[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-restarted-life-1992":3,"chapter-my-restarted-life-1992-my-restarted-life-1992-chapter-11":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Restarted Life: 1992",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2279561,4460,"Chapter 11: Old Ginger Is the Spiciest","my-restarted-life-1992-chapter-11",11,"\u003Cp>In the second-floor conference room, besides the old factory director Gao Qingkui, deputy director Zhang Deyou, and deputy director Qian Zhen in charge of logistics, there were more than a dozen department heads—all silently listening as Gu Bing spoke, some dismissive, some contemptuous, others staring at him as if he were a fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing grew more and more excited, feeling Zhou Andong’s words were utterly reasonable—if this succeeded, who the hell would dare look down on him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reform can still begin now—it’s not too late. Don’t wait until the disease has reached the bone marrow; by then, even immortals couldn’t save us…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing tapped the table: “I’ve said everything I needed to. Now it’s your turn—speak up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly turned eerie, utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Qingkui, Zhang Deyou, and Qian Zhen wore calm expressions, their thoughts unreadable. The others exchanged glances, their faces twisted with strange expressions, yet not a single one spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing frowned and glanced at Jian Qiu, head of the factory union, winking at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Qiu was the beautiful woman Gu Bing had met in the restroom; seeing him wink, she subtly rolled her eyes but still spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone here knows the factory’s situation. I truly don’t want to one day be pointed at by over a thousand workers, cursed as incompetent, idle, and wasting their livelihoods. So I believe reform is necessary—but we can’t act on a whim and gamble away the livelihoods of over a thousand workers. We must reform within limits. As Secretary Gu said, first test the waters with the eighty tons of liquor in inventory. If it fails, we can turn back easily, with minimal loss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked astonished, including Gao Qingkui, Zhang Deyou, and Qian Zhen—Jian Qiu had never participated in factory affairs or spoken at any meeting before. Yet now, on such a major issue as reform, she had spoken first—and in support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s eyes flicked between Jian Qiu and Gu Bing, silently thinking: these two were close in age, both unmarried, seemed well-matched—could there be something between them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing scanned the room: “No one speaks? Then no objections?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Secretary Gu!” said Liu Jian, head of the Finance Section. “Even limited reform isn’t trivial. And you’re asking for one hundred thousand yuan—this sum is no small matter for the factory now. If it fails, the money vanishes—who takes responsibility?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will!” Gu Bing stood, gripping the table with both hands, leaning forward. “If it truly fails and causes loss to the factory, I will resign in disgrace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jian fell silent, turning to the three giants: Gao Qingkui, Zhang Deyou, and Qian Zhen. But all three remained expressionless, offering no opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing turned to Gao Qingkui, his demeanor sharp and unyielding, his tone aggressive: “Old Director, aren’t you going to say anything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Qingkui picked up his steaming enamel teacup, took a sip: “I reserve my opinion.” Then he stood and walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I reserve my opinion too,” said Zhang Deyou, his face dark, rising and leaving the room. “Director!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Qingkui slowed his step; Zhang Deyou caught up. “Director, are you just letting him run wild like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Qingkui glanced sideways at Zhang Deyou: “What else should I do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Deyou tried to speak, but Gao Qingkui waved him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come to my office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Qingkui pushed open his office door; Zhang Deyou followed him in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think his so-called reform will succeed?” Gao Qingkui sipped his tea, then sank into the worn sofa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Deyou sat beside him and declared firmly: “No. No one will buy Six-Star liquor if he tries to sell it for dozens of yuan—it’s impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly,” Gao Qingkui smiled faintly. “I’m no longer involved in affairs, and you haven’t officially taken over yet. Gu Bing’s sudden push for reform? His real aim is power. But this reform of his? He’s digging his own grave. So we mustn’t stop him—we must secretly support him. We’re not afraid he’ll ask for too much; we’re afraid he won’t ask for anything. The more he demands, the heavier his responsibility becomes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Deyou smacked his thigh hard, excitedly saying: “You see through it all, sir. Old ginger really is the spiciest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Qingkui smiled, exuding calm confidence: “With deep family connections, young as he is, he’s already seated as factory Party secretary. Men like that usually center themselves, overestimate their abilities. When he falls, when he’s bruised and swollen, he’ll finally learn his true weight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Gao Qingkui and Zhang Deyou left, the meeting had no reason to continue. With Gu Bing declaring it adjourned, Liu Jian was the first out the door, heading straight for Zhang Deyou’s office—finding no one there, he knew he was with the old director.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Zhen, thin and frail, with white hair, looked older than even retired Gao Qingkui: “Secretary, how confident are you in this reform?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the conference room, only Gu Bing, Qian Zhen, and Jian Qiu remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing hadn’t expected Qian Zhen to stay: “If we don’t try, if we don’t walk the path, how can we know if it’s passable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Zhen thought for a moment, then said firmly: “No matter what, I will fully support you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing froze, then beamed, gripping Qian Zhen’s hand: “Old Qian, thank you for your support.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Zhen left. Though his body was slight, his back was straight, each step firm and powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Qian Zhen’s figure vanish at the door, Jian Qiu whispered: “Actually, Old Qian would make a better factory director—he’s the only one who truly carries the workers in his heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing nodded: “His support for me? He wants to find the workers a way out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Qiu suddenly turned to Gu Bing, smiling sweetly: “Come on—tell me, who convinced you to push for reform?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing blinked, feigning ignorance: “I’m a genius of unparalleled brilliance—who could possibly trick me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Qiu sneered: “Since childhood your IQ was half a pound short. Now that you’ve grown up, you’re even more underweight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing’s face darkened. He stood and walked out: “I’m not wasting time on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Qiu’s face broke into a small, pleased smile: “Your aunt’s back. Come over for dinner tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong was nearly asleep on the sofa when the office door opened—he opened his eyes to see Gu Bing enter, beaming with joy, and knew it had succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s done!” Gu Bing cried excitedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong sat up, energized: “Let’s discuss the details.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time flew by until the end-of-shift bell rang; Zhou Andong stretched: “There’s no time to remake the bottles—tomorrow, arrange for the labels on all eighty tons of liquor in inventory to be stripped off. I’ll give you the designs for front, back, and packaging tomorrow. If possible, contact the packaging factory tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing nodded: “No problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, only a 120 camera can shoot calendar photos—don’t mess that up. We’re short on time.” Zhou Andong picked up the Red Peony cigarette from his desk. “You smoke this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Bing grumbled: “What else am I supposed to smoke? Besides, this was once called ‘Little China’—you needed connections just to buy it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong pulled out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, then casually slipped the half-box into his own pocket: “That’s it. I’m leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1220,"2026-06-20T01:18:49.036Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ad46c4598a33b0e346998b835d7b24c10ff4501e32da136442dbd76f5e39d23b","my-restarted-life-1992-chapter-12","my-restarted-life-1992-chapter-10",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-restarted-life-1992-cover.jpg"]