MM Racing Chapter 1146 didn't mention those things.
Chapter 1146 didn't mention those things.
Once Yi Zhonghai was seated on the wooden chair opposite him, Zhu Tao personally picked up the thermos and refilled the enamel cup in front of him halfway with warm water. A thin layer of steam quickly condensed on the cup, blurring the words "Serve the People." He knew perfectly well that Yi Zhonghai, a veteran employee who had been with the factory for nearly thirty years, was unmatched in seniority. His fellow workers respected him, and he wielded considerable influence among the workers. If he were to deal with Gu Nan later, this man was a crucial asset; he needed to cultivate him properly, making him feel valued before using him effectively.
“Master Yi, don’t rush, speak slowly.” Zhu Tao pushed the water glass towards Yi Zhonghai, his tone softening and deliberately friendly. “I came to see you today because I wanted to hear what the veteran employees have to say. To be honest, the steel rolling mill has accumulated many problems over the years, and if we want to reform it properly, we can’t do without the support of you old-timers. You’ve watched the factory grow up, so you know best where the problems are and who the problems are.”
Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai immediately felt a surge of relief, and his posture straightened slightly. This Factory Director Zhu knew how to speak; every word resonated with him. He leaned forward, his tone as resolute as if he were patting his chest in assurance: "Factory Director Zhu, rest assured, factory matters are my own matters, absolutely no ambiguity! Whatever you want to know, I will tell you everything I know clearly, without a single falsehood!"
Zhu Tao nodded, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. Tea stains formed a faint yellow ring at the bottom of the cup. "Master Yi is a veteran employee of the steel rolling mill. He's been working here since the factory was built. When it comes to knowing the factory's situation, you're better than anyone else." He then changed the subject, his eyes becoming more inquisitive. "Could you tell me in detail how Gu Nan usually works in the factory? When he implemented those new rules, were there any inappropriate aspects? Have you heard any complaints from the workers about him?"
Yi Zhonghai nodded heavily, as if he had finally gotten the chance to vent, and once he started talking, he couldn't stop. He first brought up the new attendance system that Gu Nan had implemented in the factory—"If you're even a minute late for work, you'll lose work points. Who doesn't have an emergency at home? Isn't that inhumane?" He then said that Gu Nan was too strict about production quality, "He demands rework for even the smallest flaw, which not only delays the schedule but also makes the workers suffer for nothing, and everyone is complaining behind his back."
As he spoke, he embellished the story, describing several instances of "Gu Nan being autocratic and oppressing employees": "The other day, Old Wang from Workshop 3 was criticized by name at a meeting because a defective part was mixed in with the finished products. He was also docked half a month's salary, and Old Wang fainted on the spot!" In fact, that part was a critical component that almost caused a safety accident. Gu Nan's handling of the matter according to the rules was perfectly reasonable. But after he said it like this, it became that Gu Nan was deliberately making things difficult for veteran employees.
Yi Zhonghai spoke with great enthusiasm, but he never mentioned how he had made things difficult for Ding Jianguo when Ding was still an apprentice and tried to squeeze him out. After all, Ding Jianguo is now a key technical worker and is close to Gu Nan. If these old stories were brought up, Director Zhu would inevitably think that he had ulterior motives and was seeking revenge. He would not be willing to stand up for him.
Under Yi Zhonghai's deliberate guidance, the version of events Zhu Tao heard portrayed Gu Nan as someone who, despite achieving some success, was arrogant and disregarded the lives of his workers. The charge of "oppressing employees," in particular, was a sufficient pretext to bring down Gu Nan in today's environment that emphasizes workers' rights.
Zhu Tao remained silent, only occasionally frowning or uttering a soft "hmm." Once Yi Zhonghai had finished speaking, he put down his teacup, his tone turning serious: "Alright, Master Yi, I understand. The situation you reported is very important; we will immediately arrange for someone to investigate and verify it." He paused, then added, "Don't make this public for now, lest we alert the enemy and give some people time to prepare."
Yi Zhonghai quickly stood up, his face beaming with gratitude, the wrinkles around his eyes crinkling into crescents: "Okay! I understand! I'll keep my mouth shut! I'll go back now and wait for Director Zhu's message!" He felt a weight lifted from his heart, as if he could already see Gu Nan being dismissed.
The smile on Zhu Tao's face gradually faded, replaced by a cold expression. He stared at the barely touched glass of lukewarm water on the table, his fingertips tapping lightly on the surface, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound, as if he were pondering something.
"Gu Nan, Gu Nan," he muttered to himself, a cold smile playing on his lips, "it seems your good days are really coming to an end."
Yi Zhonghai opened his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing. He wanted to mention Bang Geng's upcoming assignment to the countryside—after all, it was Qin Huairu's repeated request. He could also use this opportunity to subtly criticize Gu Nan's "unapproachable" nature to Zhu Tao, saying he didn't even care about neighborly relations. But he swallowed the words back. His eyes darted around, and he thought to himself: Right now, the most important thing is to establish a connection with the new factory director and leave a reliable impression. There's no need to rush to speak up for that kid Bang Geng. If Director Zhu thinks he's there to pull strings or show favoritism, it would be a bad move, and it would be much harder to build a relationship later.
Zhu Tao sat in his large office chair, his fingers lightly tapping on the smooth desktop, his gaze still lingering on Yi Zhonghai's face. Seeing his hesitant expression, he knew perfectly well what the old man wanted to say: it was probably about Gu Nan. He couldn't wait for Yi Zhonghai to reveal more of Gu Nan's "dirt"—after all, he was a factory director parachuted in, with no real power base in the steel rolling mill. Most of the older workers believed in Gu Nan's ways; only by bringing down Gu Nan could he truly secure his position and control the entire mill.
Unexpectedly, Yi Zhonghai simply shook his head, a calm expression on his face, and stood up, saying, "Factory Director, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now so as not to delay your work."
Zhu Tao was somewhat surprised, raising an eyebrow slightly, but didn't ask any further questions. He simply nodded indifferently, watching Yi Zhonghai's hunched back disappear through the doorway. He tapped his fingers on the table more rapidly, his brows gradually furrowing—it seemed he would have to find another way to pick a fight with Gu Nan. This Yi Zhonghai seemed shrewd, but he was quite good at hiding his true intentions when it mattered most.
Unbeknownst to him, Gu Nan, who had seemingly kept a low profile like a paving stone during his years at the steel rolling mill, had actually been quietly building up his network of connections. From veteran technicians in the workshop to warehouse managers, and even the old man in the gatehouse, everyone had received favors from him. They never made a fuss when they didn't need his help, just to guard against such sudden targeting. At that moment, the door to Gu Nan's office was gently pushed open, and a young worker in blue overalls peeked in, his hat pulled low, and whispered, "Deputy Factory Director Gu, I've found out that He Yuzhu went into Factory Director Zhu's office first and stayed for almost fifteen minutes. Then Master Yi went in too. I didn't hear exactly what they said, but judging from their expressions, it seemed like they were talking about you. When they came out, they both looked thoughtful."