Chapter 57

After the laid-off workers from the instrument factory left, Chu Tianshu was filled with unease. About half an hour later, Zhao Pingyuan came over and said that Qi Dagang had followed Huang Roshan to the instrument factory, and that the laid-off workers had blocked the Yangjiang Avenue.

Chu Tianshu secretly worried about Wu Shicai and the others, but he also felt that this was their only option. Only by making a big fuss could they possibly attract the attention of the leaders. Otherwise, once the reform plan for the instrument factory was officially decided, and the factory was auctioned off to a company, there would be no chance to change it.

After a while, Chu Tianshu couldn't help but call Tan Yufen, but no one answered. He realized that the situation might be serious. Just as he was thinking about whom to contact next, Liu Chunna answered the landline and said to Chu Tianshu, "Mr. Chu, Director Guan asks you to come to his office."

For the head of the department to personally call a section chief, this was a new chapter in the history of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC).

Chu Tianshu stood up and was about to leave when Qian Meihua stopped him, reminding him to bring his notebook.

He was too excited. With the leaders calling, there must be important instructions, how could he forget such an important thing?

Chu Tianshu smiled awkwardly, grabbed the notebook from the desk, and in two steps reached the door of the director's office, where he knocked gently.

The door opened, and Ouyang Meimei stood at the entrance.

Chu Tianshu saw that Guan Haoyu and Jian Ruoming were sitting on a separate sofa. Guan Haoyu pointed to the opposite sofa and said with a smile, "Xiao Chu has arrived, please sit down."

Chu Tianshu sat on the corner of the sofa, opened his notebook, and looked at Guan Haoyu, ready to listen to the instructions.

Guan Haoyu waved his hand and said, "Xiao Chu, no need to take notes." Then he turned to Jian Ruoming and said, "Xiao Jian, let me brief you on the situation first."

Jian Ruoming nodded with a smile and closed her notebook.

"This is the situation: a group of workers from the instrument factory gathered and caused a disturbance at the factory gate after returning from the SASAC. Director Huang went to handle it, but the situation has changed. The workers not only physically assaulted the leaders who tried to dissuade them but also surrounded the city leaders. Especially, a group of female workers confronted the police. I think it's not appropriate for male colleagues to persuade the female workers, so I want to ask Director Jian to make the trip. Xiao Chu, you will accompany Director Jian to do the work. Of course, your primary task is to ensure Director Jian's safety. What do you think?"

This was Ouyang Meimei's bad idea for Guan Haoyu.

As an old colleague nearing retirement, although Guan Haoyu's attachment to power was stronger, he was genuinely unwilling to handle such an emergency on-site. At his age, he only needed to hold his position for a few more days and didn't need to prove his crisis management skills.

However, the vice mayor in charge was angry, and Tang Yifu had to show his stance. His intention was to go to the scene with Ouyang Meimei, but Ouyang Meimei said, "Director Jian is a cadre sent by the province, and her level must be very high. We should see if she can handle it."

Ouyang Meimei was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred towards Jian Ruoming, who was younger and had already reached the position of a section chief. She was also jealous of her good looks and hated that Jian Ruoming's sudden arrival had blocked her path to advancement.

With such an opportunity to make her look bad, she naturally wanted to push Jian Ruoming forward first.

Guan Haoyu thought it made sense. Since the ones causing trouble were female workers, sending a female leader would facilitate communication.

Jian Ruoming, a gentle woman with no grassroots experience, wouldn't be much better at handling emergencies than Huang Roshan. Letting her leave a bad impression with Tang Yifu would give him a reason to sideline her in the future.

Promising Huang Roshan a deputy position after he took over, and then having Ouyang Meimei explain to Tang Yifu later, would likely defuse his anger.

Guan Haoyu immediately agreed and asked, "Director Ouyang, it might not be appropriate for her to go alone. Who do you think should accompany her?"

Ouyang Meimei didn't even think before saying, "Chu Tianshu."

After being humiliated by Chu Tianshu, Ouyang Meimei had harbored a grudge and was looking for a chance to take revenge. This was a good opportunity to put him in a difficult position, not just to embarrass him but to potentially ruin his career.

At this moment, Ouyang Meimei realized she had come up with a brilliant plan, and she was almost elated by her own intelligence.

Guan Haoyu, still unsure, said, "If Jian Ruoming refuses to go, you will have to go with me."

"No problem," Ouyang Meimei said. "Director Guan, you can rest assured. Even if everyone else in the SASAC is unreliable, I am still reliable."

Guan Haoyu reassured Ouyang Meimei, "Director Ouyang, I understand. I value you very much. If Jian Ruoming shirks her responsibility, I will make her a mere figurehead in the SASAC, and she will have no complaints."

After they agreed, Guan Haoyu immediately called Jian Ruoming and Chu Tianshu to his office and directly stated his intentions.

Jian Ruoming, though lacking grassroots experience, was not short of experience in the office. The more polite Guan Haoyu was, and the more Ouyang Meimei smiled, the more it proved that one was dodging the issue and the other was stirring it up, with no good intentions.

Jian Ruoming didn't respond immediately but looked at Chu Tianshu.

Seeing Jian Ruoming's hesitation and looking at Chu Tianshu, Ouyang Meimei, feeling triumphant, said, "Director Guan, I have a suggestion, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate to say."

"Director Ouyang, please speak," Guan Haoyu said, hoping for her good words in front of Tang Yifu.

Ouyang Meimei slowly proposed an enticing condition, "Director Guan, although Xiao Chu has been promoted to the head of the General Office, he is still a section chief. When he goes out to handle matters, he lacks the necessary authority. I suggest that if he and Director Jian handle this matter well, we can consider promoting him to deputy section chief."

Guan Haoyu immediately gave a clearer hint, "That's fine. Tian Keming has left, and the office can't be leaderless for long. We need capable people to take charge."

Ouyang Meimei and Guan Haoyu's back-and-forth sent a strong signal to Chu Tianshu: the opportunity is there, it's up to you to seize it.

Ouyang Meimei's suggestion seemed to be helping Chu Tianshu, but in reality, she was blocking his path to advancement.

From the beginning, she had believed that Jian Ruoming and Chu Tianshu were going to make a fool of themselves. With their capabilities, they couldn't possibly calm the laid-off workers. Once they failed, Ouyang Meimei could use Tang Yifu and Guan Haoyu to push Jian Ruoming out, clearing the way for her own advancement.

As for Chu Tianshu, his path to advancement would be completely blocked.

What a vicious move!

"Whatever is meant to be, will be," Chu Tianshu, with no other choice, closed his notebook and said firmly, "I will follow the leadership's arrangement."

Guan Haoyu and Ouyang Meimei looked at Jian Ruoming simultaneously.

Jian Ruoming immediately responded, "No problem."

Guan Haoyu stood up and said to Jian Ruoming with a smile, "Xiao Jian, you will represent me and the SASAC on the scene. You must do your best to handle the situation and satisfy the city leaders."

As Jian Ruoming and Chu Tianshu walked out of the office, Ouyang Meimei and Guan Haoyu exchanged a meaningful glance and simultaneously showed a hint of a sinister smile.

Jian Ruoming returned to her office, changed out of her suit, and put on long pants and a jacket, making her look more energetic and capable.

Chu Tianshu brought his camera equipment, ready to document the entire situation and the handling process.

After getting in the car, Jian Ruoming immediately asked, "Xiao Chu, what do you think?"

Chu Tianshu had already made up his mind. Since the situation had tied him and Jian Ruoming to the same boat, there was no need to hide anything. He said, "The laid-off workers from the instrument factory are doing this out of desperation."

The driver was Lao Miao, a straightforward and trustworthy man who could be relied upon to keep quiet.

Jian Ruoming stared at Chu Tianshu and asked, "So, you support their actions?"

Chu Tianshu argued, "Director Jian, I don't think they are causing trouble. They are fighting for their right to survive. Anyone would hope for a peaceful and stable life, and when that hope is about to be shattered, their efforts to preserve it are understandable."

Jian Ruoming said solemnly, "But do you know that in the current harmonious environment, if a mass incident has a negative impact, many people will have to pay the price?"

"Of course, I know. Perhaps your concern also includes that deputy section chief position," Chu Tianshu said emotionally. "But I also know that the children of the instrument factory workers can't afford school fees and face dropping out; sick workers can't afford medical bills, and their adult daughters have to sell themselves; residents of the simple dormitories will lose their homes, and the elderly and children will end up on the streets..."

Chu Tianshu's words deeply moved Jian Ruoming. She felt the need to reassess this young man. She had initially thought that Chu Tianshu agreed to accompany her to handle the crisis to get the deputy section chief position Ouyang Meimei had offered.

Now, it was clear that he was not a petty person but a man of principle, willing to put his career on the line to protect the rights of the laid-off workers.

Jian Ruoming quickly had a strong premonition: this was a man capable of great things!