Chapter 2610

Although Su Xinghui wanted to get in the car and leave immediately without meeting Vice Mayor Pan and the Japanese, when their car drove out of the Hujiang Machinery Factory gate, they still ran into the motorcade carrying Vice Mayor Pan and the Japanese.

Since they had run into each other, it was impossible not to meet. Mu Dezhang had the driver stop the car, and both he and Su Xinghui got out and walked to Vice Mayor Pan's car.

Vice Mayor Pan also got out of the car. Although his rank was much higher than Su Xinghui's, he did not dare to be too negligent toward Su Xinghui; it would be too arrogant to talk to Su Xinghui while sitting in the car.

As soon as he got out of the car, those Japanese naturally followed suit. Su Xinghui shook hands with Vice Mayor Pan while sizing up these Japanese.

There were about a dozen of these Japanese. The leader was an old man in his fifties, and the others were mostly middle-aged people in their thirties or forties. They followed respectfully behind the old man, not daring to take a single wrong step.

They habitually wore humble smiles on their faces, appearing very polite. However, Su Xinghui knew the Japanese too well; he knew that this humble smile was merely their mask, and beneath this mask, they were not nearly as polite.

The Japanese were typical of those who observe minor etiquette but lack great righteousness.

Vice Mayor Pan said with a smile, "Director Su, so your first stop was also Hujiang Machinery Factory?"

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "Yes, quite a coincidence."

Vice Mayor Pan asked, "How was the investigation today?"

Su Xinghui said, "I think it's not very good, but this is just my preliminary impression. It still depends on the future development of Hujiang Machinery Factory."

Vice Mayor Pan's expression was slightly displeased, but he immediately smiled again: "Come, Director Su, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Taro Ono, Chairman of Japan's Ono Precision Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd."

Vice Mayor Pan then said to the old man, "Mr. Taro Ono, this is Mr. Su Xinghui, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office of our State Planning Commission. He is here in Hujiang City for an investigation."

An interpreter behind Taro Ono chattered away in translation for him. Taro Ono bowed ninety degrees to Su Xinghui: "Hai!"

After this "Hai," Taro Ono chattered away again. The interpreter translated for Su Xinghui: "Mr. Su Xinghui, Mr. Taro Ono says he is very happy to meet you and hopes to have another opportunity to see you!"

Su Xinghui said, "Then please tell Mr. Ono that I am also very happy to meet him."

The interpreter then told Taro Ono Su Xinghui's words. Taro Ono smiled and reached out to Su Xinghui. Su Xinghui shook his hand, nodded, and then said to Vice Mayor Pan, "Vice Mayor Pan, we'll be leaving now. We won't disturb you any further!"

Vice Mayor Pan nodded and smiled. Su Xinghui and Mu Dezhang got into the car together and sped away.

Back at the municipal government guesthouse, Xing Guodong's group had not yet returned. Su Xinghui confirmed with Mu Dezhang which enterprise they would visit the next day, and Mu Dezhang said goodbye: "Director Su, you've been running around Hujiang Machinery Factory all day, get some rest."

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "Alright, Director Mu, you've worked hard too."

After Mu Dezhang left, Su Xinghui and Xia Song began to organize the information gathered from the investigation at Hujiang Machinery Factory today. The information they gathered at Hujiang Machinery Factory today was quite detailed, and they had a fairly clear grasp of the factory's history, current situation, and the reasons for this situation.

Hujiang Machinery Factory's fall into its current predicament had both the commonalities of state-owned enterprises and its own individual reasons. Therefore, to help it get out of the predicament, these reasons also needed to be analyzed clearly to prescribe the right medicine.

Su Xinghui's task this time was mainly to find common patterns in the reasons why these state-owned enterprises in Hujiang City had fallen into predicaments and to find a way for them to get out of them.

While organizing the materials, Xia Song said to Su Xinghui, "Director Su, what you said in the canteen today was truly satisfying."

Su Xinghui shook his head and laughed, "Sigh, it only relieves anger for a moment. Saying things like that makes one unpopular!"

Xia Song said, "But so many workers were applauding and cheering for you!"

Su Xinghui said, "What's the use of that? We aren't the supervisors of Hujiang Machinery Factory. Saying those things was in vain. Actually, I regretted it a bit as soon as I finished. This mouth of mine is just asking for trouble."

Xia Song said, "If we write their situation truthfully into the report, won't the central leaders take care of it?"

Su Xinghui said, "Take care of it? The central leaders would like to, but can they manage it all? There are thousands of state-owned enterprises like Hujiang Machinery Factory across the country. If the central leaders had to manage every single one, they would be exhausted to death. Therefore, the central leaders can only manage the general direction. This is why we are here to investigate—to provide reference and offer advice to the central leaders!"

Xia Song nodded. The plain truth Su Xinghui spoke made him feel a bit dejected, but he still silently recorded it in his notebook, his handwriting more firm and powerful.

Su Xinghui said, "However, if we really discover something abnormal, we should still take care of it. We can't just watch state assets being lost and do nothing, right?"

Xia Song was suddenly energized again: "Alright, Director Su, whatever you say, I'll do."

Su Xinghui smiled: "Xia Song, it's not yet clear what's going on with this matter. What can we do now? Let's continue our investigation and work normally. If we discover anything abnormal during the investigation, we'll talk about it then."

Xia Song nodded: "Okay."

Near dinner time, Xing Guodong's group returned. As soon as he returned, he went to Su Xinghui's room to report on his investigation at the Hujiang City Television Factory today.

Hujiang City Television Factory had once had its glory days. The Hujiang-brand televisions they produced were famous brand products across the country. At that time, "Hujiang goods" was synonymous with high-quality goods.