Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

Upon hearing Yang Jianguo's question, Liu Delong quickly waved his hand and said, "How could I dare? It is an honor for our union that you, Minister Yang, can participate in our activities."

"Without your support, our union would not have been able to achieve anything and truly work for the benefit of our employees."

Yang Jianguo smiled modestly and said, "Don't flatter me like that. Even the best policies need people to implement them. I don't think other places have done as well as you!"

"It's all thanks to the leader's excellent guidance and the good leadership." Liu Delong pondered carefully whether he was happy or unhappy in his words.

After pondering for a long time, looking at that gentle smiling face, Liu Delong still couldn't figure it out.

"Tonight, I would like to invite everyone to the main stage to sit down and have a good chat with our fellow workers."

Yang Jianguo suddenly changed the subject, saying, "I heard from them that you, as chairman, have the strongest appeal. You must invite all the comrades to come, otherwise, it will be too awkward for me to be on stage alone."

"Director Yang, how could that be? We're still here!" Before the factory director could finish speaking, everyone burst into laughter.

"Yes, no matter what, there are still these people here. We can't leave you alone."

Liu Delong's expression changed. The big boss was giving him a warning, which showed how much influence he had on the factory.

So, did he do it this time?

Liu Delong wanted to explain, but the big boss didn't mention it at all. He couldn't just go up and expose the truth and give a long, detailed explanation.

Wouldn't that offend even more people?

So Liu Delong could only reply sullenly, "Everyone knows you want to speak, so there's no need to rush you; they'll all rush to come."

"Okay, let's eat first, and we can talk about it at the main stage tonight."

Ma Wei, who was standing at the end of the table, couldn't help but laugh when he saw everyone looking so preoccupied.

These people are probably just trying to be clever again, trying to guess what the leader really means.

But they simply don't understand that leaders are always the type to say what they mean.

Leaders never engage in creating mystery or using cryptic language.

Since he explained that Liu Delong had informed everyone, it meant he wanted to invite more workers over for a chat.

Deep meaning?

If there's any deeper meaning to it, it's definitely that 'the boss really wants to talk to the workers and ask them what they're really thinking.'

Instead of listening to others, I'll share my own situation and my truest thoughts.

Are factory wages and benefits really worse than those of people who go out to start their own businesses?

To solve the current problems, we need to truly understand the employees' real needs.

Otherwise, he would have managed to resolve the matter today by virtue of his position.

More troubles and conflicts, both big and small, will continue to arise...

After the meal, Yang Jianguo said he wanted to go back to the guesthouse for a short rest, and the others didn't want to accompany him any longer.

Walking down the street, Yang Jianguo asked, "Has the follow-up on the Chang'an matter been resolved yet?"

"It's out. The plan to halve salaries for six months and adjust the salaries and benefits of grassroots employees should be announced in the next few days... It's true, the reaction has been quite significant."

"What was the reaction, positive or negative?"

“Of course it’s positive,” Ma Wei hurriedly explained. “The grassroots staff are all very grateful to you now.”

"Why are you thanking me?"

Yang Jianguo smiled and said, "We leaders should be thanking them. Without these grassroots workers on the front lines, we wouldn't be where we are today!"

Doing the most work but receiving the least – this is a common reality at the grassroots level.

To change this situation, we need to continue to vigorously develop the economy. With money in hand, people will have more confidence in their words.

Without money to pay salaries, all the talk is just empty words; you won't get a single response.

After returning home, Yang Jianguo considered whether he should suggest a small, comprehensive salary increase for those at the grassroots level.

Not just one place or one province, but the entire inland region…

Chapter 721 The Spearhead, Dialogue

In the capital city, looking at the brand-new, ink-scented telegram, the Third Elder chuckled and said, "This Jianguo, even after he's gone, he still causes us no peace of mind."

Upon hearing the elder's words, the secretary refilled the teacup and asked with a smile, "Minister Yang, has another problem been discovered?"

"Yes, every time we go down there we find something wrong!" the Third Elder said, his smile vanishing.

There are some deep-seated problems in the local area, which is a consensus that everyone is aware of.

However, in order to recover local finances, prioritize the overall situation, and vigorously promote development, it is necessary to decentralize power.

This is a tacit understanding reached between the city government and the local authorities, and also a compromise made by the central government to the local authorities.

To achieve development, taxes must be collected to enable local areas to become self-reliant and overcome difficulties to move forward.

In this situation, losing autonomy would be something no one would want.

"Then, Elder, will there be any problems with what Minister Yang is doing?"

There are rules above, and there are ways of doing things below.

Both are carefully maintaining a balance between themselves.

Every time Yang Jianguo goes down there, he makes a fuss. Won't that make things difficult for the elders?

"Hehe, problems always need to be solved! Besides, machinery and industry are his areas of responsibility. Are we going to expect him to turn a blind eye and be a blind man?"

The secretary responded with a smile, "Elder, you are right."

But deep down they knew that in the elders' eyes, Minister Yang was probably making a good move.

This approach can both test the opinions of those below regarding Beijing and the degree to which orders are carried out, and also provide an opportunity to strengthen intervention and control over local areas, preventing the increasingly rampant localism from getting out of control.

This is a good thing for Beijing.

In reality, although there are few official reports each year, there are quite a few "study, inspection, research, visit and patrol" teams dispatched from Beijing to various places.

They can ignore most problems, focusing instead on 'learning, seeking advice, and collecting methods and results from various places'.

However, once someone has the idea of ​​occupying a territory and becoming a local tyrant, thinking that they can be a local emperor in a certain place, they dare to provoke and attack the organization.

Even if you have made a tremendous contribution and have the ability to reach the highest levels of government, you must be killed by any means necessary.

Any group that grows large and enters the harvest stage will inevitably have its share of parasites.

Like overripe fruit, it may look bright and beautiful on the outside, but it may be rotten inside.

Before him stood Liu Delong, the union chairman, who appeared righteous and upright.

"Minister Yang, the workers have all arrived. They were so excited to be able to speak with you face to face that they didn't know what to say."

Yang Jianguo smiled and replied, "Really? No problem, we have plenty of time to talk now."

Hearing him say that, Liu Delong felt inexplicably nervous.

Does he know something?

Impossible. Liu Delong believed he had done it flawlessly. Apart from a few close confidants, no one in the guild knew what he had done.

Besides, none of those close confidants were present.

Even when controlled by ambition, Liu Delong still maintained the necessary vigilance.

"Yes, Yang is right."

Liu Delong retreated with a wry smile and sat in the first row of the audience.

As the chairman of the trade union, Liu Delong's position was no less than that of the factory's leadership.

In terms of influence alone, he can be considered the number one person in the factory.

"Thank you all for taking the time to attend this meeting today."

"Face-to-face, free-flowing conversation—that's what I mean by a meeting, and that's exactly what today's theme is."

As Yang Jianguo spoke, he stood up and walked from behind the table where the microphone was placed to the front desk.

He went to the edge of the stage and knelt down on it.

"That place is too far, I feel more comfortable sitting here... Can everyone hear me clearly?"

Even without a microphone, Yang Jianguo's voice was still clearly audible.

"can."

Everyone's emotions became excited and exhilarated.

This was the first time they had ever seen such a way of communicating.

He was also from Beijing, the highest-ranking leader in this system, Minister Yang Jianguo.

"Alright, now that you can hear me clearly, please ask any questions you have!"

Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to ask.

"What, is everything alright?" Yang Jianguo smiled broadly, crossed his legs in front of him, and said, "Then I'll take attendance!"

"That young man, yes, the one with his hair all slicked back."

"Hahaha……"

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, the stylishly dressed young man stood up.

She straightened her work clothes and looked at him somewhat awkwardly: "Hello, Minister Yang."

"Hello, what's your name?"

"He Tao".

"Comrade He Tao, is there anything you'd like to ask?"

"Um..." Being a young man, he was still very nervous, but he mustered up his courage and said, "Boss, why are there fewer and fewer social gatherings these days?"

"Hahaha..." The audience burst into laughter; this question was perfect for him.

Eighteen or nineteen is the age when you're defiant and rebellious, and you'd want to charge at any woman you see.

Whatever you ask him now, nothing is more important to him than holding more social events.

"This question probably needs to be answered by the factory leaders and the women comrades in our Women's Federation."

Yang Jianguo raised his hand and pointed to the women's federation representative sitting on his left.

"Minister, it's not that we're unwilling, it's just that the workload is too heavy."

"However, I assure you here in front of the leaders that we will definitely organize more social events in the future and strive to resolve the concerns of our young comrades as soon as possible."

"Great!" Thunderous applause erupted from the audience. This wasn't just a concern for him, a young man.

There are many more people who care about this than just a few...

"Okay, is this problem solved?" Yang Jianguo looked at the slick-haired young man.

The other person nodded excitedly, and not knowing how to express himself, he ended up saluting him.

“Then let’s move on to the next question.” Yang Jianguo pointed to the back row and said, “That woman in the second to last row, wearing a pink hair accessory.”

"Hello, Minister Yang, I'd like to ask, cough cough cough..."

The other person was so excited that they choked on their own saliva.

"Don't rush, don't rush, take your time, we have plenty of time today... I'm here to solve everyone's problems. As long as there are still problems, I promise you, I'll sit here and listen, I absolutely won't leave."

Applause erupted again, and with Yang Jianguo's assurance, everyone was no longer so anxious.

The woman finally asked her question: "Minister Yang, I'd like to ask when our salaries and benefits will be increased. Other factories have already raised their salaries and benefits several times."

"Which other factory are you referring to? Tell me so I can answer that it's not you."

Chapter 722 Thorough Knowledge, Money First

The other party couldn't say which factory it was from.

The so-called 'that factory' only exists in rumors passed down by word of mouth.

Nobody cares whether these factories actually exist.