Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

The heated atmosphere in the conference room lasted for a long time until Li Feng raised his hand and gently pressed down, which calmed the intense emotions slightly.

"Everyone," Li Feng's tone returned to its usual calm, "the blueprint has been drawn up, but we must eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. Right now, the first thing we need to do is to convey this news and our determination to every comrade in the factory."

His gaze swept over the crowd, and his voice was clear and firm: "I have decided that this afternoon, we will hold a general meeting of all factory workers."

"The main venue is set up in the auditorium of the old factory, and the branch factories will listen simultaneously via broadcast. I want every worker at Wuxing Ceramics Factory to know the road ahead and the peaks we are about to climb!"

Changing leadership is a major event, a matter of utmost importance concerning the livelihoods of thousands of people in the factory. Li Feng knew that only by uniting everyone could this large ship sail forward through the waves.

Wu Qing was the first to respond, slapping his thigh forcefully: "That's right! Director Li's decision is very timely! We must reassure everyone and let them know the new direction our factory is heading!"

The other deputy factory directors also nodded in agreement.

"That's right, when people are united, they can move mountains!"

"We need to let the workers know that our factory isn't just about changing leadership; it's about being reborn!"

With a relieved smile on his face, Zhu Hongjie stood up and took the initiative to handle the first task after the handover: "Director Li, leave the trivial matters such as setting up the venue and notifying the staff to this old man."

"I guarantee I'll arrange everything perfectly for you, so you can meet with all your colleagues in the factory in style this afternoon."

This is not only to stand firm in his last post, but also to show everyone with his actions that his support for Li Feng is wholehearted.

Li Feng nodded gratefully: "Then I'll have to trouble Director Zhu."

He paused, then added in a low but firm voice: "Director Zhu, please emphasize this when you issue the notice: in principle, everyone who is not tied up in a key production position, whether it's the old factory or a branch factory, including frontline workers, logistics personnel, and department heads, must attend this meeting. This is a factory-wide meeting, and no one can be left out."

Zhu Hongjie felt a chill run down his spine and immediately understood Li Feng's deeper meaning.

This was not merely a meeting, but a demonstration of authority and a comprehensive mobilization. What he wanted was unity from top to bottom, and for orders to be obeyed without question!

“Okay! I understand!” Zhu Hongjie solemnly agreed and turned around to make the arrangements.

……

The news that Wuxing Ceramics Factory was going to change its factory director spread like wildfire throughout the factory area in just one morning.

In the old factory, in that slightly dilapidated pottery workshop, several old craftsmen covered in mud were washing their hands under a tap, preparing to go to the canteen for lunch.

"Have you heard? Director Zhu has retired, and Deputy Director Li... no, now it's Director Li, he's officially taken over!" A worker in his fifties said in a low voice while rubbing the mud off his hands.

"I've heard about it! It's great news!" said an older man standing next to him. He was one of the most senior pottery masters in the factory. His surname was Liu, and everyone called him Master Liu.

He wiped his hands, took out a pipe from his pocket, and slowly rolled some tobacco. "You guys just didn't have the good times. Back in the day, our factory was doing well... Although life was good, it wasn't as good as it is now. Let's not talk about it."

"Ever since Director Li started implementing that automation project, tell me yourselves, hasn't this factory changed every single day?"

“Of course!” the first craftsman immediately chimed in. “Take our pottery-throwing workshop for example. Those old, worn-out machines used to break down every few days.”

"And now? It seems like the equipment designed by our Factory Director Li is running so smoothly and fast that our yield rate has increased so much! Last month's bonus was more than I've earned in the past six months!"

Master Liu lit his pipe, took a satisfying puff, exhaled a cloud of white smoke, and squinted as he said, "This Factory Director Li, don't let his youth fool you, he's truly capable and dedicated. Most importantly, he came from our pottery-throwing workshop."

"He cares about us frontline workers."

"And I heard from people at the branch factory that when we first started the technological upgrade, he spent every day in the workshop, eating dust and getting more blisters on his hands than any of us. With someone like that as the factory manager, our lives won't be bad!"

"That's right! I'm definitely going to the front of the factory during the factory-wide meeting this afternoon to get a good look at our young new factory director!"

"Hahaha, let's go together, let's go together!"

Similar discussions were playing out in the painting workshop, the kiln workshop, the logistics canteen... in every part of the old factory. The workers' faces showed not worry about the unknown, but rather anticipation for the future.

In the branch factory, where the machines roared, the atmosphere was even more enthusiastic.

Almost all the workers here were recruited by Li Feng through his industrialization project, and their trust in Li Feng is almost innate.

The brand-new factory buildings, automated production lines, clean and tidy working environment, and welfare benefits far exceeding those of other factories—all of this was brought to them by the young factory manager, Mr. Li.

"There will be a large meeting this afternoon, and Director Li will be giving a speech!"

"Really? That's wonderful! I've been looking forward to this day for so long!"

"I heard that Director Li said at the leadership meeting that he wants to lead our factory to become number one in the country!" A young man from the technical department, who had come to visit, mysteriously revealed the "insider information."

"Number one in the country?" The surrounding workers instantly erupted in excitement.

"My goodness, such a big mouth?"

"Hey, I don't believe what others say, but I believe it when Director Li says it! Have you forgotten how we got this production line? Back then, who believed a twenty-year-old could do it? And now? Fully automated! The only one of its kind in the whole country!"

"That's right! If we follow Director Li, we'll get what we deserve! He says we'll be number one in the country, so let's aim for number one!"

The workers' discussions were simple and direct. They didn't understand any grand blueprints or complex plans, but they believed in the simplest principle: whoever could feed them, clothe them, give them more wages, and let them live a better life, they would work for!

Li Feng, through his actions over the past year, has earned this most precious trust.

……

One hour before the afternoon conference began.

Li Feng has moved into the factory director's office that used to belong to Zhu Hongjie.

The office is spacious and bright, with a heavy solid wood desk in the center and a floor-to-ceiling bookcase behind it.

Li Feng didn't rush to familiarize himself with the new environment. The first thing he did after sitting in the chair that symbolized power was to pick up the phone on the table and dial an internal line.

"Hey, could you please call Zhou Jianjun from the project team and have him come to my office?"

Soon, there was a knock on the office door.

"Please come in."

The door was pushed open, and Zhou Jianjun walked in with a look of confusion and restraint.

He had specially changed into a clean cadre uniform today, and his hair had been combed, but standing in the huge factory director's office, he began to feel a little nervous.

After all, Li Feng is no longer the deputy factory director, but the factory director who holds the power of life and death over the factory, and is also the top leader of the factory.

Li Feng controlled everything in the factory.

At this moment, Zhou Jianjun, who had just entered, glanced at Li Feng.

"Li Feng. Ah! No."

"Director Li... you wanted to see me?" he asked cautiously, not daring to look Li Feng in the eye. Not long ago, he could have been on friendly terms with Li Feng, their arms around each other's shoulders.

But now, as Li Feng's status rises, the casualness between brothers has been diluted considerably by the difference in their superior-subordinate relationship.

Seeing his restrained demeanor, Li Feng couldn't help but smile, stood up from behind his desk, and walked over to him personally.

"Jianjun, why are you so nervous coming to my place?" He patted Zhou Jianjun on the shoulder, gesturing for him to sit down on the sofa next to him.

The familiar feeling made Zhou Jianjun relax a little. He scratched his head and chuckled, "Li Feng... no, factory director, it's just that your status is different now."

“To me, you are still Zhou Jianjun.” Li Feng poured him a glass of water, handed it to him, and then sat down opposite him. “I called you here to talk to you about something.”

Seeing Li Feng become serious, Zhou Jianjun immediately sat up straight, looking like he was listening attentively.

Li Feng looked at him and slowly said, "The production line at the branch factory has completely stabilized, and the output is steadily increasing. Director Wu Qing is overwhelmed by managing it all by himself. I discussed it with a few factory leaders and we're going to give you more responsibilities."

Zhou Jianjun's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Li Feng with some confusion.

Li Feng didn't keep them in suspense and said directly, "I'm planning to promote you to deputy director of the branch factory's production workshop, mainly responsible for assisting Director Wu and Director Liu in managing front-line production and scheduling."

"boom!"

It was as if a thunderbolt suddenly exploded in Zhou Jianjun's mind!

He was completely stunned, staring blankly at Li Feng, his mouth slightly open, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Deputy workshop director!
That's a real cadre position! Although it's only a deputy position, for a young man who's only 23 years old and has only been in the factory for a few years, it's like a rocket launch!

"Factory... Factory Director..." Zhou Jianjun's voice trembled slightly. He stood up abruptly, waving his hands repeatedly, "No... no, this won't do! I... I can't do it! I'm too young, isn't this too fast...!"

It wasn't that he wasn't excited; rather, he was too excited, so much so that his first reaction was fear and a lack of confidence.

He was well aware of how important this position was, and he also knew his own limitations.

He was good at running errands as a clerk in the project department, but he had no confidence at all about managing a modern workshop with hundreds of people.

Li Feng looked up at him, his face expressionless, and calmly asked, "You think you can't do it?"

"I...I really can't do it." Zhou Jianjun was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Then let me ask you,” Li Feng said, his tone still calm, “that production line in the second phase of the branch factory project, from laying the foundation to equipment installation and debugging, were you present the whole time?”

Zhou Jianjun paused for a moment, then nodded subconsciously: "Yes."

"Are you familiar with the principles, operating procedures, and common malfunctions of every piece of equipment on the production line?"

"...I basically understand everything." These were all things that Li Feng forced him to memorize and learn back then.

"Are you fully familiar with every job type, every position, personnel allocation, and production process in the workshop?"

"...Yes." This was his daily work as an officer in the project department.

Li Feng leaned forward slightly, staring sharply at him: "Then tell me, why can't you do it?"

A barrage of questions left Zhou Jianjun speechless. He then realized that, without realizing it, he seemed to have already acquired the ability to perform the job.

Seeing his changing expression, Li Feng softened his tone: "Jianjun, I'm promoting you not because we're brothers, but because you need this platform, and the factory needs someone like you."

“You are technically proficient, familiar with the front lines, and the person I trust most. If you don’t take this position, who will?”

"And most importantly, I need reliable people now."

"This is why I told you to work with me back then."

"Now that you're familiar with the business, it's time to put your abilities to use."

“I remember you said you wanted to be like your father.”

"Now that this opportunity is in front of you, I hope you will think about it carefully."

He then stood up, walked over to Zhou Jianjun again, and placed his hand heavily on his shoulder.

"Don't be afraid, and don't doubt yourself."

"Experience is gained through practice, not through thinking. Director Wu will guide you, and I will be watching over you. What I need is someone who can help me firmly defend this branch factory. Do you understand?"

The words "our own people" were like a warm current that instantly flowed through Zhou Jianjun's entire body.

His eyes welled up with tears, and all his fear and unease transformed into boundless gratitude and determination.

He knew that Li Feng was cultivating him and entrusting him with a heavy trust.

"Li Feng!" He could no longer hold back and blurted out, his voice choked with emotion, "I..."

A thousand words stuck in my throat, but in the end, they all boiled down to three words.

"I...I'll do it!"

He raised his head, his eyes no longer filled with confusion, but instead with a burning flame.

"Factory manager, don't worry! If I, Zhou Jianjun, disgrace you, I'll pack my bags and get out!"

Li Feng smiled with satisfaction.

That's the kind of drive he's looking for.

His support for Zhou Jianjun stemmed from both brotherly affection and strategic planning.

A united leadership team is not enough; he needs to firmly anchor his influence, like nails, in every key position in the factory.

Zhou Jianjun was the first crucial nail he drove in.

“Okay.” Li Feng nodded. “I will vote on your appointment at the factory-wide meeting. After the vote, I will proceed with the procedures as soon as possible.”

"You'd better prepare well for the factory-wide meeting."

"Yes!" Zhou Jianjun straightened his chest and answered loudly, like a soldier about to go to the battlefield.

As for Li Feng's words, he had no doubts at all. After all, it wouldn't be too difficult for the factory director to appoint a deputy director.

Moreover, Zhou Jianjun felt that since Li Feng was so highly regarded by the ministry, he would definitely be able to handle the matter of him becoming the deputy director of the workshop. (End of this chapter)