Chapter 143: Faith Determination Ceremony
Leader Supply and Marketing Supermarket Group, first quarter cadre faith assessment ceremony.
Hilco could understand this sentence separately, but he couldn't understand it when it was put together.
First of all, what is a “supermarket”?
supermarket?
The most commercially developed region in Runeterra is Piltover. But even in Piltover, there has never been a business model like a "supermarket" before.
With some concern, Hilco took Sevika closer to observe it carefully.
Without even entering the store, they just stood outside the supermarket door and looked inside, and they instantly understood what a "supermarket" is:
In the spacious and open supermarket, a wide variety of goods were neatly arranged on the endless shelves, like soldiers waiting for inspection, and displayed in front of customers under bright lights.
Compared to those small shops with cramped spaces, this one looks very upscale.
However, what is sold on the shelves are all low- and medium-end products such as food, daily necessities, and fresh fruits. The company is clearly taking the people-friendly approach of small profits but quick turnover.
Those people in Piltover who are particular about style but have limited spending power will definitely like this supermarket.
"Nice business idea," Hilco commented in a low voice.
"Yes." Sevika also sighed: "These leaders really know how to do business."
"..." Hilco was slightly stunned when he heard this.
He suddenly realized why he had always been wary of the Leaders Association.
It's not just because of the connection between the Leaders and the Piltover Cartel, but also because these Leaders are so good at doing business.
Their business acumen is more flexible than any other businessman, and their ability to manage money is even better than that of the old Ziben family in Piltover.
This made Hilco feel... very uncomfortable.
This brings us to the second part of the slogan that Hilco couldn't understand:
"Didn't you say we should eliminate exploitation?"
"How come even a 'group' has been set up?"
Hilco didn't understand what the difference was between the "group" run by the Leader and the private enterprises run by the people of Piltover.
Hilco, who also had some knowledge of "Jana Thought", could not help but walk forward and call out to a man who looked like a leader:
"Hello, I am also a fan of Janna's theory. Excuse me, I have some questions to ask you - what is the 'nature' of your Leader Supply and Marketing Supermarket Group?"
"What's the difference between it and a store run by a Piltover guy?"
Hilco simply expressed his doubts.
He thought that this leading cadre would be embarrassed by this tricky question, or even drive him away in anger.
Unexpectedly, the cadre's eyes lit up after hearing this, and he even came over enthusiastically to shake his hand:
"How could you ask such a profound question——"
"It seems you must be our comrade, sir!"
"Comrades..." Hilco was slightly stunned.
Of course, there is no Chinese language in Runeterra, nor is there the word gay.
Levi used a free translation method, adapting the Noxian word "comrade" used by the leader.
The original meaning of this word in Noxian is "friends in need", especially "comrades-in-arms".
"Will the Leader and I be comrades-in-arms?"
Hilco asked himself in his heart.
The answer to this question depends to a certain extent on the cadre's answer to his previous question.
At this time, I only heard the leading cadre explain:
"Our Leader Supply and Marketing Supermarket Group, in terms of its nature... should be called 'Semi-Ghanaism'."
"On the one hand, our group is a state-owned economy established on the basis of private ownership and in a market environment. It is not a completely Ghanaian nature."
"On the other hand, our group is different from private seed benzene, and its purpose is not to exploit or make money."
"Market environment." Hilco couldn't help but tease.
Given the market environment, how can one start a company without pursuing profits?
If you want to make money, don’t you have to exploit?
"You are right," the cadre replied, "Although our purpose is not this, the exploitation of surplus value still objectively exists in our business operations."
Unless we achieve a harmonious society, exploitation will always exist, the only difference being more or less.
All that the leaders are trying to do now is to greatly reduce the exploitation of people, not to eliminate it.
"But this is the most practical option - after all, given the current situation of the Leaders Association, we are still far from being able to get rid of our dependence on market order."
The leader now does not even have a proper base of his own, not even a political entity, and of course it is impossible for him to escape the market order that firmly dominates the world.
If leaders want to develop, they have to spend money and make money.
To make money, you have to start a company and run a business, and you have to exploit surplus value.
"Since there is a need to pursue profits and exploitation exists, what is the difference between this and private enterprises in Piltover?" Hilco asked aggressively.
“We are state-owned.” Although the Leaders Association cannot be called a “state” at all, for the sake of ease of understanding, the cadres still explained it this way:
"All the assets and profits of our group do not belong to any one company, but to the entire Leaders Association and to all the people who follow the Leaders Association."
But this still couldn't convince Hilco.
The daily management and operation of the group is entirely controlled by the leading cadres. So, does that mean the ownership belongs to the public?
All the money goes into the pockets of the Leaders Association. Can the public still get any benefits from it?
"Of course." The cadre answered very calmly: "All the profits earned by our Supply and Marketing Supermarket Group from the market, except for those needed to maintain operations and expand reproduction, will be handed over to the association."
“Although the association will not give money directly to everyone, they will use the money for the benefit of the public.”
The Leaders Association is making money, but it is also constantly spending money on the public.
Hospitals cost money, schools cost money, poverty relief costs money, vocational training costs money, community cleaning costs money, public transportation costs money, scientific and technological research and development costs money, and armed forces construction costs money...
" We can guarantee that every penny we earn is spent for the benefit of the general public," the cadre explained sincerely.
"Really?" Hilco was still skeptical.
Profits are taken from the people and used for the people. This sounds good.
But when it comes to its implementation, doesn’t it still have to go through each cadre and each individual?
Hilco doesn't believe in human nature.
Such a large sum of money passed through the hands of the leader. If the cadres wanted to take it, or even if Li Wei wanted to take it, who could stop them?
And if Levi can make a profit for himself whenever he wants, then what is the difference between the Guild of Legends and private businesses in Piltover?
"That's why we need public supervision!" said the cadre.
"Supervision?" Hilco almost wanted to laugh.
This is Runeland, a magical world where people are born absolutely unequal.
Levi can blow away dozens or even hundreds of people with one breath. How can the public supervise him? A gun?
Not to mention Levi who knows magic.
The people of Zuan
Public supervision? What right do the public have to supervise?
"Just based on this." The cadre replied.
As he spoke, he pointed to the slogan on the banner:
"Cadre's Faith Test Ceremony—"
"The main leaders of our group are required to publicly test their faith every quarter under public supervision."
"Faith is the foundation for becoming a leader. Only those who have a strong enough faith and can pass this threshold are qualified to be selected as a leader based on their talents and qualifications."
“But becoming a cadre is not a one-time thing.”
"If cadres slack off in their work, become corrupt, or their faith fades, then they are no longer qualified to sit in this position and hold this power."
"And this 'Cadre Belief Test Ceremony' is a public test of the faith of leading cadres."
This was the third thing that Hilco couldn't understand.
"Belief test?" Hilco was confused: "How do you test it?"
“Janna will tell us,” the cadre said.
Hilco: “…”
So in the end, they are still using the same tricks as the charlatans?
He now distrusted the leader even more.
But the cadre just smiled confidently: "The determination ceremony will begin soon, sir, you will see it."
Having said that, he stopped explaining to Hilco.
Hilco and Sevika stepped aside attentively and waited quietly.
A few minutes later, the ceremony began.
Under the gaze of all the staff and onlookers, the leaders of the Leader Supply and Marketing Supermarket Group stood hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, on the road and began to sing:
“…”
These devout believers communicated with Goddess Jana through singing and borrowed a bit of her divine power.
As a result, "lines" appeared faintly on the cadres and staff present, and even on the passers-by who were participating in the supervision.
“This is…” Hilco’s eyes widened in shock.
"This is the thread of faith of the goddess." Someone enthusiastically explained: "Anyone who is a true believer in Janna will have such a thread."
Then there was a breeze blowing by, and a blue bird quietly descended into the world -
This is the external incarnation of the goddess Jana, which means that the goddess has "read it".
They are supervised not only by the public but also by an absolutely impartial and selfless immortal goddess.
"What?" Hilco couldn't accept it for a moment.
The goddess Janna actually exists?
Could this be a trick, a sorcerer's trick?
Can these so-called lines of faith really reflect the purity of a person’s faith?
Hilco was just doubting.
But Sevika looked at him in shock: "Xi, Xierko——"
"You have a 'line' too!"
