Is this boss sick?

It was only right to raise salaries, but such a significant increase was terrifying.

As the Executive Vice President, Li Meiqin essentially managed the entire Great Sage Group, while Lu Chengwen was only responsible for overall decision-making.

In short, when the boss wanted to spend money, she had to be the bad guy.

If the boss wanted to raise salaries, she had to object!

This was Li Meiqin's management experience over the years, and also her personal strategy.

Firstly, she had to constantly show her stance, that she was on the boss's side and had to save him money.

Secondly, if the boss insisted on raising salaries, her obstruction would perfectly highlight the boss's noble character and his great love for his people.

Therefore, Li Meiqin didn't have a good reputation within the group; all employees cursed her and the boss for being in cahoots.

Nonsense, my annual salary of over ten million was given by the boss. If I wasn't in cahoots with him, always asking for benefits and salary increases for the employees... why would he keep me?

She was the boss's dirty gloves. The boss was responsible for being the good guy, while she naturally did the dirty work.

But Lu Chengwen hadn't discussed this matter with her today; he had directly proposed it during the meeting, catching her completely off guard.

Li Meiqin stood up and adjusted her glasses, "Mr. Lu, as the group's Vice President, it's very difficult for me when you announce something like this without discussing it with me. Why don't you give me some time? I'll have a meeting with the actuarial department and cost accounting from the finance department to discuss it and come up with a concrete plan..."

"You do need to have a meeting," Lu Chengwen said, "to discuss how to implement my decision as soon as possible. Notify the publicity department to inform all employees of the group about this news. It must be implemented by the end of this month."

Everyone looked at Li Meiqin.

Here, besides him, you're the boss. Go on, I want to see how long you'll act like a lackey.

"However, the specific salary increase can't just be announced off the cuff; it needs to go through..."

Lu Chengwen smiled and said, "Meiqin, you've been working too hard these past two years."

"I haven't worked hard for Mr. Lu or the Great Sage Group."

"Mm," Lu Chengwen said, "How about this, your annual salary will be doubled. Keep up the good work."

Li Meiqin's eyes widened in surprise, unable to believe her boss was so generous.

Lu Chengwen continued, "As for how the other senior management's annual salaries will be increased, you decide."

Lu Chengwen walked up to her and gently patted her shoulder, "Don't save money for me."

Li Meiqin was dazed by Lu Chengwen's series of moves, "Mr. Lu, such a big matter, we should reconsider it..."

A senior executive immediately stood up and started the applause, "Everyone, let's give a round of applause to thank Mr. Lu!"

The entire conference room erupted in thunderous applause, with praise erupting from all sides.

"Mr. Lu is so domineering and mighty!"

"We swear to share honor and destiny with the Great Sage Group!"

"Your subordinates will be loyal and unwavering in the future!"

"Mr. Lu is simply a conscientious boss, a benevolent ruler!"

Li Meiqin's brow furrowed. She understood that these people didn't want her to speak; they were using applause and praise to solidify this decision.

She narrowed her eyes, looking at Lu Chengwen, who was enjoying the admiration of everyone, her mind racing.

What was this person trying to do!?

This was too abnormal!

Did I miss something? Is he planning a major shake-up?

Is he trying to win people's hearts first, stabilize me with a high salary, and then choose a new vice president?

I had originally planned to take a group of people with me to start my own business, but with this move, my plan was completely dead in the water.

I kept it so secret! He couldn't have gotten any information!

He wouldn't spend so much money for no reason; something must be wrong!

Li Meiqin wailed inwardly.

She had already interviewed several vice presidents and senior executives, and over the years, she had cultivated her own excellent team.

She had originally planned to take them all with her to establish her own power base.

But now, with this situation, she had instantly become isolated.

Everyone who had agreed to leave with her now dared not meet her gaze. It was clear that if they could stay at Great Sage, guard their territory, and earn a high salary, why would they go with me to start a peasant uprising? Are they out of their minds?

But... Lu Chengwen had actually given her the authority to set the salary increases for all senior management.

What did this mean?!

Li Meiqin had something to hide, and her mind was already churning with over a hundred ideas.

Her palms were sweating, and she had a vague feeling that a great storm was brewing within the Great Sage Group, no, it had already begun!

Lu Chengwen accepted the handshakes, hugs, and thanks from the various senior executives as they came forward one by one...

He was smiling on the outside, but inwardly he was extremely annoyed:

Does this little bit of money excite you all this much?

"Damn it, is this ever going to end? Men, stay away. You've barely got any hair left, might as well shave it all off!"

"Shit, shaking hands and hugging men all the time is so annoying. I prefer beautiful women!"

Jiang Shihan next to them chuckled.

Lu Chengwen glanced back at her. "What are you laughing at? You won't get a raise."

Jiang Shihan pouted playfully. "President Lu is bullying me."

Li Meiqin was even more surprised.

Jiang Shihan was actually acting spoiled with Lu Chengwen?! Didn't she usually try her best to avoid him on the surface? What was wrong with everyone today?

Could it be that Jiang Shihan had always been Lu Chengwen's confidante? If that were the case, this young girl was terrifying. She had withstood so much workplace gossip, and it turned out she was the one in cahoots with Lu Chengwen.

Had they all been played?

Lu Chengwen walked up to Li Meiqin, who immediately smiled.

"Aren't you going to give me a hug?"

Li Meiqin immediately opened her arms and hugged her boss with a beaming smile, thinking, Please don't touch my butt in front of so many people!

But Lu Chengwen kept it brief. He was a very polite and respectful hug, limited to expressing appropriate camaraderie between colleagues.

This made Li Meiqin even more flustered.

Oh no! He's not interested in me anymore? He didn't even take the chance to touch my butt!

This is a bad sign!

It means he's already tired of me, he knows I'm a traitor, so he's only being superficially enthusiastic!

Li Meiqin forced an awkward smile and applauded with everyone else.

Lu Chengwen returned to his seat and sat in his boss chair, feeling triumphant like an emperor.

"Alright, everyone, back to your seats. I have some big news to announce."

Everyone returned to their seats, still unable to hide their excitement.

Lu Chengwen gestured to Jiang Shihan, and she began playing a slideshow.

"What you see on the screen is our Shantytown Renovation Project in the southern district. The project is currently less than thirty percent complete, and all previous consortiums have bailed. I plan to continue with it."

Li Meiqin turned her head and looked at Lu Chengwen as if he were a ghost.

She couldn't understand him at all.

What was wrong with this person today?!

The Shantytown Renovation Project!? The government had approached them multiple times about it. They had politely received them, complained about the difficulties, and in short, refused to touch it no matter what.

But today, her boss wanted to get involved in this project!?

This was a money-pit project, extremely complex, and one wrong move could lead to financial ruin.

Li Meiqin quickly said, "President Lu, this project is a minefield, far too dangerous. It's time-consuming, resource-intensive, involves many stakeholders, and is essentially a failed project. Even without detailed evaluation, no one would touch it. The four major families in Xuecheng City have all repeatedly refused the government's offers to take over, and we..."

"I know, I know."

Lu Chengwen drew out his words, still reveling in his vanity of being an "emperor," and said dashingly:

"Fortune favors the bold! You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing your cubs, or a rogue without sacrificing your wife, or..."

The executives looked at each other, all bewildered.

This was a question that required almost no thought from a professional standpoint.

No rational, intelligent person would undertake this project. It was like throwing money into a burning pit with no way out.

But Lu Chengwen seemed resolute.

Seeing that no one was speaking, Lu Chengwen slammed the table. "It's decided! Don't worry, this is my sole decision. You just need to execute it. If there are problems, they're on me. If we lose money, I'll bear it alone. Shihan!"

"President Lu."

"Record today's meeting minutes and save them. If I ever take it out on anyone in the future, you can all use these records to confront me."

"Yes."

Lu Chengwen smiled faintly. "Are you all at ease now?"

"President Lu's decisive leadership has the bearing of an emperor!"

"President Lu has keen insight and can see business opportunities we cannot. We will certainly execute this with full support and utmost effort!"

"President Lu is farsighted and acts decisively. Our wisdom is shallow; we can only follow in your footsteps!"

"President Lu is awesome!"

"President Lu is amazing!"

Lu Chengwen sat in his chair, spinning back and forth with pride. He noticed Li Meiqin was silent.

"Meiqin, why aren't you saying anything?"

Li Meiqin felt as uncomfortable as if she were being roasted over a fire.

"Mr. Lu, did I do something wrong? You... just say it directly if you have something to say."

Li Meiqin was certain that Lu Chengwen knew about her situation. This project was clearly designed to torment her.

But she didn't know, and even dared not think about, how exactly he would torment her, given his character.

Lu Chengwen had no idea what was on her mind. He looked around at everyone, and it was clear that they were all supporting him only because he had just given them a raise and told them they weren't responsible.

Lu Chengwen smiled. "I know I didn't leave a good impression on you all before."

"No, no, Mr. Lu is a great person. We are all very grateful."

"That's right, that's right."

"You don't need to lie to me anymore," Lu Chengwen stood up.

"I have a few hobbies."

Lu Chengwen began to speak:

"My first love is money, cold, hard cash. I can never earn too much money; I wish I could stuff all the money in the world into my own pockets."

Everyone laughed together. It was the absolute truth.

"Secondly, I love beautiful girls. Hey, it doesn't matter if they're young or mature, sexy or cute, I love them all!"

Everyone chuckled knowingly, feeling that Lu Chengwen was particularly interesting today.

Lu Chengwen continued, "What I love third is my family."

Lu Chengwen slammed his hand on the table. "So, put yourselves in my shoes. I want you all to make money, I want you all to be able to date girls, and I want you all to be able to take care of your families! Therefore, raises and big projects! Any questions?"

Everyone roared back in unison: "We will follow Mr. Lu's lead! We will resolutely execute Mr. Lu's great decisions!"

Lu Chengwen smiled and pointed at Li Meiqin. "Meiqin, you will be in charge of this matter personally. I have only one requirement: the contract must be signed within a week!"

Li Meiqin clenched her fists under the table, looking at Lu Chengwen. She was completely bewildered now.