Xiong Wenbin's two-room apartment is very small, with a large round table in the living room that leaves barely enough space for people to stand. The kitchen is so cramped that it's hard for three people to turn around at the same time.

  Shen Hua invited Zhou Ming, Zhao Dong, Yang Haipeng and Xiong Wenbin to sit in the next room and chat, leaving this side for the women to prepare dinner.

  "Has Director Zhao ever thought of leaving the Municipal Steel Plant?" Shen Hua asked, "Donghua still has several steel plants, there are town and village enterprises, private enterprises, I think they all need talents like Director Zhao who understand both technology and management."

  Zhao Dong didn't know where Shen Hua heard that he was good at both technology and management, but since Shen Hua said so, it felt kind; who doesn't like to hear flattering words?

  "The towns under Donghua still have several iron and steel enterprises, but their efficiency has also plummeted in the past two years. Private enterprises are slightly better, but to be honest, they are just family businesses, how can high-level management personnel use outsiders?" Zhao Dong said somewhat pessimistically, "Maybe people's income will be slightly higher in the past, but it's just a little higher."

  This issue, Shen Hua had fully discussed with Zhao Dong when he was at the municipal steel plant. He knew what ideas Zhao Dong had in his mind, but as a "stranger" now, he still needed to bring up this topic and persuade Zhao Dong to give up his previous thoughts.

  Xiong Wenbin saw Shen Huai divert the topic to this, and further confirmed his speculation. Seeing Zhao Dong not understanding, he helped to clarify: "Secretary Shen is referring to Meixi Steel Factory, right?"

  Xiong Wenbin said so, Zhao Dong's eyes lit up, Shen Huai had mentioned going to Meixi Town for work, and now he was also urging himself to resign, so he didn't think of Meixi Steel Plant.

  But thinking of the current situation of Meixi Steel Plant, Zhao Dong couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: "Meixi Steel Plant is not even comparable to the municipal steel plant. In the past few years when township enterprises were booming, Meixi Steel Plant relied on bank loans to expand its production capacity to 100,000 tons, and was a standout among the small and medium-sized township enterprises in Donghua. However, in reality, it lacks technology, lacks talent, and has chaotic management. The main product is still steel windows, which have been gradually replaced by aluminum alloy windows and plastic steel windows in recent years, and I don't know if it can survive for another two years."

  Everyone in the house is from the municipal steel factory and is very clear about the current situation of the steel industry in Donghua City.

  Xiong Wenbin could guess that Shen Huai had an ulterior motive for bringing up the matter, but he didn't dare to ask directly. Some things needed to be clarified by Shen Huai himself; otherwise, Xiong would only be speculating.

  Yang Haipeng and Zhou Ming both knew that Zhao Dong was telling the truth. Yang Haipeng spoke directly, saying: "Secretary Shen is going to take office in Meixi, but Meixi Steel Factory is absolutely a pit, don't jump in lightly..."

  Zhou Ming gently pulled Yang Haipeng from behind, reminding him not to talk nonsense.

  He saw Shen Hua as very young, even if he was hit and went to Mei Creek Town to take office, maybe his heart was full of grand ambitions.

  Not only did he beat up Zhou Dazui at the municipal steel plant, but also his action of smashing a flower pot just now shows that he is a frivolous and arrogant person. Zhou Ming thought that he was eager to make a big career in Meixi Town, and Yang Haipeng's direct and cold words would certainly make him unhappy.

  Yang Haipeng's words may not be pleasant to hear, but he didn't have any ill intentions and was genuinely trying to be kind; Shen Huai was familiar with Yang Haipeng's personality, so she just smiled and ignored Zhou Ming pulling Yang Haipeng's little move.

  He was born and raised in Mei Creek Town, how could he not understand the complex situation involving Mei Creek Steel Plant? To be honest, if it weren't for considering Tan Qiping's support behind him, he really wouldn't dare to wade into this muddy water. Zhao Dong standing on his standpoint, politely declining his invitation, indeed had his own considerations.

  Donghua's*, Gaotian River is worried that Chen Mingde will intervene in the municipal steel plant, so he will make an article on Chen Mingde's death. Shen Hua will not touch the municipal steel plant for the time being, but even a township enterprise cannot be handled, and it is useless to mix with Donghua.

  However, Shen Hua and others could not wait for Tan Qiping to take office in Donghua to start work, some preparatory work had to be carried out in advance.

  At this time, local forces such as Gao Tianhe and Wu Haifeng were still letting their guard down, making it easier for him to make his move. In fact, people like Gao Tianhe and Wu Haifeng would even condone his actions, waiting to see the show he put on.

  Shen Huai leaned against the desk, looking at Xiong Wenbin, Zhao Dong, Yang Haipeng and Zhou Ming in the room, hesitating whether to reveal his true intentions first, but fearing that they might not keep their mouths shut.

  "I think you should come out. We two will conquer the world together, we'll directly do steel materials, I don't believe it can't be done." Yang Haipeng saw Shen Huai being silent, thinking he was backing down, but Zhao Dong's dowry issue hadn't been resolved yet, so he put his arm around his shoulder and said, "As long as you can make a big deal, your dowry for marrying Xiao Mingxia will be settled."

  "Donghua's steel sales are all monopolized by Gao Xiaohu, who dares to intervene without permission? Not afraid of being burned down in the middle of the night?" Zhao Dong heard Yang Haipeng come up with this idea and was even more discouraged, not daring to get involved in the steel trade with him.

  Shen Hua smiled, Donghua's water was too deep, some methods were quite blatant.

  Gao Xiaohu is the son of Mayor Gao Tianhe and also the one who Shen Huai understands best among the wealthy young masters in Donghua, because Gao Xiaohu directly occupies the external sales channel of the municipal steel plant.

  From the mid-to-late 1980s, a dual-track price system was implemented in China's domestic commodity market.

  Some of the steel produced by the municipal steel plant is sold to demand units at prices specified by relevant departments such as Jihua, while some can be priced flexibly according to market demand and organized for sale on its own.

  In recent years, domestic construction has been on a large scale, and materials have been relatively scarce. As a result, prices have had to be flexibly determined according to market demand, which is much higher than the planned price.

  The price difference between inside and outside the index has become a fat meat for everyone to show their skills. Arbitraging steel materials and other scarce resources became a means for a small number of people to get rich early on.

  After Xiong Wenbin was transferred out of the Municipal Steel Plant, a large proportion of the steel products sold by the Municipal Steel Plant beyond the planned indicators were controlled by Gao Xiaohu and others.

  Gao Xiaohu obtained steel materials from the municipal steel factory at a planned price, and it cannot be said that he violated the law; selling the steel materials at market price in the market also does not violate regulations. The unplanned production indicators, originally the largest source of profit for the municipal steel factory, have now become fat meat in the mouths of a few people.

  All the employees of the municipal steel plant hated Gao Xiaohu, but there was nothing they could do. Gao Xiaohu was the son of Mayor Gao Tianhe, and the management layer that controlled the municipal steel plant were mostly Gao Tianhe's trusted followers, who also made a big profit from it.

  Just this alone, the municipal steel plant has to leak out hundreds of millions in profits every year. Add to that the chaos of management and the suppression of technical management talents like Zhao Dong, how can the municipal steel plant not decline?

  Although the current steel market price has been further liberalized, the steel trade in Donghua City is almost a monopoly. Without sufficient background and strength, who dares to intervene in this area will be subject to being attacked from behind, and it's not hard to imagine that family and life will be ruined.

  Yang Haipeng's small building materials store won't have any problems, but if he wants to make it big, he absolutely needs a powerful backer who can rival the likes of Gao Xiaohu. How could Zhao Dong dare to follow Yang Haipeng and get involved?

  Zhao Dong not only advised Yang Haipeng not to engage in steel trading, but after Yang Haipeng spoke out, he also felt it necessary to remind Shen Hua again: "Secretary Shen has some understanding of the municipal steel plant, but the situation at Meixi Steel Plant is more complicated. I and Director Xiong don't even think that Meixi Steel Plant can last two years. The target of the municipal steel plant is too obvious, after all, it's the largest state-owned enterprise in Donghua, even if it's half-dead, no one dares to directly aim at the municipal steel plant. The target of Meixi Steel Plant is smaller, and it's a collective enterprise, some people want to make Meixi Steel Plant half-dead, and then swallow it whole without spitting out any bones..."

  "By the way," Shen Hua changed the subject and asked Xiong Wenbin, "Director Xiong, did you hear any news from the city today?"

  Today, the municipal party committee held a standing committee meeting to discuss new personnel adjustments. Xiong Wenbin is an old-timer in Donghua City, and it's easy to get wind of what was discussed at the municipal party committee meeting. "Secretary Wu proposed that Zhou Yu be transferred to Tangzhai as deputy secretary of the district party committee, and Mayor Gao recommended Ge Yongqiu to go to Xiapu to serve as county party secretary. This is a win-win situation in itself, but I heard the discussion was not very pleasant..."

  Zhao Dong, Yang Haipeng and Zhou Ming all found it strange. In the past, Xiong Wenbin would not spread unverified rumors in front of them, but for Shen Hua's sake, he made an exception and became a rumor monger.

  "Ge Yongqiu went to Xiapu as the county party secretary, isn't that targeting Secretary Shen?" Yang Haipeng blurted out subconsciously.

  Shen Huai rubbed the back of his head, thinking that Wu Haifeng and Gao Tianhe were indeed quick to act. In response to Yang Haipeng's question, he just smiled and said: "I'm going to Mei Creek Town, at most I'll be a deputy secretary of the town party committee. If they think they can use the county party secretary's position to pressure me, that's really underestimating me..."

  Zhou Dong also looked worried, although the contact time was short, but he had no prejudice against Shen Hua before, and after a few brief contacts, he had a good impression of him.

  He also guessed that Shen Huan, although having a formal departmental level, was still too young to take on a full-time job in Meixi Town. Being the deputy secretary with a formal departmental treatment was the most reasonable arrangement. As long as Shen Huan achieved results, it would be easy to convert to a full-time position, and that's exactly what he was worried about - Shen Huan rushing to achieve results after going to Meixi Town.

  Xiong Wenbin saw that Shen Huai didn't say things clearly, and Zhao Dong didn't have enough confidence, so he didn't have the courage.

  These past two or three years of experiences have also made him lose some patience. Seeing Shen Hua's disdain for the personnel discussion at today's municipal standing committee meeting, Xiong Wenbin's speculation in his heart was further confirmed. He said to Yang Haipeng and Zhou Ming: "You two go take a look if dinner is ready or not?"

  His father-in-law drove him and Yang Haipeng away first. Zhou Ming was somewhat dissatisfied in his heart, but he didn't say anything and left first.