Li Weidong was one of them. As the captain of the educated youth team, he made great efforts in preparing for the construction of the factory and was recognized by everyone in the brigade. He was almost the designated factory director.
The problem was that he was a sent-down youth, not a local. This dried fruit factory was a village-run enterprise, and under normal circumstances, it was more necessary to support local talents.
Two other members of the Qingshantun community also applied for the factory manager position. One of them used connections with higher-ups, receiving a hint from the commune. The other took the route of uniting the community members, being charitable and generous, and gaining considerable support.
The interviews began, and Xie Yuyao called people into the meeting room one by one.
The first person to enter was Zhang Xiangrong, a middle-aged man who had climbed the social ladder. His in-laws had a relative who held a position in the commune, so he used his connections to get a job at the Hongqi Commune Timber Factory as a workshop worker.
When Qingshantun was setting up a dried fruit factory, Zhang Xiangrong believed that he had connections in the commune and experience working in factories, so he set his sights on the position of factory director.
He saw a stunningly beautiful girl walk out of the conference room to call someone, and his eyes narrowed, his unsettling gaze lingering on her.
Xie Yuyao composed herself, turned around and went straight back to the conference room, with Zhang Xiangrong quickly following her in.
The captain asked him to explain how he would carry out his work and what kind of future he would lead the factory to if he were the factory manager.
He confidently stepped to the front and began his speech.
What made Xie Yuyao frown frequently was that every three to five sentences he would utter a classic quote. His ideas about the future were also castles in the air, completely unrealistic.
Xie Yuyao had been in this era for almost half a year, and this was the first time she had seen such a blind, reckless, and flamboyant style of competition and surpassing. You have to understand, the Great Leap Forward was almost twenty years ago. If he were to be the factory director, who knows where this dried fruit factory would go off track.
Xie Yuyao wasn't the only one with this idea; the brigade leader and Sister Qiao also looked displeased. Secretary Liu, mindful of the commune, smiled less but didn't show any anger. Accountant Li accepted the gift and looked at the man with encouraging eyes.
After he finished speaking, the captain and Sister Qiao kept asking him practical questions, which made Zhang Xiangrong stammer and unable to give a proper answer. He could only use classic quotes instead.
The captain frowned and ended the interview. Zhang Xiangrong mistakenly thought that the captain and his team already had someone they liked and were deliberately making things difficult for him. He was so angry that he slammed the door and left.
Sister Qiao leaned back in her chair: "Someone like him dares to dream of becoming the factory director. Who gave him the audacity?"
Secretary Liu's lips twitched, but he couldn't bring himself to recommend that person against his will, secretly resenting the commune for being incompetent.
The captain rejected him on the spot and moved on to interviewing the next person.
The second person to speak was Li Weidong. Since he started selling dried fruit at the end of last year, he has been collecting relevant information about food factories through various channels, striving to lead his fellow villagers to prosperity.
Therefore, his speech was truly substantial. Starting from reality, he broke down the grand goal into several smaller goals, developing and achieving them step by step.
Accountant Li raised the issue of the future return of educated youth. Li Weidong had also considered this point and solemnly said, "I cannot guarantee that I will work at the dried fruit factory for the rest of my life. But if I become the factory director, I will definitely hand over the dried fruit factory to a reliable successor before I resign."
His answer satisfied the team leader and the others; it was much more reliable than his promise to stay at the factory forever in order to get the factory manager position.
Standing on the stage, Li Weidong looked at Yao Yao, who was smiling gently beside Sister Qiao, and felt a surge of passion in his heart.
He once thought that as long as he got the factory director position, he would have the right to pursue Xie Yuyao. Now he is trying his best, but the beauty is already taken.
Zhao Honghui's family had already come to propose marriage. Even though Zhao Honghui was not there, he had all the advantages of timing, location, and people, but his pride did not allow him to have any thoughts of marriage. He could only restrain himself and bury this feeling.
Xie Yuyao received his deep gaze and nodded slightly at him.
When it came to the third person, Zhang Jianshu, he was very kind and open-minded, making him more suitable for the work of a village cadre. After all, the factory's primary goal was to make a profit, and if he couldn't let go of personal relationships and caused chaos in personnel arrangements, it would drag down the entire factory.
After the reform and opening up, many factories were eliminated. Xie Yuyao hopes that Qingshantun Dried Fruit Factory can grow bigger and stronger and not be swept away by the tide of the times.
After the three interviews were completed, the interviews with the department heads continued.
After everyone had finished their interviews, the team leader dismissed those who were not involved and closed the door to discuss the interview results.
Both the team leader and Party Secretary Liu favored Li Weidong for the position of factory director, but Accountant Li said that he was an outsider and that there were many uncertainties in his future, so Zhang Jianshu was more suitable to take the position.
Apart from Li Weidong, the other two also gave him gifts. He knew that Zhang Xiangrong was too unreliable and could not be helped at all, so he set his sights on supporting Zhang Jianshu.
As for Li Weidong, he was a sent-down youth who was once a vulnerable person. How could we allow him to stand in a high position and act arrogantly?
In response to Accountant Li's suggestion, Party Secretary Liu raised the issue of future development. Accountant Li casually replied, "We can use Li Weidong's plan. If necessary, we can arrange a support role for Li Weidong and let him assist us."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yuyao's face darkened, and she sneered, "The position of factory director should be held by the most capable person. With your xenophobic thinking, this factory will only remain a small workshop in Qingshantun."
The brigade leader slammed his fist on the table and made a decision: "Li Weidong will be appointed as the factory director."
“But…” Accountant Li was unwilling to give up.
The captain interrupted him: "It's settled then. Next, the head of the production department."
This position was filled by Aunt Tian, the team leader's wife, who had already mastered the production techniques, and no one raised any objections.
The heads of the sales and purchasing departments were both community members who performed well when selling dried fruit last winter.
However, a disagreement arose among the finance department heads.
Yang Shumei applied for the finance position because, rather than spending years mowing lawns, she wanted to do something practical without affecting her studies.
Li's son also applied for the same position.
Even though Accountant Li could guess that Yang Shumei had a powerful background, he still insisted on having his son take the position.
Before Xie Yuyao could express her opinion, the brigade leader and Party Secretary Liu, who knew Yang Shumei's background well, fully supported Yang Shumei, and Sister Qiao also followed the lead of the brigade leader and the others.
Accountant Li's two objections were rejected, and she stormed out in anger.
The captain calmly took out his pipe, lit it, took a puff, and said, "Then it's decided. Announce the results, and leave the rest to Li Weidong."
Xie Yuyao brought the news back to the educated youth compound. The other educated youth who were not selected were disappointed for a moment, but quickly recovered their spirits.
When they learned there were only a few permanent positions available, they didn't have much hope. If they were in their shoes, they would have preferred to hire their own people.
After composing themselves, they congratulated Li Weidong and Yang Shumei, and even jokingly challenged them to treat them to a celebratory meal.
Li Weidong repeatedly clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "Keep it low-key, keep it low-key
In stark contrast to the joy at the educated youth compound, Li's family was in turmoil.
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