Chapter 390 - The No-Show Walks into the Trap (1/2)

Cui Geng roughly scanned the document. Its main provisions concerned the rights and responsibilities for this class.

The website was obligated to provide a basic salary, insurance and funds, a working environment, accommodation, food, and the like for the authors. There were set standards for the salary, the insurance, the funds, as well as the food and accommodation.

On top of that, about ten hours each weekor two afternoons—would be spent on team exercises.

On the other hand, the authors would only have to submit themselves to the website’s scheduling. Otherwise, the website would be allowed to terminate the contract unconditionally and retract all promises and benefits under the contract.

There were also details about the flow and arrangement of the class.

What concerned Cui Geng the most was that, under the agreement, all authors would have clear work and rest times. Each day, they would work at their desks from 9 AM to 6 PM. In between, they would have an hour for lunch and rest.

Cui Geng was very happy with all the other provisions, but that one provision about work timings made him hesitate.

A frequent no-show like him, who had been used to working only two or three hours a day, now had to work eight hours a day at a work desk?

That sounded very difficult.

He worried that the website would retract all his benefits and privileges if he failed to hit the targets. Wouldn’t that be embarrassing?

Cui Geng voiced his concerns. “Boss Ma, the agreement states that we have to work for eight hours, right? Are there any other requirements, such as writing a minimum of four thousand words?”

Ma Yiqun shook his head. “There won’t be a word count.

“Writing is a creative process. Every author will experience writer’s block and be unable to produce anything. That’s why we decided not to set a hard and fast rule for the word count.”

Cui Geng heaved a sigh of relief.

It was good that they did not have a word count!

During working hours, he could surf the net, slack, and do whatever he wanted. Then, the eight hours would pass quickly.

The website was providing food and accommodation. They were even allowing everyone to travel around Jingzhou regularly to relax. Cui Geng could also look forward to eating, drinking, playing, and chatting with the other authors; and all he would have to do was surf the net in another location.

For all he knew, the computer they would provide him with would have better specifications than the computer he had at home.

All in all, it was a good deal.

Cui Geng continued flipping through the agreement and found no provision that put him at a disadvantage. Relieved, he signed his name.

“Alright, we will arrange for someone to send you to your accommodation later.

“We’ve arranged for everyone to stay at a guest house on the outskirts of the city to ensure that you can enjoy a relaxed and peaceful environment. Your workplace will be a five-minute walk from that guest house.

“Don’t worry, we say it’s the outskirts, but the accommodations will not be of low-standards.”

Ma Yiqun kept the agreement. Cui Geng nodded and said, “No problem.”

They were a bunch of tough men anyway; they did not have high expectations for the accommodations. Even if the accommodations were located in a deserted place, so be it. Most authors were homebodies who did not fancy going out, too. It would not be a problem.

January 14th, Friday…

At 8 AM, Cui Geng was woken up by his cell phone’s alarm ringing. He instinctively switched it off and went back to sleep.

“Brother Cui, it’s about time to wake up. You told me to wake you up last night,” said a voice next to him.

Cui Geng suddenly realized something. He opened his eyes wide and sat upright.

He was not at home; he was in a hotel!

He and a few other authors had checked into the hotel that the website had arranged for them yesterday.

The hotel environment was quite nice. Although it was on the outskirts, it was considered one of the better three-star hotels. The room was spacious, clean, and tidy. It also provided everything that its guests needed.

There were two people in a room, and Cui Geng was rooming with a new author who was about a year younger than him. The latter referred to Cui Geng as ‘Brother Cui’, and he was quite respectful.

“I’ll be ready soon!”

Cui Geng rolled out of bed, brushed his teeth, and washed his face at lightning speed. Five minutes later, he was all dressed.

Both of them had breakfast in the hotel and then walked to the nearby workplace together.

Yesterday afternoon and night, all the authors had arrived in Jingzhou one by one. Not one of them had backed out. They were all writers on Zhongdian Chinese Network who had heard about one another here and there. Thus, they all engaged in polite conversation. Zhu Xingan had arrived as well. He led everyone to the place where they would be writing normally.

The workplace that the website had prepared for them was in an office building nearby. They rented a spacious place and set up neatly-arranged work desks.

Apart from mechanical keyboards and big monitors, there were also fountain pens and notebooks on the large work desks. Those were probably for authors to write down their thoughts and inspirations.

On top of that, there was a long conference table in the room and a snack area by the side. Aside from various snacks, there was also a coffee pod machine.

All in all, this place already had much higher standards than most offices.

Zhu Xingan watched as everyone chose their respective seats.

“Alright, it’s almost time. You can rest for a while at your seats, have some coffee, and then start brainstorming.

“My workspace is near the door. If you have any questions while you’re writing, feel free to approach me and ask.