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Chapter 59: Chapter 51: Joining the Team (Begging for a Recommendation!)_2
"Haha, good, I like your frank and candid nature. Don’t worry about the cost though. A few million-dollar deal isn’t expensive as long as it’s worth the price." Tang Qing laughed heartily upon hearing this.
"That’s fine then. If it can be expedited, I’m willing to make some concessions." Qi Yan also brightened up and smiled upon hearing this.
"Before talking about the acquisition, I am curious about what you were previously doing?" Tang Qing inquired. He had sensed a distinct artistic aura emanating from Qi Yan ever since she walked in the door, her clothing too was immaculately coordinated and full of personality. He decided it would be prudent to understand his counterpart first before discussing the particulars - to build a foundation of familiarity before negotiating the price - all amicably.
"I studied fashion design and used to work at Versace’s headquarters. If it weren’t for my father’s severe illness, I wouldn’t have come back." Qi Yan pushed up her glasses and spoke with a somewhat sad tone. She had to quit her dream job to come back home whenever thoughts of this filled her with loss. Regardless of how her father’s health develops, she is prepared to stay back home and develop her career there.
She had already had dinner at home, and was just sipping some tea.
"Versace? Then why didn’t you continue managing your family’s factory?" Tang Qing asked in surprise. Versace, that’s quite impressive. Though he didn’t know too much about it, he had often seen references to it in novels.
"I like designing, not managing, and I do not like socializing." Qi Yan stated succinctly. She’s had enough of the unpleasant experiences with socializing, having felt constantly eyed like prey by people.
That’s why she had made a few of these individuals lose face, and they, in turn, made things difficult for her. Add that to internal issues within the factory, she felt drained and wanted no further involvement. Her father had also agreed, not wishing her to keep running around for social events.
"What’s your plan going forward?" Tang Qing continued to probe. At this point, he was considering bringing her in. Considering her capability, having worked at Versace, he needed no further evaluation.
Like graduates from prestigious universities are often highly regarded by employers for their potential. While their alma mater may not represent their individual capacity, it does at least signify their diligence in high school and their ability to focus on what was important - their studies.
These stand for the two most important indicators - learning ability and learning attitude. While in school, what matters most is studying. Therefore, college grades don’t really have much of a bearing and the focus then falls on their performance in high school.
This is the reason why large companies value educational background. The company value isn’t the university you attended, but your ability to learn and your attitude towards learning. They need people who will work, not steer the ship.
Put simply, the company values the face that the National College Entrance Examination is a filter for potential talent. Rather than looking for elites amidst the leftovers, they prefer to pick from the comparatively better screws (potential employees), as training and evaluating an employee also involves major costs.
Just like those who pursue an MBA. Finishing the degree doesn’t necessarily indicate their potential, there are countless examples of self-made individuals leading massive companies. But there are also many examples that demonstrate the capabilities of those who have pursued an MBA.
To be clear, these people might come off as stiff but that’s what large companies value most - stability. The larger a company, the more stability it needs. Instead of opening up to breakthrough developments, it is better that they do not turn an aircraft carrier into a rickety old ship too quickly.
This reality is hard to change in the short run. Tang Qing felt this was a form of social stratification imposed by the national examination. While he didn’t agree with it, there wasn’t much he could do about it. Even though the future may see the abolishment of first or second-tier universities, the gap still exists starkly. It seems like everyone has accepted a standard - good students go to good universities, and good university graduates are highly sought after. From Tang Qing’s perspective, this reality isn’t changing in a few decades.
"I’m planning to start a fashion design company. Isn’t online shopping booming in the country? I plan to sell my designs online." Qi Yan candidly spoke up. It was not any business secret and she saw no harm in divulging it.
"Are you interested in working at my company?" Over a sip of his tea, Tang Qing made his offer. He was certain that with her abilities she would be successful. With the rise of platforms like Alibaba, he had seen a stable business model run by two people - one designing and the factory handling production. At their peak, they pulled in tens of millions in annual sales. Tang Qing was impressed that Qi Yan had such an understanding at this point. With good ability, making money didn’t seem difficult.
"Work? What do you mean?" Qi Yan questioned, looking at Tang Qing.
"The acquisition of your family’s factory isn’t for subcontracting but to create a brand. You’re the first designer I’ve come across who also has international company experience. So, I wanted to ask if you’re interested in joining my company." Tang Qing said earnestly.
"You want to create a brand? Do you have any idea how difficult that is?" Qi Yan asked, skeptically. As a professional designer, she was well aware of the market dynamics. Without substantial capital, succeeding with a brand is nearly impossible.
"I’m aware. It’s just money. What else could be a challenge?" Tang Qing, leaned back in his chair, with a nonchalant expression.
"Um... no." Qi Yan was momentarily silenced. She had to agree that with money, very few things remained out of reach, and establishing a brand certainly fell into that category - where production and distribution could be resolved with money.
"What are your thoughts then?" Tang Qing asked, his expression turning serious.
"I agree. Has your company been set up yet?" After some consideration, Qi Yan answered. While she had plans to start her own company and was somewhat confident about its future profitability, she disliked managing businesses. The experience with her father’s factory had left a negative impact on her, and she felt somewhat apprehensive about management. Seeing the opportunity at hand, she thought it would be worth trying out.
If there were any decent fashion design companies locally, she might not have considered going independent. Additionally, the factory was her father’s hard work, and she was quite willing to contribute to its success and expansion.
