E-Ladies: Navigating the Wired World
Chapter 108: Episode 108: The Sudden Attack of the Social Security Inspector

Chapter 108: Episode 108: The Sudden Attack of the Social Security Inspector

Zhou Xueyin, no matter how stone-hearted she might be, couldn’t bear to see a girl crying so hard. She passed over a piece of paper: "Here... wipe your tears. The condition is..."

Zhou Xueyin whispered her condition into Zhang Jingwan’s ear, and the other party was stunned for a moment, "Sure about that?"

"Sure!"

"Just that simple phrase?"

"Just that simple phrase!"

"Okay! I got it! As long as you can let bygones be bygones and keep me working in the company! I’m willing to do anything!" Zhang Jingwan promised fervently.

"I won’t make you do anything and everything! We are not Huang Shiren?" Zhou Xueyin chuckled.

After the May holiday ended, those who passed the interviews previously started showing up one after the other; the office was suddenly full of people, and work became busier.

"Hello, we’re from Zhongguancun Social Security Bureau. Call out the person in charge of your company," said two people in uniforms as they approached the reception desk one day.

"Please wait, I’ll call her right now..." Sun Miao had never seen this kind of situation and quickly dialed Zhou Xueyin’s extension to call her out.

"Hello, I am the person in charge of the company, Zhou Xueyin. May I ask what the matter is?" Zhou Xueyin looked at the two persons with a blank expression.

"We are from the Zhongguancun Social Security Bureau. We received a report alleging that your company has not been paying social security on time for all its employees. So we came especially for a spot inspection," the two said seriously, even showing their credentials, which didn’t seem like a new type of fraud.

"Impossible! All employees with formal contracts in the company have paid their social security. You can check it if you don’t believe me!" Zhou Xueyin led the two to the conference room, asking Wang Anqi to show the company’s financial records, social security payment proofs, and all employees’ tax payment certifications to the inspectors.

Whether it was in a hurry or simply forgotten, the conference room door was left open so the discussions inside could be clearly heard by those in the office area.

"The work is done well. Social security has been paid according to standards, and taxation is also being done according to national standards. But..." One of the male inspectors paused for a moment, "The number of people paying social security does not match the number of employees in your company, right?"

"Those not insured are employees on their probation period. Once they become official in three months, they will be provided social security according to standards! You can rest assured!" Zhou Xueyin assured with conviction.

"I cannot rest assured at all! Don’t you know? Even employees on probation need to have their social security paid!" exclaimed the female inspector loudly.

"Ah? I wasn’t really aware of that. So what do we do?" Zhou Xueyin said with a panicky tone, "You aren’t going to take me away, are you?"

"Well, we do actually have to take you with us..." nodded the male inspector, "To the Social Security Bureau to pay the fine..."

"You can’t be serious? I’ve heard many companies don’t provide social security during probation periods? You can’t be that biased!" Zhou Xueyin argued while she followed the two out of the conference room.

Unexpectedly, everyone looked at her with concern: "It’s alright, it’s alright. I’ll come back after paying the fine! Just get on with your work."

What she found even more surprising was a crowd of onlookers in the hallway, people from neighboring companies. Surely, good news stays within walls, while bad news travels far and wide.

51buy company’s failure to pay social security for employees on probation would probably become the headline of tomorrow’s news...

"Disperse, disperse! What are you looking at? Haven’t you ever seen someone going to pay a fine?" Zhou Xueyin vented all her frustration on the crowd of onlookers, shouting at them.

However, once she and Wang Anqi followed the inspectors into the car, the male inspector, sitting in the driver’s seat, turned around and said, "Actually, the situation of your company is very common. All we need to do is go through the motions!"

"It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Thank you all for taking the trouble to come over and play along with us. Much appreciated!" Zhou Xueyin took out two bottles of Coke from her bag and handed them over.

"Still, you’ll have to come with us to the Social Security Bureau. Director Li wants to see you personally!" said the female inspector as she accepted the Coke.

Upon reaching the Social Security Bureau, Zhou Xueyin first asked Wang Anqi to handle the procedures for paying the social security for the probationary employees, while she went to find Director Li.

"Uncle Li, hello! Do you remember me?" Zhou Xueyin said playfully.

"Of course, of course! It’s really been 15 years since I’ve seen you! You’ve grown up so much!" Director Li was overjoyed upon seeing Zhou Xueyin, "How’s your mother’s health?"

"Very good, thanks to your concern. By the way, Uncle Li. These employees on probation have been with us for less than a month, so we’re not breaking any rules, right?" To be safe, and to avoid causing Director Li any trouble, Zhou Xueyin still asked.

"As long as it’s not past the settlement date, it doesn’t count as a violation. And I’ve seen that your company has always been very prompt with its social security payments. Quite commendable!" praised Director Li.

"Yinyin, the social security is all set, we can go back now!" Wang Anqi came over, shaking the paper in her hand.

"Alright then, Uncle Li, let me know when you’re free in advance, I’ll invite you for a meal, and also invite my parents, you haven’t seen them for a long time, right?" Zhou Xueyin said gratefully.

"Sure, sure! Let’s wait for the holidays, I’ll contact your parents, and you should come too!" Director Li said happily.

Seeing the daughter of a friend’s family having done so well for herself also made him feel incredibly proud as an elder.

"My goodness, Yinyin, you’re pretty awesome to know the director?" On the way back to the company, Wang Anqi looked at Zhou Xueyin with surprise.

"Hey, isn’t it all because of my parents’ connections? Otherwise, why do you think I put you all on social security as soon as you joined the company? It’s all to avoid embarrassing the elders, right? But make sure you don’t tell anyone I know the director. Just say we were fined tens of thousands, and the specific amount per person is ten thousand!" Zhou Xueyin instructed Wang Anqi.

"No problem! This time isn’t it because someone pulled some strings behind the scenes?" Wang Anqi asked worriedly.

"Get over it; be confident, even if someone did pull strings behind the scenes! But, I did it intentionally..." Zhou Xueyin said with a mischievous smile.

"Intentionally?" Wang Anqi didn’t understand what Zhou Xueyin meant.

"Just sit back and enjoy the show when we get back!" Zhou Xueyin deliberately played coy, "Alright, no more smiling, look sadder, more heartbroken. Think about it, our company has been fined! Exactly!"

Seeing Wang Anqi’s sad expression, Zhou Xueyin also patted her own face, let out a breath, and let her expression fall. Her usually upturned lips drooped down, and she appeared listless overall.

"Yinyin, Yinyin, how did it go? What happened?" As soon as Zhou Xueyin returned to the company, a crowd gathered around her, especially when seeing her looking as wilted as a frost-beaten eggplant, they knew that the fine was going to be hefty.

"What else could have happened? A big loss of money, not only did we pay tens of thousands in fines, but we also had to insure the new employees... Sigh..." Zhou Xueyin sighed, "I need to go to the conference room and have a moment of peace... Jixiang, kk, Shanbao, come keep me company..."