Chapter 2: Returning the Goods

As someone who had once been a successful man, Zhao Guoyang knew that for an enterprise to thrive, advanced technology was not enough; another crucial factor was fostering internal unity. There could be no room for factional strife or infighting. As the old saying goes, wherever there are people, there is a world of intrigue; where there is intrigue, there are resentments; and where there are resentments, factions inevitably emerge.

A large enterprise like Hongda Machinery Plant, with its intricate web of interests, could hardly be a monolith of harmony from top to bottom. For Zhao Guoyang, if he wanted to gain a firm footing in the factory, the first order of business was to understand the interpersonal dynamics within. Only then could he avoid making rookie mistakes or unnecessary detours at the outset.

As Zhao Guoyang chatted distractedly, lost in his thoughts, Xu Dongfeng suddenly let out a heavy sigh.

Zhao Guoyang glanced at him, puzzled, and asked, “Dongfeng, why the sigh? Are you out of money for cigarettes again?”

“No, no!” Xu Dongfeng waved his hands repeatedly.

He said, “Guoyang, cigarettes are a minor thing. The real issue is that our factory’s cooperation project with Siyang Group seems to be falling apart...”

“Falling apart? What’s going on?” Zhao Guoyang asked at once, alarmed by Xu Dongfeng’s lament.

He did recall that the factory had reached a preliminary agreement with Siyang Group just last month. While Hongda Machinery Plant was a well-known enterprise in Ninghai City, in the grand scheme of things, it was but a drop in the ocean. Siyang Group, on the other hand, based in Southern Guangdong, was truly a remarkable entity.

This was a massive conglomerate, with Siyang-branded motorcycles as its flagship product, integrating manufacturing, science, trade, and agriculture. It operated across regions, industries, ownership structures, and even countries. Its core company, China Siyang Group Co., Ltd., was among the earliest motorcycle manufacturers in the country, with over a decade of history. Its leading products now included four major series and over twenty varieties—such as the Magnolia, Siyang, and White Shark motorcycles—beloved by consumers from all walks of life.

In particular, the “Magnolia” small motorcycle, produced by Siyang Group, was renowned nationwide in recent years for its compact and exquisite design and excellent value, dominating the market.

To be able to collaborate with such a giant was, for Hongda Machinery Plant, nothing short of a stroke of luck, a chance to climb the ranks.

Zhao Guoyang knew full well, however, that the so-called “cooperation” between the two companies was largely wishful thinking on the part of the Hongda management.

In Siyang Group’s eyes, Hongda was at best a candidate supplier, still far from signing a formal contract; the outcome was far from settled.

Securing the opportunity to produce supporting components for Siyang Group had only been possible thanks to Deputy Director Ma Jian, head of sales, who had traveled in person to Qizhou, the capital of Southern Guangdong, and persevered for a month, humbling himself with repeated visits to Siyang’s executives and pleading for a chance.

With the accelerating pace of reform and opening, times were not easy for Hongda Machinery Plant; similar private enterprises were springing up in neighboring counties and cities, making market competition ever fiercer.

Given these circumstances, the factory leadership was especially keen on this potential partnership with Siyang Group. Even Zhao Guoyang, a fresh university graduate, had been thrown into the fray and assigned some technical tasks.

Now, hearing that the collaboration had hit a snag, Zhao Guoyang could not sit still.

He immediately patted Xu Dongfeng on the shoulder and said, “Dongfeng, I’m already much better—staying at the hospital is just a waste of time. Let’s go back to the factory right now and find out what’s going on!”

“But—?” Xu Dongfeng, slow to react, stood with his mouth agape, at a loss for words.

“No more ‘buts’—let’s go, back to the factory!” Zhao Guoyang declared with a wave of his hand, making the decision for them both.

...

In the welding workshop of Hongda Machinery Plant, a group of workers in gray uniforms had gathered, embroiled in a heated debate.

Standing at the center was none other than Director Mu Aijun, who had previously visited Zhao Guoyang.

“Director, you must stand up for the Technical Department this time!” complained a stout, honest-looking middle-aged man with a crew cut.

“We made it clear to the Sales Department from the start—when they proposed making motorcycle frames for Siyang Group, we warned them our welding processes might not meet their standards. Now, as it turns out, our concerns were justified—the first batch of frames has been sent back.”

The man turned to glare at the man in the dark brown suit beside Mu Aijun, grumbling, “We in the Technical Department raised these issues early on, and the Sales Department said as long as we did our best, it would be enough. Now look—when the problem actually comes up, Deputy Director Ma conveniently forgets his earlier promises...”

“Lao Wang, what’s that supposed to mean? My Sales team and I went through hell to land this major order—now that there’s a quality issue, are you blaming us?” Ma Jian, whose face was still flushed from the argument, bristled again at these words.

Seeing both sides on the verge of another quarrel, Director Mu Aijun stepped in to mediate. “Enough, enough—Lao Ma, Lao Wang, stop arguing. You can argue till dawn; will that solve anything?”

Mu Aijun’s authority in the factory was considerable; his words carried weight, and even the two deputy directors dared not openly contradict him.

Ma Jian, quick-witted from his sales background, quieted down as soon as Mu Aijun spoke.

“Yes, Director... but—” On the other side, Deputy Director Wang Youchang, responsible for technology, wanted to say more, but couldn’t find the words. Flushed with frustration, he could only stew in silence.

Mu Aijun glanced at the welded frame surrounded by the crowd, his brow furrowed. He let out a deep, helpless sigh and shook his head.

The first cooperation project with Siyang Group was to supply frames for their “Little Magnolia” motorcycles. Now, the first batch had all been rejected and returned—a significant loss.

More importantly, this quality incident could become a fissure in the relationship between the two companies. Whether Siyang Group would allow Hongda to continue supplying components was now in doubt.

After all, Hongda was not the only factory capable of producing these frames—Siyang Group had three or four suppliers nationwide. Hongda had only been considered because of its lower pricing and Ma Jian’s relentless persistence.

But now, as soon as the partnership began, a major problem had arisen.

The first hundred frames produced by Hongda Machinery Plant were rejected by Siyang Group for failing quality control, citing issues like “incomplete welds” and “porosity.”

Siyang Group’s message was clear: if Hongda could not rework these frames to the required standard within the specified time, the cooperation would be terminated.

Now, with the crisis at hand, everyone—including Director Mu Aijun, Ma Jian, and Wang Youchang—was at a loss, not knowing what to do.