Chapter 242: Mingri Group Annual Meeting

At the Imperial Hotel, the grand banquet hall was already buzzing with chatter. Numerous employees had taken their seats, eagerly awaiting the event. The hall was divided into several sections: Changfeng Apparel, Cangxue Games, Nanhe Coffee, Pet Park, Boring Short Video, and members of the Foundation. From company leaders to the cleaning staff, everyone was invited to this company annual meeting.

Above the banquet hall hung a massive banner: “Mingri Group Annual Meeting.” Beneath it was a large stage. Some employees in the know were aware that there would be performances on that stage later.

Behind the stage, Ye Feng and his wife, Chen Xuan, looked at the many employees in the banquet hall, their faces full of emotion. After hosting two Sports Meetings, they had been invited to host the annual meeting as well. Observing the various sections, Ye Feng noticed that President Chen’s company had added a new division, Boring Short Video, and had even formed a group company. Clearly, President Chen’s business empire was expanding further.

“Are you both ready?” Wei Yan approached and asked casually. They weren’t meeting for the first time and were quite familiar with each other.

“We’ve got the program performances, awards, and other procedures down pat. Just waiting for the event to start,” Ye Feng replied confidently. Compared to hosting the Sports Meeting, he felt more adept at hosting the annual meeting. Just two days ago, Assistant Shen had sent him the entire event schedule, giving him ample time to memorize everything.

“That’s good. President Chen is still on the way and should arrive in about five minutes. Please wait a bit longer while I handle other arrangements,” Wei Yan confirmed that everything was set on the hosting front before turning to leave.

Watching Wei Yan depart, Ye Feng suddenly thought of the awards segment in the schedule, and his expression turned curious. He had hosted many annual meetings before, and it wasn’t unusual for bosses to award outstanding employees, but the awards today were unlike anything he had seen. Since when did consistently leading a race become an award category? Normally, it should be for perfect attendance, not taking a single day off all year. Aside from the uniqueness of the awards, the prize amounts were also surprising. He thought the Sports Meeting prizes were outrageous, but these were even more so.

Ye Feng shook his head helplessly. Ever since he got involved with President Chen’s company, he kept encountering things that defied his understanding.

…

“President Chen, here we are,” Shen Rou said as she led Chen Mo into the banquet hall. Chen Mo nodded approvingly at the layout, everything done according to his specifications.

“President Chen, all the employees have arrived, and the annual meeting can start at any time,” Wei Yan said, hurrying to greet President Chen as he entered.

“Alright, let’s begin. Where’s my seat?”

“President Chen, please follow me,” Wei Yan said, leading the way to the front.

Chen Mo took his seat, and Ye Feng and Chen Xuan, the hosting couple, stepped onto the stage. Listening to the hosts’ professional opening remarks, Chen Mo nodded silently, acknowledging their expertise.

“Before the official start of the annual meeting, let’s welcome our esteemed President Chen to the stage for a speech.”

Hmm! Chen Mo, engrossed in the proceedings, was caught off guard when the host suddenly shifted the spotlight onto him. Was there a speech segment for him? When reviewing Shen Rou’s plan, he had focused on the expenses and hadn’t noticed a speech section.

With the banquet hall resounding with applause, Chen Mo reluctantly stood up. The atmosphere had been set, so he had to say a few words. He walked to the stage, where Ye Feng respectfully handed him the microphone before stepping aside.

Chen Mo took the microphone, his gaze sweeping over the employees below. He felt a surge of emotion; in just over six months, he had used the system to grow his business to this level. The only regret was that despite so many ventures, his personal assets amounted to only a few thousand.

As the applause subsided, he cleared his throat and began to speak slowly. “Hello everyone, I’m Chen Mo, the owner of Mingri Group. Today’s annual meeting is mainly for celebration, so I won’t say much. Enjoy the food and drinks, and there’s a show later. That’s all.” He finished and handed the microphone back to the host standing by.

Another round of enthusiastic applause erupted. Ye Feng, somewhat stunned, accepted the microphone back from President Chen. Was that really it? Normally, a speech would last at least half an hour, covering the company’s development and future prospects, ending with some motivational words. He’d even seen company bosses speak for over an hour at annual meetings. Even the shortest speeches were around 20 minutes. This was the first time he’d seen someone wrap up in just a few sentences.

But standing on stage, he didn’t have time to dwell on it. He quickly picked up the microphone. “Let’s thank President Chen for his speech. His concise words truly reflect his care for the employees.”

Chen Mo returned to his seat, and the annual meeting officially began after his speech. Hotel staff pushed carts into the banquet hall, placing dishes on each table. The programs proceeded one by one under the hosts’ guidance, and the atmosphere in the hall became lively.

“President Chen, a toast to you,” Wang Maonian approached with a drink in hand. Chen Mo glanced at him indifferently. This guy never seemed to learn, still trying to toast him.

“Brother Wang, President Chen doesn’t drink,” Shen Rou interjected, knowing full well President Chen’s drinking capacity.

“No worries, President Chen can drink a soft drink. I mainly want to express my gratitude for the past six months. Working for President Chen has been a pleasure,” Wang Maonian said earnestly, downing a glass of beer.

Chen Mo reluctantly drank a soft drink. After Wang Maonian left, he turned to Shen Rou. “Go find the hotel manager and have them replace the beer with that 800-a-bottle red wine from last time.”

“Understood, President Chen,” Shen Rou replied, standing up to leave. When she returned, several waiters followed her, and under the curious gazes of many employees, they replaced the beer with red wine. Wang Maonian watched the beer being taken away and the red wine replacing it, falling silent.