Chapter 139: Letter of Resignation!
There's no wall in the world that doesn't let the wind through.
By the time the Supervisory Board had begun its investigation, Niu Fu had already received a warning. A few quiet inquiries quickly revealed what the investigation was about.
Every year, the board holds routine interviews with employees across various levels of the group. Even if no big problems are uncovered, small issues are always exposed and followed up on.
But this time, the investigation was far from routine. The board had even dispatched a task force to Huazhou Aluminum Plant, digging into every detail of Li Tang's collaboration there, leaving nothing unexamined.
The news reached Niu Fu via Lai Xiangrong.
After a deeper conversation with Lai, Niu pieced together the full picture. What puzzled him most was—who wanted to take down a rising star like Li Tang?
Was it really just the old proverb at work? "The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be cut down."
Niu Fu had no authority to interfere with the Supervisory Board's work. In fact, the board functioned independently, standing above the company's management.
With no way to intervene directly, Niu instead dispatched someone to investigate from another angle—and quickly zeroed in on Qin Jianshe and then Zhou Tianqi as the possible whistleblowers.
Looking at the situation as a whole, everything clicked into place.
Nothing that happened right under his nose could withstand scrutiny.
He summoned Zhou Tianqi to his office. As he looked at the man's graying hair, Niu felt a complicated mix of emotions.
"Old Zhou, you're about to retire. Why pull something like this now?"
He didn't even wait for Zhou to sit down before he snapped.
"What do you mean, pull something like this?" Zhou replied calmly, taking a seat.
"You know exactly what I mean!" Niu huffed.
"I don't," Zhou said, feigning ignorance.
"I know you don't want Qin Jianshe to take your place as general manager of the Exploration Company. But personnel decisions at the manager level are the responsibility of the Group Party Committee.
You've done your part—you recommended who you thought was qualified. With your retirement banquet just around the corner, why stir up trouble like this now?"
Niu's face was full of rage and authority.
"What exactly have I done to make you so angry?" Zhou played dumb, looking utterly unfazed.
He knew that, at this point, the group couldn't do much to a retiring employee. Any disciplinary action would be embarrassing if it leaked.
"You reported Qin Jianshe and Li Tang to the Supervisory Board. I already know."
Seeing Zhou playing dumb, Niu laid it all out.
"Wasn't me."
Zhou denied it flatly. "Someone reported them? What for?"
"You—!"
Niu was so angry he couldn't even speak. His fury burst out and then quickly deflated. "Someone reported that Qin Jianshe and Li Tang received 2.9 million yuan in cash from Huazhou Aluminum."
"That much?" Zhou feigned surprise.
"I confirmed it with Lai Xiangrong at Huazhou. It's true."
"That's a serious breach of ethics! They're young, their thinking's not steady. But if they broke the rules, they should be punished per regulations. No leniency!"
"How do you think they should be punished?"
"Report them to the authorities if necessary. Discipline them. Set an example!"
"Easy for you to say." Niu scowled.
"President Niu, you're not planning to shield these rule-breakers, are you?" Zhou said righteously.
"You're targeting Qin Jianshe—I get that. But why drag Li Tang down too?" Niu was furious. He nearly pointed a finger in Zhou's face. "Of all the ways you could handle this, you chose the worst one."
"You're making unfounded accusations," Zhou replied, expression sour.
"Li Tang is untouchable."
Niu's voice dropped low, but every word was powerful. "The ministry has already decided—he'll be honored at the upcoming recognition conference.
Li Tang is highly regarded by senior leadership. They've instructed me to focus on cultivating talent like him.
Now this nonsense comes up—do we let him receive the award or not? Should he lead future key projects or not?"
"I didn't know anything about the ministry's plans. And frankly, trying to guess what the higher-ups want isn't a healthy habit.
Besides, I swear on my life—I had nothing to do with the report!"
"Get out."
Niu waved him off, too angry to waste more words.
Zhou Tianqi had been with the group forever. He'd started as head of Finance, then became the first general manager of the Exploration Company.
Niu knew the man's character inside out. He was a classic bureaucratic veteran.
"Cool down, President Niu."
Zhou stood, smiling, his steps slow and shuffling. There was a hint of sorrow in the way he walked.
At the door, he turned back. "No matter who made the report, I think they deserve praise.
Selling out the group's interests for personal gain is a crime against the people!
State-owned enterprises are public assets. Letting this kind of behavior slide is covering up criminal conduct!"
His tone was firm, his words powerful.
But coming from Zhou Tianqi, they felt… strange.
Niu sat silently, not even turning his head. Only after the door closed did he finally exhale deeply.
…
Li Tang was surprised to be summoned by Zhou Tianqi.
They had never really interacted—no direct working relationship, not even casual conversation.
He brought a handwritten document and entered the general manager's office. The air smelled heavily of tobacco.
"Sit."
Zhou gestured for him to take a seat and passed over a pack of cigarettes and a matchbox. "Smoke?"
"You know I don't," Li Tang declined.
"Smoking's bad for your health. I know. Every morning, I have to cough for half an hour before I can breathe properly."
After some small talk, Zhou got to the point.
"Management values you highly. They're planning to give you more responsibilities."
"Is that so?" Li Tang responded calmly, no excitement in his tone.
"Before I retire, I want to settle this. While you were away, the leadership held a meeting and decided to promote you—Department Head."
That's why he had been called in.
"All the department heads are in their prime. Someone must have moved up to create this vacancy?"
"A new Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Department was created. It needs a capable leader. You're the right fit."
Zhou smiled as he added, "With great power comes great responsibility. Don't let everyone down."
"Uh…" Li Tang didn't know how to respond.
This promotion had caught him completely off guard.
"Also, beyond work, as a young man, you must focus on your personal growth."
Zhou's tone turned serious. "You work for Wukuang. Understand who gave you your status and your platform.
The group pays your salary and gives you a stage to shine.
Be grateful. Always put the country's interests, the people's interests, and the collective's interests first. Personal interests come last.
That's what a qualified leader does!"
"Thank you for your guidance."
Li Tang was speechless but responded politely.
"These are lessons from my decades of experience. I hope they help keep you on the right path.
You have a bright future ahead."
"…"
Seeing Li Tang in deep thought, Zhou kept going:
"Once you join Wukuang, you're no longer just an individual. As a leader, your thinking must align with the group.
Your decisions shouldn't be about yourself or your family, but about the company, the country, and the people.
With that mindset, you'll become—"
"Director Zhou."
Li Tang cut him off and handed over his handwritten document.
"I actually came here today with something to discuss."
"Oh?" Zhou smiled as he accepted the paper—then froze.
Four bold characters stared back at him: Letter of Resignation.
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