Siheyuan: I just came across and wanted to chase me away

Chapter 1135 A lot of discussion

The moment those words were spoken, the noisy workshop fell silent, as if a pause button had been pressed. The employees, who had been discussing animatedly just moments before, were stunned. They didn't even notice the wrenches and hammers in their hands falling to the ground with a clatter. Their faces showed as if someone had doused them with a bucket of cold water, revealing utter bewilderment.

"Not Deputy Factory Director Gu?" someone muttered subconsciously. The voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples all around, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear clearly.

"Why is he an outsider? I've never even heard of him..."

"Where was Director Zhu transferred from? The Heavy Industry Bureau? He hasn't worked in our system before, has he?"

Whispers rose like a tide, and everyone's eyes darted back and forth between the newcomer Zhu Tao and Gu Nan, their faces filled with shock, confusion, and a hint of indescribable disappointment. No one had expected that what everyone thought was a foregone conclusion would take such a complete 180-degree turn.

Gu Nan appeared unusually calm. He slowly put down his lunchbox, nodded slightly in Zhu Tao's direction, and wore a perfectly measured, peaceful smile, as if to say hello. Inwardly, however, he knew what was coming—what was bound to happen would happen. It seemed those people ultimately had no intention of letting him stay peacefully in the factory.

Zhu Tao seemed unconcerned by the crowd's reactions, a gentle smile always on his face. His gaze calmly swept over the machines and employees in the workshop, finally settling on Gu Nan. He took the initiative to walk over and extended his hand: "This must be Comrade Gu Nan, right? I've heard of you before. You're so young, yet you've managed the factory's technology and production so well. You're truly a promising young man. From now on, we'll be colleagues. I'll need your help and guidance in many aspects of the factory's operations."

Gu Nan reached out and gently shook hands with him. Their fingertips touched briefly, and Gu Nan felt that the other man's hand was slightly cool. His fingertips did not have the thick calluses left from years of holding tools, but rather looked like those of someone who had been holding a pen for many years. "Director Zhu, you are too kind," he said in a flat tone, without the slightest hint of emotion. "It's all for the factory, just my duty."

The surrounding employees watched this scene, momentarily speechless. The congratulatory words they had prepared stuck in their throats, replaced by blank and confused expressions—just who was this new Factory Director Zhu? What unexpected changes would his sudden arrival bring to the steel rolling mill? The air in the workshop seemed to freeze, with only the tireless roar of the machines in the distance continuing, as if providing accompaniment to this sudden turn of events.

But Gu Nan didn't take the others' speculations to heart. Lately, people in the factory had been gossiping that he was just one step away from becoming the factory director, and even the canteen staff gave him an extra half-spoon of meat when they saw him. But he knew in his heart that he had never coveted that position from the beginning—the deputy factory director job was already busy enough for him. He had to personally oversee the production progress in the workshops, check the inflow and outflow of raw materials, and handle workers' injury disputes every day. How could he have the mind to think about anything else? Right now, his mind was completely focused on how to boost the steel rolling mill's production and strive to increase steel output by another five percentage points this quarter.

Early that morning, news of the new factory manager's arrival spread like wildfire throughout the entire factory area. The announcement had barely finished when the chatter in the workshops began. Some guessed he was a "parachuted-in" from above, while others feared a personnel reshuffle was imminent. Gu Nan was in his office organizing last month's production reports, his pen scratching across the paper, when a knock came at the door.

"Please come in."

The door opened, and a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit entered. His hair was neatly combed, his cuffs were buttoned up tightly, and a red nameplate with the words "Zhu Tao" printed on it was pinned to his chest. The man had a calm demeanor, and his gaze swept across the office before finally settling on Gu Nan with a scrutinizing look.

Gu Nan immediately stood up to greet him, extending his hand: "Director Zhu, I am Deputy Director Gu Nan. Welcome to your new post. May I ask what your plans are today, and if you need my assistance?" His tone was calm, neither overly enthusiastic nor dismissive, striking the perfect balance.

Zhu Tao grasped his hand; the fingertips were slightly cool. He released it with a light squeeze. Before coming, he had inquired about the situation and learned that this young deputy director had been in charge of almost all affairs of the steel rolling mill lately. After Li Jianjun's downfall, everyone in the factory was under his command. He had expected the man to put on airs or even give him a hard time, but he was unexpectedly so straightforward and polite. This rendered his prepared words of reprimand useless.

"You're too kind, Deputy Factory Director Gu." Zhu Tao smiled, his features softening, and got straight to the point. "I'm planning to hold a factory-wide meeting this afternoon, firstly to get to know everyone, and secondly to discuss the upcoming production arrangements. However, I've only just arrived and don't know everyone yet, nor have I fully grasped the factory's rules. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you with notifying the workshop directors and setting up the meeting venue."

Gu Nan nodded in agreement, his tone decisive: "Yes, Factory Manager, don't worry. Give me half an hour, and I'll make sure everyone is notified and the venue is arranged properly. How about using the small auditorium for the meeting room? It's spacious there, and the loudspeakers work well."

"Do as you say." Zhu Tao nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the staff member following behind him and instructed, "Xiao Zhang, you follow Deputy Factory Director Gu and learn how to arrange these matters." After saying that, he said to Gu Nan, "I'll go check out the factory director's office first, see you at the meeting later."

Gu Nan saw them to the door, then turned around and saw several young workers huddled at the corner of the corridor not far away, craning their necks to peer inside, clearly curious about the new factory manager. He called out, "What are you all looking at here for? There are still ten minutes until lunchtime, hurry up and go to the canteen to eat! You'll have the energy to work in the afternoon if you eat well. If you delay the production schedule, no one will get their perfect attendance bonus!"

The workers were caught red-handed, and they scattered with laughter. One of them even turned back and shouted, "Don't worry, Deputy Factory Director Gu, we guarantee it won't delay anything!"

Gu Nan smiled and turned back to his office. He knew perfectly well that Zhu Tao's first act would likely be at this meeting—a new broom sweeps clean. Whether it was to establish authority, to ascertain the factory's inner workings, or to adjust personnel, it was all unknown. But he didn't care. He was there to get things done, not to fight for power. As long as he cooperated and managed the factory well, that was enough. Whether Zhu Tao was one of their own sent from above, or whether he needed to curry favor with him, was unimportant to him—doing his job well was more important than anything else.