Chapter 704: Who is so blind as to dare provoke you?

For a full week, Li Ye worked honestly in the Supply Section. Despite the rumors about him in the unit becoming increasingly outrageous, he did not make any response.

This caused many people to drop their jaws, because Li Ye had always presented himself with a "sharp-edged" and arrogant demeanor—a guy who could strip bark off a tree with a single stomp—so how could he swallow such a silent grievance?

Could the rumors be true?

During lunch that day, Little Zhu from the Technical Section rushed over to Li Ye: "Li Ye, Li Ye, have you heard? Our unit is going to establish a separate branch factory to pilot that ISO management system standard!"

Li Ye ate slowly and said, "I haven't heard! My ears are currently filled with a buzzing sound, like a meeting of flies; how could I hear anything about ISO?"

"Hey, you..."

Little Zhu knew Li Ye had been wronged these past few days, but he still whispered an explanation: "I heard that once the branch factory is established, Guan Liang is going to be the factory director!

He was only promoted to section chief last year, and this year he's already at the deputy division level. Plus, he hasn't stepped foot in the workshop for a single day; how could he understand technology and management? It's truly unreasonable."

Li Ye paused and asked suspiciously, "This matter has to be discussed in a meeting, right? Don't spread rumors about things that haven't even taken shape yet."

"I'm not spreading rumors. If you don't believe me, go check the bulletin board," Little Zhu said indignantly. "Although it's not time to decide on the personnel yet, the commendation for Guan Liang has already been put forward.

Guan Liang had the foresight to translate foreign materials and made a major contribution to this significant management reform. Isn't it obvious they are planning to promote him?"

Li Ye said indifferently, "If they want to promote him, let them! You draw your blueprints, and I'll do my supply work. What does it have to do with us?"

"I just can't stand it," Little Zhu said with a sour face. "He doesn't know management, he doesn't know production; can just a bootlicker become a factory director?"

"..."

Li Ye looked at the unconvinced Little Zhu and couldn't help but laugh.

These words must have been instilled in Little Zhu by those old guys in the Technical Section; otherwise, how could this kid, who had only been in the factory for a few years, have such deep resentment?

Only those old guys who had worked hard their whole lives, wanted to be promoted, but never were, would have the guts to criticize a "red-hot" figure like Guan Liang.

And the reason they were criticizing Guan Liang in front of him—could it be that someone had guessed something?

"Little Zhu! I don't look up to bootlickers either, but I have to tell you a cruel truth: bootlicking is a technical job, and the skill level required is quite high."

Li Ye also liked people who did practical work and intended to be one himself, but he wouldn't look down on bootlickers.

Sycophants are a type of person who is very annoying in a unit, but these people can generally get along very well.

Many people with straightforward temperaments like Little Zhu attribute the reason to sycophants providing a large amount of emotional value to leaders, but in fact, the truth is far from that simple.

Can a few auspicious words earn a promotion? That would be underestimating those in power.

If a superior wants to implement their will, they must have the cooperation and obedience of their subordinates, because they cannot do the work themselves!

But as for those subordinates doing the work, whether they do it to a 100-point standard or a 60-point standard depends entirely on their personal ability and the degree to which they implement the leader's wishes.

A certain scholar once said—the power granted to you by a superior is only effective when their subordinates are willing to implement and execute it.

That is to say, if subordinates have their own will, the force with which they execute the superior's tasks will be discounted.

And the reason bootlickers can rise faster in the workplace is that they have completely abandoned their personal will and follow the leader's lead in everything.

If the boss's words are right, they must be executed 100%; if the boss's words are wrong, they must be executed 100% even more.

To the superior boss, is such a person still a "sycophantic villain"? This is clearly a loyal and obedient henchman!

For example, so many emperors were willing to reuse the eunuch faction precisely because the emperor's orders were heavily discounted in front of the "pure" officials; if you got 30% execution out of 100% imperial power, you were already burning incense.

But what about the eunuch faction and the sycophants? At the very least, they would execute it to 90% or more.

So, everyone has known since ancient times that bootlickers are despised, but they are never eradicated.

The boss draws a pie, they shout that it's delicious; the boss points a general, they are the first to shout "received"; the boss makes a mistake, they are the first to jump out and take the blame.

You say, is it an accident that such a person gets promoted?

Promotion Principle No. 2—Power extension; Guan Liang fully meets the conditions.

As for whether promoting him conforms to the interests of the unit's collective staff, that is another matter entirely.

"Ring-ring-ring~"

"Hello? Who is it? Looking for Li Ye?"

Around three or four in the afternoon, Li Ye was sitting in his chair killing time! Suddenly, there was a phone call for him.

Li Ye took it and heard it was Watching Liu Muhan.

Watching Liu Muhan asked crisply, "Big nephew, you called me a few days ago, right? What's the matter?"

Li Ye said in a deep voice, "There is indeed something. Are you free this afternoon? Come to my house for dinner!"

"Go to your house for dinner?"

Watching Liu Muhan said unexpectedly, "Why, you want me to do something for you, but you're too stingy to treat me to a restaurant?"

Li Ye had no choice but to say, "Yes, I'm just stingy. I have to serve my wife dinner tonight; you coming over is just a matter of adding a pair of chopsticks."

"..."

Watching Liu Muhan was silent for a moment, then asked in a deep voice, "It seems you really have something to ask me. What exactly is it? Is it inconvenient to say on the phone?"

Li Ye whispered, "Yes, it's not very convenient."

Watching Liu Muhan immediately said crisply, "Alright then, I'll be there on time tonight. You better prepare a few good dishes!"

"No problem, delicious and filling."

Before six o'clock in the evening, Watching Liu Muhan really came over alone, and even brought a few gifts.

Li Ye was still busy in the kitchen, and Watching Wen Leyu was chatting with Watching Liu Muhan.

Both of them were from the English department and later both had contact with foreign-funded companies, so they had plenty of common topics to talk about.

However, Watching Liu Muhan's eyes kept drifting to Watching Wen Leyu's small belly; the more she looked, the more envious and greedy she became.

And Watching Wen Leyu was even more smug than smug could be.

I have twins, do you? This isn't something you can just have if you want to!

After Li Ye finished his work and they sat at the table, Watching Liu Muhan said, "I have to apologize to you first. That matter with Zhang Rui was my fault for implicating you. I didn't know he went to find my father, and my father went to find your grandfather..."

Li Ye laughed, "That's not a big deal. What kind of friendship do my grandfather and your grandfather have? I reckon that because of this, the two of them bickered, and their relationship actually got even better!"

"You're right about that," Watching Liu Muhan said, both angry and amused. "My mother called me and said your grandfather and my father had several arguments a few days ago. They're such grown men, yet the more they argue, the more addicted they get..."

"That's because there are fewer and fewer people left to argue with!"

Li Ye felt a bit emotional. He knew how happy it was to have a brother you could argue with at any time and not hold a grudge afterward.

Watching Liu Muhan smiled and shook her head, then suddenly said, "By the way, my mother called me and mentioned one more thing. She wants to buy a house in the capital. You have more experience, right? Help me brainstorm a bit!"

Li Ye nodded and said, "What kind of house? A courtyard house?"

Watching Liu Muhan's father was also a writer in the Writers Association, so he had a large amount of royalties in his hands. Li Ye guessed that Li Zhongfa had chatted with him and given him some inspiration.

Watching Liu Muhan smiled and said, "Yes, that's the kind of house that will be worth millions in the future."

Li Ye pursed his lips and said amusingly, "Then why does your grandfather have to look far away? Courtyard houses are valuable because they are rare. The detached old Western-style houses in Shanghai are also excellent; their appreciation potential is no worse than the courtyard houses in the capital!"

Watching Liu Muhan restrained her smile and said seriously, "My parents are getting old, and my brother and I are both in the capital. If they can move to the capital, my brother and I can take care of them nearby."

Only then did Li Ye understand Watching Liu Muhan's intention.

It could be said that Watching Liu Muhan and Liu Muyang were anomalies, because in this day and age, very few Shanghainese were willing to leave Shanghai voluntarily.

In the early 1980s, newspapers publicly reported that some Shanghai candidates only wanted to apply for universities in Shanghai when taking the college entrance exam, not even going to universities in the capital, let alone accepting job assignments elsewhere.

In the case of the Liu siblings, they definitely had the connections to work in Shanghai, but both of them came to the capital.

"Oh, that was my lack of consideration. I will help you look for a suitable courtyard house immediately."

Li Ye thought for a moment and said, "I have a courtyard house by Beihai. You can go take a look in the next few days to see if you like it. If you do, I'll sell it to you at a discount, just as a tribute to your grandfather."

"Eh? Why are you so generous again?"

Watching Liu Muhan pushed up her glasses and suddenly smiled, "By the way, you said you had something to ask me, but you haven't said what it is yet! It won't be very difficult to handle, right?"

"It is indeed a bit difficult!"

Li Ye looked at Watching Liu Muhan, then at Watching Wen Leyu, and explained the situation in detail.

"Do you remember the person we met at the automotive industry exhibition before the Spring Festival? Now it involves you, and I feel very ashamed..."

The fact that this matter involved Watching Liu Muhan was indeed all Li Ye's fault.

To be honest, if your grandfather and Grandmother Gao found out about this, they might even complain to him a few times!

A girl who is clean and innocent gets splashed with such dirty water for no reason; what if it affects her future marriage?

However, after Watching Liu Muhan heard this, she wasn't angry. Instead, she asked in surprise, "Who is so blind as to dare bully you?"

Li Ye smiled sheepishly, "You said it yourself, he's blind. What kind of big shot could he be?"

Watching Liu Muhan nodded, "Your business as my big nephew is my business, not to mention that this matter has provoked me too!

We must discuss a foolproof plan; we can't let him off easily."

"Right, we can't let him off."

Watching Wen Leyu also chimed in, and then the two of them started discussing it.

Li Ye, the main party involved, couldn't even get a word in by the end, because these two young women were both very formidable! ===== CHAPTER 705 =====