Chapter 98: The Intentions from Above?

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"Director Zhou, you said Director Liu Yaohong personally named Guoyang. Did he name anyone else?" Wang Youchang asked, puzzled.

"As far as I remember, when he came to inspect Ninghai City last time, Hongda Machinery Factory wasn't the only enterprise he visited..."

Mu Aijun understood Wang Youchang's meaning immediately.

He was curious whether Director Liu wanted to temporarily transfer all the young talent in Ninghai City, or whether Zhao Guoyang alone had left a deep impression on him.

This was undoubtedly a crucial question for Hongda Machinery Factory.

If Director Liu had really taken a liking to Zhao Guoyang after the last inspection and used this auto expo as an excuse to transfer him away, then it would almost certainly be a case of "Liu Bei borrowing Jingzhou" — borrowed, never to be returned.

Seeing the wary looks on Mu Aijun and Wang Youchang's faces, Zhou Taishan shrugged and gave a rueful smile. "Director Mu, Old Wang, to be honest about this — Director Liu really didn't name anyone else. Only Zhao Guoyang from your factory."

Mu Aijun and Wang Youchang's faces changed at this. They couldn't help wondering: did Guoyang have some contact with Director Liu afterward?

When they turned to look at Zhao Guoyang, they saw a bewildered look on his face too. Clearly, he knew nothing about this matter either.

Reading the situation, Zhou Taishan saw that things might take a turn, so he hastily explained, "Director Mu, Director Wang, don't be anxious. Although the Guangling Municipal Machinery Industry Committee did name Xiao Zhao for this temporary transfer, from what Director Liu said, it seems he made this decision after receiving a call from above..."

Zhou Taishan's explanation only made Mu Aijun and Wang Youchang more nervous.

Seeing the atmosphere become rather awkward, Zhao Guoyang himself was completely at a loss. Being the least informed, he had no idea what to say.

He did have a memory of Director Liu of the Guangling Municipal Machinery Industry Committee — the middle-aged cadre who had come to inspect the factory last time and had talked with him quite congenially about the wind-powered fire extinguisher.

It seemed this Director Liu had also dealt with his teacher Mao Tiansheng; he was something of an old acquaintance.

But with just that connection, for Director Liu to suddenly name him to attend that so-called auto expo in Songjiang City seemed rather frivolous, didn't it?

Today was already January 30th, and according to what Zhou Taishan had just said, the Songjiang International Auto Expo was scheduled for February 3rd — just a week before the Spring Festival.

For Zhao Guoyang, counting today, that left only two days of preparation, which was rather rushed.

While Zhou Taishan was still waiting for Mu Aijun's reply, the phone in the office suddenly rang.

Mu Aijun made an apologetic gesture to Director Zhou and picked up the receiver.

"Hello, is this Director Mu? This is Liu Yaohong of the Guangling Municipal Machinery Industry Committee..."

"Ah! Director Liu, hello, hello!" Hearing the caller identify himself, Mu Aijun quickly straightened his back.

"Director Mu, Director Zhou should have already spoken to you, right? You know what this is about?"

Mu Aijun turned to glance at the thoughtful Zhao Guoyang, paused briefly, then coughed twice and said, "Yes, yes, Director Liu. Director Zhou and I are discussing this matter right now."

"You might not know, but Xiao Zhao is already our factory's technical section chief. Production and technical matters can't do without him. There's also an important project he's in charge of right now. If he's transferred away, our factory..."

Before Mu Aijun could finish, Liu Yaohong laughed. "Director Mu, this transfer of Comrade Zhao Guoyang from above is indeed a bit sudden... But rest assured, we're not trying to snatch your talent."

"As long as Xiao Zhao attends this auto expo with our Jiangnan Province delegation, we'll return him to you intact, and we won't go back on our word. Are you reassured now?"

With him having said that much, Mu Aijun found it hard to decline and could only reluctantly agree.

Afterwards, Mu Aijun exchanged a few more polite words with Liu Yaohong before hanging up.

Seeing that Mu Aijun had finally relented, Zhou Taishan felt a great weight lifted.

He sat up straight, looked at Mu Aijun, and said, "See, Director Mu? Director Liu Yaohong personally vouched for it. Now you can be at ease, right?"

Mu Aijun knitted his brows. "Director Zhou, it's not that I, Mu Aijun, don't trust you or Director Liu. It's just that Guoyang is truly too important to our small factory. To put it a bit sentimentally, our Hongda Machinery Factory really can't do without Guoyang right now..."

With the matter of the temporary transfer finally settled, Zhou Taishan began making arrangements to drive Zhao Guoyang to Guangling City.

Zhao Guoyang looked at Director Mu and Director Wang, then said apologetically to Zhou Taishan, "Director Zhou, could we delay departure by a day? Since there's still time today, I'd like to arrange my current work before going, so I can travel light."

Zhou Taishan hesitated for a moment, then finally agreed to Zhao Guoyang's suggestion.

He waved his hand. "Mm, Xiao Zhao, you have a point. Since you still have matters to handle, I'll come tomorrow morning and take you to report to the Guangling Municipal Machinery Industry Committee!"

Seeing that Zhou Taishan had agreed, Zhao Guoyang quickly responded, "Don't worry, Director Zhou. I'll definitely get everything arranged within today."

With Zhao Guoyang's assurance, Zhou Taishan wasn't worried he'd run off. After exchanging a few pleasantries with the two factory directors, he hurriedly took his leave by car — presumably going back to report to Director Liu.

After seeing Zhou Taishan off, Mu Aijun and Wang Youchang pulled Zhao Guoyang over to sit on the sofa.

Feeling their gazes full of suspicion fixed on him, Zhao Guoyang felt a little uneasy himself.

"Guoyang, tell us — what on earth is going on?" Wang Youchang, being impatient, asked first.

Zhao Guoyang spread his hands, looking innocent. "Director Wang, I'm completely baffled myself. Honestly, I barely know Director Liu. If he hadn't come to inspect our factory last time, I wouldn't even know who he was. So I have no idea why he's singled me out..."

Seeing that Zhao Guoyang didn't seem to be putting on an act, Wang Youchang gave Mu Aijun a slight nod.

The two of them knew Zhao Guoyang well enough — this young man was straightforward and honest in his words and actions, not one to spin tall tales.

But precisely because Zhao Guoyang was telling the truth, Mu Aijun and Wang Youchang were even more uneasy.

Mu Aijun took a silent drag of his cigarette and murmured, "You two might have caught fragments of my conversation with Director Liu on the phone just now. Did you notice one thing he said?"

Wang Youchang and Zhao Guoyang looked at each other, then shook their heads blankly.

Mu Aijun let out a deep breath. "Just now on the phone, Director Liu said, 'This transfer of Xiao Zhao from above is indeed a bit sudden'..."

Hearing this, Wang Youchang was startled. "Ah — are you saying this transfer of Guoyang is actually the doing of someone even higher up? That... that's unbelievable."