Chapter 140: Xiao Xinhao Betrays Him

"Regarding the price war between us and Yamei Group, I noticed something off after I returned, so I checked the documents signed by the business department recently and, sure enough, found issues."

Xia Xixi was truly dedicated; even though she wasn't present during the price war, she kept this matter in mind upon returning to the company.

"What kind of issues?" Zheng Qian asked.

"Take a look at this. It's a contract I dug out from the archives."

Zheng Qian scanned it briefly and discovered that these contracts had been signed under deception by Yamei Group. They weren't for transporting legitimate goods, but rather waste materials and soil, which significantly occupied the company's transport capacity.

However, Zheng Qian couldn't find any issues in the black-and-white clauses; it was a standard, template contract.

Even Chen Weiqiang had said that signing these contracts was due to his own oversight.

What kind of trickery was hidden in this?

"The price war was fought in a muddled state, and only Xiao Xinhao performed remarkably well."

"These contracts all passed through Xiao Xinhao's hands before General Manager Chen signed them without careful scrutiny."

Zheng Qian felt that even if they had passed through Xiao Xinhao's hands, that didn't necessarily mean Xiao Xinhao had tampered with the contracts.

If you are going to be suspicious, you must produce strong evidence.

Otherwise, these things don't prove anything.

"The font in the contracts is consistent, but look closely at the paper." Xia Xixi pulled out a few sheets; they varied in thickness.

This struck Zheng Qian as very strange.

When printing contracts, they should all be from the same batch of paper. How could there be variations in thickness?

"The shipping orders for the waste soil and materials dumped into the company all have this situation."

"And they all passed through Xiao Xinhao's hands."

This gave Zheng Qian reason to ponder. He had cause to suspect that Xiao Xinhao had tampered with the contracts, substituting one thing for another and passing off the inferior as the genuine.

But to convict Xiao Xinhao, more convincing evidence was needed.

"This is the data I retrieved and printed out." Xia Xixi handed a document to Zheng Qian. "The records show that Xiao Xinhao repeatedly downloaded data from the company's cloud server to a 'P' drive, but under normal circumstances, computers only have C, D, E, F, and G drives. There wouldn't be a 'P' drive."

"In other words, Xiao Xinhao downloaded the data onto a USB flash drive."

Xia Xixi stated that these two pieces of evidence combined were sufficient; as long as they hired a good lawyer, they could send Xiao Xinhao to prison.

Zheng Qian actually knew a very capable lawyer, but he still couldn't believe that Xiao Xinhao would do something to betray him.

He had arranged for him to join the company and planned to focus on developing him, all out of the bond they shared as college classmates for four years.

But now, all the evidence pointed to Xiao Xinhao's betrayal?

Zheng Qian didn't know what to say.

"You must now notify all employees who know the inside information that they must never reveal the fact that I am the new Chairman ahead of time."

"Whoever violates this rule will be fired from the company and held criminally liable."

"As for Xiao Xinhao, go call him over now. I want to talk to him about this matter."

After some thought, Zheng Qian issued the order to seal off the information.

Three minutes later.

Xiao Xinhao appeared before Zheng Qian with a fawning expression.

"Qian'er, you looking for me? Any tasks to assign?"

"Sit."

Zheng Qian pointed to the chair opposite his desk, and the two spoke face-to-face.

Zheng Qian didn't waste words with Xiao Xinhao; he directly handed him the evidence Xia Xixi had collected: "Tell me about these things."

After seeing these materials, Xiao Xinhao's heart skipped a beat, and he swallowed hard.

He had indeed accepted a sum of money from Hu Yuebin of Yamei Group. Last night, when he took Yao Manman to Red Rose for entertainment, he had intended to use that money, though someone else had ended up footing the bill.

Xiao Xinhao had handled this matter very cautiously and carefully; he was certain he hadn't left any traces.

Zheng Qian was merely holding a suspicious attitude right now.

As long as he appeared firm and innocent, he definitely wouldn't have any problems.

"Qian'er, what are you trying to say?" Xiao Xinhao asked.

"Did you reveal the company's situation to a competitor?"

"Let's speak plainly. Did you collude with Yamei Group and provide them with intelligence?"

"We were classmates for four years, and you suspect me?"

"Qian'er, I'm so wronged!"

Xiao Xinhao explained himself without blushing or gasping for breath. Even he felt moved and innocent; tears even started to fall.

Zheng Qian was also a bit shaken.

"Where is that USB drive? Bring it here and let me see it."

"The USB drive... I don't know where I put the USB drive. It might be lost." Xiao Xinhao stuttered as he fabricated a random excuse.

Xiao Xinhao had indeed downloaded some data from the company's cloud server and given it to Hu Yuebin.

The price war a few days ago was a life-or-death battle between Yamei Group and Zhengxin Shipyard.

Xiao Xinhao couldn't stand the way Zheng Qian was riding over him, and plus, Zhengxin Shipyard didn't have much chance of winning originally.

Adding all these reasons together, he decided to betray him.

But who could have imagined that Zheng Qian would suddenly pull out 300 million, bring Zhengxin Shipyard back to life, turn defeat into victory, and give Yamei Group a severe beating.

Only then did Xiao Xinhao set his mind at ease, planning to focus on working for Zheng Qian from then on. If he had to be ridden over, so be it; being heavily utilized wasn't bad either.

Originally, he thought no third person would ever know about this, but he hadn't expected it to be discovered after all.

Xiao Xinhao had already given the USB drive away; where was he supposed to find another one?

So he could only say it was lost.

Given their four-year college friendship, Zheng Qian should believe him, right?

Zheng Qian had already seen the clues in Xiao Xinhao's expression. As for that final explanation about the USB drive, Zheng Qian didn't believe a single word of it.

Lost just like that?

How could that be?

Zheng Qian sighed.

With the ironclad evidence right here, there was nothing he could do.

He really couldn't believe that Xiao Xinhao would do something like this.

"In the company, you used my name to be arrogant and domineering, harassed female employees, and now you've betrayed me."

If Zheng Qian wasn't mistaken, Yao Manman was probably involved with him too, right?

How long had Xiao Xinhao been in the company, and he had already done so many absurd things.

"Since we were classmates, I won't pursue legal action against you."

"Pack your things and leave Zhengxin!"

Zheng Qian said, hardening his heart.

Xiao Xinhao: ???

He was just kicking him out like this?

"Qian, you can't not believe me. I really am wronged." Xiao Xinhao said with tears in his eyes.

"I can reconcile with Yamei Group right now, call Hu Yuebin over, and ask him about these things in front of Hu Jingyi."

"Do you want me to make this call?"

As Zheng Qian spoke, he took out his phone and placed it in front of Xiao Xinhao.

Zheng Qian was also very heartbroken that things had developed to this point; he didn't want to see things end up like this.

Zheng Qian could turn a blind eye to other things, or even pretend not to see them.

But when it came to betrayal, Zheng Qian could not tolerate it.

"Fine, you're ruthless!"

"Four years of college, and this is how you treat me today. I'll remember this for the rest of my life!"

"We'll see what happens in the future; I don't know who will be laughing at whom in the end!"

Xiao Xinhao fiercely wiped away his feigned tears with his sleeve and stormed out of Zheng Qian's office.

Zheng Qian had actually let Xiao Xinhao off easy.

With one phone call, he could have called Hu Yuebin over.

He could also have called Lawyer Wang Zhao from the red-circle firm in Shanghu, the Magic City.

That evidence was enough to send Xiao Xinhao to prison.