r18novel Chapter 1180 Taking the Opportunity for Revenge
Chapter 1180 Taking the Opportunity for Revenge
Gu Nan knew perfectly well that this wasn't "learning" at all; it was clearly Zhu Tao trying to get rid of him so he could take advantage of the situation to cause trouble at the factory. But he remained outwardly calm, extending his hand to shake Zhu Tao's. The other man's hand was damp and warm, with a sticky sheen of sweat. "Don't worry, Director Zhu," Gu Nan said calmly, "Since it's the factory's arrangement, I will do my best to complete it and will not let you down. I'll be off now."
Zhu Tao smiled and nodded, watching Gu Nan get into the Jeep parked by the roadside. Only after the car disappeared into the morning light did his smile fade, a barely perceptible glint of calculation flashing in his eyes. Transferring Gu Nan away was the first step in his plan—while Gu Nan was away, he could take action against Gu Nan's people planted in various workshops, cutting off Gu Nan's power base. Then, who would be sitting in the deputy factory director's position was anyone's guess.
As Gu Nan got into the car, he glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Zhu Tao standing thoughtfully by the door. A cold smile crept onto his lips. He had already taken precautions; three trusted confidants were stationed in key positions in the dispatch room, quality control department, and warehouse. Zhu Tao's every move was always reported to him promptly. While there was risk involved, it was also an opportunity to see what Zhu Tao was really up to—who he had won over, what tricks he was planning. He could use this opportunity to find out. After all, there were still many things waiting for him to handle; being constantly schemed against like this wasn't in his nature.
Less than half an hour after Gu Nan left, Zhu Tao locked the office door with a click. He pulled out a small, worn-out leather notebook from the deepest part of the drawer. Opening it, he saw more than a dozen names written on it, each followed by a few lines of smaller writing, recording their grievances with Gu Nan—some had had their bonuses deducted by Gu Nan, others had been punished by him for violations, and each of them harbored resentment towards Gu Nan.
During this time, through the connections of Yi Zhonghai and He Yuzhu, he frequently interacted with these people. Yi Zhonghai had been in the factory for over thirty years and was familiar with the network of relationships among the veteran workers, always able to pinpoint those who were dissatisfied with Gu Nan; He Yuzhu, on the other hand, was able to befriend some of the troublemakers in the workshop—those who dared to cause trouble and were perfect pawns. Over time, they actually amassed a force targeting Gu Nan, just waiting for him to leave so they could launch an attack.
"Hmph, Gu Nan, let's see how you hide this time." Zhu Tao tapped the table with his fingertips, making a soft "tap-tap" sound, his eyes as sinister as if they were coated with poison. "When you come back, the weather in this steel mill will change." The sunlight outside the window grew brighter and brighter, shining through the glass onto the desk, but it couldn't penetrate the tangled undercurrents in the room, nor could it dispel the faintly floating smell of gunpowder.
The air conditioner in the steel mill office hummed, dispelling the afternoon heat, but it couldn't dispel the smugness on Zhu Tao's face. He sank into the large leather sofa, his fingers tapping lightly on the gleaming armrests, the rhythm slow yet carrying an undeniable air of authority. The blinds sliced sunlight into beams, casting dappled shadows on his slicked-back hair, making him appear even more like a commander-in-chief in command.
"The few of you standing here are all people I, Zhu Tao, trust." He finally spoke, his voice not loud, but like a stone thrown into calm water, instantly stirring ripples in the hearts of his subordinates. "That kid Gu Nan, relying on his skills, acts like a bull in the factory. It's long overdue for someone to teach him a lesson. Now, he's gone out of town for training and won't be back for three months—this is our chance. While he's away, we'll uproot his influence in the factory and make sure he has nowhere to stand when he returns!"
Standing at the end of the crowd, Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat. He was merely a fourth-level fitter; in terms of rank and real power, he wasn't qualified to participate in a conspiracy at the factory director's level. He had only managed to earn the title of "confidant" by serving Zhu Tao diligently for years, never hesitating to bring him tea or water. Hearing this, he quickly took half a step forward, slightly bowing, a fawning smile plastered on his face, adopting an attentive listening posture, afraid of missing a single word.
Zhu Tao's gaze slowly swept over everyone, finally settling on Yi Zhonghai with a hint of assessment. This old fellow had been in the factory for thirty years, climbing his way up from apprentice to fitter; no one had more seniority than him. Although he wasn't particularly skilled, he was like an old mouse, knowing every nook and cranny of the factory. He could tell you exactly which workshop had shady dealings, which foreman was at odds with whom, and so on.
“Master Yi,” Zhu Tao called out his name, his tapping ceasing, “you’ve been in the factory a long time and know everyone. Tell me, how can we give that kid Gu Nan a good beating? Let him know that the factory can keep running even without him.”
Yi Zhonghai's eyes lit up instantly. This was an opportunity for him to shine! He cleared his throat, deliberately lowered his voice, and pretended to be deep in thought: "Director Zhu is brilliant! Gu Nan will be gone for at least three months. We can take advantage of his absence to seize power from him. Replace the workshops and warehouses he manages, as well as the group leaders who are close to him, with our own people. When he comes back, hehe, he probably won't even be able to get into his office. What will he be able to do then? By then, the factory workers will be opportunistic. Who will still recognize him as 'Master Gu'?"
These words sounded satisfying, and several of his subordinates nodded in agreement. Zhu Tao, however, frowned, tapping his fingers heavily on the armrest: "Seize power? Of course I want to. But how?" His tone turned colder. "Gu Nan's influence in the factory runs deeper than you think—Old Wang from Workshop One and Sister Li from Workshop Three are both his apprentices, their skills are invaluable; the warehouse manager is his sworn brother, practically keeping the keys in his pocket; even the head of security got his son into school through Gu Nan's connections. What's the use of just shouting slogans? Will the workers agree to take action against them?"
Yi Zhonghai was speechless, his smile frozen like a sheet. He had been so focused on agreeing with Zhu Tao and showing his loyalty that he hadn't considered the specific steps. The warehouse keys were in the hands of Gu Nan's confidants, and the workshop schedule was a long-standing rule set by Gu Nan. Changing anything required a justification, otherwise, if the workers protested, he, the veteran fitter, would be the first to be pushed out to take the blame. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only lower his head sheepishly: "Director Zhu, the solution... I haven't thought it through yet."
Zhu Tao cursed them inwardly as "useless." No wonder these guys were getting beaten up by Gu Nan; they were all good at talking big, but when it came to real fighting, they were all clueless. He glanced at the others; some were picking at the calluses on their fingers, others were staring at the chimneys outside the window pretending to be stupid, and not one of them dared to say a word.
"Alright, everyone, you can all go now." Zhu Tao waved his hand, his tone full of impatience. "I still have things to take care of. If anyone can come up with a reliable solution, come directly to me. They'll definitely get their share of the rewards—an award for outstanding performance, a raise, no problem!"