to Donglai Pang as soon as the itinerary was finalized and began making arrangements.

Yu Donglai had no choice but to accept it.

When Wang Donglai appeared at the entrance of Donglai Pang Times Square store, he witnessed the most authentic scene.

Despite the large number of customers, everything remained orderly and efficient.

Those riding electric bikes have special canopies to protect them from the wind and rain.

There are also staff to assist drivers with parking.

Before even entering, Wang Donglai said to the group of people following him, "You all go and explore on your own. You don't need to stay with me. Go and take a good look at Donglai Pang's operations."

Wang Donglai dismissed all the senior executives who accompanied him, leaving only Nie Yun behind.

As for the security personnel, they had already changed into civilian clothes and were following nearby at a distance.

After giving his instructions, Wang Donglai led Nie Yun toward the main entrance of the supermarket.

Before he even went inside, Wang Donglai saw a middle-aged man in his forties wearing a gray hoodie squatting on a stone stool at the entrance.

This person is Yu Donglai, one of the founders of Donglai Pang.

Seeing Yu Donglai's expression, Wang Donglai couldn't help but laugh.

Just as I had seen online in my previous life, he was approachable and had no airs whatsoever.

When Wang Donglai saw Yu Donglai, Yu Donglai naturally noticed Wang Donglai as well.

After all, Wang Donglai is a well-known figure in China, so it's not surprising that he could be recognized.

"Mr. Chen, it's an honor to meet you!"

Yu Donglai, with a warm smile on his face, quickly walked up and greeted Wang Donglai.

"Mr. Yu, you're too kind. I apologize for the intrusion and hope you'll forgive me!"

Wang Donglai extended his hand and shook hands with Yu Donglai, saying with a smile.

After exchanging pleasantries at the supermarket entrance, the two went inside.

"I wonder what brings you here, Mr. Wang? I'm a straightforward person, so please just say what you want to say."

Yu Donglai went straight to the point and asked the question.

Wang Donglai wasn't too surprised. He pointed directly at Nie Yun beside him and said, "President Yu, Galaxy Technology is preparing to enter the community fresh food and supermarket markets, so we've come here specifically to learn from your experience!"

"After all, as you know, through our 'One Cut' strategy, we've reached cooperation agreements with farmers across the country, have abundant direct supply of agricultural products from their production areas, and also have the Xinghuo Express logistics system. This allows us to keep costs down to the lowest in the industry while ensuring quality."

"With such a significant advantage, it's natural to think about developing new businesses!"

Wang Donglai's frankness surprised Yu Donglai, who couldn't help but ask in return, "Mr. Wang, aren't you worried about being so frank?"

"I still trust the boss a lot."

"Other companies might not share their business secrets, but I know Mr. Yu definitely will!"

Wang Donglai's words were firm, his tone filled with trust in Donglai.

Yu Donglai smiled happily and said, "Then I thank you for your trust, Mr. Wang. Let's go for a walk and talk as we go."

The number of people at Pang Donglai gradually increased in the morning, but the order was well maintained.

Wang Donglai noticed several details: when the fresh produce staff were sorting vegetables, they would put slightly flawed but still edible items in a separate area labeled "Slightly Flawed Special Price Zone"; in front of the freezer, an employee was patiently teaching an elderly person how to use the QR code to view product traceability information; the customer rest area had free tea and mobile phone charging stations, as well as employee-made weather reminder cards for the day.

"Mr. Wang, look at that weigher." Yu Donglai pointed to the fruit and vegetable section.

At the weighing station, a young employee was carefully re-inspecting the strawberries selected by the customer, gently picking out two bruised ones and placing them in a small basket next to him, and then taking out two plump ones from behind him to add to the basket.

The customer exclaimed in surprise after noticing the damage, "I didn't notice it was crushed, thank you!"

The employee smiled sheepishly: "It's our duty. We'll make jam out of the crushed stuff internally, so nothing gets wasted."

Yu Donglai said softly, "This is the core of Pang Donglai—respect. Respect for products, respect for customers, respect for employees. This isn't just a slogan on the wall; it's a habit ingrained in our bones."

Wang Donglai pondered: "Respect is acceptable as a concept, but it cannot be used as a business method. Different business development models require different solutions. After all, Galaxy Technology Fresh Food is going to be a chain, opening stores all over the country."

"We have a cost advantage. If we expand nationwide, we can attract more customers with lower prices..."

"A lower price is certainly better."

Yu Donglai stopped in front of a row of shelves and said, "But if it's just about low prices, what's the difference between you and other chain supermarkets?"

He picked up a bag of biscuits from Pangdong's own brand: "We had the manufacturer revise the recipe for these biscuits three times, increasing the cost by 5%, but we removed three additives. The price remained the same, and the profit was lower, but customers can eat with peace of mind. Do you think it's worth it?"

Wang Donglai examined the biscuit packaging and found that the ingredient list was indeed unusually clean, unlike that of ordinary snacks.

Walking into the prepared food section, Yu Donglai pointed to the chefs behind the open kitchen: "Here, the wages of ordinary chefs are 30% higher than those in the same industry, but there are strict assessments - not sales assessments, but assessments of hygiene, innovation and customer satisfaction."

A middle-aged employee who was packing braised food saw Yu Donglai and greeted him happily: "Chairman Yu, the low-salt version of braised beef that you suggested last time had a great trial sale! Many regular customers said it's more suitable for the elderly and children in the family."

"Great, Mr. Li, you're in for the Innovation Award this month!" Yu Donglai replied like an old friend.

Wang Donglai observed that this natural sense of warmth was not a management skill, but rather a manifestation of the company's culture being truly internalized.

Soon after finishing shopping at the supermarket, Yu Donglai wanted to invite Wang Donglai to eat out, but Wang Donglai refused and instead suggested eating at the staff canteen.

Since it was Wang Donglai who took the initiative to suggest it, Yu Donglai naturally had no reason to refuse, so he took Wang Donglai to the staff canteen.

Of course, it was a private room, simply furnished, with a view of the staff dining area from the window.

"Mr. Wang, please try our staff meal. It's the same food our employees eat." Yu Donglai handed over a plate with four meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a soup—a well-balanced meal.

Wang Donglai doesn't drink, so he didn't bring out any alcohol. During the meal, Wang Donglai brought up the acquisition plan: "Chairman Yu, I understand that Pang Donglai is your brainchild, but think about it, if we combine our supply chain and financial strength, we can promote Pang Donglai's model nationwide and benefit more people."

Yu Donglai put down his chopsticks, his expression serious: "President Wang, I have a question for you—why do you think Pang Donglai only opens stores in Xuchang and a few nearby cities?"

"Cautious expansion? Funding constraints?"

"It's a limitation of ability."

Yu Donglai frankly stated, "Pang Donglai's model requires a large number of qualified middle and senior managers. These people not only need to understand business operations, but also need to understand and practice our philosophy. It takes three to five years to train a store manager. Blind expansion will only dilute our culture and eventually turn us into just another ordinary chain supermarket."

Wang Donglai frowned slightly: "But we can improve our management system and training system to cultivate more talent..."

"Management systems can be replicated, but culture cannot."

Yu Donglai shook his head and said, "The details you see in the store today are not something that rules and regulations can fully define. They are habits that have been accumulated over more than 20 years, and the result of employees truly believing that 'customers and employees are family'."

He took a sip of soup and continued, "Mr. Wang, your Galaxy Technology has strong advantages—direct sourcing from production areas, intelligent logistics, and cost control—these are all hard strengths. But the soul of the retail industry is the relationship between people. That's what you're lacking."

"I really never intended to sell the company! So I'm sorry!"

Wang Donglai didn't care about Donglai's rejection.

He was just taking a chance, thinking that if Yu Donglai sold the business, he would hand over the management of the Galaxy Fresh Supermarket to Yu Donglai; if he didn't sell it, it wouldn't make much of a difference.

Anyway, Nie Yun just needs to follow Donglai Pang's model.

What he needs is a qualified executor, not a pioneer.

However, although that's what he was thinking, Wang Donglai wouldn't show it out loud.

"Does Mr. Yu have any concerns? I can offer 30 billion to acquire it, and I can guarantee that the name Donglai Pang will remain unchanged, and the employee benefits will remain the same. It's just a change of boss."

“I can even promise Mr. Yu that after the acquisition of Donglai Pang, other supermarkets will follow Donglai Pang’s operating model, and Mr. Yu can serve as the person in charge and have decision-making power.”

"Initially, I plan to invest 50 billion yuan, and there will be second and third phases of investment later."

Nie Yun listened from the side, his expression showing a hint of nervousness, fearing that Yu Donglai would take his place.

Yu Donglai didn't think too much about it and said sincerely, "President Wang, thank you very much for your kindness."

"From a business perspective, Donglai Pang is not a very good company because its profit margin is very low. If it pays too much to its employees, the shareholders' profits will be less. This is meaningless for your company and instead involves taking a great risk."

This statement truly reflects Yu Donglai's true feelings. The opening cost of a large shopping mall is enormous, and if it cannot become an instant success, it will bring tremendous operational pressure.

Although he insisted on his own way, he never thought of making others do the same.

"Mr. Yu, actually we have the same idea."

"Even deliverymen or security guards at Galaxy Technology's subsidiaries can earn wages and benefits that are above market rates."

"Logically speaking, this would indeed affect the company's profits, but in reality, Galaxy Technology's market value has soared."

"For me, it's simple: Galaxy Technologies earns excess profits through cutting-edge technology."

"But the real challenge is how to make this money play a greater role and have a greater significance."

"This is also the responsibility and obligation of a large enterprise."

"I've already earned more money than most people could earn in hundreds of lifetimes, so why not share the rest?"

"It will boost employment, improve benefits, and allow more people and families to enjoy life and the dividends brought by the development of the times."

"This year, Galaxy Technology aims to increase its workforce to one million. Behind these one million employees are one million families. A little more salary for them will make life a little easier for their families."

"What if it's two million, or three million!"

“I have this idea, Galaxy Technology has the capability, what we lack is someone like Mr. Yu to assist us.”

Wang Donglai's words left Yu Donglai somewhat stunned.

Upon hearing this, Yu Donglai fell silent.

He hadn't expected Wang Donglai to have such a broad vision; that was all he was thinking about.

For a moment, he wavered.

However, Yu Donglai quickly regained his composure, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice, "President Wang, I'm not the kind of career fanatic who's completely obsessed with work, so let's just forget about the acquisition."

"However, I personally support Mr. Wang's idea, so I have a suggestion for you to consider."

“We can cooperate, but not through acquisition. I am willing to help you train middle and senior managers for your supermarket business and provide guidance on opening stores. But we will each operate our own brands—you will operate Galaxy Fresh Supermarket, and we will operate Pang Donglai. We will learn from each other and compete in a healthy manner.”

Wang Donglai nodded and asked in return, "President Yu, aren't you afraid of cultivating competitors?"

Yu Donglai smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes like ripples in the sunlight: "The domestic market is so big, it can accommodate more good supermarkets. If you can really create a second or third 'Pang Donglai,' it will be a blessing for the people. Besides, competition drives progress, and Pang Donglai also needs pressure to continuously improve."

“Alright, based on what you said, Mr. Yu, we won’t go to Greentown next door. We’ll just go and conquer it for Mr. Yu.” Wang Donglai said with a smile.

"Mr. Wang is joking. I have no plans to open a store in Greentown. I'll just keep the store here."

Yu Donglai waved his hands repeatedly, denying it.

"Mr. Yu, that's hard to say!" Wang Donglai said with a meaningful smile.

Yu Donglai was completely baffled, not understanding why Wang Donglai would say that.

Soon after the meal, Yu Donglai led Wang Donglai on a tour, including Pang Donglai's training center and warehousing and logistics base.

In the training room, Wang Donglai heard the lecturer talking about "retail psychology," not how to sell, but how to understand the real needs of different customers.

"This old man walks slowly, probably because of joint problems, so we should take the initiative to help him carry heavy items to the cashier or the door."

"A young mother is holding her child in one arm and shopping with the other. Her needs are not product descriptions, but efficiency and peace of mind."

“When middle school students come to buy stationery, they may hesitate because of the price. We can recommend the most cost-effective option, rather than the most expensive one.”

Wang Donglai suddenly remembered Galaxy Technology's artificial intelligence system—it could analyze consumer data, predict trends, and optimize inventory, but it could never understand that the old man had joint problems unless someone turned that need into a data tag.

"Mr. Yu, I have an idea."

During his visit to the logistics center, Wang Donglai said, "Our AI system can analyze massive amounts of consumer data and predict regional consumption habits. Pang Donglai has extensive on-site experience and understands people's subtle needs. If we share data—while protecting privacy, of course—we might be able to create a more precise service model."

Yu Donglai's eyes lit up: "For example?"

"For example, if our system detects a high proportion of elderly people in a community, it will suggest that stores add large-print labels, non-slip shopping carts, and rest areas; if it detects a large number of young families, it will add parent-child activities and healthy snack areas for children. The specific methods of these adjustments need to be implemented based on Pang Donglai's experience."

The two talked more and more deeply, from supply chain collaboration to employee incentive systems, from community relations to sustainable development.

Wang Donglai discovered that although Yu Donglai was traditional, he was open to new things; and Yu Donglai also saw that this founder of the technology company was not only focused on numbers and expansion, but also had a deep desire to do practical things for the people.

In the afternoon, Wang Donglai did not stay and left Liancheng directly.

Nie Yun, however, was left here to receive proper training from Yu Donglai.

Other senior executives from Galaxy Technology remained to thoroughly learn and understand the lessons. (End of Chapter)