Inside the meeting room, after Vice Minister Zhang and the other two sat down, they gestured for Sun Zhengguo to sit down as well.
Then the formal conversation began.
Vice Minister Zhang said, "Comrade Zhengguo! We've come to see you today mainly to discuss your work performance over the past few years."
"Okay, leaders." Sun Zhengguo also put on the act of a well-behaved child, listening attentively.
Vice Minister Zhang nodded, and then continued.
"First of all, the organization has not forgotten your hard work and achievements over the years. Every single one of them has been recorded. We hope that you can continue to maintain this level and strive to reach new heights..."
"Thank you for the organization's recognition, and thank you for the leaders' concern. I will work even harder to live up to the expectations of the Party, the country, and the people..."
Sun Zhengguo was no novice either; he spoke with perfect discretion, and everything was done according to procedure.
And so, the group talked in the meeting room for nearly an hour before finally concluding their meeting.
After the conversation ended, Vice Minister Zhang reviewed the contents of the conversation again, then put them in his bag, and finally said with a smile.
"Comrade Zhengguo! Don't find it troublesome. These are all necessary procedures. The formal appointment will probably take a few more days."
Sun Zhengguo nodded in understanding, and even got into a playful mood and made a little joke.
“Vice Minister Zhang, if you call this troublesome, I wish you would bother me every day.”
"Hahaha!"
Sun Zhengguo's words made even the usually serious Vice Minister Zhang burst into laughter.
Seeing that the leaders were in a good mood, Sun Zhengguo asked to stay for dinner.
“This…?” Vice Minister Zhang hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.
"Comrade Zhengguo! I have to say a few words to you. Your future is bright, but you can't be like some people. Degeneration often starts with a meal. You are still young, and your thinking..."
After listening to Vice Minister Zhang's words, Sun Zhengguo understood that this was a man of principle.
If I don't explain this clearly today, I'm afraid I'll leave a very bad impression on others.
“Vice Minister Zhang, please don’t misunderstand. I paid for today’s meal myself, and I brewed the wine myself. If you don’t believe me, you can send someone to check. I, Sun Zhengguo, dare to swear to the Party flag that I have not uttered a single lie.”
Upon hearing this, Vice Minister Zhang's expression returned to normal.
Thinking to myself, I might have been too hasty and misunderstood Comrade Zheng Guo.
Minister Hong, who accompanied him, paid no attention to anything else, but when he heard that the wine was brewed by himself, he couldn't help but have some ulterior motives.
"Well, Vice Minister Zhang, since it's Comrade Zheng Guo's kind gesture, let's give him face and not waste it!"
After hearing what Minister Hong said, Vice Minister Zhang realized there had been some misunderstanding and simply nodded in agreement.
However, he still stubbornly said, "Comrade Zhengguo! This is the last time."
"Definitely, definitely."
Sun Zhengguo was speechless. He should have known better than to invite them to dinner. He didn't know what he was after.
Soon, the group arrived at the private room. The dishes were of standard quality, and Vice Minister Zhang couldn't find anything wrong with them.
The wine is homemade and comes in small black bottles, so there's nothing to say about that.
But what do you mean by that, Vice Minister Zhang? You downed more than a bottle all by yourself.
So this is it? Where are your principles? Where are your convictions?
...
Three days later, at Beijing Railway Station, a train from Shanghai was slowly pulling into the station.
A moment later, three people got off the car. One of them, a middle-aged man in his thirties, immediately put down his large bag, opened his arms, and shouted.
“I, Zhang Yucheng, am back in Beijing.”
Seeing his loud and boisterous manner, Director Hu, who was standing behind him, just smiled and then turned to his secretary behind him.
"Secretary Yang, look at this deputy director. He hasn't been back to Beijing for over ten years, and he's so excited."
"Boss, this is only natural. I heard that Deputy Director Zhang grew up in Beijing and hasn't come back even once in all these years for the sake of the factory's development. I guess our factory owes him something!"
"Hey! That's right! Everyone in the factory has witnessed Deputy Director Zhang's hard work over the years. He clearly had opportunities, but he never came back. It's my fault, Old Hu!"
Director Hu couldn't help but sigh, as if he were reminiscing about his first visit to Beijing.
He was so isolated and helpless at that time, but fortunately he was later recruited by the research institute.
Today, the Shanghai branch factory has become a behemoth.
With an annual output value of over 200 million US dollars, comparable to the northern branch, the two complemented each other, becoming a well-known story.
And all of this is thanks to Sun Zhengguo.
It truly showed him what it means for choice to be more important than effort.
"Yu Cheng, over here."
Just as Director Hu was reminiscing about those days, a shout came from not far away.
Then he saw that familiar figure walking quickly toward him, followed by Zhang Huaibei.
"Let's go, Secretary Yang, the people who are to pick us up have arrived."
"Yes, boss."
Before the two could even start moving, they saw Zhang Yucheng sprinting towards them.
When Sun Zhengguo saw Zhang Yucheng running over, he quickly quickened his pace. The two, who hadn't seen each other for more than ten years, immediately gave each other a big hug.
"Director, I'm back. I've been thinking about you all all these years."
Hearing the sob in Zhang Yucheng's voice, Sun Zhengguo felt bad too and quickly patted his back to comfort him.
"Alright, alright, Yucheng, there are so many people at the station, don't let them laugh at us. Your uncle is still behind us! He misses you too."
After being reminded, Zhang Yucheng reluctantly let go of Sun Zhengguo and then gave his uncle a big hug as well.
Zhang Huaibei was also a sentimental person; his eyes were already red-rimmed, and he kept patting his nephew's back.
"You brat, all these years, why haven't you come back to see your uncle? How can you be so heartless?..."
"Uncle, the factory is so busy! I really can't leave."
"Nonsense, is that a reason?"
"Uncle, I promise I'll come back every year from now on, is that alright?"
...
While the uncle and nephew were still getting emotional, Sun Zhengguo had already shaken hands with Director Hu and exchanged greetings with him, and he didn't miss Secretary Yang behind him either.
Secretary Yang was quite surprised to see that Sun Zhengguo was so young.
It's worth noting that the reason they rushed over from Shanghai was because the research institute needed to make significant adjustments.
As one of the branch factories under the research institute, they were required by their superiors to attend the meeting.
What specific major adjustments have been made? It's no secret.
It was a coronation ceremony for this incredibly young person in front of them.
...
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