Chu Qingxue first glanced around the room, then spoke out coldly, her demeanor that of a domineering CEO, performed to perfection.
Ye Chenfeng found that Chu Qingxue was quite formidable; a girl in her twenties managed to keep these seasoned board members thoroughly in line.
Ye Chenfeng looked towards Chu Xuanyu in the center, nodded at him, and secretly gave him the middle finger.
It wasn’t long before Ye Chenfeng’s gaze met that of Chu Xiuen, who was sitting closer to the front. Their eyes locked, a silent, deadly tension spreading between them. Chu Xiuen’s lips curled into a faint smile before he whispered a few words to a distinguished-looking middle-aged man beside him, who then raised his head to take a few glances at Ye Chenfeng. Chu Xiuen must have informed him of Ye Chenfeng’s identity.
The middle-aged man bore some resemblance to Dong Zheng, and it was not hard to deduce that he was the company’s third-largest shareholder, Dong Shi Guo.
Chu Renkuang was the largest shareholder with thirty-five percent of the shares. Chu Xiuen, as the second-largest shareholder, held twenty percent, while the third-largest shareholder, Dong Shi Guo, owned ten percent. Both Chu Qingxue and Chu Xuanyu held five percent each.
"Everyone, please quiet down!"
As soon as Chu Qingxue spoke, the noisy commotion in the room ceased, everyone’s heads lifted to watch her, so silent that one could hear a pin drop.
Chu Qingxue swept her gaze over the directors again, a slight curve to her lips as she spoke, "Today we are holding our monthly board meeting, and the main item on the agenda concerns the bid for the premier resort in Jiangnan!"
"Oh?" The directors shared a uniform expression, mouths slightly open in a curious mien.
After observing everyone, Chu Qingxue continued, "As we all know, the premier resort in Jiangnan is supported by the government and is located in the naturally scenic Thousand Lakes District, rich in tourism resources and of immense commercial value... The bottom line is, I’m determined to win the bid for the premier resort in Jiangnan!"
Chu Qingxue laid out the pros and cons of bidding for the premier resort in Jiangnan, providing a comparative analysis, and concluded that the benefits outweighed the detriments. The Chu Family would bid all out.
Just as Chu Qingxue finished speaking, a sudden voice of dissent rang out.
Everyone’s attention was drawn to the source, and they turned to look; it was a bald man named Wang Kun. In his fifties, he was a senior director who had made substantial contributions to the company’s early development. He held two percent of the shares, which seemed insignificant but was a value beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Chu Qingxue nodded, "Alright, Uncle Wang, please explain your reasoning!"
"Firstly, Chu Corporation is having difficulty managing its capital chain and has already encountered a shortage of funds. Let alone such a large project as a resort—how can this be easily achieved? Secondly, the so-called secret research project by President Chu has drained half of Chu Corporation’s financial and material resources; we simply don’t have the capacity for other projects! Thirdly, we are up against strong competitors like the Jiang Family. Persisting with this will only deplete the company’s finances and reputation. Based on these three points, I believe we should give up the bid for the premier resort!" Wang Kun presented his argument with clarity, leaving no room for rebuttal.
Chu Qingxue seemed to have anticipated this outcome and nodded in agreement, "Alright, what do the other directors think?"
A moment of silence followed, with the directors looking at each other uncertainly.
"I agree with Wang Kun’s suggestion, to drop the bid!"
After the first person spoke up, a second and a third followed, and gradually over half the people present agreed with Wang Kun’s proposition. Those who hadn’t voted were Chu Qingxue’s confidantes, and naturally that didn’t include the three major shareholders, father and son Chu Xiuen and Chu Xuanyu, and Dong Shi Guo.
The atmosphere at the scene became awkward for a moment, as if the air had been sucked out.
"I agree with President Chu’s idea and support going all out in the bid!" Suddenly, a voice broke the dullness.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, which turned out to be Chu Xuanyu, who held five percent of the company’s shares. He had joined Chu Qingxue’s faction.
Seeing Chu Xuanyu’s face, Chu Qingxue first felt surprised, then a warmth grew in her heart as she struggled to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.
"Haha, at least there’s someone supporting me now!" Chu Qingxue mocked herself, then smiled at Chu Xuanyu. The siblings nodded to each other.
"Uncle, Uncle Chu, what do you think?" Chu Qingxue turned her gaze towards the two company titans.
Without even thinking, Dong Shi Guo declared, "President Chu, I agree with your proposition!"
Chu Xiuen echoed, "President Chu, I agree with your proposition as well!"
The room became rigid once more, as if time itself had frozen.
The directors present looked incredulously at the two authoritative directors, Chu Xiuen and Dong Shi Guo.
Especially those who had initially opposed Chu Qingxue were now thrown into turmoil. It had been Chu Xiuen and Dong Shi Guo who asked them to vote against, so why at the critical moment, did they turn around and agree with Chu Qingxue’s proposal? Weren’t they setting everyone up?
Just as Wang Kun and a group of people were getting ready to seek an explanation, Dong Shi Guo spoke up, "President Chu has discussed with the senior Mr. Chu, and agreeing to the bid is fine, but there is one condition!"
Chu Qingxue had already sensed that things wouldn’t be so simple. Wang Kun and others were just cannon fodder, a pressure and warning for her. Chu Qingxue’s lips curled into a faint smile, looking forward with interest, "Oh? Uncle Dong, what condition?"
Dong Shi Guo stated clearly and emphatically, "If you want to bid, you must not use a single cent of the Chu Family’s funds for the project at the First Resort, which is the condition after careful consideration by most of the directors! President Chu, you know our Chu Corporation’s funds are tight, and we simply do not have the resources to meddle with the First Resort!"
Dong Shi Guo’s intention was clear: you Chu Qingxue can work on the First Resort project, but do not use any company funds. Find your own way to finance it.
Moreover, an important point is that after you manage to finance the First Resort project, everything must be done in the name of Chu Corporation. When there’s profit, we all share, and you Chu Qingxue are just a part of it!
"Yes, I agree with Vice President Dong Shi Guo’s proposal!"
"I also agree! Vice President Dong’s proposal is good!"
"If that’s the case, I also agree to the bid!"
Suddenly, those directors who had spoken earlier expressed their stance one after another, with overwhelming support for Dong Shi Guo’s proposal.
"President Chu, Vice President Dong is right. Although we cannot provide you with financial support or other tangible help in bidding, you must know that Chu Corporation stands behind you!" said Chu Xiuen.
Dong Shi Guo nodded, "If the old chairman were here, perhaps he would have the capability to bid. But my niece, I think you should restrain yourself somewhat. It’s good for young people to be spirited, but don’t gamble the company’s future. You young folks can afford to gamble, but for us old folks, it’s our whole lives!"