Can following the rules be called rebirth?

Chapter 306, Section 304: Entrapment
"Why are you so anxious?"

Nanhu University, Nanhu Playground.

It was evening, and Zhou Mingyuan and Zhong Yujun had just finished their self-study time at the South Academy when He Min suddenly called and invited them to the nearby playground.

The assistant rarely looks so serious and breathless.

"President Zhou, wow. It seems quite a few people in the company have secretly taken orders from the trading platform."

"This is how to do ah?"

No wonder she's Zhou Mingyuan's personal assistant who started from scratch.

She always manages to find the source and informants whenever anything happens in the company, and is the first to receive the news.

After learning all this, He Min could no longer sit still and immediately rushed from Nanhu Industrial Park to the school, wanting to hear the boss's opinion.

"is it?"

Zhou Mingyuan walked with uneven steps, but his expression remained calm and composed.

"That's normal."

"."

He Min looked anxious, her brows furrowed.

"But...but boss, you already talked about it in the last meeting and explained the platform's financial risks to them, so why are some people still not listening?"

Compared to some of the livestreamers in the company, He Min completely failed to understand.

They couldn't understand why, when they were following Zhou Mingyuan forward, there was a more stable and brighter path ahead, yet they insisted on taking their own way.

"After all, it's only natural to take some risks when you can make quick money just by talking and having real money deposited into your account."

"It's ok."

Zhou Mingyuan spread his hands and said.

"But how did you know?"

"Someone at the company is snitching on me!"

"Moreover, the fact that I was completely unaware of the ulterior motives of those below me indicates a serious problem."

In terms of work, He Min is indeed impeccable.

No matter the occasion, whether in the car or the office, she always made sure to give an explanation and a response to everything Zhou Mingyuan casually mentioned.

At the same time, she is also able to draw inferences from one instance to another and put herself in others' shoes.

This is a saying often heard within the system: "Though in a military position, one should have the strategic mind of a commander."

In fact, people with such abilities are not so suitable for working within the system.

Working in a sunrise industry that prioritizes efficiency would allow you to leverage a more promising platform to realize your full potential.

While working within the system may seem like a secure job, it's actually quite unfriendly to some people.

It silently torments the patience and talent of outstanding young people, slowly crushing their ambitions into dust, and wasting their youth in the empty cycle of formalism.

“Some livestreamers have already started promoting it.”

He Min pulled the boss to a corner to sit down, took out her phone from her bag, and handed the organized evidence to Zhou Mingyuan.

"Look, this is a recording of a live stream where someone recommended the Huanya platform."

"This is a chat log with the platform's business team."

“There were also comments from fan groups.”

It's no wonder He Min was so anxious that she added fuel to the fire.

The evidence shows that the streamers went to great lengths to exaggerate profits and conceal risks. Some streamers accepted orders despite repeated warnings from the company, and some even taught their fans how to borrow money to invest.

"We can't let this continue!"

Seeing Zhou Mingyuan's ever-smiling expression, He Min finally couldn't sit still any longer. She nudged the man next to her with her elbow and pressed him for an answer.

"Mr. Zhou, I've even heard a rumor."

He Min blinked, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

"But I don't know if it's true."

"How to say?"

Zhou Mingyuan's curiosity was also piqued.

"Actually, if this commercial order is not handled well, there is a high possibility that a number of people will resign."

“A small group of employees in the company have secretly communicated that if you strictly prohibit these platform orders, they are planning to switch jobs.”

"Because we earn so much from commercial deals, and our anchors who leave Jieyou Media don't have to worry about signing with new agencies, and there are even people willing to pay the breach of contract fees."

"."

Zhou Mingyuan rested his chin on his hand, thought quietly for a few seconds, then turned to look at He Min, his tone calm.

"Job hopping? Who are they? Have you compiled the list yet? Let me see it."

"I don't have the list either, I've just heard about it."

He Min lowered her eyelashes and spoke in a low voice.

She was fully aware of the urgency of the current situation.

It's only natural for a company to have requirements for its employees.

But secretly colluding to change the system, or using job hopping to force the boss to compromise, is a completely different matter.

Do you think they'll achieve their goal by doing this?

Zhou Mingyuan crossed his arms and asked.

"I don't think so."

He Min shook her head, her tone uncertain.

"Of course not."

Zhou Mingyuan waved his hand, remaining calm and composed.

“It’s not that the company doesn’t want us to take on commercial orders, but it’s definitely not acceptable for them to skip me and take on these junk commercial orders from trading platforms.”

"Job change?"

The man smiled, a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth.

"Don't worry, how could a bunch of legal illiterates who can't even understand contracts possibly gain an advantage over me?"

"."

He Min suddenly raised her head and stared straight at Zhou Mingyuan.

She suddenly remembered something.

right!

Before becoming the owner of an MCN company, Zhou Mingyuan was already an expert in the legal industry.

He's a top-tier expert!

Back then, that six-in-one contract specially designed for livestreamers was all the rage in the Jiangcheng area, selling for a five-figure price—an industry record.

The reason why everyone can have different little schemes is simply because the terms in the contract haven't been invoked.

The fact that it didn't ring only gives people a temporary sense of complacency; it doesn't mean that those densely packed clauses don't exist.

Non-compete agreement, supplementary agreement, resignation clause, liquidated damages.

Article 7.3 stipulates that during their employment and for two years after leaving the company, anchors shall not engage in work that competes with the company's business.

Article 11.5 stipulates that if a streamer engages in activities such as accepting orders privately or harming the company's interests, the company has the right to recover all of their illegal gains.

Article 15.8 stipulates that for any breach of contract, the penalty shall be five times the total income of the past twelve months.

All of these provisions were detailed and reliable in the contract at the time of signing, and will not be elaborated upon here.

Anyone who wants to challenge the above should first consider whether they can win the lawsuit.

"So you need to be more careful during this time. As soon as someone comes forward, you should issue a statement on behalf of the company to sever ties, and then let the contract speak for itself."

Zhou Mingyuan patted his assistant on the shoulder and said slowly and deliberately.

"Uh, boss, are we really going to stick to the contract?"

He Min took a deep breath, paused for a few seconds, and asked cautiously.

According to the contract, the streamer will likely be severely injured, if not killed.

Not only will they have to give back all the money they earned, but they also won't be able to work in the live streaming industry for at least two years. Two years might not sound like a long time, but in the internet industry, it's equivalent to life imprisonment.

Traffic and attention are extremely valuable. After more than 700 days, who will remember who you are?
"if not?"

For the first time, Zhou Mingyuan's tone turned icy.

"This is actually a good thing. It can clean up the company from top to bottom and completely weed out those who are not of one mind."

"So now you know why I didn't tell everyone immediately why we were prohibited from accepting orders from trading platforms?"

".Understood."

He Min crossed her arms, seemingly lost in thought.

It turns out that Zhou Mingyuan had planned this all along.

He was like a hunter waiting for his chance, having set up traps and snares long in advance, just waiting for his prey to take the bait once it saw the meat.

What's the biggest fear when leading a team?
Disobedient and disloyal.

Even emperors who have conquered the world cannot escape the fate of mutual suspicion.

The drawbacks of a makeshift troupe are even more pronounced.

Sharing hardships and working hard together is no problem, but sharing wealth is an incredibly difficult task, increasing by an unknown number of orders of magnitude.

Anyone who has worked at Jieyou Media for a period of time knows one fact.

The Pareto principle (80/20 rule) applies strictly within this circle.

20% of the top streamers earn 80% of the revenue.

For example, Du Jianuo, the "Queen of Relief," is sometimes very high-profile. Although she has the tacit approval and support of her boss, she can't help but attract envy.

She is a regular at the Nanhu Industrial Park, and her demeanor is that of a wealthy heiress, exuding an irresistible aura that is extremely eye-catching.

Don’t worry about scarcity but inequality.

Everyone in the company knows that Zhou Mingyuan is extremely strict about the revenue sharing with his streamers.

The streamers themselves don't seem to have any objections, since their basic income doesn't come from company revenue but from the support of big spenders and the platform.

The company also has professionals behind the scenes to help attract traffic, build a persona, and create video products.

There will definitely be people who are unwilling to accept this.

Du Jianuo drove a Porsche sports car, and even her inner circle got in on the news, buying new bags and coats.

However, most live streamers still earn a few thousand yuan a month.

However, the operations team kept making empty promises, claiming that all the employees would have a bright future.

They are not willing to give in.

Unwilling to be relegated to a supporting role, silently contributing behind the scenes, only to receive a fraction or even a tenth of the income.

Not content with only top streamers enjoying the good life, they plan content and program effects every day and have mastered the secrets of the trend.

Seeing more prosperity and wealth, some people are unwilling to accept this situation.

They want more, and feel they deserve more.

People who think this way have absolutely no reason to refuse exorbitantly priced business deals.

The boss disagrees?
It's ok.

At worst, they can just run away. After all, Jieyou Media isn't the only MCN company on the market.

Who can turn down money?
In this matter, the shortsightedness and selfishness of some employees have been fully exposed.

With human nature laid bare before him, Zhou Mingyuan was already used to it and found it nothing strange.

For employees who refuse to listen to advice, everything should be based on the contract, and the problem should be resolved through legal means.

"That"

He Min was hesitant to ask, but she had no choice but to.

Having worked with Zhou Mingyuan for so long, she had come to understand her boss's personality quite well.

When has he ever played by the rules?
From an employee's perspective, wanting a good life is perfectly understandable.

But from the boss's perspective, he only cares about whether the other party is loyal.

Moreover, some people have colluded and are organized and disciplined in their attempts to break the consensus and challenge authority.

Will President Zhou compromise?

Of course not.

In his eyes, it probably doesn't matter whether anyone is there or not.

This time, the deliberate lack of strict prohibition gives people an indescribable feeling.

The boss is engaging in entrapment within the company.
Do you really want to let the temptation fester a little longer, fire all the streamers involved, leave them with nothing, and leave none of them alive?
So heartless
He Min only thought about it for a moment before she couldn't help but shiver.

Zhou Mingyuan always gives people the feeling that he lives life like a game, never doing anything conventional, as if his own feelings are the top priority.

As for whether it will be profitable, factors include talent pool, company profits, and reputation within the industry.
These are important, yet not that important.

Other bosses might take it seriously, but he certainly wouldn't care.

He Min stared into Zhou Mingyuan's eyes, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

"Mr. Zhou, since you've entrusted this to me, I plan to issue a statement."

"Starting today, all orders from businesses will require company approval. Is that alright?"

"You, you have the heart of a bodhisattva."

Zhou Mingyuan squinted, crossed his legs, and remained expressionless.

He easily saw through He Min's thoughts and motives.

If I were to say that I am the sharpest spear, I would handle things without hesitation, eliminating everyone with a single blow and leaving no way out.

So He Min, this little assistant, is like the softest water.

While taking responsibility, she personally drew a clear line and promptly stopped the boss's entrapment.

If this continues unchecked, how many lawsuits will the company have to fight?
It's likely that, aside from Du Jianuo and a few other streamers, most people will be affected by this trend.

After all, even if you are a clean person, it would be a miracle if you didn't break down while watching your colleagues making big bucks in their pockets.

Suppressing some, controlling others, and appeasing others is the optimal solution to the problem.

Those who stand out and stir up trouble should speak with contracts and laws. Not only will they have to give back what they've earned, but they'll also be used as negative examples to expose their own shortcomings.

Those who have ideas but are eager to act will be controlled by the newly introduced regulations, and this time it will be let go.

Discuss the deeds but not the heart.

There's no need to elaborate on exemplary employees who work diligently and honestly.

reward!

"Oh, right, boss, there's something else."

He Min patted the dust off the ground and stood up.

"Ok?"

“Sister Dai Ying contacted me and said that she has helped to investigate the supply chain in Hangzhou, and we can go there at any time.”

He Min shrugged.

"That's great news!"

Zhou Mingyuan couldn't help but laugh.

Months ago, he had already planned the next steps for the development of Jieyou Media.

Traffic acquisition and monetization cannot rely solely on advertising orders that fall from the sky.

For example, many future internet celebrities will likely follow this path.

Zhang Dayi has amassed tens of millions of followers on Weibo thanks to her fashionable outfits, and is known as the queen of e-commerce.

She directly drove her huge Weibo followers to her Taobao store, and new products often sold out in seconds. She successfully transformed her personal influence into brand purchasing power and founded her own brand company, Ruhnn Holding.

Sherry gained immense popularity as Wang Sicong's ex-girlfriend and a fashion blogger. She founded the Taobao store "Qianfurenjia Sherry Customization," which later developed into Chenfan E-commerce.

Not to mention celebrities like Li Jiaqi and Dong Yuhui who have broken into the mainstream.

A successful company always relies on itself for its core business cycle.

(End of this chapter)