Siheyuan: Rebirth of a comfortable life starts with Shazhu

"...He can live, and I estimate he can live for another ten years or so, and live very well."

But if you're only focused on survival, that probably won't satisfy your superiors.

Lao Lei, you come from a technical background.

We should know that some technological gaps cannot be bridged by simply shouting slogans.

As a manager, it's hard to say that Lao Yang made any major mistakes in handling such a large operation.

But Lao Lei, you should understand one thing.

How much of a gap is there between our steel rolling mill and our counterparts outside?

If we just try to fool people, we'll have to wait more than ten years for the market to open up further.

How can steel rolling mills compete with outsiders?

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Why were you transferred back from Sichuan?

It's not about seniority, nor is it because I feel you were wronged in the past.

Instead, we saw the real work you did at the Chuanfu branch factory.

We hope that you can implement sweeping reforms and inject some fresh blood into our aging steel rolling mill.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?" He Yuzhu spoke very formally this time, tapping the table with his fingers as he spoke, adding a touch of force to his words.

He Yuzhu still has feelings for the steel rolling mill.

Even during the conversation between the top leader and him, where Lao Yang was to be dismissed, He Yuzhu specifically discussed this matter with the top leader.

The factory's machinery is mostly old stuff from the 1950s.

No matter who you put in charge, you have to think about making improvements.

"But the factory has no money!" Old Lei spread his hands, looking quite helpless.

He Yuzhu sneered, "That's why I said earlier that you need to learn how to cook without rice."

If there is enough funding from above, then what do they need you for?
Anyone could manage it very well.

If you can be a skillful wife, you can manage this household well.

Then you have a bright future ahead of you.

Right now, the top priority is managing human resources.

If you also can't manage your business well and think about just getting by, then...

Well then, Lao Lei, let's be honest.

Old Yang's fate serves as a cautionary tale for you.

He Yuzhu doesn't want to beat around the bush with anyone on this matter.

Hehe, very polite.

Everyone might be happy, but it doesn't solve the actual problem.

"The key issue is the rice for this first meal. As the head of the household, I have no idea where to get it!"

"We can't really skim money off the workers, can we?" Old Lei said with a wry smile.

This is indeed a difficult situation for these managers.

Collective enterprises are not like private enterprises.

If a private company discovers problems in its operations, it can issue a notice immediately today to reduce everyone's wages.

Stopping salary payments for one or two months is a perfectly normal practice.

If you're willing to accept it, then do it.

If you don't want to accept it, then get out.

In other words, private enterprises, due to their unique characteristics, are far more effective at cost reduction than collective enterprises.

He Yuzhu's words were eloquent, but they were simply telling Lao Lei to focus on increasing revenue and reducing expenditure.

Give the only remaining food in the house to the able-bodied men first.

Use the factory's limited working capital where it is most needed.

Even if only one workshop's machines are updated and iterated every year, that's still a positive development.

But collective enterprises don't operate that way.

Today, Lao Lei dared to cut off the workers' benefits in the factory.

Tomorrow, the factory workers will be able to make him, the factory manager, unable to keep his job.

So cutting costs is easy to talk about, but incredibly difficult to actually do.

"Don't complain to me."

You know the way. It's just a matter of whether you're willing to walk it.

Surely we can recover the unplanned production targets from the branch factory?
……

Even if we can't cut costs, we can at least open up new sources, right?

I remember when I was working at the steel rolling mill.

I once applied for the title of a construction company for the logistics department.

So much construction is happening in Beijing now.

You can't just go out and take on some work within that framework.

There is a large amount of unemployed labor in rural areas, and the factory is qualified.

We'll take on the project and let those people do the work.

The management fees and other expenses that remain in the middle can also be used to supplement the factory.

Even ordinary women know to mend clothes and wash sheets for other people to earn some extra money to supplement their household income!

how!

"Besides running the factory, you can't manage anything else?" He Yuzhu became increasingly impatient, and his tone changed.

In fact, steel rolling mills, despite their good foundation, are now facing many difficulties.

But this factory is located in Beijing.

To put it bluntly, if you're quick-witted, there are countless ways to make money.

They dared not reform internally, fearing they would offend the factory's middle-level leaders.

When it comes to external matters, they can't think of any changes.

He always expects others to arrange everything clearly for him.

To be honest, He Yuzhu looked down on Lao Lei a bit.

"...Our school has recently been cracking down on school-run factories."

It's not that I, He Yuzhu, love money.

Rather, I know clearly that it's impossible to expect something for nothing or for higher authorities to allocate research and development funds.

An individual or a workplace still has to rely on themselves or the leader of the workplace.

If the school-run factory is run well, the profits generated can support research and development.

Actually, the conditions at the steel rolling mill in the service industry are much better than those at our school.

..."He Yuzhu raged on, but his words were still gentle and did not carry any resentment.

But what he meant was his dissatisfaction with Lao Lei, and especially Lao Yang, for their rigid management style.

Steel rolling mills really have a lot of capital.

Putting aside other things, He Yuzhu used to work on short-to-medium distance heating transmission at the steel rolling mill.
Composite board furniture

Including the buildings...

Steel rolling mills all have the necessary technical reserves and production and construction qualifications.

If the factory leaders were even slightly more resourceful, they could use the unplanned wire rod from the steel rolling mill as bait to exchange for the production and sale of such supporting facilities with other units.

Even without considering its main business, the steel rolling mill could make a fortune from its side businesses alone.

But it's clear that neither Lao Yang, Lao Li, nor Lao Lei noticed these things.

They always keep an eye on those few main production workshops.

The key point is that they just keep an eye on things.

At most, they would replace managers who weren't part of their inner circle, but they wouldn't dare make any major changes.

It's just a change in name only, not substance.

Their ideas are all pretty much the same: maintain stability now, then complain to their superiors about being poor, ask for aid, and demand better policies...

If He Yuzhu were to rate these three managers, he would say they were mediocre, not outstanding.

Of course, He Yuzhu's perspective is that of an outsider with a clearer view.

If he were to actually take the position of head of the steel rolling mill, he might not necessarily be able to do a better job in internal management than Lao Yang.

But He Yuzhu also firmly believed that he would not slowly wait to die.

He will definitely try his best to find a way to make a living for the tens of thousands of workers in the steel rolling mill.

Even if the steel rolling mill stops operating.

In addition to his other side businesses, he could also find regular jobs at the steel rolling mill that could support his family. (End of Chapter)