Siheyuan: Starting from the driver

Chapter 711 Power Struggle
Steel rolling mill.

Transport team.

"call--!"

Master Zhao was the last to smoothly back the old Jiefang truck into the parking space. With a dull thud as the engine shut off, he let out a long sigh of relief.

I pushed open the car door and jumped out, my feet covered in dust, and the ground felt like I could still feel the bumps from the car.

He clenched his fists and pounded his aching lower back and stiff shoulders repeatedly, muttering to himself:
"Finally finished. My old back is practically aching; it's so damn useless now."

Mr. Wang, who was gulping down a drink from an enamel mug, wiped his mouth and said with a wry smile, "Old Zhao, you're still complaining about your back pain. I can barely turn my neck anymore!"

As he spoke, he turned his neck, making a 'creaking' sound.

"These past ten days or so have been like a spinning top. Now it's all good. Even if the sky falls, I'll sleep for three days and three nights!"

These words immediately drew agreement from everyone.

"Absolutely! Even after this long-distance trip, eating only cold steamed buns and pickled vegetables for every meal, my stomach is cramping up!"

"The roads in that coal mine were so bumpy, I felt like my internal organs were about to shift!"

"Hey, Lao Zhou, that's nothing! The time I was hauling equipment, I got a flat tire halfway through the journey, and I was stuck in the middle of nowhere for half the night. The mosquitoes almost ate me alive!"

The transport team suddenly became lively, with drivers and loaders chattering and complaining to each other.

"Things will be much easier from now on."

On the other side, in the third workshop.

Unlike the complaints from the transport team, the atmosphere here was completely different – ​​a festive one.

Inside the huge workshop, all the workers gathered together, their eyes focused on the factory director, Yang Weiguo.

"This coal mine accident is a matter of life and death for the entire plant. At this critical moment, it was the cadres and employees of the Third Workshop, especially Comrade Jin Lijing, who stepped up."

"He stepped forward bravely, shouldered heavy responsibilities, ensured a stable supply of coking coal, and guaranteed the smooth progress of production tasks! He made outstanding contributions to the Third Workshop!"

Factory Director Yang paused, looked around at everyone, especially Jin Lijing, who stood beside him, his posture upright but his head slightly bowed in humility.

"After deliberation by the factory leadership, it has been decided that Comrade Jin Lijing has demonstrated outstanding performance and achieved remarkable results during his tenure as acting workshop director!"

"Hereby, I formally announce that Comrade Jin Lijing has been appointed as the workshop director of our third workshop!"

clap clap-

Jin Lijing went from being demoted to acting director to regaining his position as director of the third workshop in just over half a month!

After going through many twists and turns, I returned to being the director, and the events of the past had no impact whatsoever.

Sure enough, having connections in high places is great; they rush to give you credit, even if it's just a small achievement, and you can get back on the throne.

This left the workers in the workshop utterly shocked.

In contrast, Jin Lijing took a deep breath, took half a step forward, and said in a clear and loud voice, slightly excited: "Thank you for the trust of the leaders! Thank you for the cultivation of Director Yang."

"I, Jin Lijing, hereby declare that I will continue to lead everyone to make new achievements for our workshop and the steel rolling mill!"

After saying this, he bowed deeply to those around him.

The applause was being clapped, but the sound was not loud.

Factory Director Yang and Jin Lijing pretended not to care.

Director Yang continued, "This crisis is not just a credit to Comrade Jin Lijing alone, but also to everyone. Thank you all for your hard work."

"We'll discuss and distribute the specific awards based on our year-end performance! I believe our third workshop will definitely turn things around this year!"

The suggestion to "study together" is ingenious; it acknowledges the achievements while leaving room for maneuver and imagination.

Upon hearing the word "commendation," the workers' faces immediately lit up with joy.

As for how to 'reward' him, Director Yang had already discussed it with Jin Lijing.

Two weeks ago, wasn't it because of a dispute with the transportation team that the welfare benefits of the third workshop were confiscated?
At the end of the year, depending on the situation, we will distribute the confiscated benefits back to everyone under the name of "special contribution award".

That's a way of explaining things.

Jin Lijing was overjoyed to hear such praise.

Although he managed to calm everyone in the workshop with his silver tongue, allowing him to temporarily take over as director, the forfeited benefits remained a nagging worry for him.

Now things have taken a dramatic turn for the better! This is more than just the return of benefits.

This is clearly the greatest affirmation of his work by the 'organization', and it has completely swept away any lingering gloom that might have remained from his 'comeback'!
He could even imagine that when the workers received this recovered "reward," they would once again wholeheartedly trust him as the workshop director.

After going through this, you can even demonstrate your abilities, and then everyone will be able to get through similar situations in the future.

Jin Lijing was extremely grateful to Factory Director Yang: "Factory Director Yang! I...I really don't know what to say! Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"Rest assured, I, Jin Lijing, and the entire Workshop 3 team will definitely follow in your footsteps!"

Factory Director Yang nodded in satisfaction.

Having finished dealing with matters in the workshop, he completely forgot about the transportation team.

In his mind, the workshop was the main force of production, and stabilizing the workshop was more important than anything else.

The transport team is a logistical support department; afterward, a little appeasement will suffice.

After finishing his business in the workshop, Factory Director Yang called the head of the General Affairs Department:

"Has the report on commending those who made contributions to the coal transport operation been prepared? The transport team should also submit a report."

"However, focus on spiritual encouragement. A symbolic gesture in terms of material support is sufficient. You can decide on the specifics."

There are no secrets that stay hidden forever, especially in a large factory with thousands of employees.

"Something terrible has happened!" The apprentice rushed back to the transport team.

"What's wrong? Why are you so panicked? Is the sky falling?" Master Zhao asked slowly, blowing out a smoke ring.

"It's not that the sky has fallen! It's...it's that Workshop Three is in an uproar! Director Yang went to Workshop Three personally and announced on the spot that Jin Lijing has been appointed as the director!"

"They even received awards, something we didn't get, but they did!"

"what!"

"what?!"

Master Zhao was completely unaware that his cigarette butt had fallen to the ground.

"Why?!" The group of masters immediately protested.

"Who did this work day and night?! They transported the coal?! They risked their lives, running like their lives depended on it, to steal the coal?!"

"Their workshop is just moving coal, they don't even leave the warehouse, while we're working ourselves to the bone, our backs are about to break, and in the end we get nothing, but they're rewarding us first?!"

"Exactly! This is bullying! Without our wheels breaking axles, the blast furnace would have been dead long ago! What chance would the workshop have of production? Produce nothing!"

"Damn it! This isn't fair! The workers are people, but we in the transport team aren't?!"

The fatigue accumulated over the past few days transformed into anger at this moment.

"Let's go! We need to talk to Old Zhang and demand justice for us, no matter what."

The group made a grand entrance and headed straight for Zhang Jinwu's office, where everyone started talking about the matter.

"Quiet down! Don't shout! Will arguing solve anything? Huh?!"

"I know you're all feeling frustrated! I'm not made of wood! We've shed blood and sweat, worked ourselves to the bone, and now they're living the high life while we're left feeling cold and desolate. Anyone would feel uncomfortable in that situation!" These words struck a chord with everyone, and the crowd quieted down a bit.

“But!” Zhang Jinwu changed the subject, “We need to recognize our position! We are the logistics support department! The third workshop is the production department.”

"After all, Director Yang is in charge of production. It's none of our business if he gives special treatment to the workshop staff. If we make a fuss about it, that would be overstepping our bounds!"

"Old Zhang! Are we just going to let this go?!" Master Wang roared indignantly.

"Endure? Who said we should endure?!" Zhang Jinwu's eyes sharpened.

"But that's not how you vent your anger! We can't give people something to say, lest they say our transport team doesn't know the rules!"

"We're the logistics department, so naturally we should talk to Deputy Factory Director Li. I'll handle this. Let's not panic!"

These words temporarily quelled everyone's anger.

Everyone looked at each other, still feeling frustrated and resentful, but they couldn't let Zhang Jinwu's reasoning give them any grounds for criticism.

"Everyone, go back and get busy. I'll go find Deputy Factory Director Li now."

After saying that, Zhang Jinwu straightened his clothes and went to find Li Huaide.

After briefly speaking with his secretary, Wen Peixin, he led him to knock on the door of Li Huaide's office.

"Dong Dong~"

"Come in!" came Li Huaide's slightly lazy voice from inside.

Pushing open the door, I saw Li Huaide engrossed in his work, making notes and annotations on a document.

The office was filled with the delicate aroma of fine tea, a stark contrast to the smell of engine oil and sweat on the transport team's drivers.

"Captain Zhang, please sit down." Li Huaide looked up and gestured, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Zhang Jinwu sat down on one side of the sofa chair and got straight to the point: "Director Li, there are some things I'd like to discuss with you regarding the awards given to the factory for overcoming the coal crisis."

Explain the situation in the workshop simply and quickly.

Finally, he complained, "Director Li, during this emergency transport mission, all the comrades in our transport team really risked their lives."

"But now, seeing the workshop being rewarded for this little thing, while the transportation team receives nothing, makes everyone feel very bad."

Li Huaide listened, nodding occasionally as if he were listening to a routine report, until Zhang Jinwu finished speaking.

"So this is ah."

Upon hearing this, Li Huaide stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought.

Li Huaide didn't seem to care much about the transport team working themselves to the bone for almost ten days.

Since Director Yang has already stepped forward to commend him, if he, the deputy director in charge of logistics, doesn't step forward, he'll be outshone by Director Yang.

At this moment, Wen Peixin walked in, holding a document in his hand: "Factory Director, this is a commendation report and award from the General Affairs Department."

Li Huaide took the document and saw that it nominated several people to receive certificates of merit and gave them 5 yuan as a reward.

The message was short, and the general affairs department could tell from Director Yang's tone that he didn't care much about the transportation team, so they naturally didn't care much about this matter either.

"They definitely deserve a good reward."

Li Huaide naturally looked down on such a meager reward.

It's just a matter of adding a few positions and giving some money; compared to Jin Lijing being reinstated as workshop director, it's practically nothing.

The transport team was his territory, and with such a small reward, Director Yang didn't take him seriously at all.

Zhang Jinwu was unaware that Li Huaide had suddenly escalated the situation.

"The transport team worked tirelessly through wind and rain, and united as one to overcome difficulties. They truly deserve to be commended so that everyone in the steel rolling mill can see that we will not let anyone down."

Li Huaide immediately took the report.

“Every worker in the transportation team who participated in this emergency transport will receive an Outstanding Individual Certificate.”

If you're going to give rewards, you can't just give a few big ones or a few small ones.

"In addition, let's ask the General Affairs Department to allocate some more funds to provide each person with some soap, towels, and other work protection supplies. What do you think?"

Both spiritual and material rewards are provided, which is far more substantial than a mere empty "commendation" from Director Yang.

If it can be delivered now, the people in the third workshop will be green with envy.

Upon hearing the reward, Zhang Jinwu immediately smiled: "Thank you, Director Li. Everyone will surely be very satisfied with such a great reward!"

"That's good." Li Huaide nodded. "Go back and tell everyone. I'll have the general affairs department make the arrangements right away."

"Okay, thank you, Director Li."

Zhang Jinwu left the office with a smile and headed straight back to the transportation team.

Then, when Li Huaide's decision was told to everyone, they were instantly grateful.

"Our Factory Director Li is so good! This reward is much better than what the workshop staff get. They have to wait until the end of the month to receive theirs, but we'll get ours soon."

"That's right, it was definitely the right decision to follow Director Li. Just as Jin Lijing knows how to find people, we also have people who can!"

“That’s right. We got a certificate and other rewards. It’s much better than Director Yang’s empty words. Our hard work paid off.”

The entire transport team praised Li Huaide.

And at this moment.

The atmosphere in the third workshop is also quite good.

"Director Jin, congratulations! This time you truly deserve it!" a squad leader flattered.

"Yes, Director, thanks to your strategic planning, our workshop really made a name for itself this time! Even Factory Director Yang came to announce it personally!"

"That's right. Without you, Director, stabilizing the situation at the critical moment and directing our coal transportation, wouldn't the blast furnace be out of commission? The workshop would be starving!"

Jin Lijing was beaming, still maintaining a semblance of humility, but the pride in his eyes was undeniable.

He waved his hand and said in a loud voice, "Oh, not at all! This is all thanks to the hard work of everyone in the workshop! It's the result of everyone thinking in the same direction and working together!"

"As the workshop director, my job is to serve everyone! Director Yang trusts us, so we must work even harder!"

"Everyone gets a share at the end of the year!"

Jin Lijing timely hinted at a "reward".

When the topic of rewards came up, the workers' smiles became even more genuine, and the gloom brought about by the previous confiscation of their benefits vanished.

Besides the workers' flattery, several workshop foremen also came over to congratulate him.

"Old Jin, congratulations! How does it feel to be the workshop foreman again?"

"Yes, you've done a great job taking on this important role."

The group congratulated each other, each secretly plotting their own schemes. Jin Lijing had been lost and found again because of this trivial matter; wouldn't that mean he had an incredibly good relationship with Director Yang?

You need to have a good relationship with him. Who knows what kind of trouble you might get into in the future? You just need to ask Jin Lijing for help and say a few nice words.

"Oh, not at all, it's all thanks to everyone, I didn't do anything."

In front of the other workshop directors, Jin Lijing resumed his humble demeanor.

The workers in the third workshop and Jin Lijing were initially beaming with joy, but their happiness was short-lived.

(End of this chapter)