hotmtlnovel Chapter 1328 Screening Song Yunhui
Chapter 1328 Screening Song Yunhui
Chapter 1328 Screening Song Yunhui
After the meeting, a silent tremor hung in the air at the Jingzhou Chemical Plant.
The meaning behind Director Fei's trip to the Party School for "study" is self-evident. Although Chief Engineer Liu was not immediately reassigned and still retains the title of Chief Engineer, his former authority has been reduced to a flickering candle in the wind.
There was an unspoken consensus circulating within the factory area: the king may change, but Secretary Shui is coming back.
A week later, the official document from the ministry was issued, and the matter was settled: Secretary Shui's retirement would be postponed, and he would continue to serve as a party official at Jingzhou Chemical Plant. The administrative vacancy left by Director Fei would be filled by Cheng Hui, the original deputy director.
This result confirmed everyone's guesses: Secretary Shui has officially returned to his core position of power.
After work that day, Song Yunhui, carrying several thick textbooks, had just pushed open the door to dormitory 307 when Xun Jianxiang rushed over like a guardian deity, putting his arm directly on Song Yunhui's shoulder.
"Great job, Song Yunhui!" Xun Jianxiang slapped him hard and gave him his signature thumbs up. "You're a big celebrity in our factory now! You debated with everyone at the technical demonstration meeting and left those old foxes like Lao Fei and Lao Liu speechless and their faces turned green! Tsk tsk, brilliant, well done!"
Song Yunhui pushed away his heavy arm somewhat uncomfortably, his brows furrowed slightly: "Where did you hear all this from? It's all just hearsay."
He walked to his bed, which was piled high with books, and put them down.
"What do you mean by 'rumors'?" Xun Jianxiang sprawled back on his messy bed, crossed his legs, and said leisurely, "It's all over the factory! Everyone's saying that Shui Tou will be able to take the helm again this time, and you're the number one contributor! A founding father, you're something else! Just wait, next you'll be promoted to a high position!"
Song Yunhui was amused by his analogy of a feudal dynasty, shaking his head and laughing: "Stop talking nonsense! What era are we living in? Still bestowing titles of kings and generals? Do you think this is some kind of rebellion from the old society?"
He casually picked up the enamel mug on the table and poured some cooled boiled water into it.
Xun Jianxiang sat up straight and leaned closer: "Hey, saying it's an exaggeration to call you a king or a general is an exaggeration. You can't expect to be rewarded for your merits, can you? You can't just finish the work and not get paid, can you? It's true that you were only promoted to section chief not long ago, but you've made such a great contribution this time. It wouldn't be a big deal to just make you a deputy director or something, would it?"
Song Yunhui took a sip of water, calmly put down the enamel mug, and looked at Xun Jianxiang with a composed gaze: "Xun, I really didn't think about any of this. I didn't come up with this plan to oppose anyone, nor to help anyone regain power. I just feel that the country invests its precious and limited foreign exchange to import equipment for what purpose? It's to shorten the gap between us and the international advanced level! It's to truly improve our technological level! If we give up importing more advanced and forward-looking equipment just because of some personal concerns and calculations, and choose an outdated FRC equipment to get by... that would be a crime! It would be a waste of state resources!"
No sooner had the words been spoken than a steady, powerful voice came from the doorway: "Good! Well said!"
Both of them were startled and looked in the direction of the sound. They saw Secretary Shui standing with his hands behind his back at the half-open dormitory door, with an approving smile on his face, and holding a bottle of Fenjiu liquor and a roast chicken wrapped in oil paper.
Xun Jianxiang reacted extremely quickly, jumping out of bed like a spring, his movements as nimble as if he were wound up: "Hey, Shui Tou! What brings you here? Well... I just made an appointment to see a movie! I'm leaving now, you guys chat, you guys chat all you want!"
As he spoke, he grabbed his coat draped over the back of the chair and slipped out almost through the crack in the door.
Secretary Shui watched Xun Jianxiang's figure disappear in an instant, sighed helplessly and with a hint of regret, and turned his gaze to the slightly uneasy Song Yunhui: "That kid Xun, he looks carefree, but he's not a bad person at heart... His father was even more admirable. Back then, in order to save that batch of key equipment in the factory, he just... sigh."
He walked into the dormitory, closed the door behind him, and his tone became somber: "It's my fault as the Party Secretary for not truly taking the responsibility for workplace safety seriously..."
At this point, Secretary Shui paused, as if waiting for Song Yunhui to offer a polite remark to smooth things over. Song Yunhui, however, simply stood quietly, his eyes clear.
Seeing this, Secretary Shui chuckled self-deprecatingly: "You... are exactly the same as Lao Liu when he first joined the factory. Unlike Lao Fei... who is quick-witted and uses all his skills on 'getting things done'."
He casually pulled up a chair and sat down, gesturing for Song Yunhui to sit as well: "Little Song, a person can have pride, but shouldn't be too arrogant."
“I know you look down on those backstabbing and scheming tactics in officialdom. I had that same thought when I was young!”
Secretary Shui picked up a cup himself, pushed another cup in front of Song Yunhui, and looked at him intently: "But Song, you need to understand one thing: in modern society, in the modern industrialized production system, what are the two most crucial elements? They are division of labor and cooperation!"
He took a sip of his drink and smacked his lips: "Having technology alone, without someone who can coordinate resources, control the direction, and balance the power of all parties, even the best technology may be shelved or turn into a half-baked mess!"
Song Yunhui looked at the murky liquor in front of him, his brows furrowing slightly as usual, but he still picked it up without hesitation and gulped it down in one go. The fiery liquid burned his way down his throat to his stomach, causing his face to contort instantly. He couldn't help but cough twice, tears welling up in his eyes.
Secretary Shui was amused by his honesty and laughed heartily: "Oh my, you're too honest, kid! If you don't know how to drink, just take a sip as a token! Who told you to drink it all in one go?"
He laughed heartily, as if he hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time.
After laughing enough, Secretary Shui put down his wine glass, his expression becoming earnest: "Xiao Song, you must remember, in this society, among this crowd, those who are as straightforward and simple-minded as Da Xun are a minority."
"Most people are like Lao Fei and Lao Liu, who value their personal interests more than the collective interest. You have to learn how to get these scheming and calculating people to honestly and dutifully do what they're supposed to do! How do you nip their selfishness in the bud, or at least keep it in a cage so it doesn't ruin the big goal we're all pursuing together? This requires methods, wisdom, and experience!"
"I'm sixty years old this year. How many more years can I work? The future of Jingzhou Chemical ultimately belongs to you young people! Among these young people, you are the one I have the most faith in! You have skills, principles, and integrity! But! You are still too green! Too innocent! What you lack is the tempering and experience gained through the trials and tribulations of complex interpersonal relationships!"
Song Yunhui's eyes flickered, but he did not refute them. He was quite aware of his own shortcomings.
Secretary Shui didn't mince words: "So, the reason I came to see you tonight is to be frank with you. I don't plan to promote you in the next year or two."
"Do you get me?"
Song Yunhui suddenly realized. So that's how it is. He's not stupid at all; on the contrary, he's extremely intelligent. He just habitually pours all his energy into his skills and himself.
“Secretary Shui, don’t worry.” Song Yunhui nodded: “I never thought about any reward or recognition. I just did what I thought was right, that’s all.”
Secretary Shui stared intently at Song Yunhui's young and earnest face, a genuine smile of appreciation on his face: "Good! I'm relieved that you think this way!"
He relaxed, picked up his glass, and took another small sip: "Also, your brother-in-law really helped our factory a lot this time, and he really helped Jingzhou Chemical a lot! Please pass on my thanks!"
In the following time, Secretary Shui stopped talking about personnel matters and enthusiastically pulled Song Yunhui aside to discuss the key points of installation and commissioning of the newly confirmed PDH equipment, how to optimize product parameters after production, adapt to international standards, and possible sales directions.
Song Yunhui was surprised to find that Secretary Shui was not completely ignorant about technology; his thinking on the macro level and the prospects of technology application was quite insightful.
Secretary Shui seemed to see through Song Yunhui's surprise and laughed heartily: "A scholar should be looked at with new eyes after three days! Old Fei and Old Liu always look at me with the same old eyes they had more than ten years ago. I have been auditing classes and studying on my own all these years!"
"Little Song, the reason I'm risking my retirement and going to such great lengths to promote this latest PDH system isn't to compete with Lao Fei and Lao Liu!"
He looked around the simple dormitory, his tone heavy and affectionate: "I've worked at Jingzhou Chemical for decades! From when I was a teenager, when I started as an apprentice, I've watched this factory grow, brick by brick, with my own eyes! In my heart, Jingzhou Chemical is like my own child! I truly hope to see it thrive, to see it produce world-class products, and to see it one day truly join the ranks of international chemical giants! To earn the admiration of foreigners!"
"It's a pity, I'm getting old... This glorious future is beyond my control... It all depends on you!"
"The future belongs to you! Settle down, work hard, hone your skills! Don't let me down!"
Song Yunhui nodded solemnly: "Secretary Shui, don't worry, I will."
……
In the days that followed, Song Yunhui's life seemed to quickly return to its usual routine: the rustling of pens in the technical department office, the familiar figure among the bookshelves in the library, and the calculations under the desk lamp in his dormitory.
However, subtle changes were quietly taking place around them.
In the first few days, many people looked at him with strange eyes. He became the core of the "returning home group" in the eyes of the public, the "number one hero" of Secretary Shui's restoration, and some even jokingly called him a "hero who followed the dragon".
In the office, on the street, in the cafeteria, people would often come up to greet you with ingratiating smiles or subtly express their closeness, seemingly laying the groundwork for a future connection.
Song Yunhui felt awkward and uncomfortable with this, and maintained a detached and distant response throughout.
However, as the days went by, Secretary Shui, in almost every public occasion—presiding over factory meetings, inspecting workshops, receiving department leaders—never showed Song Yunhui any special favor or special attention. Even his greetings when they met seemed ordinary and even somewhat lacking.
This deliberate attitude, which outsiders would perceive as "neglecting a hero," is like a silent signal flare.
The wind shifted with astonishing speed. Those once-coveted, familiar faces vanished as quickly as the tide receded.
Song Yunhui himself didn't really feel anything was wrong; in fact, he felt the air was much fresher, and he no longer had to deal with those awkward formalities.
Xun Jianxiang, however, looked indignant: "These bastards! They change their tune faster than flipping through a book! They're all so opportunistic! There aren't many good people in this factory! What was Shui Tou thinking? Is this how you kill someone after they've served their purpose? You just did something incredibly valuable! Not only did you not get any reward, but you didn't even get a kind word?"
Song Yunhui glanced at him helplessly: "Da Xun, keep your voice down. Secretary Shui has his reasons."
"Besides, I didn't do those things for personal gain."
Xun Jianxiang rolled his eyes in exasperation: "I think you're just too easy to talk to..."
As they approached the library entrance, Xun Jianxiang suddenly nudged Song Yunhui with his elbow and gestured with his lip: "Hey, look ahead."
Song Yunhui looked up. In the slanting rays of the setting sun, Liu Qiming and Yu Shanqing were standing by the old locust tree at the entrance of the library.
The two appeared to be having a heated argument. Liu Qiming's face was flushed, his brows were furrowed, his lips were moving rapidly, and he was agitated, his eyes filled with anger and disappointment.
Yu Shanqing seemed to be explaining something.
"...You did it on purpose! You only know how to hide when something goes wrong!"
"What am I hiding from? Can't you be reasonable? I need to avoid suspicion at this crucial moment!"
"Avoid suspicion? Why didn't you avoid suspicion when my father was in power? Yu Shanqing, I've seen through you..."
Just then, Yu Shanqing caught a glimpse of Song Yunhui walking towards them out of the corner of his eye. As if electrocuted, he abruptly took a step back, quickly creating distance between himself and Liu Qiming. His face instantly adopted a slightly embarrassed and polite expression, as if the argument had never happened.
Liu Qiming also saw Song Yunhui. He was stunned at first, but then the anger that rose on his face found another outlet.
She stopped looking at Yu Shanqing and glared fiercely at Song Yunhui.
"Song Yunhui! You went to so much trouble to bring down my dad and get rid of Director Fei! Are you satisfied now? Secretary Shui is back now! Aren't you still stuck in the technical department as a lowly section chief? Heh, it's not a pleasant feeling to have your efforts all for nothing, is it?"
After she finished yelling in a fit of rage, without waiting for Song Yunhui to react, she turned around abruptly, walked quickly to the women's bicycle next to her, and disappeared into the end of the path like a gust of wind carrying resentment.
Yu Shanqing also took the opportunity to leave.
Song Yunhui stood frozen in place, holding the book, his face filled with astonishment and confusion.
Xun Jianxiang, standing next to him, spat heavily at Yu Shanqing's retreating figure.
"I knew Yu Shanqing was a scoundrel. Back when Chief Engineer Liu was at the height of his power, how this bastard fawned over Liu Qiming? He showered him with attention, sweet talk, and relentlessly pursued him! He practically had his eyes glued to the girl! Now that Old Liu is gone, this guy is running away faster than a rabbit."
Song Yunhui frowned slightly and shook his head, saying, "Da Xun, even an upright official can't settle family disputes, so don't meddle."
Xun Jianxiang spat on the ground: "Anyway, I just can't stand that guy surnamed Yu. He's a modern-day Chen Shimei!"
Suddenly, his eyes lit up: "Hey, if Yu Shanqing and Liu Qiming break up, you can go after her!"
Song Yunhui immediately blushed deeply: "Xun Jianxiang! What nonsense are you talking about? It would be terrible if someone heard us!"
Xun Jianxiang made a face at Song Yunhui: "Whether you pursue her or not is up to you, I'm going to pursue my love."
He spread his arms wide exaggeratedly, pedaled his bicycle recklessly, and rode off into the distance: "Let the storm rage on!"
Watching Xun Jianxiang's departing figure, Song Yunhui suddenly felt a pang of envy for his carefree attitude.
That evening, Song Yunhui made an overseas call to Qin Hao. This time, unlike usual, he didn't immediately start talking about work, but instead stammered about trivial matters.
On the other end of the phone, Qin Hao keenly sensed something was amiss: "Xiao Hui, you're not dating someone, are you?"
"Brother-in-law! What are you talking about?!" A chaotic commotion came from the other end of the phone, followed by Song Yunhui's slightly panting voice: "I have to go now, long-distance calls are expensive."
After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao immediately called Song Yunping. Hearing her husband's description, Song Yunping's voice rose eight octaves with joy: "That silly boy, he's finally fallen for someone! By the way, did Xiaohui say what kind of girl she is?"
Qin Hao fell into deep thought. In his mind, neither Liu Qiming nor Cheng Kaiyan were suitable partners. Especially Cheng Kaiyan, who was a complete disaster—not only was he an immature child, but her brother and sister-in-law were insatiable ingrates, and her parents were cunning foxes; not a single member of the family was easy to deal with.
Thinking of this, Qin Hao immediately made a decision: "Aren't you about to start summer vacation? I'll be back next week, let's go to Jingzhou together, and I can also give Xiaohui some feedback?"
"You're coming back next week?" Song Yunping's voice was filled with surprise. "That's wonderful! It's a deal!"