Chapter 381: Shut Up and Get Out

Due to the advertising effect of the Spring Festival Gala, the sales of Linyang Ba Bao Congee surged nationwide. As a result, Zhou Ming decided to focus on developing Ba Bao Congee production, and the new Ba Bao Congee factory became one of the first completed projects in the Nanhui Township Industrial Park. After half a year of development, it had become a significant presence in the park, second only to the 760 factory.

However, when Zhou Ming and some staff members from the 760 factory arrived at the Ba Bao Congee factory, they found that things had changed.

The factory's main gate was open, and a group of people was climbing ladders to remove the Ba Bao Congee factory's sign. Wang Chen, seeing this, shouted, "Stop!" in desperation. But his shout only made the people turn to glance at him without changing anything. The workers, under the urging of an official, took down the sign and threw it on the ground.

The sound of the sign hitting the ground made every Ba Bao Congee factory employee's heart twist painfully. For factory workers of that era, they had a sense of ownership. Many of these workers had previously worked at the Xiling Canned Food Factory, which had gone bankrupt, leaving them in a tough situation.

For them, those days were nightmares they wished to forget. Zhou Ming had given them hope for a new start. Because of this, they cherished their work at the Ba Bao Congee factory, and they put their all into their jobs, treating the factory as something worth protecting with their lives.

Now, their most cherished Ba Bao Congee factory sign was being carelessly removed and thrown on the ground. They felt their hearts break, as if something deep inside them had collapsed.

But the situation wasn't over. In their line of sight, a foot came down heavily on the sign. At that moment, everyone felt their hearts stop, as if the foot was stepping on their hearts.

The person who stomped on the sign was none other than Liang An, the young manager of Linchu Machinery Company, whom Zhou Ming had met in the provincial capital of Tan City.

Zhou Ming was not surprised to see Liang An here. He had known that Liang An and his Linchu Machinery Company were behind the scheme to cause trouble here.

As for why Liang An was doing this, it was not hard to guess. Zhou Ming had previously had a run-in with Liang An in Tan City. If Liang An was the type to hold a grudge, it wouldn't be surprising if he wanted to create trouble for Zhou Ming.

At this moment, Liang An arrogantly stomped on the sign, deliberately stepping on it a few more times, and looked provocatively at Zhou Ming. "Oh? Isn't this Boss Zhou? So you finally dare to come back? Well, it's good you're back. I need to tell you that from today on, this factory is mine. You can take this broken sign back and burn it for firewood if you want."

Every word Liang An said felt like a needle piercing through everyone's hearts, causing them immense pain. Some cried out in despair, and even Su Han and Kong Xiaolin were moved to tears by the atmosphere.

They felt lost and resentful. They wanted to rush over and drive Liang An away, but none of them could move because they knew, with support from the provincial and city governments, Liang An had indeed obtained the necessary approvals. From a legal standpoint, the factory was now his.

How could this happen? Something they cherished so much was taken away so easily? What kind of injustice was this? But what should they do?

Everyone harbored these questions in their hearts, but no one had an answer. However, at their moment of greatest helplessness, someone moved. That person was Zhou Ming.

He walked towards Liang An without saying a word. For the despairing factory staff, his action was like a beacon of hope, instantly reigniting their hope.

Indeed, no matter how bad the situation was, with Boss Zhou around, there was no difficulty they couldn't overcome!

This was their final belief. With this belief as their support, they found direction again, and one by one, they followed Zhou Ming, moving towards Liang An.

The sight of so many people approaching him in silence was incredibly intimidating for Liang An. He instinctively took a step back and pointed at Zhou Ming, saying, "Zhou Ming, what are you trying to do? I'm telling you, handing over the Ba Bao Congee factory to Linchu Machinery Company is a decision made by the province and is fully supported by your city and county. This is a major project. You can't be unreasonable. Step back!"

By the end of his words, Liang An's tone had changed, and his voice trembled with fear, his teeth chattering.

But Zhou Ming ignored him, continuing to walk forward. All the factory staff behind him resolutely followed his lead.

With each step Zhou Ming took forward, Liang An took a step back until Zhou Ming stopped in front of the sign. After all, Zhou Ming was a civilized person and should resolve the issue through proper channels. Beating up Liang An would be satisfying but would also mean losing the chance to resolve the issue legally. Zhou Ming was not someone to sacrifice long-term solutions for short-term gratification.

Zhou Ming ignored Liang An, who was now visibly trembling, and silently picked up the sign from the ground. He gently wiped off the dust and handed it to Wang Chen, the factory manager who had been following him closely. "Take good care of this. We'll need to hang it up again. It will be troublesome and inauspicious to make a new one if this one gets dirty or damaged."

Wang Chen took the sign and nodded firmly. "Rest assured, Boss Zhou. I'll take good care of it."

While Zhou Ming was giving instructions, Liang An, having realized that Zhou Ming and his people would not make a fuss, boldly stepped forward and said, "Boss Zhou, what kind of dream are you having? This Ba Bao Congee factory is just the beginning. In the future, the entire Nanhui Township Industrial Park will be mine, including your 760 factory. You'd better go somewhere cooler and stay out of sight, so you don't embarrass yourself!"

Liang An's arrogance angered all the factory staff, who clenched their fists, ready to beat up Liang An if Zhou Ming gave the order, regardless of the legal consequences. 

Zhou Ming would not issue such an impulsive command. He stood there, calmly looking at Liang An, and said, "The person who should go somewhere cooler is you. The Ba Bao Congee factory will not be yours, and the township industrial park will not be yours either."

His calm words felt like an insult to Liang An's dignity and intelligence, causing him to explode in rage. "Nonsense! Who do you think you are? The provincial secretary or the president? When did it become your place to decide this? I'll tell you, if you say it's not mine, I'll make sure it is. I've already sent all the relevant documents to the province. Within three days at the latest, all the paperwork will be approved. By then, you won't even have a place to cry!"

Zhou Ming sneered. "Where does your confidence come from?"

"Our Linchu Machinery Company has money and power, that's why we're confident!" Liang An said. "What I don't understand is where you, Zhou Ming, get the courage to come back. You probably don't even know how hated you are here. There are so many people in Jingchu Province who want to see you dead."

Zhou Ming was well aware of this, and it was precisely the root of the current situation. It wasn't just Liang An causing trouble; it was due to some people in the province with ulterior motives stirring things up.

Everyone rises by stepping on others, and Zhou Ming didn't consider himself a saint, so he was no exception.

The resources the Tan family mobilized against him were needless to say. Even within the province, the situation was complex. His orchestrated revolutionary drama, involving the criminal case in Jinning and the downfall of Dai Jinshan, had undoubtedly made many people harbor deep-seated hatred against him.

Politics is a game of alliances. No official can act recklessly alone, and someone like Dai Jinshan had many who relied on him for promotion and wealth. Removing him cut off many people's paths to advancement, creating deep enmity. Those who found the opportunity naturally wanted to deal with him.

Realizing this, Zhou Ming sneered. "So, Liang, you're just a pawn for others."

Zhou Ming's words further provoked Liang An's fragile pride, and he immediately started cursing, "Damn it, Zhou Ming, you're the pawn! You're just a clown!"

"Enough. Shut up and get out of here. I don't have time to waste talking to you," Zhou Ming said.

"I leave? I think it's you who should leave! Especially you, Zhou Ming…"

Suddenly, with a loud slap, Zhou Ming struck Liang An, cutting off whatever he was about to say. Liang An, covering his face in shock, stared at Zhou Ming. Zhou Ming said, "I told you to leave quietly, but you just can't seem to listen."

"You dare hit me? Zhou Ming, how dare you hit me? I'll kill you!"

Liang An said as he lunged at Zhou Ming, but at that moment, someone unexpectedly came out from the side and grabbed Liang An's hand.

"Where did this dog come from…"

Liang An's words were once again cut off. The person who had suddenly intervened was a large, burly man with a stern face. Without a word, he restrained Liang An's arm firmly, preventing him from advancing any further. Liang An struggled and tried to break free, but the man's grip was unyielding.

Zhou Ming watched the scene with a calm demeanor, his expression unreadable. The factory workers, who had initially been filled with despair, now looked on with a mix of hope and apprehension.

"Let me go! Do you know who I am? I'll make sure you all regret this!" Liang An yelled, his voice filled with rage and desperation.

The burly man ignored Liang An's threats and continued to hold him firmly. He glanced briefly at Zhou Ming, who nodded slightly in acknowledgment. The man then turned his attention back to Liang An, his grip not loosening.

Zhou Ming stepped forward and addressed Liang An with a cold tone, "I don't need to explain anything to someone like you. Your threats mean nothing to me. Now, either you leave quietly, or we'll find other means to ensure you do."

Liang An glared at Zhou Ming, his face contorted with fury. "You think you can just order me around? This isn't over! I'll be back, and when I do, you'll all pay for this!"

With that, the burly man began to escort Liang An towards the exit. Liang An struggled and protested, but his resistance only seemed to make his situation worse. The factory workers watched as Liang An was forcibly removed from the premises, his threats growing fainter as he was taken farther away.

As Liang An was finally escorted out of sight, Zhou Ming turned to the factory staff, his expression softening slightly. "We've faced a setback, but this isn't the end. We'll handle this through the right channels. Keep your faith and continue working hard. We will overcome this challenge."

The factory staff, still reeling from the confrontation, slowly began to regain their composure. Wang Chen, still holding the sign, approached Zhou Ming with a grateful look. "Thank you, Boss Zhou. We were really worried."

Zhou Ming nodded. "No need to thank me yet. We have a lot of work ahead of us. But remember, we will protect what we have built here. Let's get back to work and show everyone what we're capable of."

The workers, bolstered by Zhou Ming's words and their renewed hope, returned to their duties with a sense of purpose. The Ba Bao Congee factory, though shaken, was not defeated. They would continue to stand strong and fight for their future.