"Section Chief, our auto repair team has seen a surge in business recently, but our workshop, equipment, and personnel can't keep up, which is seriously affecting our business," Huang Shu complained.
As Xu Damao went out to work, broken cars and tricycles from various units began to be gathered at the steel rolling mill's auto repair group.
However, the auto repair team only has a small space, and the number of staff hasn't increased, which inevitably leads to existing workers having to work overtime. For example, Huang Shu, who previously complained to Xu Damao about not having enough work and not being able to practice, is now complaining to Xu Damao about having too much work.
In addition, as vehicles from different units drove into the steel rolling mill, the security department began to voice its concerns.
In those days, steel rolling mills maintained a certain level of security, and not just any outside organization could enter. However, Xu Damao had informed the security department about the auto repair team soliciting business outside, but the frequency was too high, inevitably causing some security personnel to become unhappy.
There have been several instances where vehicles and drivers from other units have come to the steel rolling mill, and the security department has searched them as they enter and leave, which has made both sides very unhappy.
There was no way around it; the security section wasn't a deputy section chief. Tong Shuai had a good relationship with Xu Damao, so naturally, the other deputy section chiefs were unhappy and tried to find ways to cause trouble for the transportation section.
"Old Huang, do you have any good ideas?" Xu Damao asked in return.
"Section Chief, could you perhaps approve a plot of land outside the factory for us? We can build a new factory there, add some staff, and buy some machinery. I think our auto repair business has a very promising future," Huang Shu said shamelessly.
"How about I give you my position as section chief?" Xu Damao said irritably.
Xu Damao had considered finding a place outside. However, the transportation department was just one department within the steel rolling mill's logistics department, and the auto repair team was only a section-level unit. If these could all set up their own offices outside, how many other units would want to go elsewhere?
After all, when you're out in the world, the emperor is far away, and attendance at work is arbitrary; who wouldn't want to go out?
Xu Damao felt a pang of nostalgia for the days at the First Branch Factory. Back then, the First Branch Factory was smaller, and when something like this happened, he could report directly to the main leaders and make a decision right away. But now, he had to report to each level and have everything discussed at each level.
Just then, the door to Xu Damao's office was suddenly pushed open.
"Section Chief, something terrible has happened! Our driver has been beaten up outside, and his car has been smashed."
The person who came in was Qian Dabao, the team leader, who was panting as he spoke.
Xu Damao was initially annoyed by the person who had suddenly barged in and was ready to give him a good scolding, but upon hearing this, he immediately stood up in surprise.
"What happened? Were you robbed?" Xu Damao asked anxiously.
"No. Last night, the purchasing department was going to Yanqing to buy two unplanned fat pigs, and our fleet sent a driver and a truck to go with them."
Unexpectedly, they were intercepted by the Haidian Machinery Factory on their way back from buying pigs last night. A group of seven or eight people from that factory came and forced our vehicle to stop, then started robbing the fat pigs.
Our driver and purchasing agent were naturally unwilling, so they got into a scuffle with them and ended up getting beaten up by seven or eight people there. The fat pig was also stolen, and then they threw the money for the pig at us.
To prevent our driver from returning to report, they even damaged our tires. Just now, our driver and purchasing agent rode a local villager's oxcart back to town.” Qian Dabao finished speaking in one breath.
At that time, supplies were scarce, and meat was especially in short supply, so the purchasing department searched everywhere for unplanned items. These fat pigs, for example, were things the purchasing department had arranged with the local production team long ago, just waiting to be hauled away when they were ready for market.
However, because it was an unplanned process where everyone relied on their own abilities, it often happened that when a production team had a daughter to marry, the team would promise to several families, and eventually different factories and mines would compete for her hand.
These purchases and sales transactions inherently involve some loopholes, so disputes between factories and mines are usually resolved privately, trying to minimize the impact of major issues and resolve minor ones altogether.
This time, the machinery factory had accurately predicted the steel rolling mill's mentality, which is why they robbed and beat people without any scruples.
"Does the leadership know?" Xu Damao asked.
“The purchasing department should have gone back to report by now. I just heard the driver’s report and came here to report to you,” Qian Dabao said.
"Come with me to report to the section chief," Xu Damao decided immediately.
However, when the group arrived at the director's office, the director was out in a meeting, and the two deputy directors were nowhere to be found. Xu Damao also ran into Shen Xingwang, the head of the procurement department, outside the leader's office; it seemed he was also there to report to the leader.
"Section Chief Shen, none of the leaders are here. Shall we go find Director Li together?" Xu Damao asked.
“Okay, I’ll listen to you, brother,” Shen Xingwang said.
When they arrived at Li Xuewu's office, they learned that all the leaders had gone to visit and learn from other units that day.
"Section Chief Shen, what do we do now? Your two fat pigs have already been dragged away. If we wait any longer, they'll probably be in the stomachs of those workers." This time, Xu Damao was no longer in a hurry.
The main victims of this incident are their purchasing department. They already had two fat pigs in their accounts, and many leaders probably had plans for entertaining guests, while the cafeteria chef likely had also figured out how to cook them. But this was directly stolen, ruining all the leaders' plans, and Shen Xingwang is likely to get a beating.
"Da Mao, you can't back down now. It would be really embarrassing for a guy of your age to get scolded by his boss. Why don't you help me think of a solution, Da Mao?" Shen Xingwang said slyly.
Those in the purchasing business are all prone to exaggerating the truth, so Xu Damao didn't believe this guy's words. If Xu Damao spoke up, and something went wrong, this guy would definitely push Xu Damao to the front to take the blame.
"Old Shen, the leaders aren't here right now. I think you should wait. Anyway, if we take it upon ourselves to handle this, we might escalate the situation and end up getting criticized."
"When the leaders arrive, they can negotiate with the other party. It's just a matter of two fat pigs; in our mouths, it'll probably just be a piece of fat." Xu Damao was speaking from a position of privilege, without any real understanding of the situation.
"Da Mao, this isn't a piece of easy money. The boss has already planned how to get his hands on it. I've already missed out on this opportunity, and now he's determined to get rid of me, the section chief."
"Da Mao, quickly help your brother think of a way, I will definitely repay you."
As time slowly ticked by, Shen Xingwang was starting to get anxious. They'd had conflicts with people before, but either the other party would back down once they heard they were from the steel mill, or it was just some small animal. But nothing like this had ever happened, leaving Shen Xingwang, caught in the middle of this mess, completely bewildered.
"What will you do to repay me? I don't need that little bit of meat," Xu Damao said indifferently.
"It's not about the meat, but I just happen to know some information in advance. It might not be useful to others, but it's definitely good for someone with a bright future like you, brother."
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