Road to Revival

Chapter 249 Team Two

In this round of personnel reshuffle, Lü Qi was promoted to Assistant General Manager, while still serving as Director of the Development Planning Department. The other two deputy directors remained unchanged, a case of the nephew carrying a lantern—following the uncle's lead (in the old system).

The personnel changes in the Development and Planning Department were announced by Zhao Qingmin, a high-ranking official. Just like within the system, who announces the promotion of cadres is a significant matter. Generally, changes within the middle management level are handled by the deputy general manager (deputy party secretary) along with the head or deputy head of the organization department (or the director or deputy director of the human resources department). The general manager or party secretary rarely appears. Therefore, in the eyes of those in the Development and Planning Department familiar with the company's personnel operations, Lü Qi's influence was considerable, surpassing even that of Liu Xinjun in his prime.

After the meeting, Lü Qi was in a flurry of activity. She received sincere or insincere congratulations from colleagues within her own unit, and phone calls from other units with essentially the same message. Suppressing her inner joy, she uttered insincere polite words, her throat feeling dry.

Until she saw Xu Deyu loitering outside the door.

Lü Qi jumped up as nimbly as a little girl, pulled Xu Deyu into the office, and closed the door. "Deyu, I was just about to congratulate you, what are you wandering around for..."

Xu Deyu's face had the look of someone from the old society, and it certainly didn't seem like he was faking it.

"What's wrong? Such a joyous occasion, why do you look so gloomy?" Xu Deyu was also a beneficiary of this round of cadre adjustments; she was appointed as the deputy director of the general manager's office.

"Sister Lü..."

"You've already talked to him? Actually, I already knew," Lü Qi said excitedly, rattling off a string of words. "Because it's a big deal, I kept it from you. I originally thought President Tao would promote you on the spot, but I didn't expect him to want you to work in the factory office doing paperwork. That's great..."

"Sister Lü, you knew all along? Why didn't you tell me? How could I possibly do this? Please plead with General Manager Tao for me, and let me stay at the factory newspaper..."

"You don't want to?" Lü Qi was greatly surprised.

"I don't want to. I know my abilities. Rather than becoming a laughingstock, I'd rather do something I'm confident in..."

"Are you stupid..." Looking at Xu Deyu's sincere face, Lü Qi was both amused and exasperated. "You didn't tell the boss, did you?"

"I said so."

"You told them? To whom did you tell them?"

"It was Secretary Chang who went to the Publicity Department to make the announcement, but he was unhappy and criticized me severely. So I went to see General Manager Tao, but there was always someone in his office, so I had no choice but to come to you. I know you can speak to General Manager Tao, so please talk to him and ask him not to issue the document. Once the document is issued, things will be irreversible."

"Haha, Deyu, that's hilarious! You just told Deputy Secretary Chang you were quitting, so who's left?"

"Our Minister Cui..."

"You're finished. Tomorrow, your joke will be all over Red Star. Haha, I'm dying of laughter. This is the first time I've ever heard of someone not getting promoted... I'm dying of laughter. Deyu, it's too late to change it. To change it, you'd have to go back to the Party Committee. Do you think that's possible? Aren't you just putting General Tao in a difficult position by doing this?"

"How is this putting President Tao in a difficult position? I feel that if I don't do a good job, I'll only embarrass him," Xu Deyu said seriously. "I know President Tao means well, but I really can't do it."

"Why can't you do it?"

"Sister Lü, you know me. What I hate most is dealing with people. What is the General Manager's Office? It's a place where you have to deal with people. How could I possibly do that!"

"The General Manager's Office involves dealing with people. But don't you also deal with people in the factory newspaper? Weren't many of this year's important articles materials you collected while working at the grassroots level? Didn't you do a good job? Besides, as far as I know, President Tao doesn't need you for welcoming and seeing off guests; he needs you to prepare important written materials for him. The Policy Research Office was abolished, and its functions were merged into the General Manager's Office. What did the Policy Research Office do before? Wasn't it just writing important documents for the Chairman? There won't be any problems. You were chosen by President Tao to do this job. He has praised your writing skills to me many times..."

"So, it's just writing reports?"

"That's the main thing... Deyu, I don't know if you've calculated it, but how much more money will you earn in a year after this promotion?"

"I haven't calculated it..."

"I've calculated it for you. At least 60,000! It could very well exceed 70,000!"

"So many?"

"Are you really that stupid or just pretending? That's how the system is set up. It might even be easier than your old job, but your income will double out of nowhere! Why don't you take it? Have you lost your mind?"

"I need the money, but first I have to tell you if I can do it? No..."

"There's been a major reshuffle in the General Manager's Office this time. Zhu Ning and Jia Jianxin have both gone down to the grassroots level. The three of you are all new here, so don't worry about Gao Jiming bullying you. He wouldn't dare even if he had ten times the courage! You'll see, your job assignments will be finalized by tomorrow at the latest. I reckon it'll be General Manager Tao personally determining your assignments. You'll definitely be the deputy director in charge of documentation, which is exactly your strength..."

This round of cadre reshuffling was extremely significant. No one expected that Zhu Ning and Jia Jianxin would both be transferred out of the General Manager's Office. Zhu Ning became the Party Branch Secretary of the newly established Gearbox Branch, while Jia Jianxin became the Deputy Director of the Sales Department of the Vehicle Parts Company. Gao Jiming, the former Party Branch Secretary of the Sixth Factory, unexpectedly became the Director of the General Manager's Office—a very unremarkable position; probably no one expected Tao Tang to favor him. When Tao Tang first arrived, there was a suicide incident at the Sixth Factory, and Gao Jiming received severe criticism. He was likely among the first cadres to be publicly criticized after Tao Tang's arrival. Afterwards, there was no further news of any interaction between Gao Jiming and Tao Tang…

Just as Xu Deyu was about to speak, Yan Shuzhen and Zuo Yun arrived together to visit Lü Qi. Upon seeing Xu Deyu, the two female cadres immediately showered him with compliments and congratulations, causing Xu Deyu to flee in dismay...

Xu Deyu went downstairs to the second floor listlessly. She decided not to go find Tao Tang. Lü Qi's words had moved her. The prediction about the division of labor was secondary; the key was what Lü Qi mentioned about the change in income. She was desperately short of money. She thought, if she could earn 80,000 or 90,000 yuan a year, her cousin's medical expenses wouldn't be a problem, she wouldn't hesitate to buy a book or two she liked, and many other expenses would no longer be a burden…

She didn't see Tao Tang coming out of the bathroom, but Tao Tang called out to her.

"Xiao Xu, I heard from Li Zhibin that you were looking for me? Come on, I've been wanting to talk to you..."

Xu Deyu shrank his neck and followed Tao Tang back to the office.

"Please sit down. This time, I'm transferring you to the factory office mainly to handle paperwork..." Tao Tang said slowly and deliberately.

"Mr. Tao, I... I'm afraid I can't do it..."

"Is this what you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Yes……"

"Those who worry about not doing a good job usually do a good job. Conversely, those who confidently say they can definitely do a good job often have significant hidden dangers. That's dialectics, isn't it? You can do it, I believe in you. After get off work today, I'll hold a short meeting with the new leadership team in the factory office to assign you your responsibilities."

"President Tao, why me? Isn't Director Fan much better?" Xu Deyu didn't understand why Tao Tang chose the unknown Xu Deyu instead of the talented Fan Yongcheng.

Tao Tang's face darkened. "Xiao Xu, I've always hoped that one day our Red Star factory would be as disciplined as the army! In the first half of this year, I'm going to recommend a book to all middle-level managers called 'Learning from the People's Liberation Army.' You'll need to pick up that book from Li Zhibin later, take a look, write an article, and publish it in the factory newspaper. All middle-level managers are required to study this book carefully and write a reflection... That's the first task I'm assigning you. If there's nothing else, you can go back now. Finish the handover today, and report to the factory office after get off work."

Xu Deyu stood up. "President Tao, thank you... but I still don't quite understand..."

"Is there anything you don't understand? Speak, but keep it brief, I have a lot to do today."

"I'm really not cut out to be an official..."

"Xu Deyu, I'm not asking you to come to the factory office as an official, but to do the work! Remember this: we are a company, and neither I nor anyone else are bureaucrats. Why did I choose you as the deputy director of the factory office? Of course, it's because I value your abilities... You don't need to have any concerns, and you shouldn't try to change anything. I hope you maintain your current mindset and bring a breath of fresh air to the factory office. Alright, from now on we'll work together. Li Zhibin is going to work at the grassroots level. My new secretary hasn't arrived yet, so you'll take over his work for now. I've already instructed him... Go on."

Xu Deyu suddenly bowed to Tao Tang.

"Haha, what does this mean? You... go away." Tao Tang waved his hand and chased Xu Deyu away.

"Director Xu," Li Zhibin stood up when he saw Xu Deyu come out, "Director Xu, shouldn't you go back and hand over your work first? After get off work, General Manager Tao is going to hold a meeting to divide the new leadership team in the General Manager's Office. It's at 6:40, so don't be late. Also, I have a lot of things to tell you. If you can, let's work overtime after the meeting tonight."

"No problem..." Xu Deyu wanted to say something, but didn't, and dragged his feet away.

Li Zhibin watched Xu Deyu leave, absentmindedly tidying up the documents on his desk. He had also been promoted in this major reshuffle, skipping the section-level and going straight to the division-level, becoming the deputy director of the newly merged Mobile Department after the merger of the Infrastructure Department. It was a powerful department, and this arrangement pleased him greatly, but also surprised him somewhat. He had thought, or perhaps hoped, that he could be directly promoted to deputy director of the Factory Office; he was familiar with office procedures and even more so with Tao Tang's work style. He had even discussed it privately with Chen Yan several times: if he became deputy director of the General Manager's Office, Chen Yan would have to leave the Factory Office. Chen Yan had chosen the Development and Planning Department, hoping Li Zhibin could arrange for her to be transferred to work under Lü Qi. Now everyone could see that Lü Qi was Tao Tang's true confidant, and it was certain that Lü Qi would be promoted again before Tao Tang left Hongxing. In that case, if Chen Yan cultivated a good relationship with Lü Qi, a section-level promotion would be no problem…

But Li Zhibin didn't stay; instead, he was "exiled" to a lower-level position. Although it was definitely a lucrative post, he was still somewhat resentful. He certainly couldn't give a reason for Chen Yan's transfer...

"The biggest surprise is her. Who would have thought that President Tao would take a liking to her? Was it Lu Qi's recommendation? Then didn't Lu Qi drive Fan Yongcheng away by herself? Did Lu Qi think that Fan Yongcheng was in the way of President Tao? She's such a mysterious woman..." Li Zhibin glanced at the accurate quartz clock on the wall and quickened his pace.

(End of this chapter)