Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

The call for increased production and cost-saving measures finally reached the steel rolling mill, with the higher-ups ordering the expansion of infrastructure construction and a reduction in administrative expenses.

There was news about it as early as the beginning of the year, but the factory hadn't implemented it yet.

Of course, this policy had little impact on the factory workers.

However, it does have an impact on people who sit in offices.

Office expenses, writing materials, official vehicle usage, meeting expenses, and hospitality expenses must all be reduced, and this must be strictly enforced.

Even some minor benefits have been reduced or waived.

At the meeting, Secretary Nie made the final decision and set the tone:

That means the factory doesn't employ idle people, doesn't put on airs, and spends money wisely!

This six-month period marks the first six months of the steel rolling mill's expansion.

With workers toiling away at overtime, production capacity exploded, and the steel rolling mill made a fortune—a truly lucrative deal.

The leaders were so excited about having this money in their hands that they didn't dare spend a single penny.

Of course, it could be said that they are reluctant to spend money, and dare not spend it recklessly; maintaining existing production capacity and saving more money is the right way.

So after the policy was implemented, they became even more frugal. Secretary Nie now chooses to ride his bicycle to work instead of taking a car.

Look at that, no one else has such awareness.

Therefore, those who are entitled to a car should naturally learn from their superiors; if you don't, then your awareness is too low, and you're lost about the future.

Li Huaide cursed at Secretary Nie in private. It wasn't that he couldn't ride a bicycle to work, but the problem was that his home was too far from the factory. It would take him an hour and a half to ride, and who had that kind of free time?

Li Huaide was neither aware of this nor did he want to be.

Yang Ligong was too lazy to pay attention to Secretary Nie. He had a car but didn't take it and instead rode it. Who was he trying to impress?

If Secretary Nie respects me, then you are my leader, my superior.

If you don't respect me, then I'm sorry, we're on the same level. I'm a full-fledged department-level cadre now.

So what if I'm the Party Secretary? You can't fire me, can you? I just commute to get off work by car every day, do whatever you want!

The other members of the leadership team also stopped riding their bikes when they saw this. What's the point of having this kind of awareness?

What do you want to do here?

Not only does it interfere with my work, it's also tiring.

Secretary Nie did something completely foolish this time.

If it were just something to borrow in the office, that would be fine, but now that they don't even need a car, it will cause a lot of trouble for others.

For example, what do you expect the leaders to think when this gets to their superiors?

Secretary Nie originally thought that everyone would follow him and promote a frugal lifestyle, but he found that he was almost deserted by everyone. He was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat and dutifully picked up and dropped off people every day.

The higher-ups were also amused when they heard about Secretary Nie's outrageous actions.

The leaders took it as a joke, and of course, they would casually comment on it:

"Comrade Xiao Nie's starting point was good, but he didn't consider the family circumstances of other comrades. It's nothing serious, nothing serious."

It's really not a big deal, and it's not a political mistake, so the leaders don't care at all.

As long as the steel rolling mill doesn't cause any major trouble, you, Secretary Nie, and your ilk can basically do whatever you want.

Although Secretary Nie made a fool of himself at the factory, he did not lose much of his prestige.

However, after being reinstated, Yang Ligong couldn't resist the urge to recruit soldiers.

How could a large factory like Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, employing tens of thousands of people, not have any independent factions?

Moreover, after Yang Ligong was reinstated, as the second-in-command at the ministerial level, many people wanted to curry favor with him.

Secretary Nie is getting old after all, and he will retire in a few more years. Then who will be in charge of the steel rolling mill?

Basically, Yang Ligong will succeed him as the top leader, so he will basically have the final say.

So at this point, it wasn't that Yang Ligong actively recruited soldiers; rather, others approached him on their own.

If you want to advance, you need to follow the right leader. Yang Ligong is young and has a strong backing. Why not get on board now?

Of course, besides those who came to join him on their own initiative, there were also people whom Yang Ligong himself had his eye on.

For example, Yang Ligong wanted to recruit Yi Zhonghai, a newly promoted level eight fitter in the factory, onto his own team.

He would often intentionally or unintentionally call Yi Zhonghai into his office for casual chats.

At first, Yi Zhonghai wondered if he had done something wrong, wondering why the factory manager would chat with him all the time. Later, he realized that the factory manager was trying to win him over.

Upon learning this result, Yi Zhonghai's lips curled up. That's right, he was that awesome. Even the factory manager valued him so much. What did that mean? It meant that he was capable.

Yi Zhonghai told Jia Dongxu about this, and as the story spread in Nanluoguxiang, it became known that even the steel rolling mill director had to be mindful of Yi Zhonghai's wishes.

Fortunately, the news didn't reach Yang Ligong's ears, otherwise he would have definitely chopped Yi Zhonghai up.

What level do you think you are, Yi Zhonghai, to compare with me?

However, Yang Ligong's attempts to win him over gave Yi Zhonghai an idea he couldn't shake off: he still wanted to advance his career!

Since comparing himself to Li Jiuzhou, Yi Zhonghai has completely lost his edge, realizing that no matter how skilled he becomes, he'll still just be a worker.

An eighth-grade fitter is a top-level skilled worker with high social status and is respected without question, as Yi Zhonghai has personally experienced.

However, without the administrative power of cadres, to put it bluntly, a section-level cadre in the steel rolling mill could be on equal footing with Yi Zhonghai, and some cadres in more powerful departments could even order him around.

In summary: an eighth-level fitter has the salary of a section chief, but not the authority of one.

Yang Ligong's efforts to win over Yi Zhonghai presented him with an opportunity, a chance to advance.

That's right, Yi Zhonghai wanted to be a cadre and understood the benefits of being a cadre. After all, he was already an eighth-level fitter, and having multiple cadre titles would just be icing on the cake.

When I become a cadre, I can help myself and Dongxu, and I will make sure he becomes a cadre too.

In the future, both he and his apprentice will be cadres; how enviable that would be if word got out!

However, while the idea is good, how it will actually be implemented depends on Yang Ligong; at the very least, he needs to show some sincerity.

You can't just say, "Come work for me, and I'll protect you in the factory from now on," right?

What am I, Yi Zhonghai, after? Can't I even take care of myself in the factory?

"Just kidding," Yi Zhonghai said. "I'm an eighth-grade fitter, and plenty of people want to take care of me. Once I step out of the steel rolling mill, there are plenty of factories that want me. I'm not afraid at all."

Moreover, Yi Zhonghai was very clear that people often don't cherish things they get for free, so he had to be careful about how he handled things when Yang Ligong came to him again.

It's actually quite simple. Yi Zhonghai can just make his request directly. If you're not willing, fine, I'll ask Deputy Factory Director Li later if he needs any more people...

Yi Zhonghai is not a young man who hasn't even grown up yet, and he's not someone who would be willing to charge into battle for Yang Ligong just because Yang Ligong says a few words and makes empty promises.

Yi Zhonghai had already made up his mind: as long as Yang Ligong was willing to promote him, he would become his henchman.

Moreover, being the henchman of the factory's second-in-command is not shameful, but rather prestigious!