Chapter 17: Have You Forgotten the Means of the Jiang Family?

"Respected Chairman Mr. Xu Ziyue, following a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors, your position is hereby..."

In a villa within the wealthy district of Jianghai City, Xu Ziyue was stunned upon receiving his termination notice. He read the message several times, unable to believe what it said.

"Jiang Chen, you truly have nerves of steel!"

After a few seconds of silence, Xu Ziyue’s expression darkened swiftly.

He was the founder of the Jianghai branch. Over the years, he had built up countless connections. Now, to be expected to bow and scrape before a young master sent here for gilding? Impossible!

Without hesitation, Xu Ziyue concluded that Jiang Chen was merely here to build his resume.

Xu Ziyue was a pure businessman, one who had no scruples or conscience in pursuit of profit. Yet, he was utterly ignorant about the true power of the top aristocratic families.

Sheltered by the Jiang family for so many years, he had only ever concerned himself with the battles of the business world, never realizing the immense strength these true elite families possessed.

And so, he was furious.

"Beep beep beep!"

The next moment, phone calls flooded in one after another:

"Chairman Xu, I've been fired! Not only that, the legal department is getting involved—they want to investigate all my work since I joined! Please save me, Chairman Xu!"

"Chairman Xu, what’s going on? Didn’t you say that as long as we listened to you, we’d reap plenty of benefits? Why have I received a termination notice?!"

...

His trusted confidants called in droves, each filled with rage.

Even though Xu Ziyue was their superior, when it came to their own interests, they were perfectly willing to tear off their masks.

Xu Ziyue pressed his lips together, his face growing darker. "Did it really have to come to this? A greenhorn just out of school, does he really think he matters?"

Swish!

Xu Ziyue stood up abruptly and called each of them back: "Follow me to the company. We demand justice!"

"I, Xu Ziyue, have managed the Jianghai branch for years—am I not worth more than some wastrel? With the Jiang family suffering such a blow, perhaps this is our chance for total independence!"

He left the villa, climbed into a luxury car, and instructed the driver to head straight for Jiang Group Tower.

As he watched the scenery outside, Xu Ziyue hesitated briefly before dialing a number:

"Hello, help me take care of someone..."

After hanging up, his expression was grim, muttering to himself, "I never wanted to kick someone when they're down. Jiang Chen, Jiang family, you forced me into this..."

...

"Currently, the company is operating well, with annual profits around a hundred million. The staff number is about three hundred..."

"Young Master Jiang, this is the current status of our Jianghai branch. Please review it!"

...

Jiang Group Tower.

Top floor conference room.

Several vice chairmen and senior executives gathered, reporting the company's situation in detail, not daring to hide a single thing.

There was no choice. Young Master Jiang’s arrival was clearly ominous—he had directly dismissed the chairman and over a dozen senior managers, even pursuing legal action. If they failed to read the situation, they wouldn’t keep their positions for long.

"The company is running smoothly. From today, Chairwoman Chu Qingcheng will take over the role of chairman, holding all decision-making and appointment powers for the Jianghai branch,"

Jiang Chen flipped through the documents for a while, then stood up slowly. As everyone fell silent and watched him, he pointed to Chu Qingcheng and spoke with an undeniable authority: "Everyone in the company, every department, must unconditionally follow President Chu's instructions and orders."

Swish!

The entire conference room became so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared at Chu Qingcheng in astonishment, momentarily lost for words.

They had assumed Jiang Chen had come to Jianghai merely to polish his credentials and take over as branch chairman himself. Who would have expected, after all the turmoil, that he would appoint a stunning beauty as the boss?

What kind of situation was this? Who exactly was Chu Qingcheng, and what was her background?

Clap clap clap!

A few shrewd vice chairmen soon took the lead in applauding, smiling broadly: "Congratulations, President Chu, on your appointment as chairman! We look forward to your guidance and support in the future..."

"Congratulations, President Chu. I'm the head of the legal department..."

"President Chu, I'm the head of marketing..."

...

No one here was foolish. Jiang Chen now represented the headquarters of the Jiang family, and regardless of Chu Qingcheng’s origins, no one could possibly block her appointment as chairman.

Given the circumstances, they could only follow Jiang Chen’s lead and cooperate with Chu Qingcheng...

Bang!

The harmony and joy in the office was abruptly shattered as the conference room door was thrown open with force!

Xu Ziyue, accompanied by several senior managers, stormed in aggressively, his gaze fixed directly on Jiang Chen at the head of the room. "Jiang Chen, as a direct descendant of the Jiang family, you’re disrupting the management order of the branch. I have serious doubts that you’re acting out of despair!"

"As Chairman of the Jianghai branch, I order you to return immediately to the Jiang family headquarters in Jiangnan. Without explicit orders from Old Master Jiang, you are not to interfere with our Jianghai branch!"

Xu Ziyue’s face was stern as he stared at Jiang Chen, whose expression remained impassive. Xu Ziyue declared righteously, "As branch chairman, I cannot stand by and watch all the Jiang family's hard work in Jianghai be ruined by you!"

Swish!

The vice chairmen and senior executives present all changed expression, glancing uneasily at Jiang Chen.

After all, Xu Ziyue had been operating in Jianghai for many years, with a web of connections throughout the city. Whether Jiang Chen could withstand Xu Ziyue’s pressure was uncertain.

Everyone also knew that the Jiang family had suffered a devastating blow in the imperial capital, with many pillars killed in battle. It was true that the headquarters had little energy left for matters in Jianghai.

"Notify Security to remove these people from the company,"

Jiang Chen didn’t even look at Xu Ziyue, his gaze landing on the head of security, his brow furrowed. "Since when could outsiders freely enter and exit the company?"

"This..."

The security chief broke out in a cold sweat. He glanced at Xu Ziyue—caught between a rock and a hard place.

After a moment’s hesitation, he braced himself and replied, "Director Xu... Mr. Xu, you and several managers have been dismissed by Jiang Group. Please leave the premises, or we’ll have to escort you out."

"Old Gao, you dare speak to me like this now?"

Xu Ziyue’s expression grew even darker as he fixed his gaze on the security chief, letting out a cold laugh. "Let me tell you, I built this empire with my own hands. If I’m to leave, I demand compensation!"

Rustle rustle!

Jiang Chen lost all patience. He stood up and walked directly toward Xu Ziyue and the others. "The Jiang family headquarters has left the branch alone for too long. Have you all forgotten what the Jiang family is capable of?"