Chapter 261 - 217: Test, Warning, and Flipping the Table

Chapter 261: Chapter 217: Test, Warning, and Flipping the Table

Failure to expand the market would lead to a public reprimand at best. At worst, they would be removed from their position, permanently relegated to the fringes of the group, with no chance of ever regaining their former glory.

All in all, leaving the group’s headquarters to serve as the regional director for Jin City clearly had more drawbacks than benefits and involved significant risk.

At that moment, with numerous group executives watching from behind and Gu Heng, Qi Min, and Zhuang Hanyu watching from the front, the six vice presidents seated in the first row all had a subtle flicker in their eyes. It was impossible to know what they were thinking.

"Jin City was ranked 11th in the nation for GDP in 2023."

"It’s the top-ranking city in the north, and it’s right next to Yanjing. Its geographical location is absolutely critical, and its commercial value is extraordinary. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a strategic chokepoint."

Gu Heng’s gaze swept over the faces of the six vice presidents in the front row. "If we can successfully establish a foothold in Jin City, we can use it as a standardized template for expansion. Our subsequent push into the other three major northern cities will be twice as effective with half the effort."

"Not only that, but Jin City will also provide us with numerous advantages for our future entry into Yanjing’s high-end dining market. The benefits are, you could say, plentiful."

"Without a doubt, Jin City is a tough nut to crack."

At this, Gu Heng looked at the six group vice presidents before him with a broad smile.

"So..."

"Therefore, for the position of regional director in Jin City, I intend to select someone from among our five vice presidents—excluding President Zhang. This will be on a volunteer basis. Now, I wonder which of you is willing to step up and take on the task?"

The moment Gu Heng finished speaking, the room fell dead silent.

’Chairman Gu’s move...’

’It’s ruthless!’

No one qualified to be in this conference room today was simple-minded. Every last one of them was as sharp as they come.

Anyone could see this was a test Gu Heng was putting to the five vice presidents.

In truth, Gu Heng could have simply appointed someone, just as he did before. Then, regardless of whether the chosen vice president was willing, they would have had to accept this heavy burden.

But Gu Heng had deliberately chosen not to do that. Instead, he used a so-called "volunteer principle" to make the vice presidents step forward themselves.

Didn’t they always talk a big game about loyalty?

Now, the group had hit a major obstacle on its path to development.

As high-and-mighty vice presidents, now that the group needed them to lead the charge, would they rise to the occasion or play it safe to protect their own interests?

Choosing to rise to the occasion meant voluntarily giving up their position as a group vice president, leaving headquarters for Jin City, and helping the group crack this tough nut—all for an uncertain path and an unknown future.

But if they chose to play it safe, wouldn’t all their previous lip service about loyalty become a complete joke?

Since you couldn’t demonstrate responsibility, take action, or fulfill your duties when the group faced hardship, wouldn’t it be perfectly reasonable for the group to "optimize" you in the future, or have you make way for someone else?

Now, for these five vice presidents...

They were caught between a rock and a hard place. It all came down to their choice.

The five vice presidents at the front naturally understood everything the other executives had figured out.

Looking at Gu Heng’s beaming face, they all felt an inexplicable chill in their hearts.

Ever since Gu Heng’s complete acquisition of Zhen Cui Group, the group’s internal power structure had remained largely unchanged. They were vice presidents before Gu Heng took over, and they remained vice presidents after.

Over the past six months, the tension they’d initially felt had begun to slacken. They never expected that Gu Heng would, at this very moment, suddenly bare his fangs.

’Want to rest on your laurels and coast on past achievements?’

’Want more power without contributing to the group?’

’In your dreams!’

The group was on the verge of a major capital injection and expansion; this was precisely the time it needed capable people.

’Want more power? Then deliver results!’

’Want to keep your current position? Then deliver results!’

’Want to avoid being left behind by the group? Then deliver results!’

Everything came down to results!

Gu Heng was running a business, not a charity.

These vice presidents took home hefty annual salaries, all paid from Gu Heng’s pocket. Naturally, they were expected to provide a corresponding return. Otherwise, why would Gu Heng keep paying them for nothing?

Gu Heng looked at the five vice presidents. His face still held a beaming smile, but his eyes were gradually turning cold.

"Chairman Gu, I am willing to go to Jin City."

A little over ten seconds after Gu Heng had spoken, one of the five vice presidents finally stood up and accepted the heavy burden.

Xie Jianlin, Vice President of Zhen Cui Group, was one of the company’s founding veterans.

The two restaurant brands, Zhenhai and Chao Yu, had been personally established by Xie Jianlin. He was currently Zhen Cui Group’s CHO, responsible for talent pipeline development, establishing the compensation and performance review systems, and implementing corporate culture initiatives.

"President Xie, you truly are a pillar of the group. When it matters most, it’s President Xie who can be trusted!"

At this, the other four vice presidents all grew flustered when they heard the profound meaning behind Gu Heng’s last three words.

If Gu Heng was saying Xie Jianlin could be trusted, wasn’t that just another way of saying they couldn’t?

"I’ve been an employee of Zhen Cui Group since its inception. Now, under Chairman Gu’s brilliant leadership, the group is about to begin a new Chapter. As a senior leader, it is my duty to set an example and lead the charge."