The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 204 They want to use you as an example

Who criticized me?

"Don't ask about that. Those who criticized you don't necessarily intend to do anything to you. Anyway, Comrade Jianhui has taken responsibility for it. Your job at the factory was approved after Comrade Jianhui's decision."

Mr. Chen lit another cigarette, took a puff, and sighed, saying, "Your behavior at the Second Machine Tool Factory was a bit too extreme. They might want to make you a target. I don't know what those people are up to."

But don't be so high-profile in the factory anymore. If you want to do this kind of thing again, the third branch of the factory will handle it, the third branch's labor union will handle it, and your party secretary will handle the rest.

"I've heard all about it in the light industry. Do you make decisions with a single word in the factory? Your factory's Party Secretary is like a secretary who stamps documents."

Zhou Zhiqiang frowned and asked, "Who told you that? When it's Secretary Li's responsibility, I always consult him first before leaving the matter to him for a decision."

"I'm already exhausted from working on production and research every day. For the past few months, I've personally trained technical staff, only sleeping four or five hours a day. Where would I find the time to play around?"

"Moreover, most things are not within Secretary Li's jurisdiction. The factory is currently focused on production, and almost everything is related to production. If I, as the factory director, do not take responsibility, wouldn't that be dereliction of duty?"

The production schedule of the Second Machine Tool Plant was packed from the beginning to the end of the year, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

If it weren't for the lack of workers to rotate shifts, the Second Machine Tool Plant could operate in two shifts.

Mr. Chen said, "They probably thought you were the vanguard. Never mind, just be more careful in the future and don't neglect the deputy factory director, the secretary, the trade union, and the women's federation around you."

"Uncle Chen, you only have a vague understanding of what you're saying, please explain it to me more."

Zhou Zhiqiang grabbed Chen's father and said, "You suddenly said this to me, then gave a half-baked explanation, and then just left like that?"

"I don't say much because I'm not sure either. If I were to tell you something random, I would be misleading you."

But no matter what, you still have to be strong yourself. If you have enough ability and have participated in enough major projects, making enough contributions to industrial development and construction, what can they do to you?

Chen's father took out a cigarette, handed it to Zhou Zhiqiang, and continued, "Don't think too much about it. Comrade Jianhui is very protective of you, and the leaders of Zhonghai Institute have no objections to you."

Even if someone tries to use your style of doing something, it's just a few rats.

After a pause, Mr. Chen continued, "You are Lao Yu's son, so you are also my nephew or descendant. Now that Lao Yu is not here, I will definitely take care of you."

After saying this, Chen's father patted Zhou Zhiqiang on the shoulder and then turned and went home.

Zhou Zhiqiang looked at the cigarette in his hand and couldn't help but click his tongue; he was giving the cigarette to others, he didn't smoke it himself, so why was he being offered one?

Give it to the security guard later.

As for what Chen's father said, Zhou Zhiqiang felt it was related to the prevailing trends of last year and this year. He had tried his best to avoid it, so why were people still trying to pin it on him?

Zhou Zhiqiang then walked towards the Yu family's house while lost in thought.

If someone wants to use his behavior in the factory as a model, their ultimate goal will only be to bring him down.

If it would benefit him, then Chen's father wouldn't have bothered to warn him.

However, before this matter could even begin, Leader Sheng took it over with a firm attitude and took on the responsibility for the entire staff meeting of the Second Machine Tool Plant.

With his approval, the responsibility naturally wouldn't fall on Zhou Zhiqiang's shoulders.

Leader Sheng would definitely not allow Zhou Zhiqiang to have any problems, and he wouldn't even want to waste a single moment of Zhou Zhiqiang's time.

Zhou Zhiqiang will be in charge of both the CNC machine tool project and the heavy machine tool project after the New Year.

If Zhou Zhiqiang stops work and delays the project for a few months, the project team will be delayed for several months or even a year. How much will that cause?
'I'll go ask the boss at his house tomorrow.'

Zhou Zhiqiang made up his mind, but he only knew the address of Deputy Leader Wu and had even been there before. He really didn't know where Leader Sheng lived.

However, it should be fine to ask Deputy Leader Wu; they should have gone to the meeting together.

After making his decision, Zhou Zhiqiang stopped thinking about it for the time being. He arrived at the Yu family's door and knocked. Yu Jingyu quickly opened the door.

Upon seeing Zhou Zhiqiang, Yu Jingyu grinned and called out to the door, "Mom, Big Brother is here."

After Zhou Zhiqiang entered the house, he smiled and patted Yu Jingyu's head, saying, "I came in a hurry this time and didn't bring you anything. How have you been studying lately?"

"I'm first in the class, but my sister, that idiot, isn't doing so well; she didn't even make it to the middle of the class."

"You're talking nonsense! I didn't do well on the exam because I had a cold!"

Upon hearing about her grades, Yu Xunnan immediately began to argue anxiously, but she didn't seem very confident, and soon her eyes started to pop out of their sockets in frustration.

Yu Jingyu and Yu Xunan are both in school now, but their grades are worlds apart.

One student is ranked first in the grade, while the other is only in the lower middle range. Yu Xunnan, the younger sister, has been brought to tears by her brother several times because of her grades.

"Alright, alright, your eldest brother has come all this way, what's all the fuss about?"

After Fang Mengjie came out of the kitchen, she smiled and said to Zhou Zhiqiang, "Zhiqiang, you're here. I knew your factory was closed today, and I was thinking of visiting your home this afternoon."

"Aunt Fang, how about coming to spend the New Year with us this year?"

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Yu Ting's mother is back. It's quite difficult to get in and out here, so it's inconvenient for our family to come."

"Okay, I'll go get it in a bit. Oh, by the way, your father brought you a gift."

After Fang Mengjie finished speaking, she turned around and went back into the house to get something. After a while, she came out with a wooden box, handed it to Zhou Zhiqiang, and continued, "Zhongguo got this over there. See if you like it."

"Okay, let me take a look."

After Zhou Zhiqiang took the wooden box and opened it, he found that it contained a dagger, which was very well made and had many gems on it.

"It's very pretty, I like it very much."

It's a beautiful work of art just on display, but I doubt it's ever used; its decorative value outweighs its practicality.

It may have been left behind by European nobles who went to Africa. After changing hands several times, it was bought by Yu Zhongguo and then sent back.

This little dagger can be kept and played with slowly in the future, but it should be hidden away properly in a few years.

Fang Mengjie asked, "Zhiqiang, will you visit your superiors again this year?"

"I won't go today, I'll go tomorrow. It won't take long, I'll probably just say a few words and leave."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he stood up and continued with a smile, "Aunt Fang, shall we set off now? You don't need to bring anything, just go there."

The ministry sent me a lot of New Year's gifts this year; enough for the whole family to eat as much as we wanted.

"Alright, I'll prepare two sets of clothes for them."

After Fang Mengjie finished speaking, she went back into the house to prepare her clothes. They had spent the Spring Festival at Zhou Zhiqiang's house last year, so they weren't strangers. This year, Zhou Zhiqiang's family had specially prepared a room and bought a new stove, which was also modified so that no one would have to worry about burning coal and getting poisoned.

After Fang Mengjie finished packing, Zhou Zhiqiang rode his bicycle with his younger siblings home.

On the way, they encountered a stall selling snacks during the Chinese New Year holiday. Yu Jingyu and Yu Xunnan both wanted to eat some, so Zhou Zhiqiang stopped and bought some.

There were very few vendors selling these things. The slightly sour fruit was sweetened with a little sugar, and he only dared to sell it for a penny during the Chinese New Year period. Zhou Zhiqiang didn't argue with him, bought it, and left.

A dime could buy half a pound of cornmeal, but he only wanted a few small snacks like candied hawthorns for a dime. After giving them candy and taking the money, the vendor simply ran away.

Upon arriving at their home in Nanluoguxiang, Zhou Zhiqiang had barely parked the car when Yu Jingyu and Yu Xunnan jumped out and rushed into the yard.

The two little ones started arguing on the way, wanting to sit on the swing. There weren't any toys for children in the cadre compound, unlike here in Zhou Zhiqiang's place.

He specially installed a rocking horse and a swing, and now the yard is never empty; there are three just for children to play with.

Zhou Zhiqiang and Fang Mengjie followed behind, pushing their bicycles to the backyard. Mei Xiuxue, the mother-in-law, came out with a smile to greet them, saying, "Our in-laws have arrived. Please come in and sit down."

Fang Mengjie said with a smile, "I'm sorry to bother you again this year."

"This is no disturbance at all. It's more lively with so many people. Come in and rest for a while. Dinner will be served soon."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Mei Xiuxue couldn't resist Fang Mengjie's insistence, and the two went to the kitchen together to cook.

Now that Guo Yuting is heavily pregnant, Zhou Zhiqiang should be in the yard watching over the children to prevent them from bumping or getting hurt.

But he had to rush to buy some things before the supply and marketing cooperative closed, otherwise he would have to bring his family's New Year's goods to visit.

Moreover, Zhou Zhiqiang planned to go after dinner. What Chen's father said in the morning made him feel uneasy, and he wouldn't be able to have a good New Year until he figured it out.

------

High-ranking officials' compound.

Chen's father had brought Zhou Zhiqiang here before, so he knew the way; however, he was still stopped by the security guards when he went in, and they only let him in after he made a phone call to find out the details.

Zhou Zhiqiang had eaten at home before coming over, thus avoiding discussing business at the dinner table.

This is a mixed residential area; there aren't any dedicated cadre compounds for each ministry yet, as there's no spare money to build them. All the money is being allocated to industrial development.

Nearly a hundred families live here, including people from various departments within Beijing. However, even the lowest-ranking person living here is higher than Zhou Zhiqiang.

Upon arriving at Deputy Leader Wu's door, Zhou Zhiqiang knocked twice before the door was opened.

"Comrade Zhiqiang, welcome, welcome! But don't bring anything next time you come, haha."

Wu Jiamou said with a smile, but still took the things from Zhou Zhiqiang's hands. After glancing at them, he found that they were not valuable, so he accepted them with a smile.

This is the last day the supply and marketing cooperative is open; all the good stuff has been sold out.

Zhou Zhiqiang bought a box of pastries and a bottle of wine. If word got out, some people might say he was stingy, but Wu Jiamou thought it was just right.

The item wasn't expensive, but his father didn't need it, so it was essentially a gift for him.

"Your father is waiting for you in his study. It's the first room on the left on the second floor. Just go up there."

He didn't let me go up, so I won't go, Comrade Zhiqiang.

Although Wu Jiamou was quite curious about what his father and Zhou Zhiqiang were going to talk about, his father had just solemnly told him not to come closer, so Wu Jiamou gave up the idea of ​​eavesdropping.

"Then I apologize for disturbing you today, Comrade Jiamou."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he walked up the stairs and came to the door of the first room in the corridor. After knocking on the door and hearing a sound from inside, Zhou Zhiqiang pushed the door open and went in.

"Boss, I'm wishing you a Happy New Year in advance again."

"Zhiqiang, you're really dishonest. What do you mean by wishing someone a Happy New Year in advance? If you really want to wish someone a Happy New Year, you should come after the New Year."

Deputy Leader Wu pointed to the chair across the table, then poured a cup of tea and handed it to him, saying, "Have some tea. What good things did you bring to my house this time?"

“Who asks their subordinates for things? This is bribery, boss.”

Zhou Zhiqiang said with a smile, "Just one bottle of wine and a box of pastries. The supply and marketing cooperative is almost sold out; there's hardly any peanuts or candy left."

Zhou Zhiqiang was able to buy the pastries because they were too expensive and hadn't sold out.

"You're about to win my tea and cigarettes for fifteen months, what's a little something from you?"

Deputy Leader Wu glared at Zhou Zhiqiang, feigning anger, then laughed and said, "Let's get down to business. Did you hear some news, which is why you came to see me?"

"Yes, I ran into Uncle Chen Junfeng when I went to pick someone up today. He gave me a few instructions, but he didn't explain them very clearly, leaving me confused."

After taking a sip of tea, Zhou Zhiqiang sighed and said, "Boss, I was busy all year last year, how can I still be criticized?"

"This has nothing to do with you. Didn't Comrade Junfeng tell you that Comrade Jianhui blocked it for you?"

“I told you, but I can’t just ignore it, can I? What if we encounter this again in the future? At least I’ll know what to do.”

Zhou Zhiqiang looked at Deputy Leader Wu and asked, "Leader, could you give me some pointers?"

"Let me give you a hint. Let's start with the Second Machine Tool Plant. You've been in charge of this plant for two years, so you must know it very well."

This machine tool factory wasn't a joint public-private enterprise; it was initially acquired by the municipal industrial bureau and then renovated and developed.

"Therefore, the Second Machine Tool Plant was entirely a collective enterprise, no different from the People's Commune."

After a pause, Deputy Leader Wu said, "You've made the Second Machine Tool Plant a great success. Even with the economic downturn, your plant has increased its output value by one-third or even more."
Finally, they even implemented a system of collective distribution, where everyone in the factory benefited and received bonuses; do you know how the top leader praised you?

"How to say?"

"The fact that your public ownership economy is doing well proves that it's not unworkable. A few mistakes cannot negate the fact that this path is unworkable. As long as there are the right methods, it can be proven that this path is still viable."

Deputy Leader Wu said, "I wasn't at the meeting where this was said; Comrade Jianhui relayed it to me after he came back. But you've certainly set an example for us."

But a typical example is like a huge rock blocking the road—isn't that conspicuous? And the current leadership supports the development of the private economy; you should understand what that private economy is, right?

"Sitting at home, I roughly understood."

Zhou Zhiqiang shook his head and said, "What Uncle Chen said scared me a bit. He said I was so domineering in the factory that even the Party Secretary ignored me. They really dare to say that."

(End of this chapter)