Flip the table and divide the family property! Take his wife and daughter into the mountains and eat

The auditorium was already quiet, but now, with Sun Weidong leaving, the atmosphere became even more deathly still, as if even breathing was frozen by the cold air.

Zhao Shanhe didn't rush to speak. He just held onto the edge of the podium, his gaze like a cold guillotine, following Sun Weidong's fleeing figure, scraping little by little to the very back corner of the auditorium.

Only when the creaking sound of Sun Weidong's big cotton shoes with exposed heels on the wooden floor completely disappeared did Zhao Shanhe turn his gaze away and slowly dust off the dust on his shirt.

The already quiet crowd was now completely silenced, even the coughs were suppressed.

Those people in the back row who originally wanted to use Sun Weidong as an excuse to gauge the situation and watch the show turn around were now shrinking back faster than ever, afraid that in this deathly silence, they would be singled out by Zhao Shanhe's cold gaze.

The air in the auditorium seemed to freeze.

The older workers in the front row slowly sat up straight, and the way they looked at Zhao Shanhe was different from before.

Liang Tiejun sat beside him, tapping his fingers lightly on the table twice. Only after the lingering effects had mostly subsided did he speak in a deep voice:

"You saw it all, didn't you?"

"At Hongxing Factory, it's not a matter of whoever shouts the loudest being right, nor is it about whoever makes the biggest fuss getting a head start."

"For the factory to move forward, it depends on who is truly capable and who dares to take on the work."

No one in the auditorium responded.

But that chaotic energy had clearly been suppressed by the fierce attack just now.

Zhao Shanhe stood at the front, raised his hand and gently tapped the table, drawing everyone's attention back to him.

"That just now made things clear."

"The list isn't made up of whoever shouts the loudest."

"It's not about who's the most senior or who gets promoted."

"It's not a matter of who makes a scene or who dares to overturn the chair, so that they can squeeze forward first."

"Just look at one thing—"

"Whoever has work to do and can shoulder responsibilities."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the rows of faces below, his voice low but steady.

"After the meeting, workshop directors and a few experienced workers, please don't leave yet."

"We'll meet again at the factory later."

A hushed murmur immediately rose from below.

Someone's eyes lit up.

Some people looked even more somber.

This time, however, no one dared to stand up and spout nonsense.

Zhao Shanhe looked at them, and then added one last sentence:

"I'll say it again."

"The Red Star Factory hasn't given up yet."

"Anyone who truly wants to make a living should let their work speak for itself."

"Stop talking nonsense."

After he finished speaking, he took half a step back.

Liang Tiejun took over the conversation and waved his hand.

"Alright, that's enough for today's meeting."

"Go back to the workshop and get back to what you were doing."

"Workshop foreman and senior workers, stay behind after the meeting."

As soon as the sound rang out, the rows of long benches in the auditorium began to creak and rattle.

As the workers got up, they whispered amongst themselves.

The eyes of several young workers in the back row were still shining; they were clearly tempted.

The older workers at the front didn't say much, but their expressions were noticeably more relaxed than before the meeting.

Wang Guowei also stood up, but did not rush to leave.

He deliberately lagged behind, and just before leaving, he casually tilted his head towards the research table, giving Zhang Dafa a wink.

Zhang Dafa sat in the front, his face dark, as if he hadn't seen anything.

Wang Guowei's lips twitched, and then he slowly moved out with the flow of people.

As he approached the door, he looked back one last time.

This time, Zhang Dafa still ignored him.

Wang Guowei's face stiffened slightly. He pursed his lips, shrank his neck, and left the auditorium.

……

Once the crowd dispersed, the auditorium was almost empty.

A cold wind blew in through the door, making the corners of the papers on the table tremble slightly.

Liang Tiejun picked up the enamel mug, took a sip of the cooled water, and spoke first.

"Alright. Most people have left, let's not linger any longer."

He glanced around and saw that besides Zhang Dafa, there were only a few workshop directors and a few experienced workers like Lao Chen and Wang Daikui.

Zhao Shanhe moved the half-pack of cigarettes on the research table aside and said in a low voice, "Now let's get down to business and go over the list."

Liang Tiejun nodded: "Let's start small and get the framework up and running first. Master Chen and Master Wang, you know them best, so you can go first and tell me who you can trust."

Wang Daikui rubbed his chin and said, "I'll go first. Old Xu from the machine repair department is one. He's quiet, but his hands are steady. New machines are prone to rough handling, so Old Xu is suitable."

Old Chen chimed in from the side, "Li Guirong from the assembly team is also good; she has a good memory and is meticulous in her work."

Wang Daikui clicked his tongue again: "And one more, Zhuzi."

This time, Zhang Dafa frowned and looked at Old Chen: "Zhu Zi? Isn't this your apprentice, Master Chen?"

Old Chen didn't say anything; his old face remained expressionless.

Zhang Dafa leaned back, his tone slightly inquisitive: "Isn't that kid usually quite impulsive? Master Chen, you're recommending someone even if you're related to them."

Wang Daikui immediately waved his hand: "Director Zhang, he may be impulsive, but among the young people, he's the quickest-witted one. With new machines like this, we need someone who dares to take action and has a sharp mind to stir things up."

Old Chen then added in a low voice, "I can handle the pillar, just keep it under control."

Liang Tiejun glanced at Zhao Shanhe, and seeing that Zhao Shanhe didn't object, he nodded: "Okay, Zhuzi counts as one. Old Xu, Li Guirong, and Zhuzi, these three are settled for now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Director Ma of Workshop One couldn't sit still any longer and leaned forward halfway.

"Director Liang, Wang Qiang from our workshop is also quite good. Although that young man just became a full-time employee, he's quick-witted and efficient. And that young Sun from Workshop Two, his father used to be a model worker in the factory. He's got a very good family background, shouldn't we consider him too?"

As soon as Director Ma spoke, the remaining workshop directors also started arguing.

One person said that Xiao Zhou from their own workshop was hardworking, while another said that Lao Wang in their group had reliable skills.

In an instant, the voices of the people in the front row of the auditorium rose and fell, and the once quiet area under the stage became lively again. More and more names were mentioned, and the list was about to reach twenty or thirty names.

Zhang Dafa sat to the side, tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice, and took a sip of tea.

His eyes swept over Zhao Shanhe's face, and taking advantage of a break in the argument among the directors, he suddenly spoke in a low voice.

"Shanhe, Lao Liang, I also have someone in mind. Do you think he's suitable?"

Liang Tiejun looked up: "Who?"

"Wang Guowei".

When Zhang Dafa uttered the name, Old Chen and Wang Daikui's expressions visibly changed. One stared at the roof beam, and the other stared at the teacup, their expressions extremely unnatural.

Zhang Dafa pretended not to see it and continued, "Guowei may be a bit impulsive, but he's smart and a high school graduate. Besides, if the equipment department really doesn't give us a single spot, I'm afraid the people below will talk behind our backs and say that we two old brothers are being unfair."

The auditorium was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhao Shanhe didn't rush to speak. He reached into the box, took out a cigarette, and without lighting it, simply twirled it lightly between his fingers.

"The person recommended by Director Zhang must have some merits."

Zhao Shanhe spoke, his tone soft and gentle, as if he were having a casual chat.

"A high level of education is a good thing. However, the first batch of people to go in have to follow the experienced workers to drill into the oil pan and climb the machine tool positions. That's dirty and tiring work, and you have to be able to endure the monotony."

He looked up at Zhang Dafa, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Comrade Wang is your nephew, and he's usually a pampered star at the factory. I'm worried that if he goes in, he won't be able to handle the hardship. He might not only fail to do his job well, but he'll also upset you, Director Zhang, and then I'll really become the bad guy."

Zhang Dafa's old face stiffened, and he coughed twice: "He's young, it's only right that he suffers a little."

Zhao Shanhe shook his head and tapped his finger lightly on the table.

"Director Zhang, I understand your good intentions. But this first shot must be fired successfully; there can be no mistakes."

"Wang Guowei is such a promising talent, I don't think we should rush to throw him into this harsh environment. It's better to let this high school student develop his strengths once the experts arrive and the theoretical training begins. What do you think?"

This subtle attack silenced Zhang Dafa completely.

He could tell that Zhao Shanhe had sealed the door shut, but his words were still full of "consideration" for him, as his uncle.

Zhang Dafa's face darkened; he couldn't find a way to vent the frustration in his heart.

Old Chen and Wang Daikui exchanged a glance, both of them breathing a sigh of relief.

Zhao Shanhe didn't give Zhang Dafa a chance to recover, and turned to look at Liang Tiejun.

"Director Liang, the final list is these twenty-odd people. Starting tomorrow, let's give these foreign guys a good beating."

Liang Tiejun decisively made the decision: "Okay, let's do it this way."

Several workshop directors agreed in unison, got up and walked out of the auditorium.

Zhang Dafa sat there, his eyelids drooping, his hand gripping the teacup tightly.

"Old Zhang, shall we go?"

Liang Tiejun stood up and patted Zhang Dafa on the shoulder, "Go sit in the office, the bureau has some documents coming down this afternoon."

Zhang Dafa didn't say a word, but stood up with a dark face and walked out of the auditorium without uttering a sound.

Zhao Shanhe watched Zhang Dafa's figure disappear into the cold wind before slowly exhaling a puff of smoke.

"Master Chen, Master Wang, thank you for your hard work tonight as you went over the blueprints for those machines again. We'll see who's the best in the equipment warehouse first thing tomorrow morning."

Old Chen and Wang Daikui responded and left with their hands in their pockets.

The auditorium fell completely silent.

The cold wind made the old wooden door creak. Zhao Shanhe sat alone on the long bench, looking at the empty auditorium, his eyes gradually becoming deep.