"Let's do it!"

"Da Mao, I will communicate with the old leader about this organizational downgrade. It shouldn't be a big problem. We're saving the country some staffing and money."

"But I originally planned to let you learn management from others, and then let you take charge in a few years when you were more mature. However, things didn't go as planned. The current situation doesn't allow for that, so you have to bravely shoulder the responsibility and take over the auto repair shop."

Faced with the prospect of his success being taken by others, Li Xuewu displayed remarkable decisiveness, directly supporting the downgrading of the factory by half a level, while Xu Damao was appointed as the head of the company.

"Don't worry, boss. I've thought about this auto repair shop for a long time, and I've considered all sorts of scenarios. I can handle most situations. Besides, I have you, the great one, standing behind me. What do I have to be afraid of?" Xu Damao said confidently.

At that moment, he was so close to the head of an organization.

In the minds of many Chinese, it's better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond; even the head of a small, low-level factory is an object of envy. Why? Because the head of such a factory has the ability to mobilize resources effectively.

"Now that your problem is solved, I need to figure out how to solve Old Joe's problem. I was planning to bring him over here, and you would assist him so that the two of you could work together to run the auto repair shop well."

"But now, he still has to endure several more years at the branch factory," Li Xuewu said.

He was telling the truth. He must have communicated with Qiao Da before, and Qiao Da had also been hoping to become the top leader here, but now everything has become an illusion.

“Director Qiao has worked at the branch factory for several years and has made great contributions. It’s time for him to be promoted. He didn’t have a chance at the auto repair shop, which can be considered a sacrifice for the steel rolling mill. So he can definitely be a section chief at the main factory. It’s not a bad thing for him,” Xu Damao said.

"What section chief, now..." Li Xuewu stopped mid-sentence.

"You're quite quick-witted, kid," Li Xuewu said with a smile, pointing at Xu Damao.

In fact, Xu Damao meant that Li Xuewu should confront Yang Zhenhua about giving up the position of director of the auto repair shop, and demand that Qiao Dayou be given a director position.

At this point, Yang Zhenhua would likely support Li Xuewu unless it was a particularly difficult position. However, when the auto repair shop became a deputy director-level position, and the secretary wanted the position of factory director, Yang Zhenhua's feelings were unclear.

But Li Xuewu, having reached this position, is the de facto third-in-command of the factory and a true local figure with considerable strength. Naturally, he must have his own personality and cannot simply follow the top leader in everything.

Li Xuewu's subsequent communication with Yang Zhenhua seemed to go smoothly, and soon after, Qiao Dayou was transferred to the main factory as a deputy director at the level of a division chief. Upon returning, Qiao Dayou specially treated Xu Damao to a meal to thank him for his advice.

To be honest, seeing that everyone who had gone to the branch factory with him had returned to the main factory, he also thought that the higher positions were what motivated him. Now that he could return to the main factory and get a promotion, he was extremely happy.

Departmental leadership meeting room.

"The next topic for discussion is the construction of two new branch plants for the steel rolling mill. Could the personnel department staff please present the relevant reports and preliminary opinions?" said the head of the ministry.

"Distinguished leaders, we have already submitted the report. Now, I will briefly introduce our previous investigation and preliminary opinions, and then make a decision."

After the Director of the Personnel Department finished speaking, he began to introduce the relevant situation.

"In conclusion, our initial opinions on the establishment of the new steel rolling mill are necessary and appropriate," the Director of the Personnel Department concluded.

"Now let's all share our opinions and finalize this matter as soon as possible. It's been quite a while since they submitted their report; we can't keep delaying," the minister said.

"Let me speak first. The comrades from the steel rolling mill reported to me earlier, and I expressed my opinion. Now, my opinion remains the same."

If a factory needs to be built, we must build it. For the sake of national production and people's livelihood, we will support it even if it means tightening our belts. However, the scale and staffing of this factory need to be considered based on actual circumstances.

For example, this auto repair shop was converted from a repair workshop under a department at the section level. Now it is suddenly going to become a factory at the division level. I think this is inappropriate and will cause a huge waste of staffing and personnel.

My opinion is that even with the later incorporation of other workshops and departments, one deputy division-level position is sufficient. This way, we can save a lot on staffing and salaries. That's my opinion; please consider it,” said Mr. Ma.

When the leaders heard what Mr. Ma said, they were still unsure of the situation and what he was up to, so the meeting room fell silent for a while.

"What Lao Ma said is also something I've been considering. Currently, many places disregard the actual situation and completely copy the organizational structure of other institutions, which places a heavy burden on the national treasury. I support Lao Ma's opinion; it's fine to designate the auto repair shop as a deputy division-level institution and the machine repair shop as a division-level institution."

"Everyone else, please share your opinions," the top leader said.

Seeing that the top leader and the third-in-command had the same opinion, and that it was a trivial matter, no one raised any objections, and they all offered their support.

"Okay, then this matter is settled, approved in principle. The comrades in the Personnel Department, please coordinate with the steel rolling mill to revise their report before issuing the official document," the top official said.

Thus, the originally designated division-level auto repair shop became a deputy division-level factory, while the original division-level machine repair shop remained a division-level factory.

The news quickly reached the steel rolling mill.

"Boss, it looks like Director Li is going to throw a tantrum this time?" Yang Zhenhua's secretary said with a grin.

"Why?" Yang Shuji asked.

"We just received news from the ministry that our new factory's establishment plan has been approved, but the auto repair shop's staffing has been adjusted to deputy division level, while the machine repair shop's division level remains unchanged. Director Li is going to be furious," the secretary said with a grin.

"What? The auto repair shop has been downgraded to deputy division level? Why?" Yang Zhenhua asked incredulously.

He knew that once the auto repair shop became a deputy-department-level factory, the one who would suffer the most would not be Li Xuewu, but him, Yang Zhenhua. This time, in order to get Li Xuewu to agree to give up his position as the auto repair shop manager, he agreed to the other party's suggestion to promote Qiao Dayou's rank.

But if the news comes true, his position as director of the machine repair shop will be in jeopardy, because it's impossible for a deputy-division-level minister's secretary to remain a deputy-division-level official after stepping down. Forget whether he'd like it or not, the minister himself would certainly not.

After his secretary left, Yang Zhenhua made a phone call himself. A few minutes later, the sound of a glass being smashed echoed from Yang Zhenhua's office.

"Screw it."

The secretary from earlier was trembling outside. Something seemed very wrong today.