Chapter 78: Factory News

"Zhou Ming, quickly look at the factory broadcast, there's big news about you today!" Zhang Lei ran over from a distance, excitedly shouting towards Zhou Ming.

Seeing Zhang Lei, who was out of breath, Zhou Ming smiled and said, "Da Zhuang, why are you in such a rush? Can't you slow down?"

Zhou Ming then asked Su Han to go inside and get a glass of water for Zhang Lei, saying, "Catch your breath and take your time. No need to rush. By the way, I really appreciate your help with getting that press release out today."

Zhou Ming was referring to the press release he used this morning in the factory auditorium to expose Huang Zheng and Ma Jianjun. Originally, this press release was drafted by them to be issued after the factory was confirmed to be contracted to them, with the intention of lowering the price. In his previous life, this was exactly how they operated, and with repeated promotion from the factory's publicity department, the price of 1.5 million yuan was easily accepted by all employees.

However, they probably never imagined that this press release, which was meant to benefit them, would end up being the first blow against them.

Of course, since this press release hadn't been issued yet, it was only accessible to those working at the factory's TV station, which was Zhang Lei's condition. So Zhou Ming had asked Zhang Lei to pay attention to this before going to Nanjing, and Zhang Lei had kept this in mind. As soon as he saw the press release at the TV station, he made sure to print it out and bring it to Zhou Ming as soon as he returned.

Waving his hand, Zhang Lei said after catching his breath, "That's nothing. Just wait, your news is about to be broadcasted!"

The 760 Factory used to be a star unit in Nan Hui County, thriving under some calls to action, and thus set up its own factory TV station. Besides broadcasting daily morning radio, it also occasionally aired factory news for all employees.

At this time, televisions were still rare. Zhou Ming's family was poor, and with the need to support Zhou Ming's education over the past few years, they couldn't afford a TV. As a result, they could only go with Zhang Lei to the Workers' Activity Center to watch.

The Workers' Activity Center was a small activity room next to the factory auditorium, equipped with table tennis and badminton, and two small black-and-white televisions, monitored by the factory's logistics department.

Since it was time for factory news, there weren't many people in front of the television when Zhou Ming and his group arrived at the activity center. Zhou Ming and Zhang Lei set up two long benches and sat down together.

"Zhou Ming, Zhou Ming, it's just about to get to your news," Su Han eagerly tugged at Zhou Ming's sleeve, looking at the TV.

In fact, without Su Han's prompt, Zhou Ming had already noticed that the broadcast was currently about the reform meeting from this morning.

"Reform spring breeze blowing across the land, we are walking in a great era of transformation. Our 760 Factory, as the star unit of Nan Hui County, has taken the lead in the enterprise reform pilot task! This morning, Mayor Chen Da and County Secretary Gu Ping, along with other municipal and county leaders, personally attended the factory to hold the enterprise reform meeting. A total of more than thirty veteran worker representatives attended the meeting."

Listening to this unique, passionate tone inherited from the previous era, Zhou Ming felt somewhat emotional. However, he had to admit that this tone, compared to some of the more frivolous styles of later years, had a bit more spirit.

Suddenly, Zhang Lei nudged Zhou Ming's elbow: "Don't zone out, it's your turn now."

"At the meeting, Mayor Chen Da announced that after research by the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government, it was decided that the Hong Kong businessman, Comrade Zhou Ming, would take over the 760 Factory. This decision reflects the outstanding vision and knowledge of the municipal and county leaders. Comrade Zhou Ming is also a revolutionary comrade who emerged from our factory. When Comrade Zhou Ming returned from studying abroad, he saw the factory's declining performance and was deeply concerned. Thus, he resolutely responded to the country's call for reform and opening up, traveling to Hong Kong to learn advanced foreign experience…"

Hearing the announcer speak as if praising a revolutionary hero, Zhou Ming was dumbfounded. He turned to Zhang Lei and asked, "Did you write this news script?"

Zhang Lei chuckled, "How's it? Not bad, right? I fought hard to get this job from our leaders. They knew I was close with you, so they handed this work over to me."

"What on earth is this about?"

Zhou Ming sighed. To him, the news script seemed completely absurd. But seeing his parents and Su Han, as well as other onlookers, listening intently with admiration in Su Han's eyes, Zhou Ming could only resign himself. Perhaps people in this era saw him as this noble and enlightened.

After the glowing coverage of Zhou Ming's achievements, the announcer shifted the focus to Huang Zheng and Ma Jianjun.

Compared to Zhou Ming, Zhang Lei's language about them was quite harsh, referring to them as the "factory's disgraceful parasites," who had ruined the factory's atmosphere and were beasts in leadership clothing.

The announcer concluded: "But evil cannot last long. Today, in the presence of all the veteran worker representatives at our factory, Mayor Chen Da personally ordered the most stringent investigation into Huang Zheng and Ma Jianjun, and they will face punishment from the Party and the people!"

After watching the entire news segment, Zhang Lei happily asked Zhou Ming, "How's it? Is the news I wrote for you okay?"

Zhou Ming facepalmed, "I just feel very embarrassed!"

Zhou Ming's comment made his mother, Wang Fengqin, unhappy. "How can you say that? I think Da Zhuang did a great job with the news!"

Su Han also sided with Wang Fengqin, criticizing Zhou Ming, "Auntie is right. After all, Da Zhuang was helping you with the news and promotion. How can you say such things?"

Zhou Ming raised his hands, "Okay, I'm wrong. But with today's news and Da Zhuang's promotion, we might not have peaceful days ahead!"

Wang Fengqin and Su Han looked at Zhou Ming in confusion. Zhou Ming explained to them, "It's simple. There were many veteran worker representatives at today's reform meeting. These people are old hands in the factory. They knew they took the wrong side today, and they were critical of us before the meeting. Now that I'm about to take over the factory, they will surely come to visit us to keep their jobs."

"But if they were going to come, they should have come earlier. It's already evening, and they haven't come. Maybe they won't come at all?" Su Han suggested.

Zhou Ming shook his head, "They haven't come before because they were still hopeful. They were wondering if I could really take over the factory. Now that the news is out and I'm being praised so highly, they should see the situation clearly. If they still don't come, are they really waiting for me to settle scores after autumn?"

After Zhou Ming's explanation, Wang Fengqin and Su Han realized that Zhou Ming was correct. Those so-called veteran worker representatives were very shrewd. To protect their own positions, they would definitely come.

"So what should we do?" Wang Fengqin asked.

Zhou Ming shrugged, "It doesn't matter. Dad will be the factory director, and Mom, you'll be the deputy factory director. Treat them the way they treated you before."

Just as if to prove Zhou Ming's judgment, as soon as he finished speaking, a few middle-aged men walked into the activity center. They saw Zhou Ming and quickly approached him with smiles, greeting him as "Boss Zhou."

These men were the veteran worker representatives Zhou Ming had seen in the morning. Seeing them come over to greet him, Zhou Guoping and Wang Fengqin instinctively stood up to greet them. Zhou Ming knew they were his father's workshop leaders.

Since his parents had stood up, Zhou Ming, along with Su Han and Zhang Lei, also stood up to greet them.

"Boss Zhou, on behalf of all the factory workers' families, I want to thank you! To be honest, we veteran worker representatives have long been displeased with what Huang Zheng and Ma Jianjun have done. They took advantage of their connections in the county to act recklessly, ruining the factory's atmosphere. We, the veteran worker representatives, dared not speak out. Now, with you coming in and taking them down, it really is a great relief!" The lead veteran worker representative gave Zhou Ming a thumbs up.

Another veteran worker representative praised Zhou Ming, "Yes! We also knew they were secretly selling factory equipment. We've long been hoping for an investigation from the county!"

One of them turned to Zhou Ming's father and said, "Old Zhou, you're really something! You've raised a good son. Although he's young, he has great abilities. Just like the news said, Zhou Ming is the number one figure leading our factory into the new era. I believe under Zhou Ming's leadership, our factory will definitely regain its former glory!"

Hearing these veteran worker representatives' flattery, Zhou Ming raised an eyebrow, "Are you trying to flatter me now because you're afraid of future retribution?"

The veteran worker representatives' faces stiffened at Zhou Ming's blunt question, and they awkwardly forced smiles, saying, "Of course not. Boss Zhou

, you're a big boss from Hong Kong and will be the future director of 760 Factory. You're magnanimous and wouldn't hold a grudge against us."

"Well, you never know. I have a great memory, and I still remember what happened this morning," Zhou Ming said.

The veteran worker representatives were taken aback. However, they were also smart and quickly put on a remorseful expression, saying, "Boss Zhou, this morning's events were our fault. We were misled. Old Zhou is known as a straightforward person in our factory. How could there be any issues? Huang Zheng and Ma Jianjun were the ones inciting this. They threatened us with dismissal if we didn't act this way. We had no choice!"

Seeing the veteran worker representatives' exaggerated acting, Zhou Ming waved his hand in disgust, "If there's nothing else, you can leave. My parents and I have some matters to discuss."

The veteran worker representatives understood that Zhou Ming was genuinely annoyed and left with forced smiles.

Watching them leave, Su Han said, "Zhou Ming, you were right. They really came to flatter you."

"This is just the beginning. We'll have more trouble in the coming days," Zhou Ming said.