Road to Revival

Back at the factory after get off work, Lü Qi, preoccupied with the matter of Han Ruilin and Shui Jiao, was pulled aside by Zuo Yun to talk. The topic naturally turned to Tao Tang's attitude towards the marketing department. Zuo Yun sensed Tao Tang's dissatisfaction with Li Luo's control of the marketing department and was eager to glean some information from Lü Qi. Seeing Zuo Yun's eagerness and impatience, Lü Qi was glad she hadn't told her about recommending him to Tao Tang. She countered by asking Zuo Yun how she knew Tao Tang's thoughts. "Even if we were classmates, do you think he would report his personnel reshuffle plans to me? If he were so shallow, how could he have gotten that position? Zuo Yun, instead of trying to figure out what the boss is thinking, you should focus on doing your job well."

"Lu Qi, I'm wondering why President Tao specifically chose me." Zuo Yun, quick-witted, easily figured out the reason. "Don't look at me like that. It was that bastard Liu Shulin who told me. This afternoon, you went to Donghu Machinery with President Tao, and we stayed behind to sign the contract. Liu Shulin told me personally that Secretary Li specifically requested me to go. How could a mere secretary like him make such a decision without President Tao's permission? Impossible, right? Not to mention a greenhorn like me, even Zhang Xingwu wouldn't dare, right? Besides you, who else would mention me in front of President Tao? Lu Qi, we're friends. I'm grateful for this kind of thing, why would I gossip about it outside? Do you think I'm a fool? However, you know Li Luo's skills and connections. Even someone as powerful as Song Yue couldn't shake him. President Tao just arrived; don't let him get bitten by the snake instead of hitting it... I won't lie to you, I've been hoping for the factory to reorganize marketing for a long time. As long as Liu Shulin doesn't fall, the marketing department won't be any better."

"Okay, I'll confess, I mentioned you to him. Yesterday morning he asked me about the performance evaluation and the unpaid wages, and he also mentioned coming to Donghu. I mentioned you, and he probably remembered it..." Lu Qi couldn't say Tao Tang's exact words, so she made up a lie.

Actually, this statement doesn't hold up to scrutiny. What does going to Donghu have to do with Zuo Yun? The marketing department is the largest department in the company's management, with over 200 employees. Zuo Yun is merely a deputy director with no specific job title and ranked last. Apart from Liu Shulin, there are the secretary and three other deputy directors above her. Unless there are special circumstances, why would Tao Tang appoint her? But Zuo Yun is also a smart person. Regardless of the hidden reasons, Lü Qi has genuinely helped her, so Zuo Yun said, "I'll remember this favor, thank you."

Red Star is a society in itself, and one of the most prominent characteristics of Chinese society is human relationships. Making someone owe you a favor is like depositing money in a bank, with potentially high interest rates. Lü Qi, a cadre who rose through the ranks at Red Star, surely understands the implications. Zuo Yun's words mean that he will repay this favor.

But Zuo Yun couldn't be the head of the marketing department. That position was too important; it required both ability and seniority. Otherwise, he simply couldn't keep those slick overseas marketing staff and other departments in check, especially the finance department. Lü Qi regretted her earlier thought, but then she realized that if Tao Tang didn't understand the dynamics, he wouldn't be able to hold onto that position.

"Alright, stop talking nonsense. Aren't we friends?"

"I have a feeling Liu Shulin is going to change course. You weren't here this afternoon, so you didn't see Liu Shulin's true colors. Li Luo is very dissatisfied with his attitude."

"There's absolutely nothing wrong with him obeying the top leader." Lü Qi couldn't help but say, "If Song Yue is capable on her own, what does Li Luo matter? President Tao is new and doesn't have any leverage over them."

"That's right. That's why Mr. Tao needs to be cautious in his first battle."

"This is really not something we should be thinking about. I have to go home." Lü Qi stopped chatting with Zuo Yun and left in a hurry.

It was already seven o'clock when she got home. The opening theme of the evening news had just started playing. Lü Qi had just changed her slippers in the entryway when she saw Shui Jiao sitting in the living room.

"Sister-in-law, you're finally back..."

"Hey, why don't you try to talk to her? You women..." Fan Yongcheng patted his behind and hid in the kitchen, leaving his cousin to Lü Qi.

"What exactly happened? Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you...?"

"Sister-in-law, he gave all the family's money to that slut, I want a divorce..."

Shui Jiao's eyes were swollen, probably from crying. Lü Qi thought Shui Jiao's most beautiful feature was her eyes, large and bright, but now they looked terrible. "What happened?"

Shui Jiao started crying again, and as she cried, she recounted how she discovered that 50,000 yuan was missing from the family savings account, and that the money had been withdrawn yesterday morning.

"Isn't the money under your control? How can he take it without going through you?" Lü Qi asked, somewhat puzzled.

"The performance bonus he paid out last year has just sat there untouched... You know, I can't be on guard like a thief. He must have bribed Mu Jianhua to shut him up. Everyone in the factory knows Mu Jianhua is using drugs, so if he took the money, he'd naturally cover up his and his sister's scandalous affair..."

Lü Qi understood. The first "he" Shui Jiao referred to was Han Ruilin, and the second "he" referred to Mu Jianhua. Lü Qi immediately believed Shui Jiao's deduction. She hated Han Ruilin, finding this power-hungry man utterly despicable. But she couldn't very well advise reconciliation, even though Shui Jiao was her own sister; she couldn't directly suggest they divorce.

"Pour me a glass of water!" Lü Qi shouted into the kitchen. "Is dinner ready? I'm starving!"

Wearing an apron, Fan Yongcheng brought out a glass of water. "Huh? Haven't you eaten?"

"no."

"How could that be? You're such a stingy old classmate..."

Lü Qi ignored Fan Yongcheng, took the water glass and drank a few sips. "Let's eat when the food's ready. Jiaojiao probably hasn't eaten yet either. Where's Tao Tao? Where is he?"

Tao Tao is Han Jiangtao, the son of Han Ruilin and Shui Jiao. Fan Yue usually goes to Lü Qi's parents' house for meals.

"I won't eat it, I don't care anymore, I want a divorce..." Shui Jiao cried again.

Lü Qi thought that getting a divorce was actually very easy; it could be done by going to the Civil Affairs Bureau, and it wasn't difficult at all. Since Shui Jiao had come to the house, it meant she didn't want a divorce yet.

"Shuijiao, don't cry. Since you trust me, listen to my advice. First, the story about Han Ruilin and Mu Guihua may not be true. I know Han Ruilin used to be close to Cao Wendong, so it's reasonable for him to help Mu Guihua..."

"No! That's absolutely not how it is!" Shui Jiao screamed.

"Secondly, even if Han Ruilin and Mu Guihua have an affair, you should consider the difficulties your family has faced, and the needs of the elderly and children. Divorce is easy to say, but what about Tao Tao? Will you take care of him? He's already in middle school. Considering his future and your financial situation, are you capable?"

Shui Jiao stopped crying and stared blankly.

"Men, well, most of them are animals that think with their lower bodies..." Lü Qi glared at Fan Yongcheng. "Don't look at me like that, you're no better than him. Jiaojiao, if you listen to me, stop making a scene. Your brother and I will talk to him, make him change his ways, apologize to you, and make a promise. Jiaojiao, think about it, you've been married for almost twenty years, it hasn't been easy. Putting aside Tao Tao being harmed, just look at the two of you, if this gets out, not only will he be finished, but you'll be implicated too."

"How have I been implicated?"

"President Tao took a group of us to Donghu to learn from their experience today," Lü Qi started making up stories again. "He said that Donghu Industry is such a big operation, but its headquarters only has about a hundred people. Our factory's offices are so bloated, with three office buildings alone. I think President Tao is planning to streamline the organization... Jiaojiao, others may not know, but I know! Does your confidential office really need so many people?"

Shui Jiao was startled. She worked in the General Manager's Office Confidential Room, and she didn't get along with almost all her colleagues. She was always loafing around at work, and being late, leaving early, or skipping work was the norm. When Han Ruilin was in power, Zhang Xingwu and Zhu Ning would always give Han Ruilin some face. But Han Ruilin was finished, and if the factory really streamlined its offices, she would most likely be kicked out of the factory office.

"Sister-in-law, are you telling the truth?"

"Why would I lie to you? Tao's style at Shengdong is all about decisive action. Don't believe me? Ask your brother. We've learned from Shengdong's experience. The higher-ups brought Tao in to lead the charge so he could vigorously reorganize Hongxing. How? Targeting surplus staff in the offices is the simplest way; it'll immediately intimidate everyone..."

Shui Jiao bit her lip and remained silent.

Fan Yongcheng secretly gave Lü Qi a thumbs up, "The food is ready, let's eat."

After dinner, Shui Jiao went home, refusing Lü Qi's offer to take her back. She seemed to have forgotten that Lü Qi had assured her at her house the night before that Han Ruilin had been framed. Lü Qi had promised her that she would teach Han Ruilin a lesson, make him admit his mistake, and make him give a written guarantee that he would never associate with that slut Mu Guihua again.

"I'm exhausted..." Lü Qi complained as she closed the door. "I can't even handle the important matters. Han Ruilin is a complete bastard. Hey, the rest is yours, I don't care anymore. She's your cousin, after all."

"Is President Tao really planning to streamline the organization?"

"I was just kidding her. But President Tao was genuinely impressed by the efficiency of the Donghu headquarters."

"Tell me, tell me in detail." Fan Yongcheng was indeed intrigued.

"It was just one sentence. Hey, can you change your ways? You're acting like a girl."

"I'd like to report on some work with General Manager Tao, is that appropriate?"

"What are you reporting? What's there to report? There are tons of quality problems. Hey, I should really let you listen to it too. Even though it has nothing to do with me, I'd blush just listening to it, like I'd be on trial."

"Donghu has filed a complaint?"

"What do you mean by 'complaining'? We're the ones asking for their help! You need to understand our relationship first."

"Did Chen Yongliang get reprimanded?"

"Tao Tang is really that incompetent? I'm telling you, you should focus on managing your own affairs. I think Tao Tang definitely needs to improve its quality."

"If I were in charge of the quality department, it definitely wouldn't be like this..."

"You're just bragging," Lü Qi rolled her eyes at her husband. Fan Yongcheng's theory was sound; the Hongxing Factory's current quality system documents were three thick volumes, half of which were drafted by Fan Yongcheng. But if he were to manage the quality department, he probably wouldn't be as good as Chen Yongliang.

"Hey, you didn't know, did you? This afternoon a group of debt collectors came and went straight to Building 3 demanding to see General Manager Tao. They threatened to take us to court if we didn't pay."

"What's so special about this? To use a popular phrase, it's the new normal."

"No, I suspect someone tipped him off. Those people said that President Han got the money back from Yanjing..."

"What old debts? Is it for materials?" Lu Qi wondered. Tao Tang had just decided to pay the back wages, and the creditors had already come to investigate?

"No, it's about the coal payment. Tao isn't here today, and the office building is quite noisy. A group of people, all farmers, came to the family of the man who committed suicide. They insist the factory drove him to his death and demand to see Tao. Jia Jianxin is hiding and refusing to show his face, and Zhu Ning is in a complete mess..."

"Hey, always thinking about promotions and power, now you know you're in trouble, huh?"

"What's the trouble? The more difficult the situation, the easier it is for officials to make money. Isn't that what happened with Song Yue? She takes a cut from every old debt... I'm not talking about President Tao, but your classmate has a good reputation. Everyone down below praises him. It's not easy for the top leader to eat in the main canteen. Sigh, you've confused me. Tell me, should I report this to President Tao?"

"Never mind. Someone will report it. You're not the director of the legal office, so reporting is Zhao Zhenghong's job."

"I wouldn't sit in that broken chair in the legal office even if you gave it to me. This mess is just too much trouble; I'm the defendant anyway." Fan Yongcheng sighed.