The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 287 Internal Factory Inspection
Zhou Zhiqiang asked him twice before Director Ren finally revealed the scandalous affairs of the First Machine Tool Factory.

The logistics department was corrupt, making the workers work overtime at night without enough food, so they could barely work; but the logistics director of the First Machine Tool Plant was also a little clever, he knew to bring in the deputy director of the workshop.

If you're not well-fed, you lack the energy to work, causing the night shift's output to drop by half or even more.

The purpose of arranging night shifts was to increase production, but some people didn't take it seriously and messed up production.

Factory Director Wang was also negligent and careless. He hadn't checked the night shift production for two months, and he thought everything was proceeding as usual.

It wasn't until the third month that Factory Director Wang remembered to inspect the production results, and what he found was that the actual number of CNC machine tools produced was far from what was expected.

Then Director Wang got anxious and started investigating, which led him to discover the production situation during the night shift.

When questioned at first, the logistics director and workshop director concealed the matter, blaming the workers and complaining that the night shift workers were not working hard enough and were often lazy.

But Director Wang had already sensed something was wrong and was extremely anxious. He then questioned each of the workers one by one and finally figured out what was going on.

The workers on the night shift were supposed to receive a meal allowance of 25 cents per person, but the logistics staff deducted 20 cents from each person's allowance, leaving only 5 cents for the night shift workers.

About two small steamed buns and a small dish of pickled vegetables.

There are 1,500 workers on the night shift. If each worker is penny-two, they can embezzle 300 yuan a day.

Over the course of two months, the logistics director of the First Machine Tool Plant embezzled more than 20,000 yuan, of which he distributed 10,000 yuan.

Six thousand yuan was allocated to another deputy director of the First Machine Tool Plant, six thousand yuan to three deputy workshop directors, and he himself took more than ten thousand yuan.

In this era, a household with 10,000 yuan is as valuable as a millionaire decades later. Zhou Zhiqiang, despite his high salary, has not become a household with 10,000 yuan.

"They're really giving our Minister of the First Machine Tool Plant a big thumbs up. I reckon three of them will be executed this time. If Wang Zhijun wants to get a transfer, he'll need Deputy Leader Wu to put in a good word for him."

Director Ren shook his head and said, "Your factory had better nip this in the bud and be careful to prevent this from happening. Especially since you are the secretary in charge of discipline and ideology, if something like this happens in your factory, you, as the secretary, will definitely have to bear some responsibility."

"If anyone in our factory dares to embezzle, I'll personally smash their head in."

Zhou Zhiqiang immediately said that although he appeared to be a technology researcher, he was also somewhat skilled in martial arts.

Anyone who does this under his nose will get three punches from him first.

“I frequently visit the production line, and I know best whether the factory's policies have been implemented; Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory has neither the means nor the possibility of embezzlement, unless they can get all the workers to help cover it up.”

Zhou Zhiqiang paused here, then continued, "Director Wang is unlucky. If he had visited the production line a few times a month and cared about the workers, this wouldn't have happened."

“He’s incompetent, that’s all. Even the deputy factory director, logistics director, and workshop director are keeping it from him. Zhiqiang, you don’t need to speak up for him.”

Director Ren gets angry whenever he talks about this. He was scolded by Deputy Leader Wu. The First Machine Tool Plant almost ruined the excellent situation of the Ministry of Machine Building this year.

If Wang Zhijun had discovered it a month later, it would have been too late to remedy the situation.

"Director Ren, things can be salvaged, so don't get anxious or upset about this."

After offering a few words of comfort, Zhou Zhiqiang said, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back to the factory and get the production arrangements sorted out."

Director Ren nodded and said, "Okay, arrange it as soon as possible. Just let me know if you need anything. Right now, the ministry is giving priority to meeting your factory's production needs."

After leaving Director Ren's office, Zhou Zhiqiang took a car directly back to the factory.

The first thing he did upon returning was to have Zhang Yaoguo relay a message that an expanded meeting of the factory's Party Committee would be held shortly, with relevant departments such as production, discipline inspection, and logistics also participating.

To nip problems in the bud, we must take preventative measures first.

When it was time for the meeting, Zhou Zhiqiang picked up his things and headed to the meeting room.

After he pushed the door open and came in, the factory's Party Committee members, as well as cadres from the production, discipline inspection, and logistics departments, all arrived.

After Zhou Zhiqiang sat down, Sun Yifei asked, "Factory Director... Party Secretary, what's the matter? Why are we having a meeting so urgently?"

"It's quite important. Let me first talk about production. As you all know, last year's export orders saw our factory assigned the task of 3,000 CNC machine tools, with the remaining ones going to the First Machine Tool Plant."

After looking around, Zhou Zhiqiang continued, "But the First Machine Tool Factory won't last long. They might be short 230 machines, and that part of the task will fall on our shoulders."

"Deputy Factory Director Liu, please hold a small meeting with all production departments later and come up with a production plan. This task must be completed by the end of November."

"Two hundred and thirty units"

Liu Wenzhou nodded and sighed, then couldn't help but say, "Factory director, what is the First Machine Tool Factory doing? They can't even complete their production tasks, and they're trying to shift the blame at the end of the year. Their factory director should really be dismissed."

What were they doing all this time? It's almost September now; the delivery is due at the end of November, which is only about ninety days at most.

"Stop complaining, Comrade Wenzhou. Your first words after the New Year will come true."

Factory Director Wang is really going to be dismissed after the New Year; arguing with them won't do any good.

After offering his words of comfort, Zhou Zhiqiang continued, "The second thing is to nip problems in the bud. What exactly are we preventing? Corruption!"

"A major corruption scandal has occurred at the First Machine Tool Factory. The logistics department, along with the workshop director and a deputy factory director, were all involved in the scheme and have now been taken down."

He embezzled over 20,000 yuan in three months by taking food money from the night shift workers. He'll probably be sent to the shooting range soon.

The news hasn't spread yet, but you'll find out in a while. My boss mentioned it to me today.

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, Wu Youcai from the logistics department immediately stood up and said with a trembling voice, "Factory director, secretary, we in the logistics department would never do such a thing. The logistics department has never embezzled a single bit of the workers' meals!"
Furthermore, the factory workers have no complaints about the canteen food; you can send someone to investigate at any time.”

"Don't get agitated, Director Wu."

Zhou Zhiqiang quickly waved his hand, stopping Wu Youcai from talking excitedly, and then said to him, "I believe you won't do such a stupid thing. I should say I believe in the comrades in our factory."

The saying goes, "One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black." You are my comrades, and I feel that I am honest and incorruptible, so I don't think you would have such a problem.

"But the leaders told us to reflect on ourselves and even nip problems in the bud, and I can't pretend I didn't hear them. Besides, the matter at the First Machine Tool Plant will probably spread very quickly, and then all factories will have to conduct self-inspections."

As Zhou Zhiqiang spoke, he thought to himself,

He leeched off the workers, pocketing over 20,000 yuan in three months. No wonder Factory Director Wang dismissed him without him doing anything. Wait, his biggest mistake was not noticing. Zhou Zhiqiang suddenly felt Factory Director Wang wasn't entirely innocent; however, he was indeed quite capable, a master at development, but he neglected the affairs around him.

Deputy Factory Director Sun also spoke up: "Factory Director, our factory shouldn't have a repeat of what happened at the First Machine Tool Factory, but I suggest we still have the Discipline Inspection Department investigate thoroughly."

We have to investigate. He was a little scared after hearing what Zhou Zhiqiang said.

What does it mean to have logistics, workshop director, and a deputy factory director? Are they targeting him?

However, Deputy Factory Director Sun felt wronged. He had been doing a great job with the tasks assigned to him by Zhou Zhiqiang recently. In fact, he had given up the idea of ​​opposing Factory Director Zhou a long time ago.

"We can't immediately launch a large-scale operation by the Discipline Inspection Department. Our factory's top priority right now is production. If we don't meet our production targets, that becomes an international issue."
"Don't even mention you guys, I also have to get scolded by the boss."

After a pause, Zhou Zhiqiang continued to Wu Youcai, "Director Wu, I'll give you two days to conduct a self-examination. If you find anything, then report it to me."

If you report this to me, then everything is easy to discuss, and we'll handle it internally at the factory. Two days later, Director Yue, you can start your investigation. How you investigate is a matter for your disciplinary inspection department.

"As long as it doesn't affect production in the factory, you can investigate me; if it does affect production, then Director Yue, you should report to me first."

Although Yue Ruifeng disagreed with Zhou Zhiqiang giving him two more days, Zhou Zhiqiang was the factory's party official, so he could only nod and say, "I understand, Secretary."

The factory's discipline inspection department is currently under the management of the Party Committee, meaning the Party Secretary has the final say, and Yue Ruifeng doesn't have that much autonomy yet.

Wu Youcai quickly replied, "Yes, factory manager. I will report to you if any problems are found within two days."

"That's all I wanted to say. Also, Deputy Factory Director Sun, how's the housing allocation list for this round?"

Zhou Zhiqiang was about to adjourn the meeting, but then he suddenly remembered this matter and asked, "It's been a while now, how's it going?"

"The selection is complete, Factory Director. Based on your previous instructions and considering the workers' contributions, seniority, and family circumstances, we have finally selected 620 factory employees."

After a pause, Deputy Factory Director Sun continued, "Director Li of the Trade Union and the former Party Secretary were also involved throughout the process and they generally agree with the second phase of the housing allocation list."

What I'm thinking about is whether we should invite the old Party Secretary back on the day the list is announced.

“Deputy Factory Director Sun, you should ask the old Party Secretary about this later. But he's not in good health, so please don't let Comrade Younian get into trouble at the factory.”

Zhou Zhiqiang remarked that Sun Yifei was quite stubborn; in order to quell the anger of the workers who hadn't been allocated housing, he even came up with the idea of ​​bringing in the old Party Secretary Li Younian.

He guessed that Deputy Factory Director Sun still wanted him to go, but he didn't dare to say so.

"I'll think about it some more then."

Sun Yifei also remembered the old Party Secretary Li Younian's health problems, and after a sheepish laugh, he didn't say anything more.

"That's all for now, but you must take what I just said about production and self-inspection very seriously, especially production."

Zhou Zhiqiang emphasized, "Deputy Factory Director Liu, please arrange and report to me as soon as possible."

Liu Wenzhou knew the seriousness of the matter and immediately agreed, saying, "I understand, factory director."

After the meeting ended and Zhou Zhiqiang left the meeting room, the others breathed a sigh of relief and dared to move on.

Although Zhou Zhiqiang spoke in a gentle and amicable manner this time, and did not show any signs of anger, his words made them somewhat uneasy.

Such a big thing happened at the No. 1 Machine Tool Factory next door; even the deputy factory director has to be sent to the firing range.

Wu Youcai felt a little heavy-hearted. Just as he stepped out of the conference room, someone called out to him from behind: "Director Wu."

"Deputy Factory Director Sun."

Wu Youcai turned around and saw that it was Deputy Factory Director Sun who had called him, so he asked, "What's the matter?"

"It's nothing, just a reminder," Deputy Factory Director Sun said. "Don't take it lightly. Even if you discover problems with your former subordinates, you must report them, and I will provide real-time guidance."

"I understand, Deputy Factory Director Sun."

Wu Youcai took a deep breath and said that he could also sense that this was not just a casual remark. Once the factory's disciplinary inspection department found out, there would be no room for maneuver.

If you find a problem during your own investigation, report it to the factory manager; they might handle it a little better.

"As long as you know what's going on."

After finishing his speech, Deputy Factory Director Sun left. He didn't want to be implicated, especially after hearing that someone from the neighboring No. 1 Machine Tool Factory had been taken to be shot at.

Wu Youcai quickly returned to the office of the logistics director. After calming down, he quickly called over the heads of the three deputy section-level departments: procurement, warehouse, and canteen.

Once everyone had arrived, Wu Youcai asked, "Have any of you been taking advantage of others lately?"

"what?"

Upon hearing this, the head of the purchasing department, the canteen director, and the warehouse supervisor exchanged glances. The head of the purchasing department was the first to speak.

"Director, I didn't do it, not at all. The purchase orders were always submitted to the finance department for verification."

"Okay, I'll have someone check it out later. You don't mind, do you?"

After Wu Youcai finished speaking, he looked at the other two and said, "What do you two plan to say?"
"I'm telling you, this is a very serious matter. If you have anything to hide, you'd better confess to me now. Otherwise, in a couple of days, when Director Yue from the disciplinary inspection department gets involved, not only will I be unable to save you, but even the factory manager won't be able to."

The cafeteria manager, his voice rising slightly, asked, "Manager, is it that serious?"

"Don't think I'm joking with you. If you don't tell me now, I'll have someone investigate later. I've worked my way up from purchasing to logistics director for over ten years. I know the ins and outs of this better than you do."

But this is no joke; if there's a problem, tell me everything.

After hearing Wu Youcai's words and the name Yue Ruifeng from the discipline inspection department, the three of them finally felt a real sense of fear.

The discipline inspection department is practically a formality. The factory focuses on development, and apart from the "Four Youths" (a group of young people who are young and energetic), they are rarely used.

(End of this chapter)