Chapter 144: The Embezzler

“What’s wrong?”

Wu Ya looked utterly bewildered as Factory Director Pei rushed in, flustered.

Could it be that something had gone wrong again when he went to submit the report to the higher-ups?

But to his surprise—

“Your Uncle Chen—he’s acting completely recklessly!”

Not a word was said about the report. Instead, Pei immediately unleashed his pent-up anger on Chen Boyuan.

“Uncle Chen? What’s wrong with him?”

Wu Ya’s confusion deepened. Chen Boyuan had just left his side less than half an hour ago. How could he have managed to anger the factory director so badly? Had he stirred up some new trouble?

“You… you should go see for yourself! He’s right outside the factory gate!”

Pei showed no inclination to explain further, merely pointing toward the entrance with a face full of displeasure.

“Let’s go see!”

Pei’s demeanor weighed heavily on Wu Ya’s heart. He called out to the others and dashed toward the gate.

He had just finished discussing with Chen Boyuan, setting a one-month deadline. Could it be that Chen was overwhelmed and harboring silent resentment, which then erupted into deliberate mischief once he left? Otherwise, how could there be something so scandalous at the factory gate that even Director Pei was unwilling to put into words?

“Sister Chai, we should hurry and follow. If anything happens, we need to stop Wu Ya first!”

Liu Qian, sensing trouble, was worried. Wu Ya was impulsive and quick-tempered—nearly reckless. They couldn’t afford a violent confrontation sparked by Chen Boyuan’s antics.

So she quickly instructed Chai Yanfan, and the two of them ran out together.

“Hmph! Nepotism, pure nepotism! I thought only my family would embarrass themselves like this, but look at yours! What kind of brains does your Uncle Chen have? My relatives only cause trouble inside the factory, but your connections are turning Morning Thought into a notorious name!”

Watching the trio rush out, Director Pei’s fury remained at a boiling point. He even dragged out Han Meili, who had been dismissed.

Clearly, though he was outwardly magnanimous about the matter, deep down he was still deeply resentful.

Soon, Wu Ya arrived near the factory gate.

As he looked up—

“You all know the conditions, right? Anyone willing to start a business with us, to help Morning Thought break out from Huaiyuan Province to the whole world—if you meet the requirements, we welcome you with open arms! And with high pay to boot!”

A loud, piercing voice reached his ears. Chen Boyuan was standing at the entrance, energetically calling out to passersby.

Within a radius of one to five meters, a sea of people had gathered, all clustered around a large poster plastered on the wall.

“Chen Boyuan is recruiting? That’s a good thing! Decisive and straightforward. He finished talking with me and immediately took action. What’s wrong with that?”

Seeing this, Wu Ya’s confusion only deepened. Such a normal move—how could Director Pei have called it rebellious and outrageous?

“Wu Ya, isn’t this perfectly normal? Maybe Director Pei went out and got his head blown by the wind!” Liu Qian, who had just caught up, finally relaxed.

She had feared something serious had happened, given Pei’s earlier demeanor. Running after Wu Ya nearly exhausted her.

“Yeah, what’s Director Pei’s problem anyway?” Even Chai Yanfan couldn’t help but feel some anger rising.

True, Pei had just returned and didn’t know about the conversation Wu Ya and Chen Boyuan had just had. Nor was he aware of the expansion plans for the sales department. So his confusion was understandable.

But was such a huge reaction warranted?

And hadn’t he seen Wu Ya just now? Couldn’t he have asked what was going on before losing his temper like that?

He attacked Chen Boyuan as if he had committed some heinous crime!

What was the matter? Even if Pei didn’t know, was there anything wrong with recruiting?

This was outrageous!

And it nearly gave me a twisted back from all this running, too!

“Let’s go out and take a look! What exactly is Chen Boyuan up to?”

Still, Wu Ya understood these two men best.

Chen Boyuan craved grand achievements. If a matter didn’t cause an earth-shattering commotion, he felt it failed to showcase his influence.

Director Pei, on the other hand, was no one to make baseless accusations or blow things out of proportion.

So there had to be a problem here.

The best solution was to step outside and see for themselves.

Liu Qian and Chai Yanfan followed closely behind, both filled with intense curiosity.

“Haha, this is really something. I’ve never heard of a place needing this kind of person before!”

“Right, this is unprecedented—a miracle!”

“Are all the people from Morning Thought Textile Factory this eccentric?”

As they drew nearer, the murmurs from the crowd drifted over.

The three, who had just thought everything was normal, immediately felt their hearts jump to their throats.

They quickened their pace and soon arrived at the scene.

But when they looked at the big poster on the wall through the crowd—

“This…”

The three were stunned simultaneously.

The poster, about eighty centimeters square, was not the issue.

The issue was the text.

At the top, in bold letters: “Morning Thought Factory Recruiting Salespeople.”

Nothing wrong there.

But as they read further, they nearly fainted.

The personal requirements for applicants were listed:

First, healthy, under fifty years old.

Second, eloquent, cheerful, outgoing personality.

These two were normal—basic essentials, no dispute.

But then the tone shifted drastically.

Third: Former mid-level managers at state-owned factories, especially those from sales and procurement departments, will be given priority! Among those meeting these conditions, people dismissed for embezzlement or bribery will be hired immediately!

Dismissed people hired immediately?

“Chen Boyuan is really making a mockery of things! This is truly a miracle!”

“No wonder Director Pei was so furious! Morning Thought will become infamous far and wide!”

Liu Qian and Chai Yanfan almost simultaneously switched their attitude—from dissatisfaction with Pei to understanding.

Only Wu Ya remained silent.

He stared at the poster without a trace of anger, a smile slowly creeping onto his face.

“Heh, Chen Boyuan, I really wasn’t wrong about you.”

“Hm?”

His low murmur caught Liu Qian and Chai Yanfan’s attention.

“Wu Ya, you don’t think what he’s doing is right, do you?”

“Yeah, Wu Ya, how could this possibly be right?”

They asked outright—they couldn’t comprehend it.

Recruitment usually demanded health and good character.

Character meant not only appearance but also integrity.

But what kind of people was Chen Boyuan recruiting?

Embezzlers!

Though state-owned factories had declined for various reasons, it was undeniable that those who rose to middle management among hundreds or thousands of colleagues were no ordinary individuals.

Especially those in sales and procurement—smooth, skilled, and adaptable.

Having such people to handle Morning Thought’s business, as long as they shed their old corrupt officialdom mindset, would naturally be effective.

But that last point completely spoiled the recruitment.

Hiring those dismissed for embezzlement or bribery immediately!

Immediately!

Someone with a stain on their record ranked even higher than the priority given to other mid-level managers?

“This Morning Thought Factory is really something! They only want embezzlers or bribers. Are they a criminal syndicate?”

“Haha, who can say otherwise? A textile factory just starting to turn around and already acting like this!”

“Who can say otherwise? I think their factory director must have lost his mind!”

The entire crowd’s focus converged on this one point.

This alone had stirred a huge uproar.

No wonder Director Pei had rushed to find Wu Ya in such a panic.

This guy was trying to recruit a whole bunch of embezzlers!

This was intolerable.

If Chen Boyuan succeeded, the scorn and ridicule would become the talk of every street and alley.

Director Pei’s reputation would plummet to rock bottom.

His dream of using a pre-financing and repurchase model to elevate the factory to the next level would be shattered.

Could he not be anxious?

“Wu Ya, speak up! How can what he’s doing be right?”

“Yeah, Wu Ya, think carefully! If something goes wrong, it’ll be a huge problem!”

Liu Qian and Chai Yanfan pressed again, seeing Wu Ya’s silence.

Gathering a group of embezzlers and bribers—forget Chen Boyuan’s motives—the very presence of such people was extremely harmful.

It could even alert the authorities and lead to investigations.

If that happened, the factory might have to suspend operations for rectification.

How could the factory continue?

Yet, inexplicably, Wu Ya seemed to agree.

More than that, he appeared to admire Chen Boyuan.

What was going on?

“Heh, think about it. Those who reached middle management in state-owned enterprises are truly capable people. Not to mention, their social skills and ability to flatter leaders surpass ordinary folks.”

Seeing their eager faces, Wu Ya smiled faintly, deciding to enlighten them.

“Of course! Without flattery, how do you get close to the leadership? Without people skills, you lose colleagues’ support!”

Liu Qian was less clear, but Chai Yanfan, a laid-off worker, understood workplace dynamics well.

But what did this have to do with recruiting salespeople?

“Their skills let them win people over. Think about business and sales: what do you need most? To make people like you, enjoy your conversation, and want to be close to you. Only then can you close a deal.”

This time, neither spoke.

Chai Yanfan, having experienced both state and private sectors, saw the logic.

Liu Qian’s parents were dealers; she had often observed their demeanor.

Indeed, winning people’s favor was the key to successful negotiations.

“But… if these people are enough, why recruit embezzlers and bribers? And why prefer them even more?”

They understood part of it, but the last point baffled them.

Yes, these people had skills, experience, and broad connections.

These were advantages ordinary people could not match.

But hiring embezzlers and bribers and giving them preferential treatment?

If you could prove you had been dismissed, you were hired without question!

At first glance, this sounded like a joke.

How had Wu Ya come to admire such behavior?

Not just them—everyone at the scene found it utterly incomprehensible.

What was Morning Thought Textile Factory trying to do? Grab attention?

Even if they wanted fame, this approach was beyond reason.