Chapter 340: The Power Behind Pan Ruoyun

Chen Yang heard that Wu Junhui insisted on taking charge of the reform work at Xingcheng Food Ltd., and he was actually quite happy inside.

He spent a fortune to snatch Zhao Songtao from Wu Junhui's hands, aiming to expand the production scale of Ordinary People's Meat Industry Ltd., not to make a wedding dress for Xingcheng Food Ltd.

Liu Jianghua's choice seemed to let Wu Junhui take the peach. So Chen Yang still kept an eye out. As for the reform work at Provincial Automobile Manufacturing, aside from suggesting a shift to develop electric vehicles, he had no immediate plans for new action.

Because Chen Yang knew that since Liu Jianghua intended to let Wu Junhui take over the reform work at Provincial Automobile Manufacturing, if the latter failed in the reform at Xingcheng Food Ltd., he would likely be sent to Provincial Automobile Manufacturing to redeem himself through merit.

Chen Yang's participation in the Provincial State-owned Enterprise Reform Group was originally a passive invitation; he didn't care about results. Even if other members took the peach, he wouldn't mind. But this person absolutely cannot be Wu Junhui.

He didn't know when he had started offending Wu Junhui, but he could clearly sense the unfriendly signals the other party was emitting.

So, before the issue at Qingshui City Feed Factory was thoroughly resolved, Chen Yang decided to slack off for a while in the Reform Group's office.

His passive behavior was soon noticed by Huo Yunyan of the State-owned Assets Commission.

"Chen Yang, you've been off these two days—do you have any ideas about the Provincial Governor wanting to change your work assignment?"

"No!" Chen Yang shook his head to deny: "Director Huo, you're overthinking it."

Huo Yunyan asked Chen Yang: "When will your company's investment funds be in place?"

Chen Yang explained: "The funds are still in the application process; you also know that the procedure for Hong Kong capital entering the mainland is a bit complicated."

Huo Yunyan said to Chen Yang with a serious expression: "If you've already submitted the application, the province can liaise with the Ministry of Commerce to try to speed up the approval process."

"Director Huo, isn't this not urgent? The reform plan for Provincial Automobile Manufacturing hasn't been fully implemented yet, and the person in charge isn't even decided. Once the preparations are done, then we can talk about investment—I think that would be steadier."

Huo Yunyan didn't believe Chen Yang's explanation at all, but his serious expression made her laugh despite herself. "Chen Yang, I can see you're just worried about Wu Junhui taking the peach, so you're deliberately slacking off."

Chen Yang hadn't expected his disguise to be so good, yet Huo Yunyan still saw through his thoughts. He wasn't flustered, still putting on a serious front as he said: "Director Huo, saying that doesn't fear damaging unity. Chairman Wu is an expert in mechanical engineering; letting him take over the reform work at Provincial Automobile Manufacturing is naturally the most suitable choice. How could I have any objections?"

Huo Yunyan sighed and said: "Xingcheng Heavy Industry is a listed company; as long as investor confidence stays steady, even short-term losses can be weathered. Provincial Automobile Manufacturing has major problems in both production technology and management system—applying the listed company's approach to govern them might not work at all."

Chen Yang naturally understood the meaning behind Huo Yunyan's words. Without strong financial support, even if Wu Junhui took over, he might not be able to change the fate of Provincial Automobile Manufacturing.

But Chen Yang isn't a worm in Liu Jianghua's stomach, so he can't guess his thoughts. If he helps Pan Ruoyun finish the preliminary work, only for her to suddenly let Wu Junhui take over the follow‑up work, wouldn't that make him a total sucker?

Given Chen Yang's grudge against Wu Junhui, whether that hundred‑million investment can be recovered is itself a question.

"Director Huo, I still have confidence in the reform of Provincial Automobile Manufacturing. But for such a large enterprise, the risk of a hasty transformation is quite high. Before the preliminary preparations are done, it's better to be steady. You can't eat hot tofu in a hurry."

Huo Yunyan saw Chen Yang still hesitating and didn't want to press further. After all, the reform of Provincial Automobile Manufacturing is the most complicated and also the most important part of the reform group's first‑phase plan, and absolutely no mistakes can be allowed.

"Chen Yang, since you have concerns, for now just handle the reform work at Qingshui City Feed Factory. If Comrade Pan Ruoyun needs your help anywhere, please cooperate sincerely." Huo Yunyan said this, then suddenly lowered her voice: "Xiao Pan is Mayor Qian's prospective daughter‑in‑law—don't take your anger out on her."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang couldn't help but wryly smile. No wonder Pan Ruoyun dared to take on the hot potato of Provincial Automobile Manufacturing—turns out the Mayor of Xingcheng is backing her from behind!

"Director Huo, since Comrade Pan is Mayor Qian's prospective daughter‑in‑law, why not let the Xingcheng Municipal Government step in directly to settle the Provincial Automobile Manufacturing matter?"

Huo Yunyan gave Chen Yang a look and said bluntly: "The Xingcheng Municipal Government isn't Mayor Qian's backyard where you can do whatever you want. Besides, the problems of Provincial Automobile Manufacturing are historical legacies; without a suitable reform plan, even if the Xingcheng Municipal Government lends support, at best it would only delay the demise by a few years—it can't solve the root cause."

Chen Yang didn't accept Huo Yunyan's viewpoint. A mayor of a provincial capital only needs to make a casual greeting, and plenty of businessmen will come to invest in Provincial Automobile Manufacturing. Once the funding issue is solved, everything else ceases to be a problem.

What puzzled him was that if Huo Yunyan knew Pan Ruoyun's identity, other figures in Xingcheng's political‑business circles surely couldn't be unaware. So why hasn't anyone stepped forward to support her work?

After finishing the talk with Huo Yunyan, Chen Yang called Yexin and asked her to investigate Pan Ruoyun's standing in the Qian family's eyes.

If everyone in Mayor Qian's household likes Pan Ruoyun, then he'll have to treat her like an ancestor from now on—offering reverence. Even if he can't offer constructive opinions, at least he must avoid making her angry.

Yexin's efficiency was high; she called back fifteen minutes later. "You little brat, Pan Ruoyun is eighty‑nine percent sure to become Mayor Qian's daughter‑in‑law. If your Hong Kong funds are inconvenient to invest directly, you can draw money from Xinghui Financial Investment Company instead."

Upon hearing that Yexin was willing to use Xinghui Financial Investment Company's funds, Chen Yang's mood suddenly brightened. With Yexin stepping in, even if Wu Junhui took over midway, they wouldn't dare lightly harm Xinghui Financial Investment Company's interests.

"Sister Xin, then let's use the company's money to invest in Provincial Automobile Manufacturing!"

"All right, I'll have my younger sister‑in‑law go inspect Provincial Automobile Manufacturing right away. Remember to let Pan Ruoyun know about this."

"Okay!"

After hanging up the phone, Chen Yang immediately found Pan Ruoyun and told her that Xinghui Financial Investment Company was preparing to invest in Provincial Automobile Manufacturing. She was very happy and immediately drove to Provincial Automobile Manufacturing to take on the reception work.

This way, Chen Yang's work in the Reform Group became simple. Aside from the reform work at Qingshui City Feed Factory, he basically had nothing to do.

Thus, Chen Yang asked Liu Jianghua for leave and returned early to Qingshui City.