Chapter 114: The New Year's Gala (If We Cling Together, Never Parting — Bonus Chapter)

As the New Year approached, the entire Sanjiang Town grew livelier. Many migrant workers had already returned home early, preparing for their plans to prosper in the coming year. With the continuous growth of Fuyun Technology Group and the large-scale contract factory invested by Foxconn, next year, very few people would choose to leave their hometowns to work elsewhere; abundant opportunities were now available locally.

At the Fuyun Technology Industrial Park, atop the headquarters building of Fuyun Technology Group, Li Fu stood in his office overlooking the beautiful nightscape of Sanjiang Town. Although it was already 6 p.m., the town remained bustling. Construction sites worked tirelessly day and night, their lights illuminating the sky. Newly opened hotels and restaurants glittered with colorful neon lights.

“Another year has passed.”

Li Fu recalled the scene from last year when he looked out over Sanjiang Town from the hillside. Though lively then, it could not compare to the present: towering skyscrapers rising from the ground, highways connecting all directions, vast and impressive industrial parks… everything now exuded the aura of urban civilization.

“Technology changes the world. Without the power of technology, none of this would have been possible.”

Lost in thought, Li Fu felt immense joy over his hometown’s development. He had chosen to establish his company there precisely to promote local growth. In just one year, leveraging advanced technology at his disposal, Li Fu attracted capital from global markets and invested it entirely into his hometown’s construction—thus creating the current prosperity.

“Knock! Knock!”

Li Fu’s secretary, Ding Xuan, entered wearing a pristine white long dress.

“Li Fu, our company’s New Year gala is about to begin.”

“Let’s go; we shouldn’t keep everyone waiting. Xuan, you look stunning today. Are you performing in the show?”

Li Fu smiled as he walked out, nodding and asking Ding Xuan.

“Of course I am. I may be getting older, but my spirit remains young.”

Ding Xuan smiled gently. Most of the company’s employees were young; at over thirty, she was considered one of the older ones.

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At Sanjiang’s largest five-star hotel, the Sanjiang Grand Hotel, the entire venue had been booked by Fuyun Technology Group for the evening. In the grand Sanjiang Hall, employees were steadily arriving.

The hall was vast enough to accommodate thousands for dining and meetings. It was divided into several tiers, each offering a clear view of the enormous stage. Barely enough space to fit all current employees of Fuyun Technology Group.

The entire hall gleamed with opulence. The stage was decorated with a sci-fi theme, and giant screens played a documentary chronicling the company’s remarkable year.

Backstage, performers prepared with makeup and rehearsals. All acts were self-directed and performed by company units or individuals—mainly young people. With abundant talent, after careful selection, dozens of acts were slated for the evening.

At 7 p.m., everyone was present, and the gala officially commenced.

“I’m delighted to gather with all of you here at Fuyun Technology. In the past year, through our collective efforts, the company has achieved brilliant success. In just one year, our scale has risen to rank among the world’s top 500 enterprises.”

“I still remember last New Year’s when I resolved to base my company in my hometown. At that time, it was just me. Now, our company employs over ten thousand people with an annual output value in the hundreds of billions.”

“This is our first New Year gala, and possibly the first where every employee truly participates. Next year, our company will undoubtedly continue to grow, perhaps reaching tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of employees. Then, it won’t be possible to hold such a gathering with everyone all at once.”

“In the future, we will persist in our high-tech path, advancing continuously in various high-tech fields. Our growth will only accelerate, creating greater value. Here, everyone can unleash their potential and realize their life’s worth.”

As the company’s founder and leader, Li Fu was naturally the first to speak. His message was simple yet sincere: gratitude for the past year’s dedication and a clear vision for the company’s future. He spoke of dreams and ideals, encouraging everyone that as long as they worked hard, a bright future awaited.

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Indeed, any company’s New Year gala aims to strengthen unity among employees and inspire them to create even greater value in the coming year.

Speaking of ideals and dreams is a common approach, but few bosses are as generous as Li Fu in offering tangible rewards. Beyond year-end bonuses and salaries, this gala featured truly lavish gifts.

Ten villas under construction, thirty apartment suites, 100 BMW cars, and a dazzling cash wall of 100 million Huabi—all generously awarded to outstanding employees on the spot. Li Fu himself personally contributed 100 million Huabi for a lottery, with the grand prize reaching an astounding five million—an amount that many lottery enthusiasts could only dream of.

The massive cash wall shimmered with red light, drawing countless eyes. Although year-end bonuses were already substantial, seeing 100 million Huabi displayed so vividly was a breathtaking sight.

After Li Fu’s speech, the performances began. Guests enjoyed exquisite food and fine wine while watching their colleagues’ self-produced shows. Between acts, thrilling award and lottery draws kept the atmosphere lively and exuberant.

Though all performances were self-organized, Fuyun Technology’s employees were mostly university graduates, fresh from campus, brimming with vitality and imagination. Even Fang Zheng, a man in his forties, took the stage to sing, delivering a surprisingly skilled performance.

Song and dance, comedy sketches, magic shows—the acts followed one after another, each receiving waves of applause. To many, the show rivaled the scale and excitement of a national broadcast, aside from the grander stage and larger audience.

Lottery moments were especially exhilarating. The “Sunshine Award” ensured everyone won a prize, roughly a few thousand Huabi each, like a New Year’s red envelope from Li Fu. As prizes grew larger, winners shouted with joy, their excitement filling the hall.

The gala continued until 10 p.m., leaving many with the most cherished memories of the year.