Chapter 75: Face the Board of Directors

After sending the message.

Lu Manman did not even finish reading her documents before she was notified by the General Affairs Department to meet the board of directors.

There were five major shareholders on the board, including Lu Zishan. They were seated in the center of the boardroom.

Lu Manman sat opposite them by herself. There was a hint of maturity on her young face that did not match her age.

“Chairman, as your daughter, Lu Manman started laying off staff on her first day in the company, causing everyone to be anxious. Don’t you think that’s a little inappropriate?” Wei Guoqing was the second-biggest shareholder with twelve percent of the original shares. “Although we don’t take part in the board meeting for personnel changes below the level three manager level, everyone has their opinions on how you pamper your daughter. As shareholders, we won’t watch a silly girl like her come to the company to challenge others! A company with a few thousand people isn’t for your daughter to play around in!”

He spoke so bluntly, disdainfully, unhappily, and even angrily.

Lu Manman looked at Wei Guoqing, but there was no anger on her calm face.

When the other shareholders heard what Wei Guoqing said, they all played along and accused her of being in the wrong, as well as accusing her father of negligence.

Lu Zishan was about to say something, but Lu Manman went straight to the point. “Chairman Wei, you mean to say that I’m just here to have fun?”

Chairman Wei narrowed his eyes and glared at her.

Wei Guoqing was actually a little unhappy at her neither humble nor arrogant attitude.

To him, Lu Manman should be apologizing and compromising with them.

She was just a young girl who had never experienced the outside world, the workplace, or the society. What else could she do at twenty-three years old?!

“Lu Manman, I’m asking your father now. It’s not time for you to speak yet. You’re so rude! You have lots to learn if you want to do well in your career!” Wei Guoqing looked unhappy, and his expression was stern and disdainful!

“Manager Wei, you’re making things difficult for me with every word you say. Why can’t I express my opinion? Is this the rule you think everyone in the industry should know?! Based on what you’re saying, an employee who got misunderstood because of her work shouldn’t be able to explain herself?! Moreover, why can’t an employee express their thoughts on their own? Why do they have to wait until the leader has agreed for her to speak up?! If that’s the case, I think I can shut up and wait for you to finish talking.” Lu Manman’s voice was still calm and composed, but of course, there was sarcasm in her words.

Wei Guoqing was fuming mad. He did not expect Lu Manman to dare to talk back to him. After all, he was an elder, a member of the board of directors, and the second-largest shareholder of the company. Even Lu Zishan had to respect him on stage!

This damned girl.

“Lu Manman, don’t resort to sophistry and twist my words! What I’m saying to you is completely different!”

“From what I see, it’s the same thing because what I’m trying to express now is my good opinion of the company’s development. If Director Wei insists that I don’t say it, then as a member of the board of directors, you have the right to decide. Of course I would choose to shut up!” Lu Manman’s meaning could not be clearer.

Wei Guoqing monopolized the company’s power and did not give his employees a chance to speak. Such a leader was unreasonable on stage.

Wei Guoqing was fuming.

Lu Manman smiled calmly. Her actions triggered Wei Guoqing even more.

He glared at her fiercely. He had never expected to be forced into such a corner by this silly girl. She had embarrassed him in front of the board of directors!

“Since Director Wei isn’t saying anything, I’d just think that you’re being magnanimous and giving me a chance to defend myself,” Lu Manman said deliberately. On one hand, she was trying to sound humble, but on the other hand, she was sneering at Wei Guoqing. She looked at the board members and said, “The personnel changes in Group A of the Marketing Department are indeed caused by the aging of the staff structure. Yesterday afternoon and this morning, I did an analysis of the sixty-eight employees and found that two or more of them are doing the same thing over and over again. This is a waste of talent, and at the same time, a waste of the company’s resources. As for the jobs that these employees are doing, Director Yue and I have made our analysis very clear. We will send it to the directors one-on-one…”

“Even so, is there a need to lay off staff? You can transfer them to other departments or positions. Our Lu Firm has never had such a large-scale layoff in all our years. In terms of reputation and concern in the industry, we rank first!” Another board member, Wu Zhengwei, who had a six percent stake in the company, interrupted Lu Manman.

“Caring for others is just a tendency in the company. It’s not for the development of the company’s market! Director Wu, the Lu Firm hasn’t had any layoffs in years, and this result makes its employees lazy. What we need at the marketing department is hardworking talent, not employees who want to retire and live off the streets. Going overboard with our layoffs once in a while is a wake-up call for the rest of our colleagues. And I have to say that the employees who are fired are the most useless in the company. If they stay in the company, they’ll be wasting their manpower. Why don’t I spend that sum of money on other valuable employees? We’re all businessmen. We should understand the value of this transaction.”

Lu Manman’s words stunned the entire board of directors.

Lu Zishan looked at his daughter, shocked by her calmness and composure. But he had to admit that he was proud of her!

“Moreover!” Lu Manman promised the board member before her. “In one week, I will calm down the storm caused by Group A’s layoffs. In three months, I will increase the market performance by five to eight percent!”

“Anyone knows how to boast!” Wei Guoqing scoffed as if he wanted nothing more than to take revenge on Lu Manman.

Lu Manman stared at him. “If it isn’t done, I’ll resign from my position and never step foot into the Lu Firm again.”

Lu Zishan’s eyes narrowed and he tried to secretly signal her, feeling worried about his daughter.

Lu Manman did not seem bothered at all. “I mean what I say!”

“Alright, Lu Manman. I would like to see how capable you are with your nose in the air!” Wei Guoqing hurriedly said, afraid that Lu Manman would go back on her word.

“Deal!”

Lu Manman smiled.