Road to Revival

On Tao Tang's first day in office, Zhang Xingwu, the director of the general manager's office, got up early and rushed to Xiaozhao.

According to Director Zhang Xingwu's estimation, the newly arrived General Manager Tao will definitely hold a team meeting today to hear work reports from his assistants. Therefore, he must make proper arrangements in advance. In addition, General Manager Tao's office, secretary, and even his vehicle need to be decided upon as soon as possible.

As is customary, the company should definitely buy a new car for General Manager Tao. However, the purchase of official vehicles is subject to increasingly strict restrictions and requires approval from headquarters. Furthermore, he was unaware of General Manager Tao's personal preferences, so he decided to select a car for General Manager Tao's exclusive use first… In short, he had many things to do today, all related to General Manager Tao. Isn't the main responsibility of the Director of the General Manager's Office to serve the leadership, especially the key leaders?

But Xiao Ye, the "dedicated" waitress he had chosen, reported that Mr. Tao had left twenty minutes ago, presumably to go for a walk. She didn't know where he went, nor did she dare to ask.

Xiao Ye was widely recognized as the most beautiful waitress at Xiao Zhao, with alluring features, a stunning figure, and exceptional diligence and attentiveness. She was initially discovered by General Manager Song, who personally ordered her transfer from Da Zhao. Zhang Xingwu, having no better option in the short time, assigned Xiao Ye to be the dedicated waitress for General Manager Tao's suite, responsible for cleaning and laundry. Xiao Ye was very pleased with this arrangement, promising not to disappoint the manager's trust and to provide excellent service to the new boss.

"Who came to see General Manager Tao last night?"

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Ye reported the truth: "Director Jia came, there were four or five of them... I don't know anyone except Director Chen of the Third Factory... It seems like there were people from the Organization Department."

Xiao Ye had worked as a temporary worker at the Third Branch Factory for two months. She was discovered by Jia Jianxin and transferred to the Big Factory as a waitress, which is how she met Chen Jianping, the factory director of the Third Branch Factory.

"Wait, who came from the Organization Department? Was he tall, chubby, and a bit balding?"

"Yes. Later, Mr. Tao's family came, and that person left..."

"Hmm, did Director Tao mention anything missing?" Zhang Xingwu thought. "Director Peng Jie must have come to deliver the cadre roster. Director Tao gets into the swing of things very quickly."

"no."

"Make sure to keep Mr. Tao's room clean. Clean it whenever he's not around and keep it in the best condition."

"Yes, I understand."

Zhang Xingwu nodded to Xiao Ye, then turned and went downstairs.

As Zhang Xingwu walked out of Xiaozhao, he wondered where Tao Tang would go for a walk. He could wait, but he still wanted to take the initiative to meet him. Not far south of Xiaozhao was the square in front of the office building, which was also the main place for employees to exercise in the morning. He had passed by the square earlier, and there were still very few people exercising there. Zhang Xingwu guessed that Tao Tang wouldn't go to a crowded place. After thinking for a moment, he walked towards the direction of the family quarters.

Sure enough, just past the factory logo, Zhang Xingwu saw Tao Tang wearing a tracksuit.

The Hongxing Factory covers a vast area, roughly divided into two main parts: a living area and a production area. The living area is in the east, and the production area is in the west. Three office buildings of different sizes are built in the middle of the production and living areas, forming an administrative area with the three office buildings and two guesthouses as the main buildings. Office Building No. 1 and No. 2 are old three-story buildings built in the 1950s and 60s, with a distinct Soviet style, while the four-story No. 3 was built in the late 1990s and looks much more grand and luxurious. Today, the company leaders, the general manager's office, and several key management departments occupy Building No. 3.

"Good morning, Mr. Tao. You're up really early..." Zhang Xingwu hurried a few steps to greet Tao Tang.

"Director Zhang..." Tao Tang recognized Zhang Xingwu. "The air in our factory is really fresh."

"That's right. Finally, there's a place better than Yanjing," Zhang Xingwu said with a smile. This was a great opportunity, and he spoke very casually.

"One generation plants the trees, another enjoys the shade." Tao Tang patted a cypress tree as thick as a bowl by the roadside. "When I was a child, this was a dense cypress forest, but now only these few trees remain."

Zhang Xingwu's lips moved, but he didn't know what to say. He wasn't a member of the Red Star family; in Red Star parlance, he was an outsider. Tao Tang's words had a critical tone, and he couldn't respond to that topic.

"Did you get a good rest last night, Mr. Tao? The preparations were certainly inadequate due to the rush. Please feel free to criticize us, Mr. Tao."

"You're home now, how could you not sleep well?" Tao Tang looked at his office manager. "You're very well prepared, too well prepared... I just saw some family members taking a walk or doing morning exercises in the production area. Does the company have any regulations on this?" Tao Tang walked towards Xiao Zhao.

"It should exist. Let me verify."

Tao Tang stopped talking and quickened his pace. When he reached Xiao Zhao's door, he turned back to Zhang Xingwu and said, "Time is precious in the morning, so don't keep me company. My office is in Building 3, right? Just have your secretary open it for me early."

"Yes, General Manager Tao." Zhang Xingwu saw a young man running towards Tao Tang and was about to stop him when he heard the young man call out "Second Uncle." It turned out that he was Tao Tang's nephew. Zhang Xingwu recalled the homework he had done beforehand and remembered that the thin young man wearing glasses was named Tao Youdao. He was the only son of Tao Tang's elder brother, Tao Jin, and worked as a statistician in the Sixth Factory.

The young man said something, and Tao Tang said he wouldn't go, then patted his nephew on the shoulder and entered the automatic revolving door of the small shop.

Although Tao Tang didn't want him to dine with him, Zhang Xingwu followed him into the small restaurant. He didn't go upstairs, but instead checked the private room prepared for Tao Tang and the breakfast preparations, gave instructions to the restaurant manager on duty, and then went home. He quickly ate breakfast and went to his office, where Li Zhibin, the secretary he had chosen for Tao Tang, was already cleaning Tao Tang's office.

"Is the key ready?" Zhang Xingwu reached out and touched the gleaming executive desk.

"Everything's ready, it's all here." Li Zhibin tossed down the towel, pulled a bunch of keys from his pocket, and handed them to Zhang Xingwu. "They've all been tested, no problem."

"Wipe the floor again, wring out the mop and wipe it down."

"Yes."

Zhang Xingwu stood in front of the office door, surveying the furnishings and looking for flaws. This office had previously been used by Song Yue; there was no way around it, as it was the largest and most impressive office on the second floor of Building 3, and Secretary Zhao had specifically designated it for General Manager Tao. Of course, apart from the air conditioner, all the furniture and small appliances had been replaced, including several potted evergreen plants. After looking for a few minutes, Zhang Xingwu found no problems and nodded in satisfaction. "Xiao Li, this position is highly competitive, as I think you've already experienced. Of course, the final decision rests with General Manager Tao, not me. You know what to do, right?"

"Thank you for your trust, Director. I will definitely work hard."

"Very good, hurry up and pack. President Tao's schedule is quite early, he should be here soon."

Upon learning of Tao Tang's appointment, the three directors of the office—one director and two deputy directors—discussed the selection of Tao Tang's secretary. This was normally the prerogative of the administrative head, but the General Manager's Office was somewhat unique. Deputy Director Jia Jianxin, though the youngest, had always been assertive due to his uncle Li Luo's influence. When Song Yue was in power, Jia Jianxin's words carried even more weight than Zhang Xingwu's, not to mention the branch secretary and deputy director Zhu Ning. Sure enough, Jia Jianxin nominated Wang Zhiping, and Zhu Ning, as usual, had no objections.

With Song Yue's downfall, Li Luo, who was "highly favored," failed to take the position. Zhang Xingwu, of course, was unwilling to be squeezed out by Jia Jianxin any longer, so he chose Li Zhibin, who, like himself, had no background.

"The final decision on the candidate should still be made by General Manager Tao. It's good to have a few more candidates." Zhang Xingwu decided to teach Jia Jianwu, this young man who had become too arrogant in recent years, a lesson this time. "I will give the candidate list to General Manager Tao. That's all."

"The director's idea is good. Let the leaders decide for themselves." Zhu Ning naturally sided with Zhang Xingwu.

Zhang Xingwu felt a sense of satisfaction at the resentment and disappointment written on Jia Jianwu's face.

At 7:35, Tao Tang, dressed in a brand-new work uniform, appeared in the corridor on the second floor of Building 3. Li Zhibin, who was wiping the corridor, had never seen the new boss before, but this stranger in a brand-new work uniform, with gray hair and carrying a black leather bag should be the new boss.

He hurriedly went to greet him, "Are you General Manager Tao? I'm Li Zhibin, the factory office secretary. Your office is the one at the very back, on the sunny side... the door is open."

"Thank you." Tao Tang extended his hand to Li Zhibin.

Li Zhibin dropped the mop, wiped his hands on his pants, and grasped the other person's outstretched hands with both of them.

"You go about your business," Tao Tang said as he walked into the house and turned to Li Zhibin, who had followed him.

"Mr. Tao, please let me know if you need anything. The water has just boiled, and I've prepared a few kinds of tea. I wonder if they suit your taste..."

"It's not that complicated... Go ahead." Tao Tang glanced at the office outside, which was clearly prepared for a secretary, pushed open the half-closed pure white solid wood door, and entered the room he was about to use, but didn't know how long he would use it for. In his twenty years of work, he had used countless offices, first sharing with others, and later having them all to himself, but this one was clearly the most luxurious.

The room faces the sun, and the morning light streams through the windows, casting shadows on the beige composite floor. The room, a full fifty square meters, is divided into two areas. The east side is the office area, with a set of dark red solid wood cabinets against the wall and a waist-high safe in the corner. A 13-inch laptop sits on a large black executive desk, but a desktop computer connected to a network cable sits on the side desk. Other amenities such as an electric kettle and double-walled glass insulated teacups are also provided.

Tao Tang tossed his briefcase onto the table and turned around. To the right was the reception area, which was actually two separate areas. A set of brown leather sofas and a large marble coffee table formed the reception area, with a complete set of Kung Fu tea utensils even laid out on the table. Opposite the sofas, against the wall, was a set of solid wood bookshelves painted a deep red, but they were completely empty, without a single book inside.

At the far west end of the office, a small conference table and chairs, along with six other chairs, form the meeting area.

In the southwest corner, there were two large green plants. The one on the south side was a money tree, and he didn't know the name of the other one on the north side.

Tao Tang noticed a brand-new ornament in front of the window between the executive desk and the sofa. It was a combination of a globe and a steering wheel, set in a copper base about one meter long. The steering wheel was heavy and sturdy. The globe, however, was made of oak and was three-dimensional and lifelike. Tao Tang gently turned the steering wheel, and the oceans and lands on the globe began to rotate vividly.

Tao Tang smiled silently, picked up the briefcase he had tossed on the sofa, took out the roster of cadres he had requested yesterday and placed it on the executive desk, then took out his stainless steel teacup, which he had used for several years. He glanced at the tea caddies next to the desktop computer; sure enough, there was Longjing tea. He brewed himself a cup of tea, sat down in the brand-new, leather-scented high-backed swivel chair, and casually opened a drawer, finding four cartons of cigarettes inside: two packs of Zhonghua and two packs of 95 Supreme.

The executive desk was covered with a full set of stationery. In addition to the Lenovo notebook, there were two notebooks with genuine leather covers, one large and one small, a manuscript paper with the words "Red Star Company" printed on it, and a porcelain pen holder with orchid designs containing two fountain pens, two ballpoint pens, and six sharpened pencils, two of which were red and blue pencils.

He casually pulled out a pencil and drew patterns on the paper that only he could understand. He couldn't remember how many times he had felt this way. Every time he took on a new job, it brought him a unique feeling, a mix of passion for making achievements and the novelty of an unfamiliar environment.

Tao Tang silently organized his thoughts. There was a knock on the door.

"Please come in." Tao Tang sat up straight.

Zhang Xingwu entered. "President Tao, I have two things to report to you."

"you say."

"First, regarding your secretary, following Secretary Zhao's instructions, the General Manager's Office has carefully considered the candidates and shortlisted three, all current secretaries in the factory office… The first is Li Yubin, oh, the young man you just met. He's 25 years old, graduated from the Chinese Department of G University, joined the factory in 2011, and was assigned to the factory headquarters after completing his probationary period the summer before last. His characteristics are that he's quiet and steady in his work. The second is Chen Yan, a female colleague who joined the factory office last year. Her advantage is her strong writing skills. The third is Wang Zhiping, who previously worked under Yang Wenhuan and has a rather outgoing personality. Which one do you think is suitable?"

His order and introduction were highly suggestive. He said that Wang Zhiping had served as the secretary of Yang Wenhua, who has since been imprisoned, but he didn't mention that Li Zhibin had been Song Yue's secretary.

Tao Tang remained silent, calmly observing Zhang Xingwu. Zhang Xingwu immediately tensed up, unsure where he had gone wrong. He knew that selecting a top leader's secretary was a crucial matter. Although Hongxing was a company, it resembled more of a society. The top leader was the highest authority in this small society, and a large amount of administrative work was handled by the secretary; correspondingly, the secretary possessed enormous, albeit implicit, power. Zhang Xingwu nervously wondered if he had been overconfident.

"Was that young Li from earlier a member of the Red Star family?" Tao Tang finally spoke up.

"No. But he's from Pingquan City."

"Who was he with before?"

"Song Yue." Zhang Xingwu was filled with regret. "He only followed Song Yue for less than four months."

"Let's give him a try. By the way, how are secretaries assigned? Do company leaders all have full-time secretaries?"

"No. Only you, Secretary Zhao, and Chairman Guo have full-time secretaries. The other leaders have one secretary and two assistants."

"Oh. And the second one?"

"Regarding the car. As is customary, we should buy you a new car, but last year headquarters reiterated the regulations that the purchase of official vehicles must be approved by headquarters. We applied for three cars at the beginning of the year, but headquarters has not approved them yet. What model do you prefer? I will submit a new report to headquarters."

"No need to submit a report. I'm not buying a car this year."

"Well then, we'll have to choose one from the fleet first." Zhang Xingwu carefully chose his words. "There are two that would be suitable. One is a Mercedes-Benz 320 S-Class that we brought back as payment, with less than 10,000 kilometers on it. The other is an Audi A6, 2.8L, which we bought last year and has about 15,000 kilometers on it..."

"Let's go with Audi."

"Okay... I'll arrange to redo the interior."

"No need, it's fine as it is."

"Well, there's also the driver. I chose an experienced driver named Wang Fumin. He's been driving for fifteen years, is the deputy captain of the small team, has good skills, and is a reliable person."

"Sure. By the way, how are the cars managed? Does each leader have a dedicated car?"

Yes. The models are mainly Audi A6 and Passat.

"Oh, is there anything else?"

"These are Wang Fumin's and Xiao Li's phone numbers. Xiao Li works outside, while Wang Fumin is always on standby in the motorcade." Zhang Xingwu placed a note with phone numbers on it on the executive desk.

"Oh..." Tao Tang raised his face, seemingly thinking about something, while Zhang Xingwu stood there waiting for instructions.

"Director Zhang, regarding my personal life, the factory has gone a bit too far in preparing things, like that Kung Fu tea," Tao Tang pointed to the pile on the coffee table, "take it away. I don't have time for that... Also, return those clothes they bought for me."

"Yes..." Zhang Xingwu was about to explain when there was a knock on the open door, and Zhao Qingmin appeared in the doorway. Tao Tang hurriedly stood up to greet him, "Secretary Zhao, please have a seat." Tao Tang came out from behind the executive desk to greet him.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Xingwu immediately withdrew.

"You're here early. How was it? Did you get a good rest last night?" Zhao Qingmin sat down.

"That's wonderful. It's so nice to hear birds singing in the early morning."

"That's the only advantage over big cities. This office was used by Song Yue without your consent. If you don't like it, we'll find another one."

"Haha, officials don't repair government offices and customers don't repair shops, I'm not that particular. It's fine, no need to bother anymore."

"First, there's the housing. There are some empty houses in the factory, but they're unfinished. I can help you choose one when you have time; the price is much cheaper than outside. I suggest you buy one, and I'll have the infrastructure department find a good decorating company to renovate it..."

"No, I'm a bachelor, I don't need that. A bed is enough for me."

"You can't have any last-minute thoughts. Director Chang explained your family situation, and I think it's best for you to stay at Xiaozhao for now. They've arranged a chef there; if you don't like the food, they'll change him—you just need to eat well. Although you're young, your health is your most important asset, and your job isn't exactly easy." Zhao Qingmin carefully chose his words. "Have you considered bringing your child here? We have connections in the education sector. The No. 1 Middle School in the city is a provincial key school, not far from the factory, only a fifteen-minute drive. Actually, Hongxing No. 1 Middle School is also quite good; several students have been admitted to Tsinghua and Peking Universities in recent years."

"No need, I don't have the energy to take care of her..."

"Oh. Mr. Tao, I came to ask if we should hold a meeting? To let everyone report to you on the situation? Everyone should be ready. Here is a document that I need to prepare for the Planning Department. It's a summary of the company's current basic situation. Take a look when you have time."

"Thank you, Secretary. It's good to meet everyone. I can see the overall situation of our factory from headquarters..." Tao Tang got up to make tea for Zhao Qingmin, but Zhao Qingmin stopped him.

"Secretary Zhao, what's the biggest obstacle in our factory right now?" Tao Tang changed his posture, appearing more respectful to the other party.

"President Tao, these past few days have felt like an eternity since Song Yue's incident. Now that you're in charge, I can finally relax. You asked about the most troublesome issue, so what I say might not be entirely accurate, but it's for your consideration." Zhao Qingmin pondered for a moment. "I think the first priority is to eliminate the trouble caused by Song Yue. Actually, it was Yang Wenhuan who started it all; that guy deserves to die! You know that. There are so many rumors, making everyone very uneasy..."

Zhao Qingmin wanted to ask Tao Tang if he had brought any instructions from headquarters regarding the Yang-Song case, but he held back.

"Hmm." Tao Tang replied expressionlessly.

"Secondly, there's the issue of unpaid wages. Several branch factories have been two months behind, and the employees are very dissatisfied..." As is customary, when a new leader takes office, headquarters usually makes some gesture. "President Tao, shouldn't the higher-ups at least provide some small tokens to ease the hunger?"

"Headquarters did provide some funds. A working capital loan of 100 million yuan, guaranteed by a finance company, plus some outstanding debts within the system, which the higher-ups have indicated will be repaid first. I'm considering sending someone to Beijing immediately to expedite the process; the sooner the money arrives, the more at ease I'll feel."

"That's good then." Zhao Qingmin breathed a sigh of relief. "You really have a lot of influence."

"Secretary Zhao, my personal abilities are limited. To make Hongxing a success, we still need to rely on you, our team, and all the staff."

"That's true, but under the current system, the role of the top leader is irreplaceable. We've learned from Shengdong's experience, and your arrival has greatly boosted the morale of the team and staff..."

"Haha, Secretary Zhao, I'm afraid I'm not as good as my predecessor, I mean in terms of ability. I can assure you, I won't make the same mistakes as Yang Wenhuan and Song Yue. If there's anything inappropriate in my work, you must point it out promptly. If we're of one mind in both the Party and the government, things will be much easier."

"You're the helmsman, so I'll just lend a hand," Zhao Qingmin said, glancing at the ornament. "Should we have the secretary notify the team members who are at home?"

"That's fine. It's just a meeting."

"Xingwu!" Zhao Qingmin shouted.

Zhang Xingwu, who had been waiting outside, came in upon hearing the noise.

"Notify the leader at home that a meeting will be held in 15 minutes in the small conference room on the third floor."

"Okay." Zhang Xingwu turned and left.

"See you later then." Zhao Qingmin stood up.

"See you later." Tao Tang saw the secretary to the door, then called Li Zhibin in.

"Director Zhang has assigned you to work with me," Tao Tang gestured for him to sit down, but Li Zhibin stood straight three meters away. "I agree to a trial period. There aren't any special requirements for you; just follow the basic rules for secretaries. Director Zhang said you've been in the office for three years; you know the basic rules, right?"

"I understand. Please rest assured, Mr. Tao."

"You'll be attending the meeting later."

"Yes. I'll call you in fifteen minutes."