From abandoned baby to CEO

Standing on the simple podium, looking at the weather-beaten faces below, she felt very complicated.

She knew that everyone's hopes rested on her, and behind her were three hundred families.

In an instant, she felt the burden on her shoulders was so heavy.

No matter what, she will do her best to save this business and bring hope to 300 families.

She spoke confidently and without arrogance:

"Hello everyone, I'm Sun Xue. From today on, I will work with you to revitalize Chengtou Construction."

Her voice was clear and firm. "I can't promise that everything will be smooth sailing, but I can guarantee that as long as we work together, we will be able to get out of this difficult situation."

There was thunderous applause from the audience. Most of the people in the audience were older than Sun Xue. They had not expected that a young person would take over this business.

She immediately announced her first decision:

"Starting today, overdue wages will be paid. At the same time, all employees who have reached retirement age can voluntarily choose to retire early and enjoy retirement benefits that are better than the national standard."

There was silence in the audience at first, and then it broke into warm applause.

Sun Xue noticed that tears were in the eyes of many old employees.

None of them expected that the first news announced by the newly appointed young boss would be for the benefit of the employees.

"Over the past few decades, Chengtou Construction has made outstanding contributions to the real estate industry in our city of Quanzhou. The current difficulties are only temporary. I firmly believe that through our efforts, the company will be able to regain its former glory!"

Next, Sun Xue described the future development direction to everyone, and then solemnly introduced her management team to everyone.

The first meeting left a very good impression on everyone.

In the second week of taking over the urban construction, Sun Xue began to devote herself to the work. After careful research, she decided to carry out drastic reforms.

On Monday morning, she led five core members of Xuehua Construction to Chengtou Construction. At a meeting of the impromptu reform team, she pointed to the company's organizational chart and said:

"The first thing we need to do is streamline the organization. The city investment company currently has 12 departments. Departments like the Veteran Affairs Office and the Logistics and Support Services Department have lost their value and must be eliminated."

"Also, the company's middle-level managers account for 30% of the total employees, which is a serious imbalance."

The reform team quickly announced the first round of adjustment plans: abolish five redundant departments, merge departments with similar functions, and require all managers to re-compete for their positions.

On the afternoon of the day the plan was announced, Zhang Jianguo, a veteran and deputy general manager of Chengtou Construction, angrily knocked on the door of Sun Xue's office.

As soon as he entered the office, Zhang Jianguo asked with a gloomy face:

"Boss Sun, why are you abolishing the Veteran Cadre Section?" he said, his face filled with indignation. "Do you know what this means? Are we going to deprive those veterans who have dedicated their entire lives to the Urban Investment Corporation of their last resort of even their last resort?"

When Sun Xue saw Zhang Jianguo's attitude, she knew that he was here to call for punishment.

She had already prepared herself mentally. She knew that as long as there was reform, there would be people who would jump out to oppose it.

But if the company wants to survive, reform is imminent. Failure to reform will definitely lead to death. Streamlining departments is the first step in reform.

Sun Xue calmly asked Zhang Jianguo to sit down. "Mr. Zhang, I understand your concerns. However, the Veteran Cadre Section currently has eight staff members and only serves 23 retired cadres. We can better protect their rights and interests by purchasing social services."

Zhang Jianguo got furious when he heard this, and he slammed his desk loudly:

"You're chilling everyone's heart!" he said loudly. "City Investment is not a profit-driven company like your Xuehua. We are a state-owned enterprise and we value humanity!"

"For an enterprise to survive, it must first be profitable." Sun Xue asked calmly:

"I believe that the veterans who truly care about the municipal investment company don't want to see it eventually close down due to overstaffing, right?"

Zhang Jianguo's face turned black with anger. "You are just being unreasonable. Don't use your company's rhetoric to fool me. Our municipal investment has been developing for decades, and you, Xuehua, have only been developing for a few years?"

Sun Xue said calmly, "The development of an enterprise must follow the tide of the times. If you go against the tide, the ultimate result will be being eliminated by this era."

Zhang Jianguo persisted, "I don't want to argue with you. This department must not be withdrawn!"

The conversation broke up unhappily.

Watching Zhang Jianguo turn away angrily, Sun Xue frowned and sighed.

She didn't expect that as a senior executive, his thoughts would be so stubborn.

The resistance to reform came faster and more intensely than she had expected.

The next morning, when she walked into the office building, she found more than 30 employees gathered in the lobby. Most of them were middle-aged or older, and wore the old Chengtou Construction company emblem on their chests.

The leaders were Zhang Jianguo and several department heads.

When Sun Xue saw Zhang Jianguo, her heart sank.

She knew that these people must be causing trouble for her again because of the reform.

As expected, Zhang Jianguo was the first to speak with a serious expression:

"Mr. Sun, on behalf of all the employees of the Urban Investment Corporation, we hope you will reconsider the reform plan."

Zhang Jianguo handed over a joint letter, "Over the past 40 years, the value of the Urban Investment Corporation lies not in how much money it can make, but in its care for its employees and its culture."

Sun Xue took the letter and glanced at every face present.

She read dissatisfaction, anger and worry in their eyes.

Sun Xue closed the letter and said seriously, "I understand your concerns, but please also understand my position. The funds currently on the books of the municipal investment company are only enough to sustain operations for three months. If no reforms are made, everyone will face unemployment in three months."

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, and whispers were heard from the crowd...

Seeing this, Sun Xue continued:

"The reform is not about laying off employees, but about keeping businesses afloat and giving employees more job stability."

"I promise that all affected employees will be properly resettled, either through transfer or compensation that is better than the national standard."

"No evidence!" someone immediately questioned, "Why should we trust the words of you private company bosses?"

Sun Xue was speechless. She didn't expect that even though she was wholeheartedly thinking about her employees, these leaders kept saying that private company bosses were not trustworthy. It really made her sad.

"Since you don't believe me, then prove it with your actions. Starting with me, all managers will only receive a basic monthly salary until the company returns to profitability. If the company's situation doesn't improve within six months, I will voluntarily resign as chairman."

Her words instantly left everyone speechless...