Chapter 93

The news spread throughout the steel mill through the loudspeakers, and the workers were all excited.
Like Li Jiandong, they all came from a working-class background. It took Li Jiandong only a few years to be promoted to the director of the political office, managing all the cadres in the factory.

This makes them believe that they will have the opportunity to climb to similar heights one day.

Even if you can't become the director of the political office, you can be the director of an ordinary department or even a workshop director.

"Director Jia, your master has been promoted again. From now on, you, the workshop director, will also be promoted to production director."

"Director He, Director Li has now gone to the Political Affairs Office, so the position of Director of Logistics is vacant. You have such a good relationship with Director Li, so this position of Director of Logistics must belong to you."

"Old Liu, Director Li is from the same hospital as you. If he just makes a move, wouldn't it be a piece of cake for him to make you the workshop director? The Political and Administrative Office is responsible for managing cadres."

"Our fleet will be adding a batch of new vehicles next month, and the large vehicle squad will also have an additional deputy squad leader. I will only tell you this news, so don't spread it around, Jie Cheng."

Li Jiandong was the only one who achieved success, and even those who had a good relationship with him were congratulated.

The most excited among them was Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong had been thinking about promotion for many years and had written letters of recommendation to the Political Affairs Office and two factory directors many times, but in the end his applications were ignored for various reasons.

When Li Jiandong became the director of logistics, Liu Haizhong wanted to ask Li Jiandong for help, but the logistics director didn't care about promotions, and Li Jiandong had been in office for too short a time and didn't have many connections, so Liu Haizhong didn't rush to bring up the matter.

Now, Li Jiandong has become the director of the Political Affairs Office, in charge of the promotion of all cadres and workers.

As long as he is willing to help, it would only take a word to make Liu Haizhong the workshop director.

This is simply God’s help for Liu Haizhong.

Ever since he heard the broadcast on the loudspeaker, Liu Haizhong felt unsteady on his feet the whole afternoon. He finally made it to the end of the workday and jogged all the way home.

The second aunt was shocked to see Liu Haizhong panting and sweating, and asked hurriedly: "Lao Liu, what's wrong with you? What happened?"

Liu Haizhong looked excited.

"Something big has happened. It's really something big. Li Jiandong has become the director of the Political Affairs Office."

Only He Daqing, Yan Bugui, and Jia Dongxu knew that Li Jiandong was competing for the position of director of the Political Affairs Office.

Liu Haizhong is too flamboyant, and Li Jiandong can't possibly talk to him.

So when he heard the news today, it was very sudden and exciting for him.

The second aunt was just an ordinary old woman. She had no idea what was so good about Li Jiandong being the director of the duty office.

"Old Liu, what does Li Jiandong being the director have to do with you? Besides, wasn't he the director before?"

Liu Haizhong said unhappily:
"You old ladies are just ignorant. How can the director of logistics compare with the director of the political office? The political office is responsible for managing cadres, and promoting workers is also the job of the political office. To put it simply, Li Jiandong can make me the workshop director with just one word. Do you know why I am happy?"

When the second aunt heard this, she suddenly realized that Liu Haizhong’s biggest dream was to become a workshop director.

Li Jiandong is now very powerful. Given his relationship with Li Jiandong, wouldn't it be easy for him to get the position of workshop director?
His dream is about to come true, how can Liu Haizhong not be happy?

"Dad, you're going to be an official. That's great. Dad, congratulations."

Liu Guangtian also understood at this time and was happy for Liu Haizhong.

The Liu family was filled with great joy, as if the one who was promoted was not Li Jiandong, but Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong did not forget why he came back. After getting the money, he borrowed a bicycle from Xu Fugui and rode to the department store.

Li Jiandong was having dinner with his leaders at the steel rolling mill and couldn't come back for the time being, so Liu Haizhong took advantage of this time to buy some toys, things to use and food for the children, and then sent them to Li Jiandong's home.

When Qin Huairu came back from the tavern and saw Liu Haizhong giving her a gift, she of course refused it directly.

But Liu Haizhong tried his best to persuade her and she left the things behind.

Qin Huairu didn't know what to do. If she insisted on sending it back to Liu Haizhong, she was afraid of hurting the self-esteem of this old man.

I had to wait for Li Jiandong to come back before dealing with it.

It was almost eight o'clock when Li Jiandong was finally brought back by the factory driver.
"Director Li, I've put the car keys in your pocket. Which house do you live in?"

The driver of the small car team helped Li Jiandong down from the cart, took out the key and put it in his pocket, then asked him in his ear.

"Hmm~ Are we home yet? You go back first, I can go in by myself, thank you."

Li Jiandong's alcohol tolerance is indeed high. After being blown by the cold wind all the way, he has sobered up a little.

Seeing that he was able to stand by holding on to the wall, the car driver did not insist on taking him home. After seeing Li Jiandong walk slowly into the courtyard, the driver left.

The lights in Li Jiandong's house are still on.

Qin Huairu had already coaxed the child to sleep, but she herself was still awake, waiting for Li Jiandong to come back.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, she walked out and saw Li Jiandong closing the door.

"Drinking too much again?"

Qin Huairu asked in a low voice, taking a few quick steps forward to support him.

Li Jiandong smiled a little tiredly: "There's nothing I can do. Officials are all like this. I have to drink."

In fact, Li Jiandong himself likes to drink a little, and he feels pretty good as long as he doesn’t drink too much.

He usually drinks good wine, so even if he drinks too much, he won't get a headache or feel nauseous, at most he'll just feel a little dizzy.

But from Qin Huairu's perspective, she still felt a little sorry for him.

"Please sit down first. Can you hold on? I'll add some water for you to wash your feet."

Qin Huairu helped Li Jiandong sit on a stool and asked, she was afraid that Li Jiandong had drunk too much and couldn't even sit steadily.

Li Jiandong waved his hand and prepared to get up: "I'm fine, you go and rest, I'll do it myself."

"Don't be so stubborn, let me do it."

Qin Huairu pressed him on the stool, and then went to dilute water for Li Jiandong to soak his feet.

Cotton shoes these days are not very breathable. After wearing them for a whole day, the socks and insoles inside will be soaked.

Qin Huairu took off his shoes, hung the insoles and socks on both sides of the stove chimney with a wire rack, then turned around and pressed Li Jiandong's feet into the water.

The water temperature was just right, warm but not too hot, and Qin Huairu's hands were very soft. She cleaned the spaces between his toes bit by bit, and then washed the insteps and soles of his feet with soap.

While washing Li Jiandong's feet, Qin Huairu said:
"Lao Liu came over tonight and brought two sets of clothes for Xunfu, and also bought some shoes and toys. I heard from Daqing that you have been promoted again, and I guessed that Lao Liu wanted to ask you for help, but I didn't want to, but I couldn't beat him."

At this time, Li Jiandong also saw an unopened tin toy car on the cabinet next to him. There was a red convertible car painted on the box, and a little blonde girl was sitting inside. It was obviously imported from abroad.

This is just a decoration. It has no electricity or motor and needs to be pushed by hand to run.

But only the rich and powerful can afford it. A car is equivalent to half a month's income of an ordinary family. It can be seen that Liu Haizhong spent a lot of money this time.

"It's okay, keep it. When Guangfu has his birthday someday, we can buy him something as a gift in return."

Li Jiandong accepted it casually.

Although Liu Haizhong has many shortcomings as a person, there are so many workshops in the steel rolling mill, and each workshop has two directors, one chief and one deputy, and many of them are less capable than Liu Haizhong.

No matter how bad Liu Haizhong is, at least he is obedient. He always does whatever his boss asks him to do. He only thinks about how to do the job well and satisfy his boss, and he never says a word of nonsense.

This type of person is typically incompetent but has a great attitude. Many leaders like such subordinates, and when it comes to work that may offend others, it's always a good idea to give it to them.

Of course Li Jiandong doesn't need Liu Haizhong to offend people for him, but there's nothing wrong with giving him a hand.

As for these gifts, since you have accepted them, there is no need to return them.

Let's find an opportunity some other day and ask Qin Huairu to give Liu Guangfu a return gift. He is not short of money, so how can he be criticized because of such a small thing?
…………

the next morning.

Li Jiandong thought Liu Haizhong came to give him a gift yesterday.

I should come over today to say hello and test the waters.

As it turned out, Old Liu was really patient. He pushed his bicycle past the central courtyard even when it was almost time for work, but he didn't even come in to say hello.

Seeing that Liu Haizhong had left, Li Jiandong was about to go to the steel mill. When he passed by the front yard, Yan Bugui suddenly called him:

"Congratulations, Lao Li."

Li Jiandong looked at Yan Bugui and said, "Old Yan, it's almost 7:, why haven't you gone to school yet? Aren't you afraid of delaying the students' classes?" Yan Bugui grinned and said, "Don't worry, I don't have a class in the first period this morning. By the way, Old Li, I heard that you are now the director of the Political Affairs Office. This is incredible. Aren't all the cadres in the steel mill under your management now?"

As soon as Li Jiandong saw his expression, he guessed what was going on in his mind.

He smiled and replied, "Old Yan, just say whatever you want to say. You don't have classes and I still have work to do. If you keep talking like this, I'll leave."

"No, no, then let me speak faster. You see, Jie Cheng and Dong Xu are both your apprentices. Dong Xu has been the workshop director for such a long time. Jie Cheng is still an ordinary driver. If you say that my Jie Cheng is stupid, I would be embarrassed to say anything, but Jie Cheng is not that bad, don’t you think?"

Yan Bugui spoke in a roundabout way, but his meaning was clear.

Li Jiandong guessed that he was doing this.

In fact, Li Jiandong had already paved the way for Yan Jiecheng. When the hydropower station was being built before, Li Jiandong had appointed Yan Jiecheng as the team leader of the hydropower station's material transportation team.

Although the temporary team leader was not a formal position, at least he had some experience as a manager.

He had not been promoted before, mainly because Yan Jiecheng's driver level was relatively low, and it would be difficult to convince others with just a resume but no level.

Now that his level has been raised, he should be able to be promoted to a level 5 driver after the spring exam.

Although this level is not very high, it is also relatively outstanding. At least it is presentable. In addition, with his previous experience as the temporary captain of the transport team, it is reasonable for him to be promoted.

Even if the steel rolling mill had not added a deputy director, Li Jiandong would not have been elected as the director of the political department.

In more than a month after the exam, Li Jiandong also planned to talk to Director Yang and Director Dai about this matter.

Now that he is in charge of promotion himself, this matter is of course even more certain.

"Old Yan, it's true that Jie Cheng is your son, but he is also my apprentice. You came to me for this matter. Are you reminding me that I, as your master, am not doing my job well?"

Li Jiandong said this in a deliberately controlled tone.

Yan Bugui quickly apologized: "No, no, don't misunderstand me, Lao Li, I just...just..."

Yan Bugui talked for a long time but still didn't know how to explain it.

Li Jiandong laughed out loud:
"Okay, Old Yan, I was just teasing you. You don't have to worry about the solution. I've already arranged it."

When Yan Bugui heard this, he became happy and said with a bright smile,

"Old Li, I'd like to thank you on behalf of Xie Cheng. I'll treat you to a meal when I catch some fish someday."

"Okay, I'll remember that. I'll tell you when you don't want me to."

Li Jiandong said with a smile as he got on the chariot.

When he arrived at the steel mill, Li Jiandong had already moved to the office of the Political Affairs Department.

As soon as he entered the door, the young people in the office took the initiative to greet him.

"Morning, Director Li."

"Director Li is here."

Li Jiandong also nodded in response.

Being able to enter the political duty office is a resume. Many department heads used to be clerks in the political duty office. They are relatively well-qualified and are very enthusiastic about their work.

Li Jiandong had just changed to this position. The first thing he had to do was to familiarize himself with the business. He spent the whole day learning and before he knew it, it was time to get off work.

The young clerks left one by one. Li Jiandong was the last one to leave after he sorted out what he had learned that day.

As soon as I walked out of the office building, I saw Yan Jiecheng waiting for me.

"Master, why are you out so late? Are you too busy at the Political Office?"

Yan Jiecheng stepped forward and said, with a hint of distress in his tone.

Li Jiandong smiled and said, "I'm not busy, but I'm just not used to it. Why did you think of waiting for me here today?"

Ever since Li Jiandong became the workshop director, his two apprentices, Jia Dongxu and Yan Jiecheng, rarely ride in his bicycle to and from work anymore, mainly to avoid suspicion.

Yan Jiecheng scratched his head and said a little embarrassedly: "Master, I came here to discuss something with you."

"Come on, let's get in the car."

Li Jiandong got on the bike, inserted the key and started the engine.

Yan Jiecheng also sat in the car bag next to him.

As the wheels turned, Li Jiandong continued, "I know what you are going to say. Your father told me this morning that your fleet will have a new batch of cars next month, and we will form an additional large vehicle team. You should prepare well for the test. As long as you can pass the Level 5 test, I will help you get a position as the leader of the large vehicle team."

As a member of the team, even if Li Jiandong is not from the team, he can know some important events in advance.

The transportation demand of the steel rolling mill has always been relatively large, especially after the expansion and the increase in output, the transportation has been far behind.

This time, the higher-ups directly added 20 cars to the steel rolling mill. With so many cars, an additional large car team can be formed.

Moreover, the timing was just after the spring exam. It can be said that this position of truck team leader was prepared for Yan Jiecheng.

As for Yan Jiecheng's driver level, Li Jiandong has the prompts of the apprentice system. He knows Yan Jiecheng's strength better than anyone else, and he will definitely be able to pass the test easily.

When Yan Jiecheng heard Li Jiandong's arrangements for him, he was delighted.

But then he said, "Master, that's not what I meant. I didn't know my father had already come to you. Can you change your request?"

"Change your request? What do you mean?"

Yan Jiecheng's words confused Li Jiandong.

Doesn't he want to be the team leader of the truck team and go to another department?

But apart from level 5 driver, he only has level 5 maintenance left. Working in the maintenance workshop is much more tiring than working in the driving workshop, and it is not as prestigious as driving, and the extra benefits are not as many as those of truck drivers.

Yan Jiecheng's face flushed a little, and he stammered:

"Master, I think being a driver is fine. It's okay if I don't want to be a team leader. I just want to see if you can help Yu Li with that. She's only 16 years old, and it's really hard for her to live with her sister alone."

Li Jiandong had long noticed that Yan Jiecheng was interested in Li.

But he didn't expect Yan Jiecheng to make such a request. He didn't even care about his own future and insisted on arranging a job for Yu Li.

This is really a typical dog-licking behavior.

However, women of this era are not that realistic yet, and women who are willing to be licked will generally accept it in the end.

There are very few women who keep a man hanging for the sake of profit and end up marrying someone else.

Since Yu Li is willing to accept Yan Jiecheng's licking behavior, then she probably likes him too.

However, both of them are not old enough now, especially Yu Li who is only 16 years old.

Li Jiandong thought for a while and said:

"Don't worry about this. Yu Li doesn't have a worker quota, and even I can't arrange one."

"The temporary workers in our factory are all doing heavy physical work, or they are in the factory militia, and they are all men. I will talk to Director Zheng later to see if we can increase the salary of our kindergarten teachers."

Li Jiandong is a very thoughtful person and he does not help his disciples without principles just because they need him.

It’s not that there will be any harm in helping them, or that people will gossip about them, I’m just afraid that they won’t think it through and might end up regretting it.

When Yan Jiecheng heard that Li Jiandong refused to help Yu Li enter the factory, he felt a little disappointed.

But he also knew that Li Jiandong was definitely doing this for his own good, so he didn't say anything.

Back at the tavern dormitory building, Li Jiandong put Yan Jiecheng down and then continued back to the courtyard.

I celebrated with my leaders at the factory last night, and today when I got home I of course partied with my neighbors in the yard.

There was no need for Li Jiandong to take charge of anything. He Daqing, Liu Haizhong, Xu Fugui and others all paid for the wine and food. Of course, Yan Bugui also contributed some money, but he was a stingy person so he contributed less.

Although there is public funding for the yard, that money was not spent on this occasion.

Because this was Li Jiandong's private matter, He Daqing and others had paid for their promotions out of their own pockets before.

(End of this chapter)