Chapter 70 Correcting the Chaos
Outside the window, a fine, silvery drizzle fell silently. Lanchuan is located in the far north, and damp weather is rare, but this gloomy weather always made one feel uneasy.
The door to the tea room was pushed open from the outside. Hearing the sound, Lü Dong put down the black chess piece in his hand, turned around and looked at Sun Gang standing in the doorway.
The man had his hands folded in front of him, his fingers gripping a black briefcase.
Lu Dong stood up to greet him: "President Sun, please come in, please come in."
The two met by chance in the lobby of the club that morning. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lü Dong learned that Sun Gang had come there to meet up with former colleagues from the law firm. Despite being over seventy, Lü Dong was always very talkative once he started chatting. When they got into a good conversation, the two agreed to play a game of chess at one o'clock in the afternoon.
"Mr. Lü, you've been waiting for a long time." Sun Gang strode inside.
The waitress who followed him in took the briefcase that Sun Gang handed her.
"I'm getting old, and I dozed off, but luckily I woke up before you arrived." Chairman Lü waved for him to sit down.
The waiter gently placed the briefcase on the sideboard, then nodded slightly, quietly retreated outside, and closed the two doors.
Sun Gang sat down in the rosewood armchair opposite Lü Dong, his body upright. His gaze swept across the chessboard, where black and white pieces were crisscrossed, and the situation was clear.
He looked up and smiled, "Black's attack is strong, and it has already formed a double three. Elder Lü, this game is going to be won by your right hand."
Upon hearing this, Lü Dong paused in his sitting motion. He hissed and then sat down, shaking his head with a slightly exposed smile: "Hahaha, good eye! Just amusing myself. My little granddaughter saw it the other day and said it's called 'left and right brain fighting,' which develops intelligence and prevents Alzheimer's."
Sun Gang nodded: "Lv Lao has a refined taste and a good mindset, which makes learning fun. Sometimes we can't even keep up with the new words that young people are using these days."
This lawyer, who was once one of the most well-known in the country, is now fifty-two years old. A few strands of silver hair at his temples gleam under the lamp, yet he still looks handsome and has an extraordinary demeanor.
“That’s right!” Lu Dong asked casually as he sorted the chess pieces back into the box, “How was the gathering this morning? Your law firm is a top name in Lanchuan; everyone who comes out there is a big shot.”
Sun Gang took the white jade chess box that Lü Dong pushed over: "It's just an old friends getting together to catch up. It's all in the past now. My mind is entirely on the group now."
"Come on, let's play the next game." Lü Dong picked up a black piece and waited for Sun Gang to make his move.
He couldn't help but recall that this General Manager Sun had been with the group for three years. His resume was stellar: sixteen years of experience at top-tier law firms, and six years as general counsel for a top 100 company. The previous manager had just left when Chen Jiashu personally intervened, making three visits to his home to persuade this formidable figure to join the company.
It wasn't just a simple matter of paying him a salary. Chen Jiashu not only gave him 4% of his own shares, but also appointed him as the vice chairman of the decision-making committee, allowing him to participate in all of the group's major investment projects.
While pondering, Sun Gang placed a white piece, making a soft "click." Lü Dong lowered his drooping eyelids and then placed a black piece.
Playing chess and fishing are similar in that they both emphasize the importance of patience and composure. Ultimately, one side will laugh and say, "Let's call it a day."
As they played back and forth, the chessboard was filled with pieces. Sun Gang raised his hand, deep in thought: What should I do next?
“I’ve known Jiashu for about ten years now,” Lu Dong’s voice rang out. “Back then, he met with almost every investor in Lanchuan for the second phase of the factory. Old Xu, Director Sun who left later, and I were his earliest ‘mentors.’ Oh, and Old Tian… Alas, old friends are gone.”
Sun Gang found a suitable spot, put down the chess piece, and then looked up at Lü Dong. Lü Dong slightly raised his chin, his gaze becoming distant: "Don't let his young age and student-like appearance fool you, he had a whole set of ideas in his head, was bold, and deep down... had a ruthless streak."
He understood that the "ruthless" Lu Dong mentioned was not meant in a derogatory way, and Sun Gang nodded repeatedly in agreement, "Although Chairman Chen is young, his courage and vision often make people forget his age and can only admire him."
In the brief silence, the waiter silently brought over the teapot and refilled their teacups for the third time, filling them about seven-tenths full. Then, he quietly retreated to the sideboard and placed the teapot back on the induction cooker.
Lu Dong reached for the teacup on the low table, not to drink, but to warm his hands: "Of all my old friends, Zhang Shuang is the one I regret the most. That child had a truly good heart, for the group, for Jiashu, it's just a pity he died young..."
Sun Gang nodded again: "President Zhang's untimely death is indeed a loss for the entire group."
Lu Dong took a sip of tea, put down his teacup, and looked at Sun Gang meaningfully: "To be honest, ever since his eye injury, I've been advocating for him to step down. It's a wise retirement, preserving his reputation and leaving a dignified end for himself and the company. It's like driving; if your eyesight fails, you have to pull over and hand the steering wheel to someone who can handle it."
As his fingertips caressed the warm, smooth chess pieces, Sun Gang pondered them deeply.
Lu Dong wouldn't have a heart-to-heart talk with him for no reason. This candid conversation, seemingly protecting Chen Jiashu and considering the chairman's best interests, clearly had a hidden meaning.
"But who should we hand it over to? Zhu Ao?" Lu Dong curled his lip and shook his head: "That kid is cunning but narrow-minded. If we hand the company over to him, it will change its name and ownership sooner or later."
His cloudy eyes were half-hidden under his eyelids, but he peered at Sun Gang through the gaps, his gaze bright and clear, not like the dim light of a candle.
Sun Gang maintained a respectful and attentive demeanor.
"You don't know this from a few years ago, but when Zhu Ao joined, Jia Shu and Xiao Zhang had already overcome the most difficult part. Jia Shu is a good person in every way except that he is overly sentimental. Just because Zhu Ao stayed with the company for him for more than a year, he promoted him when he came back, groomed him as his deputy, gave him power and money, and even gave him 10% of the shares!"
At this point, Lü Dong was a little annoyed: "What did Jia Shu tell me back then? 'To keep a thoroughbred horse, you have to saddle it well.' Is this a thoroughbred horse? He was only in there for less than a year when, because of a disagreement, that kid Zhu Ao drove away the general manager Huang he had invited, leaving a huge mess. When Jia Shu came back, he had to clean up his mess."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lü Dong let out a contemptuous laugh from his nose, picked up a chess piece from the board with two fingers, and raised it slightly, as if admiring an antique.
Knowing it wasn't the right time to start a conversation, Sun Gang remained expressionless.
A faint yellow sheen shimmered on the black stones, shifting with the changing angle, while the smile on Lü Dong's lips lingered.
"Friendship is friendship, and ability is ability. Taking good care of the house is one's duty, but it doesn't make one the boss. Zhu Ao's mistake is that he takes the boss's politeness as his own good fortune. He always thinks that he and Jia Shu are friends who have been through thick and thin together, and that they can be on equal footing. To put it bluntly, he can't figure out his place. The boss gives him a pole, and he really dares to climb up it, without thinking about whether he can hold up the roof."
"I think it's because Jia Shu was given such a good saddle."
Sun Gang picked up the teacup, took a sip, and gently put it back.
Lu Dong's words were filled with admiration for Chen Jiashu, regret for Zhang Shuang's untimely death, and disdain for Zhu Ao's overstepping of authority. His emphasis on Chen Jiashu's strong sense of sentimentality was, in effect, a form of criticism and complaint. It was an implicit accusation that Chen Jiashu rewarded people based on personal relationships and practiced nepotism.
While Lü Dong's assessment of Zhu Ao was tinged with personal resentment, it wasn't entirely unfounded. Zhu Ao certainly possessed commendable abilities, and Chen Jiashu's reliance on him wasn't solely due to personal relationships. However, Zhu Ao sometimes appeared stubborn in his insistence on his own opinions, leaving little room for compromise.
Chen Jiashu was not unaware of Zhu Ao's shortcomings. But no one is perfect, and focusing solely on flaws will lead to missing out on a "talented individual." Regarding whether he practiced nepotism, Chen Jiashu once frankly told him that among a group of "outsiders" with their own agendas, he indeed preferred to use "his own people" whom he could completely trust and control.
“Mr. Lü, you’re right,” Sun Gang said slowly. “However, the matter of the rider and the saddle depends on what the rider thinks. Chairman Chen values relationships, but he’s ultimately holding the bowl of the employer.”
He paused briefly, his eyes darkening: "Ultimately, this stable belongs to its owner. If he can give it away, he can naturally take it back."
Lu Dong chuckled dryly a few times, looked away, leaned back slightly in his chair, and said, "I'm getting senile. My words are getting more and more off-topic. Don't take it personally."
After seeing Sun Gang off, the tea room door closed again.
The room was filled with the aroma of sandalwood and tea. The smile on Lü Dong's face slowly faded. He returned to the chessboard, his gaze falling on the last white piece Sun Gang had placed, his fingers unconsciously twirling a black piece.
After a while, the assistant pushed open the door and came in, reporting in a low voice: "Mr. Sun's car has already left."
Lu Dong waved to him, and his assistant immediately came around and sat down in the seat that Sun Gang had just been in.
"As expected of someone with a law background, Mr. Sun, you seem upright and incorruptible at first glance..."
The assistant spoke up at the opportune moment: "Boss, we were considering that supporting someone who is relatively... obedient would make it easier to control the situation, wouldn't it?"
A sharp glint flashed in Lü Dong's eyes, and he snorted: "Obey? Zhu Ao?" He threw the chess piece in his hand into the chess box and wiped his hands: "If the group is really handed over to him, sooner or later it will be ruined and crippled by his little tricks."
If a treacherous person like Zhu Ao comes to power, his next step will be to purge these "old fogies." If Chen Jiashu weren't increasingly incapacitated, why would they bother to help him choose a "successor"?
After comparing them all, Sun Gang's abilities, vision, and reputation made him a better fit than Zhu Ao to take over this "child." Unfortunately... Zhu Ao simply wouldn't accept the offer.
With a headache, Lü Dong clenched his fist and tapped his forehead.
"boss?"
The assistant called out softly, and when Lu Dong's gaze fell on his face, he lowered his voice considerably and threw out a prelude: "As soon as President Sun arrived, Chairman Chen arranged for him to be the vice chairman of the decision-making committee. What do you think of this move...?"
Lu Dong pondered for a moment, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He pressed his hands on the armrests of the chair and straightened up: "This kid, he thinks ten steps ahead for every one he takes..." He laughed, the laughter resonating from the depths of his lungs, revealing a hint of understanding: "I was wondering how Chen Jiashu could be manipulated by mere sentimentality... It turns out, Sun Gang's hidden move was already laid out long ago."
No wonder they look down on their "free meals from a hundred families"; they have their own "golden rice bowl" in their own hands.
"Speaking of which, Jia Shu's illness... has he been recuperating for quite a while?" It's been a week, and we haven't seen him at all.
As Lü Dong spoke, he reached for his phone on the low table, swiped his thumb across the screen, and found Chen Jiashu's number.
*
Chen Jiashu has been missing for a full week.
After experiencing several breakdowns, Qin Qiao abruptly resigned three days ago and handed over all her work yesterday. Armed with vague clues provided by the police, she is preparing to drive along the route to search for the missing items.
Before setting off, she planned to see Chen Cheng, but unexpectedly ran into Tian Jiayue, whose eyes were red and swollen, at the company entrance. After chatting for a while, they learned that they had both come for Chen Jiashu and were both thinking about the smartwatch that Chen Cheng had given him last year.
Chen Cheng invited them to sit in his office and even personally brewed tea for them.
As soon as Qin Qiao said, "Jia Shu has been missing for a week," Chen Cheng's hand trembled in shock, and a few drops of boiling water splashed out, scalding the back of his hand red.
"Chairman Chen has disappeared?!"
"The police checked my brother's phone, but couldn't get through; there was no signal. They suspect it might have been smashed or thrown into the water. Tian Jiayue unconsciously gripped her jeans, raising her slightly reddened eyes: 'It's been a week... that watch, hasn't it run out of battery by now...?'"
Chen Cheng immediately turned around and walked to his desk, then picked up his laptop.
He placed the computer securely on the coffee table. Upon seeing this, Qin Qiao and Tian Jiayue immediately got up, walked around to the opposite side of the coffee table, and squatted down on either side, their eyes all locked on the screen.
Qin Qiao stared at the address on the screen, her pupils dilating slightly. She then sprang to her feet like a spring, her phone already gripped tightly in her hand.
"I'll call Officer Ma now!"
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