Chapter 160
In order to make this long-distance call to Niu Enjiu, Ye Manzhi waited from morning to afternoon, but the effective call time was only a few minutes.
Wu Yuzhuo squatted beside her legs, staring intently at the watch in his hand.
When the pointer reached 1:31:12, she jumped up and shook three fingers in front of her mother.
This was the secret code they had agreed upon in advance.
With ten seconds left before three minutes, Wu Yuzhuo wanted to remind his mother.
A long-distance call from Shanghai to Binjiang is charged every three minutes, and the charge is 9 yuan per call. [1]
Once the three minutes are exceeded, even if it is only one second, it will be charged as two three-minute periods.
Therefore, Wu Yuzhuo shouldered the heavy responsibility at a young age and took on the task of keeping time for his mother!
Ye Manzhi saw her daughter's reminder, but the call quality was not good today, and Niu Enjiu had not yet figured out the whole story.
Her actions in Shanghai must be coordinated with Lao Niu in Binjiang.
She spoke faster and was about to hang up the receiver when the post office employee rang the bell, indicating that she had been on for more than three minutes.
Ye Manzhi: “…”
The sky is falling!
She quickly stopped, put the receiver back to her ear, and introduced the details that she had not mentioned before to Lao Niu.
Since she has to pay two fees anyway, she might as well say more.
Ye Manzhi continued talking for nearly three minutes. When her daughter gestured again, she did not hesitate at all. Without hearing clearly what Lao Niu said, she put the receiver back with a "click".
A staff member at the front said, "Machine 2, 5 minutes 51 seconds, 18 yuan."
Ye Manzhi paid the money and kept the long-distance call receipt carefully. She had to get the phone bill reimbursed by her company!
After a few minutes of tension, both mother and daughter felt a little exhausted when they walked out of the post office.
Although Wu Yuzhuo grumbled in dissatisfaction several times while waiting, his overall performance was still remarkable.
So, Ye Manzhi bought a bottle of yogurt and some crab shell roe at the grocery store as a reward for the little one.
"Mom, where are we going later?" Wu Yuzhuo was looking forward to exploring the strange city.
Ye Manzhi's mind was completely focused on the production equipment and he had not yet thought about his next itinerary.
The two were not far from the "Great World", which is said to be the largest amusement park in Shanghai.
So, Ye Manzhi bought two tickets and took the kid in to watch a puppet show.
When Wu Yuzhuo exclaimed at the puppet, Ye Manzhi was sitting in the audience, quickly thinking about the next arrangements.
If she just wanted to buy old equipment from Yimin Food Factory No. 2, she could just go there and negotiate the price.
However, they are now planning to take other people's equipment for free, which is not a simple matter to discuss.
Yimin Food Factory No. 2 is a local state-owned factory, and all personnel and equipment are regulated by the local government.
Just like their Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory, it was originally just a cannery. Later, under the coordination of the provincial department, the personnel and equipment of several companies such as Qingfangzhai Food Store and Pickle Factory were merged to form today's No. 1 Food Factory.
There is nothing wrong with spending money to purchase equipment from Yimin No. 2 Factory, but if they want to take the equipment from the factory without spending a penny, there will definitely be resistance from the Shanghai Municipal Industry Bureau.
Wouldn't it be better to transfer such free equipment to other state-owned units in the city?
Why should I give it to you, Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory, across provinces?
Therefore, if you want to take over other people's equipment, you must not only deal with the leaders of Food Factory No. 2, but also the Municipal Industrial Bureau.
This was Ye Manzhi's first time in Shanghai. She was unfamiliar with the place and it was not easy to find someone she knew.
However, she actually has a semi-familiar connection in the Municipal Industrial Bureau!
*
For the next two days, Ye Manzhi did nothing serious. He just took his daughter to eat, drink and wander around Shanghai.
It was not until midnight on the third day, when she received a half-price long-distance call from Niu Enjiu at the post office at the agreed time, that she decided to take the next step.
In the secretary's office of the deputy director of the Municipal Industrial Bureau, Sun Yushu received a notification from the security guard.
Someone was looking for her at the office gate.
"Are you looking for me or Director Zhao?" Sun Yushu asked.
"Director Sun, I'm looking for you! This comrade is Ye Manzhi, from Binjiang, and he claims to be the secretary of Deputy Director Xia of the Provincial Department of Industry."
Anyone who can become a leader's secretary will have a good memory.
But Sun Yushu thought hard and couldn't figure out who this Ye Manzhi was.
How come she has no impression at all?
In the past, when she met strangers like this, she usually ignored them.
After all, she was the secretary of the deputy director, and there were too many people trying to get in touch with her.
But the other party came from Binjiang and was the secretary of the deputy director of the Provincial Department of Industry.
This made Sun Yushu feel very difficult to grasp the right measure. What if Ye Manzhi was running errands for the leader?
If she turned people away, she would easily be criticized.
After thinking for a moment, Sun Yushu stood up from his seat and went downstairs himself.
There were two figures, one big and one small, standing at the door of the Industrial Bureau. When Sun Yushu approached, he couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.
Why did this person come to see her with a child?
Just when she was about to ask who the other person was, Ye Manyi had already revealed a bright smile and took the initiative to shake hands with her and say hello.
"Director Sun, it's been a long time since we last met. The last time I accompanied the leader to Beijing for the National Industrial Political Conference, we talked about visiting Binjiang to eat European-style meat rolls and roasted suckling pig. I didn't expect you to be there yet, and I came to Shanghai first!"
After her reminder, Sun Yushu finally got some clues, and the face in front of him matched the vague face in his memory.
When she accompanied Director Zhao to Beijing for a meeting last year, she met Ye Manyi several times.
The leaders were having a meeting inside, and the secretaries were waiting outside.
After a few days, the secretaries were chatting enthusiastically.
However, we all worked in different provinces and cities, and we were all accompanying our leader on a trip, so we had no contact after that meeting.
Sun Yushu understood what was going on and put on a polite smile. "I just heard from a colleague that a comrade from Binjiang came to see me. I couldn't believe it! Xiaoye, when did you arrive in Shanghai? Are you here on a business trip?"
"Haha, I just arrived yesterday afternoon," Ye Manzhi said, stroking her daughter's head. "It's not really a business trip. I'm mainly here to accompany my daughter to visit and study at the Shanghai Juvenile and Children's Publishing House. She's asked a lot of questions to the editorial team of '100,000 Whys'. This time we're in Shanghai to learn and become a revolutionary successor! Also, we're going to visit the Shanghai Industrial Exhibition."
“…”
Sun Yushu glanced at the revolutionary successor in front of him.
This successor is really being picked from a young age, but he is too young!
As an important tool, Comrade Wu Yuzhuo consciously called out "Hello, Auntie". After receiving a pat on the head and being praised, he stood obediently by the side without saying a word.
Sun Yushu really didn't understand the mother and daughter's intentions, but she acted very hospitable: "Come on, Xiaoye, come to my office and sit down!"
"Director Sun, I won't go in and sit down," Ye Manzhi said with a smile. "It's a rare opportunity to come to Shanghai. Today I mainly came to say hello to you and bring you some Binjiang specialties."
Ye Manzhi stuffed the net bag into her hand.
The specialties in the net bag are clearly displayed and easy to see at a glance.
Two European sausages and two cans of luncheon meat.
This was originally what Ye Manzhi was going to prepare as a snack to improve Wu Yuzhuo's diet on the train.
But they could buy food from fellow villagers at almost every stop, so they saved on sausages and luncheon meat.
Now it can be used as a specialty gift.
There aren't many things in the net bag, but the price is really not cheap. This small bag of specialties costs at least five dollars.
Sun Yushu declined, saying, "This is too valuable. I can't accept it."
"Haha, Director Sun, I'm not one of your Shanghai officials. My friends from out of town brought you some local specialties. If there's anything I can't accept, just keep them. I'll be leaving soon."
Seeing that she really didn't plan to stay any longer and wasn't asking him to do anything for her, Sun Yushu felt a little embarrassed.
She and Ye Manzhi didn't have a very deep friendship, and they had only dealt with each other a few times during meetings in Beijing.
Although everyone said "Welcome to XX" and "Try our specialties when the time comes" when chatting together, those were just polite remarks and few people took them seriously.
How could she accept other people’s specialties for no reason!
Sun Yushu glanced at his watch and said, "Xiao Ye, we'll be off work in a few minutes. Why don't we have lunch in our office cafeteria before leaving?"
Of course Ye Manzhi would not refuse, and she took the little tool man into the cafeteria of the Industrial Bureau.
The meals in the cafeteria are all served in a big pot, and there is nothing to choose from.
Sun Yushu got his food and asked with a smile, "Xiao Ye, aren't you working as a secretary for Mr. Xia? Can the boss do without someone?"
"Of course, the leader's secretary can't leave, but at the beginning of the year, I was transferred by the provincial department to work at Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory. Now I'm the deputy director of the food factory." Ye Manzhi pointed to the luncheon meat in the net bag, "This canned luncheon meat is produced by our factory!"
Sun Yushu looked at her in surprise. "Congratulations! You've taken on a leadership position so quickly."
The Provincial Department of Industry and their Municipal Bureau of Industry are units of the same level.
The secretaries of deputy leaders are mostly deputy section-level cadres.
Transfers from provincial departments to enterprises generally do not involve horizontal transfers. Deputy factory director Ye Manzhi should be a section-level cadre.
A definite improvement!
Ye Manzhi put two pieces of lean meat into her daughter's lunch box and told her to eat well. She sighed, "I can say I was given this mission in a time of crisis. Just after the Spring Festival this year, a fire broke out in our factory, burning down a lot of the factory buildings and equipment. It's been half a year, and our factory still hasn't recovered. We have to buy a lot of new equipment."
"So, are you going to the industrial exhibition this time to buy equipment?" Sun Yushu asked.
"Yes, our factory plans to buy several canning production lines and is currently investigating various locations."
Sun Yushu asked, "Do you need me to say hello to the manufacturer for you?"
The other party came to buy equipment, so she helped greet the factory, which was considered a favor for both sides.
"It would be great if Director Sun could give me a hand. This is my first time in Shanghai, and I'm unfamiliar with the place. I'm really worried about buying the wrong equipment."
After accepting the favor, Ye Manzhi showed hesitation again and asked awkwardly, "Director Sun, I came here this time because I actually have something I want to ask you for help with."
Hearing this, Sun Yushu felt much more at ease.
She said that it was abnormal for Ye Manzhi to give her such a valuable gift for no reason.
If the other party had something to ask of her, it would make sense.
"Well, what's the matter? Tell me first."
If she can do it, she will do it. If she can't, she will return the net bag.
Ye Manzhi said, "After arriving in Shanghai yesterday, I discovered that all major enterprises and institutions across the country are emulating Shanghai and trying to catch up. There are so many people visiting Shanghai that even the hotel rooms are extremely tight. I figured, since I'm already here, I shouldn't waste the opportunity. Besides buying equipment, I'd also like to take the opportunity to visit our Shanghai food factory and learn from my colleagues. But this is a spur-of-the-moment decision, and I didn't inform our sister companies in advance. It would be rude to come here for a visit and learn from them. Director Sun, could you help me make some connections?"
Sun Yushu finally put his mind at ease.
For her, this is just a piece of cake, something that can be done by just making a phone call!
"Sure, which company would you like to visit? Meilin, Guanshengyuan, and Yimin Food Factory are all excellent local food factories in Shanghai."
"Meilin and Guanshengyuan are both fine, but I won't go to Yimin Food Factory for now." Ye Manzhi's face was a little embarrassed. "To be honest, our two companies are competing for that tomato sauce production line imported from Hungary. Visiting Yimin now could easily cause misunderstandings."
Sun Yushu knew that Yimin Food Factory No. 2 had always wanted to obtain that imported production line from the Ministry of Light Industry.
However, as far as she knows, there seem to be only three southern companies competing at the moment.
How come a Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory suddenly appeared?
How is this possible?
"Xiao Ye, are you competing for the production line of the Ministry of Light Industry?"
Ye Manzhi's expression became even more embarrassed. "Yes, it's from the Ministry of Light Industry."
Sun Yushu paused, then nodded nonchalantly, smiling, "It's fair competition, there's nothing to misunderstand. I'll contact a few food factories for you, and you can go to whichever one is convenient. By the way, where do you live? How can I contact you when the time comes?"
Ye Manzhi reported the hotel's name and front desk phone number.
After finishing the food in the lunch box and chatting with the other party for a while, he said goodbye to Wu Yuzhuo, who was restless to sit still.
*
After weighing the pros and cons, Sun Yushu reported to Director Zhao the news that Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory was also vying for a production line when he went to work the next day.
"They applied for a tomato sauce production line? When did that happen?"
"I don't know, I just found out about it."
"I remember they just got a soda production line from the province. How could the ministry possibly give them a tomato sauce line?" Deputy Director Zhao waved his hand and said, "That's impossible. Don't worry about it."
Sun Yushu said, "This morning I inquired about the Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory. They have canned tomatoes in their product catalog and have annual production targets, so the tomato supply isn't a problem. Furthermore, this factory produces a large amount of canned food, accounting for over half of the province's total. However, their canning workshop burned down earlier this year, leaving very little equipment. The Provincial Department of Industry is fully supporting their efforts to rebuild and resume production."
Deputy Director Zhao still shook his head. "Impossible! How could they give both production lines to Binjiang? There's no way the province would approve such an application!"
The benefits were not monopolized by one company.
With so many provinces and cities across the country, which one needs new equipment? Why should all the good stuff be put in Binjiang?
The leaders of their provincial department would not agree to their subordinate enterprises acting like this.
Sun Yushu hesitated and said, "I just met with the deputy director of their factory yesterday. From what he said, their application had already been submitted to the Ministry of Light Industry."
Such applications are reviewed by the industrial authorities of each province and city.
Since it can be submitted to the Ministry of Light Industry, it must have been approved by their provincial department.
Deputy Director Zhao frowned and thought for a while, then picked up the receiver and made a long-distance call to Beijing.
She firmly believed in her heart that such a thing could not happen.
However, the acquaintance on the phone said, "Binjiang did submit an application. Their factory director personally traveled to Beijing and submitted the application to the ministry. He has been standing guard at the ministry's door for the past two days, inviting the ministry to send an inspection team to Binjiang to review the production environment."
Deputy Director Zhao asked incredulously, "What do Binjiang people think?"
Having just obtained the imported soda production line, how could they have the confidence to apply for an imported tomato sauce production line?
This is so shameless!
"The Ministry can't just let them do whatever they want, right?"
"Ahem, after all, they are comrades from the grassroots."
In Binjiang, whenever a deputy director is replaced, he will be scolded by the department leaders.
However, the person who submitted the application was the director of Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory.
Although he was a deputy division-level cadre, when he arrived in Beijing he was considered a comrade from the grassroots.
The treatment methods for the director and the grassroots comrades are definitely different.
Especially this factory director Niu, who is quite old, wears simple clothes and has half-white hair.
You can say that he is greedy and wants to eat more and take more, but you cannot criticize him in a frenzy and drive him away.
After all, he came to Beijing in person to submit the application and discuss equipment with the ministry for work, entirely out of public interest.
Standing guard at the door of a ministry in such hot weather can be considered as serving the people wholeheartedly.
Deputy Director Zhao still felt that the factory director of Binjiang was making trouble, and the department would not give the production line to anyone else but Binjiang.
The only variable was that their factory had caught fire and was responsible for producing most of the canned food in the province.
Might get a few sympathy votes.
She put down the phone and said to her secretary, "Please explain the latest situation to Luo Jianmin from Yimin No. 2 Factory. Let him decide what to do."
Other people’s factory directors can stand guard at the door of the ministry, and the directors and deputy directors don’t have to show up.
Luo Jianmin has to show an attitude, right?
*
On the other side of the city, Ye Manzhi had already taken Wu Yuzhuo to the publishing house to complete the check-in.
The editor-in-chief of "100,000 Whys" signed the title page of the book brought by Wu Yuzhuo.
He also wrote a message expressing his hope that she would grow up smoothly to be the successor of socialism.
Ye Manzhi helped her take a group photo with several comrades from the editorial team, which marked the completion of her learning task this time.
Wu Yuzhuo held the picture book given to her by her editor-in-chief grandfather and asked happily, "Mom, where are we going today?"
"Let's go back to the hotel first and wait for Dad to come back so we can go for a night cruise on the Huangpu River together."
Wu Zhengrong is here on a business trip and has a very tight work schedule.
They both have free time during the day and meet up with Wu Zhengrong at night.
But Wu Zhengrong's schedule was not accurate. The plan for a night cruise on the Huangpu River had been in the works for several days, but it was shelved because Wu Zhengrong returned late.
The situation tonight was similar, Wu Zhengrong was nowhere to be seen.
At half past seven, the front desk clerk asked her to go to the first floor to answer the phone.
Ye Manzhi thought it was Wu Zhengrong calling, and thought to herself that it seemed he might not be able to come back today.
As a result, when she picked up the phone, she heard Sun Yushu's voice from the other end.
Sun Yushu asked her if she would like to visit Yimin Food Factory No. 2.
Ye Manzhi had no objection, she was just looking forward to meeting him.
He immediately agreed with a smile.
…
"Success or failure depends on this one move," Ye Manzhi whispered to Dr. Wu at night, "Whether this production line can be won depends entirely on my performance tomorrow."
"Then you need to polish your acting skills," Wu Zhengrong said with a smile. "Being a factory manager in Shanghai is no small feat."
Yimin Food Factory No. 2 is a fairly large factory.
I won’t be easily fooled into taking a production line.
"We have to give it a try no matter what. After our Factory Director Niu received my call, he went to the provincial department that afternoon to get the official's stamp, and that evening he boarded a train to Beijing, even with a standing ticket! Old Niu acted quickly this time and really gave it his all. I can't let him down!"
Ye Manzhi was quite impressed by Niu Enjiu's ability to take action.
Wu Zhengrong was looking forward to her getting something for nothing. "Then you should do your best. I'll let Youyan follow me for the next few days."
So, the next morning, he took his follower Wu Yuzhuo away.
Let Director Ye travel light and go to Yimin Food Factory No. 2 alone to visit and study.
At Yimin No. 2 Factory, she was received by the factory director Luo Jianmin.
People already knew that the two sides were in a competitive relationship, but they did not give her any intimidation or anything. They welcomed her into the factory in a friendly manner.
The other party did not mention the production line on his own initiative, but Ye Manzhi had to mention it.
She said with an embarrassed expression, "Director Luo, I'm so sorry to bother you. I shouldn't have come at this time. I didn't expect Director Sun to arrange a visit to our Yimin Second Factory."
"Haha, it's okay. It's just normal communication between brother units."
It was Luo Jianmin's request to arrange for Ye Manzhi to visit Yimin Factory No. 2.
After receiving the tip-off from Sun Yushu, his first reaction was the same as Deputy Director Zhao's.
Binjiang is just joining in the fun.
Even if the number of competing units increases from three to four, the final ownership of the production line cannot be Binjiang.
But Director Zhao told him to figure it out on his own, and he had to take concrete action.
Instead of going to Beijing and embarrassing yourself by standing guard with that Niu factory manager, it would be better to contact this female factory manager.
If the two sides meet and have a chat, it will be considered that he has taken action.
Anyway, he didn't take Binjiang's little episode seriously at all.
Their opponent has never been Binjiang!
"Actually, we all know that the Ministry of Light Industry will never hand over this production line to you. Your Niu factory director, alas, has really wasted all his efforts."
"Director Luo, many of us at the factory actually think this is impossible. But Director Niu is a very tenacious man. He always sticks to his word. Our food factory has grown from a few hundred employees to over 2,000 today thanks to his unwavering determination. Whatever he wants, he'll definitely get it done."
"Haha," Luo Jianmin said nonchalantly, "The department leader will give comprehensive consideration to this production line. Your factory is definitely not the most suitable choice. I'm afraid his hopes will be dashed this time."
Ye Manzhi secretly held his breath, and his face turned red.
Then, as if irritated out of shame, he said bluntly, "Director Luo, our factory may not be able to obtain this production line, but your factory's situation is actually similar to ours. We just got an imported soda production line, while your factory already has a tomato sauce production line. Given similar raw material supply conditions, the department leaders will definitely give priority to provinces and cities that don't have this equipment. How can we give you another production line? Isn't that a waste of resources?"
Like a naive young official, she continued, "I know your city will definitely consider allocating your factory's existing equipment to other units within the city. That way, you'll be on the same starting line as other provinces."
"However, the department leaders must consider the overall situation within the region. Shanghai already has this kind of production line, and you just transferring it from one hand to the other won't achieve any results."
So, the old equipment must be transferred to other provinces!
The best choice is right in front of you!
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