Sail across the sea

Chapter 429 I am firmly opposed

"So, Director Xu, which option do you prefer?" Gao Yiping asked directly.

This also shows that Gao Yiping doesn't treat Xu Ying as an outsider. Gao Yiping knows that Xu Ying is a straightforward person, and the two of them can communicate without beating around the bush.

Xu Ying didn't rush to answer. Instead, she looked at Gao Yiping with a smile and asked in return, "What about you? Which option do you think the Chemical Industry Bureau should choose?"

Gao Yiping glanced at the door of the private room subconsciously, and finding it closed, assumed no one was eavesdropping outside, so he lowered his voice and said:

"Director Xu, I've heard some rumors that Director Chen may be retiring. After Director Chen steps down, it's unclear who will be in charge."

"My opinion on this restructuring depends on who the new leader is. If you are in charge, then restructuring into an industrial company would definitely be better, Director Xu, your management ability is widely recognized. If another director is in charge, I think it would be better to restructure into a chemical industry association."

These words carried a blatant hint of flattery. However, Xu Ying also knew that Gao Yiping's words were sincere, because the other deputy directors in the department really didn't have much experience in industry management, but they were very good at personnel management or cultivating relationships with higher-ups.

If the Chemical Industry Bureau is transformed into an industrial company, and one of the deputy directors is appointed as the general manager, there is a very high chance that things will become a complete mess.

Xu Ying didn't respond to Gao Yiping's question, but instead asked, "Old Gao, haven't you ever worried about your own position?"

"What do you mean?"

Gao Yiping's heart was pounding, but he forced a look of ignorance on his face.

Xu Ying smiled and said, "When the department was discussing the restructuring, some comrades suggested that there was no need to build a new chemical industry company. They suggested using the existing fertilizer company directly. They proposed merging all the department's directly affiliated enterprises into the fertilizer company, upgrading the fertilizer company to a department-level unit, and then having the leaders of the Chemical Industry Department directly take charge of the fertilizer company."

Gao Yiping felt a chill run down his spine. This was a situation that Gao Fan had mentioned to him before, and it was what he was most worried about.

However, he really couldn't say he opposed the plan in front of Xu Ying.

Besides, is this something that can be changed simply by his opposition?

“That’s fine too,” Gao Yiping said, forcing a smile. “When the leaders from the department come over, I can go back to Canghai Fertilizer Plant to continue being the plant manager. To be honest, Director Xu, my wife keeps saying she’s not used to the environment in Ruizhang and keeps saying she wants to go back to Cangtang.”

Xu Yingcai didn't believe Gao Yiping's nonsense. She said, "Who said you have to go back to be the factory director? Some comrades in the department said that you, Gao Yiping, have management experience. The work of converting ammonium to urine is at a critical time, and the fertilizer company still can't do without you, Lao Gao."

"So, after the fertilizer company is upgraded, we'll reserve a deputy general manager position for you. We'll put you at the bottom of the list for now, but it's a solid deputy director-general level position."

"Tsk tsk tsk, Lao Gao, do the math. How long has it been since you were promoted from section chief to deputy director-general? There's a crosstalk routine called 'Promoted Three Ranks in a Row,' isn't that about you?" Gao Yiping said lazily, somewhat uninterested, "I appreciate the leaders' concern. But I really have no interest in deputy director-general level or anything like that. Zhang Haogu in 'Promoted Three Ranks in a Row,' didn't he almost get beheaded by the emperor? I don't have that kind of luck, so I'll just go back to my Canghai Fertilizer Plant and be the factory director, waiting to retire."

Gao Yiping wasn't stupid. If what Xu Ying said was true, and he was appointed as the lowest-ranking deputy general manager, with all the leaders above him being former leaders of the Chemical Industry Bureau, it meant that he would be the one who did the most work and suffered the most in the future.

If the former leaders of the Chemical Industry Bureau did nothing, that would be fine. The worst thing is that these old men get resentful, start interfering in the company, cause a lot of trouble, and then he has to clean up the mess.

He certainly wanted a promotion, but he wasn't in a position to rush into cleaning up other people's messes. Such a deputy general manager, to put it nicely, was a deputy director-level cadre, but in terms of comfort and real benefits, he was far inferior to the director of Canghai Fertilizer Plant.

Xu Ying burst out laughing. She pointed at Gao Yiping and said, "Old Gao, you've set up this whole table for me to eat today just because you're worried someone will take your place, right?"

"No, not at all..." Gao Yiping was a little embarrassed. He stammered, "I just wanted to understand the department's plan so that I could arrange the company's work in advance and avoid being caught off guard. The ammonium to urine conversion of the four factories is already halfway done. If there are problems with coordination and the progress is delayed, I can't take responsibility."

Xu Ying waved her hand, indicating that Gao Yiping didn't need to explain, and then said, "The plan I just told you about was indeed proposed by someone, and several comrades expressed their support. However, when the Provincial Economic Commission consulted me, I was firmly opposed to it."

"I said that the fertilizer industry company is doing a very good job. According to the fertilizer company's plan, the conversion of ammonium to urea in four factories will be completed next spring, adding 16 tons of urea production capacity. This is crucial for increasing agricultural production and income in the province."

"I also said that this work was driven by you, Lao Gao. All provinces and regions across the country have encountered obstacles in the work of converting ammonium to urine, but our Maolin Province is at the forefront in this regard. This is entirely due to your work ability, Lao Gao."

"Under these circumstances, replacing you with a group of inexperienced people who would give blind orders could very well ruin the current favorable situation."

"Director Xu is too kind to me, I really don't deserve it." Gao Yiping feigned humility, but inwardly he was quite moved.

He believed that what Xu Ying said was true, but such truths were indeed very rare.

With the restructuring of the Chemical Industry Bureau imminent, officials at all levels are scheming and maneuvering to maintain their original power and interests after the reform. The Fertilizer Industry Company is a large, already established prize, and it's inevitable that officials within the bureau will set their sights on it.

In terms of rank and seniority, it's perfectly reasonable for the directors and section chiefs of the Chemical Industry Bureau to want to squeeze out Gao Yiping and seize the most lucrative part of the pie. Two years ago, Gao Yiping was just the director of a county-level fertilizer plant. What qualifications did he have to hold onto the position of general manager of the fertilizer company?
Giving him the position of deputy general manager, which is ranked last, is already quite generous.

However, Xu Ying disregarded the interests of her colleagues and, prioritizing the overall work situation, defended Gao Yiping in front of the Provincial Economic Commission, which meant offending all her colleagues.

Taking away someone's cheese is like killing their parents. Xu Ying's actions are utterly heinous in the Chemical Industry Bureau.

(End of this chapter)