Chapter 36: Is This Boss Sick in the Head?

A salary increase is certainly warranted, but a hike of this magnitude is truly terrifying.

As Executive Vice President, Li Meiqin essentially manages the entire Dasheng Group, while Lu Chengwen is responsible only for overall decision-making. In short, whenever the boss wants to spend money, she must step up to play the villain. If the boss says he wants to raise salaries, she must oppose it. This has been Li Meiqin’s management style for years, as well as her personal strategy.

Firstly, she must constantly show her stance: "Boss, I am on your side; I need to save money for you." Secondly, if the boss insists on the raise, her opposition serves to highlight the boss's noble character and his great, paternal love for his employees. Consequently, Li Meiqin does not have a good reputation within the group; all the employees curse her for being in cahoots with the boss.

Nonsense. My annual salary of over ten million is paid by the boss. If I weren't in cahoots with him, if I were helping employees demand benefits and raises all day long... what would he keep me for? She is the boss’s dirty glove; the boss plays the good guy, while she naturally handles the dirty work.

But today, Lu Chengwen hadn’t consulted her. He proposed it directly during the meeting, catching her completely off guard.

Li Meiqin stood up and adjusted her glasses. "Mr. Lu, I am the Vice President of the Group. It makes things very difficult for me when you announce something like this without discussing it with me first. Why don't you give me some time? I can hold a meeting with the actuarial and cost-accounting departments to discuss it and come up with a specific plan before—"

"You do need to hold a meeting," Lu Chengwen interrupted. "The topic of the meeting should be how to implement my decision as quickly as possible. Notify the publicity department to inform all employees of the group. It must be executed before the end of this month."

Everyone looked at Li Meiqin. You are the highest-ranking person here besides him; go ahead, let’s see how long you intend to play the lackey.

"But the specific salary increase cannot be decided just by saying it; it needs to undergo—"

Lu Chengwen smiled and said, "Meiqin, you’ve worked too hard these past two years."

"For Mr. Lu and the Dasheng Group, it is not hard work."

"Hmm," Lu Chengwen said. "How about this: your annual salary will double. Keep up the good work."

Li Meiqin’s eyes widened in shock. She couldn’t believe her boss was being so generous.

Lu Chengwen continued, "As for how the other senior management salaries should be adjusted, you decide." He walked over to her and tapped her shoulder lightly. "Don't try to save money for me."

Blindsided by Lu Chengwen’s rapid-fire approach, Li Meiqin was dazed. "Mr. Lu, for such a major matter, we should really reconsider—"

A senior executive immediately stood up and led the applause. "Everyone, let’s give Mr. Lu a round of applause!"

The entire conference room erupted in thunderous applause, with praises echoing one after another.

"Mr. Lu is bold and powerful!"
"We vow to share in the honor, disgrace, and destiny of the Dasheng Group!"
"I will be loyal and devoted in the future, with no second thoughts!"
"Mr. Lu is truly a conscientious boss and a benevolent leader!"

Li Meiqin frowned. She understood that these people didn’t want her to speak, and they were using applause and praise to cement the decision immediately. She squinted, watching Lu Chengwen, who was basking in the adoration of the crowd, and thought rapidly.

What on earth is this man trying to do!? This is too abnormal! Did I miss something? Is he planning a major reshuffle? First, win the hearts of the people, then use high salaries to secure me, and then replace the Vice President? I had intended to take a group of my team and strike out on my own, but with him doing this, my plan is completely dead in the water. I kept everything so airtight! He couldn't have gotten wind of it! He wouldn't throw away so much money for no reason; something must be wrong!

Li Meiqin wailed internally. She had already held private talks with several vice presidents and senior managers, and she had cultivated an excellent team of her own over the years. She had intended to pull them all away to establish her own stronghold.

But now, after this, she had instantly become a loner. All those who had promised to leave with her now dared not meet her eyes. Clearly, if they could stay at Dasheng, hold onto their positions, and earn a high salary, why would they go out and start a peasant uprising with her? Are they crazy?

But... Lu Chengwen had actually given her the pricing power for all the senior management salary raises. What does this mean?!

Li Meiqin had a guilty conscience; over a hundred thoughts were churning in her mind. Her palms were sweating, and she felt a faint sense that a massive storm was brewing at the Dasheng Group—no, it had already begun!

Lu Chengwen accepted the handshakes, hugs, and thanks from various executives. He was smiling on the outside, but inside, he was incredibly annoyed:

*[Does this little bit of money get you this excited?]*
*[Damn, is it never-ending? Stop coming over, man. You hardly have any hair left, wouldn't it be better to just shave it all off?]*
*[Damn it, shaking hands and hugging men all the time is really unpleasant. I like beautiful women!]*

Jiang Shihan, standing nearby, chuckled. Lu Chengwen looked back at her. "What are you laughing at? There’s no raise for you."

Jiang Shihan pouted coquettishly. "Mr. Lu is a bully."

Li Meiqin was even more stunned. Jiang Shihan is actually acting coquettishly with Lu Chengwen?! Doesn't she usually go to great lengths to avoid him? What is wrong with these people today? Could it be that Jiang Shihan has always been Lu Chengwen’s confidante? If so, this young girl is terrifying. Having endured such intense workplace rumors, it turns out she was the one in cahoots with Lu Chengwen all along. Have we all been played?

Lu Chengwen walked up to Li Meiqin, and she immediately smiled.

"No hug?"

Li Meiqin immediately opened her arms and hugged her boss with a beaming smile, while screaming internally: *Please, don't touch my butt in front of everyone!*

But Lu Chengwen stopped at a polite distance. It was a very respectful, proper hug, limited to expressing close colleague relations.

Now Li Meiqin was even more panicked. *Oh no! He’s not interested in me anymore? He didn't even take the chance to touch my butt! This is a bad sign! It means he’s already bored with me and knows I’m a traitor, so he’s only being superficially warm!*

Li Meiqin smiled awkwardly and joined the others in the applause.

Lu Chengwen returned to his seat, sat in his executive chair, and felt as proud as an emperor: "Alright, everyone back to your seats. I have another major announcement to make."

Everyone returned to their seats, still unable to hide their excitement. Lu Chengwen signaled to Jiang Shihan, who began playing a slideshow.

"On the screen is our Nanshi District shantytown project. The progress is currently less than thirty percent, and the previous consortia have all run away. I intend to continue with it next."

Li Meiqin turned her head and looked at Lu Chengwen as if he were a ghost. She was completely at a loss. What is wrong with this man today!? The shantytown renovation project!? The government has already come to discuss this many times. Her approach had always been polite reception, followed by complaints and pleading poverty, making sure under no circumstances would they touch it. But today, her boss actually wants to intervene in this project!?

This is a money-burning project with a highly complex situation. If he is not careful, he could lose everything. Li Meiqin quickly said, "Mr. Lu, this project is a minefield. The risks are far too high. It’s time-consuming, resource-intensive, involves many stakeholders, and is essentially a stalled project. Even without a specific assessment, no one would touch it. The four major families of Xue City have all repeatedly and unanimously rejected the government’s proposals to take it over. We—"

"I know, I know all of that."

Lu Chengwen dragged out his words, still intoxicated by the vanity of being an "emperor," and said with great flair:

"Wealth is found in danger! If you aren't willing to sacrifice a child, you won't catch a wolf; if you aren't willing to sacrifice your wife, you won't catch a rogue; if you aren't willing to... right?"

A group of executives looked at each other, completely bewildered. This was a question that required almost no professional deliberation. Any rational person with a brain would not take on this project. This project was just throwing money into a fire pit with no way out.

But Lu Chengwen seemed very determined.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Lu Chengwen slapped the table. "That’s settled! Don’t worry. This time, I am acting arbitrarily. You are only responsible for execution. If there is a problem, it’s on me. If we lose money, I will bear it alone. Shihan!"

"Yes, Mr. Lu."

"Record today’s meeting content and archive it. In the future, if there are any issues and I try to blame anyone, everyone can take today’s record to confront me."

"Understood."

Lu Chengwen smiled slightly. "Now is everyone reassured?"

"Mr. Lu is decisive and possesses the aura of an emperor!"
"Mr. Lu’s vision is like a torch; he can see business opportunities we cannot. We will certainly execute with all our might and give it our best effort!"
"Mr. Lu is farsighted and decisive; our wisdom is shallow, and we can only look up to Mr. Lu’s back!"
"Mr. Lu is awesome!"
"Mr. Lu is awesome!"

Lu Chengwen sat in his chair, spinning around proudly, seeing that Li Meiqin remained silent. "Meiqin, why aren't you saying anything?"

Li Meiqin felt as if she were being roasted over a fire. "Mr. Lu, did I do something wrong? If you have... something to say, please speak directly."

Li Meiqin was certain that Lu Chengwen already knew about her situation and that this project was clearly meant to torture her. But as for how exactly he would torture her, given Lu Chengwen’s character, she didn’t know, and she didn’t even dare to think about it.

Lu Chengwen had no idea she was harboring secrets. Looking at everyone, it was clear that they were all supporting him only because he had just raised their salaries and told them they wouldn't be held responsible.

Lu Chengwen smiled. "I know, I didn't leave a good impression on you all before."

"No, no, Mr. Lu is a very good person; we are all very grateful."
"Yes, yes, indeed."

"Don't lie to me anymore." Lu Chengwen stood up. "I have a few hobbies."

Lu Chengwen began to speak: "First, I love cold, hard cash. I can never have enough money; I wish I could stuff all the money in the world into my own pockets."

Everyone laughed together; this was the truth.

"Second, I love beautiful girls. Hey, whether they are young or mature, sexy or cute, I love them all!"

Everyone laughed knowingly, feeling that Lu Chengwen was particularly interesting today.

Lu Chengwen continued, "The third thing I love is family." He slapped the table. "So, putting myself in your shoes, I want to let you make money, I want to let you all be able to afford to woo girls, and I want you all to be able to take good care of your families! So, we raise salaries and do big things! Any questions?"

Everyone roared in unison, "We follow Mr. Lu’s lead! We will resolutely implement Mr. Lu’s great decision!"

Lu Chengwen smiled and pointed at Li Meiqin. "Meiqin, you will personally take charge of this matter. I have only one requirement: we must sign the contract within one week!"

Li Meiqin clenched her fists under the table, looking at Lu Chengwen, completely unable to make sense of the situation anymore.