Chapter 169
Old Master Gu didn't believe Gu Jiangkuo had the ability to truly control the Gu Group. In his eyes, Gu Jiangkuo was just a bandit, plotting against him step by step.
Without this family relationship, he would not have been able to allow himself to be careless and succeed.
But on this day, the Filipino maid who was newly hired by Gu Jiangkuo and who never looked him in the eye suddenly stuffed an iPad in front of him.
Mr. Gu: “What for?”
The Filipino maid said in broken Chinese, "Boss Gu asked me to show you the news."
Sure enough, the iPad displayed a webpage with financial news. The font was large, very considerate of the elderly's eyesight. Mr. Gu took the reading glasses handed to him by the maid and clearly saw the headline of the day:
Gu's Group's Announcement on the Dismissal of Senior Management
The 16th meeting of the 34th Board of Directors of Gu's Group was held on June 15, announcing the removal of five people, including the current General Manager Chen Zhigu, the current Financial Director Liu xx, and the Human Resources Director Chen xx.
xx is temporarily appointed as the Human Resources Director and xx is temporarily appointed as the Financial Director.
The company is also publicly recruiting general manager and deputy general manager. During this period, Mr. Gu Jiangkuo will be in charge of the daily work of the Gu Group.
.
"Impossible! How could that be!" Gu Zhonghong shouted at the maid. "The board of directors must have the consent of more than half of the directors to remove Chen Zhigu and his group! How is that possible? How could he convince so many directors to listen to him?"
But when the Filipino maid saw that he had finished watching the news, she stopped paying attention to Gu Zhonghong and went about her own business.
Gu Zhonghong had to endure such disregard every day. He felt depressed but helpless. He even felt that this kind of cold violence seemed to be bearable - after all, it was much better than going to the cemetery every night, looking at the people he had killed, and kneeling down to repent.
That almost drove him crazy.
.
At the headquarters of Gu Group, Gu Jiangkuo sat in the president's office with a row of newly appointed executives standing in front of him.
All the executives were promoted by Gu Jiangkuo himself through his observations over the past few days. Now, the entire senior management of the Gu Group has been purged, and Gu Zhonghong's confidants can no longer be seen.
Not only do the senior executives follow Gu Jiangkuo's lead, but even the board of directors is busy expressing their loyalty to him. Just now, several directors asked him whether to cancel the poison pill plan.
Gu Jiangkuo’s answer was: There is no rush now.
Not yet.
"So, the company will rely on you from now on." Gu Jiangkuo said politely but with dignity.
The senior executives quickly expressed that they would "follow General Gu's instructions" and "will definitely fulfill his mission."
Gu Jiangkuo waved away the executives with satisfaction and made an international long-distance call using an encrypted phone.
The call was quickly picked up, and the familiar American voice was still on the other end, "My dear Mr. Gu, what can I do for you?"
"How is Gu Xin?"
"According to your instructions, he can't use the internet or go out. We've taken good care of his daily life. However, you asked us to help him quit gambling last time, which is a bit difficult. He gets irritable if he doesn't play a card game a day. Oh, God, to calm him down and avoid attracting the attention of the neighbors, we have to send someone to play a few games with him every day. There's really no other way."
Gu Jiangkuo didn't comment, but only instructed: "Wait for my news, you won't have to watch him anymore soon."
.
Not only will Gu Xin be released soon, but even Old Man Gu has been given the opportunity for "parole". When Gu Zhonghong and his wheelchair were pushed into the extended Rolls-Royce by the servants, he was still a little confused, and then he saw Gu Jiangkuo sitting next to him.
Gu Zhonghong: “!”
Seeing his own grandson, Gu Zhonghong shuddered like a frightened bird, "What are you going to do?"
Gu Jiangkuo looked at his cowardly look and sneered: "I'll send you on your way."
Gu Zhonghong's face quickly darkened. Sitting so close, Gu Jiangkuo could even hear his teeth chattering. This reminded him of when he first met Old Man Gu. Although the old man looked frail and had dark circles under his eyes, he possessed a fierce aura, carrying the oppressive air of someone who had long held a high position.
However, now... I have been tortured to the point that I am just a coward.
Like a frightened, ugly mouse.
How did it become like this? — Gu Jiangkuo, the instigator, fell into a brief moment of regret.
"Akuo, Akuo..." Old Master Gu begged him in a low voice, "Don't..."
"Shut up." Gu Jiangkuo angrily pulled out the corner of his clothes that the old man was holding. "I was just joking. I told you, it's not your life I want."
The Rolls-Royce soon arrived at the headquarters of the Gu Group. Gu Zhonghong had not been out for a long time and was a little afraid of the light, so he had to squint his eyes. Also, due to the long-term mental torture of "going to the cemetery to confess", he was in a bad mood. He really looked like what the outside world had said: he didn't seem to live long.
When the employees saw Chairman Gu, they all had the same thought.
Gu Jiangkuo personally pushed him in the office building, which was undoubtedly another show.
Everyone is even more convinced that Gu Jiangkuo will rightfully take over as chairman, but this is only the opinion of grassroots employees and middle-level leaders.
Nowadays, the executives who really have the say in Gu Group are all shrewd people. They don’t care about the gossip about the Gu family. They only believe in one thing: listen to Mr. Gu.
Mr. Gu took a tour of the company and was deeply impressed by this obvious atmosphere. Most of the senior executives were new faces, and some of his former subordinates were only superficially respectful to him - a respectful gesture made for Gu Jiangkuo's sake. They now obeyed only Gu Jiangkuo.
In order to verify this, Mr. Gu asked a branch manager who was in his forties, saying that he wanted to see the branch's revenue data. The manager actually talked to him about all sorts of things and played Tai Chi until Gu Zhonghong's face changed completely and he refused to show it to him.
Instead, Gu Jiangkuo calmly instructed: "Since the old man is curious, just retrieve the data."
The manager immediately put on a show of being rude at first but respectful later, and called his subordinates on the spot to send the relevant data immediately. But Mr. Gu got angry and slapped the armrest of his wheelchair: "I don't want to see it anymore!"
Gu Jiangkuo then slowly said to the manager, "If that's the case, forget it."
"Yes, Mr. Gu." The manager agreed respectfully.
Gu Jiangkuo personally pushed Mr. Gu to continue to visit various departments.
"I don't want to watch it anymore." said Mr. Gu.
"Really?" Gu Jiangkuo didn't stop.
"I said I don't want to watch it anymore!" Old Master Gu pulled the brake on the armrest irritably.
Gu Jiangkuo had to stop, but he didn't get angry. He looked down at him and asked, "What's wrong, Grandpa?"
"I understand what you mean," said Mr. Gu. "I've seen with my own eyes that the Gu Group is no longer the same Gu Group it once was."
His former confidants and old friends have all disappeared. Whenever he walked in here, everyone in the company would bow down to him. He was like a king overlooking the territory. Although he had retreated behind the scenes, he was unwilling to retire and unwilling to give up such an addictive privilege.
But now, he didn't want to be in this building for even a minute.
Now, he is reminded everywhere that his former glory is long gone.
"It's not the Gu Group that has changed, it's you." Gu Jiangkuo released the brake for him with a click, turned the wheelchair around, and said word by word, "You're old."
"What I want to tell you today is that whether you like it or not, you are retired."
Gu Zhonghong: “…”
Gu Jiangkuo: "Since Grandpa doesn't want to look at this building anymore, let's find a place where there's no one and have a good talk?"
Gu Zhonghong knew he had no choice, and Gu Jiangkuo didn't wait for his answer before pushing the wheelchair straight to the president's office.
This place originally belonged to Chen Zhigu. As for Gu Zhonghong’s chairman’s office... Gu Jiangkuo thought it was dirty and was unwilling to move in.
Gu Zhonghong looked at the house that should have belonged to his old subordinates and was now renovated and looked brand new. He couldn't help but feel more and more uncomfortable. But Gu Jiangkuo didn't give him time to feel sad. He got straight to the point and said, "Do you understand the situation now?"
Mr. Gu was silent for a while before he sighed and said, "Yes."
"So, what do you think about the question I asked you before?" Gu Jiangkuo said.
Mr. Gu: “…”
Gu Jiangkuo pulled out a stack of printed equity transfer agreements from the desk behind him and stuffed it directly into Old Man Gu's arms. He was not as considerate as the Filipino maid at home and did not prepare reading glasses for him.
So, Mr. Gu, looking somewhat embarrassed, held up the A4 paper, looked at it from a distance, squinted his eyes, and read out the title with great effort, muttering it aloud.
Gu Jiangkuo didn't give him time to read it carefully and snatched it back. "Don't read it. These are all clauses that benefit me. You must transfer the shares of the Gu Group to me free of charge. However, I only want the shares and the Gu Family Manor. I won't care about your other real estate, including deposits and options in other companies."
Old Master Gu looked at Gu Jiangkuo in surprise, "...Really?"
"Don't look at me like a bandit," Gu Jiangkuo sneered. "The Gu Group was founded using my grandmother's dowry and her family connections. The Gu Family Manor was originally part of my grandmother's dowry. You simply renovated it over a decade ago. I only want to return what belonged to her and my father. I won't kill you."
"Why?" Somehow, a glimmer of hope flashed in Mr. Gu's eyes.
Gu Jiangkuo understood instantly that the answer the old man wanted might be "After all, you are my grandfather."
Does he want to be soft-hearted?
Gu Jiangkuo said coldly, "No reason. I'm giving you two options now. First, if you'd rather die than sign the equity transfer agreement, I'll provide for your retirement. Since you live in the Gu residence, the Gu Group will legitimately be mine. Even if I don't get the equity in the end, as long as you're not dead, I've been in charge of the company for so many years, and I'm capable of draining the group."
This is the truth.
Before today, Mr. Gu might not have believed it, but now he saw with his own eyes that his grandson actually managed to take over the board of directors and then the management and the entire company with just a small portion of the shares.
This made him believe that he really had this ability.
Therefore, even if he did not sign the agreement, he would not be able to keep the Gu Group, and Gu Jiangkuo's so-called "retirement" made him even more frightened.
Is that “retirement care”?
Not having enough food to eat or clothes to wear, being neglected by servants, having no personal freedom, and having to regularly go to "guard Fang Wan's grave" was a double blow to his mental and physical health!
What's even more terrifying is that Gu Jiangkuo needs time to "empty out the Gu Group". He will not let him die of old age before the time is up, and will definitely use modern medicine to keep him alive.
Life is worse than death.
"What about the second one? What if I agree to sign?" Gu Zhonghong asked anxiously.
Gu Jiangkuo showed a satisfied look and said, "If you are willing to sign the agreement and successfully transfer all your shares to me free of charge, then I will let you go to find Gu Xin and let Gu Xin take care of you in your old age."
"Axin..."
Gu Xin was raised by him, so he would definitely treat him well, at least not abuse him like A Kuo. Moreover, although the private property he has built up over the years is not even a fraction of what the Gu Group has, it is enough for him to live out his life in luxury.
Mr. Gu was indeed moved: "How can you guarantee that you will let us go after signing the agreement?"
"Don't you really want to see Gu Xin? I can bring Gu Xin back from the United States right now." Gu Jiangkuo said, "I will draft a notice, sign the agreement with one hand, and issue the notice with the other. I will say that you are old and want to live abroad with your grandson in retirement. You will never come back to live with me in the house again."
Seems very sincere...
"Although the announcement says so, from now on, whether you want to go to the United States or stay in Southeast Asia, it's up to you. Oh, and it's best to take your sickly son with you. I hate the sight of him."
These words were spoken with such sincerity that Mr. Gu believed them even more.
"How about it?" Gu Jiangkuo said, "I don't have much patience. I'll only give you one day to think about it."
“…”
"It won't take a day." Gu Zhonghong gripped the wheelchair armrests tightly. "I promise you, I'll sign the agreement."
"So happy? Don't you want to think about it anymore?"
"No."
"You don't want me to say something, but I do," Gu Jiangkuo said darkly, "If you want to sign the agreement, you have to agree to one additional condition of mine."
Mr. Gu: “?”
He had heard correctly, right? He gave all the shares to Gu Jiangkuo for free, and Gu Jiangkuo still had demands?
But when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head—he really didn't want to be 'supported' by Gu Jiangkuo—so he could only ask aggrievedly, "What's your request?"
"I want you to tell my grandmother everything in front of her tombstone about everything you have done to make her and my father feel guilty about in your life. I want you to sincerely repent and apologize," Gu Jiangkuo said seriously.
When Mr. Gu heard this, his expression changed immediately.
"What do you want to do?" You don't want to ruin the good reputation he has built up his whole life, do you?
"I want justice for my father. I've never met my grandmother, but my father..." Gu Jiangkuo said emotionally, "He's endured so much harsh treatment from you, yet he never complained. He even advised me... advised me to recognize you if I ever see you again."
Gu Jiangkuo had told this lie once before, and Old Man Gu had some impression of it. Now that it was mentioned again, he couldn't help but believe it even more.
Gu Jiangkuo continued his nonsense, "Why do you think I'd let you go? According to me, I wouldn't stop until you were penniless and your old age was miserable! But my father warned you so earnestly before he died... Don't you feel you owe him something? Shouldn't you formally and personally confess your sins to them?"
"..." Mr. Gu held the wheelchair armrest, clenched and unclenched his hand, his little finger trembling slightly. After a long while, he said, "Okay."
The author has something to say:
Today's extra update trigger condition is also a lot of comments! Good night, muahji
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