1994: Starting with unpaid leave

After the lunch break, the trade fair gradually became lively again.

Thanks to its prime location, Tsurugi-sensei was able to provide free food to exhibitors, and crowds gradually gathered around its booth.

Director Jiang and a group of people stood a little distance away, glaring at them with hatred.

Next to him, a tall, thin man pointed to the Crane Flavor booth:

"Director Jiang, is this the one? Look at the incompetence of your staff, they've hired just any factory. I'll kick them out right now, so they won't be an eyesore for you!"

Director Jiang nodded grimly: "Do it cleanly and efficiently. There are a lot of people here; don't let it cause a bad impression..."

"Don't worry, if I couldn't even handle this little thing, what kind of on-site supervisor would I be!"

As he spoke, the tall, thin man gave a signal, and the four staff members behind him followed him toward Dong Jianguo.

Watching them disappear, Director Jiang snorted coldly:

This Crane Flavor Food Factory is incredibly rude.

The factory manager is terrible; he can't even be a decent human being.

They run a factory on their own land, yet they don't know how to take care of themselves; instead, they keep delivering goods to Harbin...

Since being mentioned by the leaders at the last provincial bureau conference, many people have been asking me about Hezhiwei.

As the person in charge of the Hecheng Passenger Transport Section, it's already embarrassing enough that he can't say anything.

After returning home, he made a point of inquiring about the factory owner.

He's just a worker on unpaid leave, unemployed at home, with no powerful connections. He just somehow got lucky and got in touch with someone in Harbin...

Now, this guy surnamed Dong actually wants to use this trade fair to expand his influence, and he might even take this opportunity to get in touch with higher-level leaders in the railway system.

The thought of this made him feel as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat, a thorn in his back, or sat on pins and needles...

This person... must be driven away today!

Thinking of this, a fierce glint flashed in his narrowed eyes.

……

"Snapped!"

The tall, thin man led a group of people to Dong Jianguo's stall and slammed his hand on the counter.

The sudden noise startled the merchants who were gathered there waiting to receive their braised eggs.

In contrast, Dong Jianguo and his two companions standing behind the booth were remarkably calm.

Having an inside source, the three who received the message earlier noticed the group as soon as they squeezed in.

"Hey, who gave you permission to cook here? Do you even know where this is?! A public place!"

"If a fire breaks out, can you afford the responsibility?!"

"Clothes time, you're not allowed to set up shop here today!"

The tall, thin man waved his hand, and the four men in work clothes behind him were about to move the goods that Dong Jianguo had placed in front of him.

The sudden scene left the surrounding merchants dumbfounded.

Not only visiting merchants, but also many people from nearby booths came out to see what was going on.

"Wait a minute!"

Dong Jianguo placed his hand on the goods, stopping everyone's movements. He pointed to the pot Zhao Hongmei was using to braise eggs and chicken feet:

"Boss, are you sure you're not mistaken? We're using electric cookers here, there's no open flame at all, how could there be a fire?"

The tall, thin man glared at him:

"Stop talking nonsense! You didn't use fire, but you did use electricity! What if there's an electrical leak?! If these customers get electrocuted, you just clean up the mess and run away, leaving us to pay for it!"

"I've seen plenty of you small-time vendors! You think our exhibition is your backyard market? Pack up and get out of here, or I'll have to tell you a third time!"

Erzhuzi glared: "What? According to you, if going out means there's a chance of getting hit by a car, everyone might as well stay home and lie on their kang (heated brick bed)! What kind of trade fair are you even holding?!"

The words may be rough, but the meaning is sound; in one sentence, the onlookers burst into laughter.

Being laughed at like that, the tall, thin man's face turned a deep liver color: "How the hell do you talk like that?! What kind of manners are you?!"

"You think you're so well-mannered? Even if you are, you still use 'mother' in your speech! What, you're allowed to swear, but I have to put up with it?! Who do you think you are? The mayor of Harbin?!"

"Well said!"

"Well done, that's how you say it!"

"The young man is absolutely right, those officials deserve to be punished!"

Some merchants, eager for a good show, chimed in, cheering for Erzhuzi from the crowd.

Although they lack the courage to stand up against injustice, there are quite a few who dare to cheer and incite others from behind.

Dong Jianguo smiled and waved to stop the crowd from cheering:

"Boss, would you mind turning off the rice cooker?"

"No way! Today I'll make an example of you!"

Dong Jianguo pointed and said, "Then let me ask you something: the Master Kong restaurant next door clearly has two identical rice cookers, why don't you care about them?"

"Why?" the tall, thin man scoffed.

"They're Taiwanese businessmen, they're very valuable. What is your little, run-down factory? What makes you think you can compare to them?!"

As soon as the tall, thin man finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent instantly.

"Taiwanese businessmen? High-status?"

Dong Jianguo's eyes instantly turned cold. He looked around and finally fixed his gaze on the "Master Kong" booth not far away.

"What a fine Taiwanese businessman! What a precious one!"

Dong Jianguo suddenly burst into loud laughter, his voice so loud it cut through the noisy crowd.

He slammed his hand on the table and simply stood on it.

The tall, thin man glared at him:

"What are you doing standing so high up?! Aren't you afraid of falling to your death?!"

Dong Jianguo looked down at him and said coldly:

"Sir, you keep saying they're Taiwanese businessmen and we're just a small, run-down factory. Well, let me ask you that!"

Dong Jianguo pointed to the two pots at Master Kong's booth, his words ringing with conviction:

"Did our country implement reform and opening up, and attract foreign investment, so that Taiwanese businesses could enjoy special privileges on the mainland?!"

"Our city leaders invited Taiwanese businesspeople here to invest and revitalize the economy, not to seek 'special treatment' or establish a 'hierarchical system'!"

"If mainland Chinese companies use electrical appliances that violate regulations, while Taiwanese companies use them legally, then what's the point of this trade fair?! Where is this fair and just market?!"

"Furthermore, if we insist on categorizing factories into different levels, then when we buy products from foreign companies like Coca-Cola, do we have to kneel down and kowtow to them?!"

"The Qing Dynasty has been gone for so many years, how can there still be people willing to kneel down and act as slaves?!"

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Although many people feel that Taiwanese, Hong Kong, and foreign businessmen have more funds and wealth, no one would be willing to accept that they are superior to them.

We're all human beings, who's more noble than whom?!

The tall, thin man's face turned green; he hadn't expected this damned little factory manager to dare to escalate things so much.

"You...you're talking nonsense! Besides, who saw the Taiwanese businessman break the rules? Whether it's a violation or not isn't for you to decide, it's for me!"