RNP Chapter 1068 The Superior Leader
Chapter 1068 The Superior Leader
Yi Zhonghai breathed a sigh of relief and quickened his pace to the steel rolling mill. As soon as he entered the workshop, he saw Deputy Director Li standing outside the dispatch room with his hands behind his back, smoking. His brows were furrowed, and several cigarette butts were already scattered at his feet. He quickly walked over, slightly hunching his back, and said in a low voice, "Director, I'm here."
Deputy Factory Director Li stubbed out his cigarette, stomped his foot on the ground, looked up at him, his eyes gleaming: "Master Yi, you've made some good moves lately. Have the people below spread the word. Right now, everyone in the factory is saying that Gu Nan's senior engineer title is questionable. This is our opportunity."
Yi Zhonghai rubbed his hands together, his tone tinged with urgency and unease: "I did everything according to your instructions, I dare not take credit. But... Deputy Factory Director Li, this time it must succeed. Gu Nan is cunning and quick-witted, if he really recovers, I'm afraid we'll be..."
"Don't worry." Deputy Factory Director Li patted his arm, smiling confidently. "When the leaders come to inspect this time, we can just expose this matter. Public opinion will be on our side, and even if Gu Nan has great abilities, he'll have to admit defeat. Once this is over, the factory's technical department will be reshuffled, and your level eight fitter certification will be a sure thing then."
Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai's anxiety instantly subsided, and a fawning smile immediately appeared on his face: "It's all thanks to your support, Factory Director! Don't worry, I will definitely cooperate fully!"
The two men exchanged a glance, their thoughts unspoken—Deputy Factory Director Li wanted to use this opportunity to remove Gu Nan from his position and secure his own; Yi Zhonghai, on the other hand, hoped to leverage Deputy Factory Director Li's influence to secure a higher position within the factory, so he could finally hold his head high in the courtyard. They seemed to already envision Gu Nan's downfall, and a smug smile crept onto their lips.
At this moment, the machines in the workshop started up one after another, and the roar gradually filled the entire factory, marking the beginning of a new day. Meanwhile, a storm targeting Gu Nan was quietly brewing amidst the noise.
Yi Zhonghai's face crinkled into a wide grin, his eyes gleaming with barely suppressed light. He nodded repeatedly to Deputy Factory Director Li, "Deputy Factory Director Li, I'm really looking forward to your good news! Don't worry, I'll make sure the publicity campaign is flawless, leaving that kid Gu Nan speechless!" He rubbed his hands together, already planning which old buddies to spread the word and how to phrase it in a way that was ambiguous and would leave room for speculation.
Deputy Factory Director Li waved his hand, saying nothing more—he knew that the most important thing right now wasn't Gu Nan's matter, but rather making a good impression on the high-ranking leader sent by his superiors. This was crucial to his advancement, and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes. He straightened his clothes, moved closer to the office building entrance, and kept glancing towards the factory gate, clearly waiting for the high-ranking leader's motorcade.
Not long after, Gu Nan walked over, dressed in clean work clothes with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing his strong arms. He had obviously just returned from inspecting the workshop. He saw that Deputy Factory Director Li was already standing at the door waiting, and a faint smile appeared on his face: "Deputy Factory Director Li, you're here early. I thought I was early enough."
Deputy Factory Director Li turned around, a formulaic smile plastered on his face, his tone carrying a deliberate seriousness: "Deputy Factory Director Gu, you're joking. You know perfectly well that a high-ranking official from the city is coming to inspect production safety today. You're in charge of production, so you have to keep a close eye on all the equipment and processes, inside and out; as for me, I'm responsible for receiving the leaders outside, welcoming them in, keeping them company, and making sure there's no mishap." His words seemed to clearly define the division of labor, but in reality, they subtly emphasized the importance of his role in "receiving the leaders," revealing a hint of superiority.
Gu Nan knew perfectly well that Deputy Factory Director Li wanted to show off in front of the higher-ups and steal the limelight. But he didn't care. Production was already complicated enough; less socializing would actually make things easier. So he nodded, a smile playing on his lips, "Deputy Factory Director Li is right. This matter will indeed require your help. After all, entertaining leaders is an art, and I'm afraid I'm not good at it. I'll just focus on my production workshop, ensuring the equipment runs smoothly and the data reports are clear, and I definitely won't bring shame to the factory."
Hearing this, Deputy Factory Director Li's smile became more genuine, assuming that Gu Nan had given in and wouldn't argue with him anymore. He waved his hand: "Then you go ahead and get busy. Keep a close eye on things in the workshop. I'll wait here."
Gu Nan responded and turned to walk towards the workshop, his steps steady. He knew that compared to saying nice things to the leaders, achieving real results in production was the most reliable foundation—let Deputy Factory Director Li try to steal the limelight if he wanted, but when it came time to reward merit, no one could hide it from him.
Gu Nan returned to his office, closing the door behind him to shut out the noise from the workshop. He sat down behind his desk, tapping lightly on the surface with his fingertips—Vice Factory Director Li's preparations were clearly thorough; hiding anything would only put him at a disadvantage. He reached for the black telephone on the desk, dialed a number he knew by heart, and heard a busy tone before being answered after only two rings.
“Boss,” Gu Nan’s voice was steady, “the internal rating issue of the steel rolling mill that I mentioned to you last time, and the situation where some people are causing trouble under false pretenses, I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you with that now.”
A hearty laugh came from the other end of the line: "I thought it was something serious. Don't worry, I've already sent people over, they're all experienced comrades. You don't need to worry about anything, they'll investigate according to procedure, sort things out what needs to be sorted out, and handle what needs to be handled, I guarantee you'll have a peaceful time."
"Thank you, sir." Gu Nan nodded in response, a weight lifted from his heart. He knew that this leader always kept his word, and once he took action, he wouldn't let the matter go unresolved.
After hanging up the phone, Gu Nan leaned back in his chair, gazing out the window—Deputy Factory Director Li had been plotting for so long, stirring up rumors and rallying support, probably waiting to see him fall. But he was determined to show him that trying to scheme against him would only backfire. He wondered what kind of expression Deputy Factory Director Li would have when the results came out. A cold, sharp smile curved Gu Nan's lips, but his eyes remained calm and undisturbed—what was meant to happen would happen.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the steel rolling mill's office building, Deputy Director Li was talking with several leaders. These were all people he had invited through connections; they were cadres from the steel rolling mill's direct superior unit, with whom he had frequent interactions, and their conversation sounded familiar. He was already planning in his mind that later, in front of everyone, these leaders would "point out" the "suspicious points" regarding Gu Nan's professional title evaluation, and then he would naturally propose an investigation, which would surely catch Gu Nan off guard.
"Deputy Factory Director Li, you're so thoughtful to make such a special trip for such a small matter," a slightly overweight leader said with a smile, patting him on the shoulder.