Chapter 160 Succession
When they got outside the workshop, Li Daqi was about to take out a cigarette when Song Yuanchao pointed upstairs. Li Daqi immediately understood what he meant and hooked his arm around his shoulder and went upstairs together.
Knock knock knock.
After knocking on the door of the factory director's office, Director Ma replied, "Come in." Song Yuanchao pushed the door open and walked in.
“Master!”
"Aid North Korea!"
Director Ma was sitting at his desk writing something without any preparation. When Song Yuanchao came in and called him, Director Ma didn't react immediately. He looked up subconsciously at first, and when he saw Song Yuanchao standing at the door, he was stunned for a moment, and then he stood up involuntarily.
"Yuan Chao! You're back? When did you come back?"
Song Yuanchao had heard this sentence countless times today, and he immediately told Director Ma with a smile that he had just arrived in the morning, settled down at home and came over.
"It's good that you're back. You little brat didn't even call me before coming." Inviting Song Yuanchao to sit down, Director Ma complained .
"I just want to give you a surprise." Song Yuanchao said happily.
At this time, Li Daqi had already poured a glass of water for Song Yuanchao, put the glass on the coffee table and sat down next to Song Yuanchao. He also smiled and said to Director Ma: "He didn't call me before he came back. It was a surprise attack. It was obvious that he sneaked into the village without firing a shot, catching us off guard. I originally thought that he would not arrive in Shanghai until tomorrow at least."
Director Ma laughed loudly, took the cigarette from Li Daqi, and then lit it with the match Song Yuanchao had struck. He took a puff of the cigarette and looked at Song Yuanchao, sighing, "It's been nearly half a year since I left. He looks pretty good. It seems like he's doing well in Yanjing."
"Haha, Master, what you said is true. I went to Yanjing to study, not to go to the countryside like I did back then. I was in school every day, out of the sun and rain, and the whole country took care of everything for me, so how could I not live well?"
"Hahaha, kid, you are showing off in front of me." Director Ma laughed out loud, in a very good mood. Song Yuanchao was his most proud apprentice and also the most competitive apprentice.
I won’t mention that he was the workshop director in the factory before. If Song Yuanchao hadn’t helped the factory get the college entrance examination review materials first, which brought a lot of benefits to the factory, and set up a printing workshop before leaving, which gave the factory a backup plan, otherwise Director Ma would have been really worried some time ago. With the loss of labor protection product orders, the efficiency of the factory dropped sharply. If it weren’t for the printing workshop, I’m afraid it would be difficult to guarantee the workers’ wages.
In addition, Song Yuanchao did not forget the factory even though he was far away in Yanjing, and brought in orders for fake collars when the factory was in the most difficult time.
Now the original orders for labor protection supplies in the factory have basically stopped, and the business has been divided into two parts. One part is still the printing workshop, and the other part is the re-adjusted clothing workshop. Needless to say, the former has become the main pillar of the factory, and it is even much better than last year when the factory had the best performance.
These are all things Song Yuanchao has done for the factory. What's more, Song Yuanchao is now a student at a prestigious university, the Economics Department of Imperial University. This name is well-known. As his master, Director Ma's face is full of pride and honor when he mentions Song Yuanchao.
In addition, because of Song Yuanchao, he also accepted another apprentice, Li Daqi.
Li Daqi was brought by Song Yuanchao. After Song Yuanchao left, Li Daqi took over the heavy burden of the factory. Director Ma had seen how Li Daqi had done in the past six months. That was why he directly accepted him as his apprentice and entrusted him with important tasks.
All of this is because of Song Yuanchao. Director Ma once thought about what the factory would look like now if there was no Song Yuanchao. The new generation pushes the old generation forward, and with the changes of the times, Director Ma had to sigh that he was getting old.
When Song Yuanchao came to the factory, he not only brought gifts to his co-workers, but of course he could not forget his master. In fact, it was not only Director Ma, but also Principal Zhou and others. Of course, the gifts he gave them were not ordinary fruit leather, but good things such as tobacco and tea that Song Yuanchao carefully selected in Yanjing.
Director Ma naturally would not refuse his apprentice's gift, and he accepted the gift with a smile. The three of them sat and chatted for a while. Suddenly, Director Ma seemed to remember something, stood up, walked to the desk, picked up the paper he had written when they entered the room, and walked back.
"It's just right. Yuan Chao is back, and Daqi, you're here too. Let's talk about serious matters behind closed doors today."
"Serious business?" Song Yuanchao was stunned and looked at Li Daqi. Seeing that Li Daqi's expression was also confused, he didn't know what it was about.
Director Ma nodded and handed the paper in his hand to Song Yuanchao first: "Yuanchao, Daqi, take a look at this first."
Song Yuanchao took it and looked down. When he saw the title, he was suddenly shocked and subconsciously looked up at Director Ma.
"Look first, and talk about it after you finish." Director Ma smiled and smoked, nodding to him.
Song Yuanchao once again cast his gaze at the contents on the paper, and Li Daqi on the side also showed a surprised expression when he saw the contents, but because of Director Ma's words, they did not ask immediately and read the contents carefully.
After a while, he finished reading. Song Yuanchao put the paper on the coffee table, looked back at Director Ma with a complicated expression, and asked after hesitating, "Master, why are you so sudden..."
"It's not that sudden. In fact, I've been thinking about this for quite some time." Director Ma said with a smile, and then cast his eyes on Li Daqi who had not yet recovered from his daze: "Daqi, this matter has something to do with you. Tell me what you think."
"Master, my mind is a little confused now. You didn't even say hello to me...what should I say?" Li Daqi said with a wry smile.
"Since you don't know what to say, just follow Master's instructions." Director Ma said bluntly. Seeing that Li Daqi was about to say something, he waved his hand and said, "I have thought about this matter. It is precisely because of this consideration that I decided to do this."
At this point, Director Ma looked at Song Yuanchao with a look of emotion: "Yuanchao, there are some things I haven't told you, but I have told Daqi. In fact, I wanted you to take over at the beginning, but now it's not possible. You are now a college student at the Imperial University of Peking, and you have a bright future. We are just a small school-run factory. Even I, the factory director, am just an ordinary cadre."
He took a puff of cigarette, and the smoke slowly came out of Director Ma's mouth and nose. Director Ma said, "Your future is limitless. I am your master, and I naturally hope that you can have a better future. The school-run factory is too small. If I let you come back, it would be selfish and irresponsible for me as your master. So from now on, you must remember that you can be a member of the school-run factory, but you must never come back. If you come back, I will not recognize you as my apprentice!"
"Master, aren't you asking me to..."
"What do you want me to do? Am I wrong?" Director Ma glared at Song Yuanchao, patted the armrest and said, "This chair under my butt looks good to outsiders, but if you sit on it, you will ruin your future. You are still young, so there is no need to discuss this matter. Just listen to me!"
After that, Director Ma ignored Song Yuanchao and cast his eyes on Li Daqi. His expression softened. "Daqi, you are also my apprentice. You and Yuanchao are not only good friends, but also brothers. You are young people. The master is old and will retire one day. The future road depends on you young people. An old antique like me can only give you a hand."
"Yuanchao has his future, and you have your future too. The school-run factory is not suitable for Yuanchao, but you are. Besides, with Yuanchao here, maybe you brothers can help each other in the future. I know Yuanchao very well. He has feelings for his friends and the factory. He has a bright future ahead of him, and maybe he will have a chance to help the factory again in the future."
Song Yuanchao and Li Daqi exchanged glances. They already understood Director Ma's good intentions.
Patting the paper on the coffee table, Director Ma said earnestly, "I am not young anymore. I can't stay in this position for many more years. Besides, we are a school-run factory, a collective factory. Our superior is No. 2 Middle School. Old Zhou is older than me. He may retire before me one day. Once the principal is replaced, no one knows what will happen to this factory in the future."
"Since Lao Zhou and I are both here, we can talk to each other, so we can arrange some things earlier and feel relieved earlier. Daqi, you are already the workshop director now. This time I plan to promote you to the position of deputy factory director and workshop director. Although this deputy factory director is only a deputy factory director, according to my opinion, this factory will be handed over to you in the future. In the coming days, I will gradually retreat to the second line and find an opportunity to directly give you the position in the factory. After arranging these things, I, an old guy, can retire with peace of mind."
"But Master, isn't this a bit too hasty?" Li Daqi was deeply moved. Although Director Ma had once told him something similar, saying that he would succeed him in the future, today was different. The piece of paper Director Ma showed them was an application letter recommending the promotion of Li Daqi to deputy director. Director Ma's words were obviously to pave the way for Li Daqi and prepare for the handover of factory power.
"Urgent? It has to be urgent!" Director Ma said firmly: "From last year to now, the policy changes are huge and the outside world is changing fast. It is obvious to all. I am old and my energy is not good. My mind can't keep up. The factory needs young people like you who have ideas and abilities to take the helm."
"I was reminded of this when Yuan Chao was here, but I didn't take it seriously. This is my problem. A mistake is a mistake, and I must admit it!"
"If it weren't for the arrangements before I left for the aid mission and your subsequent efforts, I'm afraid this factory would have collapsed by now. I, Ma Xun, joined the army as a teenager to do the revolution. I've fought in wars and worked as a worker. Although I'm not well educated, I still understand some principles. As the old saying goes, whether it's a mule or a horse, it's a mule or a horse that's pulled out for a walk , and the capable ones get the job. Your abilities have all been proven. As your master, I can't do something like occupying the toilet without doing anything, so this matter is settled!"
