What Do you want to hunt in the workplace?

Caring for Workplace Culture Through the Urban Workplace Drama "Game of Hunting"

Cheng Qiudong, a young entrepreneur, is swept into the dark currents of corporate battles by his intense desire to make money. He starts working at a French-funded bank, where a senior executive from a "headhunting company" tempts him with 180,000 yuan to take advantage of his office location and secretly photograph the bank’s confidential client list. His friends all say it’s not a crime—many industries do the same—and he really wants that money...

His urgent pursuit of success pushes him into the harsh and ruthless "hunting ground" of desire in the real world…

"Game of Hunting" is an urban workplace drama produced by Zhejiang Film and Television Group and others in mainland China. It premiered on Taiwan's Weilai Comprehensive Channel on June 6, 2018. During the process of watching the drama, the author was deeply reminded, impacted, and warned. Here, the author shares their observations and reflections—

Summary/Introduction

Another translated title is "The Hunting Ground of Desire." It is directed by Jiang Wei and Fu Wei, starring Hu Ge, Guan Renzi, Chen Long, Wan Qian, and others.

The drama is set against the backdrop of urban society and tells the story of Zheng Qiudong’s turbulent career journey, his ups and downs in the business world, and his transformation over ten years into a professional headhunter.

It premiered on November 6, 2017, on Hunan Satellite TV, and was simultaneously released on Youku, Tencent Video, iQIYI, and YouTube.

(Source: Baidu Encyclopedia)

Story Structure

Throughline:：鄭秋冬職場闖蕩歷程。

He had a talent for product promotion and was a smooth talker. Attracted by a mysterious boss with a high salary, he was drawn into a secretive work environment. Shortly after joining, he really made a lot of money. However, when he realized that the series of activities resembled a pyramid scheme, it was already too late. After the police received reports, the group was found to be involved in an illegal pyramid scheme operation, and several people were arrested. As a result, Zheng Qiudong also ended up serving four years in prison.

After being released from prison, worried that his criminal record would become a black mark on his resume, he changed his name and entered a high-end industry. However, he was soon exposed, and the company placed him on an industry blacklist, making it impossible for him to survive in the related field. He had no choice but to move to another city and start his own employment agency on his own.

During the startup phase, with the company’s staff not yet complete, he wanted to venture into the high-end industry on his own. Through a connection made by a headhunter, he entered a French-funded bank, where he encountered a temptation of 180,000 yuan…

After the employment agency steadily grew, it was upgraded to a Human Resources Center, but he insisted on focusing on headhunting for high-level professionals himself.

Throughline:The sparks ignited between Zheng Qiudong and every person he encounters during his journey.

Including: the companion and mentor in prison who taught him how to be a headhunter; his second girlfriend, who initially deceived him by exploiting his use of a false name but later became a partner in the employment agency; the close headhunter friend who originally persuaded him to join the French bank and later supported him at the risk of offending senior management; his first love who was always the first to help him whenever he made a mistake; the interactions and conflicts between clients and candidates in each case... and so on.

Establishing the Environment:The workplace he navigates and the process of his work.

Mainly involving the employment agency, human resources center, headhunting company, as well as the clients who commission him to find talent and the candidates being recruited.

Recommended to those who regularly follow these relevant aspects.

◆ How can ex-prisoners regain their dignity and integrity in the workplace?

Zheng Qiudong suffered two major blows to his character and integrity—first from serving time in prison, then from the alias incident. Because of these setbacks, in his self-started career agency, human resources center, and headhunting work, he pays exceptional attention to the character and integrity of both his clients and the candidates they entrust him to find. Whenever he senses someone acting suspiciously, he spares no effort to investigate, persistently committed to uncovering the truth. His close friends jokingly call him “the Sherlock Holmes of the headhunting world.” Though a humorous nickname, it reflects his serious determination to clear the stains on his character and integrity from the past and to earn back people’s renewed trust—an endeavor for which he is willing to pay a significant price.

Reflection and Application

People who have made mistakes and served time in prison do indeed pay a much higher price when returning to the workplace than others. How should we view this situation with balance? How can we help them continue to grow?

If there is a “formerly incarcerated person” who has been released from prison working as your colleague in the workplace, you can——

1. Start from the perspective that “he is also God’s creation,” respecting that he is an ordinary person just like you.

2. Since he is an ordinary person, he will inevitably make mistakes; going to prison was because those mistakes violated the law, but he has also undergone significant discipline during his imprisonment. Now that he has been released, we should welcome him back into everyday life.

3. Making mistakes may make him sensitive and fearful, with very low self-confidence. Therefore, in work tasks, it is important to communicate with him extensively and clearly explain assignments. When he makes a mistake, gently remind him of ways to improve next time; when he succeeds, offer encouragement and affirmation. It’s essential to help him develop a sense of participation, belonging, and honorable contribution to the team.

4. Maintain an attitude of being both colleagues and friends, treating him just like any other person, allowing him to experience the balance brought by everyday matters naturally, without making him feel singled out or specially treated.

5. If there is ever a situation in the workplace involving the loss of certain property, do not immediately suspect the colleague who has a prison record. Supervisors should first calmly and objectively evaluate all possible causes, and then methodically investigate, search, and resolve the issue step by step.

◆ Reflections on the Use of Employment Agencies, Human Resources Centers, and Headhunting Firms

“Kingdom Resources for Christ” (KRC) serves as a “resource center” dedicated to discovering talents for God’s Kingdom. While it may not exactly be called a “headhunter,” we can pray and seek guidance from the Chief Overseer, Jesus Christ, on how to “headhunt” talents from the kingdom bound by worldly values into the culture of the Kingdom of Heaven. What skills, tools, and training are needed?

Christian business owners, leaders, and managers who are believers do not need to rely solely on high salaries to “headhunt” talents into their companies or organizations. Instead, they should prioritize “gifts” and spiritual gifts. Before drafting recruitment advertisements, they should first pray to God and view the process of “talent acquisition” as an opportunity to seek suitable vessels.

Church pastors and leaders should encourage congregants to use their gifts in various workplaces to serve God through their professional roles. Pastors and small group leaders ought to maintain ongoing care and concern for the brothers and sisters in their workplaces. Churches should collaborate and support one another with fellowships in various industries (such as business, healthcare, arts, etc.) and with various gospel organizations (including training and education ministries, publishing ministries, and more), forming a tightly connected “industry chain” type of “alliance.” The goal is to involve all “gift holders” in active participation.

For example: those with the gift of storytelling write family stories, neighborhood stories, and various workplace stories to the best of their ability; then those with the gift of editing compile these into story collections or novels. These become scripts for those with the gifts of screenwriting, directing, and acting, who adapt and perform them as stage plays, TV dramas (short plays, anthologies, series), movies, or web dramas. Those with the gifts of advertising and media operations market these productions to various media outlets, providing opportunities for showcasing and broadcasting. Meanwhile, those with the gifts of lyric writing and composing collaborate to create good songs. Each person in this long “chain of gifts” jointly participates in the grand project of “jointly influencing this generation”! It may seem like a lofty dream, but why not bring this great dream into prayer and entrust it into God’s hands?

◆In the pursuit of success in the workplace, how much weight does one’s “identity” really carry?

Zheng Qiudong’s relentless drive comes from his unwillingness to accept an “ordinary identity” — a mere living wage, just being a nine-to-five office worker, confined in a small office. His goal for his “identity” is to continuously advance toward the “upper level” and “high-end.”

The alias incident was an attempt to escape the stigma of a “criminal record” on his resume. However, this impulsive act ironically “self-sabotaged” his true identity. At his lowest point, his “ID card” became his greatest contradiction — he valued it deeply but dared not show it to others or let anyone know his real name. While he continually strived for a higher “status,” at that moment he had betrayed his own “identity,” preferring to hide away like a fugitive, invisible to the world.

Reflection and Application

How should one view the role of "identity" in shaping self-worth during the pursuit of success?

Christians can find the basis for their "identity and value" directly from the Bible. Genesis 1:26-27 records: “God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” We are made in God’s image and likeness, and this is the root of human identity and value. From the moment we are born, we already possess this identity and worth. As we grow, we take on various roles—child, friend, spouse, boss, subordinate, and so forth—which may change depending on time, place, and situation. However, no matter how many roles we play or how they change, they can never erase a person's fundamental identity and value.

Christians in the workplace need to first firmly establish their footing on this foundation, and then regularly affirm their colleagues’ sense of “identity and value.” They should constantly serve as supporters and encouragers, helping their coworkers maintain a healthy balance and confidence in their own identity and worth.

◆How can one wisely and skillfully escape the temptations and enticements of money, lust, power, and fame?

Each storyline in the drama is filled with the temptations and trials of desire. For example: when Zheng Qiudong first entered the pyramid scheme business, a female colleague encouraged him during the day to use his eloquence to attract and recruit people for sales, and at night attempted to seduce him into spending the night together. Later, as Zheng gradually transitioned into headhunting work, he encountered betrayal from his former business partner, who had become his rival. This former partner went so far as to manipulate a female employee to seduce a talented executive from a target company. Upon learning of this corrupt scheme from a close friend, Zheng took active steps to track and investigate the situation. His concern was fueled by the fact that this rival was the very same senior manager who had once tempted him with 180,000 yuan to secretly photograph a confidential client list when he worked at the French-invested bank—now repeating his old tricks…

At the time, Zheng Qiudong was able to access the confidential client list because his direct supervisor trusted him. While the supervisor was away, he sent the password via mobile phone to Zheng, intending for it to be shown to a client handling a particular matter. Zheng was simply acting as the supervisor’s confidential assistant, which is why he had such easy and convenient access at close range—

The camera zooms out, focusing on the list. His finger moves closer, hovering over the shutter button… Suddenly, a ringtone pierces the air. Zheng Qiudong snaps his gaze toward the surveillance camera. His fingers curl in, sweat streaming down his forehead, his breathing turns rapid, facial muscles twitching…

What do you think he will do in the next second? If you were in his position, what would you do?

Reflection and Application

The desire to pursue success certainly exists, but where is the line when it comes to weighing and choosing between the means and morality?

In the workplace, temptations and trials related to money, lust, power, and fame may lurk all around. How can one wisely and shrewdly avoid, dodge, or escape them?

The workplace is also a microcosm of the battlefield of life and the arena of personal struggle. What we pursue, care about, and value in the workplace often reflects our deeper views on the meaning of life and our understanding of what it means to be truly successful.

“Game of Hunting” (《獵場》), a modern urban workplace drama, is well-suited for anyone striving in their career. Through empathetic storytelling, viewers witness characters "hunting" for power, wealth, love, or fame. It invites us to reflect deeply: In your workplace, in the battlefield of life, in the arena of existence—what are you hunting for? What is it that you truly seek?

However, Matthew 16:26 says, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” May this verse serve as a “brake” for Christians striving and hustling in the workplace—a reminder to pause, reflect, and carefully consider the next step.

Once Christians have learned and become grounded, they will then be well equipped to help their colleagues in the workplace grow alongside them!

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