However, as a beneficiary of the existing system, Zhou Zhengmin still did not want his interests to disappear. Although the factory he supported was not on the list, who knew if it would be on the next list?
So he followed the crowd and called Minister Lian to complain.
Upon hearing this, Minister Lian frowned and said in a deep voice that Chen Qing was too excited and was secretly overjoyed.
Okay, okay.
Chen Qing finally went to work!
She finally started working!
No one could know the ecstasy in his heart; only the secretary watched as her minister seemed to have gone mad, pacing around the office incessantly.
Minister Lian took a while to call Chen Qing.
There was no reprimand, no support, just an inquiry into Chen Qing's reasons.
Chen Qing: "We really need reforms. If we continue to spend a lot of money to support a group of idle people, our economy will really be dragged down."
It's hard for people to become more diligent.
But in that kind of environment, it's easy to be lazy.
Even laziness is the right thing to do, and you won't be ostracized!
She has to create a path for everyone to move forward.
It's unfair if a colleague doesn't work for a year but gets the same salary as me. Who would feel comfortable with that? Who would want to work?
Minister Lian also understood this principle: "But if your next move causes a big fuss, putting aside everything else, you will have to bear the infamy for a very long time."
She directly smashed someone's rice bowl.
People must hate her to death.
Just when Minister Lian thought Chen Qing would accept all the criticism as if he were the factory manager of Shengxia Factory, Chen Qing said coolly, "Who leaked my name?"
Minister Lian felt a chill run down his spine.
In Chen Qing's world, there was also a time of industrial reform. At that time, everyone only knew that it was an organizational arrangement. Who would push someone out?
"It's inevitable that reforms will involve growing pains, and it's normal for some people to suspect that I hate them. But public opinion can be guided, don't you agree, Minister Lien?"
Lian Zhenghao suddenly remembered that she had used her power to shut down news from several newspapers: "Putting public opinion aside, your actions are not approved by the higher-ups."
Do you agree?
"Approved."
"That's enough. Close fifteen of them first; they'll be very useful later."
Are you sure?
"I'm sure."
Minister Lian's phone call accelerated the factory closure process. The reasons for closing the factory were also very legitimate: the factory had been concealing non-compliant data from the Ministry of Light Industry for a long time, resulting in the fraudulent acquisition of a large amount of foreign exchange and fostering an unhealthy trend of shirking responsibility. Employees who worked with perfect attendance and diligence were to be taken in by local units, while employees who had been slacking off were to be dealt with on their own.
The news sent shockwaves across the country.
Efficiency surged in a short period of time.
With this, Chen Qing fired the first shot in the Consumer Goods Industry Department!
The Consumer Goods Industry Department held its second meeting, and everyone was in a gloomy mood.
Chen Qing smiled and said, "My fellow veterans, you've all worked hard. Look at those dark circles under your eyes. Have you been too tired lately? How about I find some more people to help you out?"
Everyone wanted to sneer.
A weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—it's up to no good!
However, given her recent big moves, everyone continues to isolate her.
Chen Qing smiled and said, "If you don't say anything, then I'm going to speak."
Remembering that she had said she would close the factory last time she spoke, no one dared to remain silent any longer, and they all started talking about the current situation.
Chen Qing nodded in satisfaction: "It seems you all know how to talk. Very good."
That sarcastic tone.
That's really something else.
Chen Qing changed the subject: "Let's talk about the second batch of factories."
Everyone sat upright.
They were afraid that Chen Qingzhen might actually make some big moves.
Chen Qing instructed Secretary Zhang to distribute the materials: "This is the second batch."
There are over a hundred factories.
Zhou Zhengmin couldn't help but say, "Director, many of these factories haven't received any subsidies either..."
"The second batch of factories were not deliberately asking for money; they were simply inefficient. Even though the local supply and marketing cooperatives were trying to take over their goods, they still couldn't stop their aging equipment and insufficient output. These factories were essentially forcing people to consume with substandard products and asking local units for money. I made a table showing how much subsidy these factories needed each year and how much they produced. In fact, it was another way of asking for money."
Everyone looked at this clear and concise table.
I was deeply shaken.
She provided a detailed breakdown of the factories' return on investment over the past three years, which was almost entirely negative!
Negative numbers are negative numbers; many factories have negative values of over 60%.
The money earned wasn't enough to cover the costs.
All remaining expenses will then need to be subsidized by the government.
Chen Qingdao said: "These factories are in a state of high input, low output, and heavy burden. Their existence is completely inconsistent with the current national economic policy of adjustment, reform, rectification, and improvement."
What she said makes a lot of sense.
But……
More than a hundred factories.
At least tens of thousands of families.
Zhao Ming'an, director of the Daily Necessities Department, said: "Director, we support you in closing down factories that you rely solely on our support. After all, they are cheating and shirking their responsibilities, wasting national resources, and it's a pure waste. But the factories you listed include more than a dozen of the largest and only factories in the area. If these factories are shut down, not to mention the treatment of the employees, the people's hope will be lost."
Zhou Zhengmin chimed in: "Yes, our country is so big. I admit that these factories are purely for losing money. But if these factories close down, many people will really be homeless. And vocational school students will always have somewhere to go. The factories that closed down before were all in big cities, so there is no shortage of factories. But many of the factories you have listed now are unique."
Everyone echoed in agreement.
These factories have almost no personal relationship with them.
Everyone was speaking out for the greater good.
Chen Qing pondered for a while and then said, "What you said makes sense. I'll think about it some more."
As you can see, the director isn't as autocratic as some people think.
I finally breathed a huge sigh of relief.
But before the anger could be completely dissipated, another meeting was held the next day. Chen Qing said that these factories should be reformed. Since they could not be eliminated, their production capacity should be increased to benefit the local people, rather than dragging the region down.
Director Li suppressed his sneer and said, "Director, you say you'll reform, but who will do it? How will it be done? To what extent? You should give me a plan."
“I will make changes and set an example. Each of the more than one hundred factories must select someone with at least a junior high school education to come with me to the front line. Together, we will find ways to integrate local resources, improve efficiency, and integrate into today’s market.”
The meeting room was completely silent.
Everyone stared at her with their mouths agape.
Some people couldn't help but look down at the form again.
These are all impoverished areas.
She went?!
She used to live in a good location in Guangzhou.
Now they live in a small Western-style house.
She's going to the front lines of reform?!
Everyone wanted to object, but compared to a complete collapse, it seemed better to find a place for the director to use as a pilot program, at least it could buy them a year or two. (End of Chapter)
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