The methods of these major shareholders were indeed very shrewd. When they learned that the ones acquiring them were the eighteen-year-old Lin Chen and Xue Ying, who had just entered the real estate industry, the shareholders decided to intimidate the two newcomers.

The board meeting hadn't even started yet, and the atmosphere was already tense.

It was already ten, the time for the meeting to start, but Tan Shan, the company's deputy general manager, had still not arrived.

Lin Chen glanced at the time and smiled faintly, "Let's start the meeting!"

"Chairman Lin, General Manager Tan hasn't arrived yet!" a shareholder interjected with a cold snort at that moment.

"Indeed, he hasn't arrived, but the time has come," Lin Chen said indifferently.

The shareholder snorted coldly, "Chairman Lin, this company has always relied on General Manager Tan for operation. He knows many of the business details, and without him, I'm afraid the meeting can't proceed!"

"Oh? Can't a company function without the Deputy General Manager? Is General Manager Tan the only one who knows the situation of the company?" Lin Chen said coldly.

"Director Sun, you are in charge of the finances. Is that how it is?" Lin Chen asked coldly.

"Yes, Chairman Lin, General Manager Tan is the helmsman of our company. Without him, it's hard to make many decisions!" Sun Ming adjusted his glasses and said.

"Manager Zhang, is it the same in your project department?" Lin Chen continued to inquire.

"Yes, Chairman Lin, without General Manager Tan, we have no backbone!" Zhang Wang also echoed.

Lin Chen questioned several departments, and the basic response was the same.

"If that's the case, it seems like General Manager Tan alone is sufficient. What's the use of you all?" Lin Chen said coldly.

At this moment, Sun Ming snorted coldly, "Chairman Lin, your words are disheartening. We all work diligently for the company, are you planning to fire us?"

Lin Chen snorted, "Our company does not keep idlers. Since you feel disheartened, you can leave the company. Nobody is stopping you, and the same goes for everyone else."

"You! If you're going to say that, then fine, I quit!" Sun Ming's face turned cold, and he rose from his seat with a slam on the table.

Sun Ming's actions immediately triggered a chain reaction, with over ten more people standing up.

These people were essentially the key business staff and elites of the company. Their collective resignation at this moment was clearly a premeditated act to challenge Lin Chen's authority.

Seeing so many key business staff about to resign, many faces grew tense. These individuals were essentially the backbone of the company, and their mass resignation would undoubtedly result in significant losses. Many were curious as to how the eighteen-year-old chairman would face this carefully orchestrated challenge.

Sun Ming had a smug expression in his eyes, confident that Lin Chen would definitely try to retain them.

Lin Chen looked at the over ten people who had stood up, his lips curved slightly and he spoke to the deputy director of HR, "So many heads of crucial departments, it really seems a pity. But people have their own aspirations. Proceed with their resignation procedures. And since HR Director Chen is also resigning, you will take over his position as the official director."

"What?" Lin Chen's words were like a thunderclap, causing a flurry in the room.

These ten or so people were the favorites under Tan Shan's wing. This collective resignation and challenge were Tan Shan's idea to trouble Lin Chen, but these people had never truly considered leaving.

After all, Star Real Estate Company is the most powerful real estate company in DY, and the salary treatment is incomparable to anywhere else. Moreover, these positions are almost all head of departments, with a monthly salary of hundreds of thousands. If they really resigned and went somewhere new, they would certainly have to start all over again."

Deputy Director of Human Resources Zhao Jing was excited. She had never expected a pie to fall from the sky, "Yes, Mr. Lin, I'll take care of it right away."

At this moment, the faces of those dozen or so middle managers who had resigned looked rather ugly. They had never expected Lin Chen to agree to their resignation requests without even thinking, leaving no room for negotiation.

Lin Chen looked around and said indifferently, "By the way, there is another thing to announce to everyone. Starting next month, salaries will be increased by twenty percent..."

The dozen or so people almost felt the urge to vomit blood. They had just resigned and the company was going to raise salaries, wasn't this a trap?

At that moment, Chen Guang from the Human Resources Department wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Mr. Lin, I was just hot-headed. I still have feelings for the company..."

"The company also has fond feelings for you. We will settle your salary by the end of the month. Oh, and good luck with finding a place where you can truly shine! Now, let us give a warm round of applause to send off our colleagues who are preparing to leave us!" Lin Chen said leading everyone to start clapping.

Chen Guang's face turned pale. He was in management, having reached his position by toadying up to others, with no real skill of his own. Without a job, he couldn't find a new position.

There was no turning back the arrow once it had been shot, although he was filled with regret, there was no chance for redemption. Lin Chen had already blocked their way back.

However, Chen Guang still harbored a glimmer of hope, that hope being Tan Shan.

The decisiveness of Lin Chen impressed the other employees present. They hadn't had much confidence in this young chairman, who they thought would be easily manipulated by the old shareholders and unable to turn the tables, but unexpectedly he had made such a bold move at his first meeting, agreeing to the resignation of more than a dozen company executives.

The remaining mid-level staff, mostly those who had risen through hard work and had been suppressed by Du Sen's old subordinates without a chance to advance, now felt the pressure lifted and were eager to make a big impact.

Just then, a coughing sound suddenly came from the door. Tan Shan walked in with a stern face, "Firing employees isn't just up to a chairman to decide. It needs to be examined by the board of directors. How can you just dismiss them like that?"

Seeing Tan Shan, an expression of relief appeared on Chen Guang and the others' faces. Their savior had finally arrived.

Lin Chen gave a slight smile, "Mr. Tan, you've misunderstood. I didn't fire them, they just tendered their own resignations."

"Whether it's a resignation or a dismissal, these people are the backbone of the company, and you can't dismiss them without the board's approval," Tan Shan said sternly.

"Well, Ms. Xue and I own fifty-one percent of the shares. If the two of us agree, that should settle it, right!" Lin Chen said calmly.

"You own fifty-one percent of the shares? Impossible!" Tan Shan scoffed.

"Didn't the company recently run short of funds and sell quite a few shares? Sorry, the buyer was Ms. Xue and me," Lin Chen said with a faint smile.

"You!" Tan Shan felt an urge to spit blood. He had never expected Lin Chen to be so cunning. Initially, he had wondered what kind of tycoon could swallow such a large number of shares all at once, but he had never imagined it would be Lin Chen and Xue Ying.

Now, with their fifty-one percent stake, they could almost do as they pleased.

Lin Chen, noticing Tan Shan nearly raging, continued, "Mr. Tan, something was just sent to your phone, please take a close look!"

Tan Shan opened his phone, clicked on a message link, and after seeing the content, his expression turned even more unsightly.