The spring of 1990 came early. Only a few days after New Year's Day, the Spring Festival was already approaching.
Every year at this time, Lu Zhizhang and Li Ye had to work themselves ragged for several days, because they had to pay visits outside and receive visitors in return.
The term "paying visits" came from Yijian Zhizhi Ding: Wu Nianjiu, and roughly meant going to visit or call on someone.
But when enterprises in the country paid visits before the Spring Festival, it took on another meaning: "maintaining relationships."
There might usually be some scruples about visiting one another, but before the Spring Festival, things were much easier. Everyone was just exchanging New Year goods!
You gave, I gave, everyone gave. Over time, it became tradition.
First Branch Factory was no small unit, and naturally had no shortage of needs to keep production running. Water, electricity, coal, iron, oil, taxation, quality inspection, safety—its relationships with all of them were well maintained.
In this respect, Lu Zhizhang, who had worked in the Factory Office for decades, was absolutely an expert. He arranged everything with crystal clarity—which unit, what rank, and who should be sent to deliver the New Year goods.
For instance, some units only required Old Nie from the General Affairs Department to deliver the goods, while others required Lu Zhizhang or Li Ye to go personally. Otherwise, they would think you were looking down on them.
By the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Li Ye found Lu Zhizhang. "Old Lu, you've finished all your visits, right? I still have four or five left! How about you help me take two off my hands? Otherwise, I won't finish even by New Year's Eve!"
"You still have four or five unfinished? Which ones?"
Lu Zhizhang froze for a