Chapter 105: The Little People

What on earth? Captain Zhang? Zhang Baode is the security captain? Even if it is just a deputy captain, that is still middle management. By what merit does he deserve compensation higher than the vast majority of the staff?

No one expected this to be merely the first shock of the company’s reorganization; the events that would truly leave them dumbfounded were yet to come.

The administrative office team was small, consisting of about a dozen people mostly handling personnel matters. Yet, the smaller the department, the more it relished gossip. Who would win the power struggle between the boss and the employees? If the boss won, would there be a raise to celebrate? If the employees won, would the boss sell the company? These were not matters typically concerning entry-level staff, but now, they felt a sense of injustice. If Zhang Baode could become middle management, where was the fairness in this world? He was just a security guard; anyone could do that job, and do it better than him. He had no accomplishments—why promote him? The man surnamed Yang became a leader the moment he arrived because he could fight, and whoever wasn't satisfied had to swallow it. But what had Zhang Baode done? The boss was disregarding everyone’s feelings, and she would live to regret it.

Whispers filled the office. Xu Jie’er, having seen her fair share of life’s coldness, remained indifferent. Xiu’er felt a bit guilty, fearing she might have taken someone else’s livelihood, and felt somewhat burdened. The team lead, an avid gossip, paid little mind to the two newcomers, but she was deeply interested in whether this signaled the boss’s counterattack against Wang Hu. Would the fighting start today? Surely not—if the company descended into chaos, wouldn't the boss be the one losing money?

Suddenly, someone realized they hadn’t seen the rest of the security department all morning. "Did they take action last night?" many began to wonder.

Some made excuses to check the security office, only to find it completely deserted. They checked the training room—locked and empty. Even the basement gym was vacant. Wang Hu’s cronies, sycophants, and followers had all vanished without a trace. What about the few guards who hadn't sided with Wang Hu? They were gone too. Where did they go?

Just then, news came from the office: at least five or six security guards had called in to resign. These were the ones who hadn't been in league with Wang Hu. The office staff didn't know whether to approve the requests, so they transferred the calls to An Ya’s office. No one dared call it a "cubicle" anymore; it was the workstation of the person hailed as the company’s "little boss." While it lacked the square footage of a vice president’s or director’s office, its importance was unmatched. She was the true confidante of the boss.

An Ya gave them two choices: "Wang Hu has been toppled. If you want to return to work, head to the company now; you won't be marked as late. If you insist on resigning, call the HR department in half an hour, go pick up your paperwork this afternoon, and your wages will be paid out early today."

Wang Hu had fallen? The guards were skeptical. Suddenly, they remembered Zhang Baode. He had always been a steady, cautious man, so they called to ask if he was at the company.

When Zhang Baode received the call, he felt a surge of emotion. No one could have imagined that he, Zhang Baode, would one day become a leader. He hadn't just been promoted to a squad leader; he had skipped straight to deputy captain, a true middle-management position. Was this good fortune, or simply that kindness is rewarded?

"Come back," Zhang Baode said, harboring his own hidden agenda. "Those people have been cleared out. Right now, it’s just the boss and me. The company is in desperate need of manpower. In a couple of days, we’ll recruit some veterans, and things will improve." Zhang Baode knew every guard in the department. These men had been envious of the money Wang Hu’s gang was skimming, but they had been too cowardly to act, fearing the boss might hold them accountable later. They had kept their heads down, but given time, they would have eventually become Wang Hu's accomplices. By having them return after the purge, they would live with a sense of caution—a much better outcome than hiring fresh recruits, as these men understood the stakes and possessed a sense of awe. Besides, now that he was in a position of power, how could he not let these former colleagues, who still spoke with such condescension, know? To achieve success without returning home to show it off is like wearing silk robes in the dark—an ancient principle!

"The company will be different from today onward. Come back; the work environment will be much better," Zhang Baode said, checking the time. He felt a thrill—he had actually been requested to attend the upcoming meeting.

The men on the other end of the line felt his tone was off. Zhang Baode had always been timid; how could he speak with such authority? After hanging up and making a few inquiries, they were shocked—not by the position itself, but by the fact that Zhang Baode had been promoted at all.

Like most employees, their first reaction was the same: By what right did Zhang Baode become a leader? If it were me, I would certainly do a better job. After discussing it among themselves, they decided to return. Since the company’s momentum wouldn't be broken and the direction was now set—and the pay was so good—why not? Besides, if Zhang Baode could get promoted, so should they!

However, those holding such hopes were destined for disappointment. At 9:30 AM, the office issued a notice regarding two matters: first, a meeting for all department heads and above would be held at 10:15 AM; second, Zhang Baode was promoted to Deputy Director of the Security Department, concurrently serving as Deputy Captain of the Security Team.

Wait—wasn't it just deputy captain? What was this "Deputy Director" business? Vice President Su personally explained that the Security Department would not be disbanded. Although it shared the same personnel as the security team, the security team was a squad-level unit, while the Security Department was a special tier above supervisors but below vice presidents.

Everyone realized it: this position had been created specifically for the man surnamed Yang! It all made sense now. It was clear to everyone that there was now one more person in the company you simply could not afford to provoke.

Subsequently, Vice President Su announced that after the meeting, the company would launch a new round of recruitment. She ordered the office to draft comprehensive hiring information for all roles and post it online immediately.

The true, major reorganization had begun. Many felt uneasy. It was clear that new staff were being brought in to replace the old. As the saying goes, "A new emperor brings new courtiers," and this was, after all, a world governed by capital. Those who had previously helped Wang Hu oppose the boss felt the most panic. Among middle management, there were quite a few such people, but it was too late for regrets.

Who truly holds the reins of a company is only revealed in the end.