Chapter 43 Director
"What did you say?" In the principal's office of No. 2 Middle School, Principal Zhou seemed not to have heard clearly what Director Ma had just said, and his hand that was pouring tea stopped.
"What? You're already deaf before retirement?" Director Ma said with a smile, "I said that Lao Luo's medical retirement report has been officially submitted. I plan to let Song Yuanchao take over Lao Luo as the workshop director ."
"Let Xiao Song be the workshop director?" Principal Zhou handed the tea to Director Ma and sat down on the sofa beside him. "I remember that Xiao Song has only been working in the school-run factory for less than two months, right?"
"I let Xiao Song be the workshop director purely for work, and definitely not for your principal's sake." Director Ma seemed to have guessed what Principal Zhou was going to say, and lit a cigarette and said, "Although Xiao Song has been here for a short time, I feel that he is qualified for the position of workshop director after observing him. I, Ma, have been involved in revolutionary work for decades, and my judgment of people is never wrong. Xiao Song is smart, capable, educated, and motivated, and he is also a school worker. It is reasonable and logical for Lao Luo to retire and he is the most suitable candidate for workshop director."
"Old Ma, I heard that you became a mentor to the Korean War?" Principal Zhou asked with a smile.
"I say, Old Zhou, so what if I become his master? Master and apprentice are master and apprentice, work is work, and there is no reason to avoid relatives when promoting the talented. Besides, think about it, I have received revolutionary education for so many years. If I didn't think highly of Xiao Song, would I have accepted him as my apprentice?" When Principal Zhou said this, Director Ma immediately became unhappy.
Seeing that Director Ma was a little angry, Principal Zhou smiled and waved his hands: "Old Ma, how can I not know what kind of person you are even if others don't know? Of course I am happy that you think highly of Yuan Chao. After all, he is Old Song's son, and we are old colleagues of Old Song. As his elders, you and I are of course very happy that the children of old friends and colleagues have a promising future. But Old Ma, there are some things I have never told you before. Actually, this Yuan Chao... Hey!"
"What? Could it be that he has some political problems?" After Principal Zhou said this, Director Ma suddenly became alert. He and Song Yuanchao have been together for so many days, how come he didn't notice it?
"Problem? Of course not! Absolutely not!"
Seeing that Director Ma had misunderstood, Principal Zhou quickly waved his hands and then told Director Ma the truth about his conversation with Song Yuanchao.
After he finished speaking, Principal Zhou sighed and said, "It's a pity that Yuan Chao doesn't go to college. I didn't want him to go to the school-run factory. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to arrange for him to work in the school library? This way he can study well and take the college entrance examination this year. But he is determined to go to the school-run factory, and I can't stop him. But I still hope that this child can take the college entrance examination."
"There is such a thing?" It was the first time that Director Ma heard Principal Zhou mention this matter, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
But soon Director Ma laughed again: "I thought it was something else, isn't it just going to college? I think Xiao Song's idea is right. In fact, there is something I haven't told you. Guess what it is?"
"What's the matter?" Principal Zhou asked curiously.
While smoking a cigarette, Director Ma recounted with a little pride the conversation he had with Song Yuanchao on the first day he came to the school to run a factory. He especially mentioned that Director Ma gave Song Yuanchao two arrangements: the first was in the office, and the second was in the workshop.
Originally, Director Ma thought that Song Yuanchao would choose a position in the office, but to his surprise, Song Yuanchao chose the workshop instead, and his attitude was extremely firm.
This was one of the main reasons why Director Ma was moved to accept Song Yuanchao as his apprentice. In his opinion, although Song Yuanchao was young, he was a person who could do things in a down-to-earth manner. How could a leader not cherish such an outstanding young man? Moreover, he and Song Yuanchao had a relationship with Song Guangzeng, so Director Ma made an exception and accepted Song Yuanchao as his apprentice. You should know that Song Yuanchao was his only apprentice during all the years Director Ma had run the factory at the school.
"Xiao Song would rather work in the workshop than stay in the office. This alone shows his quality, so I accepted him as my apprentice." Director Ma said with a little pride. He took a puff of cigarette and exhaled the smoke, looking at Principal Zhou beside him and sighed, "Old Zhou, you and I are not young anymore. So many years have passed. Look, our hair has turned white."
"Old Luo is retiring due to illness, and someone must take over the position of workshop director. I think Xiao Song is the most suitable candidate right now. Besides, I may look fine on the outside, but I know best how I am in reality. The root of my illness will make me very sick if the weather changes. I will retire in one or two years. Who will take over this factory then? Should we let you, Old Zhou, take over? Or transfer someone who knows nothing from school? Don't we have to rely on a good seedling like Xiao Song to take over?"
In Director Ma's mind, Song Yuanchao has become his successor. This situation is not uncommon in many companies, especially small companies like school-run factories.
Song Yuanchao is capable and educated, and Director Ma is very satisfied with his work and his personality. As he said, why should such a good seedling only go to college? Besides, even if Song Yuanchao graduated from college, at best he would be assigned a slightly better job, and Director Ma directly said that he would let Song Yuanchao take over his job in the future. Isn't such a promise enough?
"Old Ma, this is probably just wishful thinking on your part." Although Principal Zhou admitted that what Director Ma said made sense, he still couldn't get rid of the idea of Song Yuanchao going to college, and he still wanted to make a final effort.
"If Yuan Chao can get into university, it will be the best help for his future. Although your idea of letting him take over your job is good, we can't be so selfish. We have to think about the future of our children!"
"What do you mean? Just because you are a little educated and become the principal, you look down on us?" Director Ma suddenly became angry and glared at Principal Zhou.
"You...I...I can't do that! We can't make such a hasty decision on this matter. I'm the principal! This is related to the child's future. You must listen to me!"
"Hey! You're the principal, and I'm the factory director! Are you being unreasonable? Are you trying to show off your power to me?"
The two guys, who were over a hundred years old in total, immediately started to confront each other like children. Looking at Director Ma's puffing out his beard and glaring at him, Principal Zhou finally experienced what it meant when a scholar was unable to explain himself when he met a soldier.
"Old Ma, can you please just talk reasonably? Why are you talking so much nonsense?" Director Ma slammed the table and stood up. Principal Zhou's momentum weakened a little, but he still insisted on his bottom line and refused to give in.
Neither of the two old guys could convince the other for a while. Director Ma lit up another cigarette angrily and took big puffs.
After taking a few puffs, Director Ma's eyes suddenly lit up, and he turned to Principal Zhou and said, "Okay, Old Zhou, I don't have the final say on this matter, and neither do you. To be frank, everyone is doing this for Xiao Song's good, so there's no need to make a fuss. In my opinion, since this matter is related to Xiao Song, why don't you ask for his personal opinion? You are the school leader, and you should pay attention to the way and method of doing things, but you should also listen to the opinions of the masses, right?"
"this……"
Principal Zhou was speechless. When did this old Ma learn this trick? These words really embarrassed him.
In fact, Principal Zhou knew that if he asked Song Yuanchao for his opinion, Director Ma would most likely succeed. But if he rejected Director Ma's proposal and acted on his own, then Director Ma would definitely not give in.
What's more, a forced melon is not sweet, and forcing a cow to drink water is counterproductive. Principal Zhou certainly understands this truth.
With a changing expression on his face, Principal Zhou nodded helplessly after a long while, and finally agreed to Director Ma's suggestion.
