Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

But he did not back down; instead, he was full of fighting spirit.

This is a project that can truly change the economic landscape of Pingzhou and benefit the workers and the masses. No matter how difficult it is, we must continue to do it.

In April, the pilot reform of state-owned enterprises in Pingzhou was officially launched.

Gu Mingyuan, as the director of the leading group office, was extremely busy.

He spearheaded the development of a detailed pilot implementation plan, selecting five pilot enterprises: Pingzhou Pharmaceutical Factory (a leading enterprise), Pingzhou Machinery Factory (a general enterprise), Pingzhou Textile Factory (a struggling enterprise), Pingzhou Chemical Plant (a zombie enterprise), and Pingzhou Electronic Components Factory (a mixed ownership pilot enterprise).

He personally led a team to each enterprise to conduct on-site inspections and develop reform plans tailored to each enterprise.

At the Pingju Pharmaceutical Plant, the focus of reform is on introducing strategic investors and preparing for an IPO.

Gu Mingyuan contacted several well-known domestic pharmaceutical companies through a classmate who worked in Beijing to discuss cooperation.

"Director Gu, our factory has several new drugs that are very effective, but we lack funds for clinical trials and distribution channels," the factory manager complained.

"Therefore, we need to bring in strategic investors, who will not only bring capital, but also market and management experience," Gu Mingyuan said.

After several rounds of negotiations, a cooperation agreement was finally reached with a pharmaceutical group in Shanghai.

The other party invested 50 million yuan, taking a 30% stake, and the pharmaceutical factory was reorganized into a joint-stock company, initiating the listing process.

At Pingzhou Machinery Factory, the focus of reform was employee stock ownership and internal restructuring.

Gu Mingyuan designed a model of "management and key personnel holding shares + employee stock ownership plan" to make employees truly become the owners of the company.

"Our factory has 800 employees. If everyone holds shares, how will we manage them?" the factory leaders worried.

"We will establish an employee stock ownership plan, elect directors, and entrust management to them. Major decisions must be approved by the shareholders' meeting," Gu Mingyuan explained.

The reform plan was approved by the workers' congress with 85% of the votes in favor.

The employees took out their savings to subscribe for shares, some for tens of thousands and some for several thousand, but their enthusiasm for being masters of their own destiny was ignited.

At Pingzhou Textile Factory, the focus of reform was asset restructuring and industrial transformation.

Gu Mingyuan acted as a go-between, introducing a private textile company from Zhejiang to form a joint venture and develop high-end fabrics.

"Our factory's biggest advantage is that we have a large number of skilled workers, while our disadvantages are that our equipment is old and our products are outdated. The new company is investing in upgrading our equipment and developing new products. Our existing employees will receive training and their wages will increase by more than 30% after they start working," Gu Mingyuan explained at the employee meeting.

Most employees support the reforms, but a few older employees worry: "We're all over forty years old, can we really learn the new technologies?"

"The factory will organize training, a three-month paid training program, to ensure everyone learns the skills," Gu Mingyuan promised.

The most difficult task was reforming the Pingzhou Chemical Plant.

This company has been shut down for six months, is heavily indebted, and its employees can only receive a basic living allowance each month.

Gu Mingyuan's proposed solution was to file for bankruptcy and restructure the assets in accordance with the law.

However, the employees were very emotional, and a quarrel broke out at the first employee meeting.

"Where will we go if we go bankrupt? Who will take care of us?"

"We've worked for this factory our whole lives, and it just goes bankrupt like that?"

"Director Gu, you can't just abandon us!"

Gu Mingyuan did not shy away from the excited employees.

He stood on the stage and waited until everyone had calmed down before speaking:

"Masters, I understand how you all feel."

"I grew up in the countryside, so I know what it feels like to lose your job."

"But think about it, how long can the factory last in its current state?"

"It's already difficult to get basic living expenses every month. In a few more months, we might not be able to get them at all."

"Bankruptcy is not about abandoning everyone, but about finding a better way out for everyone."

He pulled out a planning map: "This piece of land in the factory area is in a very good location; it can be developed after bankruptcy."

"A foreign company has already shown interest and is preparing to build a new materials factory here."

"Their promise is: to give priority to hiring existing factory workers, with wages 50% higher than they are now."

"For employees who are unwilling to go to the new factory, we have several options: early retirement, retraining, or subsidies for starting their own businesses. In short, no one will be left without a job."

Sincere words and practical solutions gradually dispelled the employees' concerns.

Ultimately, the bankruptcy plan was passed by a narrow margin at the workers' congress.

In May, the pilot reforms began to show results.

After introducing strategic investors, Pingzhou Pharmaceutical Factory has secured funding, accelerated new drug research and development, and sped up market expansion. Profits are expected to increase by 40% by the end of the year.

After the employees of Pingzhou Machinery Factory started holding shares, their enthusiasm soared to unprecedented levels.

The phenomenon of shirking responsibility and passing the buck has decreased, and more people are voluntarily working overtime.

The output value in the first quarter increased by 15% year-on-year.

The joint venture of Pingzhou Textile Factory was established, new equipment was delivered one after another, and employee training was fully launched.

The older employees, wearing reading glasses, learned to use computers; although it was difficult, they were very enthusiastic.

Bankruptcy proceedings have been initiated at Pingzhou Chemical Plant, and employee resettlement plans have begun to be implemented.

Although there were still some setbacks along the way, the overall situation was stable.

Gu Mingyuan had to report the progress of the reform to Pei Yihong every week.

Pei Yihong was satisfied with the pilot program's results, but also reminded him: "Mingyuan, this is just the beginning. The deeper the reform goes, the more conflicts will arise. In particular, the bankruptcy of the chemical plant must be handled with utmost care to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

One day in June, Gu Mingyuan was in his office studying a plan to dispose of the chemical plant's assets when his secretary came in and said, "Director Gu, there's a phone call for you. It's from Handong Province."

Gu Mingyuan answered the phone; it was a call from a college classmate.

"Mingyuan, have you heard? Qi Tongwei is in trouble!"

"Qi Tongwei? What happened to him?" Gu Mingyuan was shocked.

"The Liang family was furious that he rejected Liang Lu."

"It's estimated that Qi Tongwei will be suppressed."

Gu Mingyuan was silent for a moment, then said.

What is Qi Tongwei's own attitude?

"What attitude can he have? He can't fight city hall."

"It is said that he approached Professor Gao Yuliang, who was also in a difficult position."

"Liang Qunfeng is the secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission, in charge of the allocation of cadres in the political and legal system. If he wants to get rid of Qi Tongwei, no one's words will matter."

"What about Qi Tongwei's girlfriend, Chen Yang? Hasn't she tried anything?"

"Chen Yang's father, Chen Yanshi, was only the executive deputy chief prosecutor of the provincial procuratorate, not at the same level as Liang Qunfeng."

"Besides, what happened with Qi Tongwei was ostensibly a matter of work assignment, but in reality, it was Liang Lu venting her anger. No one can really say anything about it."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Mingyuan felt heavy-hearted.

He thought of Qi Tongwei from his university days, the spirited student council president, the passionate young man who said at the graduation party that he would uphold justice and speak up for the people.

I never imagined that rejecting a relationship would come at such a price.

"Everyone has their own destiny," Gu Mingyuan muttered to himself.

He sympathized with Qi Tongwei, but was powerless to help him.

This is a matter for Handong Province; he's just a cadre from Pingzhou, so he can't get involved.

Moreover, Liang Qunfeng is not someone he can influence.

He could only silently wish his senior well, hoping that he could withstand the pressure and find his own path in adversity.

This incident also made Gu Mingyuan more aware of the complexities of officialdom.