Road to Revival

Just before he was about to leave work, Tao Tang called Lü Qi over.

"Zhou Hongyou summoned me yesterday. What a display of official power!" Tao Tang said, looking displeased.

"Is it about the company relocation?" Lü Qi guessed the reason accurately.

"Correct. Has the company officially designated a responsible unit for the relocation?"

"The Policy Research Office. President Song once designated the Policy Research Office to study the relocation issue, but I don't know if there have been any results. At least at my level, I haven't heard of it, let alone held a meeting." After the initial excitement and confusion, Lü Qi could now face Tao Tang "calmly." But Tao Tang's mentality still puzzled her, or rather, she couldn't guess what Tao Tang was thinking. She felt that he was more of a stranger than when they first met.

"The Policy Research Office..." Tao Tang pondered, "What's your assessment of Director Sheng?"

Lu Qi's heart skipped a beat. "This... shouldn't be asked of me." She had once commented on Sheng Guangyun in front of Tao Tang, and at that time she seemed to have no scruples. Why has she changed now?

"Lu Qi, do you know what my biggest feeling is?" The bell for the end of the workday had already rung, and Tao Tang seemed to have become interested.

"I have no idea."

"Let me tell you, it's loneliness." Tao Tang smiled forlornly. "The higher you climb, the colder it gets. That might sound arrogant, but it really feels like that. You get that feeling when every decision you make has the potential to affect the lives of thousands of people. Oh, it's time to get off work. If you're not in a hurry to go home, let's chat for a few minutes."

Lü Qi nodded, then asked, "And what about you? How do you eat?"

"Easy. What year did you join the Party?"

"This is utterly absurd!" Lü Qi looked at Tao Tang for a long time before finally saying, "2001..."

"I was born earlier than you. I was born in 1996. Do you often read the Party Constitution?"

"What's wrong with you?" Lu Qi asked, puzzled.

"I watch it all the time, really. You feel like you're dealing with a lunatic now, don't you?" Tao Tang smiled.

"This is the first time I've heard of someone who regularly reads the Party Constitution," Lü Qi replied honestly.

"Party spirit is conscience. The Party Constitution is not only the Party's charter, but also the code of conduct for people. If a Party member's review of the Party Constitution is considered mentally ill, then either society is sick, or the Party is sick. As a ruling party with 80 million members, the influence of its Party Constitution should be astonishing; it should penetrate every corner of our lives like the Analects of Confucius. Most of the people I meet every day are Party members, and you probably are too. How many people are in the Planning Department? What is the proportion of Party members?"

"33 people, including 24 formal party members and 1 probationary party member."

Tao Tang sighed, "Yes, but we can't feel the difference between Party members and ordinary people. But I've digressed. Lü Qi, I've always considered you a good friend, the kind of friend you can confide in. What you say will both influence my judgment and won't influence it."

"I think Director Sheng is quite capable."

"That is to say, talent exists, but virtue cannot be guaranteed."

"What do you consider to be the minimum standard of virtue?"

"Loyalty to the company."

"Then I believe Director Sheng can be trusted. Why not say he's loyal to you?"

"When I am loyal to the company, he will be loyal to the company and therefore will not be disloyal to me."

"What makes you say you're loyal to the company?"

"Good question. Subjectively speaking, it's about one's heart. But nobody knows for sure. I don't think Song Yue and Yang Wenhuan would openly accuse them of betraying the company. But objective evidence can always be tested. Even if current interests and long-term interests are not aligned, there will always be a relatively fair conclusion, even if it takes several years. Remember when we were kids, there was a Secretary Chen in the factory? My dad always called him 'Chen the Big Belly' behind his back..."

Lü Qi nodded. "I remember. My dad thinks very highly of him."

"Secretary Chen brought running water to every household, and he also brought heating to the bungalows. My mother always remembers how good Director Chen was. That's what reputation is. However, Director Chen implemented projects that benefited the people, which made it easy for him to gain their support. There was another Director Lü, who was your relative. He never raised wages for his employees once while in office. He tightened his belt to build a gearbox production line, built three large workshops, bought hundreds of pieces of equipment, and even installed a steelmaking furnace. Now that furnace with an annual output of 8,000 tons is still standing there... A couple of days ago, I asked to see the factory history, and I read about Director Lü." The summary is very brief, and I think it's unfair... In my opinion, Director Lü's contribution to Hongxing was no less than Secretary Chen's. But the common people may not think so. In my experience, employees can share the fruits of reform, but it's not easy for them to share the costs. I worked at Shengdong for 44 months, and I've heard that quite a few people still criticize me, but it doesn't matter; I have a clear conscience. When I looked through the Party Constitution, I really wondered, had I not acted according to the Party Constitution? The conclusion was no. So I was self-righteous and arrogant, and even had a big argument with the investigation team... Haha.

Lü Qi was taken aback. "They really investigated you?"

"It's impossible to avoid being investigated. The key question is whether you can withstand the investigation. If something doesn't exist, it doesn't exist, and even a formal complaint may not be true. The tragedy lies in the inequality. Even if it's a false accusation, so what? Have you ever heard of anyone being prosecuted for false accusation? At least I haven't."

Lü Qi didn't know what Tao Tang was trying to say, or if he was just venting to her. So she didn't respond, and the conversation fell silent.

Tao Tang flipped through the phone book and dialed Sheng Guangyun's number on the landline. While waiting for Sheng Guangyun to arrive, Tao Tang said, "In terms of responsibilities, this matter shouldn't be under the jurisdiction of the Policy Research Office, but rather yours. Have you conducted any relevant research before?"

"no."

"We need to start research. This is a genuine long-term plan, and we need to study it carefully, from policy to reality. I will explain this to Liu Xinjun, so don't worry about it. This matter may not be under your jurisdiction, but I'd like to hear your research findings. I don't need detailed data, just a general assessment based on intuition or a macro perspective: where is the relocation, or strategic restructuring, advantageous or disadvantageous for us?"

"I'm afraid I can't do this. It's too advanced."

"No, truth is often simple and obvious. Just like the highest level of management is simplicity. Complexity and specialization are by no means characteristics of management. Besides, I think you have a very good eye..."

Li Zhibin knocked on the door. "President Tao, Director Sheng is here."

"Please ask him to come. You can go home now, don't wait for me," Tao Tang said to Li Zhibin.

Lu Qi stood up and nodded to Sheng Guangyun, the board secretary and director of the policy research office, who had just entered. "President Tao, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

"Alright. Director Sheng, please have a seat..."

"Mr. Tao, is there something you need?"

"Yes, you're off work. No urgent business to attend to?"

No, no.

The board secretary and director of the policy research office in front of me was a thin, middle-aged man with dark skin and prominent knuckles on his hands resting on his knees, making him look more like a manual laborer.

"You served in the military?" Tao Tang noticed Sheng Guangyun's posture.

"Yes. I served in the military for 14 years."

"You transferred to the factory? In which year? What rank?"

"1997. Director of the Political Department of the Regiment."

"Oh. Which factories did you work for?"

"First, the Party Branch Secretary of the Third Factory, the Publicity Department... The Policy Research Office was established in 2007, and so on..."

"Oh. Lao Sheng, I heard your department spearheaded the research on the company relocation?"

"I wasn't leading it. The research was limited to within the Policy Research Office. It started last year."

"The materials are ready?"

"Very immature..."

"Has the team discussed this?"

"No. Only President Song has seen it."

Let's get to the conclusion.

"Our conclusion is that, from Red Star's perspective, relocation is not advisable."

Why?

"Because relocation cannot solve Hongxing's development problems, but instead brings more problems."

"Oh, Lao Sheng, I'm a little hungry. How about we find somewhere to get something to eat? It's on me."

"It would be my great honor."

Tao Tang got up, changed into casual clothes, cleaned up the documents on the table, locked them in the filing cabinet, and went outside to find Li Zhibin still there.

"Didn't I tell you to leave work?"

Li Zhibin remained silent.

"What about food? Why don't you come with us?" Tao Tang asked the young man.

"No, thank you, Mr. Tao."

Tao Tang and Sheng Guangyun left the office building. "Old Sheng, are there any quiet restaurants nearby?"

"That's best to get it out of the factory. There are some outside the East Gate."

"Walk."

After walking for twenty minutes, Tao Tang found a small noodle shop outside the factory gate. He ordered three cold dishes, two vegetarian and one meat dish: peanuts in vinegar, smashed cucumber, and braised pork knuckle. He also ordered two 2-ounce bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

"All items are included." Tao Tang handed Sheng Guangyun a bottle. Sheng Guangyun silently unscrewed the cap and took a big gulp.

"Don't drink it by yourself, come on, let's have a toast."

"Thank you, Mr. Tao..." Sheng Guangyun took another sip.

"Old Sheng, have you filled out the survey?"

"Yes."

"What do you think is Red Star's most pressing problem right now?"

Sheng Guangyun had been pondering the relocation issue, but Tao Tang unexpectedly changed the subject.

"Issues related to the conduct of officials."

Why?

"Without changing the current management structure of the company, everything else is just empty talk."

In which areas are problems with the conduct of officials most prevalent?

"Mediocrity, laziness, laxity, weakness... and factionalism. Oh, maybe that's not the right word; I can't think of a more accurate one right now."

"Factionalism? I haven't heard that word in a long time. How come I don't feel it?"

"You'll feel it later. Unless you choose to ignore it."

"Why not mention corruption? Isn't corruption serious at Red Star?"

"Corruption is superficial. Factionalism, mediocrity, laziness, and incompetence are also forms of corruption, and they are invisible corruption."

"That's true. But it's not a good solution. Old Sheng, do you have any brilliant ideas?"

"I often think back to my days in the army... To be honest, I miss them very much. I served as a political instructor and also as a political commissar. The combat effectiveness of a company is 80% reflected in its officers. If the company commander and political instructor are competent, the company's combat effectiveness is basically not a problem. The reverse is a big problem..."

"Well said. In fact, the same principle applies to any organization."

Sheng Guangyun's face was already red, his already dark complexion turning purplish-red. "President Tao, I didn't expect you to invite me for drinks, especially in a place like this. You know what? I heard you ate at the cafeteria and told my wife, 'Now Red Star has hope...'"

Tao Tang didn't say anything, but raised his wine bottle and clinked it against Sheng Guangyun's.

"My wife didn't take it seriously. Oh, she's not from our factory, she works as a cashier at Walmart. She said, 'Who can't pretend for a few days?'"

"Haha, well said. Looks like I'll have to keep up the act."

"I couldn't argue with that. Then a question popped into my head: why is something so ordinary being made such a big deal out of nothing? You're the factory manager, and you're single. Shouldn't you be eating in the canteen? Why should you get special treatment at the small recruitment center?"

"Well said. I'll drink a lot for that." Tao Tang downed more than half of the remaining wine in the bottle in one gulp. Seeing this, Sheng Guangyun also finished his share, and then started coughing violently.

"Would you say that even if you didn't drink? Hey, two more bottles, please!"

"If you don't invite me to drink, if you don't invite me to drink here, I probably won't say anything."

Why?

"I wanted to stay in the army until I died. I couldn't bear to take off that uniform. But I was kicked out!"

Why?

"Because I exposed the shady dealings of the logistics department in the barracks renovation. The logistics department's problems were investigated, and I was also demobilized. General Tao, I have a heavy family burden. My parents are farmers, and my child has a congenital disability. I can't help but have some concerns."

"Yes, yes, nobody lives in a vacuum. Lao Sheng, now you're the board secretary and the director of the policy research office. In Red Star's cadre hierarchy, you're a senior executive. What does that mean? It means your concerns are unfounded, or at least not entirely justified. I hope you can cast aside those unnecessary worries, revitalize your military spirit, and maintain your past drive... especially towards me. Point out my mistakes in my work without hesitation, and don't try to be a nice guy. What did Confucius say? A hypocrite, right? Actually, that's a very bad quality."

"President Tao...you are right to criticize. I will punish myself..." Sheng Guangyun stood up.

"Alright, you don't need to drink anymore, and neither do I. Let's eat. Waiter, two small bowls of noodles, please. Oh, and could you give me your ingredients tomorrow?"

"Thank you for your criticism, General Manager Tao. I will definitely work harder." Sheng Guangyun stood up. "There's something I didn't dare say earlier, but I'll say it now. General Manager Tao, the employees of Hongxing are fine; they are the best employees. But the cadres at Hongxing have problems. Hongxing's problems aren't just about work style; they're about corruption in personnel management. Over the years, a large number of scoundrels have been promoted, and morale has plummeted... Since you've asked me to give my opinion, I hope you'll dismiss a group of bastards like Quan Jianhe!"

"Take it slow. Lao Sheng, I don't completely agree with your opinion. What we need to do is not only remove incompetent people and those who break the law, but more importantly, turn bad cadres into good ones. That's the fundamental solution. Lao Sheng, thank you for chatting with me. Let's have dinner."