Chapter 5

Dinner was arranged at the Silk Hotel, a subsidiary of the Silk Mill, located at the west gate of the factory. The deputy director of the factory office also served as the hotel manager.

The first floor had a large dining hall, the second floor had private rooms where one could sing karaoke, and the third and fourth floors were guest rooms. The hotel had an annual output value of over 100 million, and the reception tasks were heavy, with all the private rooms fully booked.

"Director Jiang, Director Han, I'm really sorry, truly sorry. I can't arrange a private room for you today. You'll have to sit in the hall," the manager said apologetically, offering cigarettes and greeting them.

No matter what, they were middle-level cadres. The security department had many reception tasks, and they rarely had the chance to entertain guests. Jiang Guoping felt very embarrassed and asked unhappily, "Really full?"

"Full, not a single room left."

Afraid they wouldn't believe him, the manager took a reservation list from the front desk and, under the light, said, "The provincial textile company's leadership is inspecting, and Factory Director Wang is receiving them in Hall No. 1. The spring cocoons have been lost in large numbers, causing significant losses. The summer and autumn cocoons must not be lost. The manager of the Silk Company, the director of the supply department Hu, the factory director of the second silk mill Gu, and the factory director of the third silk mill Gui are entertaining three township leaders in Halls No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4.

The funds for purchasing cocoons haven't been secured, so Factory Director Chen can't sleep. He and Director Dai are entertaining the bank leadership in Hall No. 5. Engineer Li has a few friends, one of whom is an expert from the provincial textile and clothing testing technology institute. They are in Hall No. 6..."

The provincial textile company has quotas for exporting silk and silk fabrics, so they must be warmly received.

Silk cocoons are the main raw material for the silk mill. If they can't purchase enough cocoons locally, they have to buy them at a higher price from other places. The Silk Company is similar to a government department. They claim to buy from the people and then sell to the silk mill, but in fact, the silk mill pays for the purchases, and the people who collect the cocoons are drawn from the three silk mills.

They take a cut, making a few million in profit.

If the price is set too high, the silk mill will incur losses, so they have to pressure the cocoon farmers to lower their prices.

Silk mills in other places don't have this middle step. They pay 5 to 6 yuan more per kilogram, and as long as the farmers bring the cocoons, they will buy them. Some people even secretly come to Sigan County to buy cocoons.

For the Silk Company, no cocoons mean no money; for the silk mill, no cocoons mean no raw materials.

Every time cocoons are purchased, the Silk Company and the silk mill have to invite township officials and police officers to strictly guard the area. Checkpoints are set up at all major and minor intersections, and there are people on duty 24/7.

If the cocoon farmers are caught, they are made to return the way they came and sell their cocoons to the Silk Company's collection stations. If someone is caught selling cocoons, it is considered illegal business, and the police, industry and commerce, and tax authorities will fine them until they are bankrupt...

In short, at the silk mill, only those who deal with silk and cocoons have status. The security department is just for guarding the gate and has no right to go upstairs.

Not being able to create benefits for the enterprise, it's normal to be sidelined.

Han Bo pulled Jiang Guoping's sleeve and said with a smile, "Director Jiang, it's just a meal. It's the same wherever we eat. The hall is fine. We'll be the only table, and it's quiet."

"Fine, the hall it is. Manager Guan, we are four people. You decide the arrangement."

"Welcome Director Han. I know, I'll arrange it. I'll start with a few cold dishes. You can start drinking, and I'll come over to toast later."

The two cadres in the security department were not all employees; some were contract workers and had no right to come. Yang Xiaomei was a regular employee. She hadn't eaten with them for over a month, and her husband was in a township, so she was the only one in the factory. They had invited her along.

The tall and muscular one was surnamed Wu, Wu Yongliang, 24 years old, a veteran, a regular employee, and the team leader of the economic police detachment. He had three subordinates, one more than the team leaders of the other factories.

Yang Xiaomei was a party member and would serve as the deputy team leader, making her a half-leader. She took the initiative to pour wine for the two directors.

"Director Jiang, Yongliang, I'm sorry, I can't drink. I'm allergic to alcohol. I get red bumps all over my body and have to go to the hospital."

"Alcohol allergy?"

"It's not an excuse; I really can't drink."

"Then have a bottle of beer."

Jiang Guoping turned to call the waiter, but Han Bo quickly stopped him, "Director Jiang, beer also contains alcohol. I'll drink tea instead."

"If a man doesn't drink, he's wasted his life. It's a pity, but if you can't drink, you can't. Yongliang, go get two more drinks."

Mentioning drinking, Yang Xiaomei chuckled, "Director Han, you're lucky to be assigned to our factory. If you were assigned to a township, not being able to drink would be a problem. Yongyang Township's economy isn't great, but the township leaders can drink. My husband has a decent drinking capacity, but he gets drunk there every time."

Jiang Guoping laughed, raised his glass, and said, "The township leaders can drink. Half a catty is just a mouthful, a catty and they can still walk. They have a saying: if you can drink eight ounces, drink a catty, such a comrade can be trusted; if you can drink a catty, drink eight ounces, such a comrade should be cultivated; if you can drink liquor, drink beer, such a comrade should be transferred; if you can drink beer, drink a drink, such a comrade is not needed!"

"Thankfully, I was assigned to the silk mill. Here's to you, Director Jiang."

Four cold dishes, four stir-fried dishes, two stews, and a soup, all for 60 yuan, which was already quite luxurious for the security department.

After a few rounds of drinks and dishes, Jiang Guoping brought up the main topic.

"Xiao Han, actually, the factory didn't initially plan to assign you to the security department. They first intended to send you to the sales department. Whether your major matches isn't important; what's important is that you know English, right? You passed the CET-6, didn't you?"

"Yes, I passed two years ago."

"The factory relies on foreign trade orders and needs someone like you. However, due to the 'crackdown,' the higher-ups required us to establish an economic police detachment. There are many young cadres and party members in the building, so we could have assigned anyone to be the team leader.

The key is that the police department wanted to place someone here. Good performance now doesn't mean it will always be good, and we already have too many idle people. The factory would rather hire ten temporary workers than one contract worker, and ten contract workers rather than one regular employee, let alone a cadre.

We need the police's help in purchasing cocoons and can't ruin our relationship over a cadre position. In the end, they thought of you. You, who has been called by the organizational personnel department several times, will occupy this position, and their person won't be able to come in."

"Director Han, your luck is really bad. If you had gone to the sales department, you would have made a fortune! Traveling all over, flying, getting travel allowances, and all expenses covered. You'd get a commission for securing business, and the most you could earn in a year would be tens of thousands."

Wu Yongliang genuinely felt sorry for him, knowing the hidden reasons.

"Bad luck, indeed. Earning tens of thousands a year, what a concept!" Yang Xiaomei, who had been poor, nodded in agreement.

I could earn tens of thousands a year as a carpenter in the East Sea. I haven't worried about money for years. My father gave me a savings book with 50,000 yuan. I paid over 20,000 for the house, and I still have over 20,000 for 'pocket money.' Han Bo didn't feel his luck was particularly bad.

Jiang Guoping sighed and continued, "You have your strategies, and I have mine. The factory leaders thought this matter was settled. Today, I went to a meeting and submitted the list. They saw that the team leader position was unavailable and directly added a political instructor to the list.

His name is Gao Changxing, a graduate of the Judicial Police School, 28 years old, previously worked in the public security team without a position. He seems to be a relative of Deputy Political Commissar Niu of the police department. He will bring his file to work tomorrow. The factory will accept him, and if they don't, he won't leave."

A political instructor, really making it official.

Han Bo couldn't help but laugh and asked, "Do the factory leaders know?"

"Yes, I called Secretary Ding and Director Qian at the police department. They checked the 'Economic Police Management Regulations' and found that it mentions that a political instructor can be appointed to a detachment, based on the actual situation of the unit, with political and economic benefits. Appointments and dismissals must be approved by the supervising public security department."

I want to leave, but he wants to come here.

However, a regular police officer just starting work earns only about 300 yuan a month. As a political instructor in the economic police detachment of the silk mill, he could earn nearly 500 yuan a month. Moreover, he doesn't even have a position and isn't a regular police officer. Coming here would solve his position and give him the status of a cadre in a state-owned enterprise.

Han Bo thought for a moment and asked, "After he comes, will I manage him, or will he manage me?"

"According to the regulations, the political instructor should support and cooperate with the team leader in managing the team and doing ideological and political work. The security department leads the economic police detachment. You are the deputy director, so you will lead him. Besides, this is the silk mill, not the police department. The factory decides everything."

"I hope we can get along well. Director Jiang, do you have any instructions for the detachment's work?"

A genuine college graduate, so humble, Jiang Guoping liked him even more and said with a smile, "There are only two cadres in the security department. There's no need for formal instructions. You are young, educated, a party member, and have experience in student council. The security department's work is child's play for you.

My child is growing up and needs a proper house to find a partner. Your home is by the Silk River, so you can only get a house from the factory. My home is in the south of the city, and I have over 20,000 yuan to build a small two-story house. I've bought all the sand, gravel, wood, and bricks, and I've always wanted to rebuild, but I haven't had the time.

You've come at the right time. Tomorrow, the economic police detachment will be established, and the day after, I'll take you to visit the other factories. Once you're familiar with the situation, I'll take a one-and-a-half-month leave to build the house. We've worked together for so long, and the factory leaders know everyone's situation. They won't say anything."

"When the tiger is away, the monkeys rule. Director Jiang, if you take leave, will I be in charge?"

Jiang Guoping laughed heartily, "The security department isn't the supply department or the finance department. You don't need to wait for me to take leave. You can make decisions now."

"Alright, I'll pay the bill later."

Han Bo put down his glass and turned back, "Sister Yang, Yongliang, you two are witnesses. Director Jiang just said I can make decisions now."

"Director Jiang, you did say that," Yang Xiaomei confirmed with a nod.

A college graduate, so good at handling people, which leader wouldn't like such a deputy director? Jiang Guoping slapped the table and laughed heartily, "Alright, let you pay the bill today. When the house is built, invite you all to my home for a gathering. The food here looks good, but it doesn't taste as good as my wife's home-cooked dishes."

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