Chapter 172: The Factory Showdown

Li Rui gripped the steering wheel and glanced at Xu Zhiquan in the passenger seat.

Xu Zhiquan whispered, “Just keep driving straight.”

Li Rui nodded, and the car slowly moved toward the gate.

In the back seat, Yang Congxin peered ahead and adjusted his black-framed glasses.

“What does this mean? Why are there so many security guards blocking the gate?”

Clearly, Director Yang was unaware of some developments.

The discussions from a few days ago involving Xu Zhiquan, Xu Chen, and Fang Jun hadn’t been shared with Yang Congxin yet.

Xu Chen spoke up:

“Director Yang, do you recognize anyone in that group of guards?”

Yang Congxin looked over and replied:

“They’re all young faces…

The guards at Bright Factory are usually older, many of them veteran workers with ten to twenty years on the job.

These past couple of years, the factory’s been struggling financially, so there’s no budget to hire young guards—especially with the old ones still on payroll…”

He tilted his head for a better look:

“That guy in the middle, I know him. He’s Chen Xiong, the security captain and a long-time factory worker.”

As they spoke, the security captain Chen Xiong stepped forward, raised his arm to signal them to stop.

Li Rui glanced at Xu Zhiquan before hitting the brakes.

Once the car stopped, Yang Congxin adjusted his glasses again and eyed the dozen or so tall, burly young guards at the gate:

“President Xu, this is obviously an attempt to block us and cause trouble.

I suggest we don’t get out—just turn around and go back to figure out a plan first.”

He thought for a moment:

“It’s got to be that bastard Jin Guiyuan pulling strings behind the scenes!”

Xu Zhiquan smiled and said:

“Don’t worry, Director Yang, we expected all this.”

With that, he opened the door and stepped out.

Yang Congxin wanted to say more but it was too late, so he got out too.

Xu Zhiquan ignored the security captain in front and looked back instead.

The Buick behind them had stopped, and Fang Jun and Secretary Qu got out.

Xu Chen and Li Rui joined Xu Zhiquan, standing by his side.

The captain who had signaled them, Chen Xiong, scowled and said:

“This is the state-run Bright Factory—unauthorized personnel aren’t allowed in!”

Xu Zhiquan stayed calm, just glancing toward the gate.

At the same time, Secretary Qu and Fang Jun walked over.

They looked up and saw a red welcome banner on the Bright Factory gate, but two black-clad guards were taking it down.

The banner read something like ‘Welcome President Xu from East Morning Star Co….’

Clearly, removing it right in front of Xu Zhiquan was part of Chen Xiong’s plan.

Secretary Qu sensed something was off and turned to Xu Zhiquan.

Xu Zhiquan acted unfazed, pulling out a cigarette and handing it to Secretary Qu, then lighting it for him.

“Thanks, President Xu.”

Seeing Xu Zhiquan’s composure, Secretary Qu said nothing more and decided to wait and see.

Still, for someone at Bright Factory to pull this so boldly was pretty audacious…

Yang Congxin stepped forward and addressed Chen Xiong:

“What are you doing, Chen Xiong?

This is President Xu from East Morning Star Co.—he’s here to take over Bright Factory!”

Chen Xiong sized up Xu Zhiquan and sneered:

“I haven’t gotten any notice!

I was on leave the past few days and just started back today!

Besides, I don’t know any President Xu, Li, or Wang…

I’m just a lowly guard at Bright Factory—I only recognize the factory’s leaders.”

He turned to Yang Congxin:

“Aren’t you already resigned, Director Yang?

So you can’t enter the factory now either!”

“You…”

Chen Xiong glanced sideways and spotted Fang Jun standing behind:

“Fang Jun, you’re actually showing your face here again!

Bright Factory’s in this mess partly because of you!”

Fang Jun remained expressionless, his usual cool demeanor, as if he hadn’t heard a word.

Chen Xiong snorted and turned away, seemingly done talking.

The dozen or so young black-clad guards formed a line, blocking the gate, all looking menacing.

A tall, burly young guard approached Chen Xiong, handed him a cigarette, and lit it.

Secretary Qu eyed the situation and said:

“President Xu, do you need me to…”

Xu Zhiquan waved him off:

“No need to bother you with this minor issue, Secretary Qu.”

He stepped forward and said:

“You’re Captain Chen, right?

We’re here to take over Bright Factory. What do we need to do to get in?”

Chen Xiong, cigarette in mouth, looked Xu Zhiquan up and down:

“Like I said, I haven’t gotten any notice, and I don’t know you.

To get in, you need a signed entry pass from the factory director…”

Xu Zhiquan smiled and asked:

“Perfect.

I have one signed by the old secretary and former director Ji Yusheng.”

He pulled a rectangular slip from his pocket and handed it over.

It had Ji Yusheng’s personal signature and the factory’s red stamp.

This was prepared in advance with Ji Yusheng’s help.

Chen Xiong paused, took the slip, and examined it closely.

“Sorry, but Ji Yusheng’s signature doesn’t count anymore.

He’s not the director now…”

Xu Zhiquan let out a cold laugh, as if he’d expected it, but asked anyway:

“So whose signature do I need?”

Chen Xiong crumpled the slip and tossed it on the ground:

“The factory’s run by Director Jin now—I only accept his signature!”

Xu Zhiquan said ‘Oh’ and nodded slightly.

This question was deliberately for Secretary Qu’s benefit, to make clear who was behind the mischief.

Secretary Qu, standing nearby, couldn’t stand it anymore and said to Chen Xiong:

“Director Jin—meaning Jin Guiyuan, right?

I’ll give him a call…”

Chen Xiong, cigarette in his mouth, sized up Secretary Qu, clearly not knowing who he was, and smirked:

“Go ahead!

But they’re having a meeting at the factory—Director Jin’s probably busy and won’t pick up.”

Yang Congxin added:

“Do you even know what meeting it is? It’s to welcome President Xu and East Morning Star Co.!”

Chen Xiong: “I really don’t know. I’m just a guard—my job is to watch the gate.

Without the director’s signed pass, no one gets in!”

Secretary Qu frowned, clearly getting frustrated.

He turned to Xu Zhiquan and murmured:

“I’ll call Jin Guiyuan and have him come out…”

He pulled out his phone and dialed.

After a dozen rings, Secretary Qu’s face darkened.

Chen Xiong chuckled coldly, cigarette still in his mouth, and walked back to the guards.

Secretary Qu hung up and muttered:

“This is too much…”

He paused, then added quietly:

“Not answering means it’s deliberate…”

Xu Zhiquan and Xu Chen exchanged a look, sharing a complex glance.

Their initial goal was mostly achieved.

At least Secretary Qu had seen the deliberate obstacles and knew who was pulling the strings.

Secretary Qu thought for a moment and turned to Xu Zhiquan:

“President Xu…

I’ll call the city office to sort this out first.

I never expected Bright Factory to pull something like this.

All the previous communications, documents, and contracts went so smoothly…

I’ll report everything to Vice Mayor Wu. This needs investigating.

After all, your visit to take over the factory was arranged by the city, and they notified Bright Factory in advance.

If it’s not intentional, it’s a major oversight on their part.

If it is intentional, we have to look into the motives…”

Xu Zhiquan smiled and replied:

“With your assurance, Secretary Qu, I’m at ease!

But let’s not trouble you yet—we don’t want to bother the leaders or the city office.

We’ll handle the small stuff ourselves if we can.

We anticipated this today and can manage it.

I just wanted you to see the real situation.

I think Vice Mayor Wu should know about it too.

Besides today’s issues, it might affect future renovations at Bright Factory and the new Chenfeng Technology plant…”

Secretary Qu: “Don’t worry, President Xu, I’ll handle it. I’ll report back to Vice Mayor Wu.

The city will follow up more closely on the factory’s transition…”

Xu Zhiquan: “Thanks, Secretary Qu.

Let’s head in now…”

Secretary Qu hesitated:

“President Xu, they’re clearly not letting us in! I should call the city first!”

Yang Congxin adjusted his glasses and suddenly said:

“Or we could go through the side entrance—I’ll show you the way!”

Xu Zhiquan waved him off and said firmly:

“We’re here to take over the mechanical factory openly, so we’ll walk right through the front gate!”

With that, he put a cigarette in his mouth and strode toward the Bright Factory gate.

Chen Xiong blocked the entrance and growled:

“Didn’t you hear me?!

No entry pass, no one gets in!”

Xu Zhiquan acted as if he hadn’t heard, walking steadily forward at his own pace.

Secretary Qu frowned, watching Xu Zhiquan’s back with confusion.

Yang Congxin grew anxious, worried about a clash with the guards.

Xu Chen glanced at Yang Congxin and said quietly:

“It’s fine.”

…

Seeing Xu Zhiquan keep coming, Chen Xiong’s face twisted with anger.

He threw his cigarette butt on the ground and ordered the guards:

“Stop him!”

In an instant, the dozen burly black-clad guards surged toward Xu Zhiquan, looking aggressive.

The tension spiked.

Xu Zhiquan, cigarette in mouth and hands behind his back, walked on without breaking stride.

Chen Xiong narrowed his eyes, a hint of malice showing.

But in the next moment, his eyes widened in shock.

Instead of blocking Xu Zhiquan, the guards parted, forming a path and escorting him inside.

“…”

Secretary Qu paused, realizing what was happening, and shook his head with a smile.

Yang Congxin stared in disbelief, completely baffled.

How had those guards gone from blocking to escorting Xu Zhiquan?

Fang Jun, still expressionless, said to Secretary Qu:

“Secretary Qu, let’s go in together!”

“Good!”

…

Chen Xiong suddenly shouted:

“Zhao Feng! What the hell are you doing?!”

The tall, burly guard who’d given Chen Xiong the cigarette turned—it was the young man Zhao Feng.

He said quietly:

“Chen, let me introduce you since you don’t know.

This is our President Xu, the new director of Bright Factory!”

He glanced at Xu Chen approaching and added with a grin:

“And that’s our Chen Ge…”

This burly, tough-looking young guard was Zhao Feng.

There are many Zhao Fengs out there.

But Xu Chen knew only one.

He was one of Bing Ge’s brothers, the one who first called Xu Chen ‘sister-in-law’…

As Xu Chen walked over, the young black-clad guards all murmured, “Chen Ge.”

Yes…

These new guards at Bright Factory were all arranged by Xu Chen, with Zhao Feng leading them.

The mechanical factory’s security department had urgently recruited new guards last week.

Chen Xiong got the budget from the department head and took on the task.

Chen Xiong wasn’t foolish; he figured out there was something shady behind it.

Once he took the job, he knew he couldn’t stay at Bright Factory.

But they gave him money upfront and promised to set him up at another factory with a raise.

Chen Xiong agreed and started hiring young guards who were big, intimidating, and fierce.

In such a short time, finding the right people wasn’t easy…

Luckily for Chen Xiong, he quickly found perfect candidates.

They were a group of rough street kids fresh off the streets—tough and menacing, not to be messed with.

They didn’t ask for much pay and jumped at the chance for a legitimate guard job at the factory.

And Chen Xiong skimmed some extra from the recruitment budget.

What he didn’t know was that this was all Xu Chen’s setup…

Since Jin Guiyuan was hiring guards, they decided to send him some.

Whatever Jin Guiyuan planned with these guards, if they were on East Morning Star’s side, the problem was solved.

It was about playing to his weaknesses and striking at the core.

Pull the rug out from under him, hide in plain sight…

…

Chen Xiong’s face darkened as he realized what had happened.

Facing the guards he’d hired—who were now against him—he didn’t dare approach and even stepped back.

Zhao Feng glanced at him, his fierce eyes seeming to ask:

“Surprised? Shocked?”

…

In a flash, Xu Zhiquan, surrounded by the black-clad guards, stepped through the Bright Factory gate.

At the same time, the red banner that had been taken down was hoisted back up by a couple of the guards:

“Warmly Welcome President Xu from East Morning Star Co. to Take Over Bright Mechanical Factory!”

Suddenly, applause erupted from behind Xu Zhiquan.

He turned to see Secretary Qu, Fang Jun, Yang Congxin, and Li Rui clapping.

Of course, his son Xu Chen was there too…

Secretary Qu said with a smile:

“Congratulations, President Xu, on officially taking over Bright Factory!”

Xu Zhiquan stood inside the gates of Bright Mechanical Factory and laughed heartily.