Chapter 99: The Deputy Section Chief Was Made Permanent

From the factory director's office, Zhao Guoyang still looked a bit dazed. Guangling City was a prefecture-level city, and its Machinery Management Committee already ranked among the highest levels. Yet the question Factory Director Mu had just raised—that borrowing him might amount to an order from above to the Machinery Management Committee of Guangling City—left everyone feeling bewildered.

“Ah, Guoyang, I was just looking for you. You just came down from Factory Director Mu’s place? Why do you look so out of sorts? Got a girlfriend?”

The deputy factory director Ma Jian, walking toward him, couldn’t help but tease Zhao Guoyang after seeing his expression. “How come you seem like your soul has wandered off?”

Zhao Guoyang snapped back to his senses and laughed. “No, no, Director Ma, do you have something for me?”

Ma Jian nodded. “Yeah, it’s not just about buying the laser spot welder. Are you free these two days? Come with me to Songjiang City first, to get a preliminary sense of the market, and try to lock in this equipment early. Otherwise I’ll keep having to borrow it every time from the other party’s Yang Machinery Factory…”

When Ma Jian mentioned Songjiang City, the muscles on Zhao Guoyang’s face twitched.

After Ma Jian finished speaking, he answered with a wry smile. “Director Ma, I’m afraid these days won’t work. I may have to go out for a trip. How about we put it off for now?”

Ma Jian waved it off. “Sure, I know you’re busy, then postpone it.”

“By the way, where is Guoyang heading?” Ma Jian asked casually.

“Uh… Songjiang!” Zhao Guoyang said with some helplessness.

Ma Jian was stunned for a long while by Zhao Guoyang’s answer. When he finally reacted, Zhao Guoyang had already bid him farewell and headed to the workshop.

He touched the back of his head and muttered to himself, “What’s going on? Guoyang these days hasn’t been overworking himself, has he? Why does he speak so incoherently?”

“Never mind, asking him won’t yield any results. I’ll go ask Factory Director Mu and Old Wang…”

In just half a day, the news that Zhao Guoyang had been borrowed by the Machinery Management Committee of Ninghai City spread throughout the factory.

At lunchtime in the cafeteria, Xu Dongfeng kept pestering Zhao Guoyang to treat him, claiming he was about to be promoted into the Machinery Management Committee.

For this unmotivated fellow, Zhao Guoyang had nothing to say and simply ignored him in silence.

As for the veteran Hua Guosheng, now fully convinced by Zhao Guoyang and quite concerned about his departure, he inquired in a low voice about the details.

Hua Guosheng’s question left Zhao Guoyang without a definite answer at the moment; he himself still didn’t quite grasp the situation.

In contrast, Huang Xiaohua seemed rather smug.

This fellow ate his meal while nodding his head side to side, occasionally humming a tune or two.

Everyone knew why he was so pleased; if Zhao Guoyang truly left, no one would remain in the technical department to challenge him for the section chief position.

Everyone had assumed Huang Xiaohua had been temporarily relieved of his deputy section chief duties and that his career would essentially be suppressed by Zhao Guoyang for life.

Who could have foreseen that this guy’s luck was so good that Zhao Guoyang would be transferred away? It was truly a case where human calculations fall short of heavenly ones.

After the meal, Huang Xiaohua instructed a young technician named Xiao Huang in the technical department to wash his rice bowl, strutting about with an air of superiority.

Xu Dongfeng found it intolerable and couldn’t help muttering a few complaints. Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaohua shot him a glare and left with a swagger.

To Xu Dongfeng’s forthrightness, Zhao Guoyang actually admired it.

Although this guy’s temperament made it impossible to achieve much in the factory, people needed some backbone to win others’ respect.

Just like that little Huang who washed the rice bowl for Huang Xiaohua at noon; even if his abilities surpassed Xu Dongfeng’s, would Zhao Guoyang ever trust or promote him?

In the afternoon, while working, Zhao Guoyang was discussing with Hua Guosheng the production of fifty C100 truck frames for the Four Sheep Group when Zhang Chaoyang suddenly pushed the door open and rushed in.

Seeing Zhang Chaoyang panting heavily, the Huang Xiaohua lounging nearby with his legs crossed reading the newspaper couldn’t help but scold him, “Little Zhang, why are you so flustered? Not the least bit steady.”

By now Huang Xiaohua was so inflated that he was waiting for Zhao Guoyang to leave tomorrow, so he could reclaim his lost ground.

Therefore, when he spoke, a natural tone of leadership emerged.

Seeing that Huang Xiaohua had asked, Zhang Chaoyang hesitated, unsure how to respond.

Seeing his demeanor, Hua Guosheng sitting across from Zhao Guoyang waved him off. “Chaoyang, what’s the matter? Why such haste?”

Hua Guosheng was a backbone in the technical department, had been in the factory for a long time, and even Huang Xiaohua didn’t dare to be too bold in his presence.

At this moment, with Hua Guosheng’s command, Zhang Chaoyang naturally told the truth.

“Master Hua, it’s… it’s that an appointment notice was posted outside the workshop.” Zhang Chaoyang glanced at Huang Xiaohua hesitantly and said in a low voice.

Huang Xiaohua had been listening with bated breath the whole time. After Zhang Chaoyang finished, his face immediately lit up with a smug smile.

In Huang Xiaohua’s mind, this notice must be regarding himself.

It made sense; Zhao Guoyang had been borrowed, who knew when he would return.

After he left, the technical department needed someone to take charge. Although his position as deputy section chief had been suspended, his cadre rank was still intact, so resuming duties was only right.

Thinking this, Huang Xiaohua coughed heavily, gave Zhao Guoyang a smug glance, hands clasped behind his back, and began to walk out.

Observing this fellow’s calm exterior hiding inner turmoil, Zhao Guoyang watched it all with cold eyes and secretly found it amusing.

In fact, Zhao Guoyang could guess what the appointment notice was about; it must be that his deputy section chief position had been formally approved.

Factory Director Mu had mentioned this to him earlier, saying it would be announced after the New Year.

But given the borrowing by the Machinery Management Committee of Ninghai City, Factory Director Mu, Director Wang, and the others probably believed that delaying the announcement might cause problems, so they rushed to finalize it before Zhao Guoyang left.

On one hand, it was to give him reassurance and retain his loyalty;

On the other hand, it also conveyed the stance of Hongda Machinery Factory to the higher-ups—that Zhao Guoyang would not be let go unless absolutely necessary.

Seeing Zhao Guoyang’s nonchalant demeanor, Hua Guosheng was taken aback. He didn’t know the full story and thought Zhang Chaoyang was bringing bad news.

“Guoyang, you don’t need to mind Huang Xiaohua too much.” Hua Guosheng tried to console him.

“Even if he really takes up the deputy section chief position again. But after you are borrowed this time, his importance will be even more underscored. When you return, you’ll still be able to suppress him…”

Before Hua Guosheng could finish speaking, Zhang Chaoyang stammered, “Master Hua, you’ve got it wrong.”

“The announcement outside the workshop states that Guoyang has been promoted to the position of section chief of the technical department. There’s no mention of Huang Xiaohua at all!”

“Ah!” Hua Guosheng exclaimed in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief.