Chapter 2869: Everyone Has Their Own Worries

Dai Weimin, as deputy factory director and also deputy factory director in charge of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Department, has been very busy lately. But at this time, he happened to be sitting in a chair smoking, doing nothing.

What he was thinking about was also the reform. After all, such an opportunity, whether for ordinary workers or factory leaders, is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and everyone will seize it tightly and not let it go.

However, he is also unclear about the content of the reform plan, and whether the factory leadership will distribute shares or subscribe to shares is completely unknown to him. So he is also pondering whether he should raise money as soon as possible.

Because now no one has much money to spare, starting to raise money now leaves plenty of time, and he can definitely borrow more. If he waits until before the subscription to start raising money, the time will be too tight, and he definitely won't be able to borrow much money, and naturally won't be able to buy many shares either.

Time passes bit by bit. When he finished smoking a cigarette, Dai Weimin sighed. He has sat on the cold bench for many years, receiving only basic wages, with no bonuses or benefits. So over these years, his family's savings have truly been empty.

If it were before, if he asked relatives and friends for money, he couldn't borrow even a cent, but it wouldn't be too much either. But now it's different—he is indeed the deputy factory director holding real power. To borrow money, he just needs to open his mouth and someone will personally bring it over. But asking him to borrow money really makes him hesitant to speak up.

"Ah..."

Dai Weimin sighed again and muttered: "Even if I can't bring myself to speak, I must speak this time. If I miss this opportunity, there will never be another like it."

At the same time, Standing Deputy Factory Director Jiao Lwei stood by the window, his brows tightly furrowed, and he has been feeling depressed lately. He has always wanted to find Zhou Andong to talk, but has never found a suitable opportunity.

Now the reform plan has been approved, and reform will begin soon. If he doesn't hurry to get a seat at the table, he has no doubt that he won't be able to hold this position for long. Zhou Andong definitely won't let him enjoy benefits without effort.

Jiao Lwei smoked two cigarettes in a row, then picked up the phone and called his father-in-law's office. Soon, Zhang Kehe's voice came through the receiver.

"What's the matter?"

Jiao Lwei took a deep breath: "Dad, I haven't found an opportunity to talk to Zhou Andong, and now he has gone to Yangcheng, so I can't even see him. What's important is that the reform plan has been approved, and he definitely won't let me enjoy benefits without effort. When he returns from Yangcheng, I'm afraid he will turn against me first."

Zhang Kehe really felt a bit frustrated—this has been going on for so long and he still hasn't found a chance to talk to Zhou Andong. But after all, this is his son-in-law, and he does have ability, so he didn't press further.

"Take what you have in your hand and go immediately to report work to the factory secretary Gu Bing."

"Gu Bing?" Jiao Lwei frowned: "Only Zhou Andong calls the shots in the factory; Gu Bing is just a figurehead. If I go to report work to him, can he decide whether I get a seat at the table or not?"

Zhang Kehe fell silent for a moment: "It's been this long, and you still don't know what Gu Bing's relationship with Zhou Andong is?"

Jiao Lwei's expression tightened. He heard dissatisfaction in his father-in-law's voice, but didn't rush to answer, because from his father-in-law's words he sensed that the relationship between Gu Bing and Zhou Andong might not be as simple as it appears on the surface, though he truly doesn't know.

"Besides the connection through the Jiangzhou Liquor Factory, could there be any other relationship?"

Zhang Kehe fell silent again: "If you don't know, then forget it—but I tell you, Gu Bing is very capable and might possibly serve as director of the Municipal State-owned Assets Office."

"Ah?" Jiao Lwei jumped up, eyes wide: "Gu Bing is going to concurrently serve as director of the Municipal State-owned Assets Commission?"

"Yes!" Zhang Kehe said with feeling: "Gu Bing is only in his early thirties, and his future prospects are limitless."

Jiao Lwei plopped down into his chair, envy plain in his eyes: "Gu Bing, he really is..."

He wanted to say lucky, but swallowed the words rising to his throat. Because Gu Bing serving as director of the Municipal State-owned Assets Office is absolutely not something that can be dismissed as mere luck.

"Why would the city let Gu Bing concurrently serve as director of the State-owned Assets Office?" Jiao Lwei asked doubtfully: "Wouldn't it be more appropriate to let Zhou Andong serve concurrently?"

"The city indeed wanted Zhou Andong to concurrently serve as director of the State-owned Assets Office." Zhang Kehe did not hide anything, because this is not a secret: "But Zhou Andong refused and recommended Gu Bing."

"Tsk tsk!" Jiao Lwei clicked his tongue twice: "Zhou Andong really is noble and principled—he doesn't even want the position of director of the State-owned Assets Office."

Although the rank of woolen mill factory director and State-owned Assets Office director is the same, their powers are worlds apart. The authority of the woolen mill factory director only extends within the factory; he can't go beyond the factory gates.

But the State-owned Assets Office director is different. His power doesn't just extend to the woolen mill—he can oversee all state-owned enterprises in Jingcheng. Moreover, the promotion path for the State-owned Assets Office director is very broad: first, a deputy position in the State-owned Assets Commission, then deputy positions in other ministries.

But the promotion path for the woolen mill factory director is very narrow, especially after reform: either work until retirement, or if capable, be transferred wherever needed, though most end up being moved between various enterprises.

Of course, if someone's ability is truly outstanding, relying on their own strength to forge a path to heaven is another matter. After all, such talent will certainly be highly valued by superiors and won't be confined to just one field.

Zhang Kehe asked: "Do you think Zhou Andong giving up the position of director of the State-owned Assets Office means he's narrowing his path?"

Jiao Lwei countered: "Isn't that the case?"

"Your thinking is not wrong." Zhang Kehe said: "If it were you or most people, giving up the position of director of the State-owned Assets Office would indeed narrow one's path.

But for someone like Zhou Andong with exceptionally strong ability, this is not a problem at all. Because no matter where he is, even if the road ahead disappears, relying on his own ability, he can still forge a road to heaven."

Jiao Lwei fell silent—he couldn't disagree with this, because he couldn't find a reason to refute it.

"Let me tell you another piece of news." Zhang Kehe said: "The Central Authority has decided to let Zhou Andong serve in a part-time capacity as deputy director of the Economic Bureau of the Central Policy Research Office and Reform Office."

"What?" Jiao Lwei jumped up again, his voice trembling: "Dad, is this really true?"

"Not only that!" Zhang Kehe seemed intent on delivering a heavy blow to Jiao Lwei: "The Enterprise Federation is proposing Zhou Andong as vice president."

Jiao Lwei opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. The Central Policy Research Office, Reform Office Economic Bureau, and Enterprise Federation are all ministerial-level units. Even if Zhou Andong's rank doesn't rise immediately, it will certainly not exceed two years.

Zhou Andong, as a twenty-eight-year-old bureau-level leader, is already astonishing enough. So a thirty-year-old ministerial-level leader—Jiao Lwei doesn't know what words to use to describe his own shock.

In fact, even now, Jiao Lwei still feels a bit unconvinced toward Zhou Andong. But now, that breath of resentment in his chest feels like a balloon pricked by a needle—it just went "pfft" and was completely let out.

"Dad, I'm going now to find Secretary Gu Bing to report work."

Zhang Kehe laughed: "Go ahead!"

Jiao Lwei hung up the phone, got up, walked to the safe, opened it, took out a document bag from inside, then closed the safe, got up, and walked out of the office.