Road to Revival

Chapter 98 An Zhongliang's Request

"What exactly did we find?" Zhao Qingmin tried his best to appear calm and collected.

"According to regulations, all waste materials from each unit must be handed over to the purchasing department," Guo Tao said, taking a sip of water. "However, we discovered that the waste materials sold by the purchasing department differed significantly from the quota calculations—not just slightly, but at least three to four times more. The purchasing department reported that some branch factories failed to submit the quotas, which is one reason. Secondly, the purchasing department did not strictly adhere to the company's relevant regulations regarding waste material sales. We checked the purchasing department's ledgers and auction data for the past three years and found that in one quarter of 2010, two quarters of 2011, and three quarters of 2012, waste materials were directly contacted for sale without going through an auction. There were no violations in the first quarter of this year either. In total, there were seven quarters of irregularities..."

"That's still a management issue..."

"No," Guo Tao said gravely, "the prices are wrong too. For example, last year, steel prices didn't fluctuate drastically, but the price of scrap metal disposal dropped too much..."

"Didn't they have a public bidding auction for one quarter last year? Does that make a bigger difference?"

"The difference isn't huge... but some people have reported that the public bidding was fake, just using shills to inflate the numbers. Compared to the market price, their selling price is on average 220 yuan per ton lower. Considering the total volume, that's a huge sum... Secretary Zhao, I've received reports about waste recycling; I wonder if you've received any?"

"I haven't received anything... Didn't President Han go with you? What was his opinion?"

"Old Han made an excuse about being busy with work, and only showed up on the first day. He never went again."

"Slippery!" Zhao Qingmin cursed under his breath. "Old Guo, let's not even talk about the waste materials. The purchasing department is definitely the hardest hit area. Investigating Yang Wenhuan might not expose all the problems... What about the other areas?"

"There are many problems. Discrepancies between accounts and actual inventory are common, and the handling of inventory surpluses and shortages is very casual, or simply not handled at all. There are many absurd things. The warehouse keeper of the 12th factory has the personal seal of the deputy factory director in charge, and the issuance of materials is completely out of control. Also, the marketing department printed 4 brochures at once, which is the amount that would normally be used for 15 years. They are all piled up in the warehouse, and half of them are moldy. Liu Shulin actually said that he had no idea. If it weren't for checking the warehouse, probably no one would have known... I have asked the supervision department to sort out and summarize these problems."

"Let's put aside the other departments for now and talk about the purchasing department. What did An Zhongliang say? Did he report the situation to Qiu Lin? Did he report it to General Manager Tao?" After listening to Guo Tao's introduction, Zhao Qingmin became even more troubled. He couldn't afford to spread the problem too thin; he should focus on the already rotten purchasing department.

"We haven't informed Qiu Lin yet, the summary isn't finished, so of course we haven't reported to General Manager Tao. What can An Zhongliang say? The waste disposal business in the purchasing department is under Ji Liqiang's supervision; we can just push it onto Ji Liqiang and be done with it. Secretary Zhao, what do you think we should do about this? Should we report it to General Manager Tao truthfully?"

Zhao Qingmin was puzzled by Guo Tao's question. Did he also feel he was finding it difficult to proceed? After thinking for a moment, he said, "The investigation of the secondary warehouses was arranged by General Manager Tao. Can you not report it? But how to report it still needs careful consideration. How many companies are left in your investigation team?"

"We've only investigated a small part of it, it's still a long way off. The marketing department alone is already a huge headache, their operations are much larger, with most of their business in the market, it won't be done in a month or two. My team has only just checked the marketing department's warehouse in the factory area."

"General Manager Tao's intention in arranging the investigation of the secondary warehouses of various units was to alleviate financial pressure, not to investigate corruption. Has there been any progress in this regard?"

"The branch factory has just been inspected, and they will definitely find some things that can be used for production, but it won't solve anything. The purchasing department doesn't actually have a secondary warehouse. Their warehouses are all primary warehouses. I suspect that Han Zhiyong started by targeting the purchasing department. I suspect that Han had planned this all along. Now, more than a dozen people know that there are problems with waste recycling, and the focus has shifted to this area."

"We can't lose sight of the big picture! Clearing out inventory is the main objective. Speaking of the purchasing department, although I haven't received any official complaint letters, there are rumors. Yang Wenhuan and Ji Liqiang are truly scoundrels; who's been buying up all that scrap these past few years?"

Guo Tao thought to himself, "Isn't this a rhetorical question? Does he not know that the Ren family monopolizes waste recycling?" "It's a company called Mingdao. Its legal representative is Ren Ming, Ren Dao's younger brother."

"I think we should do this. You should call General Manager Tao and report the problems you've discovered truthfully. I also have a few things to discuss with him, and I'll mention this matter while I'm at it. My personal stance is still to investigate. We can't just knowingly ignore a problem. Everyone knows the current situation; whoever stirs up trouble is responsible. What can we do? But we must be careful with our methods, strictly distinguishing the nature of the issues. We can't let it affect the company's stability, and we certainly can't paralyze the purchasing department. Production and operations are always the bigger picture. Oh, and you should also talk to Lao Han and Lao Qiu and get their opinions."

"Alright." Guo Tao knew Zhao Qingmin's personality; it was impossible for him to personally organize and coordinate.

That evening, Tao Tang, who was out of town, received a phone call from Guo Tao reporting, "I understand the situation. Since the secretary, General Manager Han, and General Manager Qiu all agree to investigate thoroughly, then let's investigate. As for the specifics, we'll discuss them after General Manager Li and I get back and hold a meeting. Your investigation team shouldn't stop; continue the investigation according to the plan we drafted last time. You should talk to the members of the investigation team about discipline. They're not allowed to say anything they shouldn't. Whoever violates the discipline will be held accountable. As the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, you can be a bit stern with your words."

"Okay, I understand. I'll do as you instruct." Guo Tao felt a wave of relief. Tao Tang's instruction to launch a special investigation into the purchasing department after his return was tantamount to taking responsibility upon himself, which moved Guo Tao. In all these years, Red Star had never proactively investigated corruption even once.

That evening, a guest came to Han Ruilin's house: An Zhongliang, the branch secretary and acting director of the supply department. An Zhongliang didn't come empty-handed; he brought a bag and placed it in the corner of the hallway as soon as he entered.

"What are you doing?" Han Ruilin, who participated in the secondary warehouse inventory team, guessed An Zhongliang's intention.

"A little bit of cigarettes and alcohol isn't enough to constitute bribery, is it?" An Zhongliang said with a worried look. "Old Han, we're not exactly best friends, but we've worked together for quite a while. I'm here to ask you for advice. You know, the purchasing department is a complete mess, with tons of problems, both overt and covert, like what you've uncovered this time. What can I do? I'd say this even to General Manager Tao's face. Everyone knows what kind of person Yang Wenhuan is. I, the branch secretary who doesn't do anything, am really unlucky..."

The head of the purchasing department, Xie Yicai, was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer before the Lunar New Year and is currently in critical condition at Beiyang Tumor Hospital. Therefore, the investigation of Ji Liqiang did not mention Director Xie, nor was any organizational action taken against him. However, the management of Hongxing knew that Ji Liqiang, with the support of Yang Wenhuan, had sidelined Xie Yicai, not to mention An Zhongliang, the nominal second-in-command.

"Old An," Han Ruilin said with a smile, looking at the dejected An Zhongliang. He thought to himself, "If you weren't completely desperate, why would you be showing up at my door with cigarettes and alcohol?" "Everyone knows that, it's no use saying it, especially not someone as insignificant as me. So, what brings you here?"

"Old Han, everyone knows you and Mr. Tao are friends..."

"We can't really call each other friends. You want to be transferred out of the purchasing department?" Han Ruilin's heart skipped a beat.

"I'm not stupid, how could I make such a request right now? Even if you were in my position, I doubt you'd dare say it, right? Of course, if you can get me out of this den of wolves, I can call you grandpa." An Zhongliang gave a wry smile. "I just want to find an opportunity to report to President Tao alone."

"What's so difficult about that?" Han Ruilin asked in surprise. "General Tao isn't a central leader."

An Zhongliang inwardly scoffed, "It's easy for you, but for a loser like me, under the spotlight, it's like climbing to heaven." He figured Han Ruilin, who had never worked in a key department, wouldn't truly understand his meaning. "Old Han, I can't go to the office building to report, and even going to Xiao Zhao isn't appropriate. You might not believe it, but if anyone goes to Xiao Zhao to see General Manager Tao, everyone will know immediately..."

"Is that so?" Han Ruilin exclaimed in shock. "Someone is spying on President Tao! This is outrageous!"

What an idiot! An Zhongliang looked down on the other party. "You can't say it's surveillance. The area outside Xiaozhao is a public activity area for the company, with people coming and going. Seeing some things can't be called surveillance, right? But I really need to report some things to President Tao separately."

"I understand," Han Ruilin said coldly. "I can talk to President Tao, but you must take everything you brought back intact! Don't get me in trouble!"

"Old Han, you're overthinking it!" An Zhongliang smiled. "There's definitely more than one person like Ji Liqiang in the purchasing department, but I can guarantee I'm clean. We'll prove it with time. I'm a bit timid, not as shady as others, so you don't need to worry. Besides, even if what I just said was complete nonsense, it wouldn't implicate you because of a little bit of tobacco and alcohol, would it?"

"Why didn't you ask Qiu Lin, Guo Tao, or Zhao Qingmin?"

"Because I don't trust them. Is that alright with you?" An Zhongliang stood up. "I won't disturb your rest any longer, sir. Goodbye."

Han Ruilin was lost in thought and forgot to see his guest out.

"Why didn't you see her off?" Shui Jiao came out of the bedroom.

"Ah..." Han Ruilin hurriedly took the bag, opened it, and saw that inside were two cartons of Zhonghua cigarettes, two bottles of Moutai, and two cans of Taiping Houkui liquor.

"Oh, that's quite a gift. Just for a reporting opportunity?" He weighed the half-pound bag of Houkui tea in his hand. "I just happened to be out of tea in my office."

"You're so sophisticated." Shui Jiao snatched the tea leaves away. "Put them all away. Are you planning to give them away again?"

Han Ruilin became happy. His wife hadn't spoken to him like that since that incident.

"Okay, okay, I'll do as you say. Put them all away."

As Han Ruilin got into bed and stuffed the things An Zhongliang had brought into the empty space at the top of the wardrobe in the corner, Shui Jiao, who was leaning against the headboard reading a magazine, snorted, "Let me make this clear to you, don't let anyone arrest you as an embezzler."

"Is this amount of money considered embezzlement? If this is a problem, then Red Star's matter is quite simple..."

"Let me tell you, there's a lot of talk about it in the office building."

Han Ruilin jumped out of bed. "What are you talking about?"

"Everyone says the purchasing department's problems aren't over yet! President Tao's arrangement for Chairman Guo to inspect warehouse management is just an excuse. You'd better stay away from the purchasing department, or don't say I didn't warn you."

Even after that incident, Shui Jiao's cold war with Han Ruilin hadn't completely ended. This was the first time she had taken the initiative to chat with Han Ruilin like this, and Han Ruilin was a little flattered. He sat down on the edge of the bed, took the "Reader's Digest" from his wife's hand, and said, "Jiao Jiao, I want to talk to you about something."

"Go and discuss it with your sweetheart," Shui Jiao said, turning her face away.

"Darling, I swore to you, I absolutely haven't done anything to betray you! This is very important, I have no one else to consult..."

"Where did all that money go? You better bring it back!" Shui Jiao's anger flared up again.

"I've already told you, I was fooled by Mu Jianhua..." Anyway, Mu Jianhua was in jail and wouldn't be out for another two years, so Han Ruilin completely pinned the blame on Mu Jianhua.

"Who are you trying to fool? Do you think I'm stupid?" Shui Jiao didn't believe her at all.

"Jiaojiao, what do you think? Should I take this opportunity to ask General Manager Tao for a position in the purchasing department?" Dragging this matter along would only make things worse, so Han Ruilin decisively changed the subject. Sure enough, Shuijiao turned back to him. "You want to go to the purchasing department?"

"Isn't it good? Didn't you say long ago that staying in the law firm was a dead-end job? It really is incredibly boring. It's much better to work in a powerful department for a few years and actually do real work."

"Would President Tao agree?" Shui Jiao seemed to have forgotten the unpleasant topic from earlier.

"You probably heard what An Zhongliang said earlier. No matter how far the investigation goes, I think the purchasing department's leadership will be reshuffled. Why can't I go? Even if I can't be the top leader, I can be the secretary, right? That's a difference of ten thousand yuan or so. With that money, you can buy so many clothes. You always envy Lü Qi's fashion sense, spending over ten thousand yuan a year on clothing. I don't believe you can't compare to her."

"Why would I compare myself to my sister-in-law?" But Shui Jiao still seemed happy. "Will President Tao agree to your request?"

"Why not give it a try? A little talk is always worthwhile. Even if you disagree with me, won't you still owe me a favor?"

"Dream on. Who do you think you are? Just because someone rejected you doesn't mean they owe you a favor. You're like a mouse on a scale, praising yourself without a second thought."

(End of this chapter)