Chapter 179: Planning for the Future
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Boss, we’re here!” After a satisfying meal, it was easy to feel drowsy. Zhou Chao dozed off shortly after getting into the car.
“Mmm, we’re here?” Zhou Chao stretched lazily and opened the car door.
“Do you want to come up with me?” Zhou Chao glanced at the things he had bought. He couldn’t carry them all by himself, and he had some plans of his own.
“Sure, Boss!” Lin Wu was excited when he heard this. Some things were better understood than spoken.
The two of them carried their stuff and headed for the elevator.
Zhou Chao confidently tapped on Ye Zhengfeng’s door, and soon, they heard the sound of approaching heavy footsteps.
“Click!” The one who opened the door was none other than Li Wei, Ye Zhengfeng’s former assistant and one of the managers of the steel plant.
“Mr. Zhou, you’re here!”
“Why are you here too?” Zhou Chao put down the things he was carrying and curiously looked at Li Wei.
“Secretary Ye called me and said there was something to arrange. I just arrived not long ago, and Secretary Ye is waiting for you in the study!” Zhou Chao then put down the things he was carrying, but he didn’t see Little Mango and Aunt Wang.
“Is it just Secretary Ye at home? What about Aunt Wang and Little Mango?”
“They’ve gone out with Little Mango! They went to the neighborhood!” Zhou Chao nodded when he heard this and headed towards the study.
“Uncle Ye, are you busy?” Zhou Chao walked into the study and saw Ye Zhengfeng writing. He greeted him, but Ye Zhengfeng didn’t speak. Instead, he was engrossed in writing.
When Zhou Chao walked over and took a look, Ye Zhengfeng had just finished writing the last stroke. On the blank paper were four words, “For the country, for the people”.
“You’re here!” Ye Zhengfeng put down his brush and looked up at Zhou Chao.
“Mmm-” Zhou Chao looked at the four words on the table, pondering their meaning. He wasn’t sure if they were meant for him or if Ye Zhengfeng had written them for himself. Perhaps it was both.
“Have a seat! i know you have many questions.” Zhou Chao nodded and turned his attention to Ye Zhengfeng, waiting for his explanation.
Initially, i intended for you to grow your operations in Peng City. However, the rapid production of finished goods there has raised concerns for me. Peng City, being a pivotal hub, has drawn a large crowd. Your steel plant here would only gain more attention, and that’s not beneficial for either you or Peng City. So, 1 proposed to higher authorities that your steel plant should relocate to the Northeast. It’s a place where you can expand your business without worries.
Zhou Chao didn’t immediately respond but thought quietly for a while before lifting his head and saying, “Mmm, when 1 was in Jingdu, 1 had a rough idea.” “Alright. How do you plan to arrange this?”
“I plan to send people over to take over. Before 1 left, 1 received a message from higher-ups, asking me to start production as soon as possible. So, I’m planning to send everyone from here over there.”
Zhou Chao fell silent for a moment before continuing, “Uncle Ye, how do you plan to arrange Li Wei? If possible, let him follow me. I won’t treat him unfairly.”
Through Lin Wu, Zhou Chao had learned that Li Wei was a managerial talent, which was exactly what Zhou Chao urgently needed. Moreover, as Ye Zhengfeng’s assistant, he was completely trustworthy and could be assigned to manage some confidential work.
“Do you want him to take over the steel plant in the Northeast?” Ye Zhengfeng was also a bit surprised.
“Yes, I believe in Uncle Ye’s judgment,” Zhou Chao replied. Ye Zhengfeng didn’t say anything, but instead took out a cigarette, offered one to Zhou Chao, and began smoking.
Outside, Lin Wu and Li Wei also engaged in a conversation.
“Li Wei, do you think the steel plant can continue to operate?” Lin Wu contemplated for a while and finally asked.
“It can definitely continue, but we don’t know where it will be relocated. After all, you and 1 both know the importance of the steel plant.”
“Yeah.” Lin Wu leaned back on the sofa, looking puzzled. Meanwhile, Li Wei was lost in thought.
“Xiao Li, come in!” The voice of Ye Zhengfeng came from the study. Li Wei, who had been lost in thought, immediately snapped out of it and quickly got up to walk towards the study. Lin Wu watched as Li Wei entered the study, his eyes revealing a hint of anticipation.
“Secretary Ye!” Li Wei entered the study and respectfully greeted Ye Zhengfeng.
“Mmm, have a seat!” Li Wei quickly took a seat at the lower end of the room.
“I suppose you already know that Ansteel might not be able to continue. Originally, 1 was planning to send you to the grassroots level for some experience…” Ye Zhengfeng paused for a moment, picked up the teacup on his desk, and took a sip.
“But…” As soon as Li Wei heard these words from Ye Zhengfeng, he straightened up even more.
“But Zhou Chao believes that you’re a managerial talent. He hopes that 1 can hand you over to him and let you go to the Northeast, which is the new Ansteel. He wants you to be fully responsible for the development of the steel plant there. So, 1 called you in here to ask for your thoughts. If you have anything to say, just speak openly, don’t hold back!”
Li Wei fell into deep thought. Ye Zhengfeng and Zhou Chao exchanged a glance, and Zhou Chao nodded subtly. They both understood what Li Wei was thinking.
“Secretary Ye, I…” Li Wei stood up and looked at Ye Zhengfeng, struggling to find the right words.
“1 understand. You want to go to the steel plant, don’t you?” Ye Zhengfeng spoke directly.
“Yes, Secretary Ye,” Li Wei replied, feeling somewhat ashamed, nodding without daring to look Ye Zhengfeng in the eye.
“Raise your head!” Ye Zhengfeng’s voice suddenly became a bit louder, and Li Wei straightened his posture immediately.
“You must remember that you are my soldier. Wherever you go, I hope you will always remember your responsibilities. Don’t become arrogant just because you have some achievements. If you weren’t my man, do you think Zhou Chao would trust you so much and let you manage the entire steel plant? Don’t let a little success go to your head!”
“Now, go out and think it over.” Upon hearing this, Li Wei walked out of the study with a thoughtful expression on his face.
Zhou Chao watched as the study door closed and listened to Li Wei’s receding footsteps. Then, he turned to Ye Zhengfeng and said, “Impressive, Uncle Ye! Experience truly counts!”
“Hmph, you’re quite something, making me play the bad guy? All the benefits go to you. Where did you learn this?” Ye Zhengfeng didn’t seem pleased when Zhou Chao praised him.
“Come on, it’s not every day you find talent like this. And you, Uncle Ye, have no shortage of them either.”
“You’re making it seem like my organization is your go-to talent source, and you’ll keep coming back whenever you need people? This is a one-time arrangement; let’s not make it a regular thing!” Ye Zhengfeng warned Zhou Chao, as he was concerned about Zhou Chao poaching his highly skilled personnel.
Zhou Chao chuckled, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“By the way, if your factory relocates, what will you do with the land? Shouldn’t you consider transferring it to the Peng City government?”
Zhou Chao scratched his head in an awkward manner and explained, “Uncle Ye, 1 hope it won’t be too much trouble, but I’m thinking about constructing a new factory on the same spot where the steel plant used to be.”
“A factory? What kind of factory are you planning to build?” Ye Zhengfeng inquired.
“A semiconductor fab!”