Chapter 23

In the fragmented dream, he could recall two out of the three major tasks he had to accomplish, leaving only the matter of how to transfer away from the silk weaving factory.

He had made a pact with his father: you run a company, I become an official. If not, then don't transfer; if you do, it must be to a government department.

As a science student, he was not as good at writing articles and handling documents as those who specialized in literature. He shouldn't even think about the county party committee or the county government. Even if they were short of secretaries, they wouldn't choose someone who studied chemical engineering.

Township positions were not an option. As Fang Ruming, the township judicial assistant, put it, township officials have limited power but unlimited responsibilities. If family planning isn't handled well, it's a one-vote veto. If funeral reform isn't handled well, it's a one-vote veto. If the three levies and five unifications can't be collected, there won't be money to pay the salaries of officials and teachers. If they force the issue, confiscating grain and cattle could lead to problems, which would again result in a one-vote veto.

He couldn't go there; it would be a living hell. After much thought, the only option left was the legal system.

The procuratorate and the court involved too much paperwork, so they were not an option.

The judicial bureau had no power and no status; ordinary people didn't even know what the judicial bureau did. As an official, one couldn't be without power and status, even if he had never thought of abusing it. Having power and not having power were different.

The Public Security Bureau, only the Public Security Bureau!

Subconsciously, he was meant to be a police officer, and it aligned with his current job.

A few years ago, there was a movie called "The Security Chief," starring Feng Yuanzheng. The protagonist was a security official who loved police work and was eventually transferred to a police station. He didn't work there for long before he was martyred, which was very touching.

This showed that it was not unprecedented for security officials to be transferred to police officials, or for economic police to be transferred to public security police. In fact, there were countless such cases nationwide.

The question now was how to transfer. Going to Secretary Ding didn't seem appropriate.

He had only been working for a short time and wanted to transfer; what would the leadership think? He decided to wait and first obtain his lawyer's qualification.

Understanding the law would be very useful for future transfers. The Public Security Bureau had a legal affairs department that needed legal talent. Since he hadn't graduated from a police academy, hadn't served in the military, and had little work experience, he had to find another way by focusing on the legal field.

He had to complete in two months what others took two years to learn, so he had to fully commit.

During the day, he was in the office; after work, he returned to his dormitory, ignoring everything outside and focusing solely on his legal studies. He was so engrossed that he didn't even notice that five or six more people had moved into the third floor, and the small meeting room on the third floor had become the office of the reform committee.

After returning from an overseas inspection, Factory Director Hou established the Reform Office and personally served as the head of the reform leadership group. The county reform office director led a team to assist the silk weaving factory in its reforms.

Reorganizing assets, reducing staff, increasing efficiency, shedding burdens, and moving forward lightly...

It involved the interests of too many people, and no one wanted to be among those laid off, causing widespread anxiety.

After reading "International Public Law" all night, Han Bo's head was spinning. He put down the book and was about to go out for some fresh air when Gao Changxing, Yang Xiaomei, and an unfamiliar person knocked on the door and came in.

People who don't smoke dislike the smell of cigarettes, so Gao Changxing deliberately put out his cigarette before entering.

Yang Xiaomei closed the door and smiled, "Director Han, sorry to disturb you. This is my husband, Qian Peng. He rarely comes, so I'm introducing him to you."

"Ah, Mr. Qian, please sit, please sit. Look at the mess here."

The table and chairs were piled with books, and Gao Changxing helped tidy up. Qian Peng quickly said, "Director Han, no need to be so formal. I came to recognize your door and express my gratitude for your care of my wife, Xiaomei."

"Family, no need for such formalities. How's the child?"

"He's in the hometown. I came to arrange his schooling for the second half of the year, and Xiaomei will be picking him up and dropping him off."

They had a hard life. When they were in the military, they were separated. After a long wait, they finally met the conditions to be together, but after a few years in the military, they were transferred. Back in their hometown, one was in the city, and the other was in a remote town, living apart again.

Han Bo shook hands and asked with concern, "How's it going?"

Qian Peng smiled, "Quite smoothly."

"Good, if it's not smooth, go to the factory leadership. If the children of employees can't go to school, who else would they turn to?"

Yang Xiaomei and Gao Changxing exchanged glances and said worriedly, "Director Han, the leadership is too busy with reforms now. They are focused on reducing staff and increasing efficiency. If things go badly, the instructor and I might be laid off soon."

"Reforms?"

"You've been studying and don't know. Since 1986, the factory has been paying social insurance for contract workers, but the old employees and new employees like us have never paid. Now, 'old methods for old employees, new methods for new employees.' Those with enough seniority will have their contributions made up, and those without will be bought out. Some will be reassigned, and some will compete for positions."

"What about Xiao Yan and the others?"

"Temporary workers are not considered. The reform office is reviewing files and materials, and some will be laid off. The three silk reeling factories will be contracted out, and employees will compete for positions. Those who don't win will either retire early or be bought out and seek their own paths. Temporary workers will receive three months' salary and be dismissed."

"Will the security department also be reformed?"

"The factories will be contracted to private individuals, who will have to pay more for each additional person. Private bosses won't want people sent by the security department. Wu Dajie said that Factory Director Hou is determined to reduce the number of people in the office by half. The armed forces department, family planning office, youth league, and propaganda department will all be dissolved. There will no longer be team leaders or deputy directors in the workshops, only a few shift leaders."

"What about the officials?"

"To ensure the supply of cocoons, the county will expand mulberry cultivation. The agricultural bureau will set up mulberry guidance stations in towns without mulberry cultivation, and the silk company will build dozens of cocoon collection stations in the towns. Some officials will be transferred to the agricultural bureau to guide the expansion of mulberry cultivation in the towns. Some will be transferred to the silk company to collect cocoons in the towns."

The reforms were quite extensive, but from the perspective of the company's development, it was necessary to make some tough decisions.

Han Bo asked, "Will the security department be dissolved?"

Gao Changxing smiled bitterly, "The security department won't be dissolved, but the people might be. There's a rumor that the factory wants to reassign officials who are unwilling to go to the countryside to guard the gates and dismiss all the temporary workers. The remaining employees who can be reassigned will be, and those who can't will be bought out."

"What about the economic police unit?"

"The establishment of the unit was required by the Public Security Bureau, but the reduction of staff and increase in efficiency were required by the county party committee and government. When the arm can't resist the leg, the sign will be taken down."

They couldn't drive cars, connect wires, or repair machines, so their chances of being reassigned were slim. Others who had worked in the silk factory for many years would receive a substantial severance package, but they had only been there for a short time and had no seniority to be bought out. The amount of compensation they would receive was predictable.

With the director not around, they naturally came to the deputy director for such a significant issue.

If an official doesn't serve the people, they might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes. As a deputy director, he had a responsibility to them. Han Bo thought for a moment and asked, "Is there any factory leadership in the building tonight?"

"Secretary Ding should be here; I saw the lights on in his office."

"Sit for a moment, I'll go and ask."