Chen Pingjiang's idea was to offer high salaries for certain special positions to promote integrity.
What I give you, you can take; what I don't give you, if you reach for it, you will surely be caught.
Unlike Liu Qiangdong, Chen Pingjiang believed that as long as employees completed their own duties, they could naturally leave work.
He would never think that those who don't strive aren't his brothers.
People just come to your company to work for a living, not to sell their lives to you.
There's no need to be a pressure monster, making everyone anxious.
However, internal corruption and embezzlement were tantamount to undermining Chen Pingjiang's foundation.
These were issues of morality and legality, allowing no compromise.
Throughout history, powerful dynasties that once thrived rotted from within.
Chen Pingjiang did not want his enterprises to end up that way one day.
Before the meeting concluded, Chen Pingjiang added,
"Oh, and those partners who use backdoors and clever tricks, who aren't known for their products or services, but always think of bribery. We must permanently blacklist them, and none of our groups are allowed to do business with them again."
This internal anti-corruption operation was codenamed "Spring Thunder."
Chen Pingjiang initially didn't intend to hide it from everyone, because it simply couldn't be hidden.
Rather than doing so, it would be better to investigate openly and thoroughly.
Not only would various headquarters be investigated, but even branch offices across the country would be.
First, each company established a supervision department.
After a week-long training, these supervisory personnel, in cooperation with many colleagues from the security department, jointly formed audit teams.
It's worth noting that this internal anti-corruption effort wasn't about self-auditing within one's own company, but rather cross-auditing.
Personnel from Zhizhen Catering Group went to audit Orange Technology.
Chen Pingjiang didn't let the catering group's people go audit Renrenwang, because the two companies shared an office and were quite familiar with each other.
The audit department of Renrenwang Group went to audit Renrengou, Renrengou's audit department went to audit Cultural Entertainment Group, and the Cultural Entertainment Group's audit department went to audit Renrenwang.
There were a total of 4 audit teams, with nearly 20 members in each team.
Each team had one principal leader and one deputy leader.
Furthermore, Chen Pingjiang stipulated that every company must facilitate the audit team's presence.
All requests from the audit team must not be obstructed or avoided.
Provide documents that should be provided, and explain issues that need explaining.
This internal audit also happened to help Chen Pingjiang with other matters.
As his businesses grew and more employees were hired, Chen Pingjiang often couldn't devote his energy to so many projects and subsidiaries.
Although Chen Pingjiang wasn't a hands-off boss, he didn't have clairvoyance or supernatural hearing.
This audit campaign happened to wind up the springs of various companies.
If corruption could be fought, then fight it.
If corruption couldn't be fought, investigate violations.
If violations couldn't be investigated, investigate work attitude.
If work attitude couldn't be investigated, investigate work performance.
Actually, Chen Pingjiang was also aware that, after all, his companies hadn't been established for long, and many people hadn't yet developed the habits of a seasoned trickster.
Coupled with his continued reputation and the rapid development of the companies themselves, many people didn't have the time or energy to illicitly gain money.
Furthermore, these employees might gain more through promotions or stock options, thus seeing no need to reach out.
But wait a few more years, when incremental growth becomes difficult and they can only compete in the existing market.
Coupled with cost reduction and efficiency improvement, many people's incomes might be slightly reduced.
It would be hard to say then.
Chen Pingjiang still knew the middle manager at Renrenwang who was suspected of accepting huge bribes; he was among the earlier employees to join Renrenwang.
How much time was spent cultivating such a person?
In a few more years, such a person could have been called a veteran, yet he still became greedy and muddle-headed at the sight of money, leading to his own downfall.
Was Chen Pingjiang regretful? Naturally, he was.
Punish those who came before to prevent future mistakes, cure the sickness to save the patient.
Perhaps this stir would also leave many people with lingering fears, making them think twice before reaching out in the future.
Of course, Chen Pingjiang also knew that "water too clear has no fish."
How many people are truly spotless? If it were minor matters, they might be covered up and passed over, but for major issues, honestly, it wouldn't be his turn to act.
Catching some, releasing some, and dealing with some, that's what achieves the effect of "killing the chicken to warn the monkey."
As soon as the news broke, all employees, high and low, across the various groups became nervous; for a time, there was widespread anxiety.
Those who stood firm against temptation secretly rejoiced at this moment, glad they hadn't strayed.
Those who had committed minor infractions were restless, contacting everyone, desperately trying to conceal and destroy evidence so the audit team couldn't find anything.
Some who had committed more serious offenses were in utter panic, contemplating whether they should flee prematurely.
What's even more striking is that Chen Pingjiang didn't intend to hide this "Spring Thunder" operation from the public.
He unreservedly announced this news through the Weibo accounts of each group.
He also set up a reward hotline for reporting; anyone who reported with their real name and provided valid evidence would receive a corresponding reward.
"This move is so typical of Chen Pingjiang's style. Other groups, when such things happen, wish to keep family scandals under wraps. Only Chen Pingjiang dares to openly expose such disgraces to the light."
"Indeed, he acts swiftly and decisively. Who knows how many people will fall? All of Chen Pingjiang's groups will likely face a major personnel reshuffle."
"I'm increasingly impressed with Chen Pingjiang and Renrenwang. Only entrepreneurs with such integrity and responsibility can represent the future."
"..."
Meanwhile, leaders of other enterprises also secretly clicked their tongues upon seeing Chen Pingjiang so grandly undertaking internal anti-corruption.
Some of these companies chose to settle matters peacefully, catching the big fish while letting go of the small; others vigorously announced campaigns, only for them to amount to little due to various unwritten rules.
Unexpectedly, after the reward hotline for reporting was launched, it actually received numerous complaints and reports.
Of course, more were nuisance false information, just for fun.
However, any genuine and valid report information, once identified, would immediately be forwarded to the audit team.
The audit team would then contact the informant, collect materials, and proceed with the investigation.
...
Under such a high-profile and intense supervision and audit, the first person to flee appeared.
This person was a middle manager in a branch company of Zhizhen Catering, responsible for raw material procurement.
Everyone knows the procurement department offers plenty of illicit gains, so it's also a high-frequency department for incidents.
The call notifying the news was made directly to three people: the first was Chen Pingjiang, the second was Qin Suqin, and the third was Ge Mengshi, far away in Helsinki.
One was the current chairman, one was the company's CEO, and one was the former chairman.
One can imagine how serious this matter was.
"Has the police been called yet? Let the police find out where Zhang Jianglong ran off to."
Qin Suqin nodded:
"The police were called in the morning. The economic investigation team is currently investigating and collecting evidence. No news has come from the immigration department yet. As long as he hasn't left the country, he should be relatively easy to catch.
We hadn't even investigated him directly yet, but he couldn't take the pressure and just ran off, leaving his wife and children behind. Originally, one of his subordinates was quite tight-lipped and didn't reveal anything useful for a long time.
Finally, we took the news of Zhang Jianglong's escape and deliberately leaked it to him, and he immediately panicked, quickly exposing information about Zhang Jianglong taking kickbacks and illegally accepting huge bribes."
"Then..."
Just as Chen Pingjiang was about to speak, Ge Mengshi's voice unexpectedly came from behind him:
"He absolutely cannot be allowed to escape. We must dig three feet deep to catch him, otherwise everyone else will follow suit and run."
Chen Pingjiang and Qin Suqin both looked at Ge Mengshi with startled expressions, as if they'd seen a ghost:
"No, when did you come back? Why didn't you tell us beforehand?"
Ge Mengshi smiled sweetly:
"Little Doubao is already 7 months old, it's time to wean her. I happened to use this time to come back and see, so I wouldn't bear to hear her crying from hunger in Helsinki. If I hadn't heard about this internal audit, I might have waited another 1-2 months to wean her, but after hearing about it, I couldn't sit still any longer. Everyone knows that with so many stores and so much procurement in our catering business, it's definitely a high-risk area."
"On the way, I was thinking it wouldn't be this embarrassing, even though I trusted them greatly. But I didn't expect that in the end, it would be our Zhizhen that brought shame."
Upon seeing Ge Mengshi, Qin Suqin let out a surprised cry, then immediately scurried over to Ge Mengshi in her high heels, looking her up and down, and excitedly said:
"I'm sorry, I had intended to make time to visit you, but I was too busy with the IPO work and couldn't get away. It's truly great to see you now."
"Oh, what's there to see about me? It's more important that you take good care of the company."
"It's only been a few months, yet you've recovered so quickly, not at all like you just had a baby." Qin Suqin looked her over curiously, "And... let me see, hmm, your chest is bigger!"
Ge Mengshi rolled her eyes, pouted, and gestured that there was a man present.
Qin Suqin shrugged it off:
"What's there to be afraid of? He hasn't seen, touched, or tasted."
"Ah, don't talk nonsense."
Reunited with her old friend, Ge Mengshi was also very happy.
Chen Pingjiang: "..."
He was so embarrassed he felt like he could dig out a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment.
What kind of wild words are these?
Are women so fierce when they're together?
Men wouldn't even dare to ask each other how long their "little brother" is when they're together, right?
After the two bantered for a while, Chen Pingjiang finally walked over to Ge Mengshi with a smile, taking her delicate hands:
"Hmm, you must be tired from the journey?"
Ge Mengshi was still a little unaccustomed to Qin Suqin being there, her cheeks flushed, and she turned to glare at Qin Suqin:
"If you want to laugh, go outside and laugh."
Qin Suqin, who had been enjoying the gossip, didn't expect to be called out.
She then pouted and said,
"Who do you think wants to be a third wheel here? Please, this is my office. If you two want to get intimate, please go to General Manager Ge's office."
Ge Mengshi thought about it and realized it was true, immediately blushing to the roots of her ears, and gritted her teeth:
"You brat, I'll come deal with you later."
After speaking, she led Chen Pingjiang back to her own office.
As soon as the two entered the office, Chen Pingjiang clicked the door shut and locked it.
Ge Mengshi looked on, feeling both annoyed and amused:
"Are you that impatient? There are so many things to deal with right now."
Chen Pingjiang raised an eyebrow, looking completely natural:
"Is there a problem with us having a private conversation and not wanting to be disturbed by outsiders?"
"You..." Ge Mengshi gave him a charming glance. "I imagine there are quite a few problematic people in our group this time. Just thinking about it makes me uncomfortable."
"Why are you uncomfortable? They brought it upon themselves. Besides, it's not just your group; other groups have plenty too, no need to take it all on yourself," Chen Pingjiang said. "I'll call my parents later. You'll stay at Zhongshan Villa for the next two days."
Ge Mengshi chuckled playfully:
"Aren't you afraid your fiancée will come knocking? Besides, you have so many nannies at home."
Chen Pingjiang thought about it and agreed,
"Then let's go to Zhongshan Villa for dinner tonight. After dinner, I'll accompany you back to stay there. Anyway, you won't be back for long, so I won't go anywhere else during this time, I'll just be with you."
"That good?"
"Absolutely!"
Unexpectedly, shortly after Chen Pingjiang returned to his office, news came from the police that Zhang Jianglong had been caught.
This guy was under too much psychological pressure and hid alone in his hometown.
The police caught him with minimal effort.
Chen Pingjiang could only feel regret about this.
One can only blame him for forgetting his original intention.
Why, I ask?
A middle manager like him, after the catering group's IPO at the end of the year, would have been worth at least several million, right?
He unexpectedly fell in the last bit of darkness before dawn.
Thinking about it, it's simply laughable.
When Chen Pingjiang got off work, he came to pick up Ge Mengshi, and they left together.
Some people in the group did see them, but no one thought anything of it.
Firstly, there was a considerable age difference between the two.
Although Ge Mengshi looked like a girl in her twenties, the numbers on her ID card couldn't be faked, could they?
Secondly, Chen Pingjiang also had a girlfriend.
Those who saw them would only assume they were out for business entertainment.
The driver, Li Fu, knew the full story, but he was very discreet.
Even if he got a girlfriend, he wouldn't say a word.
This was both work discipline and because Chen Pingjiang paid him well.
As a personal bodyguard and driver, Li Fu received over 500,000 yuan annually, and he also received plenty of gifts during holidays.
Occasionally, Chen Pingjiang would remember to share some of the Huazi cigarettes and Maotai liquor from his car trunk with Li Fu.
Li Fu was very satisfied with his current life and work, and understood who provided all of this.
If he revealed even half a word to outsiders, he would probably say goodbye to this position.
Xu Taihou and Chen Guangping were also good at handling things; after the housekeepers finished cooking a table full of dishes, they were all given time off.
Those living nearby went home, while those who didn't went out to shop.
When Chen Pingjiang and Ge Mengshi arrived at Zhongshan Villa, only Xu Fangjuan and Chen Guangping were home.
"Oh, Xiao Ge, I missed you so much."
Seeing Ge Mengshi get out of the car, Xu Fangjuan quickly walked over and affectionately hugged her.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got along well in Helsinki, mainly because Ge Mengshi was very good to Xu Fangjuan, always thinking of her mother-in-law in everything she did.
Hearts are made of flesh; over time, Xu Fangjuan also grew fonder of her.
(End of Chapter)