Chapter 2342: Wu Hongkang Resigns

Wu Hongkang rolled his eyes at Zhou Andong and said slowly, "After receiving the task, we discovered that the real difficulty lay in the secret recipe for brewing Erguotou. At that time, there were twelve liquor workshops, and each workshop's secret recipe was different, so everyone argued endlessly about it.

Just when we were in a stalemate, Ms. Wang Qiufang, one of the group members, stood up. She was a legend in the brewing world and the seventh-generation inheritor of Erguotou. Under her leadership, they began to research and innovate the original brewing process of Erguotou.

For four consecutive months, they fought day and night. Finally, hard work paid off. On the eve of the founding of New China, the first batch of Erguotou liquor flowed slowly through the factory's pipes into the storage tanks."

Wu Hongkang's tone was full of emotion. "This first batch of Erguotou liquor totaled only 20.5 tons. Don't underestimate this mere 20.5 tons; it is the essence of our country's Erguotou brewing technique and the condensation of the hard work of those old-time master brewers. It not only carries a brilliant history but also opened a new chapter for Erguotou liquor!"

Wu Hongkang picked up a piece of watermelon, opened his mouth wide, and took a big bite. Then, while chewing the watermelon, he said vaguely, "Back in the day, Hongxing Liquor Factory was established with the great ideal of benefiting the people. Therefore, the state stipulated from the beginning that the selling price of Hongxing Erguotou liquor must never be set too high."

Wu Hongkang swallowed the watermelon in his mouth and continued, "For more than forty years, Hongxing Liquor Factory has consistently adhered to this promise, with both large and small bottles being affordable and high-quality. Moreover, the green bottle body has become an eternal classic in the hearts of old Beijingers. Seeing it reminds them of the taste of our old Beijing!"

Zhou Andong listened to Wu Hongkang's narration and couldn't help but feel envious. Then he picked up a bottle of Erguotou and examined it carefully. The bottle's color was dark brown, somewhat similar to common beer bottles, and he sighed inwardly.

Although Hongxing Liquor Factory had only been established for a few decades, as the commemorative liquor for the founding ceremony, this was its foundation, not at all inferior to those so-called liquor factories with hundreds of years of history!

Zhou Andong held up the bottle and looked at it carefully against the light: "If this bottle didn't have a trademark on it, I would really think it was beer!"

Wu Hongkang laughed: "There was no other way. At that time, there were no white bottles, and they couldn't be produced, so we could only use this kind of brown one. It does look like a beer bottle."

Wu Hongkang also picked up a bottle of liquor, his movements gentle and cautious, just like looking at his most beloved treasure, a proud smile on his face: "Yes, the grand ceremony banquet consumed quite a lot. Later, another batch was sent to the leaders. Up to now, the stock of this commemorative liquor is less than three tons."

Zhou Andong's gaze turned to Wu Hongkang, and he asked with a face full of suspicion: "This commemorative liquor can be said to be the treasure of your Hongxing factory. Now that the stock is so small, even if you are the factory director, I'm afraid it's not so easy to just take it out casually, right?"

Wu Hongkang smiled slightly, picked up his glass, took a small sip, then put it down, looked at Zhou Andong, and said slowly: "This is exactly the reason why I asked you to come today."

Hearing Wu Hongkang's words, Zhou Andong looked around sneakily, then carefully leaned his upper body forward, his face showing a nervous expression, and lowered his voice to Wu Hongkang.

"This liquor... you didn't steal it, did you?"

"Pfft!"

Liu Lijuan, who was eating, laughed out loud. Fortunately, she had swallowed what was in her mouth, otherwise, she would have definitely sprayed it out. And this also gave her a new understanding of Zhou Andong; it turned out that the "decisive" factory director also had such a cute side.

"Can we still have a proper conversation?" Wu Hongkang glared at Zhou Andong in annoyance: "You won't have any friends if you chat like this."

Zhou Andong laughed, grabbed a handful of pistachios, leaned back, and said leisurely: "The matter of you being reported has been resolved, right?"

Wu Hongkang was stunned, then said: "Then tell me, how did I resolve it?"

"Does this even need thinking?" Zhou Andong peeled a pistachio and threw it into his mouth, chewing it crunchily: "You've already decided to buy the BYD shares, right? And, looking at your glowing face, either you've already resolved your opponent, or you've completely abandoned the identity of factory director."

Wu Hongkang said noncommittally: "I'm glowing, can't it be because I've been drinking?"

"Alright!" Zhou Andong curled his lip and said: "It's not like we've only known each other for a day or two, so stop talking this nonsense to me."

Wu Hongkang shook his head helplessly. He sighed and said: "I submitted my resignation letter today. Factory Director Qin of the Light Industry Bureau talked to me for over an hour, asking me who would be suitable to succeed as factory director. I didn't recommend anyone, but I vetoed Jiang Jingming."

Saying this, Wu Hongkang sneered: "Jiang Jingming dreams of being factory director. Since that's the case, let him live in his dreams forever."

Liu Lijuan looked at Wu Hongkang in disbelief. She would never have thought that Wu Hongkang had actually resigned from his position as factory director of Hongxing Liquor Factory. Not to mention the reason, just this kind of courage was not something an ordinary person could have. Anyway, if it were her, no matter what kind of predicament she encountered, she would definitely not have the courage to resign.

Zhou Andong asked: "You resigned, and the leaders of the Light Industry Bureau agreed so easily?"

Wu Hongkang shook his head slowly: "No, during the conversation with Director Qin, he kept trying to persuade me earnestly, but my mind was made up. After all, I had already decided to buy BYD shares, so continuing to stay as factory director of Hongxing Liquor Factory seemed a bit inappropriate.

More importantly, if one day BYD becomes profitable while I am still sitting in the position of factory director of Hongxing Liquor Factory, then the BYD shares in my hands would become a huge hidden danger, not knowing when, like an exploded bomb, it would bring me endless trouble."

"Indeed!" Zhou Andong nodded and continued, "If BYD remains in a state of loss, your holding of these shares naturally won't be a problem.

However, once BYD starts to become profitable, the situation will be completely different. By then, some people with ulterior motives will definitely take advantage of the situation and make a big deal out of it. They won't care that you were forced to take out a loan to buy these shares; they will only see that BYD is profitable while the shares are in your hands. As a result, they will spare no effort to splash dirty water on you, slandering you for using your position to embezzle state assets."

Wu Hongkang sighed helplessly: "If Director Qin could always be in the Light Industry Bureau, I wouldn't be so worried. But the problem is, he can't stay in the Light Industry Bureau for his whole life.

Once he is transferred from this position, those with ulterior motives will definitely seize the BYD shares in my hands to make a big deal out of it. By then, there will definitely be some people in the Light Industry Bureau who are jealous."

Zhou Andong threw the pistachio shells in his hand onto the table and picked up his glass, taking a small sip: "Even if you are no longer the factory director, you must let the Light Industry Bureau endorse you.

When signing the contract, you must let the leaders of the Light Industry Bureau sign it personally. Only in this way, even if someone is jealous of the shares in your hands in the future and covets them, they will definitely not dare to easily use this matter to find trouble for you."

"I thought so too." Wu Hongkang said with a smile: "Today, when I submitted my resignation letter, I made this request to Director Qin. Previously, I had already taken out a loan to buy the shares of 'Yongchuang Tianya', and this time I took out a loan to buy the BYD shares.

I invested two million in BYD, and I took out a loan of two million, buying them at the original price without missing a cent. Director Qin said it could be cheaper, but I didn't agree. We can't take advantage of the state, right?"

Zhou Andong curled his lip, threw the shelled pistachio into his mouth, and bit it with a crunch: "Alright, we know each other well enough, so stop saying these high-sounding words."

Wu Hongkang laughed: "Director Qin was very moved when he saw me so determined, so he agreed to my request; he wants to endorse me personally."

"Qin Haimin is still very responsible." Zhou Andong sat up straight, spat out the fruit shells in his mouth: "With him endorsing you, no one will dare to make a big deal out of the BYD shares to find trouble for you in the future."

Wu Hongkang took a cigarette out of his pocket, threw one to Zhou Andong, and then lit one for himself: "I've already called the 'Boatman'. He's coming back this Sunday, and we'll sign the contract on Monday."

"Okay!" Zhou Andong took out his lighter, lowered his head slightly to light the cigarette, and then looked at the commemorative liquor on the table: "What's the deal with this liquor?"

Wu Hongkang took a puff of his cigarette: "I resigned and took out a loan to buy the loss-making 'Yongchuang Tianya' and BYD. Director Qin asked me if I had any other requests, and he would try his best to resolve them for me. I said I had worked in Hongxing for my whole life and couldn't bear to leave, but there was no other way, so I asked for a box of commemorative liquor as a souvenir."

Zhou Andong laughed heartily: "Qin Haimin just agreed like that?"

"Yeah!" Wu Hongkang grinned: "I spent so much money to buy the loss-making 'Yongchuang Tianya' and BYD shares, avoiding losses for the state. How could he not agree to this small request?"

Zhou Andong could imagine what Qin Haimin's mood would be like when 'Yongchuang Tianya' and BYD became profitable.

Twenty years later, when BYD becomes a giant automobile enterprise, what would Qin Haimin's mood be like then?

"Zhou Dongzi, didn't you go to be the factory director of the Woolen Mill? Your status is different now, so why do you keep running here? Isn't it a bad influence?"

A voice came from behind. Zhou Andong didn't need to turn his head; he knew with his toes that it was that idiot Zhang Zuo.

"Yo!" Zhou Andong looked at Zhang Zuo, who had come to his side, with a smile: "Isn't this Big Brother Dazuo? Long time no see. Come, come, please sit down, let your little brother toast you." ===== CHAPTER 2343 =====