Rebirth in 1960, My Industrial Age

Chapter 176: Quick-Responsive Leadership (Subscription Request)

Zhou Fengnian forcefully pulled Zhou Yan back into the house and told her about the washing machine.

In their family, washing clothes is definitely backbreaking work. Before, Zhou Chunhua and Zhou Yan took turns doing it because Zhou Fengnian loved cleanliness and changed his clothes every day.

If one person washes everything all the time, he or she will be exhausted.

Zhou Fengnian boasted about himself in the room, saying that the reason he studied washing clothes was because he saw that his wife was too tired from washing clothes and he decided to study it because he wanted to help.

Zhou Yan's brain obviously wasn't working well after she became pregnant. She was so moved that she believed it after hearing it. She snuggled in Zhou Fengnian's arms for a long time, and finally agreed to even Zhou Fengnian's small requests that he had never fulfilled before.

It finally put out some of the fire.

The next morning, Zhou Fengnian went to buy breakfast leisurely. When he turned back inadvertently, he found Zhao Qiang following him, and almost scared him.

"Zhao Qiang, please squeak next time you appear. Your sudden appearance scares me."

Zhao Qiang smiled and said, "Okay, boss, I'll tell you next time."

Zhou Fengnian shook his head and then walked towards the breakfast stall.

When they arrived, they bought six servings of fried dough sticks and soy milk, and also packed two small portions of pickles; this meal cost one catty and two ounces of food coupons, but Zhou Fengnian's ration was more than enough.

Even if the fifth sister Zhou Xiaomei did not have a ration, it would be enough. Zhou Fengnian and Zhou Yan could eat in the cafeteria at noon, which saved a lot.

But there is still some impact, from the previous fine grains to two-grain noodles.

When they got back to the door of the house, Zhou Fengnian didn't go in immediately. He turned around and divided three portions of breakfast for Zhao Qiang: "Take it back and eat it. I bought too much."

"Leader, no need, we have subsidies."

"Take it. If you don't eat it, will it be a waste of food? You also know that I have a lot of food, so it's nothing once in a while."

Once Zhou Fengnian put on the small hat, Zhao Qiang couldn't refuse. No one could afford to waste food these days.

Zhao Qiang took the breakfast and said a little embarrassedly: "Thank you, boss."

"It's nothing. Let's go back and eat. We'll leave at eight o'clock."

After Zhou Fengnian finished speaking, he turned around and went back to the house.

When passing by the front yard, I woke up my fifth sister. When she heard that I had soy milk and fried dough sticks in the morning, she jumped out of bed.

I never had such delicious food when I was in Hongjia Village. It was rare for me to have steamed corn bread and pickles in the morning.

Arriving at the machine tool factory office, Zhou Fengnian made himself a cup of tea and then picked up a book to read.

After the washing machine was successfully manufactured, Zhou Fengnian had one less thing to do this year. Now all that was left was the research and development of integrated circuits.

The integrated circuit workshop is Zhou Fengnian's most valuable workshop in the machine tool factory. Not only is there a security team patrolling outside, but even the factory leaders cannot enter without his permission.

When this workshop was first built, it cost several million just to purchase instruments and equipment from abroad.

Next, Zhou Fengnian plans to continue developing integrated circuit chips, which can not only be used in CNC machine tools, but also to improve computer performance, and even many electrical appliances can use integrated circuit chips.

Unfortunately, there are too few technicians in the integrated circuit workshop now. Including Zhou Fengnian, there are only six people. These people were snatched for him by the First Ministry of Machine Building. Otherwise, these six people might have been assigned to the research institute.

Moreover, most of the research and development work is driven by Zhou Fengnian, while others do some auxiliary work.

Although the progress is slow, with Zhou Fengnian around, we can push forward a little bit every day, and there will be no experimental jams or detours.

After drinking a cup of tea, Zhou Fengnian put down his book and walked towards the integrated circuit workshop.

Now medium-scale integrated circuit chips are almost ready and can perform relatively complex logic operations. They may be manufactured in a few months.

This can be regarded as the first case in China, far exceeding the progress of institutes affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The other technicians were very happy about the progress, but Zhou Fengnian was very calm; this was just overuse.

After medium-scale integrated circuit chips are manufactured, the next stage will be more important and will usher in the computer age in China.

When Zhou Fengnian was working in the integrated circuit workshop, the machine tool factory also became lively because of a special broadcast.

"Dear colleagues, dear leaders, our factory deputy director Zhou Fengnian has worked hard to develop a washing machine.
After discussion among the factory leaders, it has been decided to select two best workers each month and reward them with a washing machine. The selection scope includes all front-line production workers.

Selection criteria: production tasks, ideological awareness"

The final selection criteria are based on advanced individuals and model workers, and the factory will select undisclosed candidates to collect and evaluate the performance of workers in the factory.
Zhou Fengnian did not go to discuss the matter in the morning and let them handle it on their own. Then Gao Zhiyuan and Kang Hongnian came up with a more responsible one.

Fortunately, only front-line workers can participate, and the final selection power is in the hands of factory leaders and others, which can prevent things like clique voting.

Although no one heard clearly the final selection criteria, everyone heard clearly that the workers would be rewarded with two washing machines every month.

Some people who didn't know what a washing machine was were told that they could go to Workshop 17 to see it at noon.

After they finished watching it, they were suddenly filled with excitement.

This is an electrical appliance, and it looks more valuable than a radio or a sewing machine. Now we give them two of them every month as rewards. Doesn't this mean that everyone has a chance?

Although it is given to the best ones, if they are not selected this month, there is always next month, and if they are not selected next month, there is always the month after that, right? They will definitely get their turn!
Moreover, many people have decided to start working hard now. It was also said in the broadcast that the selection criteria do not depend on the level of the worker. Even if you are a first-level worker, as long as you perform well enough, you can become an [Excellent Worker in the Machine Tool Factory].

It can be considered a win-win situation. The Huaxia Machine Tool Factory has no shortage of money for the two washing machines. The extra expenditure of 140 yuan per month has boosted the enthusiasm of all the workers in the factory.

The factory leaders also had a good reputation. After all, there was no other factory in the entire city that was willing to reward workers with two big items every month.

They don't have that ability, but Huaxia Machine Tool Factory makes its own washing machines.

------

"lead!"

Zhou Fengnian had just walked out of the integrated circuit workshop when he saw Pan Heng jogging towards him.

After running to my side, he said breathlessly, "The leader of the ministry called and is in Director Gao's office. He wants you to go there too."

Zhou Fengnian asked as he walked: "Did they talk about something?"

"No, I'm just very anxious."

After hearing this, Zhou Fengnian didn't ask any more questions. The workshop was some distance away from the factory office building, and by the time he arrived at Gao Zhiyuan's office, several minutes had passed.

Seeing Zhou Fengnian push the door open, Gao Zhiyuan quickly said, "Fengnian, it's Deputy Leader Li calling."

After handing over the phone, Gao Zhiyuan walked out of the office.

Zhou Fengnian went over to pick up the phone and said, "Leader, do you have any instructions for me?"

[What other instructions can you give me? Is there any trouble in your factory again? ]

"There's no movement. Is it because of the washing machine? I have to complain. I'm only in charge of technology in the factory. I don't care about anything else." [Don't complain. If you do this, other factories will definitely be complained to death by the front-line workers. But you are still doing good things. I can't criticize you just because they have no choice.
What are you going to do with that washing machine? 】

"Let's produce the washing machines first and give the workers some benefits. If other cadres want them, just give them the material cost."

[Don't play it safe, get something for nothing; your factory will definitely not open another workshop to produce washing machines, give two of these washing machines to the department, and then you can wait for the reward.]

There is not much vacant space in the Hua Xia Machine Tool Factory. We had considered expanding the workforce several times when the factories were merged, but now the space is full.

The computer numerical control workshop, integrated circuit workshop, and five-axis machine tool workshop have also been expanded once, and there is also an automobile manufacturing workshop.

If the Huaxia Machine Tool Factory wants to expand again, it can only build branches in other places, but there is no such demand now; if it builds a branch just for washing machines, it might as well build a branch to produce CNC machine tools.

How much does a washing machine cost? How much does a CNC machine tool cost?

"No problem, leader. I'll send it to the ministry tomorrow afternoon. I'll go there in person then."

[Okay, I'll wait for you in the department. I just happened to have something to tell you. Let's talk about it when you get here.]

After saying that, Deputy Leader Li hung up the phone, but his last sentence aroused Zhou Fengnian's curiosity.

"This leader also likes to lay the hook."

Zhou Fengnian put down the phone and walked outside. As soon as he went out, he saw Gao Zhiyuan walking towards him with a smile. He said to him, "Fengnian, it's okay. The leader just criticized me verbally, but I'm actually very happy in my heart."

"Brother Gao, what are you talking about? The leader didn't criticize me."

Zhou Fengnian looked at him strangely, and then continued: "I will bring two washing machines to the ministry tomorrow, and there will be a reward then, but I don't know what the reward is."

"Didn't I criticize you?"

Gao Zhiyuan's mouth twitched when he heard this, and he thought to himself that this was too unfair.

Zhou Fengnian said goodbye to Gao Zhiyuan with a smile. After going downstairs, he asked Zhao Qiang to go with him to workshop 17 to take away a washing machine.

I loaded it in the trunk of my car and headed home.

Zhou Xiaomei at home saw her third brother carrying a large white box in, and immediately stepped forward and asked, "Brother, what is this?"

"Laundry man, come to the back too. I'll teach you how to use this."

Zhou Fengnian greeted Zhou Xiaomei, then moved the washing machine to the faucet in the backyard, connected the water pipe, and then connected the electrical wires.

He specially asked the workers to get him a long electric wire, otherwise it would be impossible to use it in the yard.

After the electricity and water were turned on, Zhou Fengnian went back to the house to take out the clothes that had not been washed yesterday, threw them all away, and started working.

"Xiaomei, see this? Turn this button all the way down and the washing machine will wash the clothes on its own. It also has a spin function at the back. If you only turn it a little, it will only spin dry."

The operation was very simple and Zhou Xiaomei learned it quickly.

"Xiaomei, this will be our home appliance from now on. You can wash your shirts and pants in it. You have to wash other underwear yourself."

Zhou Xiaomei said happily, "This is very labor-saving. Brother, this washing machine is very expensive, right?"

"It's not bad, only sixty dollars."

Zhou Fengnian smiled and touched Zhou Xiaomei's hair, saying, "When you get married, I'll give you a washing machine."

"Of course, brother, I've got it in mind!"

"You have to study hard first. I will ask the school for you later."

Zhou Fengnian suddenly remembered this matter, and together with the matter of the washing machine, he planned to go find Bai Yujie later.

Having worked in the Women's Federation for a long time, Bai Yujie's connections must be stronger than his who researches technology behind closed doors.

Zhou Fengnian wouldn't go to his leader for such a small matter.

Not long after, Zhou Yan also came back, and Zhou Fengnian took her to introduce the washing machine, which made Zhou Yan happy for a long time.

There is a new electrical appliance in the house, and it was developed by her man. Zhou Yan is more proud of using it than buying it.

Then Zhou Fengnian asked if Bai Yujie had returned and walked out.

Compound No. 95 was just around the corner from his home. After arriving at the courtyard with three entrances, Zhou Fengnian walked straight in.

Bai Yujie and Zhou Yan came back together. When Zhou Fengnian came in, he saw that the light was on in the west wing, and the door was not closed tightly, with a gap left.

Zhou Fengnian was just about to go forward and knock on the door when he suddenly heard someone calling him.

"Deputy Director Zhou?"

Zhou Fengnian turned his head and found that it was Yi Zhonghai who called him.

Yi Zhonghai saw that it was indeed Zhou Fengnian, and stepped forward with some surprise and asked, "Deputy Director Zhou, are you here to look for someone in our hospital?"

"Well, I'm looking for Comrade Yujie. I have something to discuss."

Zhou Fengnian nodded, then asked, "Master Yi, are you going out?"

"Oh, I need to go to the toilet. Deputy Director Zhou, you go ahead and do your job."

Seeing that Zhou Fengnian seemed to be trying to drive him away, Yi Zhonghai became a little anxious and left immediately.

Zhou Fengnian knocked on the door a few times, and when he heard Bai Yujie's question, he replied, "It's me, Comrade Yujie. I have something to talk to you about."

Bai Yujie opened the door and saw Zhou Fengnian. She smiled gently and said, "Fengnian, you seldom come to my place. There must be something wrong."

"Ha, Comrade Yujie, you are smart. There is indeed something going on."

"Then go ahead and talk."

Bai Yujie stepped aside to invite Zhou Fengnian into the room, closed the door, and then turned around to help Zhou Fengnian get a chair and make some tea.
Seeing this busy figure, Zhou Fengnian hurriedly said: "Don't be so busy, Comrade Yujie, just say a few words and leave. Do you know the washing machine?"

"Is it one of those appliances that wash clothes automatically? The kind that are placed in foreign guesthouses?"

Zhou Fengnian said, "Yes, you just need to know that our factory can produce washing machines by itself. The cost price is 67 yuan per unit. If you want, I can help you order one."

"It must have been developed by you, Fengnian, right?"

Bai Yujie smiled and said, "Then I'll order one, but it's a good year, is that all?"

Zhou Fengnian said a little embarrassedly: "There is one more thing, my sister wants to come to Sijiucheng to study, but her grades are a bit difficult to get into a technical secondary school, so she can only go to high school.

So I want to ask if you know anyone from the nearby high school."

(End of this chapter)