Factory Management

The next day, at nine in the morning.

The sun was bright, and the warm early-spring sunshine fell on everyone.

At that moment, two Santanas and a Passat drove out through the gate of Jiangzhou City's government offices.

The numbers on the license plate hanging at the front of the Passat were eye-catching: 0002!

The small convoy of three cars carried Deputy Secretary and his party to inspect Jiuzhou Factory.

Meanwhile, at the Jiuzhou factory grounds, Xu Yifan and the others had also made their preparations to receive them.

The Jiuzhou Minis the factory had produced and was preparing to deliver had been neatly arranged in the parking area.

Nearly a hundred cars, all the same model but in different colors, made for quite an impressive sight.

They had also set aside a fully equipped model for the officials to inspect when they arrived.

The employees had been given instructions for the day, too: if any officials asked them questions, they should simply answer honestly based on what they knew.

They were asked to keep their work clothes as clean as possible and to pay a little extra attention to proper procedure while working.

The cafeteria chefs were told to do their best to prepare their specialties. They didn't know if the visitors would stay for a casual meal, but it was best to be ready.

Although much of this was just putting on a show, something Xu Yifan himself had always hated,

they couldn't simply do nothing after being notified. All they could do was take a little extra care without being too strict with the employees.

With all the preparations complete, Xu Yifan and the factory's department managers waited at the entrance.

Among them, Xu Yifan and his secretary, Lin Wanxia, were by far the youngest, at twenty-two and twenty-three respectively.

Next came the R&D Department manager, Lu Jingping, who was thirty. (Four-star R&D talent, specializing in physical chemistry and electrochemical batteries, with a doctorate from Xiamen University.)

The Security Department manager, Lian Ming'an, a thirty-three-year-old veteran. (Five-star talent, expert in hand-to-hand combat, firearms, and wilderness survival; a retired special forces soldier!)

The Finance Department manager, Wen Ye, was thirty-two. (Four-star financial talent, with a master's degree from Modu University of Finance and Economics.)

The Sales Department manager, Ji Shenghai, was thirty-seven. (Three-star talent, with a high school education, but extensive work experience and a strong ability to learn.)

The Logistics Department manager, Feng Mingyuan, was forty-two. (Three-star logistics management talent, with a college diploma, extensive work experience, and a knack for management.)

The Procurement Department manager, He Minghao, was forty-one. (Three-star procurement talent, conscientious at work, with no blemishes on his record.)

The Human Resources Department manager, Ma Youlong, was forty-five. (Three-star talent, conscientious at work.)

The Production Department manager, Zhou Fengyan, was fifty-one. (Three-star production talent and three-star management talent, versatile, steady, and reliable.)

Looking at the talent he had carefully handpicked, Xu Yifan felt quite satisfied.

Especially Lian Ming'an, one of the two highly rated talents to join recently and now the factory's highest-ranked Security Department manager. He was a real treasure. If the chance ever came, Xu Yifan would get him a giant robot!

With an average age just over thirty, this was a young leadership team full of potential. Add Xu Yifan himself as its leader, and how could they fail to achieve great things?

What mattered most in the twenty-first century? Talent.

As the New Year brought a great deal of movement between regions, Jiuzhou Factory had seized the opportunity to hire several highly skilled people returning home for the holiday, offering them generous salaries.

A job was a job, after all. Why not try working in your hometown?

Before, there hadn't been much choice. Local wages were too low, and jobs were hard to find.

Now that there was an option, some of these talented people naturally preferred to stay in their hometown. They could be near their parents and loved ones while still earning a living!

So the department managers, who had previously been regular employees filling in part-time, had been replaced by the talented people now in charge.

The early-spring sunlight was not as fierce as the summer sun. It warmed those beneath it, driving away the chill of the long winter.

Sitting on a plastic stool a security guard had thoughtfully brought over, Xu Yifan looked out at the scenery beyond the factory grounds, feeling a little bored. He chatted with the managers around him.

"Have to say, this weather makes it nice to sit in the sun!"

Industrial parks in most cities were built far from residential areas. There were usually no shops or tourist attractions nearby, either.

At the time, industry in cities was nowhere near as developed as it would be later. There was still plenty of wasteland around the factory grounds, much of it overgrown with weeds.

Along the road outside Jiuzhou Factory, new leaves sprouted on the trees, and little flowers pushed stubbornly up through the soil. A faint earthy scent even drifted on the breeze.

Spring had come, all things were coming back to life, and the grasslands were once again the animals'...

His thoughts began to wander. If only he had a bed, too!

Unlike Xu Yifan, who was a little bored, the department managers around him seemed somewhat nervous.

They sat on plastic stools, chatting with the people beside them.

Feng Mingyuan from the Logistics Department glanced at the sky. "The weather really is nice today, but I can't bring myself to enjoy the sun. You're sure taking this in stride, Director Xu. The mayor's coming to inspect the factory, and you're treating it like any other day."

Wen Ye, who had only recently joined Jiuzhou Automobile and taken charge of the Finance Department at the age of thirty-two, was still a little nervous. "This is my first time meeting a mayor. I wonder what these officials are like. Will they give us a hard time?"

Xu Yifan reassured him. "If it's not a blessing, it's a disaster; if it's a disaster, you can't avoid it. Just act naturally. Treat them like leaders from another factory who came to discuss a partnership."

Lian Ming'an, the Security Department manager and a former soldier, looked serious. "I've met a few senior officials before. It was nothing special. We just need to do our jobs well."

Ma Youlong, the Human Resources Department manager, sighed. "I never would've imagined that in just a few months, the factory would not only come back from the brink, but even have the mayor come for an inspection!"

Zhou Fengyan, a longtime factory hand, Production Department manager, and technical engineer, sounded equally wistful. "Actually, officials have visited before. Most of the time, though, they left disappointed. Eventually, they stopped coming. Not once in the last two years."

Ji Shenghai, the Sales Department manager who had hurried back temporarily and often dealt with all kinds of people, was a little excited. "An official inspection! This could be an opportunity for the factory."

"If we do our jobs well, they'll surely be willing to give the factory a hand. It's a win-win."

Xu Yifan smiled. "We'll see. If there's something to gain, all the better. If not, we'll take it in stride. Well, if they try to make things difficult for us, we'll see what happens."

Thinking of the officials he and his father had met over the New Year, Xu Yifan mused silently, If it really comes down to it, I can still pull a few strings...

For factories like theirs, local officials could be a great help if they were decent. The factory and the local government could work together to develop both the city and the factory.

But if officials deliberately made things difficult, it would be very hard for the factory to grow.

As everyone wondered whether what awaited them would be fortune or misfortune, Lian Ming'an sat bolt upright. A message crackled over the radio on his chest.

"Target spotted. Target spotted. Three vehicles heading toward our base. Estimated arrival in five minutes. Please respond."

The security guard they had sent ahead to scout had reported back...

"Copy that. Copy. Head back," Lian Ming'an replied calmly.

Putting away the radio, Lian Ming'an stood and addressed Xu Yifan.

"Boss, the Deputy Secretary's inspection convoy has entered the industrial park. They'll reach our factory gates in about five minutes."

"Good. Everyone, get ready!"

They put away the stools and straightened their clothes. Then the group waited quietly in the early-spring sunlight.