Chapter 117: Beaten for Nothing

Zhang Qiang was indeed furious when Lin Jian called him "Zhang." He was so angry he wanted to kick Lin Jian to death. However, this was just a verbal dispute at best. He knew Lin Jian’s days were numbered—he was just on borrowed time. So, with a cold sneer, he immediately notified all the security guards to gather for a meeting.

"To the underground parking lot." After saying that, Lin Jian took the lead and headed toward the basement level.

As soon as he left, the few guards in the security room looked at Zhang Qiang.

Zhang Qiang sneered. "Let’s see what else he can do to me." With that, he lazily sauntered after him.

A moment later, all the security guards, including Liu Fei, had arrived at the underground parking lot. Originally, there were thirteen guards. Over the past few days, nearly sixteen more had joined, including six women. Counting Lin Jian, there were thirty people in total! This made it quite a large department.

Lin Jian stood at the front of the formation. To show off his status, Zhang Qiang also stood at the front.

"Zhang, get back in the ranks," Lin Jian said, looking at him.

Zhang Qiang gritted his teeth and endured it, his jaw muscles twitching from the strain.

At this moment, Lin Jian smiled. "Let me introduce myself. I am Lin Jian, the Vice Minister of the Administration Department. I am primarily in charge of the motor pool, security, cafeteria, dormitories, and cleaning departments.

"This is the first time I’m holding a meeting in the Security Department since taking office as Vice Minister.

"There are two purposes for today’s meeting. First, to rectify the recent chaos within the Security Department. Second, to strengthen the personal qualities of the security staff, which includes improving both your physical and mental fitness!

"I won’t waste words. Starting today—starting right now—the Security Department will undergo one hour of formation training every day. Everyone must participate, including the two vice managers of the department. I will personally serve as your instructor.

"Naturally, those currently on duty will be trained by the vice managers after their shift."

"Minister Lin, it’s working hours right now. Even if we have to train, shouldn’t it be scheduled for after work or on our days off?" Zhang Qiang retorted.

"You’re right, it is working hours. In that case, everyone on duty will return to their posts. The rest of you, line up by height!"

SHUFFLE.

Half the people immediately stepped back and quickly left. Only a dozen or so people were left standing. Zhang Qiang originally wanted to leave, but he wasn’t on duty. Moreover, as a vice manager, he couldn’t just walk away. So he huffed angrily, "Minister Lin, even if we’re doing departmental training, shouldn’t we find a proper military veteran to be the instructor?"

"I am a military veteran!" Lin Jian said with a grin.

"That’s not right. Aren’t you from a sports academy?" Zhang Qiang asked, puzzled.

"Manager Zhang, you talk too much. Now, everyone, attention!"

Everyone stood at attention except for Zhang Qiang, who remained exactly as he was, arms and legs relaxed.

Lin Jian walked up to him. "Zhang Qiang, attention!"

"Aren’t I standing right here?" Zhang Qiang retorted, craning his neck stubbornly.

"Zhang Qiang, I’ll say it one more time. Attention!" Lin Jian stared at him coldly.

Zhang Qiang maintained his lazy, indifferent posture.

However, at that very moment, Lin Jian suddenly raised his foot and kicked Zhang Qiang right in the lower abdomen! With just that single strike, Zhang Qiang clutched his stomach, unable to straighten his back.

"Everyone, about-face!"

SHUFFLE. The group sluggishly turned around.

"No one is allowed to look back. For formation standing, chest out, head up, legs together, hands by your sides." As he spoke, Lin Jian suddenly lashed out with his foot again, kicking the crouching Zhang Qiang so hard he fell flat on his rear.

"Lin Jian, I’ll fight you to the death!" Zhang Qiang was going crazy. He jumped up, ready to risk it all.

At this, the corners of Lin Jian’s mouth curled up. "You little punk, watch me play you to death," he thought.

And just as Zhang Qiang jumped up, Lin Jian kicked him to the ground once more.

"Do you know how to stand at attention or not?" Lin Jian asked coldly. "If you don’t, go upstairs to that Chu guy’s office and ask him how to do it!"

"Fine, you just wait! Lin Jian, you’re finished!" Zhang Qiang scrambled up and tried to leave.

But Lin Jian immediately slapped him hard on the back of the neck, sending him crashing to the floor again. "Did everyone hear that? Vice Manager Zhang is acting like a street thug, and he even dares to threaten his superior. He has no respect for the organization or discipline!

"Go ahead, Zhang Qiang. Go call Chu Feng down here. I’d love to ask him why he brought back someone of your caliber. Is he trying to build his own faction or clique in Fuxing?"

Zhang Qiang opened his mouth, stunned. This bastard really dared to say anything.

"Fine, just you wait!" Zhang Qiang scrambled to his feet and ran into the elevator.

"Alright, dismissed. Formal training starts tomorrow. Vice Manager Liu, stay behind for a moment!"

In truth, Lin Jian just wanted an excuse to beat Zhang Qiang up. However, if he had beaten him without any reason, he wouldn’t just face disciplinary action and have to pay compensation; he might even be handed over to the authorities! But by using the excuse of rectifying the personal qualities of the Security Department and subjecting these guards to military training, he could openly beat him! Besides, it wasn’t called a beating; it was merely "correcting Zhang Qiang’s military posture." Therefore, even if Zhang Qiang went to complain to Chu Feng, Chu Feng wouldn’t necessarily stick his neck out for him.

Sure enough, after Zhang Qiang arrived at Chu Feng’s office and explained the entire sequence of events, Chu Feng just stared at him blankly for a long while. Finally, Chu Feng said, "Go back to the Property Management Office. That’s it. I still have documents to review!"

That’s right, he had dismissed him back to the Property Management Office again!

Zhang Qiang didn’t understand. He couldn’t comprehend why this was happening. However, it was obvious that Chu Feng didn’t want to give him any explanation. In the workplace, a subordinate disobeying a superior and openly challenging their authority was a losing battle anywhere. Chu Feng certainly wasn’t going to fight that kind of losing battle for him!

As soon as Zhang Qiang left, Chu Feng mockingly cursed him for being an absolute lost cause.

Rectifying the personal qualities of the security staff was a good thing. It was a responsible action for the company’s benefit. Yet this vice manager had openly rebelled against his leader and refused to obey orders. If Chu Feng were in Lin Jian’s shoes, he would have kicked the bastard too!

The Security Department was different from other departments. It was a chaotic mix of people, requiring someone with an intimidating presence to keep them in line. Therefore, someone as highly intimidating as Lin Jian managing the Security Department actually made him the most suitable candidate. Chu Feng now felt that there was no need to fire Lin Jian. He needed to wait and see. The headquarters hadn’t made a final decision yet, so there was no rush for anything.

Meanwhile, Lin Jian and Liu Fei were smoking in a blind spot of the security cameras. Liu Fei remained completely silent, just puffing away relentlessly.

Lin Jian, on the other hand, chuckled. "Don’t worry about it. I honestly just wanted an excuse to beat him up, though I went a bit too easy on him. I’ll just get someone else to teach him a lesson in a few days."

"I heard President Ye left?" Liu Fei asked in a muffled voice.

"Yeah, she went back to the US to report on her work. It’s not certain if she’ll come back."

"Then what about you..."

"I probably won’t be here much longer. Actually, I came in today to resign, but after seeing the ugly faces of a few petty people, I decided to stick around. There’s nothing major happening these next few days anyway, so I might as well stay and make them miserable for a while before I quit!"

"Then what will you do afterward?" Liu Fei sighed. "If your mom finds out about this..."

"Oh, right. Have you seen my mom these past few days?"

COUGH COUGH.

Liu Fei didn’t know how to answer.

Lin Jian glared at him. "If you did, you did. If you didn’t, you didn’t. What the hell are you coughing for?"

"I did. Your mom mainly just wanted to hear about how your work is going..." Liu Fei found a very good excuse for himself.

Lin Jian couldn’t help but laugh. "I don’t care about the relationship between you two. As long as my mom agrees to it, I have no objections. But if you dare make her angry..."

"I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare! How could I?" Liu Fei instantly stood up, so agitated he looked as if he didn’t know what to do with his own hands and feet. Because he had just heard Lin Jian say he didn’t care! It was such a surprise, such an absolute delight!

"Alright, just don’t tell my mom about my situation for now. However, you need to tighten up the daily training and personal qualities of the Security Department. I’ll leave that in your hands."

"Okay, consider it done. I’ll handle it personally."

Liu Fei felt that Lin Jian had a good head on his shoulders. Tightening the guards’ discipline was absolutely a bonus for his track record.