The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 291 The Extremely Accommodating Deputy Factory Director
When the time came, everyone was seated in the meeting room.

When Zhou Zhiqiang arrived, he didn't beat around the bush and directly announced that a meeting was to be started.

"Comrades, there's not much to say at this meeting, just some good news and one announcement; let's start with the good news. Deputy Factory Director Hou, who went to the Canton Fair, called back yesterday and told us about our factory's achievements at the fair."

When Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he looked around and noticed that everyone looked anxious and eager to know the result, so he didn't beat around the bush and continued.

"Four thousand G1 CNC machine tools and seven hundred composite CNC machine tools, totaling one hundred and sixty-nine million four hundred thousand US dollars in foreign exchange—this is the achievement our factory made this year!"

"so much"

"More than last year?! Secretary, our factory is really going to lead the nation..."

"Haha, our factory is number one in the country, so this much is only fair..."

Seeing that they were talking more and more about boasting, Zhou Zhiqiang interrupted them and said, "Don't be too happy yet. This is an export order, and the money is already in our pockets."

And don't any of them know anything about our factory's production situation? It's like they think all 4,700 units are produced by our factory."

Upon hearing Zhou Zhiqiang's words, the cadres in the meeting room felt as if they had been doused with cold water.

After everyone else fell silent, Deputy Factory Director Liu finally spoke up and asked, "Factory Director, how many orders can our factory get next year?"

"It's not clear yet. I'm going to a meeting at the ministry this afternoon, and I'll discuss it with the leaders then; our factory will definitely take the lion's share, there's no doubt about that."

Zhou Zhiqiang smiled and continued, "These are all the results of everyone's hard work throughout the year. This year has essentially set the stage for next year's achievements, so it can be considered another bumper year for us."
"Deputy Factory Director Sun, as the one in charge of logistics, you should probably give everyone in our factory a 'big red envelope' when it comes to New Year's gifts, right?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Yifei smiled and said, "Factory director and other comrades, don't worry. Even if I have to give up this hundred-plus pounds of meat, I will make sure that everyone in the factory has a good New Year."

The factory allocated a considerable amount of funds to logistics and procurement this year, and he instructed the people in the second and third procurement departments to make more trips to various places to try to ensure that this year's New Year's goods are 20% more than last year's.

"Okay, I trust you, Deputy Factory Director Sun."

After saying that, Zhou Zhiqiang changed the subject and said, "Next, let's talk about what I need to report. Director Yue, you can speak first."

Upon hearing Director Yue's name, everyone in the conference room instinctively looked in the direction where Yue Ruifeng was sitting.

Their expressions varied, but few truly welcomed Yue Ruifeng; in fact, he had no friends in the factory.

The disciplinary inspection department... It's hard to say. Anyway, nobody in the factory wants to get close to them. Even if you become friends with them, there are very few. There's always a feeling that if you become friends with them, they'll slowly try to get information out of you.

But the higher authorities have called for rectification and reform, and now it's time for the discipline inspection departments to shine.

"Secretary, then I'll give you my report."

After standing up, Yue Ruifeng reported to Zhou Zhiqiang, then took out a document and began to read it aloud.
"Since the anonymous tip-off mailbox was launched 51 days ago, the discipline inspection department has received a total of 107 tip-off letters."

We have now verified 83 letters of complaint. Of these, 76 were found to be fabricated or nonsensical, so the Discipline Inspection Department has disregarded them. The remaining seven letters of complaint have been carefully investigated and verified, and evidence has been found to support them.

"After reporting to the factory's Party Committee, the discipline inspection department decided to take disciplinary action against Wang Sihai, Mu Sanliang, and six others, including giving them major demerits and expelling them."

Yue Ruifeng's report made the others in the meeting room secretly click their tongues in amazement. Some of them were very familiar with the person Yue Ruifeng mentioned, as he was from their own department.

When making arrests, the discipline inspection department always goes with the security department. Gun control isn't strictly enforced yet, and the purchasing department staff often carry guns when they go out. So, for safety's sake, the discipline inspection department always calls on the security department for assistance during operations.

"Seven people were arrested in two months. How many people will be arrested in a year? And three of them are deputy section chiefs."

After taking a sip of tea, Zhou Zhiqiang continued, "You guys really made me look good. This is just what we found out. I don't even dare to imagine how many more cases we haven't found. I'm afraid the leaders will bring this up and name me during the meeting."

The meeting room fell silent instantly; no one dared to speak for a moment.

I don't know what to say, but if I speak now, I'll practically take over Zhou Zhiqiang's anger. Nobody who comes to the meeting is that stupid.

However, they did not expect that just a second ago they were laughing and talking about how their factory would work hard next year, but the next second Zhou Zhiqiang had Yue Ruifeng say something like this at the meeting.

"Is there nothing you want to say? Then I'll say something; this isn't the beginning, it will continue to exist in the future."

I had the logistics department constantly purchasing supplies for the factory so that I could provide welfare benefits for all the employees. As long as they weren't greedy, their wages and factory benefits would be enough for everyone to support their families.

Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment and then continued, "However, some people are just very greedy. They use their little bit of power to try to embezzle things for their own families."

Why bother? If you steal money and bring it home, would you dare use it openly? Would you dare take the stuff out? If you wouldn't dare, what's the point of stealing it?

"From now on, Director Yue's report today is not the beginning. Every year thereafter, we will set aside time to conduct a large-scale investigation, and the investigation will only be reported to me."

Don't ask anyone else about it. Go back and tell the people in your department to keep their thoughts and actions in check.

These words sent a chill down the spines of the others, but it was a decision Zhou Zhiqiang had no choice but to make.

He thought that the factory he managed was basically without problems; the factory was constantly developing new products, and the workers were all working together towards the same goal.

As a result, some people couldn't control themselves, and seven were caught after two months of investigation.

The benefits at Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory are absolutely the best in the entire city of Beijing, even better than those of government ministries.

Although Zhou Zhiqiang takes care of the workers more, he doesn't ignore the cadres and clerks. He treats the grassroots clerks the same way he treats the workers. After all, they are all employees of the factory, and he doesn't show favoritism because of their status.

The wages were already quite high, and the work was easy and mostly mental labor. Now, they're trying to take advantage of the factory. They should be dealt with.

Seeing that no one spoke up, Zhou Zhiqiang continued, "If there are no other opinions, then let's end this meeting here."

"I have no objection. Those who embezzle public funds should be severely punished."

At this moment, Deputy Factory Director Liu Wenzhou agreed, saying, "I support the factory director's suggestion. Director Yue should be asked to thoroughly investigate the factory's affairs."

"Only after the illness is cured can we move forward," this saying also applies to factories.

Deputy Factory Director Sun chimed in, "I agree. Our factory has expanded several times and the number of employees has multiplied several times. It's time to reorganize and clean up everyone in the factory."

Factory manager, should we add a few more people to Director Yue's team? The provincial discipline inspection department doesn't have enough staff.

Most of the people in the meeting room couldn't help but look at Deputy Factory Director Sun after hearing his words.

This guy is really good at licking! He didn't object to Secretary Zhou's words at all, he just agreed with them!
Now they're even giving out terrible ideas!
(End of this chapter)