Chapter 76

Chen Da's words were like a bomb that exploded in everyone's hearts, leaving them in a state of shock. Everyone instinctively turned their heads to look back and saw Zhou Ming, along with his parents and Su Han, still sitting in the corner of the auditorium. Zhou Ming had a faint smile on his face, as if he were a general who had already secured victory and was invincible.

What's going on? Wasn't it agreed that the factory would be taken over by Director Huang? Why is it suddenly being sold to Zhou Ming? Is there some kind of mistake?

Everyone was thinking this in their hearts. They stared blankly at Zhou Ming, their minds completely unable to process the situation. To them, even if they were told that a world war had broken out, the world was about to end, or that aliens had been discovered, it wouldn't be as shocking as the news that the 760 Factory was being sold to Zhou Ming.

Selling the factory to a worker's child? It's like playing house with a child!

However, since the person who said this was Mayor Chen Da, no one dared to really oppose it. They could only look at Chen Da with puzzled eyes, wondering if there was really a mistake. Even Zhou Ming's parents and Su Han couldn't believe it.

Under the puzzled gazes of everyone in the room, Chen Da continued to speak confidently: "Comrade Zhou Ming is an outstanding entrepreneur selected by the Hong Kong Island Finance Awards, highly praised by the Hong Kong media. After returning to the mainland, he supported the country's reform and opening-up strategy, and once presided over the first land auction in Nanjiang City. He is a pioneer in the domestic economy and has a thorough understanding of economic conditions both at home and abroad. This time, upon learning about the restructuring of the 760 Factory in his hometown, Zhou Ming, driven by his noble ideal of supporting the construction of his hometown, resolutely gave up his career in Nanjiang and returned to Linyang."

Chen Da paused for a moment before concluding: "Therefore, the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government, based on Comrade Zhou Ming's consistent performance in the market economy, have decided to transfer the 760 Factory to Comrade Zhou Ming."

Chen Da's words were like a hammer, instantly shattering the last bit of hope in everyone's hearts. They realized that Mayor Chen was serious, and that the 760 Factory would indeed belong to the Zhou family from now on.

Of course, not everyone could accept this result, especially someone with a small heart like Huang Zheng. He stood there, holding the microphone, looking up at Chen Da and mumbling, "Mayor Chen, there must be some mistake. How can the 760 Factory be sold to Zhou Ming? This can't be done!"

Ma Jianjun also stood up to support Huang Zheng: "Yes, Mayor Chen, I think Director Huang is very capable, while Zhou Ming is just a fraud. How can the 760 Factory be sold to such a person?"

Hearing Huang Zheng and Ma Jianjun's words, Chen Da frowned. At this moment, the old factory manager, who had been silent, suddenly stood up and loudly said, "Why can't it be sold to Zhou Ming? I believe this decision was made after careful consideration. After all, with the ongoing reform and opening-up, the 760 Factory needs to integrate into the market economy, and Comrade Zhou Ming can lead the factory in this direction. Are you questioning the decision of the higher leadership by making a fuss here?"

Faced with the old factory manager's questioning, Huang Zheng and Ma Jianjun involuntarily shivered and dared not speak anymore. The other old employee representatives, who had originally intended to speak up, also fell silent after the old factory manager's rebuke.

Zhou Ming raised an eyebrow: It seems there's quite a show today!

On this side, his parents were already too shocked to speak, and Su Han was tightly gripping her arm, trembling with excitement.

"Alright, let's invite Comrade Zhou Ming to come up and share his thoughts. Everyone, please give him a warm welcome."

With Mayor Chen Da's calm words, everyone mechanically clapped. Amidst the applause, Zhou Ming stood up with a smile and walked toward the stage.

Zhou Ming was full of confidence, but in Huang Zheng's eyes, Zhou Ming's smile was a mockery. The more confident Zhou Ming appeared, the more Huang Zheng felt like a clown in front of him.

When Zhou Ming walked past him, Huang Zheng finally couldn't hold back and said to Zhou Ming, "I don't know what you did today, but don't think you've won."

"Is that so?" Zhou Ming looked at Huang Zheng's distorted face and sighed, "Do you know? In my eyes, you are quite pitiful. If you and Ma Jianjun hadn't provoked me and retaliated against my parents and Su Han, I might have left you a way out. But now, as I told you outside, you didn't run when you had the chance, and now it's too late. I will make you cry with no place to cry."

"Opportunity?" Huang Zheng sneered, "I admit I didn't expect Mayor Chen to agree to sell the factory to you, but even if you get the 760 Factory, do you really think you can be above me?"

Zhou Ming shook his head regretfully and said, "You may not understand my meaning. I just want to tell you that this isn't over."

With that, Zhou Ming ignored Huang Zheng and walked straight to the stage. Mayor Chen Da and County Party Secretary Gu Ping shook hands with Zhou Ming. Chen Da smiled and said to Zhou Ming, "Comrade Zhou Ming is an outstanding entrepreneur who grew up under the red flag, and the 760 Factory is a star enterprise in Linyang City. I believe this strong combination will bring new development to the factory."

Zhou Ming thanked Chen Da. Then Chen Da gestured for Zhou Ming to speak. Zhou Ming came to the front of the stage, took the microphone from the后勤处 (后勤处 means后勤 department, but in this context, it can be translated as "后勤 staff" or "logistics staff") staff, and cleared his throat, saying, "First, I want to thank Mayor Chen and the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government for their trust in me. As Factory Manager Ma and Director Huang mentioned, I am relatively young and not very good at speaking. If my words make anyone uncomfortable, please bear with me."

Zhou Ming's tone was very calm, but it made everyone in the audience feel uneasy.

"I have nothing else to say. Since I am buying the 760 Factory, I want to talk about the issues with the factory," Zhou Ming said directly, "I believe the poor performance of the 760 Factory in recent years is mainly due to the corruption of certain leaders."

Zhou Ming turned to Chen Da and said, "Mayor Chen, I want to report here that Deputy Factory Manager Ma Jianjun and Sales Department Director Huang Zheng have colluded to embezzle state assets."

Zhou Ming's words were like a sudden storm, causing a commotion in the audience. Everyone stared at Zhou Ming on the stage in disbelief, as no one could have imagined that Zhou Ming would dare to report Ma Jianjun and Huang Zheng in front of Mayor Chen Da. This Zhou Ming was really too audacious!

Huang Zheng stood up first and said, "Zhou Ming, you are slandering us! What evidence do you have to prove our corruption?"

Ma Jianjun also stood up and said, "That's right, Mayor Chen. We had some conflicts with Zhou Ming in the past, and his report is just a form of retaliation. Please investigate this clearly, Mayor Chen!"

"Indeed, an investigation is needed, but it's to investigate you!"

Zhou Ming then magically produced a document and said, "This is a promotional script prepared by the factory TV station, clearly stating that the total assets of the 760 Factory are valued at two million. This value, I don't need to say, is unbelievable to all the old employees here. The reason they want to promote this value is clear: first, they privately sold some of the factory's equipment, causing the loss of state assets; second, they plan to use this opportunity of the factory's restructuring to embezzle state assets!"

Zhou Ming's words were powerful, each word like a thunderbolt striking deep into the hearts of Ma Jianjun and Huang Zheng. Faced with Zhou Ming, they couldn't stop trembling, but they still tried to resist.

"No... that's not true. We did not embezzle state assets. This is just Zhou Ming's malicious speculation, and there is no solid evidence. We are innocent!" Huang Zheng shouted in despair.

Ma Jianjun said, "Mayor Chen, don't listen to his nonsense. Zhou Ming is a ruthless person. His family is not well-liked by the factory employees. They are lazy and always try to deceive others. After his father deceived the factory and his mother was fired for stealing, he has harbored a grudge. This is just an opportunity for him to retaliate against us and to disrupt the restructuring of the 760 Factory, tarnishing Mayor Chen's reputation!"

Zhou Ming's face darkened. He could tell that Huang Zheng was just making a last-ditch effort, but Ma Jianjun's words had a deeper meaning.

Zhou Ming, though not familiar with the political arena, understood the implications. He was just reminding Mayor Chen Da that Zhou Ming's actions were improper, and exposing the corruption in the factory would disrupt the city's unified plan for the restructuring of the 760 Factory. It would not only embarrass the factory employees but also the leaders of the county and city governments, and Mayor Chen Da himself.

If it were a normal situation, Ma Jianjun's words might have been ignored, but this time he had miscalculated. Chen Da would definitely stand by Zhou Ming.

Chen Da's face turned dark, and he slammed his hand on the table, shouting, "Enough!"

Then he turned to County Party Secretary Gu Ping and said, "Comrade Gu Ping, your county committee must thoroughly investigate this. Ma Jianjun and Huang Zheng must be immediately controlled."

Hearing this order from Chen Da, Ma Jianjun and Huang Zheng felt as if the sky had fallen. They knew that with the mayor's command, they were finished.

These two people slumped in their seats, their eyes filled with despair, muttering, "We are innocent, we are innocent."

Innocent? This is not over!

Zhou Ming's eyes were sharp like a sword. For Zhou Ming, if Ma Jianjun and Huang Zheng had only provoked him, he might have let them off. But they had bullied his parents and Su Han, defamed his father for deceiving the factory, and his mother for stealing, and even vandalized Su Han's small restaurant with red paint and defamatory slogans. This was something Zhou Ming could not tolerate.

I will make you lose everything!