Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

"Thank you for your trust and support, leaders." Li Feng's voice rang out again, bringing the enthusiastic atmosphere in the conference room back to reality. "No matter how good the blueprint is, it needs to be realized step by step."

"I do have some initial ideas about this project, and I need some specific support from the factory."

"Speak! Speak freely!" Zhu Hongjie waved his hand and leaned forward slightly, adopting a posture of listening attentively.

All eyes were once again focused on Li Feng.

"First, I need to set up a special project task force, let's call it the 'Future Factory Project Team'."

Li Feng stated clearly, "This group needs to work independently and have the highest decision-making priority. In terms of personnel, I hope that the technical equipment department of Director Wu's branch factory can be transferred here in its entirety, instead of being seconded, and that Comrade Zhou Miaomiao and Comrade Wang Ping will continue to be responsible for the specific technical implementation work."

“They are both top students from Jinling University. I personally mentored them, and their abilities and loyalty are trustworthy.”

Upon hearing this, Wu Qing didn't hesitate at all and immediately made a decision: "No problem! I'll go and process the formalities right away. From today onwards, Zhou Miaomiao and Wang Ping will be under the direct leadership of you, Deputy Factory Director Li!"

The names Zhou Miaomiao and Wang Ping were familiar to the retired cadres present.

During the second phase of the technological upgrading project, these two young women worked tirelessly alongside Li Feng, making outstanding contributions and becoming recognized as key young technical personnel in the factory.

It was expected that Li Feng would select them.

"Secondly, I need a dedicated office and laboratory space."

Li Feng turned his gaze to Wu Qing, "Director Wu, isn't there a new warehouse on the east side of your branch factory? I'd like to take it over and transform it into our project team's headquarters and laboratory."

That warehouse space is newly built and is not yet in use.

Wu Qing agreed without hesitation: "Giving you that place is making the best use of it! I'll have the logistics department clean it up right away and guarantee it will be handed over to you cleanly within three days!"

"Finally, there's the issue of the allocation of funds and materials." Li Feng looked at the deputy factory director in charge of logistics and the head of the finance department. "I hope the project team can have a separate special fund, approved and used internally by the project team, and all material procurement should go through a green channel and be handled on a case-by-case basis."

The deputy factory director and the head of the finance department exchanged a glance and nodded in unison: "We will fully cooperate!"

In just a few minutes, the three core elements—people, land, and money—were all finalized.

Li Feng demonstrated not only technical foresight, but also a remarkable ability to organize and lead with ease and clarity. This made Zhu Hongjie and others increasingly believe that placing their bets on Li Feng was the best decision they had ever made.

Li Feng did this because although the ceramics factory could directly use the computer control system technology, further technological research and development would still be necessary.

He just wanted a place where he could continue his research. As for the research institute provided by the ministry, it was for researching secret projects, and it wasn't appropriate to place the ceramics factory's technology research and development there.

The short meeting ended quickly, and it was noon soon afterward.

the other side

Sitting in the same car he had arrived in, Director Jiang's smile slowly faded, replaced by a deep contemplation.

The car quickly drove off the main street and headed towards the ministry.

The carriage was quiet, with only the slight hum of the engine.

Sitting next to Director Jiang, Zheng Guowei could clearly sense that his old leader was anything but calm.

From the moment Li Feng proposed that groundbreaking idea in the meeting room, Director Jiang's emotions were in a state of high excitement and solemnity.

Sure enough, as soon as the car entered the main road, Director Jiang spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable weight.

"Little Zheng."

"What are your orders?" Zheng Guowei immediately sat up straight.

"Once you get back, immediately compile all the materials from today's investigation at the ceramics factory, especially the 'fully automated control system' and 'future factory' concept proposed by Comrade Li Feng, into the most detailed and insightful report possible." Director Jiang gazed at the rapidly receding street scene outside the window, his eyes distant. "I need it; it will be extremely useful."

Zheng Guowei felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that when Director Jiang said "use," he meant something much more than just holding a meeting or issuing a document.

He asked tentatively, "You mean..."

Director Jiang turned her head and looked at him, her eyes sharp and bright: "I'm going to Jingjihai to report on this matter."

"boom!"

Zheng Guowei felt as if a thunderclap had struck his mind, leaving him completely stunned.

He never expected that Director Jiang would attach such unparalleled importance to Li Feng's idea!
It should be understood that no matter how successful or forward-looking a factory's technological transformation project may be, it should still be reported up and down the chain of command according to normal procedures.

What does this mean?
This shows that, in Director Jiang's view, what Li Feng proposed was not just the future of a factory, or even just the future of the entire ceramics industry, but a brand new and hopeful path that relates to the upgrading and transformation of the entire national industrial system! Zheng Guowei's heart pounded violently, and an indescribable excitement and pride welled up in his heart.

He was Li Feng's mentor, the one who single-handedly propelled Li Feng from a ceramic painter to the leadership position at the Five Star Ceramics Factory.

Every flash of brilliance from Li Feng seemed to confirm his initial foresight.

This time, Li Feng's brilliance is about to illuminate the entire land of China!

"Yes! I understand!" Zheng Guowei's voice trembled slightly with excitement. He nodded emphatically. "I promise that I will have the most perfect report on your desk before I leave work today!"

"Okay." Director Jiang nodded with satisfaction, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes, but the slight upturn of his lips showed that he was in a very good mood.

Back at the Ministry of Light Industry building, Zheng Guowei didn't even go to his own office. He immediately asked Director Jiang for leave and plunged into the department's archives and meeting rooms.

He didn't ask anyone for help; this matter was too important for him to handle personally, so that he could accurately convey its profound meaning and value.

He spread out his manuscript paper, unscrewed his pen, and kept replaying everything he had seen and heard at the Five Star Ceramics Factory that day in his mind.

From the newly revitalized and highly efficient automated production line in the second phase of the project, to Li Feng's resounding words at the meeting, outlining the blueprint for the future factory.

Every detail, every piece of data, every imaginative yet logically rigorous idea flows slowly from his pen.

He spent a full three hours, completely focused, with his thoughts flowing freely.

At the beginning of the report, he first used the most concise language to summarize the substantial success of the second phase of the technological upgrading project of Wuxing Ceramics Factory—costs decreased by 30%, production capacity increased by 50%, and the rate of high-quality products reached an astonishing 98%! These sets of cold and shocking data were the most powerful foundation of the entire report.

Then, he shifted his focus to Li Feng.

He didn't use too many fancy words to praise him, but objectively and meticulously recorded Li Feng's concept of a "computer-controlled fully automated system".

"...This system, centered on a central computer, monitors data from each stage of the production line in real time through a sensor network, performs intelligent analysis and automatic control, ultimately achieving complete unmanned and intelligent production processes. This not only maximizes production efficiency but also fundamentally eliminates human error, enabling product quality to reach a theoretically perfect state..."

"...Comrade Li Feng pointed out with even greater foresight that this system has strong scalability."

In the future, it can not only be applied to ceramic production, but also extended to all industrial sectors such as steel, textiles, and machinery manufacturing.

At that time, we will have a number of truly 'factories of the future,' which will completely change the backward state of our industry, enabling us to gain an advantage in the wave of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and even achieve a leapfrog development..."

As Zheng Guowei wrote this, he felt a surge of excitement.

He knew this was not just a report, but a grand blueprint for the future of the nation's industry! And the author of this blueprint was none other than the young man he had discovered and recommended—Li Feng!
The success of the second phase project provided a solid foundation. Li Feng's forward-thinking idea, however, was a towering skyscraper—a true finishing touch, the perfect finishing touch!
At five o'clock in the evening, Zheng Guowei, holding the report with the ink still wet and still warm from his body, knocked on the office door.

Director Jiang was wearing reading glasses and looking at a document. When she saw him come in, she put down her pen.

"Has it been written?"

"Yes, please take a look." Zheng Guowei respectfully handed over the report.

Director Jiang took the book and began reading it carefully, word by word, starting from the first page. His expression was calm, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter. The office was so quiet that only the rustling of the pages could be heard.

Zheng Guowei stood in front of his desk, his palms slightly sweaty, nervously awaiting the final judgment.

Finally, Director Jiang turned to the last page and read the last word. He slowly closed the report, took off his reading glasses, and placed them on the table.

He looked up at Zheng Guowei, a satisfied smile on his face, and nodded emphatically.

"Well written."

Those four simple words completely put Zheng Guowei's mind at ease.

"Xiao Zheng, you've captured the value of this young man, Li Feng, and the profound significance of this matter perfectly. You've hit the nail on the head," Director Jiang said approvingly.

He paused, then stood up, picked up the phone on the table, and dialed an encrypted number.

A moment later, he put down the phone, picked up his coat, and said to Zheng Guowei, who was still somewhat dazed.

"Let's go, the car is already waiting downstairs."

"Where...where to?" Zheng Guowei asked subconsciously.

Director Jiang smiled slightly, his gaze intense.

"Come with me." (End of Chapter)