Chapter 7: Hotel Meeting
“This... this...”
Under the intense gaze of Old Jiang, Li Yingchun couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.
He wanted to open his mouth to explain, but he knew he couldn't deceive Old Jiang's sharp eyes.
He couldn't help but curse inwardly, blaming Jiang Dalong and Zhang Jian for bringing the old man here!
To be honest, if the new leadership body wasn't led by the capable elites in this room, then who else could it be?
Having a show of hands in front of everyone tomorrow was just a formality.
Did they really expect everyone to waste time making speeches and canvassing votes?
“Ahem!”
Just as he was feeling awkward, the retired senior prosecutor Xia Chunze, sitting beside Jiang Weiguo, coughed and stepped in to defuse the tension:
“Old Jiang! What you said is a bit hurtful... I believe Little Li and Little Chen aren't trying to form their own factions!
Right now, we only have about four thousand people, and our future is uncertain.
We do need a strong leadership body to ensure everyone's safety and lead us out of our predicament!
But how this strong leadership body is formed, that does need proper discussion.
It shouldn't be decided by just a few of us; we really need to listen to what everyone thinks.”
Professor Wu Fanli, with graying hair, sitting on Jiang Weiguo's right, also chimed in:
“Yes! Chief Li, the three of us old guys came here today because we were worried something might go wrong in tomorrow’s meeting...
After all, it’s our first time gathering everyone for a meeting.
We have to let people speak up and come up with new rules and a leadership structure that most people can be satisfied with!
Otherwise, people will feel ignored and believe their rights are not respected.
That will make it hard to get anything done!”
After hearing the two old men, Li Yingchun thought for a moment and suddenly saw the light!
So the three old guys just now had played good cop, bad cop — all to seize control of tomorrow’s meeting!
He wasn't the only one who noticed.
The others in the room, all sharp-minded individuals, also gradually caught on.
But no one called it out...
These three old men had a combined age of nearly 240 years.
Not only were they senior in age and experience, but they also held high social status.
Just look at how Li Yingchun was acting like a meek disciple in front of Old Jiang.
Moreover, letting these three old men preside over tomorrow’s meeting would indeed put people at ease.
At least most of the 2,500 people from the shipyard respected Jiang Weiguo.
The 800 residents of the Happy Home community would also listen to Xia Chunze and Wu Fanli.
With them in charge, the meeting tomorrow would likely avoid any embarrassing incidents.
Realizing the stakes, Li Yingchun immediately wore a sincere expression and invited:
“Old Jiang! Elder Xia and Elder Wu! I can't speak for others, but I, Li Yingchun, have no ulterior motives!
The reason I gathered everyone is that the current Emergency Status Committee really can’t handle the responsibility...
How about this! The three of you will oversee and guide us!
Let’s draft a basic meeting agenda right here.
If you three approve, we’ll go with it!
If not, we’ll keep discussing!”
“Yes, yes!” Chen Wenyun also chimed in quickly.
“With the three of you presiding, we’ll feel more at ease... What does everyone think?”
“We in the navy support the three elders to lead tomorrow’s meeting!”
Yang Yunfeng and Su Shengyun, seeing the situation clearly, were the first to express their stance.
“I also support Old Jiang and the others!”
Sun Debo rubbed his bald head and smiled at the three elders.
“We, the residents’ committee, also support Old Jiang, Elder Xia, and Elder Wu presiding over the meeting!”
These three old men were, after all, invited by Jiang Dalong and Zhang Jian.
Of course they wouldn't object now.
Besides, Jiang Dalong was Jiang Weiguo’s son — even less reason to oppose his own father.
With representatives from the shipyard, navy, schools, and the residents’ committee all in agreement, Zhao Chengming from Hengda Machinery naturally followed suit and raised his hand in support.
The eight members of the Emergency Status Committee unanimously made the decision, and the matter was settled immediately.
...For the next four hours, everyone remained in the hotel room discussing the arrangements for tomorrow’s meeting, the current problems and difficulties, and the future organizational structure and direction.
This small pre-meeting session lasted until nine in the evening.
The eldest among them, Jiang Weiguo, was physically exhausted, which finally brought the meeting to an end.
During this time, there were several intense arguments.
But under the mediation of the three old men, they barely managed to reach consensus on the critical issues.
First, regarding tomorrow’s meeting, everyone agreed that the public should be involved in the decision-making.
Whether it was about future laws and systems, or the appointment of department heads, it all required the authorization and consent of at least half of the adults.
Second, all parties agreed to dissolve the Emergency Status Committee and the current self-governing organization.
They acknowledged the new management body established at tomorrow’s meeting as the sole leadership entity.
Accordingly, the new management body and department heads would also be subject to internal oversight — including by the judicial and security bureaus — as well as external supervision through public opinion.
Lastly, based on the suggestions and complaints received throughout the afternoon, the group established several principles and policies to be announced at tomorrow’s meeting... essentially reaching internal consensus in advance.
Zhou Jixin, the least experienced person present, quietly witnessed this seemingly unremarkable yet historically significant “Hotel Meeting.”
The clash of personalities and ideologies on display, along with flashes of professional insight and brilliance, significantly broadened his understanding and benefited him greatly.
Of course, Zhou Jixin wasn’t completely invisible during the meeting.
When the discussion turned to education, he seized the opportunity to share some of his own suggestions.
He successfully gained recognition and appreciation from these future leaders.
“...So, Young Zhou, what do you think?
Watching that bunch of seasoned veterans and schemers haggle and bicker — did it shake you up?”
On the dark path back to Longgang Middle School, Sun Debo suddenly asked Zhou Jixin beside him.
“It was indeed a bit different from what I expected...” Zhou Jixin admitted openly.
After all, he had only been working for just over two years and had hardly dealt with any major figures.
Just now, those people had formed cliques over positions and resource allocation, arguing loudly, even slamming tables and swearing — it had taken him completely by surprise.
“Heh! That’s exactly how it should be!”
Sun Debo seemed to enjoy seeing Zhou Jixin out of his depth.
Looking at him, he explained with a smile:
“I’m decades older than you, and I’ve seen more of the world... Let me put it this way!
In society, the higher you climb, the more you must fight! Scramble! Be greedy!
You have to be like animals in the jungle — tearing into others!
If you don’t, you won’t be able to protect your own interests!
People without that fierce drive might manage as small-time citizens, minor bosses, or low-level leaders — but they’ll never reach the top!
You’re very smart and can see things clearly.
But what you still lack is real combat experience.
Not that it’s your fault — back in school, as long as you scored well, you were fine.
There wasn’t much conflict of interest between classmates, and college was much the same — basically an ivory tower.
That idealistic worldview it built... I’m not saying it’s wrong.
But if you want to get things done — truly accomplish something — ideals alone aren’t enough...”