The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 279 Initiating the Appointment Process
“I have read all your opinions and have had someone investigate them.”

Inside the Zhonghai Institute, the deputy leader said to several people in the office: "I feel that if we don't finalize this matter soon, your two departments might start to have friction."

Comrades may have different opinions on things, and these are open to discussion, but please don't get angry.

Sheng Jianhui began, “Leader, the opinions of the Party Committee of the First Ministry of Machine Building are clear and unanimous, but Comrade Zhao Xiangsong has consistently refused to adopt them.”

Moreover, it wasn't just that the opinions of our Party Committee of the First Ministry of Machine Building were ignored; we also collected the recent daily and weekly work records of the Jiuzhou Machine Tool Plant and questioned many members.”

"Even after their opinions were compiled, signed by individuals, and submitted to the Organization Department, they still pretended not to see them."

"It's not just the leadership; there's also the recommendation from Comrade Li Younian, a Party official at Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory. All of this indicates that Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang has no problem concurrently serving as a Party official. Why is such a simple matter being rejected?"

Sheng Jianhui asked a series of questions, explaining that the preparations made beforehand were very thorough, which was also related to Zhou Zhiqiang's excellent performance.

Sheng Jianhui wasn't really confident about letting Zhou Zhiqiang serve as a factory party official, but using excuses like "incompatible system" or "incompatible rules" to prevent him from doing so was definitely just a pretext.

Everyone in this office knows what they're thinking, but no one has called them out on it.

"lead."

Zhao Xiangsong from the Organization Department was about to say something when Sheng Jianhui interrupted him, continuing, "..."

"Leader, yesterday the department received some good news from Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory. They have made another breakthrough in the research and development of CNC machine tools."

Now, composite CNC machine tools have been developed and produced, meaning that one CNC machine tool can complete two or even more machining processes.

"After receiving the data report on the composite CNC machine tool from Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory, the Planning Department of the Ministry quickly made a judgment on the CNC machine tool."

Currently, this composite CNC machine tool can be used for the processing of parts in all major engineering projects. Furthermore, if a factory replaces more than half of its composite CNC machine tools, its production efficiency will increase at least twentyfold.

After Sheng Jianhui finished reporting the good news, the deputy leader's smile broadened.

He was genuinely happy to hear the good news that could promote national development.

The deputy leader said with a smile, "They did a really good job. Was it developed and manufactured by Comrade Zhiqiang's team again?"

"Yes, their factory applied for this R&D project to the Planning and Development Commission before the Lunar New Year and applied for a batch of R&D investment funds."

Sheng Jianhui paused for a moment after saying this, then smiled and continued, "It's only been six months and seven months, and we've already developed the composite CNC machine tool."

Moreover, in the past two months, Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang has also concurrently served as a factory party official, handling all the matters that party officials are required to handle.

"Leader, it's not that I insist on promoting Zhou Zhiqiang to hold two positions, but to be honest, he's the one who's most exhausted; he has to manage project research and development, oversee factory production, and now he'll also be in charge of the factory's Party Committee affairs."

Sheng Jianhui paused for a moment, then thought for a second before deciding to speak: "To be honest, leader, if there were a suitable partner, there would certainly be no need for Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang to concurrently serve as the factory's party official."

Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang has a strong personality and temper. If he can't get along with the new Party Secretary, how should the factory's Party Committee leadership be adjusted?

Sheng Jianhui, Wu Jianhong, and others all shared the same assessment of Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory: its development was too good.

Under the current system, the central government has centralized all financial power over factories, leaving them with only a small amount; even workers' wages are approved from above. But even under such a strict policy of central control over finances, Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory still manages to accumulate a surplus of several million yuan annually.

This year, their factory may have a surplus of nearly ten million yuan, which is all within the reasonable limits under the current system.

If a factory party official with strong opinions and an equally assertive personality were to go there, what would happen if he clashed with Zhou Zhiqiang?
Today, Sheng Jianhui only spoke so truthfully to the deputy leader. He would never have said that to anyone else. He would have insisted that Zhou Zhiqiang was qualified, or that the factory and party officials should let them nominate him, or let Zhou Zhiqiang take on the role concurrently.

Your organization department rejected both of your suggestions; you're really up to no good.

“A strong personality and strong opinions are not bad things. Zhou Zhiqiang’s success to date may be related to his personality. We are not incapable of being tolerant.”

The deputy leader paused for a moment, then continued, "As for Comrade Jianhui's concerns, they are not without merit. If the leader and deputy leader are not on good terms, the team will definitely not be able to develop."

Comrade Xiang Song, your organization department should also take this aspect into consideration when considering candidates.

"But given the current situation, Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang is still the most suitable candidate for Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory. What do you think?"

Although it was a rhetorical question, the deputy leader's tone made it clear that a bottom line had been set.

That is, Zhou Zhiqiang must stay at Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory; he cannot be transferred away under any circumstances.

In just five or six years, a factory that was originally a small-to-medium-sized enterprise has grown to its current size, earning the country around one billion foreign exchange.
Furthermore, they have participated in numerous major national projects; such individuals must be retained at Jiuzhou Machine Tool Plant.

While the Ministry of Machine Building and the Organization Department were locked in a stalemate, the deputy leader had already sent someone to investigate this comrade.

He is indeed a good comrade. Judging from Zhou Zhiqiang's usual performance, he is impeccable in his work.

His tough style was indeed commendable, and it almost escalated the situation further. Fortunately, higher authorities intervened to de-escalate the situation. However, strictly speaking, we cannot blame Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang.

Moreover, he strictly adhered to the principle of working for the benefit of the workers. Even when he treated others to meals at the factory, he never took advantage of the factory. On this point, the deputy leader greatly appreciated Zhou Zhiqiang.

Even if Zhou Zhiqiang took advantage of the factory by treating everyone to dinner, it wouldn't be a big deal, since he was only inviting people from the project team. But he deliberately refrained from doing so.

Only those who can restrain themselves from taking small, everyday advantages will be able to accomplish great things in the future.

"Since you all insist on your own version of events, then I will act as the judge today. I hereby appoint Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang as a Party official in the factory, with a three-month period to observe his subsequent performance."

The deputy leader spoke up, and his words were a definitive statement, bringing a conclusion to the dispute between the two departments.

"Although Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang is young, it doesn't necessarily mean he can't do a good job. If he really can't do a good job, we can make adjustments in time. Three months won't have much of an impact."

Upon hearing his deputy's words, Zhao Xiangsong abandoned his last bit of resolve and said, "I understand, sir. Once you get back, immediately begin the appointment process for Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang."

There's no point in him insisting any further. Are we going to invite Leader Liu over because of this? Impossible.

Although officials at the department level are quite important, they could actually finalize the decision by discussing it with the Ministry of Machine Building. However, they disagreed and neither could convince the other.

That's how the matter got to the deputy leader.

(End of this chapter)