The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 249 Departmental Notice: People from the Organization Department Are Coming
"I'm sorry you had to see this, Comrade Wu Jun."

Deputy Factory Director Sun, who was standing nearby, whispered to Wu Jun, the branch factory director, that this was originally his responsibility, but he had come here and spent about ten minutes trying to persuade him.

As a result, the workers became increasingly agitated by his persuasion, and in the end, they had no choice but to send someone to inform Factory Director Zhou.

Deputy Factory Director Sun didn't even know if he was there to water the plants or to pour oil on them.

"It's okay, it's okay, I completely understand. After all, this is a welfare dormitory building."

Wu Jun then said in a low voice, "Neither Secretary Sun nor I live in a dormitory building. To be honest, the workers in your factory are treated much better than the cadres in our branch factory."

Deputy Factory Director Sun shook his head and said, "The workers in our factory are treated better than the cadres in our main factory. You'll understand once you learn more about it."

As he said this, Deputy Factory Director Sun couldn't help but think back to 1958.

At that time, the factory's production efficiency was not good, but the cadres ate very well. Moreover, there were special meals in the canteen, so they ate three or four times a week, if not once a day.

After Zhou Zhiqiang arrived, he rectified every department in the factory, and most of these rectifications were not even reported to the factory's Party Committee. Basically, Zhou Zhiqiang would see them and immediately demand rectification, and then come to inspect them a few days later.

This is against the rules; at the very least, it should be discussed at the factory's Party Committee meeting.

But at the time, Secretary Li didn't care. Even if someone came to him, Secretary Li would only say one thing: "Deputy Factory Director Zhou has the final say on this."

Then Zhou Zhiqiang began to make sweeping changes to the factory.

What might seem like a radical overhaul to others was, in Zhou Zhiqiang's view, simply something he disapproved of, which he then ordered to be cancelled.

He had just become the deputy factory director at that time, and the changes he made to the factory were based on his dissatisfaction with them. At that time, Zhou Zhiqiang was busy until late at night every day, while a group of cadres of lower rank than him were enjoying the benefits.

We'll rectify each one we find, and if we find another one, we'll punish them directly.

At that time, the workers could ignore him as the deputy factory director, but for cadres, if they offended the deputy factory director, especially one whom even the factory's party officials had to tolerate, they could basically consider being transferred to another position.

After the workers had all left, Zhou Zhiqiang came over to Deputy Factory Director Sun and said, "Deputy Factory Director Sun, please also keep an eye on the follow-up construction of the family residential area and get it implemented as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, factory manager, we will definitely get all the workers on the list moved in within three months after the New Year."

Deputy Factory Director Sun said, "The factory has also prepared a bed, a table and two chairs for each family. As for other furniture, the workers will have to prepare it themselves."

"That's enough. Once everything is settled, that's the treatment for cadres. Don't let this get out, and tell the workers who have moved in not to tell anyone either."

Zhou Zhiqiang sighed and said, "After the news about the welfare building spread, I've been in a lot of trouble. The commotion in our factory is a small matter; other places are trying to get involved."

They paid over a million yuan for 500 housing slots, and they'll have those for the next few years. The residential area their factory applied for is quite large because it's near the suburbs, so they paid more money to the district government and got more space.

If they can continue building tenement buildings for several years, accommodating several thousand households is not a problem.

If all of them were to be built into tenement buildings, it would probably cost tens of millions of yuan; the district government and other units could not afford that much money.

The budget is very tight right now, and every penny has to be used sparingly. It's impossible for the higher authorities to approve so much money for lower-level units to build residential communities for their employees.

That is, Jiuzhou Machine Tool Plant, which has many production tasks, good internal benefits, and a lot of disposable finances.

They don't feel bad at all about building these welfare communities for workers' families.

"Deputy Factory Director Sun, you can handle the rest. If anything goes wrong, then have someone come and let us know."

After speaking to Deputy Factory Director Sun, Zhou Zhiqiang turned to Wu Jun and said, "Comrade Wu Jun, let's go back to the office. There are some production tasks for next year that I haven't discussed with you yet."

"Okay, factory manager, I'll do as you say."

After Wu Jun finished speaking, he followed Zhou Zhiqiang toward the factory director's office.

Back in his office, Zhou Zhiqiang took out the production plan for next year and talked to Wu Jun about it at length.

The reason it was "drafted" was that Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory was about to become a department-level factory, and the arrangement and discussion of production tasks had to be reviewed by both the Ministry of Machine Building and the State Planning Commission.

However, the First Ministry of Machine Building rarely interfered with production matters, so now it depends on the State Planning Commission's attitude.

Zhou Zhiqiang hadn't dealt with the State Planning Commission yet, but if it was just a production task, there shouldn't be too many changes.

Their goals are the same: to complete the production tasks for the huge foreign trade orders next year. The State Planning Commission and the First Ministry of Machine Building will definitely give full consideration to the production plan of Jiuzhou Machine Tool Plant.

Back in the office, Zhou Zhiqiang and Wu Jun discussed the production plans for next year.

In mid-November, a phone call came into Zhou Zhiqiang's office.

"Comrade Zhiqiang, get ready. Members of the Organization Department and I will be arriving at the Second Machine Tool Plant in an hour."

"The Organization Department's inspection of your factory has concluded, and the appointment documents will be officially announced tomorrow morning." Zhou Zhiqiang was somewhat surprised upon hearing this and asked, "Sir, when did the Organization Department arrive?"

"If you knew, that would be fine. It would mean the project was changed; it was someone from the ministry who took it there under a different name, so you definitely wouldn't know."

On the other end of the phone, Deputy Leader Wu said with a smile, "Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, you should also notify the Party Committee members of your branch factory to attend."

"I understand, sir. I'll go and inform them right away."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang originally wanted to call Zhang Yaoguo immediately, but after thinking about it, he decided against it and picked up the phone himself to make the call.

"Help me connect with Director Wu Jun of the Changping No. 2 Machine Tool Plant branch. Is this Comrade Wu Jun? Tomorrow, all members of the Party Committee of your branch plant will be attending a meeting at the main plant. There is an important announcement to make."

"Yes, I need to arrive at 8:30 tomorrow morning. The department leaders will be here to announce something."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang called Tian Wenguo of the CNC branch factory. The CNC branch factory was still under construction, and the factory's Party Committee consisted of only two people: Tian Wenguo, the factory director, and Zhou Zhiqiang, a Party official.

After informing Tian Wenguo, Zhou Zhiqiang got up and walked outside, asking Zhang Yaoguo to inform the other members of the factory's Party Committee to immediately gather in Secretary Li's office.

The reason I still referred to it as the Second Machine Tool Plant when I was on the phone just now is because the Second Machine Tool Plant has not yet been officially upgraded and its name has not been changed.

However, since it was already a done deal, Zhou Zhiqiang had the factory office staff finish making the new factory sign.

Once the factory is upgraded, they can immediately remove the old "Second Machine Tool Factory" sign on the factory gate and replace it with the new Jiuzhou Machine Tool General Factory.

After all the factory's Party Committee members arrived at Secretary Li's office, Deputy Factory Director Hou couldn't help but ask, "Director Zhou, why did you call us here to see Secretary Li?"

Secretary Li also asked, "Director Zhou, is this related to the factory's administrative upgrade?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present looked at Zhou Zhiqiang with anticipation.

At first, Zhou Zhiqiang and Secretary Li kept this news very secret, but after the China Ocean Institute made it public, the matter of keeping it secret became irrelevant.

Now that so much time has passed, is there finally concrete news?
Zhou Zhiqiang nodded and said, "That's right. Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, leaders from the ministry and people from the organization department will come to the factory to announce the official document. You all need to be prepared then."

"Make sure the main conference room is empty, and set up the factory's public address system; it's unlikely that all workers can attend, so we'll select a few representatives from each workshop to participate later."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished explaining the arrangements, Secretary Li added, "This is a major event for our factory. No one is allowed to cause any trouble. If there's anything you're unsure about, report it immediately."

"Yes, Secretary Li, Director Zhou."

The others chimed in, saying that the promotion would benefit everyone, and anyone who caused trouble at this time would be an enemy of the entire factory.

After giving some instructions on what needed to be noted, Zhou Zhiqiang and Li Younian told the other members of the factory's Party Committee to go back and make preparations.

It's quite rushed to only have one day.

However, this is only the last step in the process. After the process is completed, there are new things to consider.

"Secretary Li, I have reported to Deputy Leader Wu about the relocation of two supporting factories next year. Once the investment funds from the Planning Commission arrive next year, we can start this work."

But who do you think would be more suitable to send? I might not be able to, I still have research and development work to do.”

After the others left, Zhou Zhiqiang asked about Secretary Li.

After hearing this, Li Younian glanced at Zhou Zhiqiang and then said, "Director Zhou, just bring me the proposal, and I'll stamp and sign it for you."

You don't need to go through these superficial procedures regarding production anymore. If I were to actually say something, it wouldn't be appropriate, wouldn't that be a bit awkward? Hehehe.

In the end, Li Younian couldn't help but chuckle. Before, when Zhou Zhiqiang went to Liaoyang to participate in a major engineering project, he made many phone calls to Zhou Zhiqiang because of production issues at the factory.

"Sigh, once bitten by a snake, twice shy. I was criticized the year before last, I was criticized last year, and I'm being criticized again this year."

Zhou Zhiqiang shook his head and said, "Secretary Li, don't blame me for insisting on going through the procedures. If I skipped any of them, I don't know how happy those people who were watching me would be."

Previously, he was criticized by his superiors for acting arbitrarily in the factory, and this year they found some reasons to criticize him again. They really nitpicked at Zhou Zhiqiang.

"You've had a tough time."

After nodding, Secretary Li sighed and said, "Then you should give me a document, that would be safer. But who do you think would be more suitable?"

"Liu Wenzhou, he's experienced and will definitely be able to handle this."

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "I'll talk to Deputy Factory Director Liu later, and then I'll give you the document, Secretary Li."

"Okay, I'll sign and stamp it and have someone deliver it directly to the factory."

(End of this chapter)