Chapter 46: The New Official Makes a Bold Entrance

ps: Thanks to Tipsy Intoxication for the generous reward.

Lin Chuan could hardly bear it; before Shen Hong even got close, he was already retreating several steps, overwhelmed by the pungent scent of cosmetics. Shen Hong’s expression soured at this, and she snorted coldly, saying, “Chairman Lin, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now.”

Without waiting for Lin Chuan or Yuan Ye’s response, she turned and strode toward the elevator, utterly indifferent to the two television station executives.

“Wait, Miss Shen, we came to discuss work with you,” Lin Chuan’s face turned grave.

He was, after all, the chairman now. Even if Shen Hong had powerful backing, surely she wasn’t entitled to act so arrogantly—as if the station belonged to her family.

Yuan Ye, too, stood by with a dark expression, his eyes coldly fixed on Shen Hong.

“Discuss work? Ha! Speak to my assistant. I don’t have time to waste on such trivial matters,” Shen Hong shot back, her gaze full of disdain.

Arrogant—far too arrogant.

Lin Chuan had merely intended to offer some advice and discuss the future direction of the news department. After all, as chairman, he couldn’t let the station continue its slow decline toward oblivion.

But he never expected Shen Hong to dismiss him so thoroughly.

Talk to her assistant? Laughable! Lin Chuan smiled.

“Ah, you must be the new chairman! Hello, hello, I’m the director of the news department, Liang Qinglong,” a middle-aged man rushed out of the studio, his face beaming.

It was the same director who had just been dozing in his chair.

Lin Chuan shot him a cold glance, said nothing, and turned away.

“Director Yuan, what happened just now? Is… is everything alright?” Sensing Lin Chuan’s displeasure, Liang Qinglong hurriedly grabbed Yuan Ye’s arm and asked.

“Alright? Ha!” Yuan Ye let out an angry laugh, shook off his arm, and followed Lin Chuan out.

Next, Yuan Ye led Lin Chuan through the other departments. The situation everywhere was much the same as in the news department.

Though not as overtly hostile as Shen Hong, everyone displayed a lackadaisical attitude, and some even bluntly asked Lin Chuan when their salaries would be paid.

From their demeanor, it seemed if salaries weren’t issued soon, they’d pack up and leave.

At noon, in a restaurant not far from the television station.

Lin Chuan and Yuan Ye sat by the window, neither speaking, their faces clouded, clearly still frustrated from their morning tour.

Soon, the dishes they ordered were brought to the table.

“Is this how things have always been at the station?” Lin Chuan suddenly looked up.

“Pretty much. The station hasn’t paid salaries for two months. Of course, everyone’s upset,” Yuan Ye replied with a bitter smile, nodding.

“No money in the accounts?” Lin Chuan frowned.

“There’s still a few hundred thousand left, reserved as backup funds.”

“With so little, you call it reserves? This afternoon, notify the finance department: pay all outstanding salaries. Then call everyone to the meeting room—I want to hold a meeting.”

“All the salaries? Then our station will truly be an empty shell—what happens then…”

“Pay them first. If everyone leaves, what use is that reserve?”

“Alright, so the newly appointed officer’s first fire lands squarely on me.”

“Heh. This is only the beginning—the fires will burn brighter yet.”

Yuan Ye paused, sighed softly, and shook his head in silence.

After touring the departments that morning, Lin Chuan recognized the station’s greatest flaw lay within. He didn’t know why previous chairmen invested, but it was clear their hearts weren’t in it.

Management, planning, publicity—all in utter disarray. The news department, for example, was nothing short of a farce.

That the station survived in Quancheng until now was nothing short of a miracle.

After lunch, they returned to the station. This time, Lin Chuan resolved to reorganize before the competition began. At the very least, this unhealthy atmosphere had to be eradicated; otherwise, the work ahead would be endlessly arduous, not unlike the legendary eighty-one tribulations of the pilgrimage.

By three o’clock, everyone had received their salaries, and the staff were overjoyed.

They also heard the news: the new chairman would hold a general meeting in the top-floor conference room.

Employees from each department headed upstairs in twos and threes, chatting and laughing, discussing where to spend their money that evening—now that they’d been paid.

For an hour, the conference room doors never stopped opening. People came in without so much as a greeting, found a vacant chair, and sat down.

Throughout, Lin Chuan kept his face stern, watching the proceedings.

By four o’clock, the room was full. Some sat in chairs, some on tables, others perched on the windowsills, all chatting freely, with no sign of seriousness or discipline. It was more like a marketplace than a meeting.

Time passed. When nearly everyone had arrived, Yuan Ye coughed twice, stood, and called out loudly, “Alright, almost everyone’s here. Please welcome Chairman Lin to address us.”

As Yuan Ye finished, the room gradually grew silent. All eyes turned to Lin Chuan—some mocking, some disdainful, some skeptical, but not a single clap.

Lin Chuan paid no mind. What was there to argue about with these people? Instead, as his gaze swept over them, a trace of pity and helplessness appeared in his eyes.

Barring unforeseen events, more than half of those present would soon lose their jobs and become unemployed.

In that case, was it worth getting angry with a group whose future was so uncertain, who might soon be unable to find work?

“Where’s Shen Hong? Why isn’t she here yet?” Lin Chuan’s voice rang out after a few seconds.

At that moment, a young woman—looking much like a recent graduate—stood up timidly and said, “I’m sorry, Chairman Lin. Sister Shen has something urgent and probably can’t attend.”

“Oh? Something urgent? Very well, she’s excused from today’s meeting. And please tell her: from tomorrow onward, she need not come in anymore.” Lin Chuan smiled lightly.

“What does that mean? Chairman Lin, are you firing Sister Shen?” This was not asked by the young woman herself but by a young man beside her, his face showing a hint of anger.

“Yes. Do you have an issue with that?” Lin Chuan replied with a calm nod.

“Chairman Lin, Sister Shen is the leader of our news department. If you fire her, who will host the news tomorrow? And if you insist on firing Sister Shen, I’ll have to consider leaving the station as well.” The young man sneered, his tone full of contempt.

A few others beside him nodded in agreement, clearly supporting his stance.

Lin Chuan, still smiling, glanced at the man and asked, “What’s your name and which department?”

“Me? I’m Liu Peng, a field reporter in the news department,” the young man replied proudly, puffing out his chest.

“Very well, Liu Peng. Apart from him, who else thinks Shen Hong shouldn’t be fired? Please stand up,” Lin Chuan said indifferently.

Immediately, four or five people stood up—all from the news department.

They assumed the new chairman wouldn’t fire all of them. Surely, as the saying goes, ‘the law doesn’t punish the masses.’ If they were all dismissed, the news department would be finished.

Given the station’s current circumstances, they thought their retention was essential; no one would make such a foolish move.

But they hadn’t realized that Lin Chuan’s first fire had burned Yuan Ye, and his second was now aimed straight at the news department.

With Shen Hong’s arrogant demeanor in the morning, and Liang Qinglong’s laziness, reform was inevitable.

“Good, very good. You may leave. There’s no need for you to attend today’s meeting. In fact, from today onward, you need not come to work at the station,” Lin Chuan said lightly, smiling.

Everyone was stunned.

Did they hear correctly? The new chairman was firing the entire news department? Including the ‘star’ host Shen Hong, who had powerful connections—wasn’t he afraid of making enemies?

For a moment, the same thoughts surged in everyone’s mind. Some thought the new chairman was recklessly offending people, oblivious to the consequences.

But most believed Lin Chuan had gone mad—the station was doomed.

“Xiao Chuan, isn’t this a bit much? Firing one or two is fine, but do you need to clear out the whole news department?” Yuan Ye walked over quietly, his face troubled.

“I have my plans. Don’t worry,” Lin Chuan replied with a smile.

Yuan Ye sighed, helpless, and returned to his seat.

The dismissed staff stood uncertainly, unable to believe Lin Chuan’s decisiveness.

“Are you waiting for me to escort you out?” Lin Chuan said, half smiling.

“Lin Chuan, you’re ruthless. I’d like to see how you run the station without us, how you keep the news department on air,” Liu Peng spat venomously, his words ground out between tight teeth.

Lin Chuan ignored him, watching them leave, then cleared his throat and continued, “Given the station’s current state, I’ve decided to implement layoffs in every department…”

As soon as Lin Chuan uttered the word ‘layoffs,’ the remaining staff grew restless. None believed the new chairman was speaking idly.