Chapter Thirty-Five: I Can Have You Fired

Just as Ma Wu was about to continue outlining his needs, a middle-aged man in a security guard uniform hurried in from outside the main entrance. Looking at Chen Ao with a hint of fear, he said, “Ah, Team Leader Chen, has my wife caused trouble again? What’s going on?”

Chen Ao narrowed his eyes, his tone a little displeased. “Listen, Old Chen, I’ve tolerated you for a long time here. Every time you go for a meal and let your wife cover your shift, I haven’t said a word. But can’t you at least keep her in check?”

“This isn’t the first time, is it? Every time your wife is on duty, if she’s in a bad mood, she takes it out on others as soon as they walk in, cursing them for no reason. There have been at least three disputes caused by her, haven’t there?”

The man kept his head down, looking meek and apologetic. “I’m sorry, Team Leader Chen, it’s all my wife’s fault. I’m sorry.” Then he raised his hand and slapped the middle-aged woman beside him hard across the face.

Chen Ao, witnessing this, barked out, “When I said ‘keep her in check,’ I didn’t mean hitting a woman! Striking a woman is not something a real man does!”

The security guard realized he’d made things worse, so he kept bowing and apologizing, but both he and the woman looked at Ma Wu with deep resentment, as if cursing his ancestors in their hearts.

Ma Wu frowned slightly. So, unable to complain to Chen Ao, they’re turning their resentment on me? Heh, I haven’t even confronted that woman for insulting me, and now the two of them are already making me their enemy?

Ma Wu’s eyes hardened, his tone icy. “Sorry, maybe you managed to smooth over those previous three disputes. But I’m not someone who’s easy to get along with, and I don’t intend to let this go so easily.”

Chen Ao glanced at Ma Wu in surprise. “Then, Mr. Ma Wu, what would you suggest?”

Ma Wu smiled, thoughtfully stroking his chin before replying, “Mr. Chen Ao, don’t you think your company could use some more motivated security staff?”

At these words, both the security guard and the woman’s expressions changed. Being scolded was one thing, but losing their jobs was quite another.

The woman immediately lost her composure, hands on her hips, unleashing a torrent of abuse at Ma Wu. Her shrill, piercing voice echoed through the entire lobby, cursing Ma Wu’s ancestors up and down.

Ma Wu’s eyes grew cold. He never hit women, but this sort had already crossed his bottom line. In a flash, before anyone could see clearly, he was beside the woman, and with a single slap sent her, stout as she was—at least one hundred fifty or sixty pounds—flying two or three meters. Half her face swelled instantly.

The security guard’s eyes reddened with rage. He wanted to rush at Ma Wu, but after seeing his strength, he hesitated. After a long pause, he spat venomously, “You bastard, who do you think you are to get me fired? Are you even part of this company?”

“If you’re not, then you’re nothing! You dare hit my wife? Believe me, I’ll call my boys and have them teach you a lesson!”

Hearing the security guard’s thuggish threats, Chen Ao’s dissatisfaction deepened. Even if Ma Wu hadn’t brought it up, he was already considering firing him.

Ma Wu listened, a wicked smile appearing. “I’m not an employee here, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make you leave.”

He turned to Chen Ao. “Mr. Chen Ao, I’d like to discuss a business collaboration. If it succeeds, I’ll pay at least five million yuan. But there’s one condition: I want this security guard dismissed. His presence severely damages your company’s image.”

The security guard’s face turned ashen. Five million! For someone making only five thousand a month, he could never earn that in a lifetime.

Chen Ao smiled amiably at Ma Wu. “Alright, regardless of how big the deal is, just based on this guard’s thuggish attitude, I can’t keep him around. Let’s go upstairs and talk.”

He led Ma Wu upstairs. Without another glance at the security guard, Chen Ao said lightly, “Uncle Zhang, I expect you to have cleared out your things and left before six o’clock today.”

The guard stood there, pale and aggrieved, watching Ma Wu and Chen Ao ride the elevator away. After a long silence, he slapped the woman again.

Ding! You’ve shown an arrogant security guard and a shrewish woman what true wealth is. Pretension value +500.

Ding! You’ve successfully gotten a security guard who doubted your abilities dismissed. Slap-in-the-face value +500.

Standing in the elevator, Ma Wu soon heard the system’s prompts in his mind.

Meanwhile, Chen Ao, curious, asked, “Mr. Ma Wu, what exactly is this five-million-yuan deal you mentioned?”

Ma Wu smiled. “Here’s the situation: I’ve obtained some damaging material on Goldfish TV. I’d like to use your company’s resources to spread this information and deal a blow to Goldfish TV, affecting their market value.”

Chen Ao thought for a moment, then cautiously replied, “From what you’ve said so far, we can’t assess the risks and benefits involved. I’ll immediately gather the other two executive team leaders, and we can discuss the details in the conference room.”

Ma Wu nodded his agreement.

Chen Ao acted decisively, quickly assembling several staff members along with the other two team leaders, who held equal status to him, for an emergency meeting.

One of the other team leaders looked dull and honest, while the other was portly and did not seem particularly competent. Ma Wu took special note of the portly one; his name tag read Zhao Hu.

Zhao Hu looked at Ma Wu with a flash of disdain in his eyes and said impatiently to Chen Ao, “You drag us away from lunch, summon us during our break—what’s so urgent? If this isn’t important, I’m leaving.”

Chen Ao smiled, motioning for Ma Wu to address Zhao Hu and the others.

Clearing his throat, Ma Wu faced the assembled staff of Tengyue Media. “Friends, good afternoon. My name is Ma Wu. I’m here to discuss a business proposition. If you succeed, I’ll pay your company at least five million yuan.”

He led with the five million, knowing such a large sum would immediately arouse everyone’s interest and banish any lethargy.

As expected, everyone straightened up, listening to Ma Wu with bated breath.

Ma Wu smiled. “Here’s the deal. I’ve collected audio recordings of Goldfish TV staff threatening streamers, demanding they return their legitimate earnings, as well as recordings of their managers insulting and threatening anchors. I hope your company can use its channels to spread this negative news and deliver a fatal blow to Goldfish TV.”

As soon as he finished, the staff began whispering among themselves, clearly weighing the risks.

Before they could finish their discussions, Zhao Hu abruptly stood up, sneering, “You think you alone can take on Goldfish TV? Give me a break. Our company won’t go against them for your five million; after all, Goldfish TV is one of our partners. If we offend them, our losses could be even greater.”

Ma Wu frowned. At Zhao Hu’s words, it seemed the group was leaning toward rejecting him.

After a moment’s thought, Ma Wu continued, “There’s no need to be so pessimistic. Five million is just the minimum; if the job’s well done, I’ll pay more. And let me tell you something: I am, in fact, the ‘I Really Have No Money’ who appeared in Lin Erke’s Goldfish TV livestream. I’m sure you’ve all heard my bold claims by now, haven’t you?”