Good employee!
Lu Yuan was deeply moved.
To become stronger, to complete the company's tasks, and to avoid being a burden, he was willing to pay out of his own pocket!
How could I refuse this?
"There's something else I need to report to you," Black Smoke interjected. "Recently, more and more townspeople want us to build houses for them. They really like the two-story houses we designed. They know they can't afford them now, but they are willing to sign long-term contracts to pay with future labor."
Oh?
See, they don't even need me to suggest it; the townspeople can figure it out themselves.
Whether they are Cang Yuan employees or Red Iron Town townspeople, they are not idiots. They understand how to feel life, yearn for life, and will find the best way out for themselves.
Unless someone holds their heads down and forces them to work like oxen and horses.
"Yes, I know," Lu Yuan nodded. "I came today specifically for this matter. Let's go!"
The group arrived at the Town Hall.
According to Lu Yuan's previous instructions, the Town Chief used the loudspeaker to broadcast, notifying everyone in town to temporarily put down their work and gather.
Realizing that something important might be happening, within just a few minutes, almost everyone in town had gathered in the square in front of the Town Hall.
Those who arrived late had no place to stand, so they simply stood by the wall in the nearby alleys, so they could at least hear what was going on.
"What's going on? Everyone has to come..."
"I don't know, I was cooking at home."
"It's probably something important, the Cang Yuan Engineer is standing next to the Town Chief."
As the townspeople watched, Lu Yuan walked up the large steps in front of the Town Hall entrance and took off his tactical helmet.
A stir went through the crowd.
"That's the Cang Yuan Executive Officer! Shhh... stop talking!"
"That is the Executive Officer?"
"So young!"
"So handsome..."
"Everyone! Quiet down, the Executive Officer is about to speak!"
Lu Yuan took the megaphone from the Town Chief and calmly adjusted the volume to maximum.
"Good afternoon, residents of Red Iron Town."
He calmly looked at the crowd, waited for a few seconds, then spoke again.
"Cang Yuan has been here for quite some time now. During this period, we have fought together, and now we are gathered again, working together to build a better life.
"However, despite this, in the eyes of many, Cang Yuan's appearance is still quite mysterious. What exactly does this company do, how does it operate internally, what are its development prospects? You know nothing about these, right?"
No one dared to answer directly below, but many nodded silently.
That's absolutely right.
"Hmm..."
Lu Yuan tried hard to show a friendly smile.
"It's okay, this sense of distance ends today. Cang Yuan will open up internship positions starting now. Any townspeople who are healthy, have proper thoughts, and possess certain labor skills can submit an application and personally step into Cang Yuan's workplaces to experience our daily work."
Almost everyone was stunned for a moment.
Did I hear that right?
The Cang Yuan in their impression possesses powerful strength and incredible technology, more qualified than Oasis City to put on airs, yet now they are willing to accept us?
Us, these dusty miners and smelters?
"The internship period lasts six weeks, with full board and lodging included, working 7 to 10 hours a day, in two or three shifts, with half pay during this time; after six weeks, if you pass the assessment, you can become a regular employee and officially join Cang Yuan, receiving full pay."
Speaking of this, Lu Yuan paused.
This is the key point.
"The wages we pay are not Oasis City coins, but 'cangyuan coin' issued by Cang Yuan itself. This is electronic currency, with no physical form. The internship wage is 5 cangyuan coin per day, with a bonus of up to 2 cangyuan coin per day based on performance. Over six weeks, you can get up to 294 coins, and after becoming a regular employee, it's 300 to 420 per month."
He cautiously avoided offering high bonuses.
Most of the first batch of interns would be industrial workers. High bonuses might lead to intense internal competition detrimental to health, and if equipment is damaged due to overwork, it would be counterproductive.
The people of Red Iron Town didn't know what "electronic currency" was, how to spend money without a physical form, how to get change, or even the purchasing power of cangyuan coin.
But the included food and housing were already very attractive. On this basis, the wages didn't need to be too high.
"So, how many cangyuan coin does it cost to build a new two-story house?"
In the crowd, a timid voice asked.
"2200 cangyuan coin."
Lu Yuan didn't hesitate, answering instantly.
"2200... That's seven months of regular salary? You can do it in half a year!? Is that true!?"
This price was so cheap it was hard to believe!
It was like a pie falling from the sky!
No, this was going straight to heaven!
Beside him, Black Smoke couldn't help but glance at Lu Yuan.
"In the future, cangyuan coin will gradually replace Oasis City coins in Red Iron Town and can be used to purchase more goods and services from Cang Yuan. Those interested in interning, please register here with the Town Chief."
After speaking, Lu Yuan walked down the steps and approached the Engineer players.
"Your task is to be the master for these interns, teaching them how to operate all the production equipment, including the 'Worker Ant' exoskeleton; you also need to familiarize them with our work mode and atmosphere, correct any previous incompatible or improper operating habits, in short, you need to train them to meet our product standards."
"I understand!" Hammer Girl nodded. "We need to establish strict manufacturing standards!"
"That's the idea. I will have the Butler send you the specific tasks and 'national standards'. You don't need to put too much effort into it yourselves. You can arrange your time freely to teach the interns what needs to be taught. The experience from these tasks should be enough to close the experience gap between you and the Soldier players."
"Yay!"
Coffee Cat and Hammer Girl beamed with joy.
It's more than just "closing" the experience gap!
The native residents won't share player experience. With interns as helpers, the aid construction tasks will also be completed faster. The extra time can be used to run dungeons, and their levels might even surpass the Soldiers'!
"No problem, leave it to us."
Only Black Smoke had a serious expression.
"If you have difficulties or suggestions for improvement, bring them up directly."
Lu Yuan saw that he had something to say.
"Um, Executive Officer..." Black Smoke pondered for a moment, finally deciding to voice his concerns.
"Didn't you set the housing price too low?"
Oh, so that's what it is...
It seems like you, a senior Engineer in the real-world power system, have already paid off your mortgage and don't need to fulfill your home-buying dream in the game.
No, given Black Smoke's age, his first house might have been allocated for free by his workplace.
Ah, the generation gap!
"Then what do you think is a suitable price?"
"Pricing it at 20 to 25 times the annual salary is more appropriate. Executive Officer! I know we set off from the late 21st century, a prosperous and hopeful era, but this is the post-disaster apocalypse! In this wasteland, native residents are willing to pay anything for a long-term job and a 'mansion' of their own.
"From their perspective, exchanging stable work for a house, plus Cang Yuan's armed protection, is not working like an ox or horse, but a triple profit. A slightly higher housing price can give the native residents more motivation to work!"
Slightly higher, huh...
Lu Yuan didn't rush to deny Black Smoke, nor did he insist on his own opinion.
"Now, with the land for the house being free, what is the cost of building a two-story residence?"
He asked Black Smoke.