Chapter 184: Rise of a New Factory

These past few days, Xu Zhiquan has been heading to the city for meetings almost nonstop, with Fang Jun joining him each time.

Xu Zhiquan found that bringing Fang Jun along made these trips oddly effective, smoothing out conversations and getting results with half the effort.

Right now, they’re pushing forward the city’s support plan for Chenfeng Technology, including bringing in production lines and handling financing.

Xu Zhiquan’s main reason for these trips is to report on the plans and update progress, securing real backing from the city.

The city’s ‘Future Industries Private Enterprise Targeted Support Plan’ has officially launched, and the City TV Station featured it in their evening news.

East Morning Star Co. and Chenfeng Technology are key beneficiaries, so Chairman Xu Zhiquan dressed sharply for an interview with the TV station.

In the interview, he mostly expressed gratitude for the city’s policies, with a side of commitment to building and giving back to Tiancheng.

Back at the factory grounds, Yang Congxin and Xu Zhilin coordinated things, pulling some workers from the seedling project to return to the plant.

This mainly involves renovating the old factory buildings, repairing and selling off outdated equipment, and getting everything started.

Yang Congxin is swamped but thriving on the challenge, full of energy and enjoying every moment.

Some of the mechanical factory’s old equipment is tough to sell, especially lathes and drilling machines—many from the 1970s or 1980s.

When Bright Factory was built, a lot of those machines came in as secondhand gear.

Surprisingly, Boss Huang Furen stepped in to help.

He connected them with out-of-town secondhand equipment buyers, who took the factory’s surplus machinery in batches.

Huang Furen offered his help as a way to apologize to Xu Zhiquan.

Behind it all, he sees Xu Zhiquan thriving—taking over Bright Factory and gaining more influence in the city—so he wants to keep ties strong.

Xu Zhiquan knows this but doesn’t call him out; he just thanks Huang for clearing out the equipment and keeps things neutral otherwise.

If Huang can solve business issues, might as well use that for now.

Still, it’s hard to fully trust him, and more business dealings are off the table.

Funds from selling off that old equipment, plus some bank loans, have started flowing into the company’s accounts.

Xu Chen happened to be at the factory that day, and Xu Zhiquan pulled him into the financial room.

On Fang Jun’s computer, father and son checked the account, counting the zeros.

Then Xu Zhiquan took a drag from his cigarette and said with a touch of emotion:

“I’ve never seen this much money in my life, Old Xu here, but it’s all about to get transferred out…”

Xu Chen smiled:

“We’re moving it now to earn it back tenfold, even more!”

Xu Zhiquan laughed heartily, wrapping an arm around his son’s shoulders, clearly thrilled.

The old secretary, Ji Yusheng, has officially retired.

He’s shouldering some nominal blame for Bright Factory’s bankruptcy, but it hasn’t affected his daily life much.

Xu Zhiquan gathered dozens of veteran workers to throw a farewell party for Ji Yusheng.

The old secretary was overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming as he cried it out.

Beyond Ji Yusheng, the rest of Bright Factory’s leadership didn’t fare well.

The two deputy directors are already in jail, and Jin Guiyuan went in just days ago…

Chief engineer Zhao Jihong has moved on; with Xu Zhiquan’s introduction, he’s now heading tech at a local private factory.

Union Chairman Zhang Minen is still around the factory, but he’s getting up there in age and likely retiring next year.

Xu Zhiquan kept Zhang Minen on as union chair to organize worker events and handle promotions.

At the end of Ji Yusheng’s farewell, the old secretary pulled a large brass key from his pocket and handed it to Xu Zhiquan:

“This is from sixteen years ago, when I became factory director at Bright Factory—the first director gave it to me.”

“They said it was the original key for the factory gate when it was built…”

“That lock’s long gone, but the old director kept this key, and now it’s yours.”

“Xu, I’m passing it to you!”

Xu Zhiquan accepted it with a serious expression, bowing slightly as he took the key with both hands.

Ji Yusheng’s retirement and this key handover symbolize the end of Bright Factory’s twenty-three-year history…

Now, Xu Zhiquan and Chenfeng Technology are the official new owners of this land, in name and reality.

The next day.

The iron letters spelling ‘Bright Mechanical Factory’ were removed from above the factory gate.

They were replaced with shiny new ones reading ‘Chenfeng Technology Park’.

On the gate’s side, the signs for ‘East Morning Star Co., Ltd.’ and ‘Chenfeng Technology Co., Ltd.’ were redone in sleek metal finishes.

As evening fell, a black Accord drove out of the park but suddenly stopped at the gate.

Xu Zhiquan and Xu Chen got out, turning back to look at the signs.

Xu Zhiquan stared thoughtfully and said:

“We’ve been so busy lately, we didn’t even have a proper opening ceremony!”

“We should make up for that…”

He thought for a moment, then turned to Li Rui:

“Li Rui, grab some fireworks, red cloth, and decorations—let’s celebrate today!”

He added:

“Oh, and pick up some food too! We’re eating here!”

Li Rui nodded and hopped back in the car to head out.

Xu Chen stepped up beside his father, both gazing at the new signs on the gate.

Xu Zhiquan lit a cigarette and said with a sigh:

“Just over half a year ago, we were regretting losing the mechanical factory’s orders.”

“And now, we’re the ones in charge…”

Xu Chen replied: “Dad, it’s not the mechanical factory anymore—it’s Chenfeng Technology Park now!”

Xu Zhiquan laughed warmly, putting his arm around his son’s shoulders.

“Right! Chenfeng Technology…”

“Xu Chen’s Chen!”

A white Audi A3 pulled out from the park and stopped at the gate.

The window rolled down, revealing Fang Jun.

She glanced at the Xu father and son, then back at the fresh signs, and asked:

“Are we getting ready to drink?”

Xu Zhiquan: “?”

Xu Chen: “…”

Xu Zhiquan chuckled:

“Drinks it is!”

Xu Chen: “…”

Fang Jun rolled up the window, turned the car around, and drove back into the park.

She parked, got out with a straight face, and didn’t even grab her bag—clearly set on getting tipsy.

Xu Chen remembered how she turned chatty after drinking and flashed a polite smile, subtly stepping back.

Soon, the black Accord returned, Li Rui stepping out with a cigarette in his mouth, grinning.

He popped the trunk and pulled out strings of fireworks, plus red flowers and fabrics.

A couple of guys from the gatehouse joined in, and they all started hanging the decorations on the signs and gate.

Xu Zhiquan and Xu Chen pitched in, lending a hand.

Fang Jun stood a few steps away, arms crossed, directing with a blank expression:

“It’s crooked—shift it left!”

“Those big flowers aren’t even—tug the right one’s petals!”

“The red fabric’s covering the letters—Xu, lift it up!”

“What’s going on here?”

Yang Congxin had just walked out and spotted the group at work.

He chuckled and jumped in to help.

Xu Zhiquan glanced at him:

“Yang, didn’t I give you that Skyline to drive?”

“Why are you still walking to work?”

That Nissan Skyline was Jin Guiyuan’s old ride; after he left, it sat idle.

With Yang Congxin now leading tech at the factory, Xu Zhiquan assigned it to him.

Yang Congxin looked a bit embarrassed:

“Xu, I live in the staff dorms nearby—it’s less than 500 meters. Why drive for that?”

“Better to keep it here for client meetings…”

“I prefer walking; it’s good exercise.”

Xu Zhiquan smiled and offered him a cigarette:

“Old Yang…”

“Once our electric vehicles start selling, I’ll give you bonuses and a raise!”

Yang Congxin grinned: “I’m holding you to that, Xu!”

Everyone stepped back a bit, looking up at the ‘Chenfeng Technology Park’ sign.

With the red flowers and fabrics in place, it gave off a festive vibe.

Xu Zhiquan laughed heartily:

“Li Rui, light the fireworks!”

Li Rui nodded, using a lit cigarette to spark the strings hanging at the gate…

Crackling explosions filled the air, red confetti flying everywhere.

In high spirits, Xu Zhiquan fetched two packs of Soft Zhonghua from the car and started handing them out.

He was so excited he even gave one to Xu Chen and Fang Jun.

Xu Chen looked resigned and passed his to Li Rui.

Li Rui smiled: “Thanks, Xu Chen.”

Then he tucked it behind his ear.

Fang Jun examined hers for a moment before slipping it into her left chest pocket, expression unchanged.

A three-wheeler pulled up from behind.

“Boss, where do you want these groceries?”

They turned to see a vendor loaded with fresh produce.

Xu Zhiquan pointed to a flat patch inside the park:

“Just set it up on that open ground!”

“You got it!”

The vendor drove in with the cart.

Xu Zhiquan chuckled:

“Where’s Zhao Feng?! They’re all staying in the factory, right? Get them out for dinner!”

Li Rui replied: “I’ll call him.”

On a spacious, breezy patch of ground, piles of food were laid out.

Xu Zhiquan sat right down with a big smile, pulling Xu Chen beside him.

Fang Jun and Yang Congxin, used to his easygoing style, sat cross-legged without a fuss.

Zhao Feng and his crew arrived, laughing and joining in.

Xu Zhiquan, cigarette in mouth, said:

“Everyone sit—dig in while it’s hot!”

Fang Jun, still straight-faced, muttered quietly:

“Weren’t we supposed to drink?”

Xu Zhiquan burst out laughing:

“Li Rui, check the trunk…”

“I think there are a few bottles of Yanghe—bring them all!”

The sun dipped low.

Cool evening winds carried laughter and chatter.

Amid the fun and noise, Xu Zhiquan grabbed a bottle of liquor, insisting everyone take a shot.

Yang Congxin, not much of a drinker, was already slurring his words.

Fang Jun sipped slowly from her glass, holding back more than before.

Zhao Feng and the others poured small amounts but kept it light, knowing they had night shifts.

Yang Congxin adjusted his black-framed glasses and said with a thick tongue:

“Xu, I’ve always wondered something…”

Xu Zhiquan turned to him:

“Go on, Yang.”

Yang Congxin: “Those trips to Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces for production line talks—why didn’t you let me speak?”

Xu Zhiquan laughed and glanced at Xu Chen:

“That was Xu Chen’s call; I was just following his advice.”

Yang Congxin: “Huh?!”

He looked at Xu Chen.

Xu Chen was quietly eating but smiled at Yang Congxin.

Xu Zhiquan added:

“Xu Chen told me to play dumb, act like a wealthy small-town boss.”

Yang Congxin took another sip:

“But why?”

Fang Jun, having downed half a glass, kept her face neutral but her lips curved up slightly as she waited for the answer.

She said nothing, just turned to Xu Chen.

Xu Chen, chewing his food, explained:

“They’re in the electric vehicle business, just like us, and we’re bringing in lines for the same thing—so we’d be competitors down the line.”

“If you spoke up, Yang, they’d know we’re experts and serious about making electric vehicles work…”

“Then, thinking about future competition, they might not sell us the lines.”

“Dad acting like a rich, clueless local boss made them feel safe—they saw a chance to pocket millions from him.”

“But they didn’t think he’d actually succeed with electric vehicles.”

“Your visits probably came off as them just taking money from easy marks.”

“And that’s exactly what we wanted.”

Yang Congxin pondered this:

“But later, city leaders joined in?”

Xu Chen:

“The leaders talked to their leaders—it didn’t change how they viewed Dad and East Morning Star.”

“They still saw him as an inexperienced mark, so they agreed to sell.”

Yang Congxin thought it over:

“No wonder Xu sounded so odd during those talks…”

Xu Chen turned to Yang Congxin:

“Once the lines are in, Yang, get familiar with them fast.”

“They’ll send over tech experts, right?”

Yang Congxin: “Yeah, it’s in the contract.”

Xu Chen: “Treat those experts well, but learn their tech inside out as quickly as possible…”

“Start with one or two models using the new lines.”

“Then, build up our skills—look at other lines, even overseas ones…”

“And focus on motors, batteries, control systems to create our own barriers for Chenfeng Technology.”

“That’s the only way Chenfeng Electric Vehicles can go national and stay strong against rivals.”

“Of course, it’s not overnight.”

“It might take years, even a decade or more.”

“But it’s a long-term investment we have to make.”

Yang Congxin listened intently, lost in thought for a moment.

Xu Zhiquan, arm around his son, smiled at Yang Congxin:

“What do you think, Yang?”

Yang Congxin paused, then raised his glass to Xu Chen:

“Xu, this one’s for you…”

“Little Xu, I mean—this toast is to you…”