Chapter 76: Chapter 074: The Number One Employee
At the age of twenty-seven, Qin Zixuan, adorned with a pair of rimless glasses atop her nose, exhibited a delicate face with a certain mature and intellectual charm. As an Emperor Pavilion Grade Seven female servant, and a Harvard University double-master's degree holder with a monthly salary of one hundred and fifty thousand, she was now serving respectfully by the side.
The girl named Lin Mengxi sitting on his left-hand side was one year younger than Chu Mo, having just celebrated her twenty-fourth birthday.
Proficient in the four arts of Chinese zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting, and also fluent in the seven languages of the empire, Lin Mengxi was the only Emperor Pavilion Grade Eight female servant with a monthly salary of three hundred thousand.
Chu Mo wanted to select one of them to provide with ample financial support for rapid growth until they became towering trees that could provide him shelter from the wind and the rain.
If things had gone according to Chu Mo's original plan, between the two, the rule-abiding Qin Zixuan would have the advantage. Abiding by the rules meant that in the future, her loyalty would be very high, at least likely to be higher than the more variable Lin Mengxi.
Furthermore, Qin Zixuan, as a Harvard double-master's degree holder, had a more intellectual and refined aura, which was more suitable for the persona of a powerful woman.
In contrast, the piano, Go, calligraphy, and painting skills that Lin Mengxi excelled in were more in line with the setting of a female servant and could be useful in pleasing her master; however, this was contrary to Chu Mo's plan of cultivating her into a female CEO.
Therefore, while enjoying the delicacies, Chu Mo had vaguely made his decision in his heart.
"Miss Lin, please try this crystal chicken egg; it's been chilled in the refrigerator. The weather is hot, and it tastes cool and delicious," said Chu Mo with a smile in his eyes, treating the female servant beside him like a guest, his voice warm and polite.
As soon as he finished speaking, a Grade Four female servant immediately stepped forward to assist in serving a crystal chicken egg to Lin Mengxi, carefully cutting it into small pieces before gently placing it in her dish.
The woman sitting on his left-hand side tasted it elegantly, and after a moment, the slightly hesitant woman gently said,
"The flavors of the green onion and ginger are a bit strong, diluting the original cool taste. The Emperor Pavilion's chef should have a higher level of skill than this. That this dish could be served... it must be Mr. Chu's own creation."
Upon hearing this, Chu Mo, who had been maintaining a neutral expression, could not help but raise an eyebrow slightly.
Indeed, the dish had been made by Chu Mo himself, with the villa's chef only giving instructions by the side. Chu Mo had followed the chef's requirements throughout the process, so there shouldn't be any major deviations.
With a light wave of his hand, a female servant by his side immediately helped him serve a crystal chicken egg, and after cutting it into bite-sized pieces for him, Chu Mo carefully tasted a piece. After a while, Chu Mo gazed at the woman next to him with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Compared to the chef's, the dish he had made indeed tasted slightly different, with a somewhat stronger ginger flavor. This tiny difference would have been undetectable if Chu Mo had not tasted it carefully.
However, the woman beside him had instantly noticed the difference and even deduced that the dish had been made by him, demonstrating a level of meticulousness in her thinking.
This made Chu Mo momentarily hesitate about eliminating her from consideration.
It seemed that this girl was not just a vase capable only of entertaining her master with zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting.
"Are you curious, Mr. Chu, as to why Miss Qin and I would be willing to stay here as female servants? Although the position offers high pay, the title of 'female servant' doesn't sound very pleasant."
Putting down her chopsticks and bowl, Chu Mo, who had been interested in recruiting one of them, nodded and said,
"I am eager to hear more."
The woman beside him with a delicate face and a smile, spoke seriously,
"In fact, the Emperor Pavilion's grading of female servants from one to nine is somewhat redundant. The monthly salary of a Grade Six female servant reaches sixty thousand, with an annual salary of over seven hundred thousand, which is actually the limit for a female servant.
Moreover, the annual salary of nearly two million for a Grade Seven female servant already exceeds the bottom line of most wealthy people.
Therefore, generally speaking, the highest level of female servant provided by Emperor Pavilion is Grade Six, for example, the highest-ranking female servant previously arranged for you, Mr. Chu, was a Grade Six head servant."
Seeing Chu Mo listening attentively, Lin Mengxi paused for a moment, her eyes shining as she continued,
"A Grade Seven female servant, Grade Eight female servant, or even the never-seen Grade Nine female servant, in a strict sense, these levels go beyond the definition of a female servant, and are more akin to a personal housekeeper for the villa owner.
For instance, there is a Grade Eight female servant at Emperor Pavilion Villa Number Two, who is not just a servant but also the master's confidant, able to provide the master with advice and assistance in various aspects.
At this level, female servants have their own right to choose. It's not just up to you to take an interest in us. If you don't show us your potential and attract us, we also reserve the right to refuse to serve you."
"A million-dollar annual salary is indeed very attractive to the average person, but for us, it's pretty standard," said the woman named Lin Mengxi with a smile on her stunning face, her whole being radiating youthful vivacity.
As the woman looked on with anticipation, Chu Mo, who was calmly turning his head, spoke to Qin Zixuan beside him:
"An annual salary of five million, and I can give you ten percent of the company's shares. You will be in complete control of the company, with no one else pointing fingers or giving orders.
I will provide you with fifty million in initial start-up capital. If you satisfy me, I will add another one hundred and fifty million mid-way. As for how much more I will invest later, that will depend on your performance, but I guarantee the total investment will not be less than three billion.
I will allow you one failure, are you brave enough to challenge your limits?"
Chu Mo's expression remained unchanged, and Qin Zixuan, who had always been diligently serving by his side, paused for a moment. However, it was merely a moment before she adjusted her mindset, bowed slightly, and said respectfully:
"Master, I will definitely not let you down."
Chu Mo nodded slightly; he had high hopes for this Harvard University double master's degree holder.
Being obedient and knowing her place were Qin Zixuan's strengths.
Of course, the main reason was that she had encountered a master like Chu Mo who was not short of money. Plus, at the moment, Chu Mo was somewhat desperate for talent, which created this opportunity. A regular rich person would never give her such a chance.
Keep in mind, even the children of the wealthiest person usually only have a few billion in start-up capital.
Turning his gaze to Lin Mengxi by his side, Chu Mo's eyebrows raised slightly as he said indifferently:
"Miss Lin, you may leave now."
As the words fell, Danny, who had been standing by his side, immediately stepped forward to Lin Mengxi's side and politely said:
"Miss Lin, this way, please."
The woman, with a complicated expression, bit her lip, but she knew this was not a place where she could act rashly. Despite the bitterness, she had no choice but to leave in disappointment.
Only after the dejected Lin Mengxi had left the restaurant did Chu Mo speak lightly:
"Miss Qin, do you know why I chose you instead of her?"
Qin Zixuan, who had been respectfully serving at his side, bowed her head slightly before cautiously answering:
"Miss Lin is still too young, impetuous, and has not found her proper place. Moreover, it seems that you, Mr. Chu, are in need of a competent assistant who understands business, not a vase skilled only in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting...
The third point, I believe, involves other considerations by Mr. Chu, which I do not feel at liberty to discuss."
Chu Mo looked up at her once more, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile as he said:
"There's nothing unspeakable about it. The third point is that Miss Lin currently has a boyfriend. A person's energy is limited; it's not possible to attend to both career and love equally.
Miss Qin, you are still single, and at least until you achieve results that satisfy me, I prefer that you prioritize your career. After all, you should understand that this type of opportunity to soar to new heights is something you will not encounter a second time in your life."
In the respectful and grateful demeanor of the woman by his side, Chu Mo spoke earnestly:
"Zi Xuan, I have high expectations for you. I can tell you clearly that the three billion investment is just a test for you.
If you cannot satisfy me, you might be eliminated after the first fifty million investment, and I will look for a new replacement. But if you do satisfy me, even heading a hundred-billion conglomerate is not out of the question.
I hope that one day, you can be proud of the decision you made today."