Zhang Fulin and Zhang Yinshan looked at Zhang Chaohe at the same time and asked in unison, "Why?!"
Zhang Fulin: Could it be that he really likes Li Ye, so he wants to retaliate against Xiao Jiang?
Zhang Yinshan: Could it be that Dian Dian discovered that Assistant Jiang is my informant?
Zhang Chaohe was genuinely surprised by their strong reaction and said, bewildered, "Because Assistant Jiang has other work to do."
As he spoke, his eyes narrowed—Zhang Chaohe's tone was questioning, as if he had realized something: "Could it be..."
"Sure, sure!" Fearing that it might upset his youngest son, Chairman Zhang immediately agreed, "Dad will find a suitable candidate for you right away."
Ms. Zhao couldn't help but laugh when she saw the two Mr. Zhangs looking slightly flustered. She bent down and picked up Caiye—Caiye was wearing an adorable blue sky and white cloud diaper today, with fluffy white feathers, looking both well-behaved and cute.
The whole family's attention was drawn to the vegetable leaves. Zhang Chaohe quickly forgot about his father and older brother's unusual behavior and lovingly watched the silly way the vegetable leaves were secretly eating the tablecloth.
“It would be fine for Dian Dian to have a big dog if she lives alone,” Zhang Yinshan said helplessly, “Why did you raise a goose?”
Ever since discovering that his younger brother had become a frequent topic of trending searches, Zhang Yinshan immediately transformed into a level 10 surfing expert. Secretary Wang's top priority has long since become monitoring any activity related to Xiao Zhang on the trending search list!
Therefore, Zhang Yinshan is very familiar with the story of how Caiye became the chosen internet celebrity goose.
He felt a pang of sadness, wondering why DianDian could have millions of fans while he could only film cold, uninteresting financial interviews with rigid and boring hosts and reporters.
Is it just because Dian Dian raised a goose?
“Having a pet is all about fate.” Zhang Chaohe ate a piece of braised duck meat with a vengeance, venting his anger at being pecked on the head by a vegetable leaf a few days ago—he was forced to wear a headband for three days and various trendy brands for three days, even Jiang, the special assistant, asked him in surprise why he had changed his style of dress.
Why else?! Do you expect me to go to work with a huge bag on my head?
Doesn't a domineering CEO have any pride?!
“Oh, what a coincidence,” Chairman Zhang nodded. “That is indeed true… By the way, what are you wearing today!”
Zhang Chaohe continued his cool style from the past few days, choosing a Klein blue racing suit jacket to match a headband in the same color. He also wore a string of sparkling wide metal rings on his fingers.
Such a rebellious image is indeed out of place with the family members who are all business elites.
Although he had no intention of interfering with his son's freedom of dress, the old entrepreneur was still very puzzled by the young man's trendy outfits.
Zhang Chaohe remained silent for a long time. Not wanting to hurt his elderly father's feelings, he silently lifted the hair ribbon.
Zhang Fulin: Understandingly, Zhang Fulin picked up a piece of braised duck meat for his youngest son and said in a deep voice, "Have some more nourishing food."
⚹
Zhang Chaohe maintained his cool and aloof style for over a week before finally getting rid of the bluish-purple bump on his head.
At the same time, Assistant Jiang also brought good news - "The Shining Stage" officially concluded a few days ago!
However, among the more than 3,000 applicants, only four promising children were successfully discovered. After the four agreed, they decided to train and debut as a team, becoming a new money-making tool for Jiasheng.
Although the approval rate is very low, considering the revenue generated during the live broadcast of the program, Gain Capital chose to make a profit even with tears in its eyes.
Of course, Kuqi Video also realized this new source of traffic that was right at their fingertips. After "The Shining Stage" came to an end, they immediately sent a new program invitation to Xiao Zhang - "The Alternative Life of a Cute Little Kid".
When Zhang Chaohe heard Assistant Jiang read out the program name in an absolutely calm and composed voice, he even wondered if she was cursing.
"What is 'The Alternative Life of a Cute Little Cub'?" Zhang Chaohe asked hesitantly.
"It's just a show about cute pets," Assistant Jiang explained. "The little ones are like cabbage leaves, and you are like an alternative lifestyle."
"The program plans to invite ten pet owners of different breeds to livestream a day of their trip with their pets, and then edit the footage to be uploaded to the online program."
"What am I supposed to do there?" Zhang Chaohe asked, utterly puzzled. "I'm the company president, after all. I'm busy every day—"
"Busy signing documents?" Assistant Jiang said quietly. "Busy playing games? Busy searching for pet goose coats on Taobao?"
Zhang Chaohe's face turned red—although all of the above were indeed things he did while slacking off and doing nothing during work hours.
But he was completely justified!
After all, professional matters should be handled by professionals. He himself has no relevant knowledge or work experience, so it's normal for him to only be responsible for signing!
"You'd be better off appearing on some TV shows. That would increase your exposure, build a positive company image, and actually generate some revenue for the company," Assistant Jiang said coolly. "The company doesn't keep idle people."
Zhang Chaohe glanced furtively at the black nameplate with gold lettering on the table; the words "President Zhang Chaohe" gleamed brightly.
From CEO to idle person, it turns out that there is only one "Zhang Chaohe" between them?
“And now, Caiye…” Assistant Jiang felt something was off every time she read Caiye’s name, but she couldn’t resist the fact that Caiye was very popular in the secretariat. It seemed like she was being tortured by Caiye’s name every few days, and she was almost desensitized to it: “Caiye is very popular online, and many people like Caiye. I hope you will seriously consider it.”
Jiang's words were filled with an urgent desire to "get out and make money as soon as possible!"
Zhang Chaohe: For a moment, I didn't know who the ruthless capitalist was.
He deliberately slammed his hand on the table: "Who's the boss here, you or me?"
Assistant Jiang had already seen through Zhang Da'e's true nature—although Zhang Da'e sometimes seemed unreliable and easily held grudges, he was actually quite mild-mannered and wouldn't get genuinely angry over trivial matters.
She slammed the proposal in front of Zhang Chaohe and said in the most arrogant tone but the most cowardly words: "Qiuqiu, take a look."
Zhang Chaohe: "Fine, I'll watch!"
He obediently placed the case file beside him, then suddenly asked in a serious tone, "Assistant Jiang, would you like to change jobs?"
Assistant Jiang was stunned for a moment—her first thought was actually, "He knows I'm President Zhang's informant?"
However, she was skeptical of Mr. Zhang's cunning and didn't believe he could really reach that level.
“I love my job, and I haven’t done anything wrong at work, so there’s no need for me to change jobs,” she replied calmly. “Why would I change jobs?”
Zhang Chaohe sighed: "Do you really like your current job? If I were to reassign you to a different position, such as continuing in venture capital, wouldn't you be willing?"
Assistant Jiang admitted that her heart skipped a beat for a moment—like a spark falling into a pile of charred wood, a tiny insect still struggling defiantly in the last moments of its life.
“No.” Jiang Wei shook her head calmly: “My leaving back then meant that I had surrendered. I can no longer return to the battlefield. I’m sorry, Mr. Zhang.”
Zhang Chaohe could see the wavering in her eyes—how could a profession she had once worked in and deeply loved be so easily erased with just a few words?
Assistant Jiang is incredibly hardworking. She's like a machine without any safety valves; she'll keep working tirelessly until she reaches the point of breaking down.
This was Zhang Chaohe's only feeling when he saw Jiang's assistant's resume.
Even the most advanced machine will rust once it stops running.
Zhang Chaohe has always been someone who can't bear to see regrets and partings.
He stood up, his expression serious and stubborn: "So you really admit defeat?"
“Assistant Jiang, I know why you came to Jiasheng. Because of that case, you’ve been trying your best to compensate Hengxiang and Chairman Zhang. You’ve taken all the blame upon yourself…”
“You’re wrong. It was because of my misjudgment that Hengxiang’s investment project had such a huge oversight. I’m not taking all the blame on myself…” Assistant Jiang interrupted Zhang Chaohe, only to be quickly interrupted by Zhang Chaohe in return.
“OK, OK, OK,” Zhang Chaohe said quickly, seeing that she had stubbornly wandered into a completely new alley again. “But an investment proposal is not decided by your alone. You only gave a suggestion…”
"This is my job, and I must take responsibility for all my decisions!" Assistant Jiang couldn't help but shout in a low voice, "A wrong decision is a wrong decision! I shouldn't have returned to the financial world!"
"Why shouldn't it be like this!" The two of them started yelling at each other, like two arguing cats. Although it wasn't very offensive, they both looked very angry. "Does one mistake really bring you down? The decision was personally signed and approved by Zhang Fulin. Does he think he's some kind of hands-off manager like me? His business experience tells him that your decision is correct and feasible, which is why he signed it!"
"It is never the fault of the stoker when a ship runs aground; the helmsman and the captain are the ones who should be most responsible!"
Assistant Jiang sniffed sharply: "But I can't get over that mental hurdle!"
“Uh…” Zhang Chaohe understood Jiang’s guilt and self-blame very well. She probably knew that the fault for what happened back then was not entirely hers. However, the main reason why she claimed to be ill and retired was that she still could not face herself after she fell down.
The one she fears most is the self that was once adorned with countless glories.
Zhang Chaohe finally realized that simple persuasion would not move Assistant Jiang. The best way to get a machine back to its peak condition immediately was to assign a sufficient amount of work and fill it with enough oil!
"Fine!" Zhang Chaohe said viciously, "The investment project you were in charge of back then lost 350 million, didn't it!"
Assistant Jiang looked at him stubbornly.
"Then you'll have to earn back 350 million to pay it off! Oh wait," Zhang Chaohe said loudly in a thuggish manner, "Inflation has been severe these years. If we make a rough estimate, you'll have to earn—3.5 billion—to break even!"
Assistant Jiang's eyes widened: ...
"Wait a minute, I think..." Assistant Jiang tried to stop his blackmailing talk!
"I don't care what you think, I only care what I think!" Zhang Chaohe waved his hand and announced, "I hereby announce that you are being transferred to Tongsheng Hengfeng as CEO. You are not allowed to come back until you have earned 3.5 billion!"
Tongsheng Hengfeng is the venture capital company that Xiao Zhang recently started—she secretly mocked those four words as so stupid!
Assistant Jiang was stunned by his bizarre, straightforward thought process: "I think it's still..."
"You have nothing to feel about. I'm already looking for a new assistant—you're fired!" Zhang Chaohe waved his hand coldly. "Hurry up and pack your things, say goodbye to everyone, and go earn some money to atone for my sins!!"
As expected, when it comes to someone as strong, stubborn, and inflexible as Assistant Jiang, you have to be even tougher on her!
Although domineering CEO quotes are embarrassing, they can be surprisingly effective in certain situations!
Assistant Jiang, who had been inexplicably promoted to Vice President Jiang, was about to leave the office as if in a daze when she suddenly heard Zhang Chaohe call out cheerfully behind her:
Happy birthday, Jiang Wei!
Jiang's assistant paused for a moment, then opened the office door.
On her desk sat a huge bunch of pink tulips, their vibrant blossoms dotted with baby's breath; and her colleagues from the secretariat were gathered around the table in high spirits—one of them even pushing out a giant three-tiered birthday cake on a document cart.
The cake is decorated with a pile of money made of cream and chocolate, which looks very sweet and delicious.
Assistant Jiang felt as if her vision was blurring—but the world still seemed very clear, so clear that she could see the face of every colleague.
"Happy birthday," she whispered to herself.
A note from the author:
His Majesty the Goose... pecked His Majesty the Goose! His Majesty pecked His Majesty!
Why is there nutrient solution again...? (sighs, cat head)
I've already given up trying. If all else fails, I'll make up for it with side stories. There's tentatively one story set in the Republican era. I'll see if I can manage to add an extra chapter this week. I'm really out of ideas, sob sob sob!!
Thank you all so much for your support, I'm off to write an update now (crying)
Chapter 36
Assistant Jiang is now a legendary figure throughout the company.
After all, it was Assistant Jiang's birthday yesterday. Not only did General Manager Zhang secretly order flowers and a cake for Assistant Jiang and promote him to Vice President Jiang, but he also generously gave him 5% of Tongsheng Hengfeng's shares as a birthday gift!
They've truly demonstrated what it means to be loyal to Boss Zhang; with that loyalty, we all have a bright future!
Actually, everyone was very reluctant to part with Assistant Jiang—General Manager Zhang was always very secretive about his work, only responsible for the final approval stage, while Assistant Jiang handled all the specific communication and negotiation.