Chapter 691 Convincing Director Song
At this point, Wang Jianguo's eyes softened, as if he had returned to those hard but fulfilling days:
"Young people are naturally impatient. Cheng Erhua is sometimes impatient and always wants to solve problems immediately when they arise."
"Liu Erzhu is honest and simple, and sometimes he gets fooled by others. But they are all good kids with honest hearts, willing to endure hardships and love to learn."
"The last time the equipment in the brick factory broke down, they worked with me for three full days and nights to study it, reading the blueprints over and over again."
"Finally, I managed to solve the problem. In time, you will definitely be no worse than me."
Director Song took off his reading glasses, carefully wiped the lenses with the corner of his clothes, and fell into deep thought.
The cicadas outside the window chirped one after another, and the sunlight shone through the mottled leaves, casting tiny shadows on the ground.
After a long while, he sighed, with a hint of helplessness and expectation in his voice:
"I heard Shu Zhuo and Cheng Hai mention them when they were reporting on their work. They said they were all smart and capable young people. Especially Cheng Erhua, who has many ideas and a quick mind."
"Although Liu Erzhu doesn't talk much, he is steady in his work. These two children are indeed good seedlings."
He put down his glasses, stared straight at Wang Jianguo, and said earnestly:
"But Jianguo, do you know why I keep recommending you? You've pulled so many all-nighters from selecting the site, purchasing goods, to running this supply and marketing cooperative."
"From the groundbreaking of the brick factory and kiln factory to the successful firing of the first kiln of bricks, everyone has seen how much hardship and fatigue you have endured. Your contribution at work is the greatest."
Director Song stood up, walked to Wang Jianguo, and patted him on the shoulder:
"You are capable and responsible, and more importantly, you have a spirit of not admitting defeat. If you don't think about yourself, you have to think about the workers who follow you."
"You don't have a position of any kind. If you encounter injustice in the future, how will you seek justice for yourself and for everyone else?"
Wang Jianguo felt a warm feeling in his heart as he listened to Director Song's words. He looked at the wrinkles at the old man's eyes and the white hair at his temples, and his throat tightened a little:
"Director, I understand your painstaking efforts. But now is not the right time. Cheng Erhua and Liu Erzhu need opportunities to train, and I will help them in secret."
"When they grow up, we will be even more powerful. Don't worry, I won't let you and everyone down."
The office fell into a brief silence, with only the ticking of the clock and the chirping of cicadas outside the window.
Director Song stared at Wang Jianguo's determined eyes, and finally nodded slowly, his eyes full of relief and expectation.
The dusk slanted in through the mottled glass windows of the supply and marketing cooperative, cutting a boundary between light and dark on the long wooden table between Wang Jianguo and Director Song.
Director Song's fingers unconsciously stroked the rim of the enamel cup, the mouth of which had long been worn rough by the years. The dense aroma of tea lingered between the two of them, but could not dispel the stagnant atmosphere in the room.
"Jianguo, this brick factory is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Director Song put the teacup down heavily, and the bottom of the cup made a dull sound when it hit the table.
"As long as you can take over the position of factory director and firmly control the channels of the supply and marketing cooperative, it will be easy to catch that old fox, right?"
The veins on his neck were slightly bulging, and the eyes behind the lenses were filled with anxiety and disappointment.
Wang Jianguo lowered his eyes and looked at his clasped hands, his knuckles turning white from excessive force. The crisp sound of a bicycle bell came from outside the window, but it could not break the heaviness of the moment.
After a long while, he raised his head and his Adam's apple rolled with difficulty:
"Director Song, you have been running around for me these days. I know it better than anyone else. I saw you waiting at the gate of the town government for three hours that day just to see the leader in charge..."
His voice gradually choked up, and he reached out to hold Director Song's trembling hand.
"I, Wang Jianguo, will remember this friendship for the rest of my life."
Director Song opened his mouth and was about to speak, but Wang Jianguo raised his hand to stop him.
The young man stood up and walked slowly to the window. The setting sun stretched his shadow so long that it almost touched the faded slogan "Serve the People" on the wall.
"But think about it, who has been operating in the territory of the Forty-Nine City for twenty years?"
He turned around suddenly, with a complicated light flashing in his eyes.
"As the saying goes, a big tree has deep roots. The water behind these things is very deep."
Director Song stood up suddenly, and the wooden chair made a harsh sound on the concrete floor:
"So we must seize the opportunity! We have evidence that he illegally approved the land. As long as you become the head of the brick factory..."
"It is precisely because I have evidence that I cannot come forward!"
Wang Jianguo raised his voice and then quickly lowered it.
"Don't forget, the reporter was falsely accused of theft just after the letter of complaint was sent out last month."
"Now everyone in the town is eyeing these two positions. Once I get involved, all the clues will be cut off, and the evidence we have painstakingly collected will become a death warrant."
Dusk completely enveloped the room. Director Song fumbled to turn on the desk lamp. In the warm yellow light, he saw the white hair that had grown on the young man's temples.
My memory suddenly flashed back to twenty years ago, when the young man who had just graduated from an agricultural university and settled down in the countryside had the same stubborn and determined look.
"So what do you say we should do?"
Director Song sat down dejectedly, his voice full of fatigue.
The rain outside the window hit the glass, turning the warm light inside the house into blurry spots.
Wang Jianguo stood up and walked to the wall covered with the town map, and his fingertips slowly slid along the winding streets.
With emphasis on several key locations such as the supply and marketing cooperative, brick factory, and health center, it seems as if a secret blueprint is being outlined.
"Director Song, please look at this map."
He took down the laser pointer from the wall, and a red dot of light jumped on the building icons in the center of the town.
"The supply and marketing cooperative controls the circulation of materials throughout the town, and the brick factory is the financial pillar, but our game is much more than that."
As he spoke, spots of light fell on the locations of the town clinic, the state-owned restaurant and the time-honored clothing store.
"The clinic is related to the health of thousands of households, and has a say in drug procurement and equipment introduction."
"State-owned restaurants are the resting place for traveling merchants. How many secrets are hidden in the kitchen account books and food supply channels?"
“There are also clothing stores, which may seem ordinary, but are actually an important link to the county commercial bureau.”
Director Song was holding a teacup suspended in mid-air, his eyes full of surprise and thought.
When Wang Jianguo turned around, his eyes behind the lenses seemed to be quenched with fire.
"Do you still remember that Director Li of the Health Center was suddenly transferred last year? Who is standing behind the newly appointed Doctor Zhang?"
"There is also Chef Wang from the state-owned restaurant. His daughter suddenly went to the provincial capital to study. Where did the tuition come from? These seemingly unrelated personnel changes are actually undercurrents."
He walked to the table and opened a yellowed notebook, which was densely filled with records of the relationship network among personnel in various departments in the town.