Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Organising a magazine
The biological clock really works. The next morning, Feng Yiping woke up from his sleep at six o'clock on time.
There was a faint fragrance in the air.
The curtains were drawn tightly shut, and from the other side of the bed came the steady, gentle snoring of Huang Jingping, curled up with her face facing this side, asleep. Her black hair was covering her face in a messy way, and only most of her body was covered by the quilt. The half-length blue-and-white striped T-shirt she had used as pajamas was rolled up, and one thigh was exposed, shining with an ivory luster in the dark room.
He got up quietly, gently covered her with the quilt, and carefully brushed away the long hair covering her face. He noticed that she was actually still smiling, had she been having a beautiful dream?
When he looked in the mirror in the bathroom, he noticed for the first time that dark circles could appear under eyes as small as his.
In fact, he hadn't slept well last night, and had been torn between whether to cross the narrow gap between the two beds. In particular, after he got into bed, Huang Jingping, who was already asleep, reached over and asked him to hold her hand for a while. He wondered at the time whether to pull her over, or just go with the flow himself. Of course, he still restrained himself with great perseverance.
He wiped his face with cold water to look more alert. There was no choice; there was a lot to do on his schedule today.
After visiting two new places in quick succession, Huang Jingping, who was still feeling high from the excitement, slept particularly soundly, particularly long and particularly deeply. Because as soon as she opened her eyes, she could see Feng Yiping in the bed opposite.
When she finally woke up contentedly, she opened her eyes and saw that Feng Yiping was not in the bed opposite. Then she looked again and saw that the desk lamp was dimly lit and he was holding a notebook and reading.
'What time is it?'
'You're awake. It's almost eight o'clock,' Feng Yiping said, putting down the notebook he had been writing in about shorting the euro.
Huang Jingping sat up and threw her arms around him. 'You got up at six, too?'
'Yes. My body clock won't change, so I can't sleep in even if I want to.'
'Let me see,' Huang Jingping held his face and examined it in the dim light, 'you have bags under your eyes.'
'It's fine, get up quickly, go to the bank first, then find a lawyer, and after all this is done, we'll go to the city to play.'
Huang Jingping was still washing up in the bathroom when the dry cleaning that had been delivered yesterday was delivered, and it was the Chanel women's clothing bought yesterday. In a short while, the breakfast that had been ordered was also delivered.
It was a very different experience to have breakfast looking out over Victoria Harbour and Central opposite, compared to having breakfast at home looking out over the Yangtze River. 'The view here is really beautiful,' Huang Jingping commented again.
'Then in a couple of years we'll buy a flat in the neighbourhood too,' Feng Yiping said casually. This really wasn't a big deal. The SARS epidemic in 2003 had already made the property market, which had been falling since the beginning of the year, worse, and it reached its lowest point in August of that year, with house prices only about 70% of what they are now. Buying a flat then really wasn't a big deal.
When they went out, their appearance was much more fashionable than yesterday's. Huang Jingping was wearing an entire Chanel outfit: a light blue blazer, a short-sleeved shirt with a hint of lace, a light-coloured silk A-line skirt, and classic two-tone shoes.
Feng Yiping is also very simple, with brown leather shoes, casual trousers, and a casual shirt. On the outside is a casual suit of the same colour as Huang Jingping's little suit. The two of them look very harmonious and well-matched when they walk together: the woman is beautiful, the man is handsome, and they are both full of youthful energy.
Because everyone in the industry knows about the US and Japan blocking the euro, there is no need for Feng Yiping to do anything himself. He simply entrusts UBS to help him short the euro. Only 3 million yuan is left in his account, while 40% of the rest is invested in the euro against the US dollar and 60% in the euro against the Japanese yen.
...
After braving the heat and squeezing onto the bus, Gao Yiming has been running around for three days, asking for lower and lower wages. However, he still can't find a job that can support his living. The rent is due the day after tomorrow, but in his pocket, there is only a measly few hundred yuan, just enough for the next few days' food. On his way back, he saw an artistic beggar on the road and stopped to watch for a long time.
There was no air conditioning, just a second-hand floor fan, and the noise it made made him feel even more irritated. He thought about the contemptuous look the landlord's wife would give him in two days' time. The once senior executive of a magazine company was restless in his room. Just then, the phone rang. Who could it be? Could it be good news?
It was indeed good news. A friend in the industry called him. Since yesterday, a new magazine company has been recruiting at the Intercontinental Hotel. I heard that the pay is good.
Gao Yiming was overjoyed to hear this. He never thought that there would still be such opportunities. He didn't expect to become the editor-in-chief or anything, as long as he could get a job that would barely make ends meet. He started looking for clothes in the closet. He didn't manage to keep any of the other things. He did manage to keep quite a few of the fancy clothes he had bought in the past.
The next morning, when Gao Yiming arrived outside the conference room where the Intercontinental Hotel was recruiting, there were already several well-dressed people waiting in the corridor, just like him, carrying designer briefcases. Everyone looked like a white-collar worker, except that none of them had any luxury watches on.
A few of them were old acquaintances, all middle and senior managers from various magazines that had gone out of business during the previous round of crisis. Gao Yiming smiled and greeted them one by one, but his heart tightened. The competition was so fierce? However, he was determined. No matter what, he must seize this lifeline today. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
After more than twenty minutes, it was finally his turn. There were four people sitting on the other side of the round table in the small meeting room. On the left was a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses, and on the right was another middle-aged man with a receding hairline. Gao Yiming recognised him as the editor-in-chief of a magazine that had originally been bigger than the one he worked for. He heard that because the owner had lost most of his fortune during the financial crisis, he had finally closed down the magazine at the end of last year. It seems that he has already found a new owner, and it doesn't look like he's in a lowly position.
In the middle seat, there was a young man, a little too young, because it looked like it was not time to shave, and he was only wearing a shirt, with his tie untied and his jacket slung over his arm. If it weren't for the endorsement of the old man next to him, Gao Yiming would definitely doubt the authenticity of this recruitment.
On the outside, there was a girl with painted eyebrows and eyes, with a notebook in front of her, probably the clerk.
The questions were simple and straightforward, nothing tricky at all, much simpler than when he interviewed new recruits. The young man didn't say much, just looked him up and down several times, his eyes sharp, making him feel a little uncomfortable.
He also asked a few questions and learned that this was a magazine focusing on serious political and economic topics that was currently in the process of being set up. Although the salary offered was on the high side for the industry, to be honest, at this time, it was not easy to make a serious magazine like this.
'Thank you for coming. Please go back and wait patiently for the notification. We will inform you of the interview results as soon as possible!' Bao Zhuoyuan, who was losing his hair, said something and then whispered to the young man in the middle.
In Gao Yiming's experience, he felt that he would definitely receive a phone call that sounded something like, 'I'm sorry, your qualifications are excellent, but they don't meet the requirements of the position in our company. I'm sure you can find a job that suits you best. Thank you very much for your support of our company!'
Thinking about this last chance slipping away, he moved slowly and with heavy footsteps. He walked to the door of the meeting room, pulled the door handle, and then firmly walked back. 'I sincerely ask you to give me two minutes to restate my reasons.'
Bao Zhuoyuan and Lawyer Tian both looked at Feng Yiping. Feng Yiping was familiar with the actions of the Gao interviewee, and saw a reflection of himself in him.
He had high hopes when he went to a company to sell himself, but after being rejected, he implored the other party to give him another minute to make his presentation, which was very similar to his current actions. 'Okay, please sit down.'
'Thank you. I have been working in this industry for five years, and in that time, I have held almost every position in the magazine, and eventually became the editor-in-chief. I have done quite well, and I think Mr. Bao has heard of the magazine where I used to work.'
After hearing the name he mentioned, Bao Zhuoyuan said, 'Oh, I know, you are a magazine with a very distinctive style that targets young people. I have also heard of your name. Just now I was wondering why this name sounded familiar.'
'As long as the magazine accepts me, I am willing to start from the bottom again, regardless of the position. I can personally guarantee that I will create profits for the magazine that are several times my salary. I only have one request, and that is to be paid three months' salary in advance.'
The previous guarantee was very vague, but the latter request was very specific. Neither Bao Zhuoyuan nor Lawyer Tian were very satisfied, but Feng Yiping didn't see it that way. The situation of those in the former was not much better than Gao Yiming's. Their situation could not be hidden from Bao Zhuoyuan, who had been in the industry for many years. During the interview, many of them still had an air of superiority, and they had many demands. Feng Yiping didn't like this mentality at all. If it were all like this, he would rather hire young people with no work experience.
So far, the only person who has been able to lower their expectations is Gao Yiming in front of him.
Feng Yiping has always felt that people who recognise reality like this and completely let go of past glories will have hope for the future. Moreover, such people are down-to-earth and grateful, and will definitely do their best in the future.
At the same time, Feng Yiping can also see from his eyes that this is a person who has encountered a hurdle, and his demands are actually not high. Feng Yiping decides to give him a chance.
'Lawyer Tian, prepare the agreement. Jingping, give Mr Gao a cheque for 20,000 yuan. Is that enough?' he asked Gao Yiming.
'Thank you!' Gao Yiming only said thank you, but Feng Yiping was very satisfied with his attitude, which was similar to that of someone who is deeply indebted but doesn't say thank you. If Gao Yiming had said something flattering at this time, Feng Yiping would really have misjudged him.
Although Bao Zhuoyuan and Lawyer Tian did not quite agree, since the boss had spoken, there was nothing more to say. Moreover, up to this point, there had indeed been very few people who could let go like Gao Yiming.