"Everyone, in addition to the fixed fifty yuan, you will get a ten-cent commission for each Christmas apple you sell. Also, if any issues arise, the group leader must call my pager as quickly as possible, and the pager fees will be covered by our company! Have everyone remembered what I said?" Cheng Jemin stood on the high platform at the Tianyuan City Cultural Palace and asked loudly.
"Remembered!" A voice like a skylark rang out from below, and Cheng Jemin felt extremely pleased as he looked at the girls in various down jackets, who looked like flowers competing for beauty.
"Also, we will now form groups of three. Each group should select a leader and report the names to me!" As he spoke, Cheng Jemin suppressed the slightly elated thoughts in his mind, especially a certain memory from the diary, which he pushed deep into his soul.
"Brother Cheng, if we don't sell many apples... ah, Christmas apples, will we still get our fifty yuan salary?!" A girl with big eyes stepped out of the crowd and asked playfully.
"Of course, a gentleman's word is a bond. Everyone has it tough, and no matter the outcome, everyone will try their best. I will definitely keep my promise, so don't worry!" Cheng Jemin said with a solemn expression.
Amidst the chatter of the girls, Cheng Jemin answered many questions. In just half an hour, he felt a bit dry and parched. He picked up an apple and took a couple of bites, thinking mischievously that it was no wonder people said a woman was like five hundred ducks.
After answering a girl's question, Cheng Jemin waved his hand and said, "Alright, everyone, it's about time. Please go and collect the props and costumes first, and we'll prepare and then head to our respective locations."
Half an hour later, the over a hundred girls, like a garden of flowers, dispersed in a flurry. Cheng Jemin finally breathed a sigh of relief, instinctively licking his slightly chapped lips, and thought that he would never again take on such a time-tight and heavy task.
"Brother Cheng, they... they get fifty yuan a day for their labor?" Sun Xiaozhu's tongue trembled: "If you had people help you buy apples, no, Christmas apples, and let Brother Zhihai find them, each person would cost at most ten yuan a night. Why spend so much money?"
Cheng Jemin, seeing the pained look on Sun Xiaozhu's face, couldn't help but pat his shoulder and said, "Xiaozhu, I ask you, if you were buying something, would you go to a middle-aged auntie or these charming girls?"
Sun Xiaozhu's face turned red, and he stammered, "I would go to the auntie... the auntie! It doesn't matter which side I buy from!"
Cheng Jemin didn't speak, just looked at Sun Xiaozhu with his eyes. After a while, he said humorously, "Young man, your eyes have betrayed your heart!"
Cheng Jemin's teasing made Sun Xiaozhu's face turn even redder. He rubbed his hands and said loudly, "Brother Cheng, I'll go set up the stall in Zone Three, but... but isn't five yuan per pound for apples too expensive?"
"What do you mean five yuan per pound!" Cheng Jemin tapped Sun Xiaozhu, a bit frustrated, and said, "Our good stuff should be sold for five yuan each, understand?"
"Right, and those golden apples hanging on the Christmas tree, you must remind them that each one is twenty yuan, no bargaining."
Sun Xiaozhu looked at Cheng Jemin in shock and muttered, "Twenty yuan each, isn't that just an apple?"
Cheng Jemin's eyes widened, "What apple, it's called a Christmas apple, understand? Tonight is Christmas Eve, do you know that?"
"What Christmas Eve, I only know that the 23rd is the day the Kitchen God goes to heaven." Sun Xiaozhu muttered softly and then quickly ran off.
Cheng Jemin looked at the busy people around him and breathed a huge sigh of relief. The past two days of hard work had made him feel like a tightly strung bow, always on the lookout for various situations and trying to handle every detail well!
And now this small relaxation made him feel like he wanted to sit on the ground and not get up. He gritted his teeth and encouraged himself, "Cheng Jemin, you've already invested twenty thousand yuan in this, which is equivalent to ten years of your salary. If you mess this up, how can you talk about getting married, buying a house, or having a happy life? You must hold on."
When people are under pressure, motivation appears particularly quickly. In the next moment, Cheng Jemin straightened his back and walked toward the Christmas tree being set up in the central square.
"Brother Cheng, can the four of us be in one group?" Before he reached the Christmas tree, a girl in a red down jacket, wearing a red Santa hat, and looking petite and cute, quickly came to him and pointed to three other girls nearby, also wearing Santa hats.
Even though she was dressed warmly, her graceful figure was still delicately revealed. Even without any other thoughts, Cheng Jemin's gaze couldn't help but linger on her attractive figure for a moment.
Cheng Jemin remembered this girl, Li Jing, who had been evasive when he went to the art department to find people. The people she pointed to were naturally the four of them in her circle.
"No problem, but your commission will be split among the four of you." Cheng Jemin didn't hesitate and agreed casually.
"Great, thank you, Brother Cheng." Li Jing jumped up lightly, her youthful vitality like blooming sunshine, constantly shining on her.
Cheng Jemin smiled and continued toward the Christmas tree. At the center of the central square, a Christmas tree taller than a person had already been set up. Seeing the girls carefully hanging golden apples on it, Cheng Jemin thought that the Christmas tree he made was actually a bit simple.
But time and money didn't allow for more, so it would have to do for now!
"Jemin, I've already talked to the square's broadcaster. Tonight, the entire square will play the tapes we provided." Sun Zhihai, a bit sweaty, ran over to report.
Cheng Jemin, facing the hurried Sun Zhihai, said, "Brother Zhihai, thank you for your hard work. How did you convince them?"
"I gave him ten pounds of apples, he listened to the tape, and said it was fine." Sun Zhihai said this with a bit of pride.
Cheng Jemin praised, "Brother Zhihai, you did a great job. I thought I would have to give them some money at least. You handled everything."
Sun Zhihai's smile grew even wider. He patted his chest and said, "Jemin, such a big operation can't be all on your shoulders. If there's anything, just arrange it, and I'll take care of it."
"Brother Zhihai, I won't be polite with you. If there are any difficult tasks, I'll count on you!" Cheng Jemin said, then added seriously, "Brother Zhihai, they have already started setting up at various points and in the school. Organize the people and get the packaged Christmas apples delivered as quickly as possible."
"Got it." Sun Zhihai agreed and ran toward his tricycle nearby.
Watching Sun Zhihai rush off, Cheng Jemin felt a sense of satisfaction. He had just used a small encouragement technique to make Sun Zhihai full of energy. Although it was a small matter, it made Cheng Jemin realize that there was a lot to learn about managing people.
"I've already talked to Brother Cheng. The four of us will be in one group, but our bonus will be split among the four of us." Li Jing came to Xu Meizhen and the others, smiling.
"Really, that's great." Xu Meizhen pinched Li Jing's cheek and laughed, "I knew you could do it."
"Of course, among us sisters, I'm not boasting, but except for Xiao'e, no one can match me." Li Jing puffed out her cute chest, a hint of pride on her face.
The girl she called Xiao'e, the one Cheng Jemin rated as high as Shi Ning, heard Li Jing's teasing and poked her small forehead with a finger, "Talking nonsense again."
"Xiao'e, Li Jing isn't talking nonsense. She's telling the truth. When it comes to using beauty to get things done, no one can match this little vixen except you." Xu Meizhen quickly hid behind another girl, using her as a shield to avoid Li Jing's attack.
"Alright, stop fooling around. Where's Brother Cheng? He hired us, not to let you play around here." The girl called Xiao'e pointed toward Cheng Jemin's position.
"Xiao'e, I just found out that this event seems to be organized by Brother Cheng. Do you think anyone will buy an apple for five yuan?" Xu Meizhen, after putting on her Santa hat, asked with a puzzled tone.
Xiao'e frowned but didn't answer. Li Jing, however, laughed, "I think it will work. If someone gives me a Christmas apple tonight, I'll definitely jump into his arms."
"That's what you say. I'll go tell the boys in our school, and I bet you'll get a bunch of Christmas apples." Xu Meizhen, who seemed to enjoy teasing Li Jing, said without giving her any face.
Li Jing, who was putting on her Santa hat, didn't say anything, just gave Xu Meizhen a dirty look. Xiao'e, however, looked at Cheng Jemin, who was directing confidently, with a hint of confusion in her eyes.
He's selling apples so expensively, will anyone really buy them?
PS: The Spring Festival matters are finally mostly settled! From now on, Xiao Mao will return to the regular update schedule. This week, without any recommendations, Mao Mao needs the support of the brothers, so please don't forget to recommend, click, and collect!