Losing Money to Be a Tycoon

“You could not divulge anything regarding your boss; you also don’t need to talk about specifics regarding compensation. You could use a very vague way to respond! Don’t worry; this interview is completely anonymous, and I will speed-write everything down instead of using any recording devices or video footage.”

Hu Yue seemed to be well-prepared as she took out her notebook and emptied her pockets to indicate she did not have any recording devices on her.

Ma Yiqun was a little stunned. “You’re a little too into your job, don’t you think? As for Tengda? It is but a normal game company; why must you do this interview?”

“It’s not!” Hu Yue replied seriously, “I am interviewing for the sake of the domestic game industry’s health and development prospects!”

Ma Yiqun was a little confused. “Ah? What do you mean?”

Hu Yue’s eyes flashed as she said, “If this was an ordinary interview, I could just call it quits. However, Tengda is different! I want to interview Tengda not because of the royalties or remuneration; I hope to prove to the domestic game industry that this kind of good-hearted games company really does exist!”

“Before this, the domestic game industry had always been castigated by players for being rough and slipshod, that they are only thinking about making money via paywalls, lacking in creativity, etc. As a member of the games media, I am also distressed and disgusted by this but was powerless to do anything!

“However, Tengda’s appearance had made me discover a different type of company, one that is very particular about the quality of its games, bold in its creativity, not money-minded, and views games as art!

“I thought: the internal workings of Tengda must really be different from other companies as well! If I really could finish this interview, it would have a huge impact on the domestic games industry.

“I hope that Tengda could become a standard-bearer, a model that would guide the domestic games industry to a better tomorrow. I hope that all players who love domestically-produced games would continue to have faith in these games!”

Ma Yiqun grew silent. Originally, if Hu Yue had wanted to dig up some gossip and do a write-up with a sensational headline, Ma Yiqun would definitely reject her resolutely within hesitation. However, Hu Yue’s words had touched him.

If Tengda could become a model and on a certain level change the entire ethos of the domestic games industry, wouldn’t that be a good thing?

From this perspective, he should agree to this interview. However, Boss Pei had after all emphasized not to reveal his identity and anything regarding the company’s compensation packages.

He was in a dilemma.

Ma Yiqun thought for a moment, “How about this? You can leave me your contact details. Give me one day to think about this.”

“Alright.” Hu Yue knew that she could not rush this matter as she handed over her contact details to Ma Yiqun.

…

…

After thinking for a night, Ma Yiqun still could not make up his mind. He thought about it further and decided to ask for Bao Xu’s opinion when he reached the office. Although the interview was going to be anonymous, if this matter made Boss Pei unhappy, that would not be good; Ma Yiqun would feel guilty.

If he went to ask Boss Pei directly, that would be too abrupt. Bao Xu knew Boss Pei the best; asking for his opinion would be the right thing to do.

The morning of the next day, Ma Yiqun found Bao Xu and explained the matter to him simply. Bao Xu considered for a moment and said, “I think that you can agree to this interview.”

Ma Yiqun was a little hesitant. “However, hadn’t Boss Pei said expressively that we couldn’t divulge his identity or any details of the company’s compensation packages?”

Bao Xu shook his head, “Don’t be so block-headed; you have to try and understand Boss Pei’s true intentions.”

Ma Yiqun perked up. “Boss Pei’s… true intentions?”

Indeed, he had asked the right person! Only someone as high and mighty as Bao Xu would be able to understand Boss Pei’s intentions! If he did as Bao Xu said, he would not go wrong!

Bao Xu collected his thoughts as he analyzed, “Boss Pei doesn’t want us to divulge his identity and not to let others know about Tengda’s compensation packages. Regarding this, I had initially thought this to be strange and hard to understand. Who wouldn’t want to be famous? However, after slowly thinking about it, I finally understood.

“Why doesn’t Boss Pei want us to divulge his identity? That’s because Boss Pei is a low-profile person. He is a game designer with much charisma; if his identity was made known, perhaps gamers would focus their attention on him and not on the games.”

“Hence, Boss Pei actually wants people to focus on the games he creates and not on him as a person.

“He doesn’t want players to become idiotic fans who chase stars and idols. He hopes that everyone would be able to be removed from his personal charm and charisma to properly and objectively rate and review his games!”

Ma Yiqun suddenly saw the light. “I understand now! It’s just like what an author had said before. ‘If one ate an egg and felt it tasted good, why was there a need to recognize the mother hen who laid the egg?’ ”

Bao Xu nodded. “That’s right; that’s the logic. Yiqun, you are indeed a Chinese Language and Literature student!”

Ma Yiqun looked a little abashed as he said, “Brother Bao is too kind; I had but coincidentally thought about this. It seems as if the true masters are always so humble and prefer to keep a low-profile!

“And so… why doesn’t Boss Pei want us to divulge the company benefits and salary packages? Ma Yiqun continued to ask.

Bao Xu sighed and said, “I feel that Boss Pei is doing this taking into consideration the entire domestic game industry. We all know that Tengda’s existing benefits and salary packages are unrivaled. No other games company can come close to Tengda. If all these were made known, what would happen?

“The entire industry would be shaken, right?”

Ma Yiqun was a little confused, “If that was the case, all the talented people would flock to Tengda; wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

Bao Xu shook his head. “You’re looking at this problem one-sided. If Tengda had broken the industry standards and gave employees such good benefits, wouldn’t that incur the animosity of other companies? Tengda might become the common target of censure. Although this possibility is not that high, we have to be wary of this.

“Furthermore, once this news is made public, it would have a negative impact on other up-and-coming start-ups and small companies! Although having good benefits is naturally a good thing; not every company’s boss is as good as Boss Pei!

“Companies that give employees lesser benefits might not all be black-hearted; they might indeed be struggling bitterly. Many newly established groups’ bosses are working overtime together with their employees, toughing it out together. Examples such as this are all around us.

“Once Tengda announces its benefits to everyone—if other companies that were actually doing okay suddenly broke apart because of this; would this be a good or bad thing?! The general culture and environment of the game industry have to be changed bit by bit. If Tengda set the industry standard so high all of a sudden, it might actually result in a backlash.”

Ma Yiqun understood. “Oh, I understand now; it is just like the story of Zi Gong Ransoming Someone¹!”

Bao Xu was a little bewildered. It was indeed a little trying talking to a Chinese Language and Literature gifted person.