Wang Jianye stood up and said firmly, “Now I am announcing several decisions: First, we will readjust the salary system and increase the base salary of grassroots employees by 20%; second, we will establish a performance reward system and select outstanding employees every month and give them a bonus of yuan; third, we will add two waiters and a kitchen helper to reduce everyone’s work pressure.”

The hall was instantly filled with applause and cheers. Xiao Li excitedly high-fived Xiao Zhang, while Lao Ma secretly wiped his eyes.

“But this is not enough,” Wang Jianye raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, “I noticed that everyone’s mental state is also very important. Starting from next week, we will organize a team-building activity once a month, and the cost will be borne by the hotel. At the same time, we will arrange professional skills training twice a week to help everyone improve.”

Manager Wang reminded quietly: “Boss, these measures will increase costs…”

Wang Jianye waved his hand and said: “Only when the employees are satisfied can the customers be satisfied and the business can last long. This money is worth spending!”

After the meeting, the employees left in twos and threes, with smiles on everyone’s face. Xiao Li caught up with Wang Jianye who was walking in front of him and said, “Boss Wang, thank you! We will work hard and live up to your trust.”

Wang Jianye smiled gently, “I should thank you for letting me discover the problem in time. By the way,” he took out a business card from his pocket, “This is my old friend, Professor Zhou, a human resources expert. I asked him to come next week to help us design a more scientific salary system and employee development channel. If you are interested, you can join the discussion.”

Xiao Li was flattered and took the business card: “Really? I’m just an ordinary waiter…”

“In my eyes, there is no difference between ordinary and extraordinary, only the difference between serious and not serious.” Wang Jianye patted her shoulder, “You are very brave and dare to speak your true thoughts, which is exactly what we need.”

In the following month, Wang’s Hotel underwent tremendous changes. After the salary adjustment, the employees were very motivated; the performance evaluation system designed by Professor Zhou was fair and transparent, allowing everyone to see the direct relationship between effort and reward; regular training and team-building activities greatly enhanced the team’s cohesion.

The team-building activity on Friday night was held at a farmhouse in the suburbs. The weather was clear and cool in autumn, and the employees were divided into groups to compete in cooking skills, with constant laughter. The team of Xiao Li and Xiao Zhang won the first place with their innovative “Improved Version of Earth Pot Chicken”, and Wang Jianye personally awarded them certificates and bonuses.

“I didn’t expect that we could win the award!” Xiao Li held the certificate in his hand, his face filled with pride.

Wang Jianye smiled and said, “This is the power of a team. By the way, you and Xiao Zhang are both candidates for the monthly outstanding employee selection next week.”

Xiao Zhang scratched his head and said embarrassedly: “In fact, we are working harder than before, but we don’t feel so tired.”

“This is a change in mentality.” Professor Zhou came over without knowing when. “When employees feel respected and valued, work is no longer a burden, but a way to realize self-worth.”

On the return bus, the employees sang songs and the atmosphere was lively. Wang Jianye sat in the front row, listening to the laughter behind him, and his mouth curled up unconsciously. He thought of last week’s financial report – although labor costs increased, customer satisfaction and table turnover rate both hit new highs, and overall profits increased by 15%.

Manager Wang came over and whispered, “Boss, this is a brilliant move. The employees are now like chicken blood, even the laziest ones are active now.”

Wang Jianye shook his head: “This is not a trick, but the most basic principle – treat others as you would like to be treated. If you treat your employees well, they will naturally treat your customers well. How can your business be bad?”

……

The autumn sun poured into the office of Wang’s Hotel through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Wang Jianye stood in front of the window, looking at the slightly deserted sign of Shiyunlou opposite, his brows slightly furrowed.

Since the last health crisis subsided, the business of Wang’s Restaurant has not only recovered, but has become more prosperous than before. But Wang Jianye knows that this victory is only temporary.

“Boss Wang, this is last month’s financial report.” Liu Ming, the financial director, walked in with a look of joy that he could not hide. “Sales increased by 35% compared to the same period last year, and net profit doubled.”

Wang Jianye took the report and scanned the pleasing figures, but he did not smile. “Manager Liu, do you think the Dianshiyunlou will give up?”

Liu Ming was stunned for a moment, then he understood his boss’s concern: “Do you mean Sun Fu will make a comeback?”

“Based on my understanding of Sun Fu, he will never give up.” Wang Jianye turned and walked towards his desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. “We can’t always respond passively. We must take the initiative to completely resolve this hidden danger.”

Outside the window, a withered yellow sycamore leaf drifted down with the wind and landed right on the windowsill. Wang Jianye reached out and picked up the leaf, stroking its veins thoughtfully. “Please help me contact a reliable private detective. Keep it absolutely confidential.”

Three days later, a middle-aged man named Chen Mo appeared in Wang Jianye’s office. He was wearing an ordinary gray jacket and his face was so ordinary that people would forget it at first sight, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle.

“Boss Wang, I have a general understanding of your situation.” Chen Mo’s voice was low and steady. “To completely solve the problem of Sun Fu, we need more comprehensive evidence to prove that he not only targeted Wang’s Hotel, but also engaged in other unfair competition.”

Wang Jianye nodded: “This is exactly why I asked you to come. The cost is not a problem. I need solid evidence, enough to make Sun Fu unable to stir up trouble in the catering industry again.”

Chen Mo took out a notebook from his briefcase. “According to my preliminary investigation, in the past two years, three emerging restaurants suddenly encountered hygiene problems or negative online reviews when their business was just starting to pick up, and then quickly closed down. Coincidentally, these three restaurants are all located within three kilometers of Shiyun Building.”

Wang Jianye’s eyes flashed with shock: “You mean…”

“The probability that this is just a coincidence is almost zero.” Chen Mo closed his notebook. “I need two weeks to conduct an in-depth investigation, and I may need your assistance during this period.”

“No problem, feel free to contact me if you need anything.” Wang Jianye stood up and shook hands with Chen Mo. He felt the firm strength coming from the other’s palm and felt a little relieved.

After Chen Mo left, Wang Jianye stood in front of the window, looking at the customers coming in and out of the opposite Shiyunlou, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. He thought of the hardships when he started his business, and the helplessness of those peers who went bankrupt due to vicious competition. If it was true as Chen Mo said, Sun Fu had used similar means to ruin many restaurants, then he must not be let off easily this time.

The autumn wind gradually rose, and the sycamore trees outside the window rustled, as if telling something. Wang Jianye took a deep breath and made a decision.

Two weeks later in the evening, Chen Mo appeared in front of Wang Jianye again, this time he brought a thick file bag.

“Boss Wang, the situation is more serious than we thought.” Chen Mo’s voice was a little tired, but his eyes were still sharp. “Sun Fu not only targeted Wang’s Restaurant, but also used almost the same method to suppress ‘Jiangnan Restaurant’ and ‘Chuanweiju’.”

Wang Jianye took the file bag, which contained photos, audio recordings and written testimonies. He quickly browsed through the materials, frowning more and more. In the photo, Sun Fu was talking with the health inspector in a hidden corner; in the recording, Sun Fu personally admitted that “spending a little money can make competitors close down”; in the testimony, several former restaurant owners described similar experiences.

“Are these evidences sufficient for prosecution?” Wang Jianye’s voice trembled a little.

Chen Mo nodded: “It’s enough to prove Sun Fu’s commercial defamation and unfair competition. But we need more to make him unable to turn over in court.” “What do you mean?”

“I suggest you contact the owners of these two restaurants and jointly sue Sun Fu.” Chen Mo pointed at the two names in the document. “There is strength in numbers, and their testimony will be more convincing.”

Wang Jianye pondered for a moment and said, “Okay, I’ll go visit them in person.”

The next morning, Wang Jianye drove to a remote residential area in the east of the city. According to the address provided by Chen Mo, he found the home of Lin Zhiyuan, the former owner of “Jiangnan Restaurant”. It was an old apartment building, and the corridor was filled with a damp smell.

Wang Jianye knocked gently on a door on the third floor. The door opened a crack, revealing the face of a haggard middle-aged man.

“Boss Lin? I’m Wang Jianye from Wang’s Hotel.”

The man behind the door was visibly startled, then looked around warily: “How did you find this place?”

“I have something important to discuss with you, about why your restaurant closed down.” Wang Jianye lowered his voice, “I know it was Sun Fu who was behind this.”

The eyes behind the door flashed with pain and anger, and then the door opened completely. “Come in.”

Lin Zhiyuan’s home was simple but tidy, with a few photos of the heyday of “Jiangnan Restaurant” hanging on the wall. Wang Jianye noticed a catering management textbook and several job resumes on the coffee table.

“Are you still working in the catering industry?” Wang Jianye asked.

Lin Zhiyuan smiled bitterly, “It’s not that easy. Since the closure of Jiangnan Restaurant, I’ve been in debt and now I can only do odd jobs to make a living.” He poured a cup of tea for Wang Jianye, “Tell me, what do you want from me?”

Wang Jianye took out some of the evidence that Chen Mo had collected: “I’d like you to take a look at these.”

Lin Zhiyuan carefully looked through the photos and documents, and his hands began to tremble slightly. When he heard Sun Fu’s familiar voice in the recording, he slammed the documents on the coffee table.

“This bastard!” Lin Zhiyuan’s voice was filled with anger. “I knew there was something wrong with the hygiene inspection! Five people suddenly came, turned the kitchen upside down, and finally accused us of using expired ingredients and fined us 50,000! But those ingredients were clearly brought in by them!”

Wang Jianye nodded: “Now we have evidence to prove that this was planned by Sun Fu. I would like to ask you to join other victims in bringing Sun Fu to court.”

Lin Zhiyuan was silent for a long time, with a flash of hesitation in his eyes: “I have nothing left, what’s the point of going through all this?”

“For justice.” Wang Jianye looked directly into Lin Zhiyuan’s eyes, “and also to seek justice for yourself. If you win, you can at least get some compensation.”

Outside the window, a sparrow landed on the windowsill and looked at the two people in the room curiously. Lin Zhiyuan followed the bird with his eyes, as if thinking about something.

“Okay, I’ll join.” He finally made up his mind, “But I have one condition – if I lose the case, all the expenses will be borne by you.”

Wang Jianye extended his hand without hesitation: “Deal.”

After leaving Lin Zhiyuan’s home, Wang Jianye drove to the west of the city to look for Zhao Haichuan, the owner of “Chuanweiju”. After the closure of this once prosperous Sichuan restaurant, Zhao Haichuan switched to become a food supplier, but his business has been tepid.

In a small farmers’ market, Wang Jianye found Zhao Haichuan unloading goods. The former Sichuan chef now had dark skin and calloused hands, and his former elegance was no longer visible.

“Master Zhao, I’ve long heard of your name.” Wang Jianye took the initiative to step forward and greet him.

Zhao Haichuan looked at the uninvited guest in a suit with caution: “Who are you?”

“Wang Jianye from Wang’s Hotel.”

Hearing this name, Zhao Haichuan’s expression immediately turned cold: “Oh, big boss. What do you want from a small vendor like me?”

Wang Jianye didn’t take it seriously and went straight to the point: “I want to talk to you about Sun Fu and the real reason why ‘Chuanweiju’ closed down.”

Zhao Haichuan paused for a moment, then continued to move the boxes: “It’s the past, there’s nothing to talk about.”

“But what if I say that we now have a chance to make Sun Fu pay for what he did?” Wang Jianye took out the document bag. “These are evidences that prove that Sun Fu used unfair means to suppress competitors, including your ‘Chuanweiju’.”

Zhao Haichuan finally stopped what he was doing, took the file and quickly looked through it. When he saw a photo of Sun Fu meeting with the leader of the online troll army, his face turned pale.

“This bastard!” Zhao Haichuan gritted his teeth. “Dozens of negative reviews suddenly appeared online that year, saying that there were cockroaches in our dishes and that our service attitude was poor. It was all nonsense! The reputation I spent so much effort to build was ruined overnight!”

Wang Jianye nodded: “Now we have solid evidence to prove that this was done by someone hired by Sun Fu. I would like to ask you to work with Lin Zhiyuan to bring Sun Fu to court.”

The flame of revenge ignited in Zhao Haichuan’s eyes, but soon dimmed: “A lawsuit costs money and time. How can I have the energy for it now?”

“I will bear all the expenses, you just need to appear in court to testify.” Wang Jianye said firmly, “And if you win the case, you will get the compensation you deserve.”

The market was bustling with people, and the sounds of hawking were heard one after another. Zhao Haichuan looked at his simple stall, then at the photo of Sun Fu, who was full of vigor and vitality, and finally nodded.

“Okay, count me in. Not for money, just to vent my anger!”

In this way, Wang Jianye successfully united the two victims. In the following days, with the assistance of Chen Mo, the three collected more solid evidence, including the bank transfer records of Sun Fu’s bribery of health inspectors, copies of the contract with the water army company, and testimonies from several former employees. (End of this chapter)