Chapter 1009: The Future

"Good news!"

Li Li Xuewu smiled slightly and asked, "How has the station arranged things?"

"Deputy Director Xing took over my shift,"

Ji Ji Yuxiu replied, "This morning, Director Zheng spoke with us on behalf of the organization."

"And also—"

She looked at Li Li Xuewu and said with a serious expression, "The position in the Public Security Division has been finalized too; Wang Zheng, whom you mentioned, will serve as Deputy Director."

"Mm, that's quite good."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Just like you, she is a female comrade, and similarly possesses that driving spirit."

He might say it that way, but Ji Ji Yuxiu could not listen to it that way; one must always have self-awareness.

Li Li Xuewu was her second elder brother-in-law; when family speaks, they naturally take each other's side, and Li Li Xuewu treated her with even more care than he treated his own kin.

In fact, Ji Ji Yuxiu was very clear about the gap between herself and Wang Zheng, which involved not just family background and status.

Although Wang Zheng was considerably older than her, she possessed work experience within the Ministry and was a genuine powerhouse of ability.

If one were to look back at family and origins again, Ji Ji Yuxiu could not compare even less.

But even so, Ji Ji Yuxiu felt very content; in this family, no one truly evaluated anything based on the level of her position.

Moreover, in reaching this point today, her parents had contributed very little, almost negligibly; it was mostly due to Li Li Xuewu's care and support.

Just as she had demonstrated moments ago, even though she knew clearly she had done nothing herself, within a year she had risen from a propaganda cadre to a deputy section-level post in the agency; indeed, she had to be grateful to her second brother.

She was very content to have such an in-law family that liked her and took care of her.

Her parents and elder brother had traveled far to Port City for work; if she were not truly comfortable living here, they could never have felt at ease.

Her family still had a sister-in-law; generally speaking, wouldn't a younger sister-in-law and an elder sister-in-law be living together?

Yet she happened to love the atmosphere of this household; the Eunuch and the mother-in-law had early on arranged housing for her, taking care of her food and clothing.

Today was the excitement of career advancement, bringing the joy of sharing with family, which brought many thoughts to mind, including the contributions of her second brother.

Li Li Xuewu could see her feelings but did not dwell on them; smiling, he gestured toward the upstairs, then walked outward while instructing her to go early and return early.

"Second Brother!"

Ji Ji Yuxiu called out to Li Li Xuewu, who had only taken two steps, and reminded him, "The Director of the Public Security Division is Yu Yu Daru."

"I know."

Li Li Xuewu turned back, nodded with a smile, gestured again for her to hurry upstairs, and then departed.

Ji Ji Yuxiu watched him get into the car, waved goodbye, and only then went upstairs.

Although she had not participated in that case, and although she had no connections within the agency, from her second brother's few words and his instructions and arrangements to her, one could still see the complexity of this game of maneuvering.

But since her second brother said he already knew, it meant he was prepared.

Or rather... Yu Yu Daru assuming his new post in the Public Security Division was precisely her second brother's arrangement.

On the surface, the turmoil in Dongcheng was a chain of cases triggered by a credit union employee, merely lasting a long time and affecting a wide area.

At a deeper level, the sub-bureau actively strove for initiative in handling this matter and faced the problems head-on.

In conjunction with the later actions of the disciplinary and supervisory department in charge of the case, they took the offensive and severely cracked down on a series of issues.

Furthermore, because certain actions or expressions during the case handling resonated with the current situation, some people deepened their interpretation of it, then sought to exploit this influence to achieve certain objectives.

Ridiculously, the evil cause one plants oneself must inevitably bear evil fruit; although the matter of the Lai father and son was handled very decisively, it still slapped certain people in the face.

That slap certainly hurt badly; otherwise, it would be impossible that, in order to eliminate the impact, they would maneuver in every direction to strike secretly at Li Li Xuewu, who was involved in the case.

It is not terrible when things go wrong; what is terrible is when the cause and effect of the matter fall upon one's own head.

These people were the sharpest of the sharp; how could they allow themselves to be struck by lightning? Was it not by muddying the waters so that the lightning would not hit them?

After all, they stood high and saw far; they only needed to single out Li Li Xuewu as a node in the relationship network, which would inevitably implicate a large group of people.

To say that being singled out was unjust would truly not be unjust; among anyone related to this case, no one else could be found with such great influence.

Just consider him alone; from top to bottom, left and right, if something truly went wrong, how many people would be dragged in?

By that time, let alone the water becoming muddy, the bowl itself would likely be shattered.

Fortunately, Li Li Xuewu could hold steady, and Heaven also hates those who act against their conscience; this situation truly changed like a child's face, shifting in an instant.

In less than a month, heaven and earth turned upside down, and even the handle of the knife was voluntarily handed into Li Li Xuewu's hands.

Those who know Li Li Xuewu all know that he is no kind-hearted person, but rather the most ruthless and vicious of individuals.

When he had no knife, he was already calculating how to trap people; now with the knife in hand, his killing intent would surely rise.

Perhaps the one who knows you best is not your friend, but your enemy.

Therefore, as soon as Li Li Xuewu made his move, someone on the other side could not withstand the psychological pressure and knelt.

Kneeling is not a solution to the problem, because when they execute you by firing squad, you will have to kneel for them too.

Huo Ding was not honest before Li Li Xuewu and did not even have the fundamental intention to admit defeat, so why should Li Li Xuewu be polite to him?

Yu Yu Daru was merely a fool driven by profit, unable to see the direction of the wind, knowing only to press hard on the accelerator.

But even a fool has his uses; Li Li Xuewu did not mind striking the mountain to shake the tiger and using him as the first target.

The actions of Zheng Zheng Fuhua and Gao Zhen at the sub-bureau were very fast; the case was to conclude before the New Year, and the personnel issues were also resolved before the New Year.

Wang Zheng being assigned down to the sub-bureau as Deputy Director of the Public Security Division, regarding the impact caused by the current case, had the effect of settling the matter with a single hammer blow.

Her descent was not merely a matter of personal job transfer; it also carried the meaning of key attention from the Ministry.

It also represented the attitude of those above toward this case; with any further implication, people would likely be panic-stricken, and there would be no way to pass the New Year.

From another perspective, although the sub-bureau encountered such a major incident this time, its personnel structure was not adjusted, or rather, even though negative impacts arose, there was temporarily no need for adjustment.

With the sub-bureau remaining stationary and the Ministry making arrangements, Li Li Xuewu placed Yu Yu Daru in the position he had once wanted but now no longer desired, which was essentially putting the Secret Security Department on the stove to burn its buttocks.

Of course, this was impossible before; previously, the other side held the upper hand, and Li Li Xuewu dared not act rashly.

He would not even have had anywhere to appeal for justice if something had gone wrong.

But now that it was his turn to speak, he deliberately remained silent; since the authorities above had already opened their heavenly eyes, he would push these scoundrels out into the light for them to see, letting those above witness firsthand who was actually stirring up trouble.

In this case, Li Li Xuewu had walked upright and stood straight, touching not a shred of personal gain, and from beginning to end had received only commendations.

The more he remained silent now, the more he stepped back, the more those people would be exposed, feeling unbearable agony.

This tactic is called retreating to advance, sacrificing to gain, and bending to extend.

The Cloth-Bag Monk once wrote a Zen poem:

"Holding green seedlings, planting them across the field,

Bowing low, one sees the sky reflected in the water.

A mind pure and cool is the true Dao;

Stepping backward is, in truth, moving forward."

In life, understanding humility and knowing when to step back is not weakness or submission, but rather a form of wisdom.

Just like transplanting rice seedlings; only by stepping backward can one plant the seedlings into the field.

Li Li Xuewu's current retreat was solely to better thrust the muzzle of his gun into the enemy's mouth.

The *Tao Te Ching* states: "The way of the sage is to act without contention, to possess without striving; because he does not contend, no one in the world can contend with him."

For those below, the recent turmoil in Dongcheng could be described as a veritable feast.

Over three hundred positions were suddenly placed before them, dazzling their eyes and making them anxious to choose.

At such a time, whoever rushed forward to compete would carry the resentment of those behind them, even if the decision came from the organization itself.

If this had merely involved Lai Lai Shanchuan of the branch bureau, or if the explosion of this mine had been delayed slightly, Li Li Xuewu would never have thrown away the peach he already held in hand.

But this mine exploded too quickly, too fast to allow for any arrangement, leaving no choice but to dodge.

Even so, after the explosion, it still attracted prying eyes and schemes; it was not entirely an unprovoked disaster.

The reason Li Li Xuewu could handle matters with such composure was that he had anticipated this long ago.

This matter could not be as simple as it appeared on the surface, and naturally, its conclusion could not be so simple either.

Therefore, in the first half, he was passively taking blows, unable to end it even if he wanted to; now, he was taking the initiative to attack, and he would not allow the other party to end it even if they wanted to.

Matters soon began to ferment further, and the direction of the wind became increasingly clear.

On Tuesday, February 3rd, Peng Peng Xiaoli had already folded the newspaper and marked the key points.

Li Li Xuewu merely glanced at it and grasped the general situation.

The first item stated that the authorities above had once again issued a notice regarding out-of-town progressive teachers and students: all nationwide long-distance walking "study tours" must cease immediately.

Actually, by this time, not many people were still wandering around outside.

The Spring Festival was approaching; it was time to return home for reunion, and continuing to wander would turn everyone into savages.

Furthermore, at this time, with ice and snow everywhere, it was genuinely cold.

Depending on how things stood at the Rolling Steel Factory, in December they provided food but not clothing, freezing out all those who had been loitering and refusing to leave the International Hotel.

Of course, even with the notice from above and despite the ice and snow, there were still some people who would not return home.

Why?

They were merely using the excuse of not returning to school.

Everyone here had attended school and been a student; truly, when encountering a major power outage and the teacher announced an early dismissal, what was everyone's reaction?

Now look at these young people; with teachers no longer managing them, offering a free nationwide tour like letting sheep graze, would you go or not?

One or two together might still hesitate, but with three or four, their courage would swell.

Carrying red flags, they would dare to walk from Harbin all the way to Hainan Island.

Do not disbelieve it; in this era, it was indeed rare to see people riding vehicles, as everyone's mode of travel actually relied on walking.

Walking to visit relatives, walking to attend the market, walking to the commune, walking to the county hospital...

There were even youths in a certain southern county town who woke up one morning, thought it over, washed their faces, and decided to walk to Jingcheng to watch the flag-raising ceremony.

Speaking of others, take Li Li Xuewu's father, Li Shun; if not for Yin Yin Mancang keeping watch and Li Xucai persuading him, he would have walked all the way home by himself.

The reason was simple: he did not want to trouble his son, nor did he want to add burden to the public sector.

Look at the streets in later generations; where are the young people idling about all day? Even those in their thirties and forties are few; it is all elderly people.

They had already become accustomed to walking; even cycling was considered a luxurious joy.

Taking the bus for travel might not be to save money; for some, it was a desire to feel the liveliness of society, for as one grows old, the heart grows lonelier, fearing that days pass too quickly.

They had indeed experienced far, far too much.

The second piece of news in the newspaper was related to this:

When receiving visiting foreign personnel, the authorities above pointed out during conversations: "In the past, we carried out transformations in the countryside, transformations in the factories, and transformations in the literary and artistic situation, conducting extensive educational activities."

"However, this cannot solve the fundamental problems, because we have not yet found a form, a method, to openly, comprehensively, and from the bottom up organize more of the masses to participate in teams responding to actual problems."

Understanding the depth of this statement, it was obvious that the authorities above firmly believed that the Great Study Campaign was the only form capable of solving the so-called "actual problems."

But at the same time, the authorities above also clearly recognized the contradictions that had arisen during the implementation of the Great Study Campaign under the current circumstances.

In particular, they criticized the currently prevalent disorganized ideology of doubting everything and transforming everything.

Li Li Xuewu had calculated precisely that this move would come; combined with the notice issued by the authorities above last month, starting today, the situation had entered another stage.

He termed this the "cooling-down phase after overheating."

It was very vivid and very apt; it was just unknown how many people would suddenly discover at this moment that they were standing on a beach at low tide, their underpants already floated away.

"How has this been handled!"

At the city-wide key industry symposium held on the eve of the New Year, the leader in charge of industry and economic development slammed the table and erupted in anger.

The reason was that the Rolling Steel Factory had already completed the layout of an electronic industry production base in Steel City, yet this matter had only just been reported to him.

This was especially significant when combined with the Rolling Steel Factory's earlier layout of key production industries in Steel City, such as the automotive industry and the hardware industry.

With the Red Star Rolling Steel Factory officially approved and its application for corporatization submitted, another trust-level industrial giant was about to rise in Jingcheng.

For the industrial regulatory authorities of Jingcheng, however, this was hardly good news.

If industrial development carried attributes of territorial management, offering certain advantages in taxation and personnel, then the Red Star Steel Rolling Plant clearly had no intention of leaving them even a scrap to eat.

From the information gathered, it was learned that the Red Star Steel Rolling Plant even intended to transfer its steel rolling operations to Steel City once its goal of corporatization was achieved.

Even though the development philosophy outlined in the proposal—emphasizing ecological balance, technological advancement, and a greater focus on humanistic values—was highly forward-thinking.

In particular, the Liangma River Ecological Industrial Park planned by the Steel Rolling Plant would undoubtedly become a landmark of Jingcheng's industrial system once constructed.

This could not obscure the fact that Jingcheng's industry would lose a key production unit.

The development and production of the Steel Rolling Plant in Jingcheng were strongly supported by downstream heavy industry and the steel sector, forming, together with the Jingcheng Steel Group, the pillar of the steel industry in the North China region.

If the Steel Rolling Plant were lost, it would undoubtedly mean that he, as the supervising leader, had failed in his duties regarding Jingcheng's industry.

Cheng Kaiyuan and Li Li Xuewu attended the meeting together, while Li Li Huai De had another engagement.

At the venue, the leaders erupted in anger; sitting below, they bore the strange gazes of other peer units, which was truly uncomfortable.

Yet industrial development possesses a cold and ruthless side; one could even say that the laws of development do not shift according to individual will.

Considering the matter from the perspective of Jingcheng's industry, naturally, retaining the Steel Rolling Plant within the city was the most beneficial course.

But viewing it from the Steel Rolling Plant's own standpoint, an enterprise must shed certain shackles to develop; otherwise, only death awaits it.

Cheng Kaiyuan did not respond to the city's inquiries during the meeting, nor did he offer any corresponding explanations regarding the relevant issues.

Li Li Xuewu could see that the city authorities were dissatisfied with the Red Star Steel Rolling Plant's actions, even holding grievances against them.

Zheng Zheng Shusen did not work at the municipal government but was in the Municipal Management Committee Organization Group; comprehensively speaking, he ranked third and supervised organization and personnel.

He was not present at this Industrial Economy Symposium, but Ren Ren Xiaoyu was encountered instead.

Upon leaving the venue, taking advantage of the gap when Cheng Kaiyuan was called away to report on work, Ren Ren Xiaoyu summoned him to the office for a smoke.

Ren Ren Xiaoyu was Sister Xie's husband, serving as Deputy Director in the Government Office, a highly capable individual.

As soon as they entered the room, he actively brewed tea for Li Li Xuewu.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu take out his own cigarettes, he expressed dissatisfaction, insisting on sharing his instead.

Ren Ren Xiaoyu's family background was similar to Dong Wenxue's; both suffered hardship in their youth and were taken in by Gu Gu Haitao to be raised.

His parents passed away in 1940; had it not been for Gu Gu Haitao, he might have ended up like many others of similar background, holed up in some rural village farming the land.

For them, their status was a danger for the first decade and a burden for the second.

Therefore, in the several times Li Li Xuewu had seen Ren Ren Xiaoyu, he had never detected any arrogance or sharpness typical of a scion.

He was simple and steady, possessing the persistence and enthusiasm of the younger generation, as well as the hot-bloodedness and sense of responsibility of the striving generation.

Compared to Dong Wenxue, working in the Government Office meant he encountered more storms and operated in a more complex environment.

This had forged his unyielding character and firm convictions; he and Sister Xie lived very harmoniously, as could be seen during gatherings.

Toward Li Li Xuewu, Ren Ren Xiaoyu regarded him even as family, valuing him like a younger brother-in-law.

Ever since Dong Wenxue selected him to send to Gu Gu Haitao for a blind date, Ren Ren Xiaoyu had been silently observing Li Li Xuewu.

Especially when storms suddenly arose, this young man could keenly observe shifts in the wind and decisively judge the correct line of thought, achieving much.

What was rare was his ability to think independently and strike decisively; the only areas where he might currently fall short of Dong Wenxue were age and seniority.

Even Dong Wenxue's appointment to the Steel Rolling Plant, in his view, owed more than half its credit to Li Li Xuewu.

Including the calamity Dong Wenxue encountered last year, Han Shu was somewhat proud and reserved, which was related to her natal family.

Yet Han Shu was also calm and wise; at least in handling this matter, Ren Ren Xiaoyu stood on Han Shu's side.

If one viewed this issue through the lens of Han Shu's family background, Dong Wenxue would need to conduct a profound self-criticism.

But with Han Shu's understanding and forbearance, and his own sudden repentance, Han Shu's natal family simply considered it best for the couple to be on good terms, above all else.

Han Shu's father was a veteran of the military industry, hailed as the Father of Light Armaments, and was among the first batch of cadres to receive titles with the character "Zhong" in 1955.

Moreover, he had worked for many years in foreign affairs departments, displaying great integrity and noble character.

What impressed Ren Ren Xiaoyu most was his ability to retire gracefully; due to health reasons, he had retired to his home the year before last, that is, in 1965.

And it was not that Han Shu's father was only sixty; having been robust and highly skilled in martial arts since childhood, his voluntary step down explained many things.

He had grown up listening to these elders and watching how they conducted themselves; for him, this was both life and a process of learning.

Therefore, he greatly appreciated young people like Li Li Xuewu, who were youthful but not frivolous, steady and dignified, and understood tolerance and how to conduct oneself in society.

The two lit cigarettes and sat on the sofa in the office.

Ren Ren Xiaoyu raised his hand, gesturing to Li Li Xuewu, and asked, "Wenxue came back a few days ago; why didn't you come to the house?"

"He was busy, and I was busy too."

Li Li Xuewu gave a bitter smile, then shook his head slightly, saying, "It was rare for him to return; we talked at the unit, and I couldn't bear to go to the house and take up Teacher Han's time."

"Hehehe~"

Ren Ren Xiaoyu chuckled softly, looking at Li Li Xuewu and saying, "You are quite considerate of them; your eldest sister and I never thought of that; we just mooched two meals."

"Who asked you to live so close?"

Li Li Xuewu took a drag of his cigarette and said, "Aunt Xiao Ning cannot move right now, and it is inconvenient for me to go alone."

Ren Ren Xiaoyu nodded slightly, indicating he understood Li Li Xuewu's meaning.

Actually, he also understood that the conflict between Dong Wenxue and Han Shu had been passively resolved by Li Li Xuewu.

Couples may fight by the bed and make up by the bed, but the work of mediating in between is actually not easy to do; it easily leads to awkwardness.

Especially given Li Li Xuewu's status as both younger brother-in-law and student.

At that time, the two of them might have needed someone with such a close relationship to coordinate from the middle.

But after reconciliation, when facing Li Li Xuewu again, whether it was Dong Wenxue or Han Shu, they might have felt somewhat ashamed or awkward.

If Gu Ning or other family members had been present, this matter would have been fine.

But with Li Li Xuewu alone, it was simply not appropriate for him to visit Dong Wenxue's home by himself.

"No holiday for the New Year; that's what he told me."

Putting down his crossed legs, Ren Ren Xiaoyu flicked the ash from his cigarette and said, "Did you call Jin Ling? You said you wouldn't be coming back, right?"

"My mother might wait until Aunt Xiao Ning gives birth before returning."

Li Li Xuewu introduced, "My father definitely won't be able to come back, and I don't want him to return at this time either."

"Hmm, indeed."

Ren Ren Xiaoyu nodded, looking at Li Li Xuewu and asking, "Are there any difficulties? I heard you've been bullied recently?"

"Hehe~"

Li Li Xuewu laughed out loud and said to him, "You really know how to play dumb. What month is it now? Why not ask again in a while?"

"Isn't this for your own good?"

Ren Ren Xiaoyu smiled and said, "I was wondering why you suddenly stirred up such a huge trouble; I didn't expect you to be playing the 'climb the wall and pull the ladder' game."

"You overestimate me; I don't have that kind of scheming mind."

Li Li Xuewu smiled bitterly and shook his head, tapping the cigarette butt, and said, "It's just fate and opportunity; take one step and see the next. His falling into the pit has little to do with me."

"Hmm, alright. You have steadiness and courage."

Ren Ren Xiaoyu looked at him, nodded, and asked with eyes slightly narrowed, "It seems you know who the other party is."

"Eight or nine out of ten. With just a few moves, even counting with your toes would figure it out."

Li Li Xuewu took a drag of his cigarette without much concern, the smoke swirling before his eyes, and asked with eyes slightly narrowed, "Did my father call you?"

"I called him; I was also afraid he wouldn't understand the situation."

Ren Ren Xiaoyu looked at Li Li Xuewu, took a deep breath, and said, "You should have proactively told Jin Ling about this matter. Even if our family isn't the best, we shouldn't let you suffer this kind of grievance."

He said with some indignation, "It's truly like an old lady eating persimmons, picking only the soft ones to squeeze, thinking our family can't stand up for itself."

"It's not that big of a deal."

Li Li Xuewu could see that Ren Ren Xiaoyu truly cared about him and comforted him, saying, "It's more convenient for me to handle it myself; troubling my father would only complicate things."

"You really see things so openly."

Ren Ren Xiaoyu smiled at him and said, "Ding Ayi feels sorry for you and said she wants to come back to settle some old scores with certain people."

"Absolutely not, it's not worth it."

Li Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "From beginning to end, I never intended to get involved in this matter, nor would I stand up to accept the challenge. If they have the ability, let them play this game of chess slowly."

"Hmm, that aligns with what Uncle Gu thinks. He supports you, saying this is a rare opportunity for training."

Ren Ren Xiaoyu took a drag of his cigarette and said, "However, the accounts that need to be settled must be settled clearly; otherwise, people will truly think our family has no one left."

Saying this, he tapped the cigarette butt in the ashtray and instructed, "You go ahead and do it boldly; we don't start trouble, but we aren't afraid of it either."

Li Li Xuewu smiled bitterly repeatedly at what he said; he truly never thought about standing up to create any trouble.

Even though the case had drawn out major trouble, he had never thought of escalating the conflict or making it intense.

Using changes in the wind and situation to guide the problem gradually to become clear, or even guiding the situation to shift from defense to offense, was merely an operational tactic.

With that person he had never met, the two were playing chess across a chessboard; decisive and ruthless, what they dismantled was merely the chess pieces on the board.

Li Li Xuewu didn't even want to meet the other party face-to-face, or say anything harsh.

If he had that kind of ruthlessness, he could use it in his schemes; what cuts deep isn't a sharp blade cutting through a tangle, but a dull knife cutting flesh.

"The city's industry has a lot of complaints against us."

Li Li Xuewu proactively changed the subject and asked, "Is there going to be some major move?"

"No, don't imagine things."

Ren Ren Xiaoyu took a drag of his cigarette and said, "It's just using an incident to discuss the incident. If you really want to form a group, can he stop it even if he tries?"

"It was originally jointly managed by the city and the ministry; now it's just being upgraded to the ministry level. You just focus on development; he's just talking."

"Furthermore,"

Ren Ren Xiaoyu tapped Li Li Xuewu and prompted, "If someone opposes, someone supports. Everything has two sides; it depends on how you operate."

"You can rest assured about this. The factory has established a preparatory group specifically for this work."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, and just as he finished speaking, Peng Peng Xiaoli's voice came from the doorway; Cheng Kaiyuan had returned to report on his work.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu stand up and signal, Ren Ren Xiaoyu nodded and saw him out the door.

In the corridor, Cheng Kaiyuan's brows were slightly furrowed; seeing Li Li Xuewu come out, he nodded and waited at the stairwell to go down together.

But seeing the cadre who came out to see Li Li Xuewu off, his expression shifted slightly again, and his gaze immediately became much more peaceful.

"Our factory leader, Deputy Director Cheng."

Seeing Ren Ren Xiaoyu see him off to this point, Li Li Xuewu proactively introduced the two: "This is Deputy Director Ren from the Government Office."

Both were Deputy Directors, but the level and significance of their positions were different.

Although Cheng Kaiyuan's position after transferring to local service was certainly higher than Ren Ren Xiaoyu's, the problem was that transferring jobs wasn't easy.

One might hear that a cadre from a certain enterprise had transferred to an important local position, but one didn't see the special nature of this position or the personnel transferring.

Even if many transferred, those were special cases; it seemed that Cheng Kaiyuan's current work achievements or job characteristics were not yet sufficient to find a suitable position in Jingcheng.

But for Ren Ren Xiaoyu to transfer into a factory was much easier; he could even be promoted to a higher level for appointment, and coming out again would be very convenient.

This was the differentiation caused by work attributes and appointment attributes; many people spend their whole lives unable to figure it out or understand it.

Under Li Li Xuewu's introduction, the two shook hands and exchanged a few words, getting to know each other.

After going downstairs and getting into the car, Cheng Kaiyuan then casually asked Li Li Xuewu how he and Ren Ren Xiaoyu had met.

Li Li Xuewu's way of speaking depended on the timing; when he was in a good mood, his words could be sweet enough to kill a person, but if he was not in a good mood, or didn't want others to be in a good mood, his words would specifically poke at the other person's lungs.

His answer to Cheng Kaiyuan was very direct; he only said that Director Li had introduced them.

Good heavens, this one sentence directly shoved all of Cheng Kaiyuan's subsequent words back into his stomach; he didn't speak for a long time, and his face looked extremely ugly.

Only after the car got onto the main road did he stiffly bring up the matter of just reporting work in the leader's office.

He spoke of the leader's dissatisfaction with the current industrial design and integration plan of the Rolling Steel Factory, and mentioned the city's policies and support strength for the factory, and so on.

The implication was singular: to persuade the Steel Rolling Plant to alter its current development strategy and focus its efforts on industrial growth within Jingcheng.

Even if a group enterprise were established, the municipal government could offer support, even granting preferential treatment in terms of finance and policy.

The precondition was that the steel rolling industry must remain stationary; land would be provided where needed, funds where required, all for development within Jingcheng, recruiting local labor to create industrial value and influence.

Regarding tertiary industries, the municipal government even suggested redefining the plant zones for hardware, electronics, and automotive sectors within Jingcheng.

As for the costs incurred by changing the plan, the municipal government could help resolve a portion, provided the Steel Rolling Plant "reined in its horse at the cliff's edge."

Cheng Kaiyuan relayed a great deal; the meaning was obvious: he was to convey these words to Li Li Huai De.

Or rather, to let Li Li Xuewu, a participant in formulating this development plan, hear just how much pressure the factory was enduring due to his "wild fantasies."

Li Li Xuewu had been listening the entire time without offering an opinion, until the car neared the factory grounds.

He looked at Cheng Kaiyuan and asked only one question: If the Steel Rolling Plant placed both production and management in the same region, how could it guarantee in the future that local authorities would not interfere with or impact the enterprise's management and operations?

To Zhang Zhang Shicheng, Secretary Cheng's secretary, this question seemed somewhat alarmist.

How far away was the future? At what time? Given the Steel Rolling Plant's current scale of development, why worry about anyone interfering with enterprise operations?

In his view, Deputy Director Li's probing questioning was an opposition directed personally at Deputy Director Cheng, a bias and negation against Cheng's management philosophy.

However, Cheng Kaiyuan, seated in the back row, chose silence after Li Li Xuewu raised this question, even breaking out in a fine sweat on his forehead.

Every gift comes with a hidden price tag attached privately from the very beginning.

If the Steel Rolling Plant readjusted its development layout, it would surely gain the support of the factory workers, as they would no longer need to consider working far from home.

It would further gain the support of Jingcheng's industry; an effective increase in output value and production capacity would not only drive tax revenue growth but also alleviate issues regarding labor and society.

Of course, while Jingcheng's industry offered policy and financial support, the Steel Rolling Plant would also need to pay a certain price.

The more one developed within Jingcheng, the more inseparable one became from this industrial circle, especially when production and management were located in the same region.

Cheng Kaiyuan understood clearly the meanings both within and beyond Li Li Xuewu's words: what Jingcheng's industry gave today would be taken back tomorrow with double the interest.

Even after Hongxing Steel Rolling Plant completed its industrial deployment, these policies could change at any moment due to shifts in personnel.

No rule stipulated that a successor lacked the right to alter decisions made during a predecessor's term.

Therefore, when he pinned all his chips on a single person, it meant he had already lost himself.

If an enterprise lost itself in its operations, what would happen?

Cheng Kaiyuan closed his eyes and asked in a weary voice, "How do you view today's meeting?"

"Me?"

Li Li Xuewu first echoed the question, then paused, finally letting out a breath as he said, "Understand it earnestly, ponder it earnestly."

"That's it?"

Cheng Kaiyuan turned to look at Li Li Xuewu; hearing no follow-up, he thought something else was on Li's mind.

"Mm, just like that."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said, "The grand strategy of Jingcheng's industry is naturally beyond our comprehension; I am a cadre of the Steel Rolling Plant, concerned only with my own small patch of land."

Looking at Cheng Kaiyuan, he spoke seriously: "I only know that when the Steel Rolling Plant develops poorly, no one comes to discuss economics with me; when I am hungry, no one voluntarily offers charity."

Cheng Kaiyuan stared fixedly at him; as the car came to a steady stop before the main office building, he nodded and said, "I hope you are right."

After six days of competition, the results of the Steel Rolling Plant's First All-Staff Skills Competition were announced.

On February 6th, although the weather remained bitterly cold, the workers' enthusiasm ran high.

In the morning, workers across the factory grounds, in the workshops, and in the offices listened to the broadcast announcing the competition results.

Meanwhile, in the Grand Auditorium, representatives from various workshops and departments gathered together, eagerly awaiting the announcement of the results.

As the host unit for this event, the Personnel Department took the lead in organizing the on-site activities.

Deputy Secretary Gu, who supervised personnel work, presided over the meeting, while Xie Xie Lan Zhi, the head of the Personnel Department, read aloud the names of the top ten performers in each position, conferring upon them the title of "Skills Pacesetter."

Correspondingly, the top ten would all receive material rewards from the factory.

First place: one bicycle.

Second place: one radio.

Third place: one woolen blanket.

Other rankings received a set comprising a labor vest and an enamel teacup.

The rewards distributed today alone amounted to over ten thousand yuan; even though the prizes were acquired through internal channels, their value was considerable.

The price of bicycles remained firm at one hundred twenty yuan per unit, excluding industrial coupons.

Good radios cost over one hundred yuan, while ordinary ones went for sixty or seventy.

Woolen blankets were slightly cheaper, yet for many families, such items were still rare treasures.

Watching colleagues from their own units called onto the stage, draped in red ribbons and flowers, receiving certificates of honor with both hands from the factory leadership, at that moment, how many hearts leaped with envy?

Especially for the top three in each trade, the distribution of material rewards completely ignited the fire in the workers' eyes.

Today, whether for the worker representatives in the Grand Auditorium, the on-duty workers listening via broadcast, or the workers' families waiting by their radios at home, the Steel Rolling Plant's serious attitude toward technology became clearly recognized.

Setting aside other matters, that bicycle worth over one hundred yuan was something many families dreamed of obtaining.

If one truly rode that bicycle to and from work every day, wouldn't everyone know he was the number one worker in his post?

This was not merely a material reward, but an infinite spiritual reward as well.

Simultaneous with the announcement of the skills competition results, the Personnel Department also declared that the plan for position adjustments had been finalized.

Based on the rankings of the skills competition, quotas dictated how many would stay and how many would leave.

For instance, in Workshop One, which originally had three hundred workers, the Production Department and Planning Department had issued an elimination quota of one hundred.

Thus, sorting by competition results, the last one hundred would enter the procedure for position adjustment.

The one hundred positions vacated by Workshop One would first undergo internal integration and optimization, followed by the placement of newly trained workers.

The one hundred workers entering the position adjustment procedure would be re-sorted according to their competition scores.

During the internal optimization and adjustment processes in other workshops, those needing reinforcement within their quotas would be filled by selecting from this group in order.

Once all workshops and departments have completed their internal optimizations and position replenishments, the remaining personnel will be reassigned to Steel City or Jinmen based on actual circumstances.

The factory leadership held a special working meeting regarding personnel affairs in the branch factory, where Li Li Xuewu explicitly stated that the structural composition of workers in the branch factory should not be overly regionalized.

In other words, the steel mill in Steel City should not consist entirely of locals from Steel City; the personnel structure must be appropriately adjusted to coordinate the transfer of Jingcheng staff to local areas.

Only when personnel work possesses vitality and mobility will the working environment of the branch factory avoid becoming rigid and stagnant.

Li Li Huai De also did not wish for another incident like the one at the steel mill to occur in the branch factory in the future, so he seriously raised the same opinion during the meeting.

His stance was even more absolute, going so far as to demand that the proportion of employees from Jingcheng families in the branch factory exceed seventy percent.

This was despite Li Li Xuewu having reminded him that excessive reliance on personnel arrangements to influence management would create phenomena of local protectionism.

However, Li Li Huai De had deeper considerations; if personnel were not diverted outward this year, once the factory's economic environment improved next year, it would be far more difficult to transfer them out.

Since the Rolling Steel Factory already intended to shift production operations to Steel City and Yingcheng, and transfer trade management to Jinmen, it must possess the resolve to face the dilemmas of personnel work.

The Jingcheng factory zone, according to future plans, would also sell off its existing rolling steel equipment as a whole, reducing losses caused by capacity optimization.

This was also the response given by Li Li Huai De and Li Li Xuewu after their deliberations to address questions from the municipal industrial management authorities.

Since the municipality required a rolling steel factory, yet the Red Star Rolling Steel Factory did not wish to continue operating one within the Jingcheng area.

Then the solution was simple: over the next three years, the Red Star Rolling Steel Factory would guarantee that existing production capacity remained unchanged.

Within these three years, construction of the new rolling steel industry in Steel City would be completed; even if production began ahead of schedule, it would ensure that the rolling steel industry in the Jingcheng area remained unaffected.

Furthermore, within this three-year period, the Jingcheng industrial management department could research and establish a new rolling steel factory, with three years being sufficient time for site selection and construction alike.

Alternatively, if the current rolling steel factory was not to be relocated, the municipality would transfer land equivalent and adjacent to the Liangma River Industrial Zone to the Red Star Rolling Steel Factory.

The existing factory zone of the Red Star Rolling Steel Factory would then be taken over by the newly established rolling steel factory under the municipality.

Of course, including the factory zone, land, machinery, equipment, and some workers, the selling price would be set by the Red Star Rolling Steel Factory itself.

This aspect was also recognized by the municipality as a demonstration of the Red Star Rolling Steel Factory's resolve and attitude in its planning and layout.

It was precisely from this decision onward that the Red Star Rolling Steel Factory could be considered to have lost strong support from one side of the municipality.