17: Chapter 17: First Mediation Fails
When the two of them came out, Zhang Menglu was carrying large and small bags, extremely happy.
"I'm so happy today."
"Don't just be happy. What are your thoughts on the new store's renovation?"
"Renovation?"
Zhang Menglu hadn't considered that aspect at all.
Chen Hao couldn't be bothered to explain. He directly took out his phone to look up the client responsible for the renovation.
"Ring, ring."
Just as he was about to call, Chen Hao received a call from the lawyer.
"Is this Chen Hao? The company you applied for arbitration against has hired lawyers, and they are requesting an out-of-court mediation with you. Do you want to meet with them?"
Chen Hao thought about it seriously.
"I happen to be free this afternoon. Meeting them won't hurt."
After agreeing on a time with the lawyer, Chen Hao hung up and said,
"I have to go to the law firm this afternoon. You should head back by yourself first."
"Okay, okay. Remember, no matter how busy you are tonight, you must come back. The night market is waiting for your opening!"
Chen Hao patted her on the rear.
"Hurry up and go."
After parting ways with Zhang Menglu, Chen Hao went directly to the law firm, intending to discuss matters in detail with the company's hired lawyer.
However, what Chen Hao didn't expect was that the people sent by the company were Vice President Wang Liguo and HR Manager Li.
In the law firm's conference room, the two parties sat opposite each other.
The opposing lawyer was aggressive from the start.
"Mr. Chen Hao, because of your resignation, multiple projects at the company have stalled. Clients who should have signed contracts failed to do so in time, causing financial losses to the company, which you must fully bear. Here are the relevant contracts and project quotations; the amount of loss is detailed."
Chen Hao's lawyer took the documents, looked them over, whispered with Chen Hao, and then refuted righteously:
"Please clarify one thing. My client, Mr. Chen Hao, caused no losses to the company during his tenure. It was only after your company dismissed him without cause that these project losses occurred. Therefore, the losses must be entirely borne by your company."
The opposing law firm produced a Non-Compete Agreement and slammed it onto the table.
"The Non-Compete Agreement clearly states that even if an employee resigns, they must return to the company to assist in completing projects."
Our lawyer sneered.
"The Non-Compete Agreement is just an agreement; whether the law recognizes it is another matter. Besides, my client was fired by your company and has been taking a couple of days to clear his head and relax. What's the problem with being unable to cooperate?"
Wang Liguo immediately issued an order.
"Since he is here, have him hand over immediately! All client resources and imminent contracts in his possession must be surrendered!"
The lawyer quietly asked for Chen Hao's opinion. He didn't speak, but silently took out his phone and opened an audio recording.
"Out of professional ethics, I kindly remind Manager Li, are my work handover procedures really unnecessary?" (Chen Hao's voice)
"You still have such a high opinion of yourself. The company won't stop turning without you. Stop wasting time and get out immediately!" (HR Manager Li's voice)
There was much more following, with Manager Li's sarcastic remarks all urging Chen Hao to leave the company quickly; they didn't even allow him time to say goodbye to his colleagues.
During the audio playback, HR Manager Li's face turned ashen, and Wang Liguo stared at him with displeasure.
After the audio ended, Chen Hao calmly put his hands together and questioned.
"Since the company can operate without me, why is my cooperation still needed? How can a person go back on their word?"
HR Manager Li was speechless, his face pale.
Chen Hao continued to press the advantage.
"According to what Manager Li said previously, people must be responsible for what they do and say. Why are you going back on your word now? Aren't you slapping your own face?"
At this point, Wang Liguo was so angry his face was flushed red, and he slammed the table, standing up.
"Don't push your luck! Even if Manager Li said that, handing over your work is your due obligation. If you act like this without professional ethics, word will spread, and your peers will look down on you!"
"That's none of Vice President Wang's concern. I already reminded you of my professional ethics long ago. It was you who were eager to kick me out of the company. You can't blame me afterward, can you?"
Vice President Wang swallowed his anger for a long time, conferred with his lawyer, and the lawyer asked on his behalf:
"What will it take for you to agree to the handover?"
Chen Hao shrugged.
"My demands are very simple: that's 2N+1, plus my unpaid year-end bonus and the unpaid quarterly dividends for the last three years. Not a single penny owed to me can be missing."
Vice President Wang immediately objected.
"You've already resigned, and you still want the year-end bonus and quarterly dividends? You must be dreaming!"
Chen Hao crossed his arms and refused to back down.
"I need to remind Vice President Wang of one thing: the year-end bonus is for last year's performance reward. Because the amount was huge, the company has been owing payment."
"And the quarterly dividends for three months—that was agreed upon long ago. After the company goes public, there will be a 1% dividend based on project profits every quarter."
"These are company benefits, regulations, and dividend agreements. I have backups of all the orders I completed while employed. Do you want me to send you a copy?"
Vice President Wang was panting with anger.
"I really didn't realize you were such a scheming person!"
"I'm telling you now, forget your demands. You caused huge losses to the company. If I don't sue you until you're destitute, I'll write the character for 'Wang' backward!"
HR Manager Li also spoke haughtily, pointing at Chen Hao's nose and blasting him.
"You are pushing things too far. Just wait until you are blacklisted by the entire industry. I will make it impossible for you to survive in the sales industry, and then we'll see if you come begging us!"
Since they had already torn off their masks, Chen Hao saw no need to humor them.
"You office workers don't understand sales, yet you dare to speak so arrogantly in front of me."
"Please, go out and inquire about my reputation, Chen Hao, before you babble at me again."
"To tell you the truth, this company exists because of me. Without me, it will go bankrupt within half a year. If you don't believe it, let's wait and see!"
Wang Liguo's face turned bright red with anger.
"Chen... Chen Hao, you've gone too far! How dare you speak to us like that!"
Chen Hao rolled his eyes.
"Still putting on airs of authority? When I was in the company, I was your employee. Outside the company, you're nothing but a piece of crap who doesn't know anything, an idiot. If you mess around after joining the company, who goes bankrupt if not you?"
Wang Liguo was so angry he wanted to strike Chen Hao, but luckily, the lawyer pulled him back in time.
Chen Hao continued to provoke him deliberately.
"Angry because you're embarrassed? Hit me then! If you don't hit me, you're a dog!"
Wang Liguo was enraged and jumping with fury.
"You, you just wait! I'll make sure you regret this!"
Seeing that there was no way to reach an agreement, both lawyers decided to end the mediation early to prevent the conflict from escalating and agreed to proceed with litigation.
Chen Hao chatted with his lawyer and confirmed that all the paperwork was complete, giving him a very high chance of winning the lawsuit.
As soon as he left the law firm, he received a message from Nana.
"What exactly happened? When Vice President Wang returned, he called Wang Kaiming into the office and beat him up. The screams sounded like a pig being slaughtered—truly satisfying."
"Brother Hao, should we meet tonight? I have a video that might cheer you up."
Chen Hao smiled faintly.
Watching the video is just a pretense; the real intention lies elsewhere!
"You decide the time and place."