Chapter 32

Beads of sweat broke out on Zhang Kai's forehead.

It was clear that Qin Ze was playing for real.

If he really shut down the company, they would all be unemployed.

Zhang Kai hurriedly stated his position:

"Don't worry, President Qin! We will definitely cooperate fully with General Manager Jiang to make this company a success!"

The other employees also chimed in one after another:

"Right! We will definitely work hard!"

Qin Ze nodded:

"Fine, that's settled. Supervisor Zhang, go arrange the work."

"Jiang Wan, come with me to the office."

After saying this, he led Jiang Wan toward the independent chairman's office.

Watching their retreating figures, Zhang Kai gritted his teeth, but still said to the employees:

"You all heard him? Work hard, and don't mess anything up."

The group nodded repeatedly.

……

Once the door was closed, Jiang Wan let out a sigh of relief.

"Senior Brother, that speech you just gave really kept them in check."

Qin Ze smiled:

"This bunch of people are all cunning. Zhang Kai is an old fox, and those employees are in cahoots with him."

"If I hadn't been tough just now, your position as manager would have been nominal and lacked authority."

Jiang Wan nodded:

"I understand. But the situation in this company is even worse than I imagined."

"It's a shell company, so that's normal."

Qin Ze leaned back in his chair.

"But precisely because it's a shell, it's easy to operate."

"Think about it: if we rebuild the team and create a new investment direction, this company is a blank slate—we can draw whatever we want on it."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the river view outside.

"In this company, Zhang Kai and those old employees are a solid block, which is disadvantageous for both you and me."

"So the most important thing next is to recruit some new people, cultivate them as confidants, and then slowly lay off those dishonest old-timers."

"It would be best to make the people below compete against each other! Divide them into several small circles so that you can manage them better."

Listening to this, Jiang Wan couldn't help but admire Qin Ze's methods.

She had originally thought Qin Ze was just rich, but now it seemed his skills and vision were equally extraordinary.

"Senior Brother, I understand."

Jiang Wan nodded vigorously.

"I'll recruit people as soon as possible today and then scout for investment projects."

"There's no need to push yourself too hard."

Qin Ze turned around.

"Leave the work to the people below; you just need to be responsible for decision-making and quality control."

Jiang Wan smiled: "Okay."

When Qin Ze left the company alone,

Zhang Kai personally escorted him to the elevator.

"President Qin, please rest assured, I will definitely cooperate fully with General Manager Jiang's work!"

Zhang Kai seized the moment to express his loyalty.

Qin Ze glanced at him and suddenly said:

"Zhang Kai, how old are you this year?"

Zhang Kai was taken aback: "Forty-two."

"Forty-two, the prime age for a career."

Qin Ze patted him on the shoulder.

"Work hard; I have other companies in my hands. If you do well, I'll transfer you to work by my side."

Zhang Kai's eyes lit up.

Working as a supervisor at Qingfeng Holdings was basically the end of the road for him.

Even if he jumped ship to another company, it would be about the same position with an annual salary of around two hundred thousand, with no room for advancement.

But judging by Qin Ze's words, he had quite a few companies, and his own annual income could still improve?

"President Qin, I... I really want to advance!"

Zhang Kai's voice was a bit excited.

"Please rest assured, I will firmly support General Manager Jiang and make the company a success!"

Qin Ze nodded and stepped into the elevator.

As the elevator doors closed, a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

For people like Zhang Kai, you have to dangle a carrot.

Dangle a carrot that is big and round, so he can see it and can't reach it, but always feels he's just a little bit away from getting it.

Only then will he work his heart out and help keep the people below in check.

Back in the car, Qin Ze didn't start the engine immediately.

He took out his phone and found the account marked as Wang Pangzi on WeChat.

Wang Peng, his roommate for four years in college, a true buddy.

Qin Ze still remembered that a while ago, when he was laid off and had no income, he borrowed money from Wang Peng.

Wang Peng was busy trying to buy a house at the time and was short on cash, but he still transferred ten thousand to him.

He kept this favor in his heart.

Now that he had money, he definitely had to pay it back immediately.

Qin Ze opened the chat box and transferred fifty thousand directly.

Transfer note: Repayment + interest.

Less than ten seconds after the message was sent, the other side replied.

Wang Pangzi:?????

Wang Pangzi: Brother Ze, did you strike it rich?

Qin Ze smiled and typed a reply.

Qin Ze: I took the ten thousand you lent me to gamble, and I won.

Wang Pangzi: Get lost! Do you take me for a three-year-old? Tell me, what's really going on?

Qin Ze: It's really nothing, I just got lucky recently and made some money. The extra is just interest.

Wang Pangzi:... You didn't do anything illegal, did you?

Qin Ze: Am I that kind of person?

The other side was silent for a few seconds.

Wang Pangzi: Fine, then I'll shamelessly accept this money! But speaking of which, how are things with Zhou Ying?

Qin Ze looked at the name on the screen, feeling no ripples in his heart.

Qin Ze: We broke up, we're not seeing each other anymore.

Wang Pangzi: Holy crap! For real?

Wang Pangzi: I told you to break up with Zhou Ying a long time ago! You're so outstanding, there are plenty of fish in the sea!

Wang Pangzi: I'm off work this weekend, I'll come find you, we definitely have to drink together!

Wang Peng's messages popped up one after another.

Qin Ze smiled.

Qin Ze: Sure, wait for my message this weekend.

Wang Pangzi: By the way, Song Bin also returned to Jiangcheng to develop recently, I'll call him too, let's all get together!

Song Bin, Qin Ze's lower-bunk roommate, was also a true buddy. Back in the dorm, Qin Ze only hung out with Wang Pangzi and Song Bin the most.

Qin Ze: Good.

Just as Qin Ze was about to exit the chat, Wang Peng sent another message.

Wang Pangzi: Do you know about the class reunion next month?

Qin Ze was stunned.

Class reunion?

He had no idea.

At this moment, Qin Ze recalled that near the end of school, he had had some unpleasantness with some people in his class.

At the time, many people hadn't found jobs, while Qin Ze had successfully signed with a major firm.

As the class monitor, he naturally urged the class about employment matters.

As a result, some people felt he was being sarcastic and showing off.

In fact, Qin Ze knew in his heart that this was human nature.

They couldn't stand to see others doing well.

The ridiculous thing was that for the class reunion next month, he, the class monitor, didn't even know about it.

Qin Ze: I don't know.

Wang Pangzi: As expected... they didn't intend to call you. I heard this reunion was organized by Zhou Hao. That kid is doing well now, working as a manager at a foreign company, and he's very cocky.

Li Hao was the one who had the biggest conflict with Qin Ze during that graduation incident.

Wang Pangzi: Are you going?

Qin Ze thought for a moment and typed a reply.

Qin Ze: Not going.

It's meaningless.

A group of plastic classmates; going there is just watching people show off or being the butt of the joke.

He didn't have the spare time now.

In Qin Ze's view, so-called classmate affection was originally an illusory thing.

Class reunions were even more of a large-scale show-off scene, with everyone comparing who was doing better.

No affection, only interests.

Wang Pangzi: Not going is fine too, saves you from getting angry. Then we'll just get together ourselves this weekend!

Qin Ze: Good.

After chatting with Wang Pangzi, Qin Ze paid off the other money he had borrowed one by one.

Debt-free and lighthearted.

And the reason he waited until now to pay it back

was because Qin Ze wasn't sure before if he could get more cashback.

Exiting WeChat, Qin Ze opened his mobile banking and transferred one hundred thousand to each of his parents' accounts.

Qin Ze's parents were in their hometown county, Qingshui County.

In the years he had been in Jiangcheng, he hadn't been able to go back more than a few times a year.

And because of Zhou Ying, he hadn't earned any money for his parents since he started working.

Most of his salary was spent on Zhou Ying.

Now that he had money, the first thing Qin Ze thought of was to let his parents live a little more easily.

Less than three minutes after the transfer was completed, his phone rang.

It was his father, Qin Shougang, calling.

Qin Ze answered the phone.

Qin Shougang's loud voice exploded from the receiver,

"You little brat, did you rob a bank, or have you lost your mind?!"

"Sending so much money over? Don't you want to live anymore?"

Immediately after, his mother Zhao Fang's voice came through:

"How are you talking to the child!"

The phone seemed to have been snatched away. He thought his own mother might speak more nicely, but the next moment.

Zhao Fang:

"Zeze, did you do something illegal? Where did so much money come from?"

Qin Ze was between laughter and tears:

"I said I won the lottery, do you... believe me?"

There was silence on the other end for two seconds.

Qin Shougang's voice rang out again:

"You won the lottery? If you can win the lottery, I can be the President of the United States!"