Chapter 1834: Visiting Grandpa at the Police Station
The investigation into the entertainment city project money laundering case was still ongoing. The Wen Corporation had been caught up in the scandal and suffered immense losses. Following the withdrawal of several shareholders, the company’s share price had fallen to a new low while its financial situation was in crisis mode. In addition, the Li Corporation and Xiao Corporation had been in close pursuit, snapping right at their heels. Many people were already foreseeing the demise of the Wen Corporation.
The Wen Corporation had been in business for so many years and was a long-standing establishment in Country Z. The company had a good reputation and always held about 70% of the country’s luxury brands market. Old Mr. Wen might have been domineering and officious, but he was still highly respected. Many people would have felt regretful at his current perilous state.
The press swirled with negative reports about the Wen Corporation. The company’s public relations department had made countless media appearances but failed to diffuse the situation. Wen Xinya knew Xia Ruya and Chu Jingnan were the ones fanning the flames of this media frenzy, but she could do nothing about it.
No matter how the outside world lambasted the Wen Corporation, she remained deaf to all the criticisms and chose to focus on reorganizing the Wen Corporation’s internal structure.
“Miss Wen, there are many reporters camped outside.” The driver maneuvered slowly out of the garage as several reporters rushed over.
Wen Xinya replied in a mild tone, “There’s no need to bother about them. We will head directly to the police station.”
The Wen Corporation was slowly crumbling down. Scores of reporters were camped outside the entrance of the Wen Corporation building all day, trying their best to score some insider information. It was all already a familiar sight to her.
As a result, she naturally spared them no thought at all.
Sun Yichen nodded and drove in the direction of the police station, totally uncaring of whether reporters tailed them.
The car soon came to a stop before the entrance of the police station.
Wen Xinya walked into the station with a stack of documents in hand. Sun Yichen waited for her outside.
“Grandpa, you… you have lost weight again!”
The tiny room was only about 20 square meters with stark white walls on all four sides. In that whole room, there was only a table and a few chairs, as well as a closed-circuit television.
Grandpa sat opposite her, his haggard face full of wrinkles. In just these few short days, his formerly salt-and-pepper hair had turned entirely white. Although he still looked relatively healthy, it was hard to overlook the tired dark circles beneath his eyes and his fatigued posture.
Wen Xinya felt utterly heartbroken.
Old Mr. Wen was obviously very happy to see Wen Xinya. He beamed. “I am being very well-fed at the police station and probably having a better time than you out there. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Although he was exaggerating, there was also some truth to his words.
Since coming to the police station, the officers have been very courteous to him. He would usually get to read some magazines and the newspapers and understood what was happening out there. Apart from being physically constrained, he was still getting along relatively well.
In contrast, Xinya was now responsible for the life and death of the Wen Corporation. She was now under much more pressure than him.
Wen Xinya composed herself as she held Grandpa’s frail hands. “Grandpa, I know you are suffering. I will try my best to quickly get you out of police custody.”
If not for Wen Haowen, would Grandpa have to suffer so…
Rage swelled in Wen Xinya’s heart as she thought of Wen Haowen.
Old Mr. Wen said calmly, “Don’t worry! I have lived to such a ripe old age, what have I not experienced before! The Wen Corporation didn’t commit any money laundering and the truth will be revealed sooner or later. Wen Haowen thinks he can just push all blame onto me, and he will go scot-free. In reality, his accusations are nothing without sufficient evidence.”
It might be a huge blow to the Wen Corporation that his detainment was prolonged, but it was completely impossible if Wen Haowen wanted to turn black into white.
Old Mr. Wen’s face darkened at the mention of that bastard Wen Haowen. He had been too benevolent toward him in the past.
Wen Xinya relaxed a little. With insufficient evidence and a weak accusation, this meant that the case had already progressed to a certain stage. Grandpa would be released soon.
Old Mr. Wen didn’t feel like talking about Wen Haowen anymore and so changed the subject. “How is the Wen Corporation now?”
Actually, he had been closely following all news regarding Wen Corporation.
The withdrawal of several shareholders, the talent drain, Wen Corporation’s downtrodden state—it was all immutable. Even Xinya was helpless to change things for the better.
Anyone could see that Xinya was already doing all that could be done. Especially when she had made the investigations public and had the Administrative Bureau Of Business and Commerce investigations team camp out at the Wen Corporation to gather evidence.
Decisive and bold.
Even he couldn’t resist giving an admiring sigh as he admitted he had indeed gotten old!
Perhaps in the eyes of many, her actions had been for naught.
But anyone with the slightest bit of foresight could see that the moment Wen Corporation managed to clear its name, the company would be able to regain its reputation and the trust of the public.
Those who managed to rule the hearts of the people would rule the world!
The Wen Corporation maintained that sliver of hope.
Wen Xinya reported everything to him, before adding, “Conservatively speaking, I predict that three more shareholders will withdraw their funds in the near-term. Finances have become the Wen Corporation’s most pressing issue. The free cash that we hold is no longer enough to sustain our operations. That is why I have made use of this opportunity to reorganize the company and tidy up the internal structure.”
Old Mr. Wen’s face turned grim. “Reorganizing Wen Corporation… you are intending to cut spending and minimize costs? In that case, the Wen Corporation will continue to shrink and the company will end up as a second- or third-rate small enterprise…”
Old Mr. Wen’s heart felt very heavy at this news.
He had spent his entire life building the Wen Corporation. How could he bear to see his life’s work end up as an insignificant little business?
Rationally speaking, he did agree with Xinya’s actions. Now that the Wen Corporation had reached this stage, this was the only way out.
However, on the emotional front, he couldn’t help feeling a bitter pain.
Wen Xinya looked at him apologetically. “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I didn’t seek your permission before carrying out these actions. But where’s there’s life there’s hope. I have taken the initiative to downsize our operations so that we can have the company quickly get used to a new meritocracy style of management. In this way, even if the Wen Corporation meets another calamity in the future, we can quickly adapt to the situation and meet the competition. We will be able to retake market share and recover our strength.”
The biggest problem with the Wen Corporation was its traditional management style. It hindered Wen Corporation’s true potential and made the company a retirement ground. All management could think about was how to ascend the corporate ladder, while the rest of the employees were completely unmotivated. The company had lost its competitive edge and the inconsistent treatment of talent had been a drag on the development of the corporation.
She had set down two edicts in order to deal with Xia Ruya’s attack.
Number one, to maintain Wen Corporation’s good reputation.
Number two, to have Wen Corporation embrace the meritocracy management style.
Thereafter, they would cope with any future crisis by sticking to these fundamental principles.
By the time this money laundering affair was over, it would be easy for the Wen Corporation to rise again.
Old Mr. Wen considered her words for a moment before speaking. “You indeed have good foresight. I will support you, of course. But… don’t give yourself too much pressure.”
Although he care about the Wen Corporation, he was more concerned about his granddaughter.
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