Chapter 39: Testing Chen Churan

Li Qiang stretched out his greasy hand, intending to shake Chen Churan’s hand.

Chen Churan calmly avoided his hand.

“Manager Li, you’re too polite. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

Li Qiang awkwardly withdrew his hand and coughed twice to cover his embarrassment.

“General Manager Chen, I think the company’s management is a bit lax right now; the employees are too careless!”

Li Qiang glanced around the room, his words laced with obvious criticism.

Chen Churan raised an eyebrow, giving him a faint, ambiguous smile.

“Manager Li, do you have any insights?”

“Insights? I wouldn’t dare call them that. I just think the company needs some new rules and regulations to improve efficiency.”

Li Qiang said this, then pulled out a thick stack of folders from his briefcase.

“These are the new regulations I worked on overnight. Please take a look, General Manager Chen.”

Chen Churan took the folders and flipped through them casually, her expression gradually darkening.

These weren’t regulations at all—they were outright oppressive clauses!

Longer working hours, shorter breaks, doubled fines for being late or leaving early, and even strict dress codes for employees.

Chen Churan snorted coldly and tossed the folders back onto the desk.

“Manager Li, are you joking?”

Li Qiang’s face changed, but he suppressed his anger.

“General Manager Chen, this is for the good of the company! You’re still young and inexperienced in management. I’m just trying to help!”

“Help me?” Chen Churan’s eyes turned icy.

“I think you’re trying to sideline me, aren’t you?”

Li Qiang hadn’t expected such bluntness from her and was momentarily speechless.

“Manager Li,” Chen Churan’s gaze sharpened, locking onto him.

“I am the general manager of this company; you are merely my subordinate. Remember your place!”

The smile on Li Qiang’s face stiffened. He had assumed that Chen Churan, a young girl, would be inexperienced and easily controlled.

“General Manager Chen, what do you mean by that? I’m only trying to help the company…”

Li Qiang tried to argue.

“Help the company?” Chen Churan sneered, grabbing the folder from the desk and slamming it in front of Li Qiang.

“You call this helping the company? Extending work hours, shortening breaks, doubling fines for tardiness, even controlling what employees wear? Are you trying to turn this company into a concentration camp?”

Li Qiang was taken aback by her outburst and stammered, “This… this is all to improve efficiency…”

“Efficiency?” Chen Churan stepped in front of Li Qiang, looking down at him with authority.

“Your so-called efficiency is just squeezing employees dry, making them work like machines. You really think that will increase company profits? You’re so naive!”

She paused, her tone growing even sharper.

“Listen carefully, Li Qiang. I don’t care what promises my brother made to you, nor what connections you have. In my company, my rules apply! These oppressive clauses must be revoked immediately! Otherwise, pack your things and leave!”

Li Qiang’s face turned pale and red in turns.

He hadn’t expected Chen Churan to be so ruthless.

He clenched his teeth, trying to control his anger. “General Manager Chen, don’t forget, I was personally arranged here by your brother…”

“Your brother?” Chen Churan laughed disdainfully.

“And who is my brother? Just because he arranged for you to come here, I have to listen to him? Do you think this is his family business?”

Li Qiang’s expression shifted repeatedly before finally sagging.

Chen Jianguo had bribed him, promising double rewards once the plan succeeded.

He was supposed to sideline Chen Churan to give Chen Jianguo full control of the company.

But now…

Li Qiang couldn’t help recalling Chen Jianguo’s smug, scheming face, cursing inwardly, “Old fox.”

If he got kicked out by this girl, forget about rewards—Chen Jianguo might even skin him alive.

“General Manager Chen, it was my oversight. I was wrong.”

Li Qiang lowered his head, his tone softening, no longer arrogant.

“These regulations were hastily drafted without fully considering the practical situation. Please don’t be angry. I’ll take them back and revise them immediately.”

Chen Churan observed his sudden change in attitude with a cold smile.

Such a quick turnaround—he could have made a good actor.

Still, she had no real intention of punishing him.

After all, he had Chen Jianguo backing him.

“Manager Li, recognizing your mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue,” Chen Churan said, her tone easing.

“But you should take these rules back and revise them carefully. I’m not unreasonable. As long as they benefit the company and the employees, I will support them.”

Li Qiang nodded quickly.

“Yes, yes, General Manager Chen, your advice is well taken! I’ll revise them immediately to your satisfaction!”

He grabbed the folder and quickly left the office as if fleeing.

Once outside, his previously subdued expression instantly shifted.

He glanced around at the employees gathered to watch, a sinister gleam flashing in his eyes.

“What are you staring at? Got nothing better to do? Get back to work! And if I catch anyone slacking off again, I’ll dock your pay!”

He barked at the employees, his tone completely different from the servile attitude he showed Chen Churan.

Though unhappy, the employees dared not defy him and obediently returned to their stations.

After all, no one wanted to cross a vindictive petty tyrant in the workplace.

“Hmph, a bunch of useless fools, daring to laugh at me.”

Li Qiang muttered under his breath as he watched them leave.

Straightening his collar, he strode toward his office.

Inside, he sank heavily into his chair, his face dark with fury.

“Damn Chen Churan, how dare she humiliate me!”

The more he thought about it, the angrier and more stifled he felt.

He was a senior manager with years of experience, yet he had just been scolded by a young girl.

If word got out, where would his face be?

“No, I must find a way to get back at her!”

He refused to believe that a seasoned old hand like himself couldn’t handle a rookie.

Just then, his phone rang.

He picked it up to see it was Chen Jianguo calling.

“Hello, General Manager Chen…” Li Qiang answered quickly, his tone respectful.

“How was your first day?” Chen Jianguo asked bluntly.

Li Qiang suppressed his anger and tried to sound calm.

“Not very smooth, General Manager Chen. The young lady… seems difficult to deal with.”

Chen Jianguo chuckled on the other end.

“What? Troubled by a little girl? I thought you were more capable than that!”

Li Qiang’s expression stiffened as he held back his fury.

“General Manager Chen, don’t say that. Although she’s young, she’s very meticulous and not easily fooled. Besides, she seems to have some prejudice against you…”

“Prejudice? How dare she!” Chen Jianguo’s tone suddenly turned cold.

“I am her real older brother! Without me, she’d still be starving! What right does she have to hold a grudge against me?”