Chapter 172: The Emperor of Factory 760

Soon, a dozen or so police officers poured into the conference room, led by Director Guo from the county bureau. He was responsible for the mayor's safety during Mayor Chen Da's last visit to the factory for a large staff meeting, so most people in the room recognized him. After Director Guo entered, Zhou Ming approached him and said, "Director Guo, hello. I'm the one who called the police. These people here are causing a disturbance and disrupting the normal production and work order of the factory. I hope you can help remove them."

As soon as Zhou Ming spoke, Cai Zhongxian and his group immediately became unhappy. They surrounded Director Guo and began speaking in unison: "Director Guo, don't listen to his nonsense. There's no problem here. We're just having a normal meeting. It's Zhou Ming who's causing trouble. We were just about to hold a staff meeting to expel him! Please, Director Guo, help us expel these three from the factory!"

The chaotic voices made Director Guo feel as though there were a hundred donkeys braying in his ears. He slammed his hand on the table and said, "What are you all doing? Quiet down and step back!"

Director Guo's outburst made the factory officials instinctively shrink their necks and step back. He then turned to Zhou Ming and asked, "Boss Zhou, what's the situation here? Please explain in detail."

Zhou Ming nodded and said, "Director Guo, I just dismissed Deputy Factory Director Cai Zhongxian, the office director, and a few other people. They harbor strong feelings of revenge and are causing trouble here."

Before Zhou Ming could finish, Cai Zhongxian immediately said, "Director Guo, listen to what he's saying. He dismissed important factory leaders without holding a staff meeting or obtaining county approval. Who gave him the authority to do that? He's practically dictating here! I suggest we hold a staff meeting to expel Zhou Ming. Please, Director Guo, arrest him first!"

Zhou Ming said to Director Guo, "Director Guo, the situation is as I've described. Please remove them first."

"Boss Zhou, which specific individuals did you dismiss, and who is causing trouble here?" Director Guo asked.

"Deputy Factory Director Cai Zhongxian, who is leading the disturbance, along with the office director and the financial officer, and a few others," Zhou Ming replied.

Zhou Ming pointed out the individuals, and Director Guo waved his hand. The police officers immediately went up and apprehended them.

Cai Zhongxian and his group were stunned. As they were being restrained by the police, they struggled and shouted, "What law have we broken? Why are we being arrested? So you're all in cahoots! I'll report you to the county committee!"

Hearing their cries, Zhou Ming sneered and said, "You truly don't understand anything. Do you think the 760 Factory is still the same as before? Do you think you still have your iron rice bowls? Let me tell you, since the factory's restructuring and my purchase of the factory, it's now my private property. I can do as I please and fire anyone I want."

"Impossible!" Cai Zhongxian shouted, "The factory belongs to the collective workers, not just you. You must have manipulated things. I'll go to the county and report you to the county party secretary! We'll seek justice for all the workers in the factory!"

"Not seeing the coffin and not shedding tears—since you want justice, I'll give you a chance to seek it. We have a phone in the conference room. Let's call Secretary Gu of the county committee and get a clear answer," Zhou Ming said.

Zhou Ming signaled Zhang Lei, who went to another room to bring a phone and connect it to the conference room's speaker system. Zhou Ming dialed a number, and the call was quickly answered. A calm voice came through the speaker: "Hello, this is Gu Ping."

Everyone was familiar with Secretary Gu's voice, which was often heard over the factory's broadcast system, so they immediately recognized him. Cai Zhongxian quickly shouted into the phone, "Secretary Gu! You have to make a decision for us. Zhou Ming is acting like a dictator in our 760 Factory, firing key leaders without county approval. This is outrageous!"

"Is this Comrade Cai Zhongxian?" Gu Ping asked calmly. Hearing this, Cai Zhongxian eagerly nodded, as if clinging to a last hope, not realizing that this hope would not save him.

"Hello, Comrade Cai Zhongxian. I am aware of the situation at the 760 Factory. In response to the central government's call for reform and opening up, the city has decided to pilot a restructuring of the 760 Factory. This restructuring aims to break the old collective ownership system and establish a new enterprise system that conforms to market regulations," Gu Ping explained. "In short, after this restructuring, the 760 Factory is no longer under county jurisdiction. Comrade Zhou Ming is now the new leader of the 760 Factory, and all matters, including personnel decisions, are under his responsibility."

Gu Ping emphasized this point and added, "Alright, Comrade Cai Zhongxian, do you have any more questions?"

At this point, Cai Zhongxian was left speechless in shock, repeatedly mumbling, "How could this be?"

Zhou Ming took the phone and said, "Secretary Gu, thank you for your explanation. Since Cai Zhongxian and others do not understand the purpose of the factory's restructuring, I had to trouble you for clarification."

Gu Ping responded, "Boss Zhou, you're too polite. The restructuring of the 760 Factory is a significant measure that even the city is paying attention to. It's normal for some comrades not to understand. As the county party secretary, it's my duty to explain and provide ideological work to these comrades."

Zhou Ming exchanged a few more pleasantries with Gu Ping before hanging up. He then turned to Cai Zhongxian and said, "Well, Director Cai, have you understood now? Secretary Gu has clarified that since the restructuring, all matters, including appointments and dismissals, are managed by me. I'm not accountable to anyone and don't need to give any reasons—only if I'm pleased."

"Does that mean you've become the emperor of our 760 Factory?" the factory's financial officer incredulously asked.

"You could understand it that way," Zhou Ming replied.

This answer caused an uproar among everyone present. In modern private enterprises, it is normal for the company owner to have absolute say in personnel decisions. However, for those accustomed to collective ownership and iron rice bowls, this was unimaginable. In the past, even a county party secretary couldn't easily dismiss a formal worker, even if they were just a janitor. How could this Zhou Ming, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, fire people without any reason?

Seeing the confused eyes around him, Zhou Ming said, "Did you think I spent millions to buy this factory just to be a philanthropist? Sorry, I'm not that great."

Zhou Ming said to Cai Zhongxian, "You were indeed skillful. In just over a month of my absence, you managed to control all the department leaders, making them only obey you. You thought you had succeeded, but you overlooked the most important point: who really owns the 760 Factory!"

"Did you think the factory was still under county control, just with my name on it? Did you think the factory was the same as before, where your tricks could make it yours? I'm afraid you're the one who's naive!" Zhou Ming said, shaking his head.

Cai Zhongxian stood there dumbfounded for a while before saying to Zhou Ming, "Sorry, Boss Zhou. I was wrong. Please give me another chance."

Cai Zhongxian, crying and begging Zhou Ming for forgiveness, even tried to kneel, and others followed suit, begging Zhou Ming for mercy. The entire conference room was filled with cries and pleas.

Seeing these people, Zhou Ming shook his head inwardly. Being dismissed from a company was not a big deal in later times. Even losing one's job in a public institution didn't warrant such reactions. However, for people from this era, who had lived their entire lives in the factory, the factory was their world. They had never imagined what to do without it.

Because of this, when large-scale state-owned enterprise reforms and unemployment waves came, many people were bewildered and felt as if the sky was falling.

It was well known that during that time, the central government constantly promoted reform, and preparations for large-scale restructuring were underway. Despite this, the situation was still like this. Now, with terms like enterprise reform and unemployment being new to many, understanding their implications was even more difficult.

Ordinary workers felt this way, and the factory officials were even more so. They had spent their entire lives enjoying various benefits and relying on the factory for their status and livelihood. If suddenly dismissed, they had no idea what to do.

These were not Zhou Ming's concerns. What mattered to him was his loved ones.

So Zhou Ming turned to Su Han and asked, "Xiao Han, as the general manager of the 760 Factory, what do you think should be done?"

Surprised by Zhou Ming's sudden question, Su Han was initially taken aback. Cai Zhongxian and others immediately turned to Su Han, pleading, "Manager Su, we were wrong. Please show mercy and don't hold it against us. Just let us go this time."

Having never experienced such a scene, Su Han was bewildered by the sight of factory leaders from key departments begging her with no dignity. But

 when Su Han saw Zhou Ming's encouraging and determined gaze, she calmed down and gritted her teeth, saying, "Fire them, all of them!"