Chapter 147: Small‑Workshop Mindset Is Unacceptable, Standardized Management Welcomes the Future

At daybreak, Lu Qingshan got up. He had barely slept last night, and his mind kept dwelling on today's inspection.

"Qing Shan, why are you up so early?" Lin Yue'e asked, still half‑asleep.

"Going to the factory to look; the inspection is imminent, we need to prepare in advance," Lu Qingshan whispered, fearing to wake Xiao Xue.

"I'll go too." Lin Yue'e snapped to full alert, "I know the financial side best."

The two freshened up briefly and headed toward the factory. Along the way they met many villagers, who greeted them proactively.

"Brother Qing Shan, I heard there's another inspection today?" Zhao Er Zhuang called as he walked up.

"Yes, the county's Business Administration, Health Bureau, and Tax Bureau are conducting a joint inspection." Lu Qingshan nodded.

"So are our workers still working normally today?" Zhao Qiang ran over as well.

"Of course we're on duty!" Lu Qingshan said firmly, "We have a clear conscience; we do what we must."

At the factory, Li Jianqiang, Qian Jin, Yao Bai'nian and Wang Ming were already waiting.

"Factory Director Lu, we conducted another check last night and found a few minor issues," Li Jianqiang said, holding a notebook.

"What issues?" Lu Qingshan took the notebook.

"Mostly details. For example, the changing‑room signs at the food factory are unclear, a few raw‑material labels at the herbal medicine factory are mis‑pasted, and the drainage ditch at the beverage factory is somewhat clogged."

Lu Qingshan examined the list carefully; there were over a dozen items. Though all minor, they indeed required remediation.

"Alright!" Lu Qingshan closed the notebook, "Since the problems are found, we'll proactively rectify them!"

He turned to face everyone, "Everyone, this morning's inspection is crucial, but we must not passively wait for others to pick faults. We need to take the initiative!"

"Take the initiative?" Qian Jin asked, a little puzzled.

"Exactly!" a spark flashed in Lu Qingshan's eyes, "We will not only cooperate with the inspection, but also proactively report the discovered issues and proactively rectify them! Let them see our attitude!"

Wang Ming's eyes lit up, "That's a great idea! Proactively admitting problems actually makes us appear sincere."

"That's the point!" Lu Qingshan patted Wang Ming's shoulder, "Yue E, re‑check the financial data you organized yesterday and report any issues as well."

"Okay." Lin Yue'e nodded.

At nine a. m., the county inspection team arrived on schedule: Bureau Chief Zhang of the Business Administration, Bureau Chief Wang of the Health Bureau, Bureau Chief Li of the Tax Bureau, plus several Section Chiefs and Directors, eight people in total.

"Leaders, welcome to guide our work!" Lu Qingshan greeted warmly.

"Factory Director Lu, we will conduct a comprehensive inspection today; we hope you'll cooperate," Bureau Chief Zhang said in an official tone.

"Of course we'll cooperate!" Lu Qingshan nodded, "But before the inspection, I'd like to report the problems we found in our self‑inspection."

The bureau chiefs exchanged glances, all a bit surprised.

"Problems discovered in the self‑inspection?" Bureau Chief Wang asked, puzzled.

"Yes." Lu Qingshan produced the notebook, "We carried out a thorough self‑inspection last night, found thirteen areas needing improvement, and now report them to the leaders."

Lu Qingshan read the entries one by one, from unclear signage to poor drainage, detailing the cause and remedial measures for each.

Hearing the reports, the bureau chiefs' expressions visibly softened.

"Very good, that attitude is excellent!" Bureau Chief Zhang nodded, "Proactively finding problems and proactively rectifying them—that's what we want to see. Your Shanwan community's development is fine; cherish it and push the work forward."

"We'll start the rectification right now," Lu Qingshan said, turning to wave at the workers, "Tiezhu, lead a team to re‑paste the changing‑room signs! Fei, go clean the drainage ditch!"

The workers sprang into action, methodically beginning the remediation work.

The inspection team watched the scene and all showed satisfied expressions.

The subsequent inspection proceeded smoothly. The hygiene, production processes, and product quality of the three factories all met standards, and the financial situation was crystal clear.

"Factory Director Lu, we are very satisfied with the results," Bureau Chief Zhang concluded, "Your corporate management is standardized, product quality is solid, and finances are sound. Keep it up!"

"Thank you all for your guidance!" Lu Qingshan bowed.

After seeing the inspection team off, Lu Qingshan let out a long sigh of relief. That hurdle was cleared.

"Brother Qing Shan, that move just now was impressive!" Zhao Tiezhu gave a thumbs‑up, "Proactively reporting the issues actually made them think we're honest."

"That's called advancing by retreating," Li Jianqiang admired, "Factory Director Lu, how did you develop such a mind?"

Lu Qingshan smiled faintly and said nothing more. In his previous life behind bars, he had seen too many such tricks.

"Alright, the inspection is over, but we must not become complacent," Lu Qingshan's expression grew serious, "Everyone, go to the conference room; I have something important to say."

Within a short while, experts Li Jianqiang, Qian Jin, Yao Bai'nian and Wang Ming, along with Liu Fugui, Zhao Tiezhu, Zhao Laonian, Zhao Fei, Zhao Qiang, Zhao Lei, Zhao Er Zhuang—key villagers—and Zhao Yongnian and Zhao Dazhi, two village officials, gathered in the food factory's conference room.

"Everyone, I called you here to discuss a serious matter," Lu Qingshan surveyed each person, "Our three factories have grown too fast, yet management is still at a small‑workshop level."

Li Jianqiang nodded, "Factory Director Lu is right; with the current output and sales scale, we truly need more standardized management."

"That's exactly it," Lu Qingshan continued, "We can no longer manage the enterprise with a small‑workshop mindset. Though we act properly, everyone has seen that we're under intense scrutiny from all sides. We must rally, do our jobs thoroughly, and manage the industry we've built with hard work. A clear management system and well‑defined responsibilities are essential for the factories' healthy development."

Zhao Yongnian said thoughtfully, "Qing Shan, do you mean we should reassign tasks?"

"It's not just reassigning tasks; it's building a scientific management system," Lu Qingshan stood up, drew an organizational chart on the blackboard, "I'm considering establishing a Management Committee to centrally oversee the three factories' operations."

He pointed to the chart and continued, "Li Jianqiang will serve as Chief Engineer, overseeing safety, personnel and sales; Qian Jin will be the Food Factory Director, also handling equipment maintenance for all three production lines; Master Yao will be the Herbal Medicine Processing Factory Director, responsible for procurement quality control; Wang Ming will be the Herbal Beverage Factory Director, in charge of new product development."

The experts listened to the arrangement and nodded repeatedly.

"What about us?" Liu Fugui asked, a bit nervous.

"Fugui, you, Tiezhu and Fei will handle procurement and sales; that task is crucial," Lu Qingshan said, looking at them, "Yue E will continue handling finances, which is even more important."

"Uncle Laonian and Zhao Lei will oversee breeding, Er Zhuang and Zhao Qiang will manage planting," Lu Qingshan continued, "Uncle Yongnian and Uncle Dazhi, as village representatives, will form a workers' union responsible for comprehensive logistics management."

"Qing Shan, who will lead this Management Committee?" Zhao Dazhi asked.

Lu Qingshan thought for a moment, "I'll serve as Director, coordinating overall work. But day‑to‑day management still relies on everyone performing their duties."

"All managers are committee members, enjoy management bonuses, and are simultaneously accountable to me; report any matters to me."

"Excluding managers, we now have over seventy workers, mainly villagers and their families. Though close‑knit, we will never adopt the big‑pot‑rice scheme. Chief Engineer Li, please promptly draft a salary‑payment standard, considering daily wages plus bonuses, so that diligent workers earn more."

"Good! I agree! I'll handle it right away!" Li Jianqiang was the first to voice agreement.

"I agree as well!" Qian Jin, Yao Bai'nian, Wang Ming and the others also voiced their consent.

The village's young men were even more excited; they hadn't expected to have a place in this management system.

"Then it's settled!" Lu Qingshan slammed the table and decided, "Starting tomorrow, we will operate according to the new management system!"

After the meeting, Lin Yue'e walked over to Lu Qingshan: "Qing Shan, with your arrangements, everyone is now motivated."

"Just having enthusiasm isn't enough." A glint of profound light flashed in Lu Qingshan's eyes, "The challenges we face have only just begun."

Just then, Zhao Tiezhu came running over in a hurry: "Brother Qing Shan, more people have arrived at the village entrance! This time it's a vehicle from the province!"

Lu Qingshan's heart stirred—what news could the people from the province have brought at this time?