Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Soon, the decision on how to handle Da Hu and Er Hu was made: a warning and a demerit, with no chance of it happening again.

Director Wang also received a verbal warning, a punishment that was neither too severe nor too lenient.

As the year draws to a close, Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill not only achieved a perfect end to its annual production targets, but also exceeded them by a significant margin.

This is all money!

Do you know what this extra money means?

This means that the money can be freely disposed of and spent on other things, such as on the factory leaders. This is an unspoken rule that is understood but not spoken of.

As a result, the factory's Party Committee leaders all set their sights on this money.

Because of this money, an expanded meeting was held, and Li Jiuzhou was fortunate enough to participate.

Whether you want to buy a new car or renovate your office, there are all sorts of ways to spend money.

Yang Ligong had his own ulterior motives. He wanted to raise the leadership's office building by three more floors. The current office building has five floors, and raising it by three more floors would make it eight floors.

Because of the saying "seven up, eight down," Yang Ligong wanted to work on the seventh floor, so he wanted to go up there and then dump Li Jiuzhou, Secretary Nie, and the others all on the eighth floor.

Not only do we need to raise the building, we also need to install an elevator.

Yang Ligong's suggestion left the team members somewhat dumbfounded.

This is the first time I've heard of such a way of spending money, but it's not impossible.

Many leaders want to renovate their offices; after all, why not make them more comfortable?

So most people agree.

Li Jiuzhou sneered inwardly upon hearing Yang Ligong's words, thinking they were utterly nonsensical.

Li Huaide remained silent, as he had not yet figured out how to spend the money.

Secretary Nie did not stop it. In his view, the money could be spent however it pleased, as long as it wasn't embezzled.

Yang Ligong was very satisfied with everyone's reaction. He looked around and suddenly noticed that Li Jiuzhou was actually showing a disdainful smile. How could he allow that?

So he directly called out names:

"Comrade Li Jiuzhou, you seem to have some different opinion?"

"Or does the canteen need to buy some equipment, or does the farm want to expand further?"

"As long as you don't ask for an exorbitant amount, we can approve some funding for you in principle. After all, the canteen and the farm are benchmarks in our factory."

Although Yang Ligong spoke lightly, his intentions were quite clear.

Li Huaide frowned. What was Yang Ligong planning to do?

Li Jiuzhou didn't expect Yang Ligong to pick a fight with him. He wasn't made of clay, so of course he had to refute him.

He showed no fear under the gaze of the crowd, and instead spoke frankly and openly:

"Director Yang, Secretary Nie, Deputy Secretary Li, and all other leaders and colleagues, our canteen and farm are very stable, and we have no plans for expansion or anything else at the moment."

Li Jiuzhou was about to continue speaking when Yang Ligong interrupted him, his tone aggressive:

"What did Comrade Li Jiuzhou mean by sneering at my suggestion just now?"

Hearing this, Li Jiuzhou was furious. "Yang Ligong, you're really taking this too seriously. I'm a section chief, can't I have any other opinions?"

So he shrugged and spread his hands:

"Director Yang, what kind of expression did I make? Did I offend you?"

"What, has the steel rolling mill become your personal playground? You forbid others from offering different opinions?"

"If that's the case, I apologize. Consider it my bad luck!"

Li Jiuzhou's words left the entire room speechless...

They never expected Li Jiuzhou to be so tough. You're just a section chief, brother!

Oh, your uncle is Li Huaide, then it's alright!

As expected, Li Huaide, fiercely protective of his own, slammed his fist on the table and stood up:

"Comrade Ligong, what are you trying to do? You are the factory director, you need to be tough and treat your comrades fairly."

"Your remarks just now were clearly targeted; how can that be allowed?"

Yang Ligong sneered disdainfully:

"Comrade Huaide, you don't need to be so quick to jump out and protect your own."

"Li Jiuzhou questioned the leader, and I have the right to ask him questions. I admit that my tone was a bit harsh just now, but I need him to explain clearly."

"What exactly is Li Jiuzhou questioning?!"

Silence fell again...

At this moment, Li Jiuzhou spoke:

"Director Yang, do you really want me to say it?"

Yang Ligong smiled:

"Of course, feel free to speak your mind if you have different opinions. As long as your explanation makes sense, I won't pursue the matter of you questioning the leader."

"Alright, then I'll share my humble opinion." Li Jiuzhou stood up:

"Distinguished leaders, Director Yang just mentioned that he wants to expand the leadership office building by three floors, which is naturally a good thing from a personal perspective."

"Everyone wants a good working environment, which is understandable."

"From an official standpoint, that would be extremely unreasonable. Although my position is low, I disagree and reserve my opinion."

"Hmph!" Yang Ligong snorted coldly.

"Tell me how this is unreasonable. More than half of the leaders present agreed to it. You, young comrade, have a problem with your ideological awareness."

"Hehehe..." Li Jiuzhou shook his head and chuckled.

"Then I'd like to ask Director Yang and all the leaders present, have you ever visited the Ministry of Metallurgy?"

How many floors are there in the office building for the leaders of the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry?

As far as I know, it only has three floors, right?

"The higher-level leadership departments are only three stories high, but our Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill is going to build eight stories."

We also want to build an elevator. Won't the higher-ups think our factory is trying to fly?

"This isn't a question of whether or not to build it, but rather whether or not we have respected our superiors."

"Is it easy for them? Don't they have a hard time?"

"Gentlemen, we are state cadres, under the leadership of the Party and the state, not here to enjoy ourselves."

"If we expand like this, I think our factory will immediately become the target of everyone's criticism, and we'll also become increasingly alienated from our superiors!"

"If you insist on building it, then I won't go. I'll work in the cafeteria or the logistics department."

"I've finished speaking!"

"Holy shit..."

After hearing Li Jiuzhou's speech, everyone felt their hair stand on end and broke out in a cold sweat!

Is there anything wrong with what Li Jiuzhou said?

This is a huge problem!

The meeting was recorded, and the higher-ups will know about it.

What would your superiors think if they found out?

They'd definitely think their steel mill was trying to fly!

Expansion?

What's the point of expanding?

It's gotten to this point; anyone who agrees is bound to suffer.

Those who had just agreed to Yang Ligong's expansion project turned pale.

Secretary Nie looked at Li Jiuzhou with an appreciative expression.

This kid is too fierce. He knocked Yang Ligong down with one punch. He's even more valiant than his second uncle, Li Huaide.

He could imagine the expressions on his superiors' faces after they learned about the meeting's contents.

"You...you're just being unreasonable. When have I ever disrespected my superiors? I was only doing this for your own good..." Yang Ligong was a little flustered and blurted out some nonsense. He was being unfairly accused, and he couldn't accept it.

Li Huaide burst out laughing; seeing Yang Ligong humiliated made him happier than anything else.

Nephew, you're quite something! When did you become so eloquent?