That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1017: Flattering the Face (Repaying Debts, Asking for Tickets)

One day in late December, several large banners were suddenly hung at the entrance of the first branch. This was a very rare bustle for the usually low-key branch.

Some of the banners at the front are common ones such as "Welcome XXXX to visit and guide us", which are very common.

The last two inconspicuous banners read "Warm congratulations on the successful development of our new commercial bus" and "Warm congratulations on the production of our mini truck".

These two banners represent the achievements of the First Branch this year, but they are hidden at the end in an inconspicuous place, which is really in line with the low-key style of the First Branch.

But the people who came to visit today would not allow the factory to keep a low profile at all.

At 8:30, Lu Zhizhang looked down at his watch and asked Li Ye, "Are you sure Xue's troops will come directly to our side? There is no arrangement at the headquarters. If someone in the department asks about it, Niu Hongzhang will definitely say that we are not united enough."

Li Ye turned his head and looked at Lu Zhizhang, and said helplessly: "You have asked me three times since I started working. Aren't you annoying? Anyway, I think he will come directly to the first branch. Even if he doesn't come directly, it's like strolling in a park. In the end, won't he come to our place?"

Lu Zhizhang smacked his lips and said anxiously, "We will go to the main factory gate to welcome him later. I'm afraid Lao Niu will trip us up."

Li Ye snorted and said, "Use it if you want! I won't carry his sedan chair anyway."

This year, a branch factory rushed to produce a prototype of the van before New Year's Day, and the micro truck has even reached the level of initial mass production, so they were ready to report to their superiors long ago.

However, before the report was due, Niu Hongzhang asked the branch factory to report together with the main factory, on the grounds that "this is the customary practice."

Indeed, when the factory manager was in charge in the past, it was common practice to use the achievements of the first branch factory to show off in the annual summary. After all, the first branch factory also belonged to the Light Automobile Company, and everyone should focus on unity!

But this year, one branch quit. The reason, of course, was that the main factory had made a "serious mistake" and the branch could not be criticized as well.

Ma Zhaoxian, who had just been transferred to the position of General Manager of the Light Automobile Company, also agreed with the approach of the first branch factory, because it was he who led the planning and construction of the first branch factory and developed it into a large one.
When the achievements were being praised at the branch factory, it was Ma Zhaoxian who went on stage to speak first. Why should you, Niu Hongzhang, also get honored at the main factory?

The major mistakes made by the general factory were made by the previous top leader. What does it have to do with Ma Zhaoxian?
It means not giving you, Niu Hongzhang, a chance to show your face.

As the saying goes, it is better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early.
Niu Hongzhang had only been in office for a few months when two new cars rolled off the assembly line, one of which was a domestically produced product. As long as he could use his Spring and Autumn writing skills a little better, Niu Hongzhang would be a loyal minister and general who could “turn the tide”!
Don't think that Niu Hongzhang is incapable of doing this. There are many examples of people planting trees for future generations to enjoy the shade. The higher-ups know that these two production lines have nothing to do with Niu Hongzhang, but you don't need the thick skin to gild your reputation as long as you have the gold.

A branch factory is like gold, and everyone wants to put it on their face.

At 8:45, Xiao Tan from the main factory office came to the first branch factory to make a notice: "Director Lu, Director Li, General Manager Ma and Secretary Niu ask you two and Engineer Ludwig to go to the main gate to prepare to welcome the important guests who are coming to visit."

Lu Zhizhang smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go right away. Does Secretary Niu have any other instructions?"

Xiao Tan was stunned and shook his head with an unnatural expression.

The report of the first branch this year is clearly an act of "getting too powerful", and Niu Hongzhang was talking about "unity" in the meeting not long ago, but now Lu Zhizhang smiled and said that he would follow Niu Hongzhang's "instructions". Is this true or irony?

Li Ye looked at Lu Zhizhang, who was smiling like spring breeze, and couldn't help but sigh at his skill.

[Every successful person who has fought his way up from the bottom is a great actor. ]

. . . . . . . . . . .

However, when Li Ye and Lu Zhizhang arrived at the main factory gate, they found that there is always a mountain higher than the other.

When Li Ye went to work this morning, there was not much decoration at the entrance of the main factory, only a banner and colorful flags.

But now, in just an hour, more than a dozen banners were put up again, and many frost-resistant chrysanthemums were placed on both sides of the entrance road, creating a scene of colorful flowers.

However, no matter how frost-resistant the chrysanthemums are, they can only nominally withstand temperatures of minus five degrees Celsius. If they are left outside for a day, they will probably only be able to spend their old age in peace.

And this was just a small battle. Lao Niu actually mobilized nearly a thousand employees, and lined them up in neat rows along the main gate all the way into the factory. If they put on military uniforms, they would exude a murderous aura.

Li Ye couldn't help but sigh, "Old Lu! We still have a long way to go to receive visitors! Shouldn't we also learn this knowledge of face?"

Lu Zhizhang glanced at Li Ye, smiled and said nothing.

In fact, he also knows this knowledge, after all, he used to be the director of the factory office. But since he came to the first branch factory, he felt that this knowledge was becoming less and less interesting.

The real results are there, why bother with these empty things?
Besides making visitors feel comfortable, does this kind of grand welcoming scene have any practical effect? ​​If a branch factory achieves outstanding results, it can help the department report its achievements to higher authorities.

Can this be compared?
When Niu Hongzhang saw Li Ye and several middle-level managers from the first branch coming, he immediately pointed to a position and said, "Xiao Lu, you guys hurry up and stand still. The department's convoy has already set off and will be here in ten minutes at most."

"Oh~"

Li Ye and Lu Zhizhang both agreed and walked towards that corner.

That corner was very remote, which made several people in the first branch factory feel uncomfortable.

But Niu Hongzhang's words just now revealed something, that is, he knows the departure and arrival time of the ministry's convoy in detail, so he has connections in the ministry. Don't try to fool me later.

Li Ye didn't care about this little calculation, because if the leader of the department called Li Ye's name later, but Li Ye came out from the back, it would have a different effect.

A person who is jealous of others' talents should not show his pettiness on the surface.

But when Li Ye walked to that position, his face suddenly darkened, because there were several Japanese people from Mitsubishi Corporation at that position.

One branch introduced a second-hand production line from Mitsubishi, and the other party did send a technical team to assist in installation and debugging, which was also stipulated in the introduction contract.

But Li Ye rarely interacted with them, because they always recommended Li Ye to use Mitsubishi's imported engines and denigrated the domestic engines.

Li Ye didn't like to be polite with others, so he either let the foreign trade translator and the technicians from the first branch communicate with them, or let Lu Zhizhang talk to them.

But today, neither Lu Zhizhang nor Li Yeke invited them to come and welcome the guests!

Li Ye went straight to Niu Hongzhang and asked in a deep voice, "Did you notify the Japanese to come over?"

Niu Hongzhang said unhappily, "Is there a problem with this? We imported a Japanese production line. Mr. Kimura and his team put in a lot of sweat and labor to implement the production line. Now that the results are finally coming out, why don't you invite them to come and watch the ceremony?"

After hearing what Niu Hongzhang said, the people around all turned around and looked over with strange expressions.

The flower growers are kind-hearted. Those Japanese idiots like Kimura helped build a production line for a branch factory. It would be inappropriate if they are not even allowed to show their faces now.

Li Ye narrowed his eyes and said coldly: "It's fine to watch the ceremony, but don't do anything else. Dealing with foreigners is a very complicated matter. Some inadvertent mistakes may cause us great losses."

Niu Hongzhang laughed sarcastically and said, "What about your chief engineer who earns $80,000 a year? He is also a foreigner, so he can come? Why can't Mr. Kimura come?"

"Ludwig is our employee, a worker in our first branch, and Kimura is a businessman who comes to us to make money. How can they be the same?"

Li Ye was furious. He hated people who knew nothing but thought they could mess things up.

Niu Hongzhang was also angry. With so many people around watching, Li Ye actually spoke to him in that tone. Who did he think was not a cadre?
"Li Ye, watch your attitude. Regardless of whether they are from your branch or not, they have all made contributions to our production. We must be united and friendly. The leaders of the department will be here soon. You must not do anything to destroy friendship."

"."

Li Ye felt the gazes of the people around him, and a strong sense of crisis surged in his heart.

In the past few years since the reform and opening up, Japan's high-quality products have gained a great reputation in the mainland, which has gradually led many people to regard polite people like Kimura as good people.

The Japanese are using their economic advantages to take back what they could not get on the battlefield.

Ma Zhaoxian walked over from the side, glanced at Li Ye, and then said to Niu Hongzhang: "Old Niu, in the future, you still have to inform Li Ye about matters related to the first branch, especially decisions related to foreign affairs. After all, he has studied abroad, and there are some issues that we may not have thought through thoroughly."

"."

Niu Hongzhang glanced at Ma Zhaoxian, snorted, and turned to look away.

He felt that Ma Zhaoxian was mocking him for being a "country bumpkin", but a top student might not be able to learn the skills of a country bumpkin!

[Humph, I'll teach you a lesson later.]

However, ten minutes later, the ministry's convoy did not arrive.

Twenty minutes, thirty minutes passed. The ministry's convoy still hadn't arrived.

Niu Hongzhang couldn't help becoming anxious and kept looking at his watch.

Just as he was looking at his watch for who knows how many times, a car with a ministry license plate came speeding towards him.

"Here we go, here we go, this is the first car, the convoy behind will be here soon, hurry up and line up, make sure you line up neatly."

Niu Hongzhang became more alert, and after he gave some instructions, the people at the door also became more alert.

But when the first car arrived, the secretary who got off smiled and said, "I'm sorry, everyone. Something happened that delayed us, so today's schedule is very tight.
Director Xue asked us to inform you that our tour will start directly from the first branch factory, so please prepare to receive us."

Niu Hongzhang was stunned for several seconds before he swallowed.

Lu Zhizhang quietly turned his head to look at Li Ye and secretly gave him a thumbs up.

He had met Secretary Xue at Li Ye's wedding, but he didn't expect him to be so powerful.

"Okay, okay, we'll adjust it right away, right away."

Niu Hongzhang reacted immediately and turned around and shouted to the workers: "Everyone, turn around and run towards the first branch."

Nearly a thousand employees had just lined up in neat rows, but now they were all murmuring.

"Running towards the first branch? We are workers of the main factory. Should we stand guard at the gate of the first branch?"

"Grandma~"

(End of this chapter)