Chapter 75

Mayor Chen and the county leaders have arrived?

This news immediately caused a commotion at the scene. The old employees' representatives at the entrance no longer paid attention to Zhou Ming and rushed to the intersection to welcome the leaders. Soon, a chorus of cheers could be heard, and the greetings of "Mayor Chen, hello" from all directions indicated that Mayor Chen had arrived.

Subsequently, the old employees' representatives automatically split and stood on both sides. A short and plump man walked out first, wearing a white shirt with a slightly flat nose. Zhou Ming recognized him as Mayor Chen Da of Linyang, with the Party Secretary of Nanhui County, Gu Ping, accompanying him from behind. With Mayor Chen's arrival, the doors of the factory auditorium were also opened, indicating that the disinfection inside had been completed.

The factory logistics staff came to the entrance to welcome them. Mayor Chen Da waved to these employees as he led the way into the factory auditorium.

After Mayor Chen Da entered the auditorium, the old employees' representatives followed him in. Only when Huang Zheng passed by Zhou Ming's family, he deliberately stopped and sneered at Zhou Ming, "Mayor Chen has arrived, but he doesn't seem to recognize you, the famous Hong Kong businessman!"

Zhou Ming replied, "I never said I knew Mayor Chen, and I just want to buy Factory 760. These things don't seem to be related, do they?"

Huang Zheng chuckled, "It seems you're still not giving up. Let me tell you, I've already asked my uncle to investigate you. You've only made some money in Nanjiang and now you dare to come back and pretend to be a Hong Kong businessman? You really have some nerve. I advise you to run while you still can."

"Then did your uncle not find out about the inside information of the factory's restructuring?" Zhou Ming asked with a meaningful tone.

Faced with this question, Huang Zheng was taken aback for a moment before saying, "What inside information? Why are you so unhealthy in your thinking? I'll tell you, our factory's restructuring is fair, just, and transparent..."

Zhou Ming sneered, interrupting Huang Zheng, "Alright, using your words, you should run while you still can, so you don't end up crying later."

"Run? Are you telling me a story?" Huang Zheng laughed loudly.

Zhou Ming didn't want to waste too much time on him and led his parents and Su Han into the auditorium. As they walked, his mother, Wang Fengqin, worriedly said, "Zhou Ming, Huang Director's father was the vice-county magistrate, with a lot of power. Will your friend be okay?"

"Mom, don't worry. Even if his father was the vice-county magistrate, it wouldn't matter," Zhou Ming thought for a moment and continued, "But from what he said just now, it seems the county officials are just playing along with them and have no intention of helping their family."

As they entered the auditorium, Mayor Chen Da and other county leaders were still resting in the adjacent lounge. The old employees' representatives were finding their seats, and seeing the chaotic scene, Su Han couldn't help but ask, "Zhou Ming, where should we sit?"

Zhou Ming was about to speak when Huang Zheng followed them in. Seeing Zhou Ming looking for a seat, he shouted to the old employees' representatives in front in an exaggerated tone, "Fellow senior workers, our Hong Kong businessman, Zhou Ming, has arrived. Should we welcome him to sit in the front?"

This caused a stir. Hearing Huang Zheng's shout, the old employees' representatives noticed that Zhou Ming and his parents had also entered the auditorium. What was he up to? Was he really planning to cause trouble?

They pointed at Zhou Ming and shouted, "Old Zhou, what are you doing here? This is where the leaders are having a meeting. Can you just walk in? Are you really planning to cause trouble and oppose all the employees and their families? Want to sit in the front? Get out of here, don't delay the important matters of the factory's restructuring. You're not welcome here!"

Hearing the angry shouts and Huang Zheng's smug look, Zhou Ming turned to his parents and said, "Mom, Dad, Xiao Han, it seems we're not welcome. Let's sit at the back."

His parents and Su Han agreed with Zhou Ming and took seats in the corner of the auditorium.

Seeing that Zhou Ming and his family didn't leave, the old employees' representatives were furious, but considering the mayor was there, they didn't dare to cause a scene. They just grumbled and some of them informed the factory security to keep a close eye on them, to prevent any trouble. If anything happened, they were to control it quickly.

A few minutes later, as the meeting time approached, the old employees' representatives calmed down and found their seats.

When everything was ready, with the entrance music playing, Mayor Chen Da and the county and factory officials entered the auditorium from the side and took their seats on the stage.

Everything proceeded as planned. First, everyone stood to welcome the city and county leaders, then Mayor Chen Da began his speech.

Chen Da took the microphone and said, "Factory 760 is an old factory with a long history, a large factory that has grown with Nanhui County. In the past, it has created excellent economic benefits and made significant contributions to the development of Nanhui County and even the entire Linyang City. However, with the implementation of the reform and opening-up strategy, many old factories have faced significant challenges from emerging economies at home and abroad. To help Factory 760 adapt to the reform and opening-up environment and to ensure a better future for Factory 760, the city and county party committees have decided to restructure Factory 760."

After Chen Da finished speaking, the audience applauded enthusiastically. Chen Da raised his hands to calm them down and then said, "The restructuring of Factory 760 is the first step and a pilot project for the restructuring of old factories in Linyang City. Since so many cadres and old employees' representatives are here today, I would like to hear your thoughts on the restructuring."

After Chen Da finished speaking, the deputy factory manager, Ma Jianjun, immediately raised his hand.

With Chen Da's approval, Ma Jianjun said, "Thank you, Mayor Chen and all the leaders. I am Ma Jianjun, the deputy factory manager of Factory 760. I have worked in Factory 760 for over twenty years and have deep feelings for it. Seeing the factory's poor performance recently, I, as the deputy manager, am very anxious. Now that the city is restructuring Factory 760, I am very happy because I believe that after the restructuring, Factory 760 will regain its former glory!"

Seeing Ma Jianjun speak first, Zhou Ming felt puzzled. After all, he was just a deputy manager, and in such an important occasion with so many city and county officials present, it seemed unlikely that he would be the first to speak.

Zhou Ming subconsciously glanced at the factory manager, who was sitting there like a meditating monk, showing no reaction to Ma Jianjun's overstepping. Zhou Ming smiled, thinking, "It seems the leadership of the factory is not harmonious!"

Ma Jianjun continued, "I know today is a restructuring meeting. As the deputy manager of Factory 760, I nominate the sales department head, Huang Zheng, to be the new factory manager. Huang Zheng, as a sales department cadre, is at the forefront of the market and understands it best. I believe that with him as the factory manager, he will lead us to reshape the glory of Factory 760 in the future reform and opening-up!"

After Ma Jianjun finished speaking, the audience applauded again. Mayor Chen Da nodded with a smile, "It seems that Manager Ma has given it some thought. Since other old employees' representatives are here, let's hear their opinions as well."

Another old employee representative stood up and said, "Listening to Manager Ma, I am deeply moved. I am also an old employee of Factory 760 and have worked here all my life. Seeing the factory's poor performance, I am very distressed and anxious. Now that the city is restructuring Factory 760, it is a hope for the factory to stand up again. Therefore, I fully support Manager Ma's speech and agree that Huang Zheng should take over Factory 760."

Hearing Ma Jianjun and the old employee representative, Wang Fengqin was very anxious, "It's over, the auditorium is full of their people, and it seems they have everything planned out. What can we do?"

Zhou Ming comforted his mother, "Mom, don't worry. The restructuring meeting has just started, and the restructuring of Factory 760 is a major project for the entire Linyang City. Mayor Chen Da wouldn't change the decision just because of these people's words."

"But you see, Mayor Chen Da and the other county leaders haven't shown any reaction, and the factory representatives are all supporting Huang Zheng. Is there really any hope left?" Su Han also said, as if Zhou Ming's words were her last hope.

Zhou Ming nodded firmly, "Of course, some things can't be changed just by a few words here!"

Just as Zhou Ming was talking with his parents and Su Han, another old employee representative finished speaking. Mayor Chen Da then said, "It seems that the comrades of Factory 760 have a lot of confidence in Huang Zheng. I wonder if Huang Zheng himself has the confidence? Let's hear Huang Zheng's thoughts."

Being called by the mayor, Huang Zheng immediately stood up and said, "Thank you, Mayor Chen, for calling on me. I also thank all the comrades in the factory for their trust and support. However, I believe I am still too young and my views on many issues are not mature. I also lack the ability to handle many details. Given the importance of Factory 760, I would feel a lot of pressure and might not be able to handle the job if I were to take over as the factory manager now."

Hearing Huang Zheng's words, Chen Da nodded and said, "Huang Zheng has made a good point. As he said, the restructuring of Factory 760 is a major issue for the reform and opening-up of Linyang, and it must be handled with great caution. Since Huang Zheng feels he cannot handle the job, the city and county party committees, in the spirit of being responsible to the people, have decided to sell Factory 760 as a whole to the Hong Kong businessman, Zhou Ming."