The peripheral news about Detention Center came back shortly after Zhao Chen returned to the company:
Lin Wanqing Sure enough, Executive Meeting applied for expedited visitation as soon as the Executive Meeting meeting was over, but was told that "there is someone visiting today."
After numerous inquiries to no avail, I finally had to make extra arrangements before squeezing into the last visiting period that evening.
The person who reported it described her "steps were sloppy and her face looked gray in the dusk" when she left Detention Center.
After hearing this, Zhao Chen only responded lightly. It seemed that the "instructions" Zhao Jianguo gave her were clear enough and enough to frighten her.
The heat is almost done.
Main Conference Room The next day, the air seemed to have solidified.
Yesterday's confusion and complaints were replaced by a more acute sense of tension.
Anyone who is well-informed knows that after yesterday's meeting, Chairman and Finance Director went to see the same person one after another, but the result did not seem to bring harmony.
When Zhao Chen walked into Meeting Room, she could clearly feel several eyes with scrutiny, worry and even vague hostility, mainly focused on Lin Wanqing and several core executives of engineering and Procurement System around her.
Lin Wanqing deliberately put on more delicate makeup today, but the fatigue and subtle anxiety under her eyes could not be completely concealed.
"Meeting." Zhao Chen didn't talk nonsense. After sitting down, he got to the point. His voice was colder than yesterday.
"First of all, I would like to inform you that I have reached a consensus with the company Major Shareholder, that is, my Mr. Father Zhao Jianguo, on the most pressing issue at present:
We must immediately and resolutely reduce debt and clean up the Risk Burden left over from history, especially the various types of opaque and high-risk Related Guarantee and Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities."
"Finance Department," he looked at Lin Wanqing with burning eyes.
"From now on, we must take the lead in taking action. Before Spring Festival, I want to see substantive actions and preliminary results. Specific operations:
Immediately carry out formal negotiations with all Cooperators guaranteed by our company and require them to come up with Clear Plans to release or replace the guarantees within a time limit."
He paused slightly and launched his prepared killing move:
"To ensure execution, I announce Temporary Regulation:
For projects guaranteed by our company, if the overall Completion Progress of the project exceeds 80%,
Until the relevant guarantee liabilities are resolved to our satisfaction, the payment process for all subsequent payments due to Cooperator will be suspended."
"Eighty percent!" A vice president in charge of the East China Region project almost shouted out, his face suddenly changed,
"Zhao Zong, this... this threshold is too low!
Many projects are halfway through, which is when funds are most tight. Cooperator has all the money in it, just counting on the turnover of progress funds!
If payment is stuck at this time, won't it force them to stop work?"
"Vice President Wang is right!" Another Procurement Director who has a close relationship with Lin Wanqing immediately expressed his support with an excited tone.
"Zhao Zong, we understand the reduction of debt, but the method cannot be so drastic! Many Cooperator are long-term partners, and Capital Chain is already tight.
If we suddenly run out of food, they are likely to be the first to break Capital Chain!
In the event of bankruptcy and liquidation, we, as the guarantor, will be jointly and severally liable.
What's even more frightening is that if the project goes bad, there will be endless troubles in resuming work and claiming compensation, and the company will suffer the most!"
"It's not just the financial loss,"
Lin Wanqing spoke at this time, not loudly, but with a heavy "professional worry",
"Zhao Zong, in the unfinished stage of the project, Cooperator and we are a deeply bound community of interests.
If they are forced into a desperate situation, they may cut corners, use inferior materials, or even forge information and run away with the money.
At that time, if the project quality cannot be guaranteed, who will be responsible for safety hazards?
How can the company's brand reputation be damaged by clearing out a few guaranteed liabilities?"
She raised the issue to the level of quality, safety and company reputation, trying to win the support of more neutral executives.
There was a lot of discussion in Meeting Room.
Many executives who are not from the Lin Wanqing faction but are actually responsible for specific projects also showed expressions of deep understanding.
They don't care about the collusion of interests behind them, but real nightmares such as "project shutdown", "Cooperator bankruptcy" and "quality risk" are unbearable in their careers.
Zhao Chen Jingjing Listening, his fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, with no emotion or anger on his face.
After the objections subsided, he slowly spoke, his tone still firm, but he seemed willing to listen to opinions:
"Everyone's concerns are justified.
We clean up the risks and cannot create greater risks, let alone at the expense of the project's fundamentals and the company's reputation."
He changed the topic and scanned the crowd with sharp eyes:
"However, the high-hanging guarantee risk is like Sword of Damocles. If it is not resolved, it may fall at any time, causing a wider chain crisis.
We cannot give up food because of choking. We must find a balance point - one that can exert enough pressure to solve the problem without immediately killing Cooperator and dragging down the project."
He paused, as if thinking deeply, and then proposed a modification plan: