Chapter 406 - 261: Even a Dog Could Be Chairman

Chapter 406: Chapter 261: Even a Dog Could Be Chairman

Lin Chu smiled, feeling great.

After hanging up, he spotted a barbecue stall by the road. A crowd was lined up in front of it, a clear sign that the food was good—a spot hand-picked by the locals.

After a moment’s thought, Lin Chu got in at the back of the line.

’Tonight, I’ll grab some skewers and have a few drinks!’ ℴ

...

Meanwhile, Liu Junfeng...

After hanging up, he lit a cigarette and paced anxiously around his office.

He was supposed to do a live stream tonight.

He still hadn’t left the office.

But now, he really wasn’t in the mood to work.

He scrolled through his contact list and started searching.

’Search!’

’I have to find someone, fast!’

’If I can find someone to take this over, my curse of having to work will finally be broken.’

That shouldn’t be too hard. In the current job market, there were plenty of people looking for work, even so-called "high-end talent."

"Group company recruiting a CEO and a CFO. Requirements: over twenty years of work experience, ten years of management experience. Seeking a workhorse type, preferably with a background in the luxury retail industry. Annual salary of three million or more, with discretionary stock options after one full year. The company’s current fixed assets are over five billion."

Liu Junfeng thought for a moment, then composed a post and published it to his social media.

’That valuation was actually on the conservative side. The company headquarters and the golf club alone were enough to cover it.’

’Not to mention, there were other business divisions.’

He also had a very clear recruitment strategy. The company’s current growth was driven mainly by retail.

’The golf club didn’t need managing.’

’As for the media division, Zhang Peng was there. Even the Group CEO wouldn’t be able to boss him around.’

’And they’d have even less of a say in the security division.’

’In retail, he wasn’t sure about Ma Lin, but Hu Ping’an was definitely one of Brother Chu’s die-hard loyalists.’

’These "vassal lords" were all as solid as a rock; if anything came up, they’d just call Lin Chu directly.’

’To be frank, what they needed for a CEO was just an honest, unassuming puppet who could handle the company’s daily affairs.’

After publishing the post, an idea suddenly struck Liu Junfeng, and he thought of someone who had left a very deep impression on him.

An old acquaintance from one of his previous jobs.

A... true king of the grind!

In his contact list, Liu Junfeng found the name "Jiang Fu" and immediately dialed the number.

"Old Jiang, what are you up to?"

This was the most "insanely driven" person Liu Junfeng had met since he started his career.

A Tsinghua graduate.

With a master’s and a doctorate from Cambridge.

For over a decade, Liu Junfeng had never met anyone who grinded harder. On average, the guy passed a certification exam every year.

When they first met, the man already held over a dozen certifications: the bar exam, CPA, certified consultant, asset appraiser, bidding manager, HR professional, actuary... and so on.

He had previously slaved away at CICC for over ten years, working his way up to Project Director.

Back then, he was two ranks higher than Liu Junfeng.

However, it would be difficult for him to climb any higher.

After all, at that level, advancement wasn’t determined by ability, but by pedigree.

"Working overtime. What is it, Junfeng? Go on."

Jiang Fu replied in a slow, methodical tone, though he sounded somewhat distracted. The clatter of a keyboard could be clearly heard in the background.

He was from Shanghai, and his speech and actions always carried a refined, elegant, unhurried air.

"Do you want to be a CEO?"

Liu Junfeng licked his lips and got straight to the point.

’This felt pretty damn good.’

’This man had once been his "superior," in a sense, even if not his direct one.’

’And now, in a complete reversal of roles, he was here to poach him.’

"Oh? Haha, are you trying to poach me?"

"Tell me more. What’s the situation?"

Seeing that he hadn’t immediately refused, Liu Junfeng quickly gave him a rundown of the group’s overall situation.

"LC Group... I’ve heard of it. I was just looking into it a couple of days ago, in fact. The owner is very young. A golf club, luxury goods, media... the strategy is indeed very clear, and they’re wealthy. What’s your position?"

Jiang Fu asked, his tone calm.

Liu Junfeng took a deep breath, thought for a moment, and chuckled. "I’m there based on my personal relationship with the owner; you could say we’re very good friends. He’s tired, achieved financial freedom, and wants to be a hands-off owner. As for the company’s operations, aside from the high-end Chinese luxury brand that needs to expand nationwide, all the other divisions have mature business systems in place."

"This position is well-balanced. It’s an opportunity to showcase your talents, but it also demands your steady hand. The job is in Peng City. Compensation is negotiable, all of it. There will definitely be stock options, but the owner wants a one-year probationary period for us to feel each other out."

"Old Jiang, get out of there. Stop grinding away. Do you really think you can outlast those second-generation heirs?"

"Don’t you really want to find out what it feels like to be a ’corporate emperor’?"

When it came to dangling a carrot, Liu Junfeng was quite skilled.

Of course, this wasn’t just dangling a carrot. If he could truly develop the group’s retail business, it wasn’t an impossible dream.

Jiang Fu couldn’t help but laugh. "It sounds quite appealing, but my contract here has more than a year left. How about I give it some more thought?"

Liu Junfeng: "..."

’More than a year!’

’That’s in a fucking blue moon!’

’Lin Chu will have finished his tour of the entire country by then!’

"In over a year, the trail will be cold. Look, fine, I’ll ask someone else. My requirement is someone who can be at their post within three days. This offer won’t be on the table forever."

"Old Jiang, being steady, conservative, thorough in your thinking, and highly capable—these are your strengths. But the very things that are most prominent about you are also what hold you back."

"Think it over carefully. I’ll send you a file with the company’s information. Give me an answer within three days."

Liu Junfeng continued to prod him.

Jiang Fu still smiled gently. "Alright, please do. Send it over. You’re still so impatient. We haven’t seen each other in over a year, and you’ve become even more true to your nature, ha."

Liu Junfeng: "..."

’That was a low blow!’

’Is the ’maturity’ you people prize so much really that important? It’s all for a few measly silver coins.’

"Okay, sending it now."

He sent over the public version of the company’s information, then thought for a moment before continuing to contact other people on his list.

’It was a long shot with that one.’

’He’s too cautious.’

’Not the type to quit a job on a whim.’

...

「At that moment.」

Lin Chu was still in line at the barbecue stall. When it was finally his turn, he ordered some food and a few bottles of ice-cold beer. He found a random seat at the open-air stall, took a sip of beer, and a feeling of pure bliss seemed to radiate from every pore in his body.

After a moment’s thought, he started a live stream.

"Just drove into North Sea today. Anyone around who wants to hang out? Roadside barbecue, my treat. Let’s meet up IRL, guys and girls both welcome."

’Friends from all over. Since I’m here, I might as well have some fun.’

’The unknown is the greatest thrill of a journey.’

...

...