2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 379 Once you're here, you're a Shenzhen resident

Longgang District.

My first stop in Shenzhen was Dexian Electronics.

Zhang Xuhui had already arranged a car to wait for Tan Jincheng and his party at the airport.

After the Chinese New Year, Zhang Xuhui went directly to Shenzhen to take over the work of the electronics factory, like a brick that could be moved wherever needed.

Dexian Electronics had a rather chaotic Chinese New Year. Before the holiday, they heard that the boss had sold the factory.

Although the leaders said that work would continue as usual, some anxious employees still chose to resign after the New Year.

FlashChe has a great reputation in Beicang, and its salary and benefits are far ahead of others. However, this is only the case in the Beicang area. When it invests in factories in other cities, the salary is based on the average salary level of those cities.

At most, it will be slightly higher, but it won't be too much higher than the local average wage, or they'll try to improve the benefits. Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake, and right now, Flash is not even a powerful dragon.

In 2007, the minimum wage in Shenzhen's electronics factories was generally between 750 and 900 yuan. The work system was two shifts, with employees either working individually or having two days off per month, depending on the orders.

Generally speaking, the total monthly income of production line workers in electronics factories is between 1500 and 2000. This is a common practice in electronics factories, where the monthly salary is divided into many small options, and overtime is required to earn a higher salary.

The salary level at Dexian Electronics is comparable to that of other electronics factories. Production line workers earn around 1500 to 2000 yuan, with some outstanding individuals earning more. Middle-level managers earn around 5000 yuan.

This income is incomparable to that of Flash Motors headquarters. In a highly developed city like Shenzhen, where the cost of living is much higher than in other cities, life wouldn't be particularly comfortable.

It's the same old trick, just like when he acquired Bafang Electric: give the employees a raise to stabilize morale. Zhang Xuhui could do that, but he can't.

Only the boss can win people's hearts.

Upon joining FlashCheer, as one of its original core members, Zhang Xuhui has already moved to Shenzhen, the third city he has worked in in less than two years.

From the rainy Jiangnan region to the dry north, and then to the humid and hot Shenzhen, the return of spring weather in Guangdong Province is quite severe this season. Zhang Xuhui, who experienced the power of the return of spring weather for the first time, was quite unaccustomed to it.

“You can really make money in Shenzhen, but the weather is really unbearable. Boss, you and your wife just arrived, so you must be careful.”

In the early 2000s, factories in Shenzhen really didn't lack orders, and finding business was easy. That's why Zhao Wu took the money and left without hesitation.

The 3C and battery businesses related to Dexian Electronics can no longer be done, but mobile phone accessories are a good option. Go to Huaqiangbei and make a decent living there.

There is absolutely no need to be subservient to others or work for them.

Zhang Xuhui's first step in taking over Dexian Electronics was naturally to control the finance and business aspects. Dexian Electronics had a good business foundation and was doing very well in the domestic market.

Regarding exports, Tan Jincheng controls Jinyi Industrial, which has channels for exporting electronic products. The two companies can cooperate to expand Dexian Electronics' business scope and make its export business bigger and stronger.

By expanding the existing 3C business, it should be relatively easy to independently support the development of the mobile phone lithium battery business.

Having moved to three different cities in just over a year, honed his skills in management positions, and led the acquisition of Dexian Electronics, Zhang Xuhui is no longer the sharp-eyed, ambitious college graduate he was when he first joined the company.

He has become much more composed, and his eyes have also changed considerably. With his short hair and well-dressed clothes, he gives off the feeling of an elite person.

"Your mom didn't scold me when she went home for Chinese New Year, did she? She transferred you from Beijing to Shenzhen, which is delaying your chance to find a girlfriend."

Zhang Xuhui is only one year older than Tan Jincheng. If he had a stable job in one city, he wouldn't have been in a hurry to find a girlfriend. However, he has changed cities three times in just over a year. His mother is both proud that her son is successful and worried that the unstable environment will delay his marriage.

Tan Jincheng heard about this from Zhang Xupeng.

Business administration sounds impressive, but it's actually pretty useless. If Zhang Xuhui had just graduated and was looking for a job without any family connections, he wouldn't have reached his current level even after working for ten or twenty years.

If college students majoring in this field wait a few more years to graduate and find a job, their first job will most likely be in sales. Those who are more flexible can make money, but those who are less flexible will be fooled and waste their youth.

Zhang Xuhui's rise from a college graduate with a mediocre major to a senior executive in the company was due to his own efforts, but more importantly, it was thanks to Zhang Xupeng's introduction that FlashDrive provided him with this platform.

The uncle's family is very grateful to Zhang Xupeng. They rarely have contact with Tan Jincheng, but they still have opportunities to get together with their nephew's family during holidays and they will talk to Zhang Xupeng about their innermost thoughts.

"No, my mom is indeed worried that it will be difficult for me to find a girlfriend, but I am still very grateful to the boss. Without the Flash platform, I probably wouldn't be able to find a good job."

"Let's endure this hardship for two more years. You're still quite young. Once we've trained enough people here to manage the factory, we'll transfer you back to Luzhou. You'll be able to return home in glory then."

Tan Jincheng, who is a year younger than Zhang Xuhui, spoke of Zhang Xuhui's young age so naturally, and neither Gu Qingqing nor Zhang Xuhui himself felt there was anything wrong with it.

Zhang Xuhui's eyes lit up: "Does the company have investment plans in Luzhou?"

"Yes, there is such a plan. The main focus will still be on Hangxin New Energy, and we plan to make an investment in Luzhou." Tan Jincheng nodded.

Tan Jincheng will be going to Luzhou soon to make a visit and decide on investment plans in Anhui Province. Dong Jinggui will also be going there for inspection. Zeng Jixiang is currently in contact with Luzhou based on Tan Jincheng's schedule. "Looks like I can buy a house in Luzhou ahead of time," Zhang Xuhui said happily.

If he were to buy a house in his hometown of Yicheng, he would have already saved enough money to pay for it outright. However, his parents are farmers, and he himself does not work in Yicheng, so buying a house in his hometown would be meaningless.

The initial plan was to buy in Beicang, but then I was transferred to Beijing, and before I could even settle in, I was moved to Shenzhen, so the house purchase was delayed.

However, judging from what the boss said, he might place him in Luzhou in the future, which would be perfect. He lived in Luzhou for four years and spent the best years of his university life there.

He graduated from a university in Anhui Province. If Tan Jincheng hadn't had that accident after the college entrance examination, he would have been his junior.

Business administration isn't considered a top major at universities in Anhui Province. The job market for his class is just so-so. Those who are preparing for postgraduate entrance exams or civil service exams are still working hard, and there aren't many like him who get jobs right after graduating with a bachelor's degree, and not many of them have good jobs.

However, if he returns to Luzhou to lead Hangxin Energy's new project as an executive of an electric vehicle giant that currently ranks second in domestic sales and may even become number one in the future, it would truly be a triumphant homecoming.

"Okay, we'll talk about this later. Get me a copy of the company's personnel information, and then we'll arrange for middle and senior management to be in charge. Let's have a meeting."

Tan Jincheng's trip to Shenzhen was quite hectic, mainly because Gu Qingqing didn't have much time. She had to go back to oversee the daily operations of Orange Technology, so she didn't have much time to waste.

After finishing these three things, I still need to go to Hong Kong for a trip; I have to keep my promise.

Tan Jincheng came to Shenzhen this time without an assistant, so Gu Qingqing temporarily acted as his assistant to help him handle some daily affairs.

A short while later, Zhang Xuhui brought over the company's personnel information, a thick stack containing employee data, financial statements, and sales figures.

The Dexian Electronics Factory, covering an area of ​​50 acres, has a large number of employees, with more than 800 people including management and front-line workers. The monthly salary expenditure alone exceeds 200 million yuan, and the annual expenditure exceeds 2400 million yuan.

However, this data made Tan Jincheng laugh: "See? That's why people call electronics factories 'black-hearted factories,' right?"

Gu Qingqing, standing to the side, was speechless. Influenced by Tan Jincheng, Gu Qingqing had set her standards for salary and benefits quite high.

The percentage of wages to revenue varies from company to company, depending on the type of business and its business model. Generally, this percentage can fluctuate between 10% and 50%.

Leaving aside other industries, manufacturing companies like Flashpoint and Dexian Electronics generally have a lower proportion of employee wages because their profitability depends more on innovation and the efficiency of their production lines.

A single technological breakthrough can give a company a lead over its competitors for several years, allowing it to reap high-end profits. For example, Hangxin New Energy's lithium battery project has been the envy of many of its peers since various regions began to focus on lithium battery projects.

Generally speaking, wages account for about 8% of the turnover of manufacturing companies. In this era where people are generally unwilling to pay social security, this is considered quite reasonable. However, the proportion at the headquarters of Flashgate North Warehouse exceeds 10%, which is why many screw-driving workers are envious.

Needless to say, internet companies like Orange Technology are all about burning money, with salaries and benefits far more extravagant than Flashpoint.

At Dexian Electronics, wages account for only 5% of turnover; however, this is a common situation in electronics factories, and there are reasons for its poor reputation.

Gu Qingqing shook her head and sighed, "In a big city like this, in a high-cost area, it's really hard to save money with this salary."

"So, you're saying you're from Shenzhen, but you spend your money wherever you earn it, so you're basically from there," Tan Jincheng said, pursing his lips.

The development of Shenzhen is inseparable from the contributions of these screw-making workers in electronics factories.

Shaking his head, he realized that with Tan Jincheng's current abilities, he was powerless to change the status quo of the industry, and it was unlikely that he could raise salaries too much overall. However, he could offer higher compensation to the R&D department to give them some motivation.

Li Jing, the R&D team leader, earns less than 8000 yuan a month, which is about the same salary as someone in a small workshop in Beicang who is responsible for mold design or CNC programming.

"Let's adjust the overall salary-to-revenue ratio to 8%. Social security contributions are a must. Have the finance department come up with a plan," Tan Jincheng said to Zhang Xuhui with a sigh.

The finance team was transferred from Beicang Flash's headquarters, and everyone knows that Tan Jincheng emphasizes efficiency.

Zhang Xuhui gave the order, and the announcement was posted that afternoon. The cafeteria even added pork chops, chicken legs, and fried ribbonfish to the meal to coincide with the pay raise, making it more abundant than ever before.

Among them, the salaries of all R&D department staff were increased by 25%, and Li Jing's basic salary directly exceeded 1 yuan.

Li Jing was so moved that he ate three chicken legs that night. Damn, the new boss is awesome! I'm so glad I didn't listen to my old boss and follow him.

"Holy crap, did the cafeteria change chefs tonight? Or did they change the purchasing manager? This is so lavish!"

"Damn it, if I hadn't seen the announcement and known that the boss had changed, I would have thought the company would go out of business tomorrow."

"Not only did they raise salaries, but they also paid social security? What kind of amazing boss is this?"

"Hey, thank goodness I didn't leave after the New Year. Those who left would have missed out big time. But it would be even better if we could have chicken legs every meal."

(End of this chapter)