Back in the 1980s, hiking in the mountains was also a way of life

However, as soon as Wang An finished speaking, Fang Xiuying immediately looked troubled, frowning as she said:

"Many of the workers were bribed by those officials. If we fire them all, won't that offend them? What if they make things difficult for our factory again?"

Wang An sighed, not answering Fang Xiuying's question, but instead asking:
"You don't actually think this factory has been able to develop smoothly to where it is now because of you, the factory manager, do you? So what if you offend them?"

Fang Xiuying, a woman with a wealth of experience, knew all too well that the factory wasn't relying on her. If it were relying on Fang Xiuying, at most she could sell a few doses of medicine to a few patients as a doctor.

For such large-scale transactions of medicinal herbs and finished medicines, Fang Xiuying would have been working as a sewing machine long ago.

Fang Xiuying blinked her big eyes and said:

“I know the factory’s success isn’t due to me, but I don’t think it’s necessary to offend those officials.”

To be fair, Fang Xiuying's words weren't entirely wrong, because people who run businesses and do trade really don't want to offend officials, mainly because they don't dare to.

The people will not fight against the officials; this is an age-old truth.

But Wang An burst out laughing when he heard this.

The main problem is that Fang Xiuying seems to have forgotten one thing: this pharmaceutical factory was originally set up by a large group of officials.

After laughing, Wang An said:
"Sister Ying, have you gone mad from being a factory manager, or are you just naturally this naive? The more I talk to you, the more unreliable you seem."

"The three of us, you two sisters, only own 30% of the shares. Don't you know who owns the remaining 70%? Apart from 10% being held by Chen Tianyu in Bingcheng, don't you know what the other six do?"

Fang Xiuying nodded and said:
"I know, of course I know, that's it."

Before Fang Xiuying could finish speaking, Wang An interrupted her directly:

"Just remember this, Sister Ying: in DJ County, you don't have to pamper anyone or be afraid of offending anyone. Even if you really offend them, they'll have to obediently accept it."

Wang An raised his hand, stopping Fang Xiuying from saying what she was about to say, and said with a frown and a hint of impatience:
"Oh dear, I'm too lazy to explain too much to you. Sister Ying, I've realized that you're really nothing as a factory manager. You're nothing in every aspect. You just don't have the ability to be a factory manager."

Fang Xiuying knew her own limitations, so even though Wang An was being so sarcastic, she still didn't dare to say a word.

After saying this, Wang An remained silent for a long while before continuing:

"From now on, do whatever I tell you to do. Don't ask why, and you don't need to have your own ideas, because your ideas are very naive. Figure it out yourself, figure out why I want you to do it this way. And if you can't do it, just say so in advance, and I'll find someone else to do it immediately."

Only then did Fang Xiuying finally restrain herself, glancing up at Wang An before quickly lowering her head again, encouraging herself as she spoke:

"I'll listen to you, I'll listen to everything you say, okay? But can't you stop saying 'change people' all the time? I'm just expressing my opinion! I didn't say I wouldn't listen to you."

"Besides, wasn't it you who insisted on making me the factory manager in the first place? I said I couldn't do it, but you said anyone can be a factory manager. I've never been one before, and the factory is developing so fast that I can't keep up at all. You're all so busy, leaving me here all alone. How am I supposed to know how to be a factory manager?"

As she spoke, Fang Xiuying's tears fell, and she looked extremely aggrieved.

Seeing Fang Xiuying cry, Wang An immediately realized that he might have really pushed her too far.

In fact, you could tell from Fang Xiuying's rather thin face that she was really serious and hardworking as the factory manager.

However, as she said, her appointment as factory manager was entirely a case of being forced into it, so it would be very wrong to place all the blame on her.

Wang An sighed, his attitude immediately softening, and then said gently:

"Okay, you're right, it's my fault, alright? Okay, wipe your tears, stop crying."

As he spoke, Wang An acted like an older brother, even wiping away Fang Xiuying's tears, completely shedding his earlier domineering demeanor. After a while, Fang Xiuying finally stopped crying, glared at Wang An, and muttered:
"All you do is criticize me! Nobody taught me how to do this job. I'm already doing pretty well. Humph! Replace me if you want, I never said I absolutely had to be the factory manager. Don't keep trying to scare me like that, I'm not afraid."

Fang Xiuying grumbled on and on, feeling wronged, while Wang An just smiled and didn't argue back, quietly watching her mutter to herself.

Only after Fang Xiuying had finished grumbling, mainly because she had nothing left to complain about, did Wang An interject with a smile:
"Are you finished? If you are, then it's my turn to speak."

Fang Xiuying, however, knew the principle of "knowing when to stop," and immediately corrected her attitude, saying:

"I've finished speaking, now you can say what you want to say."

Wang An nodded, not mentioning Fang Xiuying's complaints and grievances at all, mainly because these things could only be digested by Fang Xiuying herself.

As the saying goes, "A fine sword is forged through tempering, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold." As long as Fang Xiuying continues to be the factory director, this grievance and pressure will always exist, and Wang An will be unable to do anything about it.

Wang An continued:

"Besides what I just asked you to do, tell anyone who plants people here in the future that the pharmaceutical factory doesn't keep idle people. Anyone who wants to do nothing and just loaf around getting paid should be sent to the farthest reaches of the factory."

"Furthermore, from now on, there's no need for sentimentality in the pharmaceutical factory. Everything will be done according to the rules and regulations. Merits will be rewarded, and mistakes will be punished. Take that overly kind attitude of yours back."

This time, Fang Xiuying understood completely and dared not refute it. She nodded and said:

"Okay, I understand."

Wang An nodded, took two more sips of tea, thought for a moment, and then said:
"As the factory director, when you decide to punish someone or make decisions that are beneficial to the healthy development of the factory, no one except these shareholders should interfere. What are the deputy factory directors, this director, that section chief? Who do they think they are? They have no right to speak!"

Fang Xiuying blinked her big eyes, asking with some confusion:
"What if it turns out I was wrong in the end?"

Wang An tapped the armrest of the sofa and said nonchalantly:

"So what if I made a mistake? I made a mistake, everyone makes mistakes. Besides, until the very end, how can there be right or wrong?"

“Let me tell you, even if you know you’re doing something wrong, you still have to do it your way. You’re the factory manager, so you have to stand up for yourself first. What others say is all bullshit, all fucking bullshit, do you understand?”

Towards the end, Wang An's tone suddenly rose, and he spoke with such passion that Fang Xiuying immediately became excited.

After thinking for a long time, Fang Xiuying finally said:

"If I really do something wrong, you can't scold me anymore."

Wang An waved his hand, saying with a nonchalant expression:

"It's alright. As long as you put away your overly kind heart and your thoughts are for the good of the factory, I'll take responsibility for any mistakes you make."

It has to be said that Wang An is quite adept at conning people; Fang Xiuying, who was just crying and sobbing, suddenly became full of fighting spirit.

Fang Xiuying said with a determined look:

"Starting today, I'm going to crack down on those scoundrels at the pharmaceutical factory. To be honest, I'm annoyed by them too; they're all so clueless."

Wang An stood up and said:

"Okay, I'll see how you do. I'll come see you again when I'm less busy."

Upon hearing that Wang An was leaving, Fang Xiuying became unhappy again and muttered:
"You big jerk!" (End of Chapter)