Chapter 137: Chapter 127: An Annual Salary of One Million

Upon promotion to Inner Sect Disciple, the system had rewarded him with the Qi Cultivation Chapter of the Great Derivation Spirit-Controlling Technique.

’So what would he get for being promoted to Elder?’

’It could only be better!’

Tempted as he was, Yang Qi showed no sign of it, acting as if he had just received an ordinary job offer.

"Hiring me as the vice director?"

"Minister Ye, that position sounds like it comes with a lot of responsibility. What are the specifics of the compensation package?" Yang Qi asked calmly.

Hearing this, a flicker of delight flashed in Ye Junfang’s eyes.

’There’s a chance!’

He quickly took a step forward, his smile growing more eager as he replied in a tempting tone.

"Regarding compensation, Advisor Yang, you have absolutely nothing to worry about."

"Our boss greatly admires your talent, and the terms he’s offering are exceptionally generous. The base annual salary is one million, and that’s just the minimum!"

"On top of that, there are all sorts of bonuses calculated based on the zoo’s annual performance, your involvement in or leadership of special events, and the additional revenue from project promotions."

"As long as you’re willing to put in the effort, even just a little, making two million a year will be absolutely no problem!"

’Two million a year?’

The figure was indeed tempting.

Yang Qi’s current official base salary at Donghua Wildlife Park, including all subsidies and benefits, came to about two hundred thousand a year after taxes.

Two million was equivalent to ten years of his income.

It was an incredibly attractive number, enough to sway most people in an instant.

Of course.

If he really wanted to make money, Yang Qi had plenty of ways to do it.

What he was interested in was the promotion "reward" that came with the "vice director" title.

But the offer from Mingguang Zoo was so generous that it actually made Yang Qi a little suspicious.

Capitalists weren’t philanthropists. An offer far above market rate usually meant they expected to get even more value in return, or that the risks involved were greater.

"The compensation does sound good."

Yang Qi nodded and continued, "So, what specific requirements and responsibilities would your zoo have for this ’vice director’? Minister Ye, did you happen to bring a draft of the employment contract with you today?"

"Yes, yes, of course I did."

Seeing that Yang Qi had gotten to the heart of the matter, Ye Junfang’s smile broadened. He quickly turned and beckoned to the young female colleague following behind him.

The colleague immediately opened the briefcase she was carrying, took out a neatly bound document, and hurried forward to hand it to Ye Junfang.

Ye Junfang took it with both hands and, still smiling, passed it to Yang Qi.

"Advisor Yang, please take a look. This is a preliminary draft of the ’Letter of Intent for the Employment of a Special Technical Advisor and Vice Director.’"

"Please review it first and see if the terms are satisfactory."

"If there are no major issues, we can make minor adjustments to the details and then sign the formal employment contract."

Yang Qi didn’t respond immediately. He reached out, took the contract, and flipped to the first page, quickly scanning its contents.

One look was all it took for the ripples of excitement in his heart about the "Elder promotion" to subside, replaced by a sense of "I knew it" and a slight urge to laugh.

The contract’s terms were beautifully written. The job title was indeed "Special Technical Advisor and Vice Director," and the annual salary was stated in black and white: "Base annual salary of one million RMB."

But the clauses that followed, detailing the responsibilities, exposed Mingguang Zoo’s true intentions. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

According to the contract, his core responsibilities as "vice director" were twofold.

1. Responsible for the daily behavioral training, abnormal behavior correction, and emotional soothing of all animals in the zoo.

2. In the event of any health or behavioral problems with the zoo’s animals, must intervene at the earliest opportunity and resolve the issue "quickly and effectively."

’This still sounds like it’s within the scope of an Animal Expert, right?’

But then came the additional clauses.

Yang Qi would also be required, upon request from Mingguang Zoo, to provide remote or on-site technical support to other zoos with which "Mingguang" had a strategic partnership—the appendix listed seven or eight of them—to solve their animals’ "difficult and miscellaneous illnesses."

The fees for this would be calculated separately, but Yang Qi was required to "respond with priority."

And the most critical restrictive clause was this: if any animal under Yang Qi’s training or intervention experienced a "major loss of behavioral control," "severe regression in training," or "deterioration of health due to improper intervention" during the contract period...

...for each occurrence, Yang Qi would have to pay a hefty "performance deduction," which would be subtracted directly from his annual salary or bonuses!

The amount of the deduction would depend on the severity of the "incident" and was uncapped!

How was this hiring him as a "vice director"?

This was clearly just paying a high price to hire a "Beast Tamer" slash "Veterinarian" who would be on call 24/7, expected to cure all animal ailments, and forced to bear unlimited liability!

The contract may have started with flowery language about "allowing Mr. Yang Qi to devote himself fully to the great cause of communicating with animals, at which he excels, free from the interference of all administrative trifles."

But in essence, it was just treating Yang Qi as a "technical tool"—a person who could solve any animal problem, extend his services to their partners, and carry the can for anything that went wrong.

If this had been the Yang Qi who had just graduated—full of passion and short on cash—he might have actually been fooled by the million-a-year salary, thinking that "not having to deal with miscellaneous tasks and just focusing on his specialty" was a dream come true.

But now...

’These capitalists really know their arithmetic,’ Yang Qi grumbled to himself.

His expression remained unchanged as he calmly flipped to the last page, closed the contract, and handed it back to Ye Junfang, whose face was still plastered with an expectant smile.

"Advisor Yang, you’ve finished reading?"

Ye Junfang hastily took it back with both hands. "What do you think? The terms are incredibly generous, aren’t they? Our boss is sincerely inviting a talent like you to join us!"

"If you don’t see any major issues, we can head to Yongliang this afternoon and sign the formal contract."

"As for the resignation procedures here at Donghua, you can take your time with those. There’s no rush."

"Our boss is very easygoing. He said that when it comes to outstanding professionals, you have to take good care of them and provide every convenience..."

"That won’t be necessary," Yang Qi said, calmly cutting off his rambling.

"Huh?"

The smile on Ye Junfang’s face froze.

Yang Qi turned to look at him, his tone firm. "Thank you for your zoo’s invitation and for thinking so highly of me. However, I have no plans to leave Donghua Zoo at this time. Please extend my apologies to your boss, Minister Ye."

With that, he nodded to Ye Junfang, said no more, and pushed his cleaning cart away, striding toward the lynx enclosure.

Ye Junfang stood frozen in place, still holding the contract.

He could hardly believe his ears.

Two million a year!

Vice Director!

Rejected, just like that?

Without even a negotiation?

Seeing Yang Qi about to get away, Ye Junfang snapped out of it and quickly hurried after him. Catching up, he began a new round of persuasion, his words rushed.

"Advisor Yang, Advisor Yang, please reconsider! Are you dissatisfied with the compensation?"