Chapter 137: Contradiction (1) |
The shareholders' meeting was scheduled for three in the afternoon. Wei Hongsi used the time before that to meet individually with the five technical staff recommended from Department One and Department Three.
Although these people also showed surprise when they saw Wei Hongsi, the degree was quite mild, and the questions they asked were relatively restrained. This was somewhat different from the morning's situation.
Wei Hongsi estimated that this was because their recommenders had communicated with them beforehand, informing them of some details in advance.
Xu Xinwan and Xue Ying held middle-level executive positions. They had closer connections with frontline technical staff and wouldn't issue direct notifications like Director Yu would. Moreover, as women, they tended to communicate more delicately and thoroughly.
So this round of interviews ended earlier than expected. Wei Hongsi still had time to check the monitoring and diagnosis status of the individuals entrusted by the police for examination.
At this point, a total of seventy people from the first two batches had completed their diagnoses. Among them, sixty-one had been infected with "Spiritual Contamination" to varying degrees, accounting for over 87%. This showed the extremely high infection rate of the individualized "Psychological Virus."
Based on this proportion, the total number of infected individuals could exceed 120. Although this would put considerable pressure on subsequent treatment efforts, it was very favorable for the prevention, treatment, and research of the "Psychological Virus."
When the time was about right, Wei Hongsi left the office and headed to the 22nd floor to attend the meeting.
The meeting venue was Conference Room 2210. This was where Wei Hongsi had first encountered the company's senior executives up close.
The conference table was arranged in a "U" shape, with the open end facing the large screen that occupied almost the entire wall. Beneath the screen was a wooden speaker's platform about three meters wide and 20 centimeters high, its surface covered with navy blue carpet. At one corner of the platform, there was a smart lectern.
Name cards were placed on the conference table, each bearing the names of the shareholders. Seats for non-voting attendees were set up behind the row of tables directly facing the large screen.
At that moment, only Qian Jiayu and Lin Fangzhe were in the conference room.
Wei Hongsi walked along the wall, greeting the two of them. Seeing that there were also name cards on this row of tables, and his seat was at the very end, he sat down there.
Not long after, Ji Yongsheng, Gu Shiming, and Jiang Kai arrived one after another and also took their seats in this row. Everyone chatted idly about unrelated work matters, looking quite relaxed.
As the meeting time approached, footsteps and conversation could be heard from outside, occasionally accompanied by light laughter. After a moment, a group of shareholders led by Dai Songquan entered the venue. Ji Yongsheng and the other senior executives all stood up, smiling in welcome to show respect to the shareholders.
Wei Hongsi naturally stood up as well. One shareholder, noticing him, said in surprise, "Does our company have such a young senior executive?"
Dai Songquan said, "His name is Wei Hongsi. He's here as a non-voting attendee today to give a report on a key project."
That shareholder let out an "Oh" and then praised with a smile, "Young and promising! It shows Director Dai's excellent leadership."
Several other shareholders also laughed in agreement while giving Wei Hongsi a few more glances.
Wei Hongsi responded with a smile, silently noting the shareholder who had made a fuss. His attendance as a non-voting participant was listed on the meeting agenda. This was a classic case of asking something already known.
The shareholders found their seats according to their name cards. Those familiar with Ji Yongsheng and the other executives came over to exchange pleasantries first. The atmosphere was very harmonious.
Wu Wenjun arranged for staff to serve tea and bring out fruit platters. Soon, everyone was seated. The staff exited, and Wu Wenjun closed the conference room door before taking his seat among the non-voting attendees, right next to Wei Hongsi.
As the company's chairman and president, as well as its founder and largest shareholder, Dai Songquan served as the meeting's moderator.
He switched on the gooseneck microphone on the table and declared the meeting open, then immediately moved to the first agenda item.
Qian Jiayu stepped onto the speaker's platform. His task was to read the explanation of the legality of the meeting's convening procedures, verify the shareholders' attendance, confirm the proportion of valid voting rights, introduce the non-voting attendees, and announce the meeting discipline and voting methods.
These items were essentially a formality, yet they were indispensable.
Zhiwei Technology had a total of eighteen shareholders. Except for Xia Yuansheng, who was absent due to illness, the remaining seventeen were all present.
There should have been seven non-shareholder senior executives in attendance: Vice President Ji Yongsheng and the general managers of the six major centers. Meng Haolin was in criminal police custody, leaving his position temporarily vacant.
Additionally, there was Wei Hongsi, who was prepared to give a report. When Qian Jiayu mentioned him, several shareholders glanced at him again.
After Qian Jiayu returned to his seat, Dai Songquan announced the start of the second agenda item, which was the mid-year operational briefing by Lin Fangzhe, General Manager of the Financial Settlement Center.
Just as Lin Fangzhe stood up, someone raised a hand and said, "Director Dai, please wait a moment. I have an objection."
The speaker was named Tai Liqun, in his early fifties. He was the same shareholder who had just "mistakenly" thought Wei Hongsi was a senior executive.
Dai Songquan said, "Please go ahead, Director Tai."
Tai Liqun stared at Wei Hongsi and said, "This agenda item involves highly sensitive content, such as the company's first-half revenue and financial budget. This young man is just a project lead, and this project itself hasn't even been finalized yet. I don't think he should have access to this information."
After finishing, his gaze swept across the room: "Don't you all agree?"
Immediately, several shareholders nodded, and two others voiced their agreement.
Dai Songquan gave a slight nod and spoke into the microphone: "Director Qian, is Wei Hongsi's attendance as a non-voting observer in compliance with the rules?"
Qian Jiayu stood up and said, "Wei Hongsi is a designated non-voting attendee for this shareholders' meeting, responsible for reporting on the key project under the third agenda item. His full attendance is to ensure agenda continuity and information consistency, which is in accordance with the company's meeting rules."
Although he didn't have a microphone in front of him, his voice was clear and forceful, reaching everyone present.
Dai Songquan pressed his hand back slightly, signaling Qian Jiayu to sit down, then spoke into the microphone: "Director Tai, what do you think?"
Tai Liqun glanced at Wei Hongsi again but said nothing more. Those who had supported him also remained silent.
In truth, everyone present understood the situation. This young man was clearly a trusted protégé Dai Songquan intended to promote vigorously. If Dai Songquan wanted to show him the company's financial statements, he could do so at any time outside the shareholders' meeting. What use was there in opposing it here?
Wei Hongsi understood this perfectly well as well. That Director Tai wasn't really trying to prevent him from listening to the second agenda item. He was just using this method to put some pressure on him.
If the pressure was too great, it would inevitably affect his upcoming report. Then the opposition could find an opportunity to make something of it.
So, should he show some pressure, just as a feint?
After thinking it over briefly, Wei Hongsi decided against it. He hadn't studied acting, and everyone present were old foxes. Such an act would be easily seen through.
