In the teahouse, the fragrance of tea lingered abundantly. Even in a secluded private room, faint sounds of Pingtan music accompanied by cheers and applause could be heard from downstairs.
Yet, the atmosphere inside the room was as tense as a drawn bowstring.
"...You should know that the demands you’re making are unreasonable," Chen Zhi’s face was grave.
But the couple would not budge an inch, "The studio landed such a big project as a result of our collective effort. Everyone knows exactly how much bonus we should receive."
"Now that the contract is signed, using the relocation of the studio as an excuse to specifically disperse us, the longti employees, isn’t this just casting off the millstone after the grinding is done?"
"Asking for a bit more compensation isn’t unreasonable, is it?"
Chen Zhi scoffed lightly, "Is there really no room for negotiation or compromise?"
"Manager Chen, both my spouse and I have been made redundant. You know how it is at our age, learning anything new is very slow, and finding another job isn’t going to be easy."
"We also know that you’re just a middleman; we’re not making it difficult for you. Why don’t you get the boss to discuss it with us?"
"Compared to what she has earned, our compensation request is not excessive at all."
"The studio is doing so well, not only because of her effort. To fill her own coffers and then kick aside the old employees... If the dia gets wind of this and it negatively impacts the image, the cooperation with the Qi’s might just fall through. You agree, right!"
Chen Zhi, laughing, "Are you threatening ?"
"We’re just speaking the truth."
Recently, Chen Zhi had been negotiating with them about the severance issue and their behavior had long been a thorn in his side. Now, they were resorting to dia threats, and he couldn’t contain his anger.
"Deng Shuo, Ding Anran, don’t you two overstep!"
"In the past, we fought together, and we were all considered family. Now you think we’re in the way, you say we’re overstepping?" The woman’s voice beca piercingly sharp.
"Who really is shaless and insatiably greedy, you know very well!" Chen Zhi had long disapproved of their behavior, "Not satisfied yourselves, you even instigate other employees to make trouble?"
"You dare to say it’s for the good of everyone, for the collective interest, using your own greed as a pretext, and others as human shields!"
"Taking advantage of resigning to fleece the company, utterly shaless!"
Chen Zhi, who was usually very steady, had been driven to the brink this ti. Last ti they had an argunt because of this issue, he got scratched. He had held this grudge for too long.
"Chen Zhi, what the hell are you saying?" The man slamd the table and stood up angrily, "Who is the shaless one here!"
"That’s right, we’re just defending our legitimate interests," the woman joined in the uproar.
"I’ve never seen anyone as shaless as you!" Chen Zhi laughed contemptuously.
Ding Anran smiled, her words turning even more offensive.
"Chen Zhi, what do you think you are? You’re just working for soone else too."
"You handle everything, and yet she hides behind the scenes! If you’ve got the guts, have her co out and talk to us."
"To put it harshly, you’re just a dog she keeps!"
...
Kept as a dog?
Those words would be intolerable to anyone who heard them; even the usually patient Chen Zhi couldn’t stand it anymore and stood up abruptly. Before he could speak, the person opposite him jumped up.
"What’s this, you want to hit soone?"
"Our demands will not change. If you’re not in a position to decide, then have the person behind you co out and negotiate. Otherwise, this will be in the dia in a few days! I would really like to see whether losing a bit of money matters more, or losing such a big project is more important!"
"How to weigh the pros and cons, what’s light and what’s heavy, you should be very clear on."
As they spoke, they prepared to leave.
Chen Zhi was responsible for external public relations and was adept at handling matters smoothly and flexibly. He had encountered shaless people before but had never t anyone so unreasonable and stubborn. It was like a scholar eting a soldier, both angry and irritated.
"Hold it!" Tang Wan erged from behind the screen.
Seeing Tang Wan, both faces registered surprise. The Tang Family was a prominent household in Pingjiang and her engagent with Jiang Jinsang was widely known throughout Pingjiang, with many local dia reporting on it. Tang Wan’s face had gained so recognition locally.
"Tang... Miss Tang?" Deng Shuo seed unable to snap back to reality for a mont.
"Aren’t you wanting to et with the owner behind the scenes? I am that person," Tang Wan declared.
Today, Tang Wan was dressed in a light grey coat, with heels on her feet, and her hair tied up in a bun, giving off a presence of intelligence and efficiency, "Don’t just stand there, take a seat."
"You’re the boss?" Ding Anran looked at Tang Wan and then glanced at Chen Zhi, disbelief written all over her face.
"Sit down and we’ll talk," said Tang Wan as she walked over to Chen Zhi and took a seat next to him.
"Wanwan..." Chen Zhi was full of regret; they had agreed to have a proper discussion with the couple, but things still ended up like this.
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