Chapter 122: I Really Like Factory Director Zhou

Below, Liu Jian could no longer sit still; he glanced at Zhou Andong, then turned to Zhang Deyou and Gao Qingkui, seeing their expressionless faces, and leaned over to whisper to someone beside him.

“I’m going to the restroom—if the boss mentions anything important, tell me when I get back.”

The guy deliberately raised his voice so everyone could hear, then stood up and walked out.

Zhou Andong’s eyes narrowed slightly; at that moment, the Cultural Palace’s main gate opened, and a figure walked in. Though distant, the gait and height unmistakably belonged to Yao Army.

Zhou Andong smiled: “When I was a kid, I talked a lot in class, so whenever the teacher wrote on the blackboard and noise broke out behind, the teacher knew it was me—and without turning around, would shout, ‘Zhou Andong, get out!’”

Once, during class, while the teacher was writing on the blackboard, noise broke out again behind—and the teacher still didn’t turn around, just said: ‘Zhou Andong, get out!’

I was furious then—I pushed the door open from outside and shouted loudly: ‘Teacher, I’m standing outside!’”

Below, everyone burst into laughter. Zhou Andong continued: “How could the teacher possibly mistake me? He got angry too, saying: ‘It’s because of you, you damn troublemaker, that the class discipline is so bad!’ The classmates started calling me ‘troublemaker.’ Back then I was confused—why are you laughing? The teacher was yelling at me, so what’s so funny about all of you being the problem?”

A moment of silence followed, then another wave of laughter—though Gao Qingkui and Zhang Deyou’s faces turned grim. They’d often called Zhou Andong a “shit-stirring stick,” especially some from Quality Inspection, who now felt especially awkward.

Whether intentional or not, Zhou Andong’s veiled insult made many people deeply uncomfortable.

Zhou Andong smiled: “You’ve all worked a long day—you’re tired. I’ve said all this just to make you laugh, to lighten up.”

“Clap, clap, clap…”

Someone started clapping first; soon, applause filled the hall. They suddenly realized they actually liked this young factory director—especially some women, whose hands had turned red from clapping.

Zhou Andong wasn’t handsome, but he was funny, talented, capable—and now he was factory director. How could they not like him? As for Jian Qiu, they’d long since forgotten her.

“Alright!” Zhou Andong raised his hand, pressing down: “We’ve laughed, we’ve had fun—now let’s get to business.”

Zhou Andong handed the microphone to Gu Bing: “I handle the atmosphere—real business is up to Secretary Gu.”

Gu Bing took the mic: “The city has given us two reform plans. The first is to sell twenty percent of the enterprise’s full ownership to employees, while the city retains controlling stakes. The second is to sell all assets to employees, with the city contributing land as equity.”

To be honest, neither I nor Factory Director Zhou are satisfied—but we know these two plans represent the city’s maximum sincerity. So after discussion, we’ve chosen the second plan.

The total valuation of the main factory and the county liquor plant is 32 million. The land is valued at 6.4 million; the city holds twenty percent, Factory Director Zhou holds twelve percent. The remaining sixty-eight percent—21.76 million shares—will be distributed to you.”

These 21.76 million shares are priced at one yuan per share. Everyone must buy at least five hundred shares; no upper limit. I must emphasize: we absolutely cannot absorb all 21.76 million shares. So I urge you all to raise as much money as you can—buy as many as you can. This opportunity will never come again. The leftover shares will be allocated to employees of the Jinli County Liquor Plant.”

At this moment, Liu Jian was sprinting into the factory office, panting as he rushed upstairs to the Finance Department, saw the door locked, and let out a long breath.

Afraid of returning late and arousing suspicion, he opened the door, glanced inside, saw nothing unusual, locked it again, and left.

When he returned, the meeting was nearing its end. Zhou Andong took the microphone from Gu Bing: “We’ve kept you past quitting time—you must all be hungry. Finally, I’ll stress again: if you can afford it, buy as many shares as you can. Of course, if you have no confidence in our liquor plant’s future, no pressure. Buying and selling is voluntary, right?”

“Right!” The crowd shouted, the atmosphere suddenly electric with excitement.

Zhou Andong held up two fingers: “I’m giving you two days to raise money. On the first, to avoid disrupting work, we’ll meet here after work. Bring your cash, buy shares, sign contracts. Then you’ll truly become owners of the liquor plant. Let’s work together to turn this factory into an aircraft carrier—cutting through wind and waves—until our Jiangzhou Imperial Liquor becomes the nation’s top brand.”

Zhou Andong’s words ignited a fire in the workers’ hearts; they applauded again, thrilled. With back pay for over two years plus the past two months’ wages and bonuses, everyone had two or three thousand yuan—buying one or two thousand shares was effortless.

“Alright!” Zhou Andong said: “Meeting adjourned!”

Workers filed out orderly—some chatting loudly, others whispering, some walking in deep thought—all without exception, calculating how many shares they’d buy.

Gao Qingkui and Zhang Deyou also stood and left. There was no need to keep up the act anymore. Besides, Zhou Andong’s speech had been loaded with barbs and veiled insults—grossing them out. They had no stomach left for pretending with him.

Yao Army walked over. Zhou Andong asked: “How was it?”

Yao Army nodded: “Smooth.”

Zhou Andong stood: “Let’s go eat. Now we wait patiently.”

Night fell. Two shadows scaled the wall at the northeast corner of the liquor plant—between the grain warehouse and the distillation workshop—and slipped inside, then ran along the wall toward the office building.

The two crept furtively, peering around the office building’s entrance. Seeing no one, they went upstairs, checked each office one by one, and finally spotted the sign for the Finance Department. They unlocked the door with a key, slipped inside, and vanished.

In a private room of a restaurant, Gao Qingkui, Zhang Deyou, Liu Jian, Qu Hongqi, Chang Tai, along with Quality Inspection Head Zhao Donghai, Technology Head Hou Guizhong, and Equipment Head Xu Hui—all were present.

The table was piled high with dishes, but no one could eat. Each held a cigarette, puffing one after another. The room was small, thick with smoke.

Xu Hui’s face was pale; his hand holding the cigarette trembled, betraying his fear and unease.

“Liu… Liu Ke!” Xu Hui couldn’t bear the tension any longer and broke the silence: “Will this turn into something serious?”

Liu Jian was nervous too, but his mental resilience was far stronger than Xu Hui’s: “What serious thing could happen? The office building is far from the workshops.”

Zhang Deyou scanned the room: “Stay calm. Once we get through tonight, tomorrow lies before us—a path to heaven.”