“Do you think that because you have many people in the company’s finance department, I can’t gather evidence and can’t do anything to you? Humph, you bought a large 200-square-meter house in Wuli Community a year ago, and you’ve hidden quite a few ‘good things’ inside, haven’t you? When the police go to collect evidence, what do you think they will find?” Zhang Yi said, a smile appearing on his face. But to Liu Chang, this smile was like a devil’s grin, scaring him so much he almost wet himself.
With a “thump,” Liu Chang directly knelt down, snot and tears flowing, and kowtowed violently like pounding garlic, crying out, “Young Master Zhang, I was wrong. I’ll immediately transfer 1 billion to you. Please spare my life and I’ll do anything! For the sake of my many years of friendship with your uncle, please be merciful and let me go. I really don’t want to die!” Liu Chang knew clearly that if this matter were exposed, although it wouldn’t warrant death, the Tang family’s methods would absolutely not let him off easily, and he would surely wish he were dead. He was also puzzled about when Zhang Yi became so formidable. Not only could he see through Liu Chang’s fabricated accounts at a glance, but he also found the crucial evidence. Was this still the same prodigal son who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun?
Zhang Yi acted as if he hadn’t heard Liu Chang’s pleas. His gaze shifted, and he smiled at the other executives who were still looking down. His smile seemed gentle, but it made their hearts creep. “Will you come forward and confess your problems voluntarily, or wait for me to investigate?Don’t harbor any psychological fluke, or by then… hehe.” Zhang Yi deliberately drew out his words, and those two “hehe”s seemed to drop the temperature in the conference room by several degrees.
At this, over a dozen executives who had secretly colluded with Liu Chang could no longer hold back. Like dominoes, they all knelt down with “thump thump” sounds and began begging for mercy. Their arrogant and imperious demeanor from just moments ago in the conference room had vanished without a trace, scared away. The sound of their kowtows grew louder and louder, as if they were in a kowtowing competition.
Looking at these spineless executives, Zhang Yi felt contempt in his heart, secretly thinking, “With your petty tricks, you still want to compete with me? Too naive! It’s like a dwarf’s view of a giant; playing tricks in front of me, you need to cultivate for a few more years.” Zhang Yi, who had read the original book’s plot before transmigrating, knew that several of his uncle’s trusted confidants were already making moves. Although the group seemed calm on the surface, it was rotten to the core like a spoiled apple. Therefore, the seemingly flawless little schemes of these executives were like child’s play to Zhang Yi; they couldn’t escape his sharp eyes.
“I am a reasonable person, you know. I understand that each of you has a family to support…” Zhang Yi said as he slowly paced around the conference room, looking as leisurely as if he were strolling in his own garden.
“Thank you, Chairman, for sparing our lives!”
“The Chairman is truly magnanimous!”
“We will reform and will never dare to make such mistakes again!”
Hearing Zhang Yi’s words, the executives thought there was a glimmer of hope and were immediately overcome with gratitude. They spoke one after another, their faces full of flattery, nearly wagging their tails.
“Therefore, you will spend the rest of your lives in prison,” Zhang Yi’s tone remained unhurried, as if he were casually remarking on the nice weather. “The company will set aside a portion of the embezzled funds recovered to support your families.” Zhang Yi added with a smile, a smile that, in the eyes of the executives, was like a devil’s smile.
As soon as these words were spoken, the excited smiles that had just appeared on the executives’ faces froze, as if cast under a spell, their expressions rigid. The next second, they were like firecrackers being lit, returning to their previous state of desperate pleas: “President Zhang, spare us…”
“President Zhang…”
Zhang Yi couldn’t be bothered to waste more words on these gutless executives. He clapped his hands. With a “creak,” the conference room door was pushed open, and a group of police officers in crisp uniforms filed in, followed by Great Tang Group’s security personnel. These police officers had stern expressions and sharp eyes, instantly making the atmosphere in the conference room even more tense, as if the air itself could ignite.
Seeing that the situation was beyond salvage, the executives despaired and fell silent, obediently allowing the police to handcuff them. The leading police officer waved his hand and said in a loud voice, “Take them away!”
Once powerful and influential figures in the business world, the executives were now disheveled and dejected as they were escorted out of the conference room by the police.
After resolving the troublesome mess within the group, Zhang Yi felt exhausted, like a dog, as if all his energy had been drained. But he had no time to rest and immediately contacted Táng Bǐngchéng. He mentally prepared himself, thinking that asking Táng Bǐngchéng for money this time would likely require a lengthy discussion and perhaps several rounds of strategic maneuvering.
To Zhang Yi’s utter surprise, Táng Bǐngchéng was unusually cooperative this time. Recalling the previous board meeting, Zhang Yi had given Táng Bǐngchéng a warning, albeit a stern one. Since then, the 100 million in Táng Bǐngchéng’s account had been frozen as if under a spell, and he hadn't dared to touch it. So, when Zhang Yi directly asked Táng Bǐngchéng to transfer the funds to the company account this time, Táng Bǐngchéng didn’t hesitate at all. He transferred the money immediately and even added an extra 20 million.
“What is Táng Bǐngchéng up to?” Zhang Yi sat in his office, twirling a pen, and mused. He had a feeling that Táng Bǐngchéng’s swift agreement must have some hidden motive. However, Zhang Yi didn’t have the time to investigate further; he only knew that through his own efforts, the 1 billion his aunt and uncle needed had finally been raised.
“Haha, it’s finally done!” Zhang Yi couldn’t help but burst into laughter in his office. Just as he was reveling in his joy, his aunt and uncle suddenly appeared in his office. Their expressions were very serious, as if they had something important to discuss. Zhang Yi’s heart skipped a beat. Had something else happened?
“Xiao Yi, before we go to Europe, there’s something we need to tell you,” his aunt’s voice was somewhat hoarse and sounded very tired.
Zhang Yi quickly stood up and said, “Aunt, Uncle, please sit. Just tell me what’s on your mind.”
Táng Shùn'ān looked at Zhang Yi, then took a document from his pocket and placed it on Zhang Yi’s desk: “Xiao Yi, this is the proof of ownership for 27% of Great Tang Group’s shares. We’ve decided to transfer it to your name.”
Zhang Yi almost choked on his own saliva upon hearing this, his eyes widening like saucers, his face full of disbelief: “What? Uncle, Aunt, you’re not joking, are you?” Táng Shùn'ān owned only 62% of Great Tang Group’s total shares. Suddenly transferring 27% to him was no small matter.
His aunt looked at Zhang Yi’s surprised expression and smiled slightly, saying, “Xiao Yi, don’t be surprised yet. Let me explain slowly.”
It turned out that the Zhang Family was also a prominent family in Rongcheng. Although not as powerful as the four major families, their strength was not to be underestimated. Years ago, the Tang and Zhang families had formed an alliance through marriage to create a powerful union. However, when Zhang Yi was ten years old, his parents died in a plane crash, and the entire Zhang family lost its backbone. To preserve the Zhang Family’s assets and for the future of the Tang Family, his aunt made the decision to merge the Zhang Family’s assets into the Tang Family’s. It was precisely because of this that the Tang Family achieved its transcendent status in Rongcheng, with even the four major families beneath them.
In the intervening years, Zhang Yi was young and immature, so his aunt and uncle had not yet returned his rightful inheritance. Now that Zhang Yi had proven himself to be outstanding and displayed extraordinary capabilities within the group, coupled with his aunt and uncle’s decision to go to Europe for Táng Jūnlín’s treatment (with no definite return date), they had considered it thoroughly. They decided to transfer Zhang Yi’s rightful inheritance to him, also so that he could better safeguard the Great Tang Group.
After hearing his aunt’s explanation, Zhang Yi was filled with mixed emotions. He never expected his family to have such a background, nor did he imagine that his aunt and uncle would place such trust in him. “Uncle, Aunt, thank you! I will certainly not let you down!” Zhang Yi’s voice was a little choked, and his eyes were slightly moist.
Thus, Zhang Yi directly soared to become the second-largest shareholder of the Great Tang Group.