Chapter 113: Routine Inspection

“Routine inspection!”

These past few days, every morning as soon as work begins, Mengrou Garment Group has been faced with almost the same scene.
Not only the Bureau of Commerce with one of its major audits, then the Taxation Department, then even the Health Department, and sometimes even a publicity office joining in for good measure… of course, the Quality Supervision Bureau is never missing either. In short, every government office connected to enterprises has come through the gate.

It is as if Mengrou Garment Group itself has become their office—no need for them to report to a government building; they can come straight here and begin their duties.

In these days the group has already been on the edge of paralysis. Its employees have been shaken to the core.
Not only within Mengrou Garment Group, but every factory and storefront under its umbrella has also been swept into these inspections.

And the reasons they give are perfectly “sufficient.” After all, they are said to be responsible for enterprises and for the public.
Look how early they arrive, how diligent they seem. Could one accuse them of abusing authority? Certainly not.
They are precise in their control—able to halt Mengrou’s operations completely, yet leave you unable to point to any real mistake.

Mengrou has therefore fallen into a multi-layered crisis.
Within the group, among partners, and across various business projects, there are serious problems emerging everywhere.
It feels as if a perfectly healthy company might collapse in a single instant.

Today, the visitors are from the Publicity Department.
Their main focus is all of Mengrou’s print ads, television and online promotions, with occasional checks and evaluations of the promotional effects of its trademarks.
In truth, it is merely busywork, troublemaking with a smile.

Different departments crossed in on one another, but through all of Mengrou they could not find anything that justified severe scolding.
Mengrou Garment Group is truly a very clean company.
Yet inspectors do not care about this. They simply obey instructions from above.

Some well-informed people have already sensed these checks are tied to rivalries—but for them, it is merely gossip, never a trigger for mercy.
Some even seem to look forward to coming to Mengrou every day.
After all, Mengrou is practically a beauty enclave. Beautiful women are everywhere; just looking around is pleasant to the eyes.

Wang Xinmeng stood by the slatted blinds and watched a group of officials from various departments dart about the premises. A charming curve lifted at the corner of her mouth without her even noticing.
To Wang, what He Jiansheng was doing felt so mean. It did not suit the man his status should command.
No wonder the He family had removed He Jiansheng from the post of steward at the outer branch.

But such constant harassment has already caused severe harm.
The direct and indirect losses have already reached more than thirty million yuan.

“He Tian, I hope your next move is faster,” Wang Xinmeng murmured inwardly.
The losses now cannot be recovered.
Still, Wang Xinmeng is willing to wait.

Partly, she is truly angry at He Jiansheng and wants to see what his face looks like when he collapses.
Partly, she also knows exactly how much the group’s reputation will rise once his vassals are taken down. At that moment, countless people will pin those fallen officials on Wang’s achievements, and that can only help Mengrou’s future.

And there is more. While this batch of inspections has gathered, Wang Xinmeng is quietly strengthening the group from within. She is carrying out a major internal reform. Especially with the plan to place Cao Xiaomin at Tianrou Investment, she is using this moment to launch a large-scale selection among senior executives and ordinary management. It will actively raise employee motivation.

Anyone who can stay calm through this period and remain confident in Mengrou has strong mettle. If there is no issue in ability, Wang can afford to let them go further.
From this angle, Wang truly has a talent for turning ruin into opportunity.

She withdrew her gaze and turned around, looking at Cao Xiaomin, Shi Yongrong, and Zhu Lieman.
These were her close friends who had walked with her since they founded the company.
From their college days the four had stayed together until now.
Wang knew very well that without their help, Mengrou Garment Group could never have grown to its present scale.

And now… she had to separate this team with her own hands.

“Xiaomin, have you thought it all through?” Wang said seriously. “I did say that the stage over there may be smaller than this one for now, but its potential is bigger. But that was only a rough remark… We both know how hard it is for a newly founded company to grow. You must decide clearly.”

“Xinmeng… what’s gotten into you?” Cao Xiaomin laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll make Tianrou Investment strong. When that happens, you all had better be careful not to let me pass you!”

“Come on,” Shi Yongrong said with a smile, “I’ve been pinned down by you for so long. Now that I’ve turned things around, just wait and see how much better I’ll do!”

Once Xiaomin leaves, Shi will have far more responsibility than before—that was certain.
Yet Shi, in her expression, looked full of confidence.
At the same time, the reluctance in her eyes was unmistakable.
Clearly they had grown used to working together for so long; separating truly still stung them.

“It’s just… hard to let go of the place we spent so long building,” Cao Xiaomin said softly.

“Enough. We’re still one unit. Don’t be so sentimental,” Zhu Lieman said, brushing her hair back with a faint smile. “Xinmeng, if you do not speak now, Xiaomin will truly part from us!”

“Xinmeng, is there something else you still hidden from me?” Cao asked, surprised.
Shi too looked a bit taken aback.

“Look at this,” Wang smiled and handed a document to Cao from her desk.
Cao, suspicious, took it and read.

“Is this true?” she asked in disbelief.

The document stated that after Cao Xiaomin became general manager of Tianrou Investment, Tianrou Investment would inject one billion yuan into Mengrou Garment Group. Combined with Cao’s original ten-percent stake in Mengrou, this would be exchanged for Tianrou’s thirty-percent stake in Mengrou.
At the same time, Cao would relinquish her ten-percent holding in Mengrou and convert that into twenty percent ownership in Tianrou Investment.

By market valuation, the value of her shares had not increased or decreased.
Yet this cross-shareholding carried several important meanings.

First, it made Tianrou Investment and Mengrou Garment Group function as one whole. For the newly established Tianrou Investment, this would be a leap in credibility and public profile.

Second, in Tianrou Investment, Cao Xiaomin would no longer be merely an employee. She would be a shareholder, a true founder—a status entirely different from that of a wage worker.

Third, strictly speaking, Cao was not truly separating from everyone.
They were still together.

“Of course it is true. Xiaomin told me this was the first, and also the last, investment plan prepared before your appointment, made without waiting for your approval. We all hope you will accept it,” Wang said seriously.
Xiaomin gave a small smile and signed her name immediately, no hesitation.

Wang willing to bind Mengrou Garment Group and Tianrou Investment together in this way has already shown her attitude toward Tianrou Investment. What more could Xiaomin object?

“Xiaomin, I hope you create even more achievements in this new field,” Wang smiled. “We all know you. You have been tied to the group too long. It’s time for you to stretch your wings.”

“You haven’t forgotten my habits,” Xiaomin said. “Good. Sisters, we are always best friends!”
She pulled Wang Xinmeng, Shi Yongrong, and Zhu Lieman into a tight embrace.

“Still, Xiaomin, let it be clear first: these one billion yuan in funds—bring them in quickly. For the group’s development, it is very important!” Wang said with a smile.

“This is something I need to study through carefully. No need to rush,” Xiaomin replied, already thinking in the way a Tianrou Investment person would.

“Study it? You little shameless one, are you just itching to tease us?” Shi Yongrong said sharply. “Girls, let’s punish this ungrateful girl!”

“Punish her,” Wang and Zhu Lieman smiled faintly, and at once joined in.

No one knew that at the very moment Mengrou Garment Group seemed tossed between wind and rain, the company had undergone major adjustments both inside and out. Its entire business environment had changed drastically.

――――

He Tian held a glass of red wine and stirred it slowly.

From the top floor of Qiyuan Grand Hotel, nearly the whole of Tianhai City could be seen.
At thirty-six stories, Qiyuan Hotel was He Tian’s pride. He loved the sensation of overlooking the city; it filled him with a strong sense of achievement.

He took a small sip. His smile grew broader.
“He Tian… watch how I destroy you,” he murmured, pride impossible to hide.