Chapter 198: Deficit

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Deficit

Huddled in the corner and listening in, Jiang Fan’s expression became quite colorful.

’This is what a big company is really like!’

’Here comes the drama!’

’You could write a book about all the schemes involved in graft and extortion.’

’So, this group of seemingly honest and harmless senior managers were all a bunch of ruthless predators who would eat you alive.’

"Manager Liu, aren’t you going to give me an explanation?"

"Tell me, why are there so many inflated and fraudulent expenses on the logistics department’s procurement invoices?"

"Vice Manager Li, shouldn’t you explain to me why finance would sign off on these invoices?"

"And on an expedited process, no less?"

Yin Ruxue slammed the folder down in front of the two men.

Both middle-aged men jumped in fright, every inch of fat on their bodies quivering.

In the air-conditioned conference room, sweat was soaking through their shirts.

"I’m giving General Manager Li full authority to handle this matter. I only want to see results."

"The coordination between our production factories and the head office must be resolved. That is the root of the problem!"

"I want a full investigation into any senior staff engaging in extortion, whether against clients or suppliers. Get to the bottom of every single case."

"For every single person you find, I want them gone."

"Also, from January of this year until now, the company has held a total of four events. Everything is in that folder."

"Fix it! Or you can pack your bags as well."

Yin Ruxue glanced at Li Muwan, then turned and walked out of the conference room.

All the senior managers in the company were stunned.

Even Sun Yanzi’s face showed a trace of disbelief.

After all, Li Muwan had contributed so much to this company. It was fair to say she was responsible for half of its success.

’But have things really gotten this bad?’

This time, the authority Yin Ruxue had granted was immense, but the consequences for failure were equally terrifying.

After a few seconds of tense silence, Li Muwan finally spoke.

"We’ll solve this one thing at a time."

"If these issues aren’t resolved today, none of you are leaving."

"If I’m not having a good day, you can be damn sure none of you will either."

At a crook of Li Muwan’s finger, Sun Yanzi retrieved the folder Yin Ruxue had slammed down and handed it to her.

"Coordinating with our production facilities and headquarters has always been Logistics’ responsibility. However, communication and procurement regarding techniques and materials fall under the purview of Sales."

"Manager Liu, Vice Manager Li, you two will stay right here. You have half an hour to give me a solution and an explanation."

"Supervisor Sun, the matter with the Sales Department."

Li Muwan turned her head to look at her.

"It involves three team leaders. The investigation is complete."

"They were deliberately undermining the company’s interests in their dealings with clients in order to receive kickbacks."

"They were involved in the recent material substitution incident."

"Here is the evidence."

Sun Yanzi took out a folder and placed it in Li Muwan’s hands.

"Suspend them, and tell the police to open a case."

After reading the evidence Sun Yanzi submitted, Li Muwan slowly let out a long breath.

That single sentence made the three men sitting in the right-hand corner turn ashen.

But they didn’t try to argue at all; they didn’t even have the strength to beg for mercy.

Sometimes, that’s just how it is. You know what you’ve done. When they decided to do this, they surely knew the potential consequences.

Now that they were exposed, it was time to face them.

The only thing they could do now was confess and hope for leniency.

"Also, Manager Qian from the Planning Department, aren’t you going to say something?"

Li Muwan continued flipping through the folder in her hands, her eyes seeking out Jiang Fan—no, to be precise, the middle-aged man sitting beside him.

He was the manager of the Planning Department, responsible for all the promotional events for every one of the company’s stores.

This time, Jiang Fan saw it clearly. The man’s cold sweat broke out in an instant.

’He’d never imagined someone could break out in so much sweat in a single instant.’

"A total of four events, all of them cookie-cutter. If your copycat methods were effective, I’d let it slide. But every time you hold one of these events, the company’s revenue drops by 1%."

"And correspondingly, Fengming Group’s revenue goes up."

"Can you tell me how you managed that? How did you make all the revenue that should have been ours go straight to the competition?"

Reading this, Li Muwan almost couldn’t hold back her temper. She let out a laugh of pure rage.

The first event cost 2.1 million, the company’s revenue dropped by one percentage point, and Fengming Group’s actually went up by 1.5.

"The second event cost 2.7 million. Our revenue didn’t drop this time, but Fengming Group’s went up by 2%."

"I don’t even need to talk about the last two events. Every single time, you just hire some minor celebrities to sing and dance. Tell me, what’s the use in that?"

"Is the manager position in the Planning Department really such a cushy job?"

"Even if you can’t come up with a plan, can’t you just copy someone else’s? Can’t you learn from others? Do you have to run one single plan into the ground?"

Finally, Li Muwan couldn’t take it anymore and slammed the folder heavily on the table.

"Even a pig could do a better job than you! Before you joined the company, you talked a better game than anyone, boasted louder than anyone."

"But what about now? Has your Planning Department produced a single acceptable plan or any results?"

Li Muwan took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing her anger.

"Speaking of which, I have to commend Jiang Fan."

"I also want to apologize to him for my earlier rashness."

"I think everyone here is well aware that the reason our recent campaign was a success was entirely because of him."

"He managed to hold his own against Fengming Group, especially when they ganged up with several other industry giants to put pressure on us."

"They were frantically burning through money, but he still held his ground."

"I used to think his methods were crude and would damage the company’s reputation."

"I even had a huge fight with him over it."

"I see things clearly now. My own way of thinking was too rigid."

"No matter the method, as long as it can bring profit to the company, it’s the best method."

"Jiang Fan, I’m sorry."

As she spoke, Li Muwan gave Jiang Fan a deep bow.

This nearly ninety-degree bow startled Jiang Fan.

"Hey, you don’t... you don’t have to do that..."

"It was all part of the job. Since I work for the company, its worries are my worries."

Jiang Fan was flustered.

"For this campaign, the total cost he spent was less than 300,000. That’s not even a fraction of what you spent on a single one of your events."

"But do you know how much money Fengming Group poured into it?"

"Five million!"

Li Muwan held up one hand.

"Those of you in planning, those of you in product—you should know just how staggering that conversion rate is."