Chapter 24 Tu Jiaojiao's Class Reunion...
That's right.
Jiang Miaomiao is free now.
She called the driver back, then led the group away.
The six men, impeccably dressed in suits, exuded an air of authority. So much so that when they entered the elevator and turned around, their perfectly aligned postures were captured on camera, and the image of their upright figures instantly went viral. Every word and action seemed to radiate elegance and grace.
Especially the black-on-white outfit perfectly complements the supreme Jiang Miaomiao!
.
"I'm back."
The office door was pushed open again, and Jiang Miaomiao's elegant voice rang out.
Most people on site remained focused on their work, except for Jiang Zhengye, Jiang Bainian, and Jiang Zhongming, who seemed out of place.
Even Jiang Zhengye was unaware of Jiang Miaomiao's intention in replacing all the company's computers. Therefore, pointing at these tech geeks huddled in the office, he pressed, "So you brought them here just for so-called surveillance?"
“More than that, employee computer monitoring is just a small part of what they’ve done,” Jiang Miaomiao explained slowly. “This kind of management method is actually commonplace both inland and overseas. It can strengthen employees’ self-motivation from the source and prevent the leakage of company secrets. The reason you are surprised is because Hong Kong is too conservative.”
She suddenly snapped her fingers.
Someone immediately handed over a remote control.
Jiang Miaomiao pressed a button on the projection screen, and the screen instantly transformed into the newly launched Dajiang Group shopping website.
The entire website is based on black and red, and the sense of simplicity and fashion is overwhelming. It has to be said that even people like Jiang Zhengye, who are used to fancy things, find it monotonous at first glance, but upon closer inspection and repeated viewing, they find it to be a perfect example of simple and fashionable style.
"Shiyi," she called, tilting her head.
A young woman with a refined artistic flair stood up and gracefully nodded to Jiang Zhengye and the other two.
Jiang Miaomiao explained, "This is a UI designer I hired from the mainland at a high salary. She is also a young woman who loves beauty and shopping. She knows better than the ten or twenty designers you hired in the early stages what kind of designs attract the attention of women like her."
"Wen Rongying," she called again.
This time, it was a man wearing sunglasses who looked somewhat disheveled who stood up.
Jiang Miaomiao also introduced him: "This is a computer expert I met while studying abroad. He's the full-stack expert I consider the most knowledgeable about ToC. I hired him as the technical expert for DaJiang Group. He built this online shopping framework for DaJiang and solved the performance optimization and security/privacy issues of QFS with tens of thousands of concurrent requests per second. In other words, even if tens of thousands of people place orders at the same time, our shopping mall will not crash. As long as the payment is successful, you can redeem and pick up your goods at various counters using the payment code. There's no need to queue at the front desk to pay, and the redemption code cannot be faked."
"So what will happen in the end?" Jiang Zhengye didn't understand these difficult and strange words, he just wanted the result.
Jiang Miaomiao then switched to screen mirroring, and what came into view was a two-dimensional line graph showing an upward trend over time.
"Great job!" Jiang Zhengye clapped his hands in praise. "This tool that's clearly making money is excellent."
The two people hiding behind Jiang Zhengye were not happy about this. They wanted to see Jiang Miaomiao suffer, not to see her rise to prominence!
Jiang Zhongming whispered a reminder: "Dad, even so, it can't cover up the fact that she's laying off employees. These employees have been with the company for so many years. No matter how we explain it, the image outsiders see of the group is one of massive layoffs and heartlessness!"
"Being humane? Can you make money from that?" Jiang Miaomiao retorted directly.
Her face darkened, and she said, word by word, "Some people work themselves to the bone, some people take advantage of the situation, and some people even steal and cheat, but these three types of people are getting the same salary? Is that fair to the first type of people? Once everyone thinks that their hard work and those who slack off are paid the same, who will be willing to risk their lives for the company? If doing nothing is the best approach, and doing more leads to more mistakes, how can the company develop? This is an era driven by money, an era where talent is flourishing. Laying off three hundred useless people and hiring one hundred talented ones, cutting costs and making money is the key! Are you insisting on the egalitarian system to turn Dajiang Group into a lifeless retirement home?"
Jiang Zhongming retorted, "It's not as serious as you make it out to be. You're being too extreme. This matter could actually have been resolved satisfactorily."
He then arrogantly proposed a solution: "We can give raises to those who perform well, and just turn a blind eye to the older employees. After all, they've worked hard even if they haven't made any great contributions. Wouldn't this be a win-win situation for the group?"
Jiang Bainian quickly chimed in, "Third brother is right. If spending a little money can prevent this kind of public opinion attack today, it's worth it."
Jiang Miaomiao retorted sarcastically, "Kindness doesn't lead to military command, righteousness doesn't generate wealth, and benevolence doesn't govern. Before you say such things, consider your own abilities. Jiang Zhongming, you're in charge of the purchasing department, yet the suppliers you deal with cost 30% more than the market average, while the quality is far inferior. And Jiang Bainian, you're in charge of the operations department. Your female subordinates use company funds to promote male celebrities, while you use company funds to promote female celebrities. High input, low output. Cutting off your entire operations department is equivalent to cutting off the most wasteful department that burns through money, which is more profitable than us opening up new channels!"
Jiang Zhongming couldn't win the argument with Jiang Bainian and the others, and knowing he was in the wrong, he secretly tugged at Jiang Zhengye's sleeve.
Jiang Zhengye coughed loudly: "Making a mountain out of a molehill! They're young and need experience. So what if they occasionally make a mistake or waste money? Don't think that our Jiang Group has plenty of money for them to squander. In the future, the Jiang Group will still belong to the two of them!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhongming and Jiang Bainian straightened their shrunken chests.
Jiang Miaomiao frowned: "After all I've said, haven't you thought about criticizing them yet?"
Jiang Zhengye snorted, "Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for them!"
"There's only one good father in the world... Dad still loves us." Jiang Bainian and Jiang Zhongming sang in unison, while Jiang Zhengye fawned over him, one massaging his shoulders and the other rubbing his legs.
Admittedly, they were being coquettish.
Although the scattering was quite an eyesore, and Jiang Zhengye brushed it aside despite his reluctance, Jiang Miaomiao still caught a glimpse of satisfaction in his eyes.
Jiang Bainian continued, seizing the opportunity, "Dad, look at her, she just paid someone to set up an online store and she dares to scold us in front of outsiders. Don't the men of the Jiang family have any dignity? If she manages to make something more, wouldn't she be able to yell at you right in the face?"
Jiang Zhongming chimed in meaningfully, "Dad, you watched us grow up. With your intelligence, how could you not see what we're thinking? But it's not necessarily the same for people who weren't raised by your side..."
Jiang Zhengye's face showed a calculating expression, clearly indicating that he was thinking things through and harboring suspicions.
So Jiang Zhongming and Jiang Bainian started rambling on and on, their faces growing increasingly smug. They even sarcastically sang a line to Jiang Miaomiao: "A child without a father is like a blade of grass... like a weed..."
Jiang Miaomiao: "..."
The affection and openness between the three Jiang family members were so intense that it was almost unbearable for onlookers to witness. So much so that when the father and sons finally snapped out of their reverie, they found themselves isolated and out of place, with the entire office, including Jiang Miaomiao, completely absorbed in their work.
Jiang Zhengye: "!!!" A bunch of traitors, they don't even respect the big boss.
But he was about to leave, having made a fool of himself, when he turned back after taking three steps and reminded me: "Quickly transfer the stocks you snatched from the second brother's house to my name."
Jiang Miaomiao was taken aback, and finally turned her gaze from the computer screen back to Jiang Zhengye.
Jiang Zhengye said to himself, "Investing in stocks is the most unreliable thing for women. They can be easily fooled by men with just a few words."
That was truly astonishing. She went straight to the point and asked, "So, how much are you planning to spend?"
Jiang Zhengye stared at her in astonishment: "You're my own daughter, how dare you mention 'buying' to me?"
Jiang Miaomiao was even more astonished: "Wow, do you really want to get the stocks I traded my life for for free?"
Everyone in the office stared wide-eyed: Freeloading? Flesh and blood? Are they even father and daughter? Why are they spouting such outrageous language?
Before Jiang Zhengye could speak, Jiang Miaomiao continued, "You're the one who said the business world is like a battlefield, and there are no fathers and daughters on the battlefield. I'm now acting as the acting director, working my heart and soul to help you gain a position and make money for the company, but you neither share my assets nor let the company pay me my monthly salary. I'm penniless and almost fell into the lion's den, barely escaping with a few stocks as consolation. And you dare to take even this money from selling myself? Old Jiang, are you even human?"
Jiang Miaomiao turned her head back to look at the screen, determined to ignore it completely.
They were destined to be met with a soft rebuff.
Jiang Zhengye spoke earnestly, even to the point of becoming enraged. Finally, clutching his chest, he nearly fainted from anger, thinking to himself: "Indeed, raising a daughter is like raising an enemy." But he needed to acquire the shares held by Jiang Miaomiao to increase his own share and solidify the leading position of the Jiang Group.
"Two million!" Finally, he had no choice but to bleed out the money.
Jiang Miaomiao almost spat out her tea: With Jiang's current stock price at HK$28 and the upward trend due to the shopping mall, 2.5% of the stock is worth at least 300 million. How could he say "two million" as 20 billion with such a tragic tone?
When Jiang Zhengye saw that she didn't respond, he had no choice but to raise the price again to 30 million. He threatened to beat Jiang Miaomiao to death if the price went any higher, at which point Jiang Miaomiao finally relented.
However, she made it clear that she wanted cash.
"I'll transfer the money whenever you produce 30 million in cash."
"Fine, but if you dare sell these stocks to someone else, I'll definitely cripple you!" Jiang Zhengye said, as he stormed in with his two sons and left angrily.
It is wise to observe from the sidelines and take everything in.
She and Jiang Miaomiao were the same age, and although they were in a superior-subordinate relationship, there was inevitably a hint of mutual respect between them. So she asked, "Acting Manager, are you alright?"
"That's good." Jiang Miaomiao curled her lips: because of this, she felt even less guilty about the plan to severely damage Jiang's stock price later!
.
After get off work, Jiang Si came to find Jiang Miaomiao for dinner, but found that the office was full of people but missing a man-eating flower.
She asked suspiciously, "Designer Shi, why isn't my dear niece involved with you anymore?"
Shi Yi replied, "I heard that I'm attending a high school reunion tonight."
Jiang Si raised an eyebrow: "...She would attend such a boring party?"
Shi Yi nodded: "Curiosity +1."
Wen Rongying, who was usually silent, raised her hand: "Curiosity +2".
They all concluded that something was fishy about this, after all, Jiang Miaomiao was a ruthless person who wouldn't do anything without a profit!
***
Jiang Miaomiao arrived at the agreed-upon Fanlou Restaurant right on time.
The restaurant's retro-style entrance still had an advertisement, which read, word by word, "Reunion of Class 8, Senior 3, Chaoyang Noble School." Arrow signs were pasted on the ground, and the further in you went, the higher the class of the private rooms became. Clearly, Tu Jiaojiao had spared no expense!
The three tables in the luxurious private room were almost full.
There were about thirty people, accounting for two-thirds of the class that year. They were all second-generation rich kids from the class, young people from wealthy and influential families in the port city.
As the host, Tu Jiaojiao sat at the main table, with an empty seat on either side of her.
One reason was that she specifically left it for Jiang Miaomiao, so that she could easily cause trouble nearby!
One seat was reserved for Han Cuo, the "other people's child" and "other people's heir" whom she adored, but Han Cuo rarely played with these spoiled brats. Regardless of whether Han Cuo came or not, Tu Jiaojiao always reserved her seat.
However, the strange things that happened today are even stranger.
Tu Jiaojiao was surprised to receive a reply from Han Cuo in the "Second Generation Group": I'll be there tonight too.
"What the hell? Why did Han Cuo come?" Her face changed instantly, her shock far outweighing her surprise. "Han Cuo almost never attends our gatherings before. Did he only come this time because he knew Jiang Miaomiao was there? Does all of us not count as much as that poor, stingy Jiang Miaomiao?"
"..." Upon hearing this, those present thought to themselves: Why ask a question when you already know the answer? Who here isn't just bored and here because of Jiang Miaomiao, who suddenly became the representative of the Da Jiang Group today?
The door was pushed open, and light streamed into the room.
Han Cuo walked in, tilting his head slightly and putting his hands in his pockets. His skin tone was incredibly healthy, and he was absolutely dashing and exceptionally handsome.
Before Tu Jiaojiao could even question him about why he had come, Han Cuo glanced at her as soon as he sat down and said, "Could you sit somewhere else?"
"Huh?" Tu Jiaojiao was startled awake from her reverie after a long while, realizing that Han Cuo wanted her to move to the left and move Jiang Miaomiao's empty space next to him.
She retorted angrily, "No, no!"
Han Cuo shrugged, not pressuring him.
.
Someone looked at their watch: "It's almost eight o'clock, is it time to eat? I'm a little hungry."
Tu Jiaojiao retorted, "Would it kill you to eat slower? Jiang Miaomiao hasn't arrived yet. We absolutely cannot lose face in front of someone like her!"
Someone else asked, "Could she be lying to you? We agreed to meet at eight o'clock, why hasn't she shown up yet?"
"If she doesn't come, I'll despise her for the rest of my life!" Tu Jiaojiao snorted.
Jiang Miaomiao, who had just arrived at the door, was genuinely puzzled upon hearing this: What benefit is there in not being looked down upon by Tu Jiaojiao?
She knocked on the door in desperation.
Everyone stared at them again, only to see someone they hadn't seen for years, dressed simply in white with his hair styled in a classic updo, but his eyes were as bright as ever, like shooting stars streaking across the night sky, as if they could not hide any shadows or filth.
They watched Jiang Miaomiao walk in, as if she had emerged from a snowstorm.
Jiang Miaomiao's current attire was exactly the same as on TV today, even down to the few strands of hair that had been left out when she styled her hair. They couldn't help but be certain that it was indeed the same person! It wasn't just a resemblance or plastic surgery!!
Tu Jiaojiao glared at her angrily from beginning to end, and even childishly tried to hook the stool with her foot to make her fall. However, she did not expect Jiang Miaomiao to not even lower her head, but raised her foot and accurately stepped on her mischievous foot. Tu Jiaojiao was in so much pain that tears welled up in her eyes, but she could not shout out because of her image. She could only hold her breath, struggle, and try her best to pull her foot back.
Jiang Miaomiao sat down safely, turned her head and smiled at her.
Tu Jiaojiao clenched her fist, which can be interpreted as: This is a blatant provocation!
Across Tu Jiaojiao, Han Cuo stared at her with a pair of dark eyes, smiling but saying nothing, a high curve at the corner of his lips.
Jiang Miaomiao glanced back calmly, her expression polite and formal.
Han Cuo paused slightly, then seemed to sense something. He glanced under the table and saw that Tu Jiaojiao's bare instep, exposed by her high heels, was red with a shoe print. He immediately laughed, and Tu Jiaojiao pouted, her young heart breaking even more.
As the guests arrived, the restaurant began serving dishes.
Jiang Miaomiao clapped along, but Tu Jiaojiao glanced at her with utter contempt and said impatiently, "Actually, we're all in Hong Kong, and our usual get-togethers are just casual chatter. But today is different because our only classmate who paid for her tuition with a scholarship back then has finally shown up! Come on, we have to give Jiang Miaomiao a round of applause. After all, she hasn't shown up for six or seven years since graduating high school, and we almost thought she was dead or that she was a mistress who knew she was ashamed and had disappeared."
Jiang Miaomiao narrowed her eyes: Is this a case of not knowing how to pretend or disdaining to pretend? Her words were filled with boundless hatred.
A thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Tu Jiaojiao, confident in her advantage, saw Jiang Miaomiao smiling without speaking and tried to provoke her: "Jiang Miaomiao, since you've made an appearance, why not take this opportunity to say a few more words? If things are going well, let us all benefit from it. If things are going too badly, just say it. The pocket money we all have will be enough for you to live on for a few years."
Jiang Miaomiao raised an eyebrow slightly, "Since you've extended such a warm invitation, then I'll gladly accept."
Tu Jiaojiao immediately felt uncomfortable, secretly raising her head and puffing out her chest, trying to regain some of her air of a wealthy young lady.
Xue Shaoyuan sat opposite her, but because of the distance, he couldn't remind her not to puff out her chest too much, since she didn't have much of a chest.
Jiang Miaomiao's remarks were equally brief and official: "Hope you all are well. I hope we will have the opportunity to cooperate in the future. Thank you."
Tu Jiaojiao's face darkened, as if she wanted to stir up trouble: "No, you're being unemotional."
Jiang Miaomiao asked, "Then, as you think, what constitutes having feelings?"
Tu Jiaojiao said, "Tell me, all these years, where have you been? What have you been doing?"
Jiang Miaomiao said, "I studied. I just graduated last month."
"Anything else?" Tu Jiaojiao didn't want her to beat around the bush, so she went straight to the point: "I heard that you're now a mistress to that philandering Boss Jiang? Jiang Miaomiao, even if you're poor, you should at least have some backbone. If you're having financial difficulties, can't you just look down and ask your old friends for help? Why do you have to sell yourself to an old man who could be your father?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
