Chapter 534: Deputy Factory Director Li must severely punish Shazhu

Everyone's gazes.

The gazes fell on Factory Director Yang's body.

The newly arrived deputy factory manager didn't know the relationship between Factory Director Yang and Shazhu, but these old-timers did.

How should this matter be handled?

It's not up to them.

It lies with Factory Director Yang.

Punishing Shazhu severely would give Factory Director Yang a name for repaying kindness with enmity, chilling his subordinates' hearts—how could he still command respect?

To Factory Director Yang, Shazhu is his lifesaver.

Not punishing Shazhu severely leaves the deputy factory manager unable to justify it.

Rumor has it this deputy factory manager has an extremely deep background, a match for the former Deputy Factory Manager Li who left earlier, and is even said to be a close relative of Deputy Factory Manager Li.

This matter is actually a power struggle between the deputy factory manager and Factory Director Yang; Shazhu happened to become the deputy factory manager's breakthrough in attacking Factory Director Yang.

When immortals fight, little ghosts suffer.

Everyone present is a sly old hand; naturally they won't touch either side's bad luck.

Nobody spoke.

It wasn't even their turn to speak.

The deputy factory manager directly asked Factory Director Yang, and the answer came from Factory Director Yang as well.

Factory Director Yang tapped the ash from his cigarette, then said to the deputy factory manager who was challenging him:

"Then, according to Deputy Factory Manager Li's opinion, how should we punish He Yuzhu?"

His tone gave no hint of being good or bad.

I thought the other party was smart, but they turned out to be a blockhead; even if they wanted to seize control of Yagangchang, they shouldn't, on the second day after parachuting into Yagangchang, raise a challenge at the safety production meeting against the top boss—if it were me, Factory Director Yang, I'd at least wait a day or two.

Too impatient.

As the old saying goes, haste makes waste—you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry.

Factory Director Yang doesn't believe the other party is unaware of Shazhu's relationship with him; given Deputy Factory Manager Li's connections, Bai Xu's nature, this deputy factory manager in front of him should know.

Knowing this yet still doing it, perhaps they're aiming for the higher-ups.

After all, Factory Director Yang bears the mark of the higher-ups.

Xiang Zhuang brandishes his sword.

His intent is aimed at Pei Gong.

One must take note.

"Speak freely; if it's right, we'll adopt it; if it's wrong, it doesn't matter—Deputy Factory Manager Li also counts as pioneering the 'feeling one's way across the river' approach."

The newly arrived deputy factory manager.

Surname Li.

Many wonder whether Yagangchang has gotten involved with a deputy factory manager surnamed Li—one left, another was removed, and now another has arrived.

Deputy Factory Manager Li seemed not to catch Factory Director Yang's meaning, glanced around at everyone present, and finally his gaze settled on Factory Director Yang.

He spoke: "Since Factory Director Yang wants me to state my position, I'll just say a few sentences; if I'm not eloquent, comrades, don't hold it against me."

"How could that be?"

"The He Yuzhu affair has severely tarnished our Yagangchang, causing tens of thousands of Yagangchang workers to lose face, destroying over a decade of our spiritual and cultural work in one fell swoop. My view: have the factory leadership lead an investigation team to look into the Bai Xu matter; those who should be imprisoned, imprisoned; those who should be executed, executed—no leniency for anyone involved, no matter how high their position, if they reach out."

A tone that rang like metal striking stone.

In the not-large meeting room, an inexplicably bleak atmosphere arose.

Many know that the 'someone' Deputy Factory Manager Li referred to in his words is actually Factory Director Yang.

He felt a bit panicked.

He couldn't afford to offend Factory Director Yang, nor could he afford to offend Deputy Factory Manager Li.

"What Deputy Factory Manager Li said makes sense; now many are discussing Bai Xu, and Bai Xu has indeed affected Yagangchang's reputation. There's a saying: 'If one's conduct is upright, one need not fear a crooked shadow.' As for what Bai Xu actually is, we shouldn't take hearsay as fact. Of course, since it concerns every Yagangchang worker's interests, anyone—even me—who makes a mistake must also accept education."

Factory Director Yang leaned back slightly in his chair.

He tilted his head back.

He glanced askance at Deputy Factory Manager Li.

Deputy Factory Manager Li disliked Factory Director Yang's contemptuous look, raised his eyebrows, and slammed the newspaper reporting Shazhu's many crimes onto the table.

People's gazes gathered on the newspaper.

The front-page headline of the Capital City Evening Post.

A line of black headline characters clearly entered everyone's view.

On the reform of Bai Xu Restaurant at Yagangchang, the waitstaff who serve dishes and pour water, wearing leather shoes, black pants, and white shirts—what on earth is this for?!

The subheading was even more outrageous, reading:

In the current era of equality, where ordinary people occupy the first-floor hall and nobles the second-floor private rooms, who gave Bai Xu Restaurant the courage to treat us, the masters of the house, differently?!

The date is this afternoon.

But the current time is 3:45 p. m.

The people present felt as if a huge stone blocked their hearts; they too had bought the Capital City Evening Post, but the newspaper usually reports yesterday's news or earlier, and it usually arrives at the newsstand around 4:30 p. m., going on sale around 6 p. m.

Quite obvious.

Deputy Factory Manager Li had obtained this evening paper, which was still in the mail carrier's hands on the way to suspend delivery, yet he got it early.

This alone shows the tremendous power behind Deputy Factory Manager Li.

A fleeting inscrutable glint passed through Factory Director Yang's eyes; he suddenly felt he had underestimated this deputy factory manager surnamed Li—this was clearly a show of force, using an evening paper to plainly display his background before everyone, compelling them to state their positions and pick sides.

He could also be considered a formidable rival.

Factory Director Yang picked up the tea cup in front of him, took a sip of tea, then put down the cup, and said a few words to Deputy Factory Director Li in a neutral tone.

"Deputy Factory Director Li really has some talent, actually managing to get hold of today's evening paper before it's even been seen by the newspaper sellers; I took a look and it seems there's a related report about Bai Xu, which is perfect because we're currently discussing Comrade He Yuzhu and Bai Xu's matter. Deputy Factory Director Li's meaning is to handle this strictly: just one newspaper, each person reads it individually, we need to see when to finish, everyone has work, so please Deputy Factory Director Li help us read it out; after reading, we'll discuss how to settle this matter, Deputy Factory Director Li, thank you for the trouble."

Factory Director Yang was above the four characters 'Deputy Factory Director Li'.

Factory Director Yang deliberately intensified his tone.

You go first.

I take the fifteenth.

You want to assert yourself using the evening paper, so I can only resort to overpowering you with authority.

Even if Deputy Factory Director Li is unwilling.

But there's nothing that can be done.

Who made it so he isn't the head of the steel mill? Moreover, Factory Director Yang's point is valid; if you hold a grudge, you can only blame Deputy Factory Director Li for taking just one evening paper—if he had taken ten or more copies, he probably wouldn't have ended up as the reader.

There was a moment of hesitation.

They picked up the newspaper in front of them and read out its contents one by one.

"Bai Xu Restaurant is a subsidiary side business of Red Star Steel Mill; the person in charge, He Yuzhu, was formerly the canteen head of the steel mill, and due to certain reasons worked as a warehouse keeper for ten years, and he has a good relationship with the current Factory Director Yang of the steel mill."

People's gazes involuntarily flicked toward Factory Director Yang.

This passage.

This implies that Factory Director Yang is abusing his power for personal gain, deliberately handing over Bai Xu's operating and management authority to He Yuzhu, which is irresponsible toward the steel mill.

But unexpectedly, Factory Director Yang's expression showed no concern at all; instead, he smiled at Deputy Factory Director Li.

"Everyone should be masters of their own house, but Bai Xu artificially discriminates against consumers: those dining on the first floor are lowly, while those eating in the second-floor private rooms are noble……black leather shoes, black trousers, white shirt, bow tie, necktie—is Bai Xu trying to bring back the scene of the old landlords enjoying their privileges, or is the enemy making a comeback, launching a new sugar-coated cannonball at us?"