The Grandmother in the Siheyuan

Chapter 334 Investigation
The secretary nodded: "Yes, this problem must be solved as soon as possible. Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill is a large factory with tens of thousands of employees, and it concerns the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people. This matter cannot be taken lightly. The leaders have ordered Lao Yang to go back and reflect on his actions and find the problem as soon as possible."

“I’m not talking behind his back, but if he were capable of self-reflection, he would have done so long ago.” Liu Hua shook his head and said, “Sometimes, what he considers commonplace is actually the crux of the steel rolling mill’s problems. So, to find the problem, we can’t rely on him alone. You need to send a working group down to conduct a detailed investigation.”

The secretary picked up her notebook and started taking notes, then asked, "Anything else?"

"First, we need to identify the problem. I estimate that the problem of smashing steel mills is not limited to steel rolling mills. It may be a common phenomenon in many mills. Therefore, we need to conduct a comprehensive investigation from top to bottom and bottom to top."

“That makes sense. It’s just that we don’t have enough manpower right now. We’re busy with construction everywhere, and the experienced comrades are all showing their skills, while the young people aren’t really needed.”

Liu Hua advised, "I think this is not an isolated case, but a common situation in the industry, which must be taken seriously. For example, my machinery factory has hired a lot of skilled workers in the past two years, all of whom resigned from state-owned enterprises. You should pay attention to such a large-scale brain drain."

"Really? I didn't know that." The secretary frowned. "Then I'll report it to the leader today and discuss it at the meeting. I'll try to send someone to the steel rolling mill to investigate as soon as possible."

Before leaving, the secretary asked Liu Hua, "What kind of person do you think would be most suitable to send?"

"Li Huaide, he was originally the director of the steel rolling mill. He's a shrewd guy. He used to work with Lao Yang. He can see through Lao Yang's tricks. He's quite prestigious in the steel rolling mill. Let him take a few young colleagues and give them some experience."

That evening, Liu Hua received a call from Li Huaide: "Old Liu, you really are our old buddy, always thinking of me when there's good news."

"What's the good thing?"

Li Huaide laughed heartily: "Didn't you and Secretary Han suggest that I take a group of young people down to investigate? It's been approved, and I'll take people to the steel rolling mill for research tomorrow."

"This is no good thing, it's a chore."

“You don’t understand, the steel rolling mill is a deep rabbit hole.” Li Huaide smiled. “Old Yang, he’s got some skills. Over the years, he’s turned it into his own personal fiefdom. I used to have some informants there who reported some problems to me. This time, I’m definitely going to catch a big fish in the net. I’m not much younger than Old Yang, and I’m about to retire. With this achievement, I reckon I can get promoted again before I retire.”

"You're almost retired, yet you're still so obsessed with power. How disappointed you'll be when you retire and have no power left."

Li Huaide said with a smile, "When I retire, I'll go to your company. You can arrange a logistics supervisor position for me, and I'll continue to contribute."

Liu Hua joked, "What merit do I have to be a leader from a ministry to serve as my logistics officer? I can't afford to give you that kind of treatment either. If you were working there, with factory director Ju Wei bossing you around, how would he manage?"

"I don't care. I'm just a retired old man. Why should I care how he behaves? As long as I'm having fun, that's all that matters."

The old man has come to terms with things now, which is good. If he hadn't, he would still have to consider social niceties when he went back. Now he can go back and conduct a thorough investigation. "Hurry up," Liu Hua urged. "We're about to make some big moves. The Red Star Steel Rolling Mill needs to be the backbone. If it can't be up to the task, then we'll be in big trouble."

"Don't worry, this is my territory." Li Huaide said confidently, "That guy surnamed Yang, no matter how much he tries to cause trouble for another ten years, he won't be able to get out of this circle. I know exactly what's going on here."

While Li Huaide was conducting his investigation, Liu Hua had already redeemed various documents for the LNG carrier at home. This massive vessel, weighing over 100,000 tons, required an unusually high number of points, which Liu Hua paid out 15,000 directly.

But it's definitely worth the money, because many of the technologies can be used not only on LNG carriers, but also on the entire shipbuilding industry. Liu Hua had a feeling that if it were actually built, he would get a huge amount of points in return.

While Liu Hua was compiling the technical catalog at home, Li Huaide had already been conducting research at the steel rolling mill for a week and had gained a great deal.

He called Liu Hua: "Old Liu, don't make that move too quickly. The steel mill has big problems, and it may take some time to get back on track."

"What's wrong? Is there something you, Li Huaide, can't handle?"

Li Huaide sighed and said, "For ten whole years, I carefully maintained the steel rolling mill, and the technology, equipment, and personnel did not regress. I never expected that in this guy's hands, also for ten years, he would let me run wild. The steel rolling mill can now complete the orders from the superiors on time, which is already a blessing. Back then, we controlled the yield rate to over 80%. Now the technology and equipment are more advanced, but he has actually reduced the yield rate to 65%."

Li Huaide whispered, "These can only be considered dereliction of duty. He has other problems as well. I guess his reputation will be ruined in his later years. He might even have to go to jail for two years."

"Oh? Is it that serious? I thought it was just about eating and drinking."

Li Huaide smiled and said, "Eating and drinking is just the beginning. He was strictly managed before, so he couldn't go astray. Now that the higher-ups don't have time to look after him, he has fallen into a downward spiral. In the past two years, skilled workers who have left the steel rolling mill account for 20% of the current workforce. Do you know what that means? And these 20% are all key personnel. These days, if there's no other way, who would want to leave a state-owned enterprise?"

Liu Hua said helplessly, "I'm just a technician. I don't understand what you're telling me. Anyway, I'll get the steel rolling mill back in order as soon as possible. You can't just raise problems without solving them. If we can't get back on track, your efforts will be wasted."

Li Huaide said regretfully, "I must have been out of my mind to take this job. Now I'm stuck with it. I'll have to spend the next six months here. There are too many problems, and I have to solve them one by one."

After hanging up the phone, Liu Hua knew that a storm was about to break. It was likely that not only the steel mill would suffer, but the Ministry of Industry would probably launch a large-scale investigation immediately, and a large number of people would be caught in the crossfire.

However, if this can prevent layoffs in the 1990s, then it would be a great deed.

(End of this chapter)