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Chapter 545: Exploiting a Loophole
Chapter 545: Exploiting a Loophole
Lu Jiaxin had already watched the movie, so she didn't plan on going to the cinema. Unexpectedly, Susan and Xu Yue went to see it and returned, raving about it to her. They praised not only the captivating plot but also the exceptional makeup and styling showcased in the film.
Susan excitedly said, "Boss, if 'Legally Blonde' becomes a huge hit like 'Pretty Woman,' our sales for this quarter will skyrocket too!"
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, " 'Pretty Woman' revolves around the female lead, and the makeup and styling in it are indeed outstanding. 'God of Gamblers,' on the other hand, is more focused on the male lead, and the actresses don't have as much screen time. Moreover, women are usually the ones who enjoy shopping, while men tend to be less interested."
Even if this movie boosts sales of clothing and jewelry, it's unlikely to surpass the success of 'Legally Blonde.' Throughout history, women and children have always been the easiest targets for profiting.
A thought occurred to Susan, and she said, "Boss, since 'Legally Blonde' did so well, why don't you make another movie like that?"
This remark reminded Lu Jiaxin of something. "We would need a good script for that. In a couple of days, I'll ask Tian Pengyu to find a screenwriter who can write a script that meets my expectations."
The quality of the script had to be excellent; otherwise, it wasn't worth filming. Classics like 'Ashes of Time' were shot in less than twenty days, and that was a miracle. Typically, a poorly written script would lead to a box office flop.
Two days later, Lu Jiaxin visited Xin Xin Property again. Three years ago, it was just a small business, but after Lu Jiaxin's acquisition, it underwent a significant transformation and was now a well-known property company in Hong Kong.
Tan Gang gave Lu Jiaxin an update on the rent collection and their collaboration with Wansheng Real Estate. He also provided an estimate of the second quarter's profits.
Lu Jiaxin's primary purpose for this visit wasn't to receive a report. "A few days ago, I sent some people to check out some of the company's properties, and the management was quite lax. Not only could outsiders enter the high-end residential compounds, but a security guard even got into an argument with a tenant. If our reputation suffers, who will want to rent our properties in the future?"
Since she or someone close to her might be easily recognized, Lu Jiaxin had specifically sent people with unfamiliar faces to investigate. This had brought to light a host of issues.
In Hong Kong, there was no shortage of people looking to rent properties, but if the management was subpar, they wouldn't want to be taken advantage of. Tenants would be willing to pay a premium only if the facilities and services met their expectations.
Lu Jiaxin fired a vice president, who happened to be the rude security guard's maternal uncle. All employees who were related to him and those implicated in the recent issues were also dismissed. Additionally, Tan Gang and the other high-level executives would have their annual bonuses withheld.
With a stern expression, Lu Jiaxin said to Tan Gang, "If something like this happens again, you can consider yourself fired from the position of general manager."
Tan Gang nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Lu Jiaxin continued, "Within three days, I want to see a management plan."
Having a plan wasn't enough; it had to be implemented effectively. Nonetheless, this incident taught her a valuable lesson. From then on, she would periodically send people to inspect the properties and establish a dedicated oversight department.
When Nie Zhan returned home, he didn't find Lu Jiaxin on the first floor. After asking the housekeeper, he learned that she was in her room, so he went upstairs. Seeing her writing intently, he smiled and asked, "What are you writing?"
Lu Jiaxin replied, "A few days ago, I sent some people to check on our properties, and they discovered a slew of issues. We need to strengthen management in this area going forward."
Nie Zhan suggested, "Sun Hung Kai does an excellent job with property management. You could poach one of their senior employees."
Lu Jiaxin was taken aback. She had been thinking about learning from Sun Hung Kai's management style, but Nie Zhan's suggestion was to poach their talent directly.
However, his method was indeed direct and effective, and it could also pressure other managers.
Seeing that Lu Jiaxin remained silent, Nie Zhan smiled and said, "As long as you're not stealing trade secrets from other companies, poaching talent with high salaries is considered fair competition, so you don't need to worry."
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, "I have no worries, and your method is excellent."
Nie Zhan knew of a senior employee at Sun Hung Kai named Qiu Houfa. "This person has a straightforward personality and loves to nitpick. If we bring him on board, Xin Xin Property will undergo a complete transformation."
"Alright."
Lu Jiaxin left the professional matter to a professional. She engaged a headhunting company and instructed them to negotiate with Qiu Houfa, offering better welfare and benefits than Sun Hung Kai, along with a promise of maximum authority.
Five days later, Tan Gang presented Lu Jiaxin with a new management plan that left her very dissatisfied. A week later, Qiu Houfa took office and proceeded to investigate each of the properties under Xin Xin Property.
The issues he uncovered were even more severe than what Lu Jiaxin had previously known. The security guards didn't patrol at night, choosing instead to gather and chat or sneak naps, creating significant security risks. The cleaners were slack in their work, and broken facilities were not repaired or replaced in a timely manner.
Lu Jiaxin's face turned pale with anger. She had clearly instructed Tan Gang about this issue two weeks ago, and yet nothing had improved.
It took a while for Lu Jiaxin to calm down. It was impossible for only the lower management to be at fault; usually, such problems started from the top and trickled down.
After some thought, Lu Jiaxin decided to replace their regular accounting firm with its arch-rival to audit Xin Xin Property's finances. She didn't inform Tan Gang or the other high-level executives about this decision beforehand. The audit team directly moved in, and due to the sudden nature of the operation, the finance team only realized what was happening when it was too late—the company's accounts had already been sealed and couldn't be tampered with.
It was hard for Nie Zhan to be unaware of such a significant move, and he smiled as he asked, "What's going on? Do you suspect there's a problem with the company's accounts?"
Lu Jiaxin nodded. "The biannual audits never turned up any issues, but the state of the lower management is appalling. I find this illogical. I want to see just how many more things have been hidden from me."
Nie Zhan chuckled. "I thought you would continue to leave things be."
Lu Jiaxin's heart skipped a beat as she looked up at him. "You knew there was a problem with Xin Xin Property all along?"
"You rarely visit the company yourself, and you haven't placed any trusted subordinates to supervise them or implemented a strict management system. Even without embezzlement, they can still take advantage of their positions for personal gain," Nie Zhan explained.
"Why didn't you tell me if you knew?" Lu Jiaxin asked.
Nie Zhan wanted her to discover it herself so that she would be more vigilant. "The vice president of Xin Xin Property, Jiang Muhe, is a classmate of my investment department manager. But the problem with Xin Xin Property isn't significant. If you don't like them, just make them return what they took and then fire them."
Through the investigation of the accounts and anonymous reports, it was finally discovered that Tan Gang had embezzled over eight million, and the dismissed vice president, along with another vice president, had taken over four million. Only Vice President Jiang Muhe was clean, and this cleanliness was based on his allegiance to Nie Zhan.
Lu Jiaxin had originally intended to send them all to prison, but Tan Gang had some background. The other party found Nie Zhan and asked him to mediate, requesting that Lu Jiaxin not pursue the matter further.
In the end, Lu Jiaxin heeded Nie Zhan's suggestion. She made them return what they had taken, with interest, and then fired them. Lu Jiaxin didn't keep that money for herself, either; she donated it all to a children's charity foundation, considering it a good deed.
Although they didn't go to prison, the news of their misdeeds had already spread within their business circle, and they would no longer be able to remain in Hong Kong's business community.
(End of Chapter)
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