Rebirth in 1960, My Industrial Age

Chapter 120 Father-in-law comes to visit (Subscription required)
Not long after, people from the Second Machine Tool Factory came to pull the machine tools.

The person who came was a deputy factory director, Ma Sisheng, whose name sounded quite impressive. When he saw Zhou Fengnian, he happily stepped forward to shake hands with him, and shook hands for more than ten seconds.

Zhou Fengnian could hardly bear it anymore and made an excuse to take him to see the machine tool before letting him go.

After visiting the CNC machine tools, Deputy Director Ma said excitedly: "Mr. Zhou, you should come to our factory. It is a waste of your talent to stay in the Second Machinery Factory.

Although our factory is not as developed as the First Machine Tool Factory, we are staffed by professionals and the machine tools we produce are sold far and wide across the country."

Zhou Fengnian was a little amused when he heard this. The term "sold far domestically" appeared. According to this, even a screw factory would say that they sell far domestically these days.

After all, the screws they produce may be sent to Guangdong and Guangxi.

Zhou Fengnian smiled and said, "Deputy Director Ma, I have long heard of your factory's achievements in machine tools, but the transfer still needs to be decided by the ministry."

Although he can apply on his own, the stay or departure of an eighth-level engineer no longer depends solely on his own will.

Luo Cheng was able to go to the Northwest because there was indeed a need for talent there.

Zhou Fengnian is different. He can no longer decide where he wants to go, even if he is wronged and can't stay in the factory.

The ministry will definitely transfer the person who wronged him and let Zhou Fengnian stay.

"Maybe there will be a chance in the future, Mr. Zhou."

Deputy Director Ma said with a smile, and then continued to talk about machine tools. There were also several technicians who came with him to learn how to use the machine tools.

The group stayed in the machine tool workshop for quite a long time, and even after watching the workers operate the machine tools, they tried to operate them themselves a few times.

They were not done until they had thoroughly learned the job. Zhou Fengnian also gave them a maintenance summary manual, which contained maintenance methods summarized for various problems.

By the time we finished our work, it was already noon and the other workers had gone to eat.

"Deputy Director Ma, let's go eat. The canteen has prepared a special meal for you. Come and try the cooking of the machinery factory today."

Zhou Fengnian said that Deputy Director Gao's assistant Xiao Zhao had just come to him and told him that the cafeteria had arranged a special meal for them at noon.

"Okay, sorry to bother you today. I just want to talk to Mr. Zhou."

Deputy Director Ma agreed immediately, then went to the cafeteria with Zhou Fengnian with a smile.

In addition to him, there were three technicians who followed him, plus Zhou Fengnian and Gao Zhiyuan, a total of six people went to eat special meals.

The others were assigned to the cafeteria.

Zhou Fengnian asked Song Qian to notify Zhou Yan in advance, so when he arrived at the cafeteria and looked around, he saw that Zhou Yan had already got her meal and was eating.

After making a gesture to Zhou Yan who also noticed him, Zhou Fengnian took Deputy Director Ma to the special kitchen.

Before the food was served, Deputy Director Ma and Zhou Fengnian were talking about machine tools.

Some places in the country are still in great shortage of machine tools, but they have started to export them, mainly to Eastern European countries in the same camp.

Their industry, led by the Russians, is also deformed. One industry is developing very well, but other aspects are not so good.

The Russians, their father, have too much control over them. Fortunately, the country did not listen to the Russians.

In addition to exporting to them, a small portion also flows into other less developed countries, but the amount is very small, basically not exceeding double digits.

The Second Machine Tool Factory is a factory that specializes in producing one type of machine tool. It has a large number of professional talents, including dozens of technicians alone, and the technical department is very strong.

What's missing is someone capable of taking the lead.

Hearing Deputy Director Ma's almost explicit words, Zhou Fengnian just smiled and said nothing.

Although I know what Deputy Director Ma means, there is no room for discussion on this matter.

Deputy Director Gao did not say anything. He felt that Deputy Director Ma was overthinking. Engineers cannot just dig whenever they are told to, especially someone like Zhou Fengnian.

However, seeing that Deputy Director Ma valued Zhou Fengnian so much, Gao Zhiyuan began to think about it.

If the factory merger is true, he will also consider moving to the new factory.

------

The third rolling mill.

In the factory director's office, several workshop directors complained to Director Yang. They each had their own reasons, but they all had the same demand.

Don't transfer people away!

Every time a processing task comes down, we rely on those few senior workers to complete it. As a result, so many people are transferred away at once. How can they guarantee that there will be tasks next time?

"Alright, alright, why are you arguing with me? Is it any use?"

Director Yang was already annoyed, and after lighting a cigarette he had to listen to his subordinates complaining, which made him even more annoyed.

"My boss also told me not to get emotional and to cooperate with the superiors. What are we doing this for? It's for development!
Now the whole country is playing a chess game, trying to mobilize all human resources, pooling strength to tackle the most advanced technology and contribute to national development."

Director Yang imitated the tone of his superior when speaking to the workshop directors, but in fact he also felt a little resentful in his heart.

The ministries certainly don’t care how many senior workers there are in their factories; all they want is to get the job done.

How to complete it and how long it will take to complete it are what they need to consider.

"So, this matter has been decided. No one can stop the Personnel Department. Forget about it."

After hearing this, a workshop director said unwillingly: "Director, but..."

"No buts. All your buts are in the Ministry of Metallurgy!"

Director Yang raised his voice and said, "If anyone is dissatisfied, go to the Metallurgical Department to find a higher-level leader. I can't do anything about it."

After hearing what Director Yang said, the workshop directors knew there was nothing they could do and could only pretend they saw nothing.

After these people dispersed, when I returned to the workshop, I just saw Zhou Xiangde being called out by the personnel department.

After seeing the workshop director, Zhou Xiangde hurriedly called out, "Director, Comrade Ding, wait a moment, I want to talk to our director."

After saying that, he trotted over to Director Ding and asked in a low voice, "What's going on, Director? Why did someone from the Personnel Department come to talk to me?"

"It's okay, don't worry, just talk about yours."

Director Ding sighed and comforted him, why do they even want the fourth-level fitter in their workshop?

However, although Zhou Xiangde is only a level 4 fitter, his skills are solid and his hands are steady. He has also processed level 5 workpieces many times, but he has not been assessed.

There is great hope if you pass the fifth-level fitter exam.

"Cooperate with the Personnel Department. This is a task from above, and you are not the only one involved."

After hearing this, Zhou Xiangde wanted to ask more questions, but Director Ding turned and left, so he had to turn around and walk towards the people from the Personnel Department.

He originally thought it would be a transfer within the factory or something else, but he didn't expect that the Human Resources Department would contact him to inform him to be prepared and be transferred to a new factory within three months.

The location of the new factory has not been confirmed yet, but it will definitely be in the old city. There is already this intention, so we just ask them to make preparations first, and the files will be transferred immediately after the accurate notification comes down.

At the same time, we also comforted them not to resist, saying that this was the decision of the organization and they should not resist the organization.

Zhou Xiangde was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and only came to his senses after he came out.

Is he going to be transferred to another factory? They are all in the city, the level remains the same, and the treatment may be better. It sounds like there is no problem, but Zhou Xiangde feels a little uneasy.

So after returning to the workshop, he started asking people.

Taking advantage of the break, Zhou Xiangde actually found out some information. He was not the only one called by the Personnel Department. There were fifth-level workers, sixth-level workers, and even seventh-level and eighth-level workers.

But the content of the conversation was the same: to be prepared to go to the new factory.

If they were transferred to other places, even to the nearby Yan River, they would complain.

But if we all stay in Beijing, the treatment will remain the same and there is nothing wrong with going to the new factory. It's just a little farther away from home, but it's impossible to resist the organization for this reason.

There was a level six worker who was worried that the chef in the new factory would not be good, after all, the big pot dishes they made in the steel rolling mill were quite good.

Other than that, no other complaints.

Without finding out any more useful information, Zhou Xiangde went back to work.

After work, Zhou Xiangde went home with a sullen face. He wanted to talk to his son-in-law about this matter.

After returning home, Zhou Xiangde took a sip of the water poured by Lv Honghui, then asked, "Where is Zhou Kai?"

"He goes to work, and you don't feed him enough. What else can he do except earn money for himself?"

Lu Honghui's tone was somewhat resentful. She felt that her husband had been brainwashed by his son-in-law and actually ignored his eldest son.

Now if she doesn’t work she won’t have any food to eat, so she feels distressed every day when she sees Zhou Kai looking tired and listless.

"Hmph, just work. I was afraid he would just mess around. If he had been like this for a long time, he would have secured a permanent position as a temporary worker. If he spent some money, he might have had a chance to become a regular employee. Now, he can only do odd jobs!"

Speaking of his eldest son, Zhou Xiangde felt very disappointed with him.

Lv Honghui immediately said: "Boss, then you talk to your son-in-law."

"Don't think about it. My son-in-law can refuse directly in front of us. What's the use of me saying it in private? It's your fault for not being able to control your son and letting him bully your daughter!"

Zhou Xiangde said irritably. He was already feeling uneasy because of what happened today, and Lu Honghui bringing up this matter was really adding fuel to the fire.

"Mr. Zhou, Xiaokai is your son after all."

"Okay, stop nagging. He's a better man now. Do you want the son who used to be a street kid or the son who works and earns money now?"

Zhou Xiangde's words stopped Lv Honghui. She naturally felt that her son had become a better person, otherwise she would have quarreled with Zhou Xiangde a long time ago.

But her son was too tired, so Lu Honghui wanted Zhou Kai to have a formal job so that he could marry and have children.

"Give me some money and wine tickets. I'll go buy two bottles of wine. Don't take the wine tickets. Give me the cake tickets at home."

Zhou Xiangde suddenly remembered that Zhou Fengnian didn't drink, and his wine tickets were average and couldn't buy good wine, so he changed them for pastry tickets.

Lv Honghui asked in surprise, "Boss, what are you going to do with the cake ticket? Who are you going to give it to?"

Zhou Xiangde said, "I encountered something at the factory today. I'm not sure what to do, so I'm going to ask my son-in-law."

"You are the father-in-law, so why do you need to buy cakes when you go to their place? It would be better to save these cakes for your son."

"You have long hair but little knowledge. Other families would worship such a son-in-law, but you are reluctant to give up those cake tickets. Give them to me!"

Zhou Xiangde slammed the table angrily, which immediately frightened Lu Honghui. After muttering a few words, she turned back to the house to get the money.

After Zhou Xiangde got it, he said to Lv Honghui: "You may not be back tonight, so don't cook for me."

"Okay, got it."

After saying that, Zhou Xiangde left home and prepared to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some cakes.

------

Boom!

Zhou Xiangde came to No. 90 Nanluoguxiang with a box of cakes and knocked on the door, feeling emotional.

His daughter is so lucky. No other family has such a spacious house. Each family lives in a courtyard house with two entrances.

Soon, the door was opened. Zhou Xiangde saw that it was Zhou Fengnian's sister who opened the door, so he said, "Girl, I'm Zhou Yan's father. I came to see you."

"Uncle Zhou, come in quickly."

Zhou Chunhua also remembered Zhou Xiangde, with whom she had had dinner twice in the past few months, so she opened the door and let Zhou Xiangde in.

After everyone came in, Zhou Chunhua locked the door again.

Then he led the way and said, "Uncle Zhou, my brother and sister-in-law are inside."

"Third brother, my sister-in-law's father is here."

After entering the backyard, Zhou Chunhua called out, and Zhou Fengnian quickly came out from the study next door.

"Father-in-law, why are you here? Zhou Yan and I said we would come to see you in a few days."

Although they never talked about it, it didn't stop Zhou Fengnian from telling a white lie.

"I have nothing to do today, so I came to see you guys and bought some sesame paste cakes that Yanyan likes."

After Zhou Xiangde finished speaking, he saw his daughter coming out of the main house and greeted him.
"Dad, come in and sit down first."

After Zhou Xiangde entered the house, Zhou Yan took out tea leaves and boiling water and made a cup of tea for her father.

Zhou Xiangde looked at his daughter's belly and asked, "Yanyan, how many months has it been?"

"It's almost five months, Dad, and you don't even know when your grandson will be born. Tell me the truth, what's the matter with you coming to Fengnian?"

Zhou Yan said helplessly that although she seldom went home, she had already told her father when she was pregnant, but he still asked these questions this time.

"This kid said he came to see you guys."

Zhou Xiangde was halfway through his speech when he couldn't continue under his daughter's gaze, so he picked up the teacup and said
"I'm unsure about something at the factory, so I came to ask my son-in-law."

"It's not about big brother finding a job, right? If it's about that, then your daughter can tell you."

"No, I said it's from the factory."

Zhou Xiangde sighed, and then said to Zhou Fengnian who was sitting down, “The personnel department of this factory came to me and suddenly told me today that I might be transferred to a new factory.

Some of our factory workers have been notified by the personnel department, and they are unsure about what to do, so they came to ask for advice. "

"It doesn't matter. This is a good thing."

After listening to this, Zhou Fengnian thought for a moment and continued, "Just go and transfer to the new factory. The work level won't be lowered, and it's also in the Forbidden City, so there's no harm in that."

It seems that the merger of the factories is inevitable, but the leader did not inform him first.

But Zhou Fengnian thought about it and didn't care. He was a technician, so it didn't matter whether he was the first to be notified about the factory merger.

As long as his requirements can be met, Zhou Fengnian will concentrate on research and development and manufacturing.

(End of this chapter)