“Cai Chenggong can’t be found for the time being. Why don’t we let Zheng Xipo represent Dafeng Factory in talks with the city government? Xipo is the chairman of the labor union and can represent the broad masses of workers.”
Chen Yanshi said, he was completely unaware that this was a pit Li Dakang dug for him: if Cai Chenggong causes trouble in the future, just let him go to Chen Yanshi and Zheng Xipo.
Everyone heard this. Chen Yanshi, in Cai Chenggong’s absence, designated Zheng Xipo to represent the broad masses of workers of Dafeng Factory in negotiations with the city government.
Zheng Xipo was a little intimidated and wanted to decline, saying that it would be the right thing to wait for Chairman Cai Chenggong to come back before negotiating. But Chen Yanshi had already said so, Zheng Xipo couldn't disagree.
Li Dakang didn’t give Zheng Xipo a chance to refuse, he said: “Old Chen, you have high moral standing, you have the final say. Later, we will find a place to discuss employee relocation and demolition matters.”
Chen Yanshi then made a decision for Zheng Xipo: “Secretary Li, how about the Workers' Reading Room? It's bigger and will allow more worker representatives to participate, so we can hear everyone’s opinions.”
Li Dakang's strong and overbearing nature was known throughout Jingzhou and even Han Dong's officialdom. To prevent Li Dakang from abusing his power, it was necessary to arrange for more worker representatives.
If Li Dakang fairly and justly resolved the demolition issue of Dafeng Factory, it would be fine. But if he disregarded the interests of the broad masses of workers in Dafeng Factory, the worker representatives involved in the discussion would not agree.
This way, not only could the interests of the broad masses of workers in Dafeng Factory be guaranteed, Chen Yanshi wouldn’t need to personally confront Li Dakang. Even if he had to confront Li Dakang, Chen Yanshi wouldn’t be confident.
After all, Chen Yanshi had already retired and had no real power, he could only rely on his age and seniority. Li Dakang, on the other hand, was a powerful member of the Standing Committee of the Han Dong Provincial Committee and the Secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Committee.
Chen Yanshi was worried that his old face might not work with Li Dakang. If they really broke off relations and confronted each other, it was highly likely that Li Dakang would not give him face.
Chen Yanshi, known as “Stinky Stone” for his stubbornness, was not necessarily a fool. He was once the Deputy Mayor of Jingzhou and later the Deputy Chief Procurator of the Han Dong Procuratorate.
Li Dakang sneered in his heart, but he had an expression of joyful agreement: “You’re right, we should listen to the opinions of the workers widely. Let’s go to the Workers' Reading Room later and have more worker representatives participate in the discussion.”
Chen Yanshi was overly suspicious, but Li Dakang didn’t care. The more worker representatives there were, the better, so that Cai Chenggong, who had no power at all, would have no place to argue.
“Secretary Li, then let’s go to the Workers' Reading Room now. Xipo, you quickly select 20 worker representatives.” Chen Yanshi naturally issued commands, as if he was the highest authority present.
Zheng Xipo readily agreed: “Okay, I’ll go and arrange it right away.”
Li Dakang chuckled: “No hurry, this is my first time visiting Dafeng Factory for research, let me first take a look at the factory’s situation.”
First deal with the major safety hazards like gasoline and then talk about other things. These things left in Dafeng Factory are, after all, a hidden danger.
Not to mention Shanshui Group's forceful demolition, any careless worker could cause a huge disaster that could not be undone.
Chen Yanshi was suddenly a little embarrassed and changed his words with a wry smile: “Xipo, then first show Secretary Li around the factory.”
Zheng Xipo was very willing to give Chen Yanshi face, he said with a smile: “Sure, Old Chen, Secretary Li, please come this way.”
Li Dakang nodded and walked ahead. He didn’t let Chen Yanshi go first, and he didn’t even bother with a symbolic courtesy.
He couldn’t be polite to Chen Yanshi, who liked to rely on his age and seniority to make a scene. He couldn’t tell the difference between a king and a jack, and if Li Dakang was polite to him, he would take advantage of the situation and consider himself a king.
It wasn’t that Li Dakang cared about these superficial things. It’s because he had to establish his authority to make the decisions, in preparation for what he had to do next.
…
Accompanied by Chen Yanshi, Zheng Xipo and others, Li Dakang inspected Dafeng Factory while looking for the oil depot. After walking for more than ten minutes, he finally found his target.
Li Dakang stopped and asked: “Comrade Xipo, what kind of oil is stored in this oil depot, how much oil is there?”
Zheng Xipo dared not lie, and answered truthfully: “Secretary Li, this is our factory’s transport team’s regular gasoline depot. The 20-ton oil tank is full.”
Li Dakang’s face immediately turned ugly: “How many transport vehicles do you have in your factory that you need a 20-ton regular gasoline depot? And it’s full?”
Zheng Xipo was so nervous that he broke out in a cold sweat. He stammered: “Secretary Li… we don’t have many transport vehicles, only… only seven.”
Li Dakang immediately questioned: “Hmm? Are your seven transport vehicles gas guzzlers that need a 20-ton regular gasoline depot? And it’s full?”
Zheng Xipo was even more nervous. He opened his mouth but couldn't speak. He wanted to explain, but didn't know how to explain.
Chen Yanshi sighed inwardly at Zheng Xipo’s incompetence. He helped explain: “Secretary Li, Shanshui Group is too domineering. They colluded with the court and swallowed up our Dafeng Factory's equity. They want to forcefully demolish it, our workers have no way, we can only organize a self-defense team to protect the factory.”
Li Dakang said in a deep voice: “Old Chen, the workers of Dafeng Factory should defend their own rights, but they must go through proper channels. Using a 20-ton gasoline depot for self-defense, is it self-defense or suicide?”
Such an impolite question made Chen Yanshi’s face turn ugly. He also answered very impolitely: “The Dafeng Factory workers’ life savings, their hopes for life, are all in these equities. They were judged away by the damn vice president Chen Qingquan. Do you think they wouldn't fight for their lives? Nobody pays attention to them when they go through proper channels! I wrote you a letter of accusation, but you didn’t pay attention to me either!”
Li Dakang said seriously: “Old Chen, I didn’t receive your letter of accusation.”
Chen Yanshi said angrily: “Then you’ve become alienated from the masses, you’ve been sidelined by your subordinates.”
Li Dakang smiled: “Old Chen, I’m here today to get in touch with the masses and solve problems. However, before that, we must resolve the safety hazards of Dafeng Factory.”
As he spoke, Li Dakang looked up into the distance. Several cars came speeding towards him, the first was the fire department, followed by the safety supervision department. With the city party secretary here, neither department dared to be negligent.
When these cars arrived, the people on them got off, and Li Dakang immediately began to reprimand: “How are you doing your jobs? Gasoline barrels casually piled on the side of the road, and this 20-ton gasoline depot, do you know? Immediately contact the Petrochemical company and ask them to send a tanker to take all the gasoline away from here!”
Chen Yanshi immediately stopped him: “Secretary Li, the gasoline cannot be taken away until the problem is solved!”
Only gasoline can prevent Shanshui Group from forcefully demolishing the factory. Without gasoline, what will the workers of Dafeng Factory use to fight the bulldozers?
Chen Yanshi believed that this was Li Dakang’s conspiracy, first to deprive the workers of their weapons of resistance, then to order the forceful demolition of Dafeng Factory.
“Old Chen, safety comes first, life is more important than anything else! Gasoline is no joke, if something happens, can you take responsibility? Don’t take the lives of the workers lightly! It’s important to defend your rights, but life is more important!”
“Old Chen, this isn’t wartime anymore, this is a peaceful era! You’ve been an old cadre for so many years, you should know the ways and methods of working with the masses. Don’t encourage people to fight for their lives at every turn!
Li Dakang said seriously, his words were very heavy, not because he had any prejudice against Chen Yanshi. It’s because if he didn’t suppress Chen Yanshi’s arrogance, it would be difficult to work on the Dafeng Factory issue.
To be fair, Chen Yanshi wasn't bad, he just liked to rely on his age and seniority to show off, and he was a little arrogant because of his age. He meant well, but he often did more harm than good.
After being reprimanded by Li Dakang unceremoniously, Chen Yanshi became annoyed and angry: “Shanshui Group colluded with corrupt officials like Ding Yizhen and Chen Qingquan to take what wasn’t theirs, it’s because your Jingzhou Municipal Government is incompetent that the workers are forced to fight for their lives!”
“At this moment, I’m doing something. First, we must resolve the safety hazards and protect the lives and property of the broad masses of workers. Then, we will coordinate the equity dispute between Dafeng Factory and Shanshui Group!” Li Dakang’s tone was calm, but his attitude was very firm.
Looking at Chen Yanshi, whose face was turning pale and then red, Li Dakang couldn’t be bothered to pay any more attention to him. He turned to the heads of the fire and safety supervision departments and gave instructions: “Conduct a thorough inspection of Dafeng Factory, eliminate all safety hazards, act immediately!”
He gave Chen Yanshi face and called him Old Chen. If he didn’t give him face, he was nothing. He relied on his seniority to point fingers at everything. It’s fine for other things, but here in Dafeng Factory, Li Dakang wouldn’t tolerate Chen Yanshi’s incompetence!
…