Chapter 3: Withholding Salaries? Not a Chance!

“Salaries? What salaries?”

Liu Cheng put on a completely clueless expression while frantically winking at Wei Yan.

He had deliberately avoided addressing the salary issue, planning to disappear after the company handover was complete. But he hadn’t expected it to be exposed before the handover even happened.

Now, he could only hope that Wei Yan understood his signal and would help brush past this issue.

Chen Mo, who had been standing right beside Liu Cheng, naturally heard the word “salary” and immediately sensed an opportunity to spend money.

Tang Qiu also perked up her ears, thinking to herself—could it be that salaries really hadn’t been settled yet? It seemed like she had come at the right time.

Then, the man in the white shirt spoke again.

“I’m talking about the employees’ salaries for this month. Now that the company has been sold, who is responsible for paying them?”

Liu Cheng’s expression changed slightly. He hadn’t expected Wei Yan to bring it up so directly.

Just as he was about to come up with some excuse, Tang Qiu stepped forward with a serious expression.

“President Liu, salaries are supposed to be settled before signing the contract. It is your responsibility to pay them.”

“If you’re thinking about defaulting, as a lawyer, I assure you that you may end up losing even more.”

After finishing her statement, Tang Qiu gently adjusted the rimless glasses on her nose, her gaze filled with confidence.

She wasn’t exaggerating—being an elite lawyer, she had the ability to follow through on everything she had just said.

“This…”

Liu Cheng wanted to argue, but facing Tang Qiu’s imposing presence, he hesitated. She was, after all, a lawyer. If a legal dispute arose over salaries, it would not be worth the trouble.

After some thought, he reluctantly made a decision. Unwillingly, he turned to Chen Mo and spoke.

“President Chen, the salary issue was my oversight. Rest assured, I will make sure to settle the employees’ wages as soon as possible.”

Chen Mo was momentarily stunned. When he had first heard about the salary issue, he thought he had found an opportunity to spend money.

But now, after listening to their conversation, he understood—Liu Cheng was trying to make him a sucker!

That was unacceptable.

Chen Mo wanted to spend the system’s funds quickly, but he didn’t like being taken for a fool.

However, if this month’s salaries were already covered, he could always pay next month’s wages in advance.

Hmm…

That sounded like a good idea.

Tang Qiu noticed Chen Mo’s gaze and the curve of her lips lifted slightly.

Feeling touched, huh?

“President Chen, no need to thank me. The salary issue was my oversight as well.”

“Attorney Tang, much appreciated.”

Wei Yan, who had been silently listening, finally understood—Chen Mo was the one who had bought the company.

He just hadn’t expected the new boss to be so young, probably only in his early twenties.

But could someone this young really manage a company?

Wei Yan couldn’t help but wonder. However, at least the salary issue was settled.

With that in mind, he turned to the waiting employees in the hall and said,

“You all heard that just now, right? President Liu will be handling the salaries, so there’s no need to worry.”

In the hall, several employees exchanged glances. Their previously worried expressions eased, and they silently left through the side door.

Their only concern had been receiving their wages, and now that they had a guarantee, there was no reason to stay.

However, one employee remained standing in place.

Wei Yan frowned as he looked at the person who hadn’t left.

“Li Shen, do you still have a question?”

“I just want to ask—when exactly will the salaries be paid?”

Li Shen took a deep breath and stepped forward.

He had seen too many cases of bosses making empty promises about salaries, only to endlessly delay the actual payment.

And now that the company had been sold, if Liu Cheng went back on his word, there wouldn’t even be a trace of him left to track down.

So, he wanted a clear answer.

As for offending the boss—he had already prepared himself to be fired, so there was nothing to worry about.

“Ah, Xiao Shen, about the salaries, I’ll pay them in a couple of days,” Liu Cheng said with a smile, speaking in a meaningful tone.

“President Liu, didn’t I just transfer you 400,000 as the purchase fee? Why not use that to settle the salaries?”

Chen Mo smiled as he spoke.

Since Liu Cheng had tried to make him a sucker, he might as well make him bleed a little.

“This…”

Liu Cheng looked troubled.

“President Liu, if an employee files a labor dispute over unpaid wages, you may end up paying even more in compensation,” Tang Qiu interjected at the right moment. She had no patience for employers who delayed salaries, especially when they clearly had the means to pay.

Hearing this, Liu Cheng’s face darkened. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“Fine, I’ll settle the salaries today.”

Even as he said it, his heart ached—there were more than ten employees in the company, and their combined wages for the month totaled nearly 100,000.

“You heard him, right? President Liu said he’ll pay the salaries today. Go inform the other employees,” Chen Mo said, looking at Li Shen, who was still standing there.

“Ah! Oh, I’ll go right away!”

Li Shen responded instinctively, then quickly ran towards the workshop.

Seeing that Li Shen had gone to inform the others, Chen Mo turned to Liu Cheng, who looked extremely unhappy, and asked with a smile,

“President Liu, where will the salaries be paid?”

Liu Cheng’s lips twitched. He knew that he had no way out of this and had to pay up. His enthusiasm from earlier had completely disappeared.

“Come to my office,” he said flatly before turning and walking off in that direction.

Chen Mo didn’t mind Liu Cheng’s attitude and followed him leisurely.

Before long, a group of employees had lined up outside the office, waiting to collect their wages.

Inside the office, Liu Cheng sat at his desk with an attendance book and a calculator in front of him.

Nearby, a smaller square table had been set up—it seemed to have been added temporarily.

Chen Mo sat in front of that small table, also holding an attendance book and a calculator.

Tang Qiu, sitting at the side, looked at Chen Mo in confusion.

“What are we doing?”

As soon as they entered the office, Chen Mo had requested an extra table and a calculator, leaving her puzzled.

“We’re paying salaries,” Chen Mo replied matter-of-factly.

“Paying salaries? Isn’t Liu Cheng handling that?”

Tang Qiu was even more confused.

“Oh, he’s paying for this month, and I’m paying for next month,” Chen Mo said casually.

“Next month?”

Tang Qiu still didn’t understand.

“Next month hasn’t even started. How can you pay salaries in advance?”