Chapter 48: Something Big Has Happened

  "Alright, let's stop here for now. We'll discuss the details later. Director Huang, please represent me and accompany Director Qi to receive them. Remember to be patient and meticulous, don't provoke any conflict."

  Although he was extremely reluctant in his heart, Guan Haoyu spoke up, and Huang Rishan had to force himself to agree.

  Huang Rusan was promoted by Guan Haoyu, who deeply trusted him. Especially in the past year or two, as Guan Haoyu faced retirement, he basically didn't ask about specific matters within SASAC, and daily work was presided over by Huang Rusan. People up and down thought that Huang Rusan's succession to the position of SASAC director was only a matter of time.

  However, Jian Ruoming was transferred to Qingyuan City State-owned Assets Commission as deputy director with the identity of Deputy Director of Provincial State-owned Assets Commission, making the upcoming competition for the director of State-owned Assets Commission relatively ambiguous.

  According to Huang Rishan's idea, Jian Ruoming was transferred from a provincial-level agency to a municipal-level agency. If he hadn't received some kind of hint, wouldn't he be looking for trouble when he had nothing better to do?

  Therefore, Guan Haoyu always emphasizes Huang Rishan's successor position in the SASAC, and even lets Huang Rishan represent him to attend meetings that are not very important at the municipal level. For cadres to get promoted, it is not like local government leaders can achieve real political achievements, but mainly rely on showing up in various occasions and getting familiar with leaders.

  Sugarcane is not sweet at both ends.

  Familiar faces get cheap deals, and this ass-wiping business also has to be done.

  Guan Haoyu got up and returned to his office, Qi Daguang quickly grabbed his teacup and notebook and chased after him.

  Others also left with a hurry.

  Only Huang Rishan and Chu Tian Shu were left in the small conference room.

  Huang Rishan wanted to call out to Qi Daguang, but didn't see his figure, and scolded angrily: "They're all good at flattering, no one is doing anything serious." He suddenly saw Chu Tian Shu still standing at the door, and instructed: "Little Chu, go bring them in. Oh, don't let them all come in, just send a few representatives."

  Soon, Chu Tian Shu arrived at the small conference room with Wu Shi Cai, Zhang Wei and five or six others.

  Zhi Daguang has already been called over by Huang Rushan.

  They sat on one side of the conference table and let Wu Shicai and others sit on the other side.

  Chu Tian Shu was about to leave when Huang Ru Shan called out to him: "Xiao Chu, you sit down too."

  Huang Rishan knew that the emotions of the petitioners were relatively agitated, and if they didn't talk well and a conflict arose, Qi Daguang's body was too thin to control the situation. Chu Tian Shu had seen him clean up Tian Keming's ferocity that day, so he left him behind to at least boost morale.

  "After sitting down, Huang Rishan warmly introduced himself and said: 'I am Huang Rishan, the deputy director of SASAC, entrusted by Director Guan to listen to everyone's opinions.'"

  This opening remark is quite decent, it both reveals his identity and implies that he has no decision-making power, can only listen to everyone's opinions.

  Wu Shicai said straightforwardly, "Director Huang, I am Wu Shicai from the Instrument Factory. This time we came to reflect the views and opinions of the worker representatives on the factory's restructuring to the leaders of the State-owned Assets Commission."

  Huang Rishan also remembered that Wu Shicai was the chief engineer of the instrument factory, and had seen him a few times at various meetings. He smiled and said: "Director Wu, you are the technical expert of the instrument factory. I heard from Secretary Guo and Director Liu's report that the reform plan has been discussed and passed by your factory leaders. What else do you have to say?"

  Wu Shicai said: "Yes, I raised my opinion at the meeting, but no one listened to it, so I had to come and reflect on the leadership of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission."

  "So what do you say?"

  "Director Huang, these people are all laid-off workers from the Instrument Factory. Most of them are double-income families with some having three generations working at the factory, relying on it for their livelihood. They heard that the factory is going to be restructured and had some hope, but now they're planning to sell it off entirely. The Instrument Factory will be gone, and everyone feels like they've lost their support. That's why they elected us as representatives to speak on their behalf."

  "Hmm," Huang Rishan nodded without stopping, indicating he was listening very seriously.

  Wu Shicai continued: "The overall transfer plan of the Instrument Factory at present may cause a large loss of state-owned assets, and the rights and interests of employees cannot be effectively guaranteed. We hope that the reform plan can fully consider the actual difficulties of laid-off workers and solve their worries to the greatest extent possible. Otherwise, even if the Instrument Factory achieves reform, it will always be an unstable factor."

  Chu Tian Shu, who was standing aside, secretly admired him. He was indeed an old intellectual. Wu Shi Cai's views were incisive and his words were logical and well-reasoned, neither arrogant nor humble.

  Huang Rishan said: "Director Wu, the situation you mentioned, we just heard about it too. The restructuring plan was determined by the factory, and the SASAC is only responsible for discussion and review. Your opinions, are they to be submitted to the SASAC through normal channels by Secretary Guo and Director Liu?"

  Huang Rishan was being evasive, Zhang Wei couldn't sit still any longer. He stood up and loudly questioned: "Comrade leader, if they listened to the opinions of the working masses, would we have come all the way to SASAC to reflect our problems?"

  In front of Qi Daguang and Chu Tianshu, Huang Rishan was questioned by a laid-off worker, and his face naturally couldn't hold up, and his face immediately sank.

  Zhi Daguang saw the opportunity to perform and immediately stood up, pointing at Zhang Wei: "What do you mean? If your factory leaders don't listen to your opinions, can you just run to the State-owned Assets Commission to make trouble?"

  "What do you mean by this? Before we even had a chance to speak, you've already slapped us with the label of troublemakers. Is this how you lead?"

  "The plan was handed down from your factory's leadership, what's the point of you guys coming to our leadership to quibble?"

  ……

  Two people, you one sentence and I one sentence, voices getting louder and louder, the whole office building can hear.

  The laid-off workers waiting outside heard the commotion upstairs and rushed up, filling the small conference room and corridor, still fuming with anger.

  If you keep making such a big fuss, won't your prestige be lost in the SASAC?

  Huang Rishan was secretly anxious and scolded in his heart: This Qi Daguang is really incompetent, only good at causing trouble. These rough men are not just ordinary migrant workers who have just entered the city, a few harsh words can't intimidate them.

  Zhang Wei and Qi Daguang were like two fighting roosters, the more they talked, the uglier it got, pulling and tugging at each other, almost to the point of physical blows.

  Chu Tian Shu saw that things were about to get out of hand and quickly stood up, shouting loudly: "Shut your mouths!"

  Leng Buding's sudden shout really had an effect, and Qi Daguang and Zhang Wei were stunned.

  Chu Tian Shu slowly said to Wu Shi Cai, "Director Wu, please ask everyone to quiet down. Our Director Huang has personally come out to receive us and listen to our opinions. With all the noise, how can Director Huang speak?"

  Wu Shicai stood up and signaled everyone not to get excited. He said loudly: "Everyone calm down, listen to Director Huang's instructions."

  The crowd finally calmed down.

  Zhang Wei and Qi Daguang stared at each other and sat down together.

  What else can Huang Rishan say if he is allowed to speak?

  The overall restructuring plan of the instrument factory is almost a done deal.

  Before the meeting, Guan Haoyu mentioned to him that before the meter factory reform plan was reported, he had received a hint from Tang Yifu, the deputy mayor in charge, and several bidding units had smoothed out their relationships with various parties and had substantial contact with the leaders of the meter factory. After completing the approval procedures, they would start the auction procedure.

  Tang Yifu requested that the SASAC discuss and review as soon as possible, and report the restructuring plan of the Instrument Factory to the municipal government.

  At this moment, Huang Rishan's idea was simple, which was to hurry up and get rid of these laid-off workers. As long as they didn't make trouble at the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, everything would be fine.

  Huang Rishan chuckled and said, "Masters, I will definitely report the problems you reflected to the higher-ups. However, the final approval right for the instrument factory's restructuring plan is not with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. You should exchange opinions with the leaders of the factory on one hand, and on the other hand, you can also reflect the situation to the relevant departments in the city."

  Wu Shicai gave Huang Rishan a cold look and said, "Director Huang, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission is the competent authority for the Instrument Factory. If you can't make decisions, where else can we go to reflect our opinions?"

  Huang Rishan said helplessly, "Director Wu, you have been a factory leader before. The SASAC is just an administrative body and not a decision-making department. This should still be understandable, right? As for where to reflect on this, I also don't know."

  Wu Shicai said: "Director Huang, I understand what you mean."

  "Huang Rishan said: 'Hehe, as long as you understand, it's fine, as long as you understand, it's fine.'"

  Wu Shicai stood up and said loudly to everyone: "Masters, follow me."

  Zhang Wei waved his hand at everyone and said loudly: "Okay, let's listen to General Wu, let's go!"

  About twenty laid-off workers followed Wu Shicai and Zhang Wei out of the SASAC office building, making a big noise.

  Huang Rishan stood in front of the window, watching as all the laid-off workers left, listening to Qi Daguang's bootlicking echoing loudly, and smiled complacently.

  Chu Tian Shu looked at Wu Shi Cai and Zhang Wei's firm footsteps, determined that they would not give up like this.

  As expected, Huang Rishan's complacency only lasted for half an hour. He was still reporting to Guan Haoyu in his office when Vice Mayor Tang Yifu called and scolded Guan Haoyu severely.

  Because of Ou Yang Mei Mei's relationship, Tang Yi Fu is usually polite to Guan Hao Yu. Today, he was so rude on the phone, it must be a big deal!

  It turned out that Wu Shicai and Zhang Wei led dozens of laid-off workers back to the instrument factory, where they set up a banner at the gate. More and more laid-off workers joined in, and onlookers gathered in increasing numbers, blocking the main road along the river that connects Qinglianjiang Bridge.

  In just a few minutes, the traffic in and out of Qingyuan City was paralyzed. It happened to coincide with a leader from the provincial government being stuck at the bridgehead, who saw the situation on the scene while sitting in his car. With one phone call, he reported it to the province, and the Executive Vice Governor immediately called Secretary Guo Zichun of the Qingyuan Municipal Party Committee.