CHAPTER 1468: CHAPTER 1290: BAI XIAOSHENG ARRIVES_2

"Haha, Zhang, you’re too kind! You’re doing well yourself; the area you took over wasn’t great before, everyone knows that. But once you took over, the output multiplied several times! Man, I admire you, I want to learn from you! With your talent, Elder Xia will definitely notice you!"

...

"Mr. Jin, your UH Country area is doing quite well; your business has reached us over there. Surely, Elder Xia will notice your overseas achievements and reserve a spot for you, it looks certain you will be included."

"You’re too kind, Mr. Zhou. I still have much to learn from your team. I don’t dare to hope for recommendations..."

...

The atmosphere was once warm and lively.

Xiahou Qi watched these people with a smile.

Many saw Xiahou Qi looking over and quickly nodded with respectful smiles, eager to show goodwill.

Among these attendees, there was one who stood out.

He proactively chatted with people around him, but those around him were evasive, merely smiling and offering a few perfunctory words before burying themselves in other conversations.

Yet he seemed undeterred, seizing every opportunity to chat with others.

Xiahou Qi knew him.

His name was Han Richeng, in his fifties, possessing an uncommonly refined appearance with a hint of scholarly elegance, and was not without capabilities.

Shen Peishen became the acting CEO, leaving a vacant spot among the ten Senior Affairs Officers. This person filled that vacancy, essentially lifted by Shen Peishen’s hand.

In terms of true ability and achievements, Han Richeng was indeed lacking, but he was skilled at persuasion, gathering a circle of people around him, including Affairs Officers and Affairs Assistants.

Han Richeng pledged allegiance to Shen Peishen during his ’staff shortage’ period.

Shen Peishen reciprocated, forcefully promoting him to the position of Senior Affairs Officer.

But the amusing part came when Shen Peishen was ousted; Han Richeng immediately turned to shower Xiahou Qi with attention, selling out many of Shen Peishen’s allies.

Xiahou Qi casually encouraged him with a couple of words in public, which immediately delighted Han Richeng, prompting him to more vigorously ’eradicate’ Shen Peishen’s remnants, and frequently bring up Xiahou Qi’s praise before outsiders, as if he had become Xiahou Qi’s close confidant, even to the extent of framing his initial allegiance to Shen Peishen as going undercover deliberately to gather firsthand information for today’s reckoning.

This persuasive rhetoric indeed convinced some Affairs Officers and Affairs Assistants, but for Senior Affairs Officers and regional leaders, it was simply nonsense.

Han Richeng’s true colors were now becoming clear to everyone.

So, people were reluctant to banter with him.

Yet, he remained overly confident.

Han Richeng firmly believed that as long as the momentum was strong enough and the timing was precise, he could compel Xiahou Qi to take him seriously.

Currently, some Affairs Officers even proposed to join hands in recommending Han Richeng to Xiahou Qi.

Naturally, it was all orchestrated by him.

Xiahou Qi glanced briefly at Han Richeng’s side, cautious not to linger, lest he cause any awkward commotion.

After scanning the room, Xiahou Qi checked the time, calculating that Bai Xiaosheng should be arriving soon.

"Elder Xia!" suddenly came a loud call.

Han Richeng spoke up.

Perhaps Xiahou Qi’s inadvertent glance gave Han Richeng the courage,

Or maybe, lacking anyone to converse with made Han Richeng overly bored.

Or perhaps it was Han Richeng’s attempt to make a memorable impression in front of everyone...

At this moment, Han Richeng not only made his voice heard but even stood up.

While the crowd murmured, Han Richeng’s prominent voice and action naturally attracted everyone’s attention, even Xiahou Qi’s gaze.

Seeing all eyes on him, including Xiahou Qi’s, Han Richeng’s face overflowed with smiles. In a host-like manner, he stepped forward and declared loudly, "Colleagues, please quiet down!"

The crowd looked at him in surprise, but did quiet down a bit.

"Although this meeting hasn’t started yet, we’re still waiting for Senior Affairs Officer Bai Xiaosheng, we shouldn’t lower our demands on ourselves. After all, Elder Xia is here. We must show respect to him, and try not to engage in excessive chatter." Han Richeng stated seriously.

Many looked at Han Richeng with cold smiles,

He had no qualifications or performance to speak of; he had no right to boss people around like this.

What does ’excessive chatter’ mean!

They are just having exchanges!

Someone couldn’t help but want to speak up and counter Han Richeng.

Unexpectedly, Han Richeng didn’t give them the chance, his gaze turned to Xiahou Qi, and with a shift in tone, smiled and said, "Today Elder Xia has called us here to discuss the issue of a new executive CEO. Who to recommend, who not to, is Elder Xia’s decision! Surely he has a set standard in mind. It’s useless for us to boast here! Are you trying to make it difficult for Elder Xia!"

The crowd was immediately annoyed and amused.

At the moment, the Affairs Officer level is bustling, extremely lively, also making them the laughingstock; the so-called joint recommendation was, after all, orchestrated by Han Richeng.

This guy now is pretending to be righteous here!

It’s ridiculous!

Xiahou Qi didn’t even know what to say about him.

However, seeing Elder Xia’s attention on him, Han Richeng deluded that his speech was being appreciated. He looked at Xiahou Qi, smiling, and said, "Elder Xia, you need not wait until the meeting formally starts. Can you reveal some of your standards for choosing a candidate now? So everybody can understand that you are so impartial, never biased, never judging solely by qualifications, and can also give us newcomers a chance."