Rebirth in 1960, My Industrial Age

Chapter 178 I was disgusted when I was relaxing (Please subscribe)
Zhou Fengnian stayed in the Ministry of First Machine Building for a long time and left Deputy Leader Li's office around six or seven o'clock.

When he left, he took away four taels of tea, still Dahongpao.

If it weren't for the four taels of tea, Zhou Fengnian could have left half an hour earlier.

The washing machine technology will be handed over to the Ministry of Light Industry. As for whether the Ministry of Light Industry will use it to build a new factory or give it to the current washing machine factories to innovate the technology, that is their internal matter.

The Huaxia Machine Tool Factory can continue to manufacture washing machines. The higher-ups won't care about the matter. Just make sure they don't resell the products using the factory's reputation.

As for the workers planning to sell the washing machines after they received them because they could no longer use them, Deputy Leader Li did not say anything, but just nodded silently to show his approval.

It stands to reason that it is best not to sell honorary awards, but a washing machine is not a teacup or a towel. Most workers’ families live in large compounds, and it is inconvenient to get water and electricity.

To them, a washing machine is just a nice-looking item, so it would be better to exchange it for money.

It is not convenient to use in the slums, but it is definitely convenient in the tube-shaped buildings. In the entire city, only the machine tool factory can produce washing machines, and they do not sell them to the outside world.

If a family wants a washing machine, one person has to go to the machine tool factory to exchange it with a worker, and the machine tool factory will then issue a reward certificate.

Use what you can use yourself, and exchange what you can’t use for money to supplement your household expenses.

Anyway, the machine tool factory rewards its own products and does not give direct cash receipts, so no one can find fault with it.

Zhou Fengnian had just returned home when he saw Zhou Xiaomei jumping in front of him happily, holding a certificate of admission in her hand.

After the summer she will be able to go to high school.

Zhou Fengnian touched Zhou Xiaomei's hair and said with a smile: "Study hard, and I will buy you some clothes before school starts."

"Really? Thanks bro, but forget about buying clothes. Just buy the fabric and make them yourself."

Zhou Xiaomei said happily: "I can also sew, and I can learn how to use the sewing machine from my second sister-in-law."

"Okay, if you want to make it, I'll buy it for you, and you can do it when the time comes."

Although I can only go to school for one or two years, it is better than staying at home for two years doing nothing.

As for returning to Hongjia Village to do farm work, forget it. If Zhou Fengnian really wanted Zhou Xiaomei to do farm work, he would not have supported her to go to junior high school.

If she can't study in high school, she can find an easy job and work part-time while studying. Anyway, her family doesn't need her to feed them.

Zhou Xiaomei is the last person in the Zhou family arranged by Zhou Fengnian. Once her affairs are settled, the Zhou family basically does not need him to worry about anything.

When Zhou's mother came to the city, she would often complain that there was no one at home to accompany her, and that Zhou's father was busy with the production team and was not seen every day.

Zhou Fengnian asked his mother to live in the city for a while, but she was not very happy about it, feeling that she could not leave home even for a day.

However, this time Zhou's mother decided to go to the city to take care of Zhou Yan when she was about to give birth. She didn't come last time because she had to take care of two people at home.

This time Zhou Fugui is the only one left, so let him go to his neighbor's house to eat.

"Fengnian, what does the leader say?"

Not long after Zhou Fengnian sat down, Gao Zhiyuan came over, poured some tea leaves into his teacup, and continued with a smile:
"I guessed that you would definitely take some tea leaves with you when you came back from your boss's place. Well, the tea that your boss drinks is the best. You can't buy this kind of tea outside."

"I don't think I'd be willing to drink it even if I bought it. It's probably going to cost several yuan per ounce."

Zhou Fengnian interrupted and said that Gao Zhiyuan's grab just now made him feel distressed enough. While talking, he quickly moved the tea leaves to another drawer and then continued.
"The leader didn't say anything. We can produce it ourselves in the future, but the washing machine technology will be handed over. But Brother Gao, you should know about this."

Zhou Fengnian glanced at Gao Zhiyuan, then continued, "I haven't told you about my award yet, but I don't know if it was nominated by the academic committee members, and the leaders helped me apply for it."

"Member of the Faculty? The one from the Academy of Sciences?"

"Yes, the Academy of Technical Sciences. The Ministry has already nominated and recommended it. If things go well, it will be approved by the end of the year."

Zhou Fengnian said with a smile: "I can get an extra subsidy in the future."

He did not ask how much the subsidy for academic committee members was, but it might stop next year.

Gao Zhiyuan said in shock, "Fengnian, am I going to call you Commissioner Zhou from now on? Are you going to be transferred?"

It almost represents the highest academic achievement in the country, and those who can get in must be the top in the industry. However, Gao Zhiyuan changed his mind and felt that Zhou Fengnian did qualify, as the machine tools he developed were even sought after by foreign countries.

"No, no, just call me by my normal name. I'm not being transferred. The name is gone but I remain. I'm still a member of the First Ministry of Machine Building.

If we join, future technical exchanges will be more convenient, and we will also be able to apply for the resources of those research institutes.”

Zhou Fengnian still has a lot of things he wants to try. He is waiting to manufacture large-scale integrated circuit chips before starting to make personal computers.

I will definitely use the resources of the Computer Research Institute at that time, and with the identity of a faculty member, conversations will be much more convenient.

Gao Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's good that you don't leave. If you weren't in the factory, I wouldn't have the confidence."

Although the machine tool factory is now on the right track and the production plans of each workshop are in order, they still carry the reputation of being the number one machine tool factory in the country, and other machine tool factories come to their factory to learn technology.

If Zhou Fengnian was not in the Huaxia Machine Tool Factory, Gao Zhiyuan felt that they were like missing a pillar of support.

What Gao Zhiyuan heard today shocked him. He originally wanted to find out how the washing machine technology would be handled, but he didn't expect to hear news that shocked him even more.

Many academician committee members are in charge of a project or research institute, and their Hua Xia Machine Tool Factory will soon have an academician committee member.

How can other factories compete with them now?

Gao Zhiyuan felt that he was really lucky in the past few years. After joining forces with Zhou Fengnian, he seemed to be surrounded by official luck.

On the contrary, the former deputy factory director Zhang Gao Zhiyuan almost forgot the name of his colleague, but still remembered his stupid behavior.

Gao Zhiyuan then talked to Zhou Fengnian about the machine tool factory’s production last month, and Zhou Fengnian was absent from the meeting.

After the factory's production got on track, Zhou Fengnian cared less and less about it. As the deputy factory director, he was originally in charge of technical matters.

Previously, most of the workers in the factory had just started using CNC machine tools, and the technical department had not fully understood what he taught.

Therefore, Zhou Fengnian spends a lot of time every day on the front line of production.

Now there is no need for that, and he doesn't have to worry about supervising production and safety issues. Zhou Fengnian can just focus on technological innovation.

The factory's production efficiency really surprised Zhou Fengnian. The machine tool production volume in April increased by 3% compared with the previous month.

There should be an increase next month. Recently, the factory has received half as many overtime applications as last month.

These are all the potentials stimulated by washing machines.

However, not everyone can work overtime. Of course, the factory leaders want everyone to work overtime so that production will increase dramatically. But if this gets out, it will be seen as exploitation of the workers. Even if the workers apply for it on their own initiative, this letter cannot be published.

You have to have a legitimate reason, and you have to have not worked overtime last month in order to work overtime this month.

After listening to what Gao Zhiyuan said, Zhou Fengnian reminded him of one thing, that is, don't let any production accidents happen; if one happens, all his achievements for the year will be cut in half, and if two happen, he will be directly criticized.

Gao Zhiyuan nodded solemnly after listening to this. It was related to the result of his two years of hard work, so he couldn't be careless. When he returned, he would hold a meeting with the workshop directors. If anyone relaxed the production safety regulations, he would let that workshop director relax.

------

On the fourth day after Zhou Fengnian went to the ministry, the Ministry of Light Industry sent someone to his door.

At that time, Deputy Leader Li asked for two washing machines, one of which was sent to the leader and the other to the Ministry of Light Industry, thus making a big profit from Minister Su Zhenghe.

Deputy Leader Li had four taels of tea taken away by Zhou Fengnian, and then another eight taels were deducted from Minister Su.

However, Su Zhenghe was also willing. After they went back, they did some investigation and found that there was only one nominal washing machine factory in the country, and it had a workshop even though it had not started producing washing machines yet.

Nowadays, washing machines are not mass-produced. One reason is that the technology is not as advanced as that in foreign countries, and even if they are produced, they cannot earn foreign exchange; the second reason is that there is no need for them in the country. Except for the tube-shaped buildings, workers' families have no use for washing machines at all.

If workers and peasants don't need it and it can't generate foreign exchange, then there's no need for large-scale production.

However, Zhou Fengnian's washing machine was considered to be very valuable by people from the Ministry of Light Industry - valuable in terms of export and foreign exchange earnings.

Function is one aspect. The washing machines developed and manufactured by Zhou Fengnian are very different from the current fully automatic washing machines, and the programs are more complete.

And then there’s the appearance!
As long as it is designed by Zhou Fengnian, the appearance will definitely be more like that of future generations, whether it is a car or a washing machine; when people today see it, there is an indescribable sense of comfort.

After the people from the Ministry of Light Industry took away all the technical information of the washing machine, they left Zhou Fengnian a certificate of thanks and some reward tickets.

Zhou Fengnian didn't care. He had everything he needed now. He was materially satisfied and spiritually satisfied, but his entertainment was a bit monotonous.

On Sunday, Zhou Fengnian held the child and said to Zhou Yan, "Yan Yan, you should get dressed first. I will send my son to my second sister-in-law."

Today they planned to go to the art troupe to watch a performance, and Bai Yujie gave him exactly three tickets last time.

Fifth sister has never been to the art troupe, and Zhou Yan hasn't relaxed for a long time, so the three of us went out for a walk today.

We'll go to Donglaishun for lunch at noon and come back to rest in the afternoon.

It’s a fulfilling day!
Zhou Fengnian had just walked out of the house with his son in his arms when he suddenly remembered something. He then turned to the kitchen, took out a piece of bacon, and then left home and walked towards his second brother's house.

After I shouted, my second brother quickly opened the door.

"Third brother? Why are you here with a child?"

Zhou Fengnian walked into the house and said with a smile: "I plan to go out for a walk today, and I want my second sister-in-law to help look after Xianyang. You guys can stir-fry this piece of meat for lunch."

The second sister-in-law said in a reproachful tone: "Third brother, why did you bring the bacon when you could just send the child over here?"

"As he should be. This little guy is too noisy right now. He'll be so annoying if I take care of him for half a day."

Zhou Fengnian said with a smile, put the child down, chatted for a few more words, and then left.

When he returned, his wife and sister had already packed everything.

Zhou Yan’s belly isn’t that big now, so she just needs to be careful not to overwork herself.

Zhou Fengnian said: "It's not too far, let's take the bus."

After the three of them went out and got on the bus, they arrived in about ten minutes; there was still some time before they could leave, but Zhou Fengnian and the other two checked their tickets in advance.

After finding a seat, we waited for the performance to start. Soon more and more people came in, and when it was almost time, the performance on stage began.

A song and dance and a stage play, at their core, are both inspiring.

Zhou Fengnian watched the whole thing and thought the performance was okay, with both the lines and the voice being very infectious; he was fine, but the two people around him were almost wiping tears.

After watching the fourth show, it was time to end at noon.

Zhou Fengnian let Zhou Yan hold his arm and slowly followed the crowd outside.

After coming out, Zhou Yan couldn't help but say, "Fengnian, that actress just performed really well. Can I take a photo with her? I heard that the art troupe provides group photos."

Zhou Xiaomei followed up and said, "Brother, I want to take a photo too."

"Let me ask for you. Wait here for me."

After Zhou Fengnian finished speaking, he went to ask the staff here.

The staff member left for a while, and when he came back told Zhou Fengnian that he could take a photo, but he had to pay for developing the photos himself.

After hearing this, Zhou Fengnian went outside to pick up Zhou Yan and Zhou Xiaomei, and then followed the staff of the Municipal Art Troupe to the backstage.

"Wait here for a moment, I'll go call the photographer"

The staff took them to the back of the stage and left to call for help.

While waiting, Zhou Yan said excitedly: "They performed really well, Fengnian, the whole audience applauded them just now."

Zhou Fengnian nodded and said, "It's indeed OK, Yanyan. You have good looks too. If you had signed up for the art troupe, you might have been selected."

Zhou Yan said with a smile: "I can't do that. I almost got rejected when I was selected as an announcer. But if I had joined the art troupe, I wouldn't have met you."

Zhou Fengnian also laughed when he heard this: "Hahahaha"

Zhou Xiaomei, who was standing by, suddenly felt a little redundant, as if there was an invisible force pushing her away.

Just as they were chatting, a few people suddenly came from the other corner.

When Zhou Yan saw the girls coming over, she was so happy that she was about to say hello.

But before he could open his mouth, he heard them say, "What a hassle, why do we have to take a group photo after the performance?"

"Stop talking, Tang Yu, just take two photos."

"That's exactly what I said, just watch the performance, if we take photos one by one, we won't have to rest.
I should have talked to the group leader and cancelled the group photo. Hey, I heard that foreign countries never force us to do this or that, except in China."

"Stop talking, Yuyu."

Another girl spoke up to remind them that they had noticed Zhou Fengnian and the other two standing at the backstage entrance.

Zhou Fengnian also recognized these three women as the leading actors of the second stage play, so he turned around and said, "Let's go. Don't take a photo. It's too uncomfortable to take a photo with these people."

"Well, I'll listen to you, Fengnian."

After Zhou Yan finished speaking, she took Zhou Fengnian's hand and prepared to leave.

The three girls who were performing were feeling a little guilty because of what they had just said, but now when they heard Zhou Fengnian's words, it was as if he was calling them rats and bedbugs, so Tang Yu, who had complained the most, stood up and said loudly:

"Stop, who were you talking about!?"

(End of this chapter)