Nominal: The Handong Game, the Energy System's Counterattack

Wu Xiongfei's sudden remarks made the atmosphere of the entire meeting on the aftermath of the 116 wind turbine incident become delicate.

If Zhao Lichun were still the provincial party secretary, Wu Xiongfei would probably still be studying at Yenching University.

If Governor Liu were to retire in three months, Wu Xiongfei wouldn't dare to provoke Li Dakang.

If Governor Liu remains silent as he has been in the past few months, Wu Xiongfei is also considering leaving Handong.

However, Wu Xiongfei already knew about the situation at the Standing Committee.

The old leader had already made his mark in the Standing Committee, so Wu Xiongfei naturally knew what to do.

Governor Liu has already sounded the alarm at the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee meeting. If Wu Xiongfei were to face Li Dakang, he would still be timid and hesitant.

Then Wu Xiongfei should just change his name to Wu Gou Xiong (meaning "Wu the Bear") and stop thinking about making progress.

Therefore, Wu Xiongfei, the mayor of Jingzhou City and a deputy ministerial-level official, is now ready to take the lead.

Hearing Wu Xiongfei cite legal provisions, Li Dakang frowned even more deeply: "Mayor Wu, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"What I want to say is," Wu Xiongfei said, looking directly at Li Dakang.

"The workers are protesting their rights, and the target of their protest is Dafeng Factory."

"Since the majority of Dafeng Factory's shares are now in the hands of Shanshui Group, then Shanshui Group should bear the responsibility for the resettlement of Dafeng Factory's workers."

"Our Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government can coordinate, supervise, and urge, but there is no reason for them to use their own fiscal funds to bail out the Shanshui Group."

He glanced across the room, making sure every official could hear his statement clearly.

"The labor relations, wages, social security, resettlement compensation, and seniority pay of the workers at Dafeng Factory are all based on the company's employment relationship."

"This is a legal responsibility of enterprises to employ workers, not an administrative responsibility of the government."

"Now that Shanshui Group has acquired absolute control of Dafeng Factory and become the actual controlling shareholder."

"Then there's the matter of resettlement and economic compensation for the more than 1,300 employees of Dafeng Factory."

"Legally, the Shanshui Group should take the lead, and the Dafeng Factory should bear the responsibility."

"The government should never use its own funds to cover the commercial acquisitions and equity disputes of the Shanshui Group."

Subtle noises arose in the conference hall, especially from the people from the Finance Bureau and the Housing and Construction Bureau who were originally supposed to contribute funds; they nodded repeatedly in agreement with Wu Xiongfei's words.

Director Qian and Director Wang suddenly realized, "That's right, there are risks involved in us spending money."

Many officials present were used to the government providing a safety net when problems arose.

People are gradually falling into the mindset that maintaining stability requires government funding, especially after a mass incident occurred at Dafeng Factory.

They were all a little flustered for a moment, afraid that they would be punished, and wanted things to pass as quickly as possible.

Like Li Dakang, they did not break free from their established thinking and attempt to analyze the issue from the perspectives of legal principles and corporate responsibility.

At that moment, Wu Xiongfei pointed out the truth, and everyone instantly understood that the government should not have spent money on this matter at all.

However, Zhao Dehan and Sun Liancheng, who were sitting there, didn't show any reaction, as if they had known all along that Wu Xiongfei would step forward.

Li Dakang's lips tightened, and he gave Wu Xiongfei a deep look.

After being thoroughly criticized by Governor Liu at the Standing Committee meeting, Li Dakang knew that in Jingzhou City, he could no longer ignore Mayor Wu Xiongfei as before.

But to his surprise, Wu Xiongfei stood up at the first meeting in Jingzhou City after the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee meeting.

Wu Xiongfei was not surprised that he learned about the Standing Committee's news so quickly.

If news of Sha Ruijin's first Standing Committee meeting spreads widely, it won't be so easy for Li Dakang to wield the same influence in Jingzhou as before.

"Mayor Wu, there is a dispute over the equity of Dafeng Factory."

"The workers do not recognize the mortgage agreement between Cai Chenggong and Shanshui Group, nor does Chen Yanshi."

"The ownership of this 40% stake hasn't been resolved yet, so how can you tell me that the obligation to provide resettlement lies with the Shanshui Group?"

Li Dakang understood Wu Xiongfei's meaning, but since it involved the Shanshui Group, he still subconsciously wanted to avoid it.

Although he had decided to align himself with the new provincial party secretary, Sha Ruijin, he was still unwilling to touch the Shanshui Group since his old leader had just left.

"Even if there are equity disputes," Wu Xiongfei said calmly.

"The 60% equity stake that Cai Chenggong mortgaged to Shanshui Group is a written contract and is legally binding."

"This 60% stake makes Shanshui Group the absolute controlling shareholder of Dafeng Factory."

"After Shanshui Group became the major shareholder, the legal entity of Dafeng Factory did not change."

"The legal entity remains unchanged, so the labor contracts of the original 1300-plus workers will be automatically extended."

"As the controlling shareholder, Shanshui Group cannot simply take the equity without bearing any responsibility."

Li Dakang placed his palm on the table.

"There is a supplementary agreement between Shanshui Group and Tsai Chenggong, which clearly states that Shanshui Group is not responsible for the resettlement of Dafeng Factory employees."

"This agreement was signed by Tsai Cheng-cheng and Kao Hsiao-chin, not by me or the government."

"Now that Tsai Chenggong is bankrupt, are you expecting the Shanshui Group to take the blame for him?"

"I have seen a copy of the supplementary agreement," Wu Xiongfei said.

"This morning, the Legal Affairs Office transferred two copies; one to Tsai Cheng-cheng, and one to the Shanshui Group."

The original clause reads: "After Party B (Shanshui Group) acquires the equity..."

"The original entity of Party A shall not be liable for the resettlement, economic compensation, social security arrears payment and related derivative responsibilities of the existing employees of Party A (Dafeng Factory).

He read it calmly, as if he were reading a verdict.

"Secretary Dakang, what do you think of this supplementary agreement?" He looked at Li Dakang.

Li Dakang glanced at Wu Xiongfei sideways but did not answer.

"Secretary Li, I can tell you with absolute certainty about this supplementary agreement."

"It's called 'malicious collusion, harming the interests of third parties, and circumventing mandatory legal provisions'."

"This supplementary agreement is completely invalid and has no legal binding force whatsoever."

"You—" Li Dakang almost slammed his fist on the table.

Ignoring Li Dakang's murderous glare, Wu Xiongfei took the projector remote from the staff.

New legal documents appeared on the conference room screen.

"The Labor Contract Law stipulates that employers may terminate their employment contracts in the event of a merger or division."

"The original labor contract remains valid, and the labor contract shall continue to be performed by the employer who succeeds to its rights and obligations."

"The legal entity of Dafeng Factory has not changed; only the controlling shareholder has changed. The workers' labor contracts have automatically continued under the name of Dafeng Factory."

"The major shareholder of Dafeng Factory is now Shanshui Group. Shanshui Group must assume all the legal obligations of Dafeng Factory as an employer, including wages, social security, and resettlement compensation."

"As for the supplementary agreement between Shanshui Group and Cai Chenggong," Wu Xiongfei's voice rose a little.

Article 153 of the Civil Code stipulates that civil legal acts that violate mandatory provisions of laws or administrative regulations are invalid.

Article 154 stipulates that a civil legal act in which the actor and the counterparty collude in bad faith to harm the legitimate rights and interests of others is invalid.

"What is the true nature of the private agreement between the Shanshui Group and Tsai Cheng-cheng that 'the Shanshui Group will not be responsible for employee resettlement'?"

Wu Xiongfei shifted his gaze from Li Dakang to the other cadres present.