Chapter 3 - Scary President!

The next day, fresh sunlight filtered through the window and lit the beautiful woman wrapped in a thick velvety brown blanket. Before Jing Lihua's opened her eyes, she mentally prepared herself to find herself in the same slums she was reduced to in her previous life. Her eyes met the pink ceiling of her room. With a smile, she rose from her bed.

She took a quick bath and dressed formally for the office. She quickly reached the foot of the apartment.

"And you are...?" Jing Lihua glanced at the man standing by her car and assessed him with her gaze.

"Miss Jing, I'm Wang Yi... your new chauffeur" The youthful man replied and bowed.

"Where is Zhang ZheHan?"

"He met an accident yesterday. So I was appointed as his replacement"

"How is he? Is he alright?" Jing Lihua's face filled with concern.

Nothing like this happened in her previous life. Something had caused a change of events from her last life.

"He is alright. Just minor injuries"

"I want him back as soon as he recovers. For now, speed to the Tang conglomerate twin towers" Jing Lihua threw the keys at him. There weren't many men Jing Lihua trusted. Su Liwei was determined to make her company fall. He had already filled her company with moles.

Jing Lihua didn't waste further time to ponder over small things. There were a lot of things that she needed to do.

In thirty minutes they arrived. During the ride, Jing Lihua briefly went through the profiles of her current employees. She expected she would meet with difficulty but it took her just one look to recall all the members of the board of directors.

The car pulled into the private garage of the President. The chauffeur immediately got out to open the door for her. Jing Lihua had neglected her office before. She was worried that her office employees wouldn't respect her. So it would cause inconvenience. But she met with a pleasant surprise when Mei Xiu was standing right outside the car to receive her.

"President Jing, I'm your secretary Mei Xiu assigned by Chairman. I just received your message." She bowed respectfully. "Let me take you to the office"

Jing Lihua nodded. On her way to the elevator, she exchanged a few words with her.

When Jing Lihua walked to her office through the tenth floor, she noticed her employees throwing curious glances in her direction. They all knew that Jing Lihua had just married. It was unexpected of her to suddenly show up.

"Did you look at her? She looks different today." A female employee was particularly impressed by Jing Lihua. The way she was dressed, the look in her eyes, the authority in her aura, the manner of her walk... that gait of the Queen. Something was different about this Jing Lihua than the dull girl who used to follow her grandfather in flashy dresses.

A few employees could see their hearts lightening with hope at her sudden change.

But some of her employers also openly sneered at her. Seeing respect in others' eyes, they couldn't stop their snarky tongues.

"She knows to act all high and mighty. Is she even capable?"

"What a joke! What is she even here for?"

"Don't tell me the chairman has decided for her to be our new President. Of all the capable young Tangs out there, she was chosen? Tang Huang is far better than her."

"It is expected. She is the direct descendant of Tang Liuwei. Such a pity that all other competent Tangs were not chosen. If chairman could only be unbiased..."

"So she is our new president? She finally knows to show up here after all that time! She hadn't shown earlier, better not even show up now!"

"It was better she didn't show up. With no experience, she is obviously going to disrupt the natural course of things an mess up the company!"

"Easy Wang Jianlin. Whatever she is going to do, she is still your President. She can still fire you with a single sign" The female employee defended her.

"Do you think I care? We all know that in the last five projects, the company didn't even reach the threshold goal. The company would fall soon. Better if she fires me and I go looking for a new job sooner than later. Haha."

"Wang Jianlin is not wrong. I've served the company my entire life. It has been at its lowest. Now with the retirement of the previous President, everyone is in dilemma. Not many think the company would survive. Now it all depends on how our new President deals with the matter"

"What are you expecting from that inexperienced novice? Have you not heard what sort of a person she is? She knows nothing better than throwing money and parting around with artistes. Just wearing some formal dress wouldn't change what she is"

"All right, enough talking. Go back to your work.", urged their section head.

Jing Lihua reached the highest floor of twin skyscr.a.p.ers where her office was situated. After taking the seat, she asked Mei Xiu.

"Mei Xiu, I emailed a list of names to you an hour ago?"

She had observed in the eyes of her employees, there was neither respect nor fear. She would have to correct that. Latter could be corrected with just a single move.

"Fire them" Jing Lihua stated simply, surprising Mei Xiu witless.

Fire them? Mei Xiu eyes filled with shock. Did she hear right? She didn't know the first thing she had to do after serving the new President was to fire almost fifty employees!

"President, firing such a huge number of people at once might lead to a revolt. Besides, we are already approaching the deadlines of at least nine projects. I'm afraid with that move, we wouldn't be able to..."

"Find replacements in time? Don't worry about that. I've already sent you another list of names. No need for interviews. Directly send them contracts. I've also sent you a secondary list in case anyone of them declines but that is highly unlikely"

Mei Xiu looked pale.

When did her President prepare all that? She got married, for God's sake, just yesterday! Ah, this President was scary. Thank God she hadn't done any mistake till now. She would be extra careful from now on!

In a minute, the letters were sent to all those employees, Jing Lihua knew were slacking. And surprisingly, most of it were those who had slandered Jing Lihua. Idlers got nothing but to gossip. The rest who slandered her and luckily spared of being fired trembled in fear.

"Haha, what is it Wang Jianlin? Didn't you say just a moment ago that it would be better if she fired you and you go looking for a job 'sooner than later'?" The female employer mocked him when his face turned white after he opened the letter. "Well then, have fun, looking for a new job! God just granted you your wish! Haha"

Who didn't know Tang enterprise was one of the first five enterprises in Beijing and before its recent decline, it used to be No. 1! Anyone would die to get a job here! Wang Jianlin was only bluffing!

Their President was not someone they could slight!

"This is not it! We can't be kicked out like this! We've served the company for so long! I won't accept this. Neither would my brothers". Wang Jianlin was not ready to accept his defeat yet.

"What are you planning to do?" The female employee whose name was Yang Mi looked suspiciously at him.

"You'll know soon"

...

In the spacious office on the tenth floor. Jing Lihua was quietly going through the lists of all the major investors of the company. In the list, she marked certain names with big circles in red. Those were the people who had betrayed her enterprise last time. She smiled coldly in the end and separated out ten names.

Ten of them. They had no idea what rested ahead for them. They had no idea that Jing Lihua was going to play a game of cat and mouse with them until they begged for their own death.

Suddenly she heard an urgent knock at the door. The noise brought her out of her sweet plans of revenge.

"Come in"

Yang Mi rushed in. "President Jing, there is something important I need to report"

Jing Lihua glanced at the young woman. She could recall her from her previous life. Yang Mi was a loyal subject who was neglected by Jing Lihua in her last life. Such a waste. There were so many talented people in her company and she never realized. "You are from the inspection department. what do you have to say Yang Mi?"

Yang Mi's heart felt happy. Her President knew not only where she was from but also her name? No, there was no time to be happy about such small matters. She had to report to her President. "President, I fear the employees are planning a revolt"

Jing Lihua smiled. Yang Mi was loyal. She knew she could be boycotted by her colleagues for telling on them, yet, she still chooses to do so. Any other self-serving person would just sit and watch the drama quietly. "Thank you Yang Mi. I will never forget you choose your duty above personal benefit. You can leave now"

"President..." Yang Mi was worried that the President didn't actually trust her and was chasing her away.

"I know, you are worried. But when I sent those letters I had expected such an outcome. I know how to deal with it." Jing Lihua reassured.

Yang Mi's heart filled more and more respect for her. The President knew what she was doing. Finally feeling at ease, she bowed and left to attend her duty.

Just as Yang Mi had left, Mei Xiu arrived with another news. "President. Our last Financier suddenly resigned due to personal reasons. As this is an important position, you must immediately take interviews to select one. Candidates have already gathered in the waiting room"

Jing Lihua nodded. She recalled for what specific 'personal reasons' their ten years serving Financier resigned. The answer was Su Liwei. The last financier was a trustworthy man. He was forced to resign by Su Liwei's hands.

"I'll start taking interviews in an hour"

"Yes, President." Mei Xiu nodded and left silently.

Jing Lihua walked to the drawer and pulled out the detailed profiles of all those ten major shareholders. The first name was Heng HuiZhong. The Eldest master of the Heng household. Other than Jing Lihua, he had the major shares in the overall conglomerate. He was the major chess piece in Su Liwei's game.

Jing Lihua brought the papers to her desk and went through all the profiles. Unknowingly, an hour passed.

"Zhang Min... So you are the one recommended by Mr. Jing?" Jing Lihua briefly glanced at the recommendation letter. Zhang Min was the third candidate Jing Lihua interviewed. Jing Lihua had rejected others after hearing just two to three lines from them.

"Yes, President" The middle-aged man had a harmless, amiable smile. "President already knew about me. Did the President's father mention me?"

"Of course he did. He took a long time praising your competency and loyalty"

Jing Lihua smiled at him enigmatically. Under her cold eyes, no one could tell what bad thing she was planning.