The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 54 The food server is just trying to fool people! [Seeking monthly votes]

Neither Factory Director Zhao nor Secretary Yan expected An Xiangjie to speak up.

In the first year of the joint public-private ownership, An Xiangjie, the deputy factory director on the private side, simply relinquished all responsibility and stopped caring about the factory's affairs.

The following year, he simply disappeared, refusing even his salary, and only came to the factory three or four times a year, always being summoned by others.

This sudden offer to use his own dividends to support the factory's development left both Director Zhao and Secretary Yan somewhat puzzled.

After a moment of silence in the meeting room, Zhao Guangzheng finally spoke, asking, "Deputy Factory Director An, are you really planning to use your share of the profits to support this project?"

"Yes, receiving dividends for two years without working made me feel somewhat guilty towards the workers who contributed to the factory. Giving back the dividends to the factory's development was a decision made by my whole family."

After An Xiangjie finished speaking, he paused for a moment, and then continued, "In addition to supporting the small hand tractor R&D project of the technical department, I also plan to contribute 40,000 yuan as support for improving workers' welfare."

Of course, as for the specifics of how to improve things, I'll leave that to Secretary Yan and Director Zhao to figure out; I won't ask any further questions.

Those in the meeting room were even more surprised to hear that not only should they support the technical department's projects, but they should also allocate funds to improve workers' welfare.

Why are capitalists suddenly so kind-hearted?
Although it's unclear what An Xiangjie was thinking, the two things he mentioned sounded like good things no matter how you looked at them.

Although all supplies now require ration coupons, supplies not included in the plan do not. They can be bought with connections and money, and it is especially convenient for government units to buy supplies not included in the plan.

If all 40,000 yuan were spent on the workers, each person could receive more than 30 yuan, which would be about two or three extra kilograms of meat per month.

Of course, whether or not they can buy this much meat depends on how well the factory leaders coordinate with other units.

However, the factory cadres in the meeting room all hoped that the factory director and secretary would quickly agree to this good thing.

With these benefits, the workers are even more motivated to work.

"Secretary, Deputy Factory Director An is just trying to support the factory out of kindness, so why don't we agree to it?"

Factory Director Zhao spoke first, asking Secretary Yan, who was in charge of the factory's production. He would not refuse anything that could help production.

After thinking it over, Secretary Yan couldn't figure out what was wrong, and An Xiangjie's words implied that he didn't intend to interfere in the factory's affairs.

He then said to An Xiangjie, "Thank you very much, Deputy Factory Director An, for your support of Dafeng Machinery Factory. I will report this matter to the leadership and explain Deputy Factory Director An's contribution."

An Xiangjie said with a smile, "It's nothing, I work at the factory too."

Section Chief Lü, who had been waiting impatiently, asked after An Xiangjie finished speaking, "Factory Director, what about our technical department's small hand-held tractor project?"

Upon hearing this, Director Zhao frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Section Chief Lü, although we have the support of Deputy Director An and the finances are more relaxed, the factory is short of manpower, as your technical department should know."

There are two essential production tasks that cannot be delayed, and the earliest we can complete them is April.

Zhou Zhiqiang raised his hand and said, "Factory Director, may I say a few words about this?"

Factory Director Zhao was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and said, "Deputy Section Chief Zhou, you go ahead and say it."

Zhou Zhiqiang was the factory's biggest contributor last year and was praised by a high-ranking leader from the Ministry of Metallurgy. You have to respect this kind of talent.

“Secretary, Factory Director, the R&D phase is not like the production phase, so it doesn’t require too many people. Also, I discussed it with Professor Zhang Deli from the Industrial University before the New Year, and he will have a few students involved.”

With the help of students from an industrial university, the small hand-held tractor project only requires about ten mid- to high-level workers for research and development and production.

After listening to Zhou Zhiqiang's words, Director Zhao was also somewhat tempted. A dozen or so mid- to senior-level workers wouldn't have much impact on the two production tasks after the New Year.

If all else fails, the factory should procure more supplies, urge workers to work overtime, and provide extra benefits to those who do.
There's always a solution to every problem, and Director Zhao quickly made a decision. However, he still had Secretary Yan above him, so he turned to Secretary Yan and asked, "Secretary Yan, what do you think?"

Secretary Yan said, "Comrade Guangzheng, you are the factory director, and the factory's production tasks are within your responsibilities. You can make the decision." Upon hearing this, Director Zhao turned his head and said, "Alright, after the meeting, the technical department will submit a project plan, which I will approve. Each workshop will then coordinate to allocate personnel."

"Thank you, factory manager."

"We're all contributing to the factory's production, so there's no need for thanks."

Factory Director Zhao waved his hand and continued, "Next, it's time for the trade union."

The meeting lasted all morning, and we managed to finalize everything that needed to be finalized and say everything that needed to be said.

If we proceed step by step as planned, the factory will be able to operate normally for three months.

Moreover, there was an unexpected surprise at today's meeting: An Xiangjie, the private deputy factory director, contributed so much money.

The project involving small hand tractors, plus welfare support for the workers, would cost at least 60,000 to 70,000 yuan.

Moreover, An Xiangjie left after the meeting, and when Zhou Zhiqiang went to the canteen with Section Chief Lü with his lunchbox, he saw him leave in a car.

This is as if they've sensed something amiss.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang thought about it and realized it was normal; An Xiangjie wasn't the only capitalist who had sensed the wind blowing.

Around this time last year, Mr. Rong from Shanghai was almost handpicked to become the vice mayor of Shanghai because of his excellent performance.

These are probably the remaining leading capitalists in China, but now they should be called patriotic red capitalists.

An Xiangjie was also a smart man. Although he didn't express his opinion until a year later, his actions at least earned him praise and gratitude from everyone at Dafeng Machinery Factory.

As for what An Xiangjie plans to do next, Zhou Zhiqiang had no idea. He had only met An Xiangjie today and they hadn't even spoken.

He was a college graduate from a peasant background, and he had little to talk to about capitalists.

Factory canteen.

After getting his food, Zhou Zhiqiang frowned and went to the table where Section Chief Lü was sitting.

"Section Chief, this canteen is getting worse and worse. The logistics director said this morning that he would definitely guarantee the food supply, but look at this food."

Zhou Zhiqiang picked up a piece of radish, pressed it hard with his chopsticks to separate it, revealing the raw radish inside. He clicked his tongue and shook his head, saying, "The radish isn't even cooked properly. This cafeteria is just fooling people."

And the portion was only half full. Is this how they shoddy work on the very first day?

Although the canteen's cooking skills were average in the past, they didn't skimp on the food, and the factory's subsidized meal tickets were cheap, so the workers all ate at the canteen.

On the first day of work, the cafeteria was just trying to fool people.

Section Chief Lü frowned after taking a bite, then swallowed with an awkward expression and said, "This old Li, he's really lost his mind to make such a mess of the cafeteria."

I'll go talk to him about it later; the cafeteria really needs a serious overhaul.

He had heard about the poor atmosphere in the cafeteria, but this was just too much of a rip-off; they weren't even cooking properly.

"Don't wait any longer, I reckon there will be a problem soon."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he glanced at the food queue and continued, "Look, they're almost arguing over there!"

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(End of this chapter)