Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 204 Poor Temple, Rich Monk

Wu Zhiyuan frowned: "Changchun, tell me about it."

Wu Changchun sighed: "Secretary Wu, the brewery is now a complete mess."

Factory director Wang Defa and Party branch secretary Zhou Jianming, these two top leaders, were fighting like cats and dogs.

Wang Defa used to be the deputy director of the county cement plant, and later he was transferred to the brewery.

Zhou Jianming used to be the village party branch secretary, but was transferred to the brewery to serve as the party general branch secretary.

Both of them are very assertive. Of course, to put it another way, assertiveness is domineering.

Eight out of ten times during factory meetings, arguments break out.

When Wang Defa suggested launching a new production line, Zhou Jianming said that a careful evaluation was needed because there were financial risks involved.

Zhou Jianming said that we should strengthen Party building to promote production and organize some kind of activity, but Wang Defa said that was formalism and would delay production.

Those below were even more confused, not knowing who to listen to.

Once an order is given, Director Wang's men may outwardly comply but inwardly disobey, and the tasks arranged by Secretary Zhou may get stuck halfway through.

A well-made decision can go awry during implementation, or simply fail to be implemented at all.

With chaotic management, inefficiency, and inconsistent product quality, customer complaints are increasing; it's no wonder the market is thriving.

Wu Zhiyuan asked, "What about the other members of the team? Isn't there anyone who can mediate?"

Wu Changchun shook his head: "Among the deputy factory directors, apart from one who is in charge of logistics and is getting old and waiting to retire, the others have all taken sides, either openly or secretly."

The deputy factory director in charge of production was Wang Defa's man, and the head of the finance department was transferred by Zhou Jianming, and he only listened to Zhou Jianming.

The most regrettable case is Deputy Factory Director Zhang Junhua. He was a properly trained professional, having studied food engineering in university and worked for several years at a large brewery. He was brought back as a technical talent.

This person is highly skilled, knowledgeable in technology and the market, and also upright, never engaging in shady dealings.

When he first returned, the factory had high hopes for him and put him in charge of production and technological upgrades for a period of time. During that period, the factory's performance improved.

He refused to compromise his principles or take sides.

Wang Defa made some underhanded moves, such as manipulating procurement, implying that he should turn a blind eye. Not only did he not cooperate, he also raised objections.

Zhou Jianming tried to win him over, wanting him to be a "gun" against Wang Defa, but he made it clear that he only wanted to focus on production and technology.

As a result, he pleased neither side, and they both regarded him as an oddball.

Currently, Zhang Junhua is in charge of women's affairs, family planning, and employee cultural and sports activities.

A deputy factory manager who was skilled in technology and management was thus sidelined and left to manage miscellaneous tasks all day.

His proposed technological innovation plans and market expansion suggestions were never even submitted to the leadership meeting before being suppressed.

The factory is still using outdated equipment and processes, and its products are increasingly lagging behind the market.

However, Wang Defa preferred to spend money on those ambiguous and unspeakable entertainment and relationship maintenance rather than invest in technological upgrades.

Zhou Jianming was only interested in controlling the finances, so he placed his own people in charge of reimbursement and procurement, and didn't care about long-term development at all.

Zhang Junhua is now just an idle person in the factory, with a position but no power, and no one listens to him.

Many veteran workers and employees with some opinions and affection for the factory felt indignant on his behalf, but there was nothing they could do.

Wu Zhiyuan looked solemn.

The chaos at the brewery was even more serious than he had anticipated.

This is not just a simple case of poor management, but a classic example of "the fortress being breached from within."

The top leaders engaged in infighting, ostracized capable individuals, and lined their own pockets, turning a perfectly good company into a dying enterprise.

"Changchun, we're going to the brewery for a research visit this afternoon. Also, please invite Xiang Jing, the deputy mayor in charge of industry."

……

The Qingshan County Brewery is not far from the town center and less than one kilometer from the town government.

Wu Zhiyuan, Xiang Jing, and Wu Changchun walked there.

Xiang Jing had short hair that reached her ears. It was the first time Wu Zhiyuan realized that girls could actually look good with short hair.

Rumors circulate that Xiang Jing is the mistress of Vice Mayor Cai Aiguo.

Cai Aiguo was promoted from the position of Party Secretary of Haihe County to Vice Mayor two years ago.

Cai Aiguo has a daughter who is studying abroad; this is an open secret.

However, some people say that once when Cai Aiguo came to Qingshan County to inspect work, Xiang Jing sneaked into Cai Aiguo's room at night.

Xiang Jing was promoted to deputy section chief after working for only a few years and was sent to a township for further training.

This means that either the person who gave birth to her is awesome, or the person who slept with her is awesome.

Xiang Jing's father used to be a worker, but later died of illness. Her mother worked in a hotel, and there seemed to be no relatives in the family who were officials.

This family background obviously couldn't help her get promoted.

However, to be fair, Xiang Jing's overall abilities are quite good. Whether it's her language expression skills, her overall coordination skills, or her ability to handle complex situations, she is quite good.

She's not just a pretty face; she's a woman of both talent and beauty.

The brewery covers a large area, spanning thousands of acres. The air is filled with the sweet aroma of fermenting malt.

The factory area was deserted, with only a few trucks and mountains of empty wine bottles and waste cardboard boxes.

Xiang Jing murmured, "It's even more deserted than when I last came."

Wang Defa, Zhou Jianming, and other factory leaders greeted them in front of the factory's fourth-floor office building.

After introductions, Wang Defa said in surprise, "Did Secretary Wu come over here?"

Wu Zhiyuan chuckled and said, "Sending a car for such a short distance? Isn't that too bureaucratic?"

"Yes, yes, Secretary Wu truly understands the people's needs and has a down-to-earth work style." Wang Defa's face was full of smiles.

Wang Defa and Zhou Jianming were both around fifty years old. Wang Defa was tall and fat, weighing a full 200 jin (100 kg).

Zhou Jianming, on the other hand, was only 1.6 meters tall and had a thin build.

The difference in appearance between this pair of rivals is too great.

The conference room is located on the fourth floor, with a large oval conference table in the center that can accommodate more than 20 people. The tabletop is polished to a shine, reflecting people's images.

In the center of the table, several potted green plants were arranged in a staggered manner.

The factory leaders attached great importance to the visit and research of Wu Zhiyuan and his delegation.

Everyone had a place card, and a bottle of premium mineral water was placed on the table in front of each seat.

In the center of the table were several elegant fruit platters, containing clean, still-damp cherries, strawberries, and slices of orange.

Next to the fruit platter were several packs of Zhonghua cigarettes.

Poor temples with rich monks, and leaders who can't suffer even in hardship – this is a common problem in many struggling state-owned enterprises.

Although Wu Zhiyuan was unhappy, it was his first time there, so he couldn't show his anger.

Wang Defa read from his prepared report, starting with the brewery's past glory, mentioning its status as a provincial and ministerial award winner and a major taxpayer. Then, he abruptly changed the subject and began to complain bitterly.

"...Dear leaders, it's not that we're not working hard, it's just that the market is just too difficult right now!"

Big brands are flooding the market with GG products at low prices. How can small local factories like ours compete with them, which lack both brand recognition and scale?

Costs are rising every year: malt, hops, bottles, bottle caps, as well as coal, electricity, and water—which one isn't going up in price?

But if the price of beer is raised even slightly, distributors complain that they can't afford it, and consumers won't buy it.

Right now, we lose a little money for every ton we produce, and the more we produce, the more we lose. It's tough, so tough!