Chapter 215: Voting Ends

However, just as the vote was three minutes from closing.

The numbers on the display suddenly jumped, changing from 49.82%:49.61% to 49.82%:50.06%.

In an instant, the conference room fell deathly silent.

On the left side of the conference table, a group of investor shareholders who had been all smiles moments ago suddenly looked extremely grim.

Meanwhile, the old guard on the right side of the table all had looks of pleasant surprise.

They had spent the past few days mobilizing their own resources to secure shares, but unlike the investment firms with vast cash reserves, they simply couldn’t gather enough votes in such a short time.

While this sudden 0.45% surge wasn’t large, it was the deciding factor, pushing the percentage of ‘no’ votes over 50%.

The host of the meeting was also a bit stunned, but he quickly composed himself.

“Alright, we now have a result for the final resolution.”

“The vote on whether to replace the raw materials contractor has now concluded.”

“Because more than 50% of shareholders have rejected the resolution to change contractors…”

“Therefore, there will be no change to Haitian Flavors’ raw materials contractor for the next fiscal year. We will continue to use the original materials contractor.”

“This concludes today’s shareholder meeting.”

“All shareholders are welcome to attend the reception gala hosted by the company after the meeting.”

Seeing the guys on the left side of the table looking as if their parents had just died, a smug smile touched the corners of Li Xiao’s mouth.

This time, although he had prepared 130 million, he only ended up using a few tens of millions.

In reality, he hadn’t actually lost anything, because those tens of millions weren’t just spent; they were converted into stock.

If he wanted, he could sell those shares and convert them back into cash at any time.

More importantly, his mere tens of millions had directly influenced a major decision for the entire Haitian Flavors group. One had to remember that Haitian Flavors’ current market capitalization exceeded 200 billion.

Li Xiao felt a little smug. ‘I wonder what those guys from Fengxing Venture Capital would do if they knew I only spent a few tens of millions to so easily ruin their meticulously crafted plan. They’d probably be furious enough to pop a vein.’

He shook his head in disdain. ‘These people are just used to getting something for nothing.’ The K10 position contracts were certainly tempting, but such methods were ultimately shady.

If they had been willing to acquire shares earlier and secure a stake of over 50%, he wouldn’t have had any room to maneuver.

Too bad they weren’t willing to spend their own money, preferring to fleece the company instead.

Using company money to pay for their own schemes was certainly the choice that maximized their personal profit.

And if their target had been anyone other than Li Xiao, they probably would have succeeded long ago. After all, who could refuse a windfall of tens of millions for nothing?

Unfortunately for them, the person they tried to win over was Li Xiao. They assumed everyone valued profit above all else, just like them. But as it happened, Li Xiao really wasn’t short on cash.

In his eyes, a few tens of millions were nothing compared to the food safety of hundreds of millions of ordinary people.

Never mind tens of millions; even hundreds of millions wouldn’t have been enough to sway him.

He had no intention of attending the subsequent cocktail party, nor any desire to get to know the other Haitian Flavors shareholders.

Although he had, in fact, helped the old guard veto the proposal, he didn’t feel like he was helping *them*.

In his view, he was only helping a company that still had some semblance of a conscience.

Never mind that he still held the tens of millions in stock; even if that money had been spent outright, Li Xiao wouldn’t have thought it was a big deal as long as it meant everyone could eat safe and healthy condiments.

Li Xiao stood up and walked toward the conference room exit.

He had only taken two steps, however, when a figure blocked his path.

The person standing before him was none other than Zhu Huichang, whom he had met once three days prior.

Zhu Huichang no longer wore the fawning smile from three days ago. His face was ashen as he spoke in a low voice:

“Mr. Li, why did you have to do this?”

“Was the price not right? We could have negotiated further.”

“Did they give you a better offer? Is that why you sided with them?”

“We’re backed by Fengxing Venture Capital. Don’t you know the consequences of offending us?”

‘I can’t believe he’d dare to say these things out in the open,’ Li Xiao thought. ‘He must be seeing red from the loss. Why can’t he just accept defeat? Now he’s even threatening me?’

He shook his head slightly.

“I don’t know who this ‘they’ you’re talking about is.”

“My reason for opposing this change was never about any single shareholder or group of shareholders.”

“I’ve already looked into the raw material supply company you wanted to switch to. Their prices are indeed more than 10% lower than their competitors, but their reputation is also the worst in the industry.”

“That company has already had several major scandals. Do you really think changing its name and putting on a new face means no one can find its history?”

“Using raw materials from a trash company like that will inevitably affect the quality of Haitian Flavors’ products.”

“The terms you offered were certainly good. Ten K10 positions and ten K9 positions are very tempting, but not everyone cares so much about money.”

“Besides, are you not aware that this kind of behavior could be considered embezzlement?!”

“Using high-level executive positions as bargaining chips? Do you think that won’t have any impact on the other shareholders and the group?”

“After all, not counting anything else, just the salaries and benefits alone would involve tens of millions in corporate funds, wouldn’t they?”

Unlike the other man, Li Xiao had no intention of lowering his voice. The conference room wasn’t that large to begin with, and all the shareholders present turned to look.

Many of them had already started whispering to each other.

The man never expected Li Xiao to expose such a private promise out in the open. His face instantly turned deathly pale.

Zhu Huichang hurriedly denied it:

“What are you talking about? K10? K9? I never promised you anything like that!”

Zhu Huichang’s denial was clearly futile, especially in the face of Li Xiao’s counterattack.

Li Xiao took his phone out of his pocket, a confident smile on his face.

“I’m a little curious, Mr. Zhu. Do you happen to remember our meeting at the White Bear Cafe three days ago?”

Zhu Huichang’s face grew even paler, his eyes betraying his anxiety and panic.

At that moment, he desperately wanted to go up and cover Li Xiao’s mouth to stop him from talking, but his limbs felt weak.

Li Xiao continued, “Of course, I knew you’d deny it. But luckily for me, I always come prepared.”