Chapter 2101: The Trend Cannot Be Stopped

Near the cotton mill there is a medium-sized restaurant, with two potted iron trees placed at the entrance, which have grown very tall, their branches and leaves lush green and dripping, giving a feeling of vigorous vitality.

Above the door hangs a signboard, on which the four large characters "Workers' and Peasants' Restaurant" are written in bright red paint, the calligraphy vigorous and powerful, the lines smooth and natural, revealing a heroic spirit.

Although it cannot be confirmed whether these characters were written by a master, it is certain that the writer must have profound calligraphy skills and attainments.

However, compared to the scenery outside the restaurant, the interior decoration appears somewhat shabby. The terrazzo floor and white lime walls constitute the main decoration of the interior. Nevertheless, the celebrity gossip posters pasted on the walls add considerable color to the interior.

On the ceiling of the restaurant, ceiling-mounted fans are installed, continuously rotating overhead, producing a whooshing sound. At the same time, on the left and right sides, two hanging fluorescent tubes sway constantly under the breeze from the fans.

Timid people occasionally glance up at these swaying tubes, fearing they might suddenly fall and hit their heads.

Besides, apart from more than ten scattered tables, the restaurant also has several private rooms. At this time, it is the evening mealtime, but the interior is not fully occupied, yet about fifty to sixty percent full.

The waiters bustle between the tables, serving tea and water, taking orders and delivering dishes, busy and delighted. The kitchen echoes with the sounds of stir-frying and spatulas colliding, accompanied by the rich aroma of dishes wafting out, making mouths water.

This restaurant opened as early as seven or eight years ago, when the reform and opening-up policy was first proposed. Since then, its business has been booming.

However, in recent years, with the passage of time and the continual changes in the market environment, the cotton mill's benefits have shown a severe downward trend. This has led to workers' wages not only failing to increase, but even the originally due bonuses being cancelled.

Consequently, the restaurant's business has naturally suffered considerable impact. Nevertheless, this is after all a restaurant operating for over a decade; even if business has declined, it is relatively speaking still better than nearby restaurants.

A middle-aged man wearing the cotton mill's work uniform nimbly lifted the rear rack of his 28 bicycle, kicked his right foot inward to prop up the bike, then quickly entered the restaurant.

"Oh dear!"

The boss lady is in her late thirties, dressed very fashionably, her hair permed into big waves, exuding the aura of a mature married woman.

"Director Chu, it's been a while since you came, please come inside quickly."

"Has Director Chen arrived?"

Chu Hongjun glanced at the boss lady, then quickly shifted his gaze away, feeling a inner groan.

Damn, this woman, the more I look at her the more alluring she seems, I really don't know if Boss Yang can satisfy her.

"Here, here!" the boss lady smiled charmingly: "In private room number four."

"Arrange someone to come over and order dishes."

Chu Hongjun walked toward private room four; for this boss lady, anyone carrying a gun would stir some thoughts in him.

But having thoughts is one thing, no one really dares to act on them, not even Hu Daming, that dog bastard.

A restaurant that opened seven or eight years ago, during that period when east and west winds blew back and forth, this restaurant remained calm and tranquil.

Even someone with water in their brain could deduce that this unremarkable restaurant has a powerful background behind it.

As for exactly what that background is, nobody knows; someone once investigated it, but in the end it came to nothing.

Therefore, this boss lady, from her youth as a young daughter-in-law to her current status as a mature married woman, although some people may be envious, they all remain quite proper, at most making only harmless jokes.

The private rooms have no doors, only a half-height curtain hanging, printed with the four characters "Workers' and Peasants' Restaurant".

Chu Hongjun lifted the curtain and entered; inside sat a man, somewhat older, appearing nearly fifty, with white hair at both temples, yet broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, not looking like a man in his fifties at all.

"Old Chu, I've been waiting for you for almost half an hour, why did you only come now?"

Chu Hongjun plopped down, picked up the teapot and poured a cup of cool boiled water, tilted his neck back, and gulped it down in one go.

"I originally wanted to come out earlier, but I was blocked in the office by those little bastards below, all coming to me to inquire about Zhou Andong taking over as factory director."

Besides the main factory, the cotton mill has two branch factories; one branch is called Jingcheng Cotton Mill, and Chu Hongjun is the director of that branch. The other branch is called Qinghe Cotton Mill, and the man opposite named Chen Min is the director of that branch. The two have always had a good relationship, so they often meet for drinks. Of course, today is not merely for drinking.

At this moment, the boss lady personally brought over the menu: "Director Chu, Director Chen, please order."

Chen Min did not look at the menu: "Serve me stir-fried tripe, scallion-flavored beef, braised crucian carp, and finally a smashed cucumber dish."

The boss lady quickly noted it down: "What would you like to drink? White liquor or beer?"

Chen Min looked toward Chu Hongjun: "What are you drinking?"

"In this hot weather, I'll drink beer." Chu Hongjun said: "Just drink Yongchuang Tianya."

"Alright!" Chen Min said to the boss lady: "First bring us a case of Yongchuang Tianya, chilled."

"Okay!" The boss lady turned and left.

Chen Min took out a pack of Dafenmen and offered one to Chu Hongjun: "What is your opinion on Zhou Andong taking over as factory director?"

"To be honest, I am genuinely impressed by Zhou Andong." Chu Hongjun took a puff of his cigarette: "But even if Zhou Andong smoothly assumes the position of main factory director, wanting to carry out sweeping reforms will likely be very difficult."

Chen Min had a cigarette in his mouth, holding a lighter in his hand: "Difficulties will certainly exist, because some people do not want to change the status quo, nor do they want the cotton mill to be reformed."

As he said this, a click sounded, the lighter flicked out a flame, and Chen Min lowered his head to light his cigarette.

"Last year, the city wanted to perform surgery on our factory, but the resistance was too great, so the matter was shelved. This year, product sluggishness has worsened, inventory has piled up heavily, and losses are the sum of the previous two years.

If this continues, it will only take two or three years before the cotton mill collapses. Since the city cannot push reform, the higher authorities will naturally have to take over this matter.

After all, the cotton mill is of great significance to the state, and the higher authorities will absolutely not stand by and watch it collapse. Therefore, since the higher authorities have taken charge and invited Zhou Andong, this capable person, to serve as main factory director, no force can obstruct the steps of reform."

Chu Hongjun laughed and said: "I didn't expect you to have such great confidence."

"It's not that my confidence is great." Chen Min smoked, shaking his head: "It's the higher authorities' determination that is great; reform is an unstoppable trend, no one can block it."

Chu Hongjun stopped laughing, his expression becoming very solemn: "Do you really believe Zhou Andong has the ability to overthrow all those people?"

Chen Min looked at Chu Hongjun, also very solemnly saying: "You should carefully study Zhou Andong, see how he rose to power, how many people he sent to prison, and how many people he buried in graves."