novelraw Chapter 720: Promotion
Chapter 720: Promotion
The people in the hall grew restless. Damn it, they had basically slashed everything! Welfare benefits were issued once a week—such a pity! Moreover, if you didn’t work during the relocation, you wouldn’t get paid. No salary meant no food! But on second thought, it made sense. If everyone stopped working, why would they still be paid?
Before anyone had a chance to object, there were even more outrageous things afoot. The Niu Disciplinary Committee had already donated the "gifts" he received, so shouldn’t other people donate something too? Most certainly didn’t want to, something the Niu Disciplinary Committee had anticipated. So, he said, "Our group might not be particularly wealthy, but within Wu City, we definitely have the most grain stored at home. The relocation journey is perilous. After hearing the news, you all must have spent a fair amount of Virtual Coin on synthetic meat and giantized food, right? Some even used their connections to get their hands on plenty of sweet potatoes and corn. You see, even you understand the importance of grain... so, why not donate a bit of it? As for the value, let it be equivalent to the tribute gifts offered today. How about that?"
This was about donating supplies, not money. Ever since the relocation news was released, all kinds of food in the market had been snapped up, leading to daily rationing. However, the only food available for purchase was limited to a few types; items like sweet potatoes and corn were nowhere to be found for sale.
Now, the Niu Disciplinary Committee suggested donating grain. Luxurious grains were outrageously expensive, and donating pure natural grain... even if it was only a small amount, people were reluctant. No one had much stocked at home.
But if they were to donate ordinary food, like synthetic meat which cost only 8 Virtual Coin, donating an equivalent of 3,000 Virtual Coin worth would be a huge amount. Nobody actually had that much...
Therefore, this banquet was indeed a trap.
Many people began to cry poor, genuinely cry poor. The mere thought of donating so much made their hearts ache terribly.
Especially the head of the food processing factory. He used to be on the same level, but now that the Niu Disciplinary Committee was his superior, he certainly had to curry favor. Asking him to donate an equivalent value in grain all at once was as painful as losing a piece of his own flesh.
There were those of different minds, such as Old Wei, who immediately voiced his opposition. He was from Heavenly Mountain Salt Lake and had been assigned to the condiment refinement department. Jing Shu had exchanged Virtual Coin with him when she bought a helicopter.
"We in the condiment department only have condiments. Are we supposed to donate salt? Speaking of the Township Government’s relocation, they allocated so few resources for us to produce so much salt, and they still haven’t paid the balance... How about we write off that outstanding payment and call it our donation?"
Old Wei was the most adamant. His enterprise had been converted from private to public ownership, and the Township Government had long owed the salt lake Virtual Coin...
In short, the hall was in total chaos.
Even Jing Shu’s parents were considering what might be suitable to donate. However, Jing Shu, representing the Medicine Association, wasn’t included in this. They were considered a friendly department, and the Niu Disciplinary Committee couldn’t extend his authority over the Medicine Association. Besides, the Warm Ginger Pills Jing Shu had sent on behalf of the Medicine Association weren’t expensive to produce and violated no rules.
"Look, these items aren’t being donated to outsiders, but to our own department... But it seems like not everyone is too keen, hmm? How about we find a compromise? No matter what, we have to ensure that the employees in our food-related departments don’t starve, right?"
"Absolutely!"
Once they heard the Niu Disciplinary Committee propose a compromise, everyone asked what it was. As long as they didn’t have to donate their own grain, anything else was negotiable.
So, the Niu Disciplinary Committee continued, "The idea of donating grain was due to fears of accidents en route, and concerns that if something happened, our own department staff would go without food. Now, we won’t be donating grain. Instead, our five major departments and thirteen divisions, along with each factory, will go back and take stock of their own grain reserves. Any shortfalls must be covered by purchasing more using department funds. No matter what happens, you must ensure there is food for those under your charge. I am now assigning this task to the five major departments. Each major department must manage this from the top down, allocating resources accordingly. If problems arise later, you will have to cover the deficit yourselves."
Everyone quickly understood the Niu Disciplinary Committee’s meaning. During the relocation, any food problems would have to be resolved internally. Each department was responsible for ensuring its own employees had food and must not trouble the Township Government anymore. They would have to tighten their belts; superiors would manage subordinates. Regardless of whether departments shared amongst themselves, bought supplies elsewhere, or exchanged goods internally, these departments could not use public funds or cause further trouble for the Township Government.
Several departments, divisions, and factories all indicated it wouldn’t be a problem.
It had to be said, the Niu Disciplinary Committee was quite shrewd. If he hadn’t first proposed that everyone donate grain, but had instead given these instructions directly, everyone would likely have been unwilling. Why should they have to resolve this privately? Did these leaders also have to be responsible for their subordinates’ food? A single department could easily have over a thousand people. If the higher-ups didn’t allocate food, were these leaders supposed to use their private reserves to subsidize them?
But now, the Niu Disciplinary Committee had first mentioned donations—a demand so severe it felt like a descent into Hell, practically asking for their lives. So when he then said each department would be responsible for solving its own employees’ food problems, it was much more acceptable.
Whether it was the Ministry of Agriculture, the livestock farms, or food processing, each could squeeze a bit more from public accounts, use operational funds to buy substandard products, and then solicit some donations from everyone’s private reserves. In any case, this was still far better than them making large personal donations.
To put it bluntly, who working in the Food Department truly lacked grain? Everyone had some reserves, to varying extents.
Although this issue was somewhat troublesome, it was, at least, resolved. Many people quietly breathed a sigh of relief, unaware that the one who truly felt relieved was Minister Niu. He had first pacified internal dissent before addressing external concerns. Only by consolidating the Food Department into a tightly-knit unit could they prevent a collapse during the challenging relocation. "I know the Ministry of Agriculture currently has no minister. I believe Vice Minister Su Lanzi is very capable and can take on the role of Minister of Agriculture."
The Niu Disciplinary Committee announced the appointment on the spot. However, some objected, believing Su Lanzi lacked sufficient seniority.
The hall fell very quiet; everyone was watching the drama unfold.
After coughing a few times, the Niu Disciplinary Committee continued, "If we consider who among you, as minister, would be most capable of resolving unexpected issues during this relocation, I believe it is Comrade Su Lanzi."
"In this apocalypse, connections and backing are also forms of ability. Comrade Su Lanzi’s daughter has partnered with the Township Government to open an Insect Cake Factory. What this implies should be very clear to everyone, shouldn’t it? If food becomes scarce, who do you think gets priority for sales? What is seniority compared to that? Do any of you have such connections? Do you have a relative who runs a synthetic meat plant?"
"Does anyone else have any objections?"
"If not, the appointment is effective immediately."
Initially, some were disdainful, and others had long been eyeing the position of Minister of Agriculture. There were also opponents of the Niu Disciplinary Committee who had wanted to stir up trouble. But now, they had all fallen silent. When the others looked at Su Lanzi, their gazes were filled with eager anticipation.
Luo Dan’s body trembled slightly. She stared incredulously at Jing Shu once more. Su Lanzi’s daughter also started an Insect Cake Factory? Privately, so many people called that factory a money-printing machine... How is this possible? How could this mere chit of a girl possess so many identities?
Jing Shu smiled sheepishly. "Well, Aunt Luo, although I don’t have a father who could help me get a promotion, I can help my mom get one. That’s pretty good too, isn’t it?"