Chapter 97

After Gu Huang's team arrived, Duan immediately kept them, not allowing anyone to go home. Duan decided to use the five days of the team's rest period to reorganize and train the team. Xiao Yuanhang sighed deeply upon hearing this. It was better for the team to have no trouble, but once there was an issue, it would cause chaos. It seemed that the five days of rest were ruined!

After the Duan Party Committee meeting ended, Deputy Section Chief Tang Xuemei, who was in charge of passenger transport, presided over a meeting on work style issues, attended by the Passenger Transport Team, the Road Style Office, and the Education Room. The meeting required every member of the team to speak up, reflect on their own work style issues, and announce the handling decisions for Lin Zhigang, Zhang Yaping, and Xiao Yuanhang. They were also required to draw lessons and take them to heart.

The reflection meeting lasted until around 12:30 PM. Deputy Section Chief Tang required all team members to write a self-examination report after the meeting, and to propose corresponding corrective measures for their own issues, to be submitted the next morning at 8:00 AM.

Xiao Yuanhang was also implicated and had his production bonus for the month withheld. Team Captain Lin Yan, fearing he might be upset, talked to him after the meeting. She said that although the incident was not his fault, as the deputy team captain, he had to bear some responsibility. She encouraged him to let go of the burden and not to take it to heart.

Compared to the high-pressure policies in the future, the management at this time was much more humane. If a general accident occurred in a unit, only the responsible person would be dealt with, rarely involving the workshop director, let alone the section chief. For example, the "7.27" major accident, which resulted in the deaths of 9 crew members, the scrapping of 4 steam locomotives, and direct economic losses of millions, only led to the dismissal of a deputy director in charge of transportation. In the future, the railway bureau chief would be directly dismissed, and the minister of railways might even resign. For a general accident, the dismissal of a section chief was common. Xiao Yuanhang accepted this calmly. It wasn't that he didn't care about the bonus, but the humane handling method was easier to accept.

Xiao Yuanhang left the section at around 12:30 PM. He estimated that the batch of goods Wang Dahai had sent to Linquan should have arrived, so he didn't go home but hurried towards the Tiedong Street. As he walked through the railway bridge tunnel, he met business representative Xu Yanchun, who said in surprise, "Xu Sister, why haven't you gone home yet?"

Xu Yanchun replied, "I thought it was this time, and there would be no food at home, so I decided to eat at a restaurant. I saw you being called by Captain Lin, so I waited for you here."

Xiao Yuanhang, seeing that Xu Yanchun had waited for him to eat together, thought she must have something to say. Considering the time, it wouldn't matter if he went to the warehouse a bit earlier or later. He might as well eat first and see what Xu Yanchun wanted to say. She was his team's business representative, and many future team matters would depend on her. So he said, "I'm also quite hungry. Let's go to the Korean snack shop up ahead and eat something."

Xu Yanchun was very nervous about Lin Zhigang's incident. Although everyone was using the sleeper tickets for personal gain, the handling of Lin Zhigang had a significant impact on her. She had also shared some money with Xiao Yuanhang, who had warned her to be cautious. She was even more worried that the section's strict reorganization might lead Xiao Yuanhang, who was young and new to the position, to report her under pressure, which would ruin everything!

Xiao Yuanhang, of course, didn't know what Xu Yanchun was thinking. At the snack shop, he ordered a few simple dishes, intending to finish quickly and go to Wang Dahai's place. Xu Yanchun, however, added a couple of better dishes, saying that after three days and nights of work and a morning of criticism, he should have some alcohol to relax and rest well in the afternoon.

Seeing Xu Yanchun's eagerness, Xiao Yuanhang guessed she must have something important to say. He had been under pressure for the past three days and felt very tired. A drink would help. Once he got to Wang Dahai's place, he could rest in his room, regardless of whether the goods had arrived. He nodded in agreement.

The dishes came one by one. Xu Yanchun ordered a bottle of 48-degree sorghum wine. Xiao Yuanhang knew she could drink, so he didn't stop her. However, she kept talking about her family matters, which confused him. Finally, he couldn't help but say, "Xu Sister, we work together. What can you not trust me with? Just say what you need to say."

Xu Yanchun hesitated but finally said, "Captain, Lin Zhigang's incident has really shaken me. I used to think everyone was getting some benefits, and it was a tacit understanding, but now I realize it's a huge issue! During the meeting, Deputy Section Chief Tang said that this time it was handled internally, but if the railway bureau had been involved, Lin Zhigang would have been dismissed! I also like to take small advantages, especially after you gave me control of the sleeper tickets. I couldn't resist a few times. If this is found out, my life will be ruined. I came to you because..."

Xiao Yuanhang understood her meaning and stopped her, saying, "Xu Sister, since you've said this, I'll be honest with you. Every team does this, and I know it. I don't do it not because I'm pretending to be high-minded, but because I'm young and want to advance. I can't afford to make mistakes. I've already warned you before. This time, the railway bureau's work style office seems to be serious. They usually don't talk so nicely. Handing Lin Zhigang over to our section for handling is strange. I feel this isn't simple. So, my advice is, don't take small advantages, at least for the next one or two months. Otherwise, you'll suffer a big loss!"

Xu Yanchun quickly said, "I understand, I understand. I'll follow your advice and won't do it again. I'm just worried about this reflection and reorganization..."

Xiao Yuanhang said, "Xu Sister, don't worry. Nothing will happen. Just be careful in the future."

With Xiao Yuanhang's assurance, Xu Yanchun felt relieved and raised her glass to him, "Captain, thank you. I was really scared this time. I'm truly afraid! You can rest assured, I won't do it again. If the team needs anything, just say it, and I'll do my best to help!"

After the meal, Xu Yanchun went home with her backpack. Xiao Yuanhang arrived at Tiedong Street and saw two carts in the yard, with two carters loading pine nuts. The goods had arrived, and Xiao Yuanhang was delighted, quickly heading to the warehouse.

Daguo poked his head out of the warehouse and saw Xiao Yuanhang, exclaiming, "Second Brother, you're back!"

Hearing Daguo's voice, Wang Dahai and the others came out of the warehouse. Seeing Xiao Yuanhang, Wang Dahai said, "Second Brother, you weren't supposed to come in the morning. Why are you here now?"

Xiao Yuanhang said, "There was an issue with the team, and I was kept at the section all morning. I came here after eating, without even going home. Dahai, when did this batch of goods arrive?"

Wang Dahai said happily, "This batch arrived yesterday morning. Uncle Liu found a cart to bring it over at noon. We've already sold over 4,000 pounds, and with this 1,200 pounds, it's over 5,000 pounds!"

Xiao Yuanhang was also very pleased and asked, "Dahai, did you ask Uncle Liu when the batch Xiao Qiang is handling will arrive?"

Wang Dahai said, "I asked. Uncle Liu said it should arrive in the next one or two days. He said he would find a cart to bring it over once it arrives."

"Brother Hai, it's time to settle the accounts," someone called from the warehouse. Wang Dahai said hurriedly, "Second Brother, go inside and rest for a while. I'll talk to you in detail once I'm done."

"Okay," Xiao Yuanhang saw Wang Dahai was busy, so he agreed and went to his room, washed his face, and lay down on the bed. Soon, Wang Dahai and Daguo came over.

"Where's Xiao Qiang?" Xiao Yuanhang asked, noticing Xiao Qiang wasn't there.

Wang Dahai said, "I waited for you all morning, and when we had enough money to buy 8,000 pounds of goods, I sent Xiao Qiang and Xiao Liang with the money to Linquan to buy more. Yesterday afternoon, I heard from Mr. Zhang, who came here to buy goods, that the city has introduced new policies, exempting taxes and opening export rights for the nut business. Today, the price of pine nuts skyrocketed. The 1,200 pounds we just sold went for 6.2 yuan per pound, a 0.3 yuan increase per pound!"

Xiao Yuanhang was overjoyed. It seemed that Xu Wenbo had not only adopted his suggestions but also acted quickly. In just a week, policies to encourage and support the nut business had been introduced!

"Dahai, what exactly are these new policies about the nut business, tax exemptions, and export rights?" Xiao Yuanhang asked, looking at Wang Dahai.

Wang Dahai said, "I don't know the details. I just heard it from Mr. Zhang yesterday afternoon, but the price of pine nuts skyrocketing today is real. It seems the news is true."

Xiao Yuanhang, seeing that Wang Dahai was indifferent to such a significant piece of good news, felt like hitting him. Wang Dahai, you stubborn head, why can't you think more clearly? This news is so beneficial to us!

But then, Xiao Yuanhang thought, Wang Dahai is the same age as him, 18, and he can't hold him to the same standards as himself, a person from the future. It's already impressive that he has brought the pine nut business to this level. Sensitivity is too much to ask!

With this in mind, Xiao Yuanhang stood up and said, "Dahai, I need to go to the city to find out more. I'll leave this to you!"

PS: Thank you for the support from my fellow readers, especially "fangnidefei," "wuxinmutou," "kongzhizihu," "run_on_waLL," "feixiangdeshenqzh," "wangsuishen," "mafandekaicha," "wulailaikanSHU," "longshaoLL1," "youhutiaojie," "dapangdai," "yexiangdanbo," "shangshangguan," "miaoge," "fulanshan," "qiqi," and "fadaidefatangchong." If you have more monthly votes, please cast them! (To be continued. If you like this work, please subscribe and support it. Your support is my greatest motivation.)