Chapter 107: Still Think You Can Run?

Yang Changfeng was lecturing the guards. He would rather have none of these men than keep them.

Experience breeds habits, and habits determine actions. What Yang Changfeng needed was a quasi-military security force—not merely guards, but people capable of monitoring and reporting the irregularities visible within the company. Under Wang Hu, these men had developed the habit of shirking responsibility, even running away whenever trouble arose. Recasting their way of thinking would be difficult enough, let alone changing their work habits. If they could no longer enjoy their former benefits, they would find ways to claw them back. If they were not given higher positions, they would harbor resentment and cause trouble over one trivial matter after another.

Relying on their seniority, they might even lead the new guards astray.

Yet for the sake of stability, a department could not possibly dismiss everyone until only two or three people remained. These men still had to be used.

The question was how.

“Wang Hu has been arrested. You must have guessed that already, right?” Yang Changfeng crossed his legs and spoke in an unhurried tone. “Good. From now on, the Security Department will have an entirely new atmosphere. Since you’ve come back, I’ll make things clear first. What happened in the past can be left in the past. As for your future work, the only thing I can guarantee is that your pay will remain unchanged. You’ll still receive the same monthly salary, not a penny less. But there are certain things I think need to be changed.”

Seeing that only these few men had returned, their thoughts immediately began to stir.

They were short-handed now. Fine, they had come to help in a time of need. Surely that deserved some extra benefits, didn’t it?

One of them, who had already knocked back a couple of ounces of liquor that morning, gave an ingratiating laugh. “Boss, with so few people left, the work is bound to be harder than before. Could you at least mention to the owner that our wages should be raised a little? I went to an interview last night, and they offered more than this place—over three hundred yuan more.”

Yang Changfeng pointed at him. “You can go collect your wages.”

Why?

“What I need first and foremost are people who obey orders. Don’t tell me how Wang Hu used to lead you. I’m the head of security now. Is that clear?” Yang Changfeng said flatly. “A group of demobilized soldiers will be arriving this afternoon. I have no use for seniority. Since another place is offering you more money, I won’t stop you.”

The man was stunned. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. No matter how domineering Yang Changfeng was, how could he manage without enough people? At the very least, these men were already familiar with the company’s rules and regulations.

Right there in front of him, Yang Changfeng called the young woman in the Human Resources Department who handled personnel matters for the security staff. After giving her the man’s name, he said, “This employee has found a better opportunity. The company won’t hold him back. Settle his wages and let him hurry off to find his new employer. Don’t delay him.”

Then Yang Changfeng held up his phone and asked, “Who else has found a better opportunity? Give me your names now, so we don’t have to trouble her again later.”

The guards exchanged uneasy glances.

“No one. Now that Wang Hu has fallen, we’ll definitely work properly. We won’t follow Wang Hu’s example. Rest assured, sir.”

Human Resources learned the news at once: Wang Hu had truly fallen.

But what had happened?

The rain the night before had been too heavy, concealing too much. Even the sharpest noses in the lobby could detect only the faint scent of alcohol mingled with blood. Most people could not even begin to guess the truth.

The boss’s era had truly arrived.

The guard whom Yang Changfeng had personally ordered Human Resources to dismiss not only had no wages left to collect; he also owed the company more than a thousand yuan. After Human Resources reported it, the company wrote off the debt. Fortunately, no other problems came to light. The man had arrived empty-handed and full of hope, then soon departed with his head bowed, dejected and crestfallen.

Next, Yang Changfeng pointed to a line on the floor ahead. “This is the security line for the main entrance. Good. Starting now, all of you will undergo military training. You’ll continue receiving your wages, but you won’t take up your posts until you pass. If you still haven’t passed after half a month, leave on your own. Let’s begin with something simple. Stand at attention for one hour.”

No one dared protest. They obediently went to stand at attention.

This was punishment for their disrespect toward Zhang Baode. The man was too mild-tempered; anyone could push him around. If that continued, these old hands would inevitably stop taking Zhang Baode seriously. As the actual manager of the security team, Zhang Baode needed authority. Without it, the guards could never become a protective barrier for the company.

A blazing-red Raptor was parked outside the company rather than in the lot, drawing the attention of many passersby.

The sight of several guards standing ramrod straight at the entrance made certain people feel even more uneasy.

Wang Hu really had been brought down!

The two vice presidents huddled together to discuss their options in haste.

Without their backer, they had no way to stand against the boss. And if they could not make him retreat, he would surely investigate the company’s old accounts in detail. That would expose no small number of serious problems.

“Resign immediately. We’re done here. They can’t possibly stop us from leaving, can they?” The vice president in charge of logistics crushed out his cigarette and spoke viciously. “At worst, we’ll all go down together. Who’s afraid of whom?”

After pocketing so much illicit money, he still wanted to walk away. Who had bestowed such intelligence upon him?

The other vice president, a senior executive who assisted with administration, waved a hand. “You won’t get away. The Finance Department has already submitted the accounts. They’re settling the entire matter now. Think about how to replace that money.”

“No!” The logistics vice president leaped to his feet, his emotions running wildly out of control. His arm swept through a huge semicircle. “That’s my life savings! Why should I hand it over? If you want to pay, you pay. You think I’ll surrender? Dream on! I don’t mind taking them down with me!”

It was someone else’s world now. What leverage did he have to threaten them into leaving him alone?

The logistics vice president had enjoyed ample opportunities for graft, and with Wang Hu’s bribes added in, he possessed enough money to spend the rest of his life behind bars. He could have bought himself peace of mind, but he could not see it that way. There was nothing anyone could do.

After sending the reckless man away, the administrative vice president immediately called home and ordered his family to bring over, within half an hour, the bank cards hidden in various places.

His family was reluctant. “What are you so afraid of? Maybe they won’t find anything.”

“If I go to prison, you won’t even have a place to beg for food!” the vice president roared. “If those cards aren’t here within half an hour, wait for the police to come knocking.”

Could they really not tell which mattered more—money or their lives?

The logistics vice president returned to his office and thought things over again and again. He decided that staying in the company was unsafe. He would get out first and worry about the rest later.

Clutching his briefcase, he made the excuse that he had an errand to run and hurried down to the lobby by elevator. The lobby was unnaturally quiet. The receptionists stood properly at their stations; not one of them was even drinking water.

Yang Changfeng had set up a chair and was sitting at the entrance once more.

“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Yang Changfeng asked with a broad grin, tapping a wrench against his palm as he blocked the logistics vice president’s path.

Seeing that he could not escape this way—and not daring to throw his vice-presidential weight around with Yang Changfeng—the man turned and tried to flee through the rear entrance.

But in the passage leading to the back door, Zhang Baode suddenly appeared, smiling amiably, a PVC pipe clenched in his hand as he blocked the way.