Chapter 290: Throwing Caution to the Wind
While Su He was making her phone call to Old Master Gu, Director Hu had also managed to see the county’s top leadership.
The county’s top leadership was naturally very well-informed. So the moment he saw Director Hu walk in, he already knew the reason for his visit.
“Old Hu, take a seat!
“You’re here about the merger with the provincial machinery factory, aren’t you?
“I just received the news myself. I know you feel stifled, and it’s completely understandable.
“The machinery factory represents your life’s work, and its performance has consistently been excellent. Now that you’ve developed the simple seed drills on top of that, anyone in your position would be reluctant to let it go.
“Never mind you—even I am reluctant!
“But, Old Hu, we must have a view of the big picture, and we must look at issues from a macro level.
“The county’s economy needs to develop, but the provincial economy must also be taken into consideration!
“Besides, although the machinery factory will become a branch factory, I can guarantee that your benefits will remain exactly the same as they are now…”
Director Hu was not surprised by this speech from the top leadership in the slightest, as it was completely within his expectations.
Although the machinery factory had originally been the unrivaled flagship of An County, the textile factory and the food factory had shown immense momentum recently. In particular, they held the advantage of earning foreign exchange through exports, so the machinery factory’s status was no longer what it used to be.
Of course, the top leadership was bound to be highly dissatisfied with the machinery department’s decision as well. But as a leader, no matter how dissatisfied he was in his heart, he wouldn’t easily display it, and he still had to appease his subordinates.
Once the top leadership finished speaking, only then did Director Hu say, “I understand everything you’ve said. But to tell you the absolute truth from the bottom of my heart, I am still unwilling.
“If nothing else, everyone knows exactly what kind of virtue that crowd of people at the provincial machinery factory possesses. Once our machinery factory falls into their hands, it will be ruined!
“I also know it’s inconvenient for you to intervene. It’s a pity the Ministry of Agriculture’s document promoting the simple seed drills is still going through the official approval process. Otherwise, it would be easier for you to speak up…”
The top leadership looked surprised. “What did you say? A document from the Ministry of Agriculture promoting the simple seed drills?”
Director Hu nodded. “Yes! As you know, the Ministry of Agriculture established several awards to reward collectives and individuals who make contributions to agriculture.
“Therefore, a while back, we reported the research and development achievements of the simple seed drills to the provincial agricultural bureau.
“First, it was to open up sales channels, and second, we also wanted to win some honors for our An County.
“After the provincial agricultural bureau reported it to the Ministry of Agriculture, the simple seed drills received validation from the Ministry of Agriculture. An official document vigorously promoting the simple seed drills will be issued in the near future…”
The top leadership looked suspicious. “Since the document hasn’t been issued yet, how did you find out?”
Director Hu explained, “Su He from our factory knows Old Master Gu from the Ministry of Foreign Trade. I estimate she overheard a few fragmented phrases.
“Oh, right. Little Su has been striving to secure a slot at the Guangzhou Fair from Old Master Gu. Exact news should arrive within these two days.
“Sigh, originally, our machinery factory was prepared to make a massive push and strive to sign more foreign trade orders at the Guangzhou Fair.
“Although the simple seed drills don’t have much of a market in developed countries, in some underdeveloped nations, they are absolutely highly promising!
“I didn’t expect this head-on blow just now. Since it’s turning into a branch factory, let’s just forget about this matter!
“It’s not for any other reason, but I’m terrified that crowd of people at the provincial machinery factory will make a mess of things, fail to complete the orders with guaranteed quality and quantity, and damage our country’s honor…”
While Director Hu spoke, he used the corners of his eyes to observe the top leadership’s expression. He thought to himself: No wonder he’s the leader; having sustained such a massive shock, he can actually still remain unfazed!
Little did he know, the top leadership was already cursing up a storm in his heart!
Setting the foreign trade orders aside for a moment, he felt that the provincial machinery department must have already gotten wind of this insider information.
Otherwise, why would they suddenly want to swallow up the An County Machinery Factory?
Well, look at that. It turned out they wanted to harvest the fruits of someone else’s labor!
With the document of vigorous promotion from the Ministry of Agriculture, the An County Machinery Factory would become a goose that laid golden eggs!
Not only would it bring economic performance, but it would also bring all kinds of subsequent honors!
When he further recalled the foreign trade orders Director Hu mentioned, his fury surged straight up to his forehead!
The top leadership took a sip of tea before saying, “Old Hu, if we don’t merge, can your machinery factory truly bring in foreign trade orders?”
Director Hu was an old fox of many years as well!
Catching the underlying meaning, the moment he heard the prompt, he knew the top leadership had fallen straight onto the path painted by Su He!
He abruptly stood up, slammed his chest, and said, “I can issue a military pledge right in front of your face!
“If we don’t merge, our An County Machinery Factory can lock down at least ten thousand units in foreign trade orders at this upcoming Guangzhou Fair!
“If we fail to achieve it, you can strip me of my position entirely, and I’ll go serve as a doorman at the machinery factory!”
When Director Hu uttered these words, his voice was highly resonant and brimming with absolute confidence!
In reality, his heart was incredibly hollow!
Ten thousand units?
If they could sell a thousand units, he would be burning high incense to thank the heavens!
But he had no choice but to speak this way, because he had to provide a bridge for the top leadership to step down.
Sure enough, the top leadership slammed the table. “Old Hu, since you’ve put it that way, for the sake of our An County, and to earn export foreign exchange for our nation, I will throw caution to the wind too! I will head to the province right now. Even if it costs me the official hat upon my head, I will thoroughly ruin this merger project!”
In reality, the top leadership hadn’t been willing to merge to begin with. It was just that orders came from above, and the province had also provided other subsidy policies, so he had turned a blind eye to it.
After all, An County currently possessed two pillars of support—the textile factory and the food factory—so partitioning the machinery factory away was acceptable.
But things were different now!
A duel between two giants had turned into a three-way standoff!
Particularly vital was that the simple seed drills had received validation from the Ministry of Agriculture!
This wasn’t just a matter of making his own track record look good; the key was that it could bring tangible benefits to An County!
With this golden brand, they could secure some policy tilt from the Ministry of Agriculture, which could allow the common people of An County to live better lives!
The top leadership was also a swift and decisive character by nature, immediately grabbing his briefcase and taking a car straight to the province.
Director Hu: “…”
I mean, seriously, aren’t you going to first find a way to verify whether the Ministry of Agriculture’s document is genuine?
In reality, it was completely understandable. One aspect was that Old Master Gu’s tiger skin was rather effective, and the other aspect was that Director Hu had consistently been highly reliable in his work.
Therefore, the top leadership still placed a significant amount of trust in his words.
Had these words come out of Director Tian’s mouth today, the top leadership would truly have had to ponder it over carefully.
Director Hu let out a long breath, got into his car, and returned to the machinery factory.
The moment the car reached the main gate of the machinery factory, Director Tian arrived on a bicycle!
Director Hu: “…”
Little Su is truly formidable!
If nothing else, just the fact that she can make Tian the Miser willingly lend his sedan to her represents true ability!
Before Director Hu even had the chance to speak, Director Feng’s car arrived as well.
Director Hu thought to himself: These two sure are well-informed!
It was inconvenient to speak outside, so the three merely exchanged brief pleasantries before heading into Director Hu’s office.
Director Feng said with a dark expression, “The machinery department truly isn’t doing human work. This is a blatant attempt to harvest the fruits of your labor!
“Seeing that your machinery factory has excellent performance, they’re using you to grant personal favors!
“Old Hu, you just went to find the top leadership, didn’t you?
“You don’t have to say it for me to know. The top leadership bound to have told you to look at the big picture, right? Sigh, our small arms can’t twist a giant leg; we can only admit our bad luck!”
At this moment, Director Feng felt a powerful sense of sharing the sorrow of a dying fellow creature. If the machinery factory was swallowed up, perhaps one day their textile factory would be swallowed up by the provincial textile factory too!
Director Tian, however, rolled his eyes. “Old Hu, where is Little Su? Before you went to find the top leadership, did she give you a suggestion? The top leadership didn’t head to the province to slam the table, did he?”
Director Hu was genuinely astonished!
“How did you know?”
