Chapter 118: The Corporate Theft Case (Part I)

Zhang Baode laughed. “Boss, you’re always joking. I’m going to the Armed Forces Department to recruit discharged soldiers. The boss just called and told me to hurry over. We can’t cause the company any trouble; security has to be properly arranged.”

Tsk. Now that his career had prospects, he seemed like an entirely different person!

Yang Changfeng smiled. “All right, go on, then. By the way, have they arranged a car for you?”

“They have. A Volvo from before. The boss said I could drive it. With treatment like this, I can hardly believe the company actually assigned me a car.” Zhang Baode rubbed his hands together, his face glowing with delight.

Yang Changfeng was very pleased. If you wanted people to work hard, you had to give them the benefits they deserved. Just because they were security guards, that did not mean they should be treated as anything less than employees.

But why not use one of the several Cadillacs they had confiscated?

That Volvo was already several years old. A Cadillac might be too good for a supervisor, but there were still several old Jeeps, weren’t there?

Zhang Baode hurriedly shook his head and stamped his feet in fright. “Having a car to drive is already more than enough. Why would I ask for anything else? The boss wanted me to drive a Cadillac, but I’m not the sort of person who should be driving such a fine car. I didn’t dare accept it. Once the company assigns you a car, Chief, I’ll just borrow it sometime and enjoy myself.”

Yang Changfeng frowned and said solemnly, “Old Zhang, let’s have a talk. Do you know how important you are now?”

Zhang Baode looked bewildered. Important? The company could not do without any of its people, but as for him... Anyone would be better than him!

“There are people more cautious than you, people more dependable than you, and people more capable than you. But how many people can you find who are more cautious, more dependable, and more capable than you all at once? Besides, you’re now an example for the entire company. The boss wants to hold you up as an example of how diligent work leads to good treatment. You don’t need to worry that giving you better benefits will exceed some standard. You’re different from the other supervisors. Do you understand?”

Yang Changfeng was being very serious. It was a good thing that Zhang Baode refused overly generous treatment; it revealed the man’s character. But excessive modesty and caution would not benefit the company’s development.

Zhang Baode scratched his head and gave a foolish grin. “So I really hold such an important position? Still, since I already turned it down, there’s no need to bring it up again. The treatment the boss is giving me has already made plenty of people jealous, and I’m perfectly satisfied. Oh, right—Secretary An sent me to the personnel department earlier to sign a new contract. She also gave me a thirty-thousand-yuan bonus, which has already been deposited into my account. My wife has arrived too; she’s talking with the boss right now. Chief, if this isn’t good treatment, then what is? I feel that I have to work my hardest for the company to deserve all this. Don’t you agree?”

Yang Changfeng was deeply gratified. He truly had not misjudged the man. If Zhang Baode could maintain this frame of mind, Yang Changfeng dared guarantee that as long as the company remained in business, Zhang Baode would work there until retirement.

“All right, go take care of things. Drive carefully on the way. I’ll ask the boss to find you a suitable car. That Volvo is meant for the logistics department, so don’t take it from them.”

With that, Yang Changfeng carried the case into the elevator.

Zhang Baode scratched his head. He genuinely felt that the treatment was too generous. But since the chief had told him to accept it, he would accept it. All he had to do was work hard for the company.

The young women at the reception desk greeted Zhang Baode one after another, though none of them called him Captain Zhang. Most still called him Brother Bao.

He carried the case to Chen Aijia’s office. Zhang Baode’s wife, whom he had glimpsed only briefly earlier, was there, and Chen Aijia was speaking with her. When Chen Aijia saw Yang Changfeng enter carrying the enormous case, she turned around and chided him with a bright smile.

“The company’s computers are very well equipped, yet you went and bought one yourself. What are you trying to do?”

What kind of eyes did she have? Did this look like a computer?

As though presenting a treasured offering, Yang Changfeng opened the case. Under Chen Aijia’s speechless stare, he took everything out one item at a time.

“This one’s yours. This one’s An Ya’s. These two are for the two girls. This one is for Old Zhang—why are you looking at me like that? They’re pastries from Tea People Teahouse. It took me no small effort to get them to pack several portions for me.”

Pastries from Tea People Teahouse?

Skeptical, Chen Aijia went over and examined the paper bags. Only then did she believe that the man had really gone to Tea People Teahouse.

“You were actually willing to spend money at such an upscale place?” Chen Aijia looked at Yang Changfeng in astonishment.

The sun had still risen in the east that day, so how had this man surnamed Yang suddenly become so generous?

“Ma Siwei had something to discuss with me and invited me to dinner. I didn’t eat the meal, but I did eat plenty of pastries.”

As he spoke, Yang Changfeng asked An Ya, who had entered and was watching him distribute the pastries helplessly, to call Xu Jie’er and Xiu’er and tell them to come by after work to collect theirs.

Chen Aijia picked up a walnut pastry and took a bite. It was fragrant and delicious. She said to Yang Changfeng, “Tell Deputy Captain Zhang that he should return the Volvo to the logistics department later. The company has a Jeep that was originally assigned to Wang Hu. Since he doesn’t want the Cadillac, let him use the Jeep instead. Also, from now on, Group Leader Li will be responsible for the files of all department heads. Once your security department has sorted everything out, remember to submit your and Captain Zhang’s files as well.”

The arrangement was quite suitable. Zhang Baode’s wife had work experience. Since she had only just arrived, they could not make her start at the very bottom, but they also could not assign her a higher position yet. She could begin by managing the leadership files and gradually build up her qualifications. Once she had accumulated enough experience, she could be promoted.

Yang Changfeng lounged on the sofa with none of the restraint one might expect in the presence of the boss. Waving his hand, he said, “Very good. I think it’s excellent.”

Chen Aijia rolled her charming eyes. This man was simply impossible for any boss to tolerate. Fortunately, he was here!

Yang Changfeng did not attend the afternoon meeting. His presence was not needed; as long as he remained at the company, he was already giving Chen Aijia the greatest possible support. By now, what fool would dare openly challenge Boss Chen?

He dragged a chair into the lobby and sat there, supervising the few security guards as they endured the most basic formation drills. Before he knew it, Yang Changfeng had fallen asleep again.

Just before quitting time, Zhang Baode returned with two young men. While passing the labor market, he had happened to see the two discharged soldiers struggling to find work, so he had brought them along.

Yang Changfeng had no objection. When he asked how things had gone at the Military Affairs Office, Zhang Baode’s eyes shone with delight.

“The officials there took this very seriously. They guarantee that twenty discharged soldiers will be sent over by noon tomorrow. We just need to be ready to receive them.”

With those twenty or so men, Yang Changfeng could finally relax a little. He failed to notice that when one of the guards heard about the people Zhang Baode had brought back, his eyes shifted several times.

After work, Zhang Baode went to collect the Jeep and happily drove home with his family. From that day forward, Old Zhang could be considered a man with a modest career. Supporting his family would no longer be a problem.

Watching Xu Jie’er and Xiu’er cheerfully carry their pastries into the car and drive home, Yang Changfeng retrieved the Audi and took Chen Aijia and An Ya home as well. No one else was there. The three of them ate a simple meal, then immediately collapsed into bed, exhausted.

In the middle of the night, Yang Changfeng was jolted awake by a telephone call. When he answered, it was Zhang Baode. Zhang Baode was reporting something serious.

“Chief, the company has been robbed!”