Chapter 157: The Mohist School Has No One (Part V)

There were eighteen elders and shareholders present at the meeting; with the two of them, the total came to exactly twenty. It appeared that only five were loyalists left behind by Elder Mo, meaning the others were all there for their own interests. It was truly questionable whether these people, who were biting the hand that fed them while blatantly criticizing the descendants of the Mo family despite the golden empire Elder Mo had built, had any shame at all.

Thinking of this, Qian Yin and Mo Lan could only sigh inwardly. Only a suitable heir could lead a company to new heights, while an unsuitable one would inevitably squander such a fortune.

Qian Yin and Mo Lan composed themselves, shedding their previous demeanor for a stern and serious expression. Mo Lan quietly took notes on who among the elders were loyal to Elder Mo, while the rest were marked for immediate dismissal.

Qian Yin stood up and slammed her hand on the table, her voice booming, which startled the timid elders. Outside the conference room, a crowd had long been huddled at the door eavesdropping. With no one to manage them, they had become increasingly brazen.

"Who is spreading rumors that I am an illegitimate daughter of the Mo family? Miss Mo Lan and I have been friends since childhood; we are like sisters. Elder Mo recognized me as his god-granddaughter simply because he was fond of me. Remember this: my status is many times higher than that of an illegitimate daughter."

The people in the room were skeptical, but several were now too terrified to speak. No one wanted to be the first bird to stick its head out, as that bird was usually the one to get shot.

The conference room suddenly fell silent, as if it were empty. Shareholder Wang’s eyes darted around, his mouth shut, seemingly hatching a new, devious plan.

The noise from the people outside had grown loud enough for everyone inside to hear. The attendees frowned one by one; who was so lacking in discipline that they dared to eavesdrop during working hours?

Qian Yin picked up a file, walked to the door, and slapped it against the frame with a loud crack. She said sternly, "All of you, get in here! If you want to listen, come in and do it openly. I won't stop you."

So imposing, Mo Lan thought, feeling a rush of admiration. She was rapidly becoming Qian Yin’s biggest fan—what a dominant, powerful executive she was. Mo Lan pulled herself together and glanced at those who had remained seated and silent; they could be kept for a while longer. Until a new set of shareholders could be found, they could remain at the company for the time being.

The people outside hurriedly opened the door and poked their heads in. Seeing Qian Yin standing there with a cold gaze, they scrambled inside, lining up behind the shareholders and elders.

Mo Lan was furious to see these eavesdroppers; it seemed the company was becoming a hollow shell. Perhaps it was time to rebuild, and these people were certainly no longer necessary.

Mo Lan stood up, faced them squarely, and walked silently to the head of the table. She sat down, crossed her legs, and surveyed the wolves and tigers before her.

"A company should look like a company. Do not think that just because my father and grandfather are not here, you can treat this place with such disrespect. The company has its rules. This is not your home—do not be so insolent." Mo Lan’s voice was sharp and piercing, striking a blow to everyone’s heart.

Seeing that Mo Lan understood her intent, Qian Yin walked over and stood beside her without a word. These people needed to be disciplined; they had started to think too highly of themselves.

"All of you, go to the personnel department, collect your pay, and get out. And to the elders and shareholders: I want you to be clear—the Mo family is the Mo family. Whether or not someone from the Mo family is present, these assets are not yours to touch."

Seeing that no one dared to speak, Mo Lan decided to say everything that needed to be said today. Tomorrow, she would hand the remaining tasks over to the staff, suspend business, and put other projects on hold until her grandfather and father recovered and could be consulted.

Everyone, whether sitting or standing, turned beet red. They wanted to speak but dared not—the sight was truly comical.

Shareholder Wang, finally realizing what he should do, stood up and said, "Everyone heard her, right? Those who need to get out, get out. The rest of you, get back to work."

"Today’s meeting is adjourned. If anyone is interested, you are welcome to join us for a meal." Seeing that the objective had been achieved, Qian Yin took Mo Lan’s hand and delivered the final sentence. The two walked out with swagger, leaving the crowd behind in a daze.

The people in the room looked wretched, glaring at one another. Ultimately, the eavesdropping employees suffered the most; not only were they scolded by Mo Lan and Qian Yin, but they were also berated by the elders and lost their jobs.

Qian Yin and Mo Lan went home happily to eat and rest. This great battle tonight hadn't been as difficult as they had imagined. Those old men were likely terrified, and at their age, they were bound to have some health issues. Along the way, the two chatted and laughed, as if the earlier tension had never occurred.

In truth, An Feng had long wanted to go home to handle his own affairs, planning to seek help for his family business. However, he realized that most of his family’s concerns were unrelated to the company. In the end, he could only sit there, worried and afraid that Mo Lan and Qian Yin would be bullied.

Seeing them return laughing and talking, An Feng finally set his heart at ease. He hurried over to hug Mo Lan. Qian Yin realized it was time to leave and quickly slipped away, not wanting to disturb their romance.

Mo Lan blushed, glancing at Elder Mo, who showed no signs of waking up. Her expression softened, and she felt embarrassed by the hug. She looked back at Qian Yin and muttered, "Look, you scared her away. Why did you have to hug me?"

"She should have left anyway. Would you rather have her stay here as a third wheel?" An Feng retorted, feeling he had done the right thing. He realized that by indulging Mo Lan in many things, he hadn't actually helped, but only worried blindly.

Mo Lan glared at him angrily but didn't make a scene, waiting until Qian Yin was out of earshot. With Leng Xue gone, An Feng’s words were like salt in an open wound.

Mo Lan relaxed her body and let him hold her for a moment before pushing him away. She sat down beside Elder Mo and saw a basin of warm water. Realizing An Feng hadn't wiped the Elder’s face, she rolled up her sleeves, dipped a towel in the water, wrung it out, and carefully cleaned the Elder’s face.

An Feng sat quietly to the side, watching Mo Lan work with such care. She was beautiful and full of grace; even in her current attire, her aura had elevated. She was different from who she used to be—she had truly grown a lot since being with Qian Yin.

Thinking of Qian Yin now, his heart ached. She, too, should have been an innocent, sweet girl.

Qian Yin walked quietly to the garden and sat by the small pond, playing with the water. She didn't want to rest or eat; she just wanted to sit there and think of Leng Xue.

Was he doing okay down there? The more she thought, the more lost she became, sitting there for half an hour.