Chapter 26: Choosing Between Dignity and Money
Li Sen picked up the documents on the floor and said, "Everyone, I have reviewed your backgrounds. Most of you come from impoverished families. It must not have been easy for your parents to support your education and raise you to adulthood."
One of the applicants interjected, "Of course it wasn't. When I was a child, my father worked at construction sites and my mother was a cashier to pay for my schooling. Interviewer, I will not allow you to insult my parents."
Li Sen shifted his tone, saying, "Exactly. Your parents are hardworking, diligent, and responsible; all these virtues can be found in Chinese parents. But let me ask you this: your parents toil so hard that even after exhausting their full potential, they can barely put food on the table. Meanwhile, the parents of your wealthy friends do nothing at all yet live in luxury. This is a very realistic, albeit incredibly cruel, reality. In this era, money is made with the brain. Peter Witz once said that the mindset of one's upbringing stays with a person for their entire life."
"Our Xinmin Group does not just look for intelligence; we look for vision. Stock trading requires absolute rationality; emotional people are strictly disqualified. Therefore, those who lashed out at me or could not endure my words have already been filtered out. If a person cannot even handle two cold remarks, how can they ever achieve anything great? Moreover, what I said was the truth. Since our parents have already given us their all, I ask you: is it more important to fight for a trivial sense of pride, or is it more practical to earn a fortune in the future so they can live out their days in comfort?"
After hearing this, those present felt there was merit in his words. After some deliberation, ten candidates remained. Li Sen told them to go home, prepare, and report for work in three days. Once the room was cleared, Li Fengyu asked Li Sen, "What you said today felt a bit off. Many parts didn't hold up under scrutiny. Now that they've left, tell me the truth—what exactly are you planning?"
It was then that Li Sen revealed the real reason: "Everything I said was just a ruse. In truth, I was filtering for people who possess genuine intelligence, courage, vision, ambition, and, most importantly, obedience."
When Li Fengyu pressed for more, Li Sen continued, "Think about it. Parents are everyone's bottom line. A normal person would naturally fly into a rage if they were attacked, because filial piety and integrity are ingrained in our bones. But in business, one must be ruthless. A merciful man cannot command an army; a righteous man cannot manage wealth. A businessman must have his eyes fixed solely on money and use any means necessary; only then can he succeed. I thought about it a few days ago: I needed people who were smart, obedient, and capable. How could I test all these traits at once? So, I came up with this method."
Li Sen stood up and added, "Consider Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang. When the Chu and Han armies were deadlocked at Mount Guangwu, Xiang Yu, having had his supply lines cut by Peng Yue, was desperate. He built a high platform, hung Liu Bang’s father upon it, and placed a large cauldron underneath. He told Liu Bang, 'If you do not surrender, I will boil your father.' Liu Bang replied, 'We swore an oath of brotherhood before King Huai of Chu; my father is your father. If you insist on killing your father, do share a bowl of the broth with me.' Liu Bang’s words were incredibly shameless, and it is no wonder later generations enjoy criticizing him. The ancients valued filial piety, yet seeing his father about to be killed, Liu Bang remained indifferent, disregarding his father's life to banter before the armies. Most people in such a situation would be filled with hatred, as it was, after all, their own father. But had Liu Bang surrendered, there would be no Emperor Gaozu of Han, nor would the Han dynasty have been established. If Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, had not killed his brothers and forced his father to abdicate, how could he have ushered in the Reign of Zhenguan? After founding the nation, Emperor Taizu of Ming, Zhu Yuanzhang, executed all his meritorious officials and corrupt ministers, famously declaring that generals could be discarded, but the empire must not perish."
"Throughout history, those who achieve great things must be ruthless, ambitious, and not bound by the immediate present. The mark of an immature man is his willingness to die heroically for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is his willingness to live humbly for one. Rest assured, the people we have selected are definitely smart, ambitious, and possess a grand vision—and they will certainly be obedient."
Li Fengyu asked skeptically, "Why?"
Li Sen replied, "Because they agreed with my premise. In reality, it was a brainwashing exercise regarding their inherent perceptions. They might have been all sorts of people before, but once they accepted my logic, they became entirely money-centric. Because they valued money more than their own dignity—even when I insulted their parents—they didn't get angry. In essence, it was an interview on how to choose between dignity and profit."