Chapter 769

Yili Food Factory

Director Lu listened to the Logistics Section Chief’s report with locked brows: "Leader, the supplies allocated to us from above this month have been reduced by a full twenty percent. If we can't find a way to fill the gap, let alone New Year’s benefits, even the normal supply of the canteen will be difficult to guarantee."

After hearing the Logistics Section Chief’s words, Director Lu said with a serious expression: "Old Geng, didn't I allocate funds last week to have the Procurement Section step up their purchasing? How is the work situation in the Procurement Section? Can they fill the gap?"

Section Chief Geng said with a bitter face: "Leader, the comrades in the Procurement Section have already gone all out, even running outside on their days off. But as the end of the year approaches, other units are also purchasing supplies vigorously, and the competition is very fierce. The comrades in the Procurement Section have exhausted their efforts and only managed to purchase three thousand catties of corn flour, two hundred catties of eggs, twenty chickens, two sheep... These things are barely enough for reception, but they are a drop in the bucket for the year-end banquet, not to mention distributing benefits to the workers."

Director Lu sighed, realizing the seriousness of the situation, and said to Section Chief Geng with a heavy expression: "Have Liu Liu Zhiming come to the office. The workers have worked hard for a year, and neither the year-end banquet nor the holiday benefits can be missing. We cannot let the worker brothers down."

Soon, Procurement Section Chief Liu Liu Zhiming walked into the office, sweating profusely: "Leader, you were looking for me."

Director Lu said solemnly: "Old Liu, the end of the year is approaching, and the factory’s supplies are tight, but the workers are all looking forward to a good New Year. As the factory’s management, we cannot let the workers down. I

know that the Procurement Section has been working very hard lately, but as cadres appointed by the organization and public servants of the people, we must shoulder the heavy responsibility of serving the people and cannot fail the trust that the people and

the organization have placed in us. So I hope you can lead the Procurement Section to overcome hardships and difficulties to complete the factory’s targets."

Liu Liu Zhiming said with a bitter face: "Leader, I dare not fail the organization’s trust. We have already run through all the surrounding communes and brought back all the supplies we could purchase, but we are still far from completing the targets. It’s not that we aren't trying our best; it’s just that even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice."

Director Lu said with a dark face: "Old Liu, I know that you and the comrades in the Procurement Section are not having an easy time, but the workers are all waiting for the New Year. We can't let the workers go home hungry and empty-handed for the New Year, right?"

Liu Liu Zhiming thought for a long time and said: "Leader, I know someone who might be able to help our factory solve the current problem."

Director Lu was stunned for a moment, then asked urgently: "Old Liu, tell me quickly, what’s going on? Who can help our factory solve the problem?"

Liu Liu Zhiming said: "Leader, the situation is like this: I have a relative who works at the Red Star Rolling Mill. We ate together the day before yesterday. Do you know how rich the Red Star Rolling Mill is now? Their factory

got ten big fat pigs, more than thirty sheep, and things like eggs, duck eggs, white flour, brown sugar, white sugar, and peanut oil are being trucked into the factory... There are so many things that the warehouse is almost full."

"What! Where did the Red Star Rolling Mill get so many things!"

As the head of the food factory, Director Lu knew too well how difficult it was to get so many supplies. Even if the Red Star Rolling Mill was a key unit, the higher-ups couldn't have allocated so many supplies. If they really did that, would other units in Jingcheng agree?

If these weren't supplies allocated from above, then the Red Star Rolling Mill must have "relied on its own efforts." But they were also in the same Jingcheng area; even if the Red Star Rolling Mill had "strength in numbers," where did they get so many things?

Facing Director Lu’s questioning, Liu Liu Zhiming said unhurriedly: "Leader, the situation is like this: the Logistics Section Chief of the Red Star Rolling Mill is named Cao Cao Weiguo. He is a very capable person, known as the housekeeper of the Red Star Rolling Mill. He is a master at getting supplies. Whether it’s the leaders above or the communes below, he has connections. Since he took charge of the logistics work at the Red Star Rolling

Mill, the factory has never worried about food. I won't hide it from you, Leader, I have asked this Section Chief Cao for help before, and his ability is unquestionable. More than five hundred catties of eggs were ready in less than two days."

Logistics Section Chief Geng nodded: "Leader, I have also heard of this Section Chief Cao."

Director Lu pondered for a few seconds, his eyes burning as he looked at Liu Liu Zhiming: "Old Liu, can you represent me in inviting Section Chief Cao to visit our factory?"

Liu Liu Zhiming smiled: "Leader, it’s easy to invite Section Chief Cao to visit our factory. Dong Dong Xiaoxue from our section was introduced to our factory by Section Chief Cao. She has a close relationship with him. If you let her invite him, it will definitely be no problem."

Director Lu said immediately: "Then what are you waiting for? Call her over quickly."

Liu Liu Zhiming hurriedly returned to the Procurement Section and found Dong Dong Xiaoxue, who was calculating accounts: "Dong Xiaoxue, come with me to Director Lu’s office."

Dong Dong Xiaoxue followed Liu Liu Zhiming to the office, confused. Director Lu asked impatiently: "Comrade Dong Dong Xiaoxue, do you know Section Chief Cao Cao Weiguo of the Red Star Rolling Mill?"

Hearing Director Lu ask about Cao Cao Weiguo, Dong Dong Xiaoxue couldn't help but feel a little nervous: "I know him. Why are you asking about this, Director?"

Director Lu smiled kindly: "Comrade Dong Dong Xiaoxue, is it convenient to tell me what your relationship with Section Chief Cao is?"

Dong Dong Xiaoxue said: "Section Chief Cao and I are just ordinary friends."

Director Lu smiled: "Friends, friends are good. Comrade Dong Dong Xiaoxue, I don't mean anything else. I just want you to represent me in inviting Section Chief Cao to visit our factory. Comrade Dong Dong Xiaoxue, this matter concerns the year-end benefits of thousands of our factory’s employees and is very important to our factory. I hope you will definitely invite Section Chief Cao over. Please."

Dong Dong Xiaoxue worked in the Procurement Section and naturally knew about the shortage of supplies in the factory. Hearing what Director Lu said, she immediately guessed Director Lu’s idea—nine times out of ten, he wanted to find Cao Cao Weiguo to get supplies. Dong Dong Xiaoxue didn't dare not give face to the top leader, so she could only bite the bullet and agree.

Dong Dong Xiaoxue, who left work early, waited for a long time at the gate of the Red Star Rolling Mill before finally waiting for Cao Cao Weiguo, whom she had been thinking about.

Because Cao Cao Weiguo was kept behind for a meeting, he got off work more than half an hour later than other employees.

Dong Dong Xiaoxue pushed her bicycle and walked quickly toward Cao Cao Weiguo: "Brother Cao Weiguo!"

Cao Cao Weiguo said in surprise: "Dong Xiaoxue, why are you here?"

Dong Dong Xiaoxue told him exactly what Director Lu wanted—to invite him to visit the food factory. Cao Cao Weiguo looked at the nervous Dong Dong Xiaoxue and smiled: "Hey, is that all? Go back and tell Director Lu that I will visit the food factory tomorrow."

Dong Dong Xiaoxue worried: "Brother Cao Weiguo, the food factory is short of quite a few supplies. Our Procurement Section has been running outside every day, and after working for more than a week, we still haven't completed many of the targets. If Director Lu asks you to help get supplies outside the plan, will it cause you trouble?"

Cao Cao Weiguo smiled: "Don't worry. I have a plan in mind. You don't need to worry. Dong Xiaoxue, we haven't seen each other for a while. Let’s go, I’ll treat you to hot pot, and we can talk while we eat."

Dong Dong Xiaoxue’s cheeks flushed with happiness: "Thank you, Brother Cao Weiguo."