Super Zoo

"That's exactly what I mean," Suming nodded at Dong and continued, "Now that it's a company, not a secure job for life, whether the company does well affects everyone's personal interests. If one person messes up, it's everyone's loss. Things that we used to laugh off with a violation of rules can no longer be tolerated. Rewards where due, punishments where necessary. The more you work, the more you earn; the less you work, the less you earn; no work, no pay. Mrs. Tong is already drafting the specific regulations and incentive schemes. Once they're ready, we'll discuss and announce them."

Hearing Suming speak, the people in the conference room had varied thoughts. Those who understood the situation felt his words made sense -- restructuring was the trend of the times, and no one could stop it. At first glance, it seemed like giving up some lax freedom and having more tense work, but from a long-term perspective, this was the basic requirement for a company's survival.

Quite a few people even supported Suming's view. The zoo staff had a lot of free time and could definitely do more work. Since the amount of work didn't affect pay, naturally no one was willing to do more.

Then there was a small group of people who didn't take Suming seriously. These were mostly the old hands who had gotten used to a cushy life in the zoo, always slacking off, disappearing when there was work to be done, and pushing to the front when there were benefits to be had. They loathed to work and aimed to benefit as much as possible without putting in effort.

Of course, these people were in the minority. Even though they felt the new zoo director was too strict and not making life easy for them, since it was a full staff meeting and Suming's first address as a leader, they were dissatisfied but not foolish enough to show it or to make themselves targets at this moment.

Mr. Song sat expressionlessly at the back, his thoughts inscrutable, but he was actually quite satisfied with Suming's approach.

With the restructuring of the zoo and the arrival of young leaders, it was inevitable that the staff would feel unsettled. Suming first ensured no layoffs and the maintenance of current wages, which stabilized the situation and united the majority, ensuring a smooth transition and revealing his deep sense of humanity. He then followed by presenting facts and rationale, setting the future tone for the zoo's work and establishing the authority a leader should have.

The meeting wasn't long, and by noon it was over. After a lunch together in the small cafeteria, the entire zoo staff, including the just-awoken former Secretary Chen, gathered at the main entrance of the zoo for a group photo. This marked the end of an era for the more than twenty-year-old public institution and the beginning of a new chapter.

The zoo entrance was bustling with people who, seeing a large group with zoo badges taking photos together, thought there was some sort of celebration and curiously approached to ask. That's how they found out about the zoo's restructuring.

For the average citizen, whether the zoo is restructured or not has absolutely no bearing on their lives - even if it closed, another company would take over, not affecting their daily activities at all. They would continue to eat, sleep, and play as usual.

However, the group photo of the zoo's leadership and staff itself captured the attention of some visitors.

Frankly, it was about enjoying the spectacle. Usually, visitors to the zoo came to see the animals, but now that they saw a large group of 'behind-the-scenes people' gathered here, with banners and stages prepared in advance by the zoo, they couldn't help but stop, pull out their phones, and take pictures as well.

But gradually, the visitors realized the zoo's restructuring was different from that of other institutions.

What was different about it?

For institutions like the zoo that clearly didn't make much money and were sure to lose money post-restructuring, the process was usually catastrophic, worse than losing one's own parents.

Even for those organizations that broke even or made a slight profit, the post-restructuring atmosphere was one of universal gloom. The end of a guaranteed job was distressing indeed.

Very few actually profitable institutions undergoing restructuring might feel delighted internally but would keep it under wraps, fearful of drawing trouble by being talked about for their wealthy status.

Therefore, restructuring in most institutions tended to be low-key, seldom accompanied by ceremony, and if there was, it was rushed and cold, with the optimum scene being as solemn as possible and the staff as mournful as possible.

But the restructuring of Yangchuan City Zoo was the complete opposite; it was gradually turning into a real 'celebration'!

Lining up, taking pictures, and filming took a while, and during this time, vehicles carrying large flower baskets regularly arrived from outside. People dressed up smartly got out of the cars and gestured for workers to place the flower baskets at the entrance of the zoo.

"Congratulations to Yangchuan City Zoo for its great prospects and abundant financial resources. Yangchuan City Yuleyuan Catering Co., Ltd."

"Warm congratulations to Yangchuan City Zoo for the smooth business and a fortune shining upon you like the daily income of gold. Yangchuan Fisheries Association."

"Friends through righteousness, wealth from the moral path. Jiyazhai Museum extends its congratulations!" Your next journey awaits at empire

...

Before long, a long line of flower baskets was set up at the entrance, and with that, the zoo staff, having finished taking photos, could no longer leave immediately, Suming, Mr. Song, and their employees thanked each and every person who came to offer their congratulations.

This batch was mostly well-known enterprises and civil institutions from the city, but following that, even government units sent flower baskets.

"Congratulations to Yangchuan City Zoo for the successful restructuring, smooth transformation, and upgrading. Yangchuan City Agriculture and Forestry Bureau."

"Leading in material civilization, excellent in spiritual civilization. District Committee Organization Department."

There was even one that came from far away, bringing a large banner: "Thank you, Mr. Su, for leading the villagers to wealth and prosperity! Maoxi County Suntown Town Government."

The crowd at the zoo's entrance grew larger and larger, with zoo employees encircled by a throng of entrepreneurs, government leaders, and staff, while the onlooking tourists were even less willing to leave, having never seen a restructuring event handled with such joy and festivity, complete with such an outpouring of congratulations.

Even Wang Jian She, who had been frequently appearing on television lately arrived. Among the zoo's visitors, there were many who followed politics, and now the word around Yangchuan City was that Mr. Wang would likely soon be promoted to Deputy Mayor.

With influential people from business and political circles all present, this was no mere small zoo restructuring—someone who didn't know better would have thought it was the opening of a major company. But on second thought, that was precisely the situation: wasn't the zoo's restructuring essentially a company launch? The massive turnout to offer congratulations only indicated great optimism for the zoo's future.

Right after that, yet another tour bus arrived, carrying a large group of ordinary people up for a group photo. They didn't bear any flower baskets or banners, but Suming personally received all of them, greeting the crowd like a leader, lined up to shake hands with them.

"Hey, buddy, are you guys here on a trip?" someone asked.

"Nope, I am just a local from Yangchuan City... oh, some of them are locals, some are from out of town..." After asking, it turned out that these were prize-winning fans from the zoo's Weibo account. The zoo had paid for everyone to have a free day trip to Yangchuan City, with all expenses covered, and each person also received a discounted ticket for the zoo.

"Free? Is there such a good thing?"

"Haven't you followed their official Weibo? It says there that the zoo will organize various activities in the future."

Last time, Suming was pondering what gifts to give when the restructuring coincidentally took place. He simply decided to spend some money, invited award-winning fans to the zoo to liven things up, and took the opportunity to promote the zoo, killing two birds with one stone.

The zoo's entrance was practically jammed, and a line of cars that had come to offer congratulations parked near the roadside. The coming and going tourists didn't leave either, gathering around to watch the spectacle. The ceremony stage was packed with people, leaving no place to even stand.

Cars passing by at the foot of the mountain all slowed down, some even stopping outright, craning their necks curiously to look over, wondering what was happening.

It might have been just an exciting event if only businessmen and government officials came, but suddenly the arrival of a procession of monks from the distance set the crowd abuzz.

"Isn't that the monk from Deyuan Temple?"

"The one leading is Abbot Huineng!"

Deyuan Temple was not just any ordinary small temple; it was the largest temple in Yangchuan City and renowned throughout the province. Abbot Huineng was a well-known figure in the religious community. Although he usually performed religious ceremonies for money, he seldom left the temple. As for the abbot leading the group, that was even rarer.