Chapter 33: Be Magnanimous

The young secretaries swallowed nervously. After quickly finishing their tasks, they discreetly retreated to the side.

Their job was done. Until the meeting concluded, they were to be servants without mouths or minds. Their only purpose was to mechanically carry out their superiors' orders.

Of course, their eyes still darted about nimbly, eager to see what kind of drama would unfold here today.

Elder Li was the first to walk to the head of the conference table. The seat at the very front and center was reserved for him.

But he didn't sit.

Instead, he walked to the side and took the second most important seat.

He plopped right down.

With that single action, the entire atmosphere in the conference room shifted.

Elder Li held over seven million shares, accounting for more than 17% of the total stock.

He was, without a doubt, the largest shareholder.

So if he wasn't taking the head seat, who was he yielding it to?

It was for Li Yinhe, the chairman, of course. By choosing the secondary seat, the old man was endorsing Li Yinhe, ready to suppress any dissenting voices.

Lu Baichuan's expression turned ugly. The seat Elder Li had just taken was actually his.

He was the company's second-largest shareholder.

But he couldn't bring himself to disrespect Elder Li, so he moved toward the third seat.

But then Elder Li pointed casually and said, "Xiaoxue, go on and sit."

He was telling Li Xue to sit in the third shareholder's seat.

This was a major breach of protocol!

'The old man is being blatantly provocative, shattering all decorum!'

Yet, he was not only the largest shareholder but also the group's founder, a man whose contributions to its history were monumental.

And as an old man with one foot in the grave, he had earned the right to be willful.

The other shareholders exchanged glances. Though reluctant, they still took their seats in order of their share percentages.

In truth, aside from Lu Baichuan's seat, the order was almost unchanged. Everyone sat where they were supposed to.

It was clear the old man was targeting Lu Baichuan specifically.

Lu Baichuan was deeply displeased. Behind him, Lu Yi's eyes were so vicious he looked ready to eat the three members of the Li Family alive.

Lu Yi held no shares, but as Lu Baichuan's son, he was qualified to sit in and observe.

Moreover, he was the CFO, a position of considerable importance in the group's affairs.

He was also just one step away from the position of CEO.

As his anger simmered, Lu Yi scanned the area behind the other shareholders and let out a cold smile.

It was completely empty.

Their successful sons were off making their fortunes in more lucrative industries.

As for their worthless sons and grandsons, they were all off digging mud in some special unit. What chance did they have to decide the group's important affairs?

Thinking this, Lu Yi's mood improved slightly.

The meeting hadn't even started, yet the atmosphere was already extremely oppressive. Aside from some hushed whispers in small groups, no one had bothered with pleasantries.

Elder Li coughed, picked up his teacup for a sip, composed himself, and addressed Lu Baichuan with narrowed eyes.

"Nephew Lu, you're looking radiant, positively glowing. Come into a great fortune recently?"

Lu Baichuan thought, 'Isn't it you who's making me this flushed with anger?' But of course, he couldn't say that aloud. He waved his hand dismissively. "Just so-so. No better than any other year."

"Oh, so not much better? And here I was thinking you'd hit a windfall and started looking down on this old man!"

Elder Li's words were barbed, a clear accusation that the Lu Family was entirely behind yesterday's sudden news reports about failed quality inspections.

Lu Baichuan remained unhurried, replying leisurely, "Uncle Li, you really should take better care of your health. Are you getting delusional? The Lu Family are also shareholders of the Li Group. Why would we do something that harms our own interests? It doesn't make sense, does it?"

Li Xue, her face taut, said word by word, "You can say that because your conspiracy failed! If it had succeeded, my position as CEO would have fallen right into your son's hands!"

Knowing there was no point in continuing this argument, Elder Li waved his hand dismissively.

"Enough. We'll consider the matter closed. Let's begin!"

Li Xue stood up and bowed to her father, grandfather, and the assembled directors. Even though she was angry, her composure remained exceptionally elegant. "I will now report on the Li Group's performance for this quarter."

One of the directors shot to his feet. "Who wants to hear about that? What I care about is how you, the CEO, are going to take responsibility for the quality issues that have emerged in so many projects!"

Li Xue maintained her graceful demeanor and, pretending not to have heard him, continued her report on the previous quarter's performance.

"Damn it, are you deaf?"

Elder Li shot a sidelong glance at the director. "Let her finish."

Elder Li's authority was as potent as ever. The director was choked into silence, his face turning pale. After all, the pressure was now squarely on him.

"Yes!"

Li Xue felt no ripple of emotion. That matter was already settled, and it had ended in a decisive victory for her. She had nothing to fear.

'In her heart, she just thought of that director as a fucking idiot.'

When she finished speaking, she sat down calmly, not mentioning the incident again.

"Hey, you still haven't answered! How are we going to resolve the safety risks? How is our group going to explain this to the public! If our reputation is ruined, who will buy our properties?"

Feeling his own words lacked weight, he looked toward Lu Baichuan. "Director Lu, what do you say?"

Lu Baichuan said, "Let's just drop this matter, shall we? It's not worth mentioning."

"Why? This is a serious matter! If the media finds out, our group will be finished!"

At this point, Li Yinhe spoke up. "That matter has already been resolved. All those quality and safety reports were merely drafts that should not have been released. The group's receivables are all normal, and our cash flow is very healthy."

"Are there any other questions?"

The director froze on the spot, his gaze fixed directly on Lu Baichuan.

Li Xue's sharp eyes caught his glance. 'There was probably a conspiracy between them after all.'

'Lu Baichuan had probably only just learned the final outcome of the plan himself, which was why he was a step too late in briefing this director on the situation.'

'And now it had turned into a huge joke.'

'As the first person to bring this up, he would likely become the laughingstock of the Li Group.'

Elder Li spoke up at this moment.

"You," he said, pointing at the director. "I know you mean well for the group, but you need to use your brain before you stick your neck out. Otherwise, you'll end up counting the money for the person who sold you out!"

"Didn't you ever stop to think why none of the other directors wanted to bring this up? Why were you the only one so eager to jump in?"

His words had reached their point, blatantly implying that the director had been sold out by someone.

The director sat down, his face dark. His shareholdings were minimal, giving him very little say in the Li Group. Even if the Li Group went to Huangtan, he didn't stand to lose much.

He instantly regretted sticking his neck out.

"Chairman!" Li Xue suddenly stood up and looked at her father. "This incident has seriously affected the normal operations of the Li Group. We can't just turn the page and forget about it."

"Today, it was the project department that was slandered, and you were all so quick to suspect them of having problems, even pinning the blame on me."

"Well then, I'd like to see if the other departments are just as clean and efficient. For example, the finance department!"

A muscle twitched violently in Lu Yi's brow. Now that Li Xue had solidified her footing, she was launching a fierce counterattack.

He had been managing the finance department for some years and held considerable sway in the company. A detailed audit would likely uncover many improper operations, and perhaps even a huge deficit.

The landmine he was sitting on was far more explosive than anything in the project department, Li Xue's trusted unit.

"Xiaoxue," Lu Baichuan suddenly interjected, "we are all working for the good of the company. In light of such an incident, it's forgivable for people to say things that are a little out of line."

"As the CEO, you must be magnanimous. Nitpicking will only make things difficult for yourself."

Li Xue was furious. 'This morning, when I was in a weak position, your son certainly didn't say that!'

'Why don't you tell him to be magnanimous?'

'Isn't Chairman Lu blatantly shielding Lu Yi?'

'Lu Baichuan's influence was probably behind this whole affair!'

'If Jiang Hong hadn't switched sides at the last minute and exposed their entire conspiracy, this board meeting would have been my trial.'

'Lu Baichuan would never have uttered such magnanimous bullshit.'

AHEM. Li Yinhe shot Li Xue a meaningful look and said, "Xiaoxue, your Uncle Lu is right! Be the bigger person. Take a step back, and you'll see the bigger picture!"

'Even Dad is saying this!' Li Xue's neck flushed red, and she was unbearably angry.

However, her reason told her that if she didn't sit down now, she would be the only one who got hurt.

"Yes!"