On December 25, Xingxing Machinery Company successfully held its ribbon-cutting and unveiling ceremony. The once moribund Eighth Machinery Factory had taken on a completely new look, welcoming leaders and guests from all sides.
As the "main leader of the parent company" behind this new unit, Li Ye stood with Lu Zhizhang to receive guests at the venue.
The north wind of deep winter lashed against their faces, yet they still had to wear warm, approachable smiles, letting every guest who had come to offer congratulations feel intense enthusiasm and respect. That was a technical skill in itself—one that could not be mastered without three to five years of hard practice.
Li Ye had been practicing it for five years since graduation. He could not claim to have reached perfection, but his manner was natural and flawless.
But when Li Ye saw Han Jinqu had come to offer congratulations as well, he could not force out a smile no matter what.
Ever since he had berated Han Jinqu as "incompetent" in front of The Department's leaders that day, the two had effectively torn off all pretense. Though the higher-ups had repeatedly tried to play peacemaker afterward, asking the First Branch Factory to "put the bigger picture first" and help Red Star Manufacturing Plant through its difficulties, Li Ye had simply gone off on an "inspection trip."
Meanwhile, Lu Zhizhang, who had stayed behind, was a master of tai chi. He complained of hardship and poverty in every possible way, insisting that "there was no surplus grain left in his own household." In the end, Ma Zhaoxian directly went to protest to the higher-ups, saying they could not dump every mess on the good children at home to carry.
Good children were not fools. If this went on, the good children would