In the conference room, all relatives of the Jiang family who held high-level positions in the company were present.
Almost all of them had attended the Old Master's birthday.
As they rose to welcome Jiang Hongyi, they all revealed surprised expressions upon seeing Li Chonglou arrive.
"Why is this live-in son-in-law coming to the conference room?"
"Hongyi is back to manage the company, he's not going to drag this useless son-in-law into it, is he? I'm the first to object!"
"Although the Jiang family is a family business, we still look at capability. Not everyone can join the company to slack off. With all these high-level executives in the room, what qualifications does someone like him have to enter the conference room?"
A few impatient ones immediately showed cold faces.
They shouted without restraint.
These people were the direct descendants who were close to Jiang Hongwei. Many of them had contributed to Jiang Hongyi's banishment to another province.
Now that Jiang Hongwei had been brought down and Jiang Hongyi was back to take charge, they felt as if they had eaten excrement.
Seeing Li Chonglou enter, they could no longer restrain themselves and started to attack.
After all, if the entire Jiang Hongyi family entered the company's high ranks, wouldn't it become a one-man show?
Where would they have any status or power?
"Look, your status in the Jiang family is worse than mine, an outsider. Besides embarrassing Yuxin, what other value do you have? Useless!" Jin Tang saw this and said mockingly with great pride in a voice only he and Li Chonglou could hear.
Li Chonglou scanned these sharp-tongued relatives, his expressionless face revealing neither anger nor inferiority.
He was as calm as a lake without a breeze.
Jiang Yuxin's beautiful eyes were originally filled with anger, but upon seeing Li Chonglou's demeanor, her rage involuntarily subsided.
Others might not know Li Chonglou's contributions, but how could she not?
If it weren't for Li Chonglou, the cooperation with Lv Group would not have been possible.
However, she had kept this matter confidential, fearing that if it failed, it would only lead to a joyless outcome.
These blind fools, relying on Li Chonglou for their survival, yet openly humiliating him, made her unjustly furious.
But she found a better way to handle it than getting angry.
She glanced at her father and said forcefully, "He is my legal husband, and I am the company's Vice President."
"What? Don't I even have the right to make him my secretary?"
Her words caused everyone to look at each other, wondering why Jiang Yuxin had suddenly gone mad.
In their impression, Jiang Yuxin had always been indifferent to Li Chonglou, showing no concern.
She had even slapped Li Chonglou fiercely on the day of the banquet.
This was also the main reason they humiliated Li Chonglou in front of Jiang Yuxin.
But today, she was actually speaking up for this useless Li Chonglou?
What had happened in just a few days?
Could it be that Li Chonglou's design to get Jiang Tao imprisoned had changed Jiang Yuxin's opinion of him?
For a moment, everyone was filled with doubt.
Jin Tang's face alternated between green and white, his expression shifting, his eyes flashing with a fierce glint.
He was even more surprised. He was completely unaware of what had happened in the past few days. When Jiang Yuxin had spoken up for Li Chonglou in front of him before, he had thought it was just because they hadn't met for a while and were a bit distant.
He hadn't expected Jiang Yuxin to defend Li Chonglou in front of everyone, which felt like a knife twisting in his heart.
"Yuxin, we aren't questioning your decision-making ability." At this moment, a cold voice sounded, "It's just that what everyone is saying is correct. This is a conference room, and we're discussing core company secrets."
"The company is currently at a critical juncture. If someone were to betray us for personal gain and leak information, who would bear the loss?"
The speaker was a middle-aged man nearing fifty.
Li Chonglou recognized him as Jiang Yuxin's uncle, Jiang Hongliang, who was in charge of the engineering department. He had considerable prestige in the company and was previously as close as brothers with Jiang Hongwei.
Now that Jiang Hongwei had fallen, he probably couldn't sleep at night, fearing he would be the next to be dealt with.
His open challenge was clearly aimed at making things difficult for Jiang Yuxin and her father by using him.
"That's right, Yuxin, of course, we trust you, but hearts are unpredictable. Who can guarantee that this useless man, after enduring three years of grievances in the Jiang family, doesn't harbor resentment?"
"Hongliang's words, though blunt, are not unreasonable. If we allow a useless person like Li Chonglou to be involved in this, I would rather withdraw!"
"Nothing has even started yet, and you're already cultivating your own influence. You're clearly trying to drive us away. Instead of you driving us away, we might as well leave voluntarily."
Led by Jiang Hongliang, a few people began to pressure Jiang Yuxin and her father.
After all, Jiang Yuxin was currently the hope of the Jiang family. No one dared to cause trouble for her, and Jiang Hongwei was the de facto head. No one dared to oppose his return to power.
But to protect their own interests, they had to find an outlet.
Li Chonglou was undoubtedly the weakest point.
They were all company veterans, of considerable importance. Compared to Li Chonglou, a live-in son-in-law, they were infinitely more important.
They didn't truly want to leave, but to use this opportunity to provoke Jiang Hongwei and his daughter.
If they wanted to keep Li Chonglou, then they would have an excuse to collectively go on strike.
But once they went on strike, the progress of the cooperation with Lv Group would inevitably be delayed. Who could bear this responsibility?
Therefore, Li Chonglou would definitely be driven away.
They would then be able to give Jiang Hongwei a warning, a very clear signal.
Telling him that although the company was now in the hands of his daughter and him, everyone was still needed for the company to operate normally.
This was their true objective.
"Good, those who wish to resign, submit your applications. You can leave now." Who knew that as soon as the words fell, before Jiang Hongyi could even change his expression, Jiang Yuxin said with a frosty face, "From now on, Li Chonglou will be my nominal secretary. As Vice President, I still have this authority."
This matter could only be facilitated by Li Chonglou.
Putting aside their marital relationship, purely from the perspective of the company's greater good, Li Chonglou was ten times more important than these opportunists!
People can be replaced, and they dared to threaten her using him?
How ridiculous!
Her words silenced the entire venue.
Everyone was stunned, their faces showing disbelief.
Even Jiang Hongyi was full of doubt, not understanding what his daughter was doing and how she could joke about the company's overall situation.
Jin Tang was even more dumbfounded.
This was not the Jiang Yuxin he knew. The Jiang Yuxin of the past always prioritized the overall situation and the company.
Let alone an insignificant useless person like Li Chonglou, even she herself could make great sacrifices for the company's development.
But today, why had she changed her ways?
She had defended Li Chonglou repeatedly.
Could it be that after three years of being together, they had developed some feelings?
Jin Tang harbored a terrible thought, scratching at his heart like a cat's claw.
"Jiang Yuxin, you've gone too far. If they leave, do you think you can keep the company running on your own?" Jiang Hongliang's old face turned red as he pointed at Jiang Yuxin and cursed, "The Old Master handed the company over to you, and you dare to ruin his lifelong work..."
"Shut up!" Before he could finish, Li Chonglou interrupted him forcefully.
At some unknown time, he had already stood in front of Jiang Yuxin. His expression was blank, but his eyes were filled with a chilling cold light.
Staring directly into their minds, he said, "It's not Yuxin who is ruining the company, but you moths!"
"The Jiang family is, after all, a large company. Not only has it not developed over the years, but it has also been declining."
"Ask yourselves, what exactly is the reason?"
"Embezzlement, nepotism, how much of these things have you done?"
"I didn't want to interfere in the Jiang family's business, but since you dare to use me to threaten my wife and father-in-law, I'll play along with you properly."
"From now on, I am the Vice President's secretary. Anyone who wishes to resign can hand their report to me and be gone!"
Arrogant, presumptuous!
Those who had threatened to resign had eyes that seemed about to pop out of their sockets. Their faces were a mixture of green and white, filled with hatred and gnashing of teeth.
The useless son-in-law who used to let them do as they pleased had shown a completely different demeanor since that banquet.
He actually dared to confront them.
Whether Jiang Yuxin was instructing him or Jiang Hongwei was backing him was hard to say.
They only knew that if they truly resigned, it would be almost impossible to return.
At this critical juncture of cooperation with Lv Group, everyone knew that if successful, their future would be limitless. Leaving at this time would be the act of a fool.
The few of them ultimately gave in, lowering their heads to the ground, none daring to utter another word.
Jiang Hongliang's face turned extremely gloomy.
He understood that he couldn't stir up any major trouble today.
But to yield? Impossible!
So, a sinister glint appeared in his eyes, and he changed the subject to Jiang Yuxin, saying, "Yuxin, I don't object to you making him your secretary."
"But all of this must be based on the company's revival. The overall situation is not yet stable, and you are already cultivating your own influence."
"Are you that confident? Aren't you afraid of any changes in the cooperation with Lv Group?"
"Of course."
Jiang Yuxin met his gaze unflinchingly, "Uncle, I am very confident in my ability to handle things. There are basically no problems with Lv Group."
"However, I need to correct you. I am not cultivating my own influence, but rather considering the company's interests."
"Hmph, well said," Jiang Hongliang snorted coldly. "You keep talking about the company's interests."
"First, you need to guarantee that the cooperation with Lv Group will definitely succeed. Without concrete proof, why should everyone believe you?"
"How about you sign a military order!"
This was a goading tactic.
Since he couldn't confront Jiang Yuxin directly, he would take a detour.
Lv Group was too important to the Jiang family. If the cooperation encountered any problems, he could use it as an opportunity to bring Jiang Yuxin down.
If he couldn't shake the General Manager's position for now, he would try for the Vice President's position.
He couldn't let the entire Jiang Hongwei family take all the benefits.
"That's right, we want to see you sign a military order!" The few who had previously clamored to resign suddenly had their eyes light up, and they all echoed his sentiment.
Jiang Hongyi's face became grave. "What military order?"
"My daughter is losing sleep over the company, and now she is the representative for negotiations with Lv Group. What kind of elders are you to pressure her like this?"
He hadn't said much until now because he didn't want to incite internal conflict.
He was accustomed to being a peacemaker.
It was best to resolve the situation peacefully, but seeing that these people had no intention of letting his daughter off the hook.
His paternal instincts were ignited. Although he didn't flare up, his words already showed signs of anger.
"We're discussing company matters, not seniority, Hongyi. I see you've really stayed in the outer provinces for too long. This is not a family!" Jiang Hongliang sneered and attacked.
Hearing this, Jiang Hongyi's face became extremely unpleasant.
Just as he was about to speak, he heard Jiang Yuxin confidently reply, "Alright, I will sign the military order."
"If the cooperation fails, you can deal with me as you see fit!"
Her words caused gasps of cold air to sound throughout the hall.