Chapter 130 - Interview!
April 20th…
After work, Ma Yiqun quietly went to the small cafe next to the office and met Hu Yue for the interview. Hu Yue took out the shorthand notes she made in the morning. They had already agreed beforehand not to expose any video material and not to expose Ma Yiqun’s true name and identity.
Although this would greatly discount the reliability of the interview, Hu Yue was very satisfied. This was because she could interview an employee of Tengda and catch a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg of this up-and-coming company.
Hu Yue even discovered that she was slightly nervous. After calming herself down, she recapped the important questions in her head. She had only decided on these questions late into last night after much thought.
The two reached a common understanding: First, they were not to reveal the true name and identity of the company’s boss. Second, Hu Yue could not ask about the exact benefits and remuneration the employees of the company got.
Thus, Hu Yue was prepared to avoid both of these points. “Don’t be nervous. I am a professional journalist. Please trust my professionalism.
“An outstanding journalist would surely be able to allow the conversation to develop smoothly and naturally. He would be so good that even the interviewee would not notice any break in the rhythm of the interview. All you have to do is to coordinate with me.”
Hu Yue sounded extremely confident.
Ma Yiqun nodded.
“Let us begin, then. First of all, I want to ask how long you have been with Tengda, and what your job scope is. “Don’t worry, I will not write your actual position in the manuscript. I just want to roughly understand what you’re in charge of in the company. That would make it easier for me to ask questions about the industry and work.”
Hu Yue picked up her notebook and prepared herself to take notes. Ma Yiqun pondered for a moment and answered truthfully, “I joined Tengda about a month ago. My main job scope is to learn.”
Hu Yue was in the midst of furiously writing notes, but she paused suddenly. His main job scope was… to learn?
“Could you tell me more?”
Ma Yiqun nodded. “Tengda Games is very different from other games companies. Here at Tengda Games, we do high-quality design work. New people have no right to assist or do work. We can only watch and learn! What’s more, this learning period would extend over a long time.
“I am under great pressure every day. I need to learn the initial thought process behind the game from Boss Pei and the way that the seniors contemplate and draw conjectures from this thought process. Speaking of this makes me feel guilty; until now, I am making very slow progress.
“Until now, I still cannot understand even a fraction of what Boss Pei does. I still need to ask my seniors before I can understand Boss Pei’s thought process.”
Hu Yue was shocked. She quickly recorded these answers down. Even employees who worked for half a year in other companies could only watch and learn in this company. One could only imagine how terrifying the standard in this company was!
Speaking of which, the boss in this company was recruiting employees and paying them a salary each month to watch and learn. Not every company had such power and abilities!
There was so much more to behold; this was only the beginning!
Calm down, I am a professional journalist!
Hu Yue calmed her own emotions and moved on to the next topic. “Let’s talk about Game Designer, the newest game that just became extremely hot. This game made use of performance art-style marketing. Was that a strategy that your company thought of from the beginning?”
Ma Yiqun shook his head. “No. Actually, all of us were kept in the dark. Up until the company gathering, all of us were still worrying about the game’s prospects.
“Boss Pei decided from the start that he would employ performance art-style marketing. He kept this from everyone in the office. When the sales of the game hit an all-time low and when we were all desperate, the sales suddenly picked up; and we achieved a great comeback!
“Speaking of it makes me guilty again. We did not do anything to help.”
Hu Yue’s eyes lit up.
This was one valuable company; he was one valuable boss!
“Can you tell me more about your Boss Pei?” Hu Yue was writing furiously in her notebook.
Ma Yiqun’s expression turned into one of deep admiration and respect. “Boss Pei is a talented designer. Sometimes, Boss Pei would give us several simple pointers and directions. Once we follow them, we would be able to produce excellent games. Ocean Stronghold is one example.
“Sometimes, Boss Pei would do the work on his own. He would have many requirements for the details, and he would polish the game with his own efforts until it became outstanding. That was what happened for Game Designer.
“What’s more, Boss Pei has a very unique and charming personality. Countless elites would be drawn to him, wanting to work with him.
“The great artist-Ruan Guangjian—and the top-class content creator-Teacher Qiaoare all good friends that Boss Pei has made. Their friendship is not contaminated by any selfish interest!
“Boss Pei is a lonely prodigy. His understanding surpasses our generation. That’s why he’s always misunderstood by people. However, Boss Pei does not mind this. Again and again, he exceeds himself.”
Hu Yue was taking all of this down as quickly as she could.
Although Ma Yiqun was singing beautiful praises of Boss Pei and one might think that he was sucking up to his boss, Hu Yue knew very well that this was highly unlikely.
This was because it was an anonymous interview!
From the start, both of them had already agreed that Hu Yue would not expose Ma Yiqun’s identity or position in the manuscript for the interview. Even if Ma Yiqun’s high praises of Boss Pei reached the latter’s ears, the latter would not know who he was.
There was no incentive.
Thus, all of these represented Ma Yiqun’s honest thoughts!
Hu Yue could not help but feel moved. She rarely met such a harmonious boss-and-employee duo.
“Out of a hundred points, how many points would you give your boss, Boss Pei?” Hu Yue asked.
Without any hesitation, Ma Yiqun answered, “Two hundred points! Perhaps some bosses in this world would be able to achieve ninety points by giving their employees good overtime pay, employee welfare, and the like.
“But Boss Pei can achieve two hundred points!
“Boss Pei is generous toward every employee. He cares for our health and does not hold back when spending on us. However, according to the seniors in the company, Boss Pei is very strict with himself. One might even say he is extremely thrifty!Read more chapter on vipnovel.com
“I can only say that before I came to Tengda —if someone had told me that a boss like Boss Pei exists, I would never believe him! Of course, if people tell me now that there is another boss like Boss Pei in this world, I would still not believe them!”
Hu Yue continued to take these answers down in her notebook. Just hearing these answers moved her. She was finding it hard to control his own emotions.
It was almost as if Ma Yiqun had infected her!
From Ma Yiqun’s words, Hu Yue could sense the immense admiration and gratefulness Tengda’s employees felt towards Boss Pei. She could also vaguely imagine Boss Pei’s noble and illuminating image…
Hu Yue looked down at the notes in her notebook and felt satisfaction at what she gained from this interview.
Once this interview was edited and published, it would be explosive for sure!
“Finally, let’s talk about Boss Pei.
“Game Designer has caused many people to think that this was Boss Pei’s personal experience. As a designer, did Boss Pei experience these setbacks as well? Was that why he could infuse such deep meaning and sentiment into the game?”