Guan Wenru listened quietly, her gaze sweeping over Technician Liu, Team Leader Wang, and the few workers who had spoken. She didn't immediately object, remaining silent for a few seconds before speaking in a steady voice:
"I heard the opinions raised by Technician Liu, Team Leader Wang, and the other comrades. The losses caused by this flood are indeed huge, and everyone is heartbroken!"
Regarding preventative measures, your suggestions to reinforce warehouses and inspect river embankments and bridge piers are correct and should be implemented in normal times.
She paused, her gaze sharpening. "But! This torrential rain is a once-in-decades catastrophic flash flood! Even the weather station couldn't fully predict its intensity and extent beforehand! The speed and destructive power of the flash flood far exceed anything we've encountered in the past!"
I admit that the factory has indeed made shortcomings in its routine flood prevention preparations, which require thorough review and improvement! As the factory director, I bear inescapable responsibility for this!
Her tone shifted, and she let out a cold laugh, "But to say that such a huge loss was caused simply because those few places were not reinforced in advance, and to push all the responsibility onto 'inadequate prevention,' comrades, is that fair?"
Was it realistic? How critical was the situation? How fast did the water rise? We organized rescue efforts and evacuations immediately, which was key to preventing a greater tragedy!
The warehouse was flooded because the floodwaters exceeded our estimated maximum water level! The bridge piers on the riverbank were directly knocked down by large trees washed down from upstream! Can conventional reinforcement methods completely prevent these damages?
Technician Liu and Team Leader Wang were momentarily speechless when she asked them questions, but their expressions remained grim.
After the factory expanded, Guan Wenru knew that many people were eyeing her position as factory manager.
These people are hoping something will happen so they can bring her down.
So she has always been very careful.
She had anticipated the doubts that were being raised today, and she had prepared her response in advance.
Guan Wenru raised his voice, "I am the factory director. With such a huge loss, I will apologize to the organization and I will never shirk the responsibility I should bear!"
But what we need to do now is not to blame each other or shift the blame! It's to take stock of the losses and to restore production as soon as possible!
The goal is to summarize the lessons learned from this disaster and formulate a more comprehensive flood prevention plan!
We need to think about how to salvage as many soaked ingredients as possible and reduce waste!
This is how we live up to the mission the country has given us! This is how we, the workers, earn our own livelihoods!
Her gaze swept across the room, her voice even colder, "Those who are willing to work with me to clean up this mess and find a way to get the factory running again, stay!"
Anyone who thinks I'm incompetent as factory manager, or who only wants to assign blame, can go to the commune leaders now and report the situation! I, Guan Wenru, am ready to accept any investigation and disciplinary action from the organization!
After she finished speaking, the group of people looked at each other, unsure of how to continue their commotion.
Guan Wenru didn't care about these people. The reason she chose to become the factory manager was to give herself absolute power.
She wants absolute control!
She then looked at the deputy factory director who had just entered the courtyard and said, "Deputy Factory Director Lei, you've come at the perfect time!"
Lei Yongkang raised an eyebrow. "Factory Director! What are your instructions?"
"Immediately organize a team to prioritize the cleanup of usable raw materials, sorting and drying them! At the same time, bring the technical team to reassess the warehouse and river embankment, and give me a detailed reinforcement plan that can withstand even larger floods! I need to see a preliminary report before I leave work today!"
Lei Yongkang nodded, "Yes, Factory Director!"
Guan Wenru stopped looking at the workers who were causing trouble, turned around and strode towards the office.
The crowd was silent for a moment, and then most of the workers followed Lei Yongkang's lead.
Technician Liu and Team Leader Wang stood there, their faces ashen, exchanging glances, unsure of what to do.
......
Inside the factory manager's office, Guan Wenru sat behind the desk, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the surface.
After thinking for a while, she suddenly stopped knocking, looked up at the door and called out, "Xiao Chen!"
Secretary Xiao Chen pushed the door open and came in. "Factory Manager?"
"Please call Deputy Factory Director Lei over here."
"Yes, factory manager!"
A short while later, Lei Yongkang knocked on the door and came in.
"Factory manager, you wanted to see me?"
Guan Wenru stood up, her expression serious. "Deputy Factory Director Lei, come out with me."
Lei Yongkang was taken aback. "Where to? Weren't we supposed to be working on a report?"
"Let's put the report aside for now. I'm not at ease. What Technician Liu and the others said just now, although harsh, hit the nail on the head. We did have some oversights in prevention."
But... the more I think about it, the more I feel that this loss... was just too "perfect." The warehouse was flooded so thoroughly? The bridge piers collapsed so easily?
The flash flood was fierce, but our warehouse's location meant it would leak even in light rain in previous years; this time, with the flood, it felt like we were just waiting to be submerged. And those bridge piers—I think a batch was inspected and reinforced last winter.”
Lei Yongkang's expression changed slightly. "Factory Manager, you mean..."
Guan Wenru nodded, his eyes sharp. "I suspect someone tampered with it. If the reinforcing bolts weren't tightened properly... or if there were uncut joints in the wood... these problems might seem fine normally, but a flood or a sudden impact could cause it to collapse immediately!"
Lei Yongkang gasped, "If this is true... who would be so bold?!"
Guan Wenru picked up her crossbody bag, which still contained a camera, and started to walk out. "It's too early to talk about this now. Let's go, before the scene is completely cleaned up and the traces are still there."
Bring a flashlight, we'll investigate ourselves! Focus on the base of the collapsed bridge piers, and the hinges and latches of the warehouse doors and windows that were washed away! Especially those that look like they were washed away, but the fracture surfaces look unnatural!
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