Chapter 2667: Serving as Director of the State-owned Assets Office

"Pa pa pa..."

As the Mercedes-Benz pulled up in front of the office building and disappeared from sight, less than three minutes later, the office door was knocked on.

Wang Jianmin shouted without turning around: "Come in!"

The office door was gently pushed open, and Secretary Kong Xiao entered: "Mayor, Factory Director Zhou of the woolen mill has arrived."

"Let him in." Wang Jianmin slowly turned around, walked to his desk, first pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray, then sat down.

Soon, Zhou Andong walked in holding documents: "Leader, long time no see. You still look as vigorous and spirited as ever—truly commendable."

Wang Jianmin, who had been in a good mood, heard Zhou Andong's words and his good mood vanished instantly: "I'm only fifty-one this year—am I really that old?"

"Ah?" Zhou Andong wore a look of 'shock': "You became deputy mayor of the capital at fifty-one—truly young and promising."

Wang Jianmin's face darkened with black lines. Being a fifty-one-year-old deputy department-level official is indeed young and capable, but hearing it from Zhou Andong's mouth made it sound awkward no matter how he listened.

"Hmph!" Wang Jianmin snorted coldly: "I may be a fifty-one-year-old deputy department-level official who's young and capable, but I still can't compare to you, a twenty-eight-year-old bureau-level official who's young and capable."

"That's not the same." Zhou Andong shook his head: "My bureau-level position is nominal. Others, as city mayors, govern millions of people, while I only oversee thirty or forty thousand in the factory—there's a huge difference."

Wang Jianmin snorted: "Since you look down on your limited authority, I'll give you more power. Shi Guoqiang has been placed under double regulation, leaving the position of director of the Municipal State-owned Assets Office vacant—so you'll serve in that role concurrently."

Zhou Andong was stunned, then shook his head like a rattle drum: "Leader, don't joke with me. Letting me be a factory manager is fine, but making me director of the State-owned Assets Office? I don't have that capability. Besides, if you let me serve concurrently as director of the State-owned Assets Office, where do you put Secretary Gu of our factory?"

Wang Jianmin said with a smile: "Having you serve concurrently as director of the State-owned Assets Office is a decision jointly discussed by the Party secretary, the mayor, and me, and has been considered from multiple angles. We still recognize Comrade Gu Bing's abilities, but his seniority is too shallow—serving as director of the State-owned Assets Office would make it hard to convince others."

Zhou Andong disagreed: "Comrade Gu Bing is older than me. At the Jiangzhou Woolen Mill, he already served as Party branch secretary, while I was still an ordinary worker. If Comrade Gu Bing lacks seniority, then I'm even less qualified."

"Not the same!" Wang Jianmin shook his head: "Given your current reputation and business achievements, no matter who it is or how senior their background, in front of you they wouldn't dare to act up—nor would they have the guts to do so."

There was one thing Wang Jianmin didn't say: since Zhou Andong became factory director of the woolen mill, he has been plotting strategies and winning victories everywhere. The original leadership of the woolen mill was nearly wiped out—just short of being completely swept away. Even Shi Guoqiang and Hu Dajun were toppled, with no remaining strength to resist.

Moreover, Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary Sun Baocun also got entangled in the woolen mill affair due to Zhou Andong's actions, now suffering constant troubles—if he falls this time, he may never get up again.

No one knows who gave Zhou Andong the nickname "Living Yama," but it has already spread. Therefore, letting Zhou Andong serve concurrently as director of the State-owned Assets Office is the best choice. As long as his mind hasn't been kicked by a donkey or caught in a door, he certainly wouldn't dare to act up in front of Zhou Andong.

More importantly, in terms of experience in state-owned enterprise reform and business ability, no second person can be found domestically. As long as Zhou Andong serves as director of the State-owned Assets Office, all state-owned enterprise reform tasks in the capital will have to be carried out by him.

How could Zhou Andong possibly not know what these old-timers are planning? They just want to use him as free labor, to make him work like an ox or horse—this idea shouldn't even be entertained.

You should know: the capital's state-owned enterprises, including large and medium-sized enterprises, small supporting factories, and light industry system enterprises, total about two thousand or more. And this doesn't even include commercial, transportation, financial, and agricultural reclamation non-industrial state-owned enterprises. If all were included, the total would exceed three thousand.

If he were just a nominal office-holder, it wouldn't matter. Don't say three thousand or more—even if it were thirty thousand, what difference would it make? You want to reform and transform—just draft a regulation, and I'll approve it when the time comes.

But I, Zhou Andong, am not a nominal office-holder. If I were to become director of the State-owned Assets Office, overseeing thousands of state-owned enterprises, even if only one-tenth needed reform or transformation, I couldn't bear the burden.

I'd probably have to calculate sleep in minutes, exhaust my energy, and die young. I've married such a beautiful wife, earned so much money, and haven't even enjoyed enough yet—I wouldn't do such a thing.

"No way—should I just abandon my own business?" Zhou Andong shook his head: "My energy is limited. Even managing one woolen mill leaves me stretched thin. Now you want me to also serve as director of the State-owned Assets Office—do you still expect me to survive?"

Wang Jianmin refused to give up: "You don't need to decide now. Go back, think about it for a few days, then reply to me."

"A few days is too short." Zhou Andong said seriously: "This is such a major matter—let me consider it for a few years. Obviously, let Comrade Gu Bing serve concurrently for now. After a few years, when I've made up my mind, I'll remove Comrade Gu Bing."

Wang Jianmin's face darkened again: "Can't you at least discuss this properly?"

Zhou Andong said, like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water: "It was you, old man, who first started joking with me."

Wang Jianmin was so angry his temples ached. After living forty or fifty years, this was the first time he'd encountered someone refusing an official position: "Have you really decided?"

"Decided!" Zhou Andong said with unusual firmness: "Let this directorship go to Comrade Gu Bing."

Wang Jianmin sighed: "Comrade Gu Bing is not suitable."

"No!" Zhou Andong said: "Comrade Gu Bing is very suitable, and there's no one more suitable than him."

Wang Jianmin perked up immediately: "Say your reasons—if they're sufficient, I'll report them to the mayor."

Zhou Andong organized his words: "In the reform of the woolen mill, establishing a shareholding company, as factory director, I will certainly serve as chairman and deputy party secretary.

This would make Comrade Gu Bing's position as party secretary somewhat awkward. Therefore, letting him serve concurrently as director of the State-owned Assets Office is the best arrangement. Moreover, you can rest assured: as long as I, Zhou Andong, am here, who dares to act up in front of him? I guarantee I'll break that person's leg."

Wang Jianmin laughed: "Your relationship with Comrade Gu Bing is truly good—you can even make such a guarantee."

"Exactly!" Zhou Andong said sincerely: "Back then, if it weren't for Comrade Gu Bing's trust and support, I wouldn't be where I am today. So, no matter what position he holds, I will give him my full support."