Chapter 35: Chapter Thirty‑Five: First General Meeting of the Red Star Yagangchang

Because there was no assembly hall yet, Secretary Liu and Factory Director Yang discussed and decided to hold the meeting in the open space in front of the office building. An hour passed quickly, and the office building's front was filled with workers attending the meeting. Seeing that the time was about right, the two went downstairs to the makeshift podium.

"Comrades workers, please be quiet, I am Jiang Qiuhui of the Propaganda Department. I now announce that the first general meeting of the Red Star Yagangchang is beginning. Please welcome Comrade Liu Jiujiang, the secretary of Red Star Yagangchang, to speak. Welcome." After saying the opening remarks, the newly appointed Propaganda Department Section Chief Jiang Qiuhui stepped down from the podium.

"Comrades, hello, I am Liu Jiujiang. Today is the first general meeting of our Red Star Yagangchang. Here I want to tell you a piece of good news: from today onward, our steel mill belongs to the Metallurgy Department and is directly managed by it. That is, from today on, your status has changed; you have become employees of a state-owned unit." After Secretary Liu finished speaking, the crowd below erupted in noise.

"Comrades, quiet down," said Secretary Liu. After seeing the venue quiet down, he continued: "This year our steel mill will undergo an expansion; within three years, our steel mill will at least expand to a ten‑thousand‑person factory." Then Secretary Liu explained the mill's later development to the workers and handed the microphone to Factory Director Yang.

Factory Director Yang took the microphone, first gave a brief self‑introduction, then explained the benefits that future employees of the steel mill could enjoy, such as building a hospital inside the factory. Finally, he informed the workers that everyone must submit a political review certificate tomorrow, after which the meeting would end. Because they needed to prepare the political review certificates, the whole factory was given the afternoon off after the meeting ended.

In Secretary Liu's office: "Old Yang, we need to quickly set up the political review investigation team and the factory security department."

"That's right, Secretary Liu; I think the same. I'm now going to gather the leadership team—we can hold a meeting to discuss this right away." After saying this, Factory Director Yang ordered the secretary to call the personnel for a meeting.

Courtyard House, Old Lady Rong's room.

"Old Lady, you said my political review materials are fine, right?" Yi Zhonghai said.

"Don't worry, Zhonghai. Our materials were settled before liberation; even when you went to the steel mill I didn't use any old connections. Rest assured, nothing will happen. Now the steel mill has become a state‑owned factory, and your position is important, Zhonghai—you must act carefully." After saying this, Old Lady Rong looked at Yi Zhonghai.

"Don't worry, Old Lady, I'll be careful," Yi Zhonghai said.

"Keep an eye on your foolish disciple; don't let him provoke Shazu! His status is different now. If he provokes Shazu again and something happens, we'll both be ruined." Old Lady Rong warned.

"Don't worry, Old Lady, I've reminded Dongxu many times; he's become much more restrained now. Besides, this kid is about to get married, so I think his temperament will become even more restrained."

"Are you really going to let your foolish disciple marry that country girl? Do you think he'll still listen to you after marrying her?" Old Lady Rong stared at Yi Zhonghai and said.

"Old Lady, rest assured, I know what I'm doing. Please rest; I'm going to prepare the certificate." After saying this, Yi Zhonghai left Old Lady Rong's room.

Yi Zhonghai walked and thought: "Could it really get out of hand? Should Shazu try to make a comeback? I feel that after He Daqing left, Shazu has become like a different person."

The next day, after the workers handed in their political review certificates at the factory, inspection teams from the steel mill appeared in many residential courtyards where the factory workers lived.

"Factory Director Yang, the results are out—please have a look," said Secretary Xiao Zhao, handing the inspection report to Factory Director Yang.

Factory Director Yang took the report, glanced at the numbers, and said: "So many? Are these the ones uncovered by the investigation or the ones people submitted themselves?"

"Factory Director Yang, most of them were submitted voluntarily; only thirty were uncovered by the investigation," Xiao Zhao said.

"Good, you go notify Deputy Factory Director Tian and Deputy Factory Director Wang, and the team members—we'll meet in fifteen minutes. I'm now going to see Secretary Liu." After saying this, Factory Director Yang walked toward Secretary Liu's office.

Yagangchang meeting room.

"Comrades, the inspection results are out. Factory Director Yang just reported the numbers to me: 173 people, nearly ten percent of the steel mill's total workforce." After saying this, Secretary Liu took a sip of water and continued.

"What should we do with these 173 people?"

Deputy Factory Director Tian said: "Secretary Liu, I suggest we adjust the positions of those connected with Lou Dong. After all, some of them still hold managerial posts; for the others, I think we should simply persuade them to resign and give each some compensation."

"Director Tian, if we keep Lou Dong's people, will the others have objections?" Deputy Factory Director Wang said.

"That's right, Director Wang is correct. If we treat them differently, it won't solve the problem and will only expand the impact—this approach won't work." After saying this, Secretary Liu turned to Factory Director Yang and asked: "Old Yang, what countermeasures do you have?"

Factory Director Yang looked at everyone and said: "I think Director Tian's approach is inappropriate, but we really cannot simply persuade Lou Dong's people to resign, because many of them hold leadership positions in various departments—at least for now we cannot. We can reassign some staff to serve as their deputies, gradually taking over their work. This way we can ensure the factory runs normally, and finally retiring them won't cause a major impact."

Secretary Liu looked at the crowd without commenting, then said: "All right, let's vote—raise your hands if you agree with Director Yang's opinion." After saying this, Secretary Liu raised his hand.

Seeing the unanimous approval, Secretary Liu added: "I suggest we keep the leaders of some key departments and persuade the rest to resign."

Seeing everyone's agreement, Secretary Liu continued: "Then this matter will be led by Director Yang, assisted by Director Tian, and implemented as soon as possible. Be sure to handle the follow‑up work properly and avoid unnecessary trouble."

"By the way, there's one more thing, Secretary Liu," Factory Director Yang said. "Director Yang, you speak."

"This is the case: before I came, I saw that the ministry had a safety production manual outline. I think we need our own safety manual, because we will eventually expand into a ten‑thousand‑person factory."

"That's right, the matter Director Yang raised is indeed necessary. Today I will have Xiao Zhang write a report; tomorrow I will submit it to the ministry and ask them to send personnel to assist us."

After the meeting ended, Factory Director Yang gathered 162 people at the First Canteen, leaving only 11 who were not persuaded to resign. After explaining the situation to everyone, with compensation provided there was no disturbance; after all, they understood their own circumstances, and even if they left the steel mill they could go elsewhere, and there was compensation.

A few people, though reluctant, did not want to leave the steel mill because they were now low‑level leaders there; although they had little authority, working elsewhere would mean starting over. Most had already agreed, and these few, without further insistence, also agreed.

A few days later, the steel mill resumed normal work. After the expansion report was approved, Red Star Yagangchang carried out its first expansion, doubling its area. Many places began constructing factory buildings, workers' meeting halls, and other structures.