Chapter 117

Zhou Andong took a deep breath and reluctantly agreed for now, planning to decide later.

At that moment, Zuo Peiming said, “You decide the reshuffling of the factory’s leadership team— who rises, who falls. Give me a list, and the city will convene a meeting to make the final decision.”

Since refusal was impossible, Zhou Andong accepted it and immediately stepped into his role: “What about the city’s reform plan?”

Zuo Peiming pulled a document from his briefcase and handed it to Zhou Andong: “The city has two reform proposals. Study them.”

Zhou Andong took it: “Not urgent. Wait until after the leadership reshuffle, then let the new team convene and decide.”

“Good!” Zuo Peiming nodded. “Our task is done. You carry on with your meeting.”

Tong Huaiyu let out a cold laugh: “Factory director, twelve percent management shares— not bad, not bad. Looks like Cheng Dadan really likes you. But so what? You stole my woman, blocked my path— your fate is already sealed.”

The big shots left; Tong Huaiyu slipped away quietly. Zhou Andong sat squarely in the center behind the desk. Gu Bing and Qian Zhen also sat down. All eyes turned sharply to Gao Qingkui and Zhang Deyou.

The two stood like wooden stakes, utterly defeated in this struggle— they’d lost everything, even their dignity. Now, standing on stage under the gaze of over a thousand people, they finally understood what it meant to feel thorns prick their backs.

Staying meant further humiliation. They took deep breaths, turned, and descended the stage, exiting through the back door.

“Heh… heh… heh…”

Zhou Andong held the microphone and chuckled smugly: “Yao Jun, where are you?”

“Here!” Yao Jun shouted excitedly, running over. “Dong… Factory Director.”

Zhou Andong smiled: “Who cursed me? Who told me to get out of the brewery? Did you remember?”

Yao Jun chuckled too: “Remembered.”

“Good!”

Zhou Andong scanned the crowd. Some with guilty consciences lowered their heads. Especially Qu Hongqi and his group— they were terrified. They wanted to leave, but lacked the courage.

The brewery’s sky had changed. The Zhou Andong era had arrived. Where would they go now? They had no idea. A few who hadn’t joined the corruption felt relieved; those who had sided against Zhou Andong and sought to destroy him felt despair.

“Fuck!” Chen Lao’ai cursed. “Zhou Andong, what’s so great about being factory director? I was the one who yelled at you. What are you gonna do about it?”

“Exactly!” Ding Liuhex chimed in. “When I’m in a good mood, I call you Factory Director. When I’m not? You’re a piece of shit.”

Meng Xiao sneered: “Thinks he’s someone important. Gao Qingkui and Zhang Deyou wouldn’t dare touch me. You’re really asking for trouble.”

Seeing someone take the lead, the guilty ones gained courage. But they wisely stayed silent, watching quietly.

Zhou Andong let out a sharp laugh: “Chen Lao’ai, Ding Liuhex, Meng Xiao— you’re all fired.”

“You dare, Zhou Andong!” Chen Lao’ai roared, charging toward the stage.

Meng Xiao and Ding Liuhex followed behind him, cursing as they ran.

At the foot of the stage, Chen Lao’ai pointed at Zhou Andong: “Fuck your mother, Zhou Andong! Say that again if you’ve got balls.”

“Fine!” Zhou Andong said. “Since you didn’t hear clearly, I’ll say it again. Chen Lao’ai, Meng Xiao, Ding Liuhex— you’re all fired.”

The three froze. Even Gao Qingkui and Zhang Deyou gave them respect. They hadn’t expected Zhou Andong to truly dare it— they were stunned.

Zhou Andong snorted coldly: “Still didn’t hear? Shall I say it again?”

The three snapped back. Meng Xiao sneered: “Just became factory director, don’t know the rules yet? Let me teach you.”

“Bang!” Zhou Andong slammed his palm hard on the desk. It didn’t scare Meng Xiao and the others, but it startled Gu Bing and Qian Zhen beside him.

“I’m the factory director now. On this patch of land, I am the rule.”

Chen Lao’ai glared fiercely at Zhou Andong: “I’ll kill you.”

“Fine!” Zhou Andong stood up. “If you’ve got guts, carry me out.”

“Fuck you!” More than a dozen men from Workshop Two slipped forward. Wu Cheng led them, kicking Chen Lao’ai hard in the lower back. “Think you’re tough? Want to kill Dong Ge? I’ll kill you first.”

“And you two— get down.”

Before Meng Xiao and Ding Liuhex could react, two feet kicked them simultaneously to the ground. Then over a dozen men surrounded them, raining fists and kicks.

Screams followed one after another. Inside the hall, only their cries echoed. The guilty ones once again played ostriches, burying their heads in their arms, silently praying they wouldn’t be spotted by Zhou Andong’s people.

“Stop beating them!”

“Don’t hit anymore! We submit!”

“We submit! Stop! We submit!”

“Enough!” Zhou Andong waved his hand. Wu Cheng and the others stopped.

The three lay bruised and swollen, struggling to rise. Their eyes burned with hatred as they stared at Zhou Andong.

Zhou Andong said coldly: “Let me be clear: you three are the chickens I’m killing to scare the monkeys. If you’re dissatisfied, come find me anytime. Now, vanish from my sight—immediately.”

The three didn’t hesitate. They turned and left. A true man doesn’t suffer present humiliation— revenge can wait.

Watching the three trash flee, Zhou Andong smiled. He picked up the microphone again and paced slowly across the stage.

“I’ve never been a forgiving man. Grudges are repaid. Enemies are crushed. But those who treat me well— I’ll remember them too.”

“You…” Zhou Andong pointed at the crowd below, “I can give you everything you want… or take everything away.”

Zhou Andong knew his weakness: he was young, had never led before, and had been promoted straight from worker to factory director. Many would resent him.

The cadres didn’t matter— he’d replace them anyway. But if the workers resisted discipline, trouble would be immense. So he had to seize this chance to establish authority— make them fear him. Otherwise, if the workers revolted, the situation would spiral beyond control.

Zuo Peiming’s order to restructure the leadership team was meant to help him build his own authority, install his own people, so that top and bottom could act as one, pushing the enterprise further and higher. Otherwise, with everyone divided, scheming for their own interests, the company would never succeed.