Chapter 214: Arranging the funeral and new appointments

'Comrades journalists, today's incident began when Hangzhou General Manager Liu Feng and Union Shipping Company Vice President Qian conspired to manipulate the project for personal gain. Everything they previously said to our Marketing Manager Li Qingyuan and Shipping Company General Manager Wang Ping was a slander, and they were wronged. The comrades from the District Commission for Discipline Inspection were also deceived, which is why they made the wrong decision.'

Zhou Ming stood in front of all the reporters at the entrance to the West Lake Hotel and shouted, while all the reporters quickly took out notebooks and pens to take notes.

For these reporters, everything they had just witnessed was even more exciting than any movie: not only was there the rivalry between several companies vying for the same project, but there was also the internal infighting within the shipping company, not to mention the shopping mall strategies, illegal plots and schemes, and personal attacks on certain important figures, the arrest of some important people, and finally even the appearance of various relevant departments.

Since it was such an exciting process, it could be written up as a business novel. Naturally, these reporters would not let it go, and some even took the initiative to ask: 'Hello, Mr. Zhou, did you plan the bidding strategy for the company this time? Manager Li Qingyuan and Wang Ping came to the West Lake Hotel to eat together today, did you arrange that as well? Was it also to finalise the bidding result?'

But Zhou Ming simply ignored these questions and continued talking to himself: 'We choose to trust the relevant government authorities regarding the final outcome of things, and I believe that there is still credibility in the world when it comes to the results of tenders. This is the foundation on which all companies are built!'

After saying this, Zhou Ming ignored the reporters' reactions and turned away. The reporters tried to catch up but were stopped by the public security police.

'Boss Zhou, is it really okay to just ignore these reporters?' Li Qingyuan asked cautiously.

'Do we need to care about them? The public security commission for discipline inspection, armed police, and so many other relevant units are here, so are we worried that these media outlets won't be careful?'

Zhou Ming's rhetorical question was very confident, and it also made Li Qingyuan feel enlightened. The reason was simple. Compared to Liu Feng before, who still needed to fabricate lies in front of these reporters, Zhou Ming simply didn't bother to say a word. He said so simply out of respect for public opinion. Because there were so many units here, even if Zhou Ming didn't say anything, these reporters wouldn't dare write a word. From this, it can be seen just how much better Zhou Ming was than Liu Feng.

'This time, thanks to you, Boss Zhou, for stepping in in time, otherwise I'm afraid you would have to go to the Discipline Inspection Commission to bail me out again,' Li Qingyuan said with great remorse, 'Last time, you were asked to go to the police station to bail me out, and this time, you were almost asked to go to the Discipline Inspection Commission. I really am good for nothing and bad for everything. Every time, I get you into such big trouble, not only do I fail to get things done, but in the end, I have to ask you to step in and help. This is really not right!'

'Manager Li, you really don't need to blame yourself so much. You've done a really good job,' Zhou Ming said, patting Li Qingyuan on the shoulder. 'Think about it: there were so many people at the company, and you were the only one who dared to fight for this order. You were also the only one who could complete this incredible turnaround, and you won the bid at the tender meeting by defeating your opponents fair and square.

Li Qingyuan wanted to say something else, but Zhou Ming immediately said, 'Manager Li, you don't need to say anything more. One thing is very clear: if you hadn't won the bidding meeting before, there would be no more of these stories afterwards. And as I said, as long as you can win the bidding meeting, I will take care of the rest for you. After all, you have never experienced such a big order before, and some things are not as simple as you think.'

After hearing Zhou Ming's words, Li Qingyuan realised that Zhou Ming had actually been paying attention to him the whole time. He wasn't just saying that he was his strong backing; this was the kind of boss who was a real boss!

Li Qingyuan felt endless emotion in his heart. As Zhou Ming and Li Qingyuan were preparing to leave, a car pulled up over there. It was Zhao Jun, the general manager of the Eight Treasures Congee Company.

Zhao Jun hurriedly ran up to Zhou Ming and said, 'Boss Zhou, I heard that something happened to Manager Li here.'

Zhao Jun then looked behind him, and seeing so many people from powerful departments in the city, he was a little taken aback. Zhou Ming waved his hand and said, 'It's been resolved, let's go back to the company and talk about it.'

Zhou Ming brought Li Qingyuan and Zhao Jun back to the company, and the first thing they did was to gather all the company executives in the meeting room.

A few minutes later, when Zhou Ming walked into the meeting room, all the company executives were already sitting there. Zhou Ming came over without any formalities and started speaking directly: 'After I returned to the company, I saw that you were preparing a celebration banquet. Can someone tell me what's going on?'

If Zhou Ming had asked them this question in the morning, they would have proudly told him that it was because they had won this super order from the shipping company. Although this order was almost won by Li Qingyuan alone, it was still worth celebrating. However, now they were all silent, not daring to speak, and could only bow their heads there like primary school students who had done something wrong.

Zhou Ming did not feel the need to speak either, so the atmosphere was very tense. As the minutes ticked by, it was the general manager Zhao Jun who took the blame: 'I'm sorry, Mr Zhou, this is all my fault. I thought the bidding results had already been announced and that the decision had already been made, so I organised a celebration for the company to recognise Manager Li Qingyuan's achievements and to encourage him with his success...'

Before Zhao Jun could finish, Zhou Ming interrupted him, saying, 'Okay, Manager Zhao, I think there's no need to explain. The point of my question is not how many reasons you have to hold this celebration dinner, but rather your own thoughts. If I understand correctly, this morning when Manager Li left, he also said that he had very important things to do and that the celebration dinner needed to be postponed, but it seems that no one took this seriously.'

'Mr. Zhou, the shipping company is a large state-owned enterprise, and the bidding results were announced in public. There shouldn't be any accidents...'

Zhao Jun's words were once again interrupted by Zhou Ming. Zhou Ming emphasised, 'I'll say this again, I don't want to hear any explanations, because they are all excuses to me. The problem now is that your thinking is wrong, a very serious problem!'

This time, no one dared to say anything, including Zhao Jun, and they were left breathless by Zhou Ming's momentum.

Zhou Ming continued, 'Before, Manager Li was fighting for the project and you were pouring cold water on him. Now that Manager Li has won the project, you should continue to work to consolidate the results, but instead you're throwing a victory celebration. Don't you think what you're doing is ridiculous?'

In Zhou Ming's questioning, everyone buried their heads even lower. Zhou Ming continued, 'The Binjiang Province Congee Branch is also a company that has grown from nothing. It was you all who bit into this market little by little. You were such a passionate team back then, but look at you now? You dare not fight when you should, you can't hold on when you should, you just settle for the status quo, sleeping on your laurels and resting on your past achievements. Do you think that's glorious?'

'Zhao Jun!' Zhou Ming directly called his name. Zhao Jun looked up. Zhou Ming asked him, "Do you remember the last time you went to Linyang for a meeting and you asked me what to do to open up the Hangzhou market, and what I told you?'

'Of course I remember. You said, Mr. Zhou, that there is no problem in the world that cannot be solved, only brains that refuse to be used," Zhao Jun replied.

'That's the exact thing!' Zhou Ming said. 'But what have you done? Someone has placed a 10 million order in front of you, and all you can say is that he is in difficulty and it is impossible, without thinking about using your own brains to fight for it. Or do you think that the Binjiang Congee branch is already doing well and does not need this 10 million order?'

'Of course not!'

Zhao Jun shouted out, but his words came to an abrupt end here, because in the face of the facts and Zhou Ming, he simply didn't know what to say.

Zhou Ming looked around and said, 'I know what you're thinking. You're already used to the environment of this company, and now suddenly Manager Li has been put in, so you'll instinctively push him away. You'll reject all of his suggestions, and even in front of me you still dare to pick on him. You're really not afraid of anything.'

Having said that, Zhou Ming deliberately paused for a moment and then said, 'Having courage is a good thing, but if you can use your courage to fight for orders instead of bullying me, I think there will definitely be good results!'

'I don't lack money, and the company doesn't lack money either, but there are a lot of problems revealed through this order, so I have decided to appoint Li Qingyuan as the company's deputy general manager, specifically in charge of marketing. The rest of you must cooperate with him!'

Zhou Ming paused for a moment and then continued, 'In addition, I feel that I need to give you another lesson on the differences between private enterprises and state-owned enterprises.'

'If you were in a state-owned enterprise, you would be very safe and secure in your respective positions, and you would be the boss in every respect. But now you are in my company, which is my own company, and I can make all the decisions. I can tell anyone to go, and they will have to go immediately. Even if I were to dissolve the company, it would be a matter of my saying so.'

Zhou Ming deliberately looked around and said, 'You are all so clever, I think you will all understand what I am saying, right?'

In the face of Zhou Ming's words, all the senior management of the company, including Zhao Jun, involuntarily trembled a little, because Zhou Ming's meaning had been made very clear: this company is mine alone, and I can tell anyone to get lost if I want them to, and anyone who goes against me, if they form cliques, then everyone in those cliques will get the sack together!

For people like Zhao Jun, Zhou Ming's words were a very stern warning, but for Li Qingyuan, they were a great encouragement.

Yes, the company belongs to the boss, and whoever the boss tells to go away, has to go away! A real man should be like Boss Zhou, he is truly a real character!

Li Qingyuan thought excitedly in his heart, and he also set an ideal for himself: in the future, he must follow Zhou Ming's example and be just like Zhou Ming!

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