Chapter 512: Conflict Arises

Secretary Liu heard that the equipment had all arrived and happily slapped the table: "Zhuzi, wait for me at the warehouse. I will organize a fleet to haul it immediately. How many trucks do you need?"

He Yuzhu smiled and said: "The volume of goods this time is not small. Just bring as many trucks as you have."

Secretary Liu was stunned for a moment and asked: "Isn't it just some machine tools and equipment? Do you really need that many trucks?"

"There are also quite a few construction materials; you'll know once you get there."

Secretary Liu pondered for a moment and said: "Vehicles in the city are in short supply. I can mobilize at most fifteen trucks. Don't worry, we'll transport them in a few trips."

Around two or three in the afternoon, fifteen military-green trucks drove into the warehouse area in a grand procession.

Secretary Liu jumped out of the truck and followed He Yuzhu into the warehouse. At a glance, he saw the neatly arranged new machine tools. He walked up quickly, his fingers gently brushing over the nameplate of a milling machine, his eyes squinting into slits with a smile.

"Great! Great!" Secretary Liu appeared very excited.

"Let's go take a look at those construction materials!" He Yuzhu led him toward the largest warehouse.

Pushing open the heavy iron door, a scent of mixed cement and timber rushed toward them.

The warehouse was packed full—steel bars were piled into small hills, and the cement bags were endless at a glance.

Secretary Liu walked close to the cement pile, bent down to look closely at the markings printed on the bags, and his expression suddenly changed.

"Guards!" He turned back and whispered sharply, "Close the door."

The warehouse suddenly turned dark, with only a few rays of light slanting in from the high windows, and dust floating slowly in the beams of light.

Secretary Liu lowered his voice: "Why are there M Military markings on the cement bags? Our factory is already being watched by spies from the Bald Party; this stuff cannot be exposed directly."

He Yuzhu leaned in closer, his voice light: "They were all sold by middlemen to the Eastern Shipping Company. The price was extremely cheap, so I helped get them. Is there a problem?"

Secretary Liu shook his head and did not continue to speak on this topic. He patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder: "You have already worked hard enough to get so many things here; leave the rest for me to handle."

He Yuzhu rubbed his hands and said: "Secretary Liu, I do have a request... I don't know if I should say it or not."

Secretary Liu was startled—He Yuzhu had never taken the initiative to make a request before.

"Speak, don't be polite."

He Yuzhu then told him everything about how the Logistics Department was making things difficult and throwing obstacles in his way. After finishing, he sighed: "I understand now. Just being a Chief Engineer is like a clay bodhisattva in a temple; it looks noble, but in reality, you can't command anyone. So I was thinking... could I concurrently hold the position of Deputy Factory Director? Or simply build a separate Food Factory and let me manage it."

"A Food Factory?" Secretary Liu raised his eyebrows, "Where will the equipment come from?"

He Yuzhu guided Secretary Liu to a small warehouse nearby.

As the door opened, two assembly lines lay quietly inside.

"Canned food production lines made in the United States. The manual says they produce 100,000 cans a day. Guangdong Province has plenty of cheap fruit; making them into canned goods can not only supply the local area but also be sold to Hong Kong to exchange for foreign currency. With money, we can buy more advanced equipment..." He Yuzhu explained the original intention behind wanting to be a Deputy Factory Director.

Secretary Liu walked around the production line once and tapped the cold steel frame with his finger: "You kid, your brain is indeed sharp. Besides wanting to make money, you have other ideas, right?"

He Yuzhu struck while the iron was hot: "Secretary Liu, to tell you the truth, these days I've discovered that the Cadres in the factory have some problems. They rely on seniority and no one wants to take responsibility; progress is slow. If it goes on like this, the factory won't be able to start production in two years. I'm anxious, and I want to use the Food Factory to set an example for them!"

Secretary Liu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately made the decision: "Good! I have actually also discovered many problems, especially with the local Cadres; everyone has their own calculations, and it is indeed difficult to communicate. Fortunately, I came here myself and discovered this problem! I agree to the matter of the Deputy Factory Director. You should proceed according to your own ideas, don't have any concerns, and you can employ people without sticking to conventional patterns to set an example for them! You will also concurrently serve as the director of the Food Factory."

He Yuzhu felt wonderful after hearing this. He pointed to another set of equipment nearby: "That set is a biscuit production line, with a daily output of twenty tons."

Secretary Liu took a deep breath: "These are all good things... are you really planning to do it all together?"

He Yuzhu nodded heavily: "With two sets of equipment as a foundation, the Food Factory might earn enough money to build a Liangangchang in two years."

"Good!" Secretary Liu patted his back hard, "Once the equipment is transported back, hurry up with the debugging and recruitment. Get the products made before the large-scale launch of fruit!"

"Guarantee to complete the mission!" He Yuzhu straightened his back, his voice echoing in the empty warehouse.

Three months later, the first batch of orange canned goods and Bolu Guantou from the Lingnan Food Factory came off the production line.

Once the canned goods were on the market, they received many orders from other provinces through the unified purchasing and marketing system. There were also quite a few foreign trade orders from Zhao Ying's side, and the workers were working overtime almost every day.

The biscuit workshop emitted an even more enticing sweet fragrance—almond cookies, Congyou Binggan, and Jidan Binggan, these three flavors, became the best-selling products in the Supply and Marketing Cooperative as soon as they hit the market.

The Tractor Factory workshop hadn't even finished construction, but the Food Factory was already making money hand over fist.

The Food Factory had over two hundred workers, with high wages and good food; they could eat meat, vegetables, and rice as much as they wanted, and they were always full.

Because the Food Factory was still affiliated with the Tractor Factory in terms of organization, the workers of the Tractor Factory were no longer having it and flocked to the Factory Director's office to demand an explanation.

The long-brewing criticism meeting was finally held in the factory conference room.

The long table was full of people. Factory Director Li cleared his throat and spoke first: "Deputy Factory Director He, you have made the Food Factory flourish in just three months; your ability is indeed strong. But don't forget, you are also a Deputy Factory Director of our Tractor Factory. In one factory, you can't make the workers feel that the treatment is different, right?"

He Yuzhu had been leaning against the back of his chair, but upon hearing this, he straightened up and smiled: "Factory Director Li, I cannot agree with what you said. The Tractor Factory is still dragging its feet every day. My equipment was brought over long ago, and even the factory building hasn't been finished, while my Food Factory can make money in three months. Can the treatment be the same? In other words, if your salary were the same as an ordinary worker's, would you be willing?"

Factory Director Li didn't expect him to be so direct and was choked for a moment. His face flushed red, and he defended himself: "Can the Tractor Factory be the same as the Food Factory? Why do you say we are dragging our feet?"

"We are all building factory buildings together; why was mine finished long ago, while the Tractor Factory's hasn't been finished yet?" He Yuzhu said straightforwardly.

He Daqing scolded in a low voice from the side: "Zhuzi, speak properly!"

Lao Wei, who was in charge of logistics, was a die-hard supporter of Factory Director Li. He stood up and said: "Deputy Factory Director He, your Food Factory has high wages, so of course the construction is fast. We can't compare to that."

He Yuzhu smiled: "Deputy Factory Director Wei is afraid he doesn't know how to calculate costs, right? We pay workers high wages and build quickly. I use one month, you use two months; who is actually spending more money?"

"This..." Deputy Factory Director Wei was left speechless by the question.

He Yuzhu's smile turned cold, "I know that everyone came for me at today's meeting, feeling that our Food Factory eats well and the Tractor Factory doesn't eat well. But does everyone know why? Back then, I worked diligently to collect mountain goods and took boats out to sea to catch fish; what did I get in return? The things I had people collect were left out to dry by the Logistics Department, and even mentioning my name didn't work! How cheap am I to insist on sticking my hot face against a cold butt?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the people present: "My father has talked to me, and I only have one condition: replace those big shots who only know how to put on airs, and replace them with people who can get things done! If Factory Director Li really hopes for the Tractor Factory to be good, then hand over the logistics part to me. I only have one principle: those with ability move up, those without move down!"

The conference room was silent, with only the sound of the ceiling fan rotating continuously.

Lu Zhaoheng smoothed things over: "I have no objection to letting Comrade He manage logistics."

Deputy Factory Director Wei, who was in charge of logistics, became anxious and stood up abruptly: "Xiao He, how much subsidy does your Food Factory need per person every day?"

"Three thousand yuan, don't you also provide the same subsidy?" He Yuzhu asked with raised eyebrows.

"You are a Food Factory; the scraps are white flour, white sugar, and fruit. Just these are enough for the staff to eat. How can we compare?" Deputy Factory Director Wei's voice rose.

He Yuzhu smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "Deputy Factory Director Wei, you are actually right. Next month, we are also going to make canned fish and canned luncheon meat."

"This is unfair!" Deputy Factory Director Wei was so angry his hands were shaking.

"Hand over the Logistics Department to me, and I will let the whole factory eat those things too; then it will be fair. In my opinion, the reason the Tractor Factory doesn't eat well is that many people have sticky fingers!" He Yuzhu said unceremoniously.

"You are making false accusations!" Deputy Factory Director Wei was desperate and pounded the table hard with his hand.