Business

The next day. Yaoguang accompanied Su Chiming to the Buzhou Group. On one hand, Yaoguang was somewhat curious about how the board of directors of a hundred-billion-level conglomerate actually operated. On the other... Su Chiming needed to guard against someone driven to desperation acting recklessly. When cornered with no way out, even honest people might lash out in a desperate struggle, to say nothing of high-ranking elites who held little awe for human life or the law—especially when they commanded formidable power. Driven by Su Hua, the car soon pulled into the chairman's private garage at the Buzhou Group. After stepping out, they took a private elevator inside the garage that led straight to the executive floor. When they exited the elevator, Lin Xia was already there to greet them alongside several others, with Su Huaigu and Su Chixin among them. Catching sight of Su Chiming and Su Yaoguang beside him, both smiled and proactively nodded in greeting. "Chairman, Director Wei, Director Yan, and Director Liu have already arrived," Lin Xia reported. "Then let's convene the board meeting," Su Chiming said. "Understood." Even though Director Zhang Yushu had yet to arrive, Lin Xia executed Su Chiming's instructions without hesitation. Led by Su Chiming, the Su family's three directors headed toward the boardroom together. Everyone they encountered along the way bowed respectfully. "Chairman." Yaoguang observed it all with a touch of novelty. Television depictions often relied on exaggeration to achieve dramatic visual impact, but right now... the sheer presence and prestige of the chairman of a hundred-billion conglomerate eclipsed anything shown on screen. Before long, the group reached the boardroom. Before opening the doors, Su Chiming could faintly hear an anxious voice from inside: "What's going on? Why won't his phone go through all of a sudden?" "Could he be stuck in traffic? There are still over ten minutes before the meeting officially starts." "That shouldn't be. Mr. Zhang has looked forward to this day for a long time. He'd definitely arrive ahead of everyone with his people. Coming half an hour or even an hour early would be normal. He'd never be late." Hearing the exchange, Su Chiming smiled faintly. "No need to wait," he said, pushing the doors open. "Director Zhang probably won't be coming." His words plunged the boardroom into silence. Watching the Su family stride aggressively into the room, the directors seated inside and the assistants standing behind them turned their collective gaze upon the newcomers. Only when Su Chiming took his seat at the head of the table did Wei Bolai recover his senses. He quickly said, "What do you mean by that, Chairman Su?" Then he added, "Isn't it still before the scheduled time for the board meeting? Starting early before everyone is here goes against the rules, doesn't it?" Having single-handedly built the Buzhou Group into an empire worth hundreds of billions, Su Chiming wielded far more control over the company than ordinary people imagined. Previously, he had held back only out of wariness toward the forces backing Zhang Yushu, Wei Bolai, and the others, wanting to avoid a conflict that could disrupt the group's development. But now... The Zhang and Yue families were throwing their full weight behind him. Furthermore, with Su Yaoguang providing absolute martial backing to keep Zhang Yushu and Wei Bolai from resorting to desperate violence, what did he have left to fear? At this moment, all he wanted was to sweep away the parasites within the Buzhou Group like autumn leaves in a gale, firmly restoring complete control to the Su family. "Lin Xia, show the documents to Director Wei," Su Chiming said directly. Then he added, "Let Director Yan, Director Liu, and Brother Ran take a look as well." Prepared well in advance, Lin Xia motioned to the assistants from the chairman's office, who placed the dossiers before the four directors one by one. After skimming through the pages, their expressions shifted dramatically in unison. These documents were undeniable proof of the embezzlement and illicit enrichment that Wei Bolai, Director Yan, and Director Liu had engaged in over the years, siphoning funds from the Buzhou Group into their private coffers. "Had a good look?" Su Chiming waited unhurriedly for a moment before continuing, "If I hand these files over to the Security Department, every one of you will have to spend some time behind bars." "Heh... the Security Department..." Wei Bolai sneered. "Does a trivial matter like this really warrant disturbing the Security Department?" "Chairman Su is making a mountain out of a molehill," Director Liu said with a hollow chuckle. "The matters here hardly qualify as occupational misappropriation. Just patching up a few shortfalls will settle it. Surely this isn't worth Chairman Su making such a fuss, is it?" "I know where your confidence comes from. You think Zhang Yushu will protect you?" Su Chiming leaned back in his chair. "Can't get in touch with Zhang Yushu right now, can you? It seems you've been praying to the wrong Buddha. You should try calling Director Zhang Mingde instead and see if you can reach him. Or better yet, hurry up and tap into your connections to see what news you can dig up on him." The moment he said this, the faces of Wei Bolai and the other two blanched, leaving only Director Ran unfazed. "Chairman Su, what are you trying to say?" Director Liu could not help asking. "Don't be in such a rush to ask me. Go investigate and find out for yourselves." Su Chiming glanced at the luxury watch on his wrist, then smiled. "There are still ten minutes before the meeting officially starts. If I were you, I'd get on the phone right away." Seeing Su Chiming so supremely confident, the others could no longer sit still. Casting aside dignity and decorum, they hastily pulled out their phones and began dialing. Throughout it all, Su Chiming remained calm and poised. Su Huaigu and Su Chixin wore slight smiles. Over this recent period, especially the past six months, Wei Bolai, Zhang Yushu, and their faction had constantly tripped up the Su family's personnel, installing their own people in key positions and causing subordinates to pay only lip service to the Su family's orders. Before coming, the two had already guessed the general outcome of today's meeting. Watching Wei Bolai and his associates scramble in panic felt like watching a sideshow. While smiling, they also cast discreet glances toward Yaoguang. They knew this shift had been brought about entirely by him. If not for him, Zhang Yushu's latest offensive would likely have forced the Su family to yield even more crucial ground. Wei Bolai and his peers did not possess the kind of influence Zhang Yushu commanded—backing from a third-rank high official—yet they still had connections within the local authorities. Wei Bolai in particular had an elder who served as the deputy director of the Finance Department in the provincial capital. As he frantically worked his network, he soon learned the shocking news: Zhang Mingde, director of the Tiannan Development Department, had been taken away first thing this morning. Wei Bolai's eyes widened in horror. Especially after hearing over the phone that the people behind the move belonged to the Yue family faction... This matter could well involve a clash between the Yue family and Governor-General Wei. A shiver ran through Wei Bolai's entire body. The Yue family?! That was an immovable mountain looming over everyone in Tiannan Province. As for Wei Kongming... The Governor-General of Tiannan! The undisputed top authority in the entire province! When two giants like that clashed, let alone a mere director of the Development Department, even the vice governor-generals would walk on eggshells in sheer terror of getting caught in the crossfire. "You... you actually secured backing from the Yue family..." Wei Bolai hung up the phone, staring at Su Chiming with utter dread. Not only had they reached the Yue family, but the Yue family had acted so decisively and ruthlessly! Had the Su family thrown their lot entirely behind the Yue family? "I don't know what you're talking about. I am merely acting as a law-abiding citizen should—reporting illicit activities brought to my attention, nothing more," Su Chiming remarked indifferently. "And now, I have detected further illicit activities..." His gaze swept over them. In truth, among senior executives of a conglomerate, who was entirely free of embezzlement or the misuse of corporate resources? In most circumstances, people turned a blind eye, unwilling to nitpick over minor matters and ruin cordial relations. Yet now... It was a life-or-death struggle. Under such circumstances, what cordiality remained to speak of? Realizing that Zhang Yushu had still failed to show up, Director Liu and Director Yan instantly understood that the tide had turned against them. Director Liu was the first to speak: "Chairman, it was a moment of foolishness that led me to do things I shouldn't have. Please, for the sake of us fighting shoulder-to-shoulder to build this empire over more than a decade, give me a chance to turn over a new leaf..." "That wasn't quite how Director Liu spoke just a moment ago," Su Chiming chuckled. "My fault... entirely my fault! I'll personally host a lavish banquet to apologize to you, Chairman..." Director Liu stood up, making solemn vows. "I will give you two choices right now. First, we handle things according to the law. I hand these files over, and whatever the authorities decide, goes..." "The second! The second! I choose the second option!" Director Liu blurted out hurriedly. Whatever the authorities decided? The latitude for such enforcement was far too flexible. If the authorities wanted to make an example of someone, even an offhand curse like "you little rascal" could be framed as public insult or picking quarrels and provoking trouble. Now that the Su family had the Yue family's influence on their side, how things were handled would depend entirely on their word. If they wished, they had a hundred ways to press criminal charges. "Second, we will offer a price to buy out your shares. From here on, we part ways on amicable terms," Su Chiming said evenly. "I'll sell! I'll sell!" Director Liu agreed without the slightest hesitation. Beside him, Director Yan nodded along as well. Su Chiming then turned his gaze toward Wei Bolai. Wei Bolai's face alternated between pale and livid. Yet when he thought of the terrifying power wielded by the Yue family... A third-rank official had been taken down just like that. If he dared to resist, the fallout would even drag down the elders in his family. In the end, his courage crumbled completely. "I... am willing to sell my shares." ... Circumstances were stronger than men. The directors had virtually no room to negotiate. Even though the price Su Chiming offered was not high and would be paid in several installments, they had no choice but to swallow their grievances and accept. The business dragged on through the entire morning. It was not until one in the afternoon that a smiling Su Chiming offered to treat Yaoguang to lunch. Yaoguang did not refuse. Food was food, no matter where he ate. However, just as the group took the private elevator back down to the garage, a figure rushed toward them from not far away. Wearing a baseball cap, a hoodie, and a black face mask, the person dashed straight toward Su Chiming and his entourage with ruthless speed. Just as Su Hua realized what was happening and shouted a warning, a short blade glinted in the attacker's hand, stabbing directly toward Su Chiming.