Rebirth in 1960, My Industrial Age

Chapter 322: Acquaintances Stop the Car (Subscription Request)

Zhou Fengnian is now busy with everything, and the free time he has every day is saved by him being lazy.

If you go to FAW to provide technical guidance, you must definitely go to the local area for inspection, and then conduct research and summary from various aspects such as technology and production process.

It is impossible to just give one technology and be done with it. If no one promotes it, even ten technologies will not be able to save the big car manufacturers.

A round trip would take at least a month, and Zhou Fengnian didn't have that much time.

Although he didn't say it explicitly, Deputy Leader Li knew in his heart that there was no hope in asking Zhou Fengnian to help with technical guidance.

Moreover, at a level like his, he would definitely have to report to a higher-level leader if he was away for a month, otherwise the people above him would be more anxious than he is.

Zhou Fengnian was a little angry that they didn't fight back. There was a good foundation more than ten years ago, but they ended up ruining it like this.

However, Deputy Director Li will most likely consider following the joint venture factory's suggestion. A joint venture is not a win-win situation for everyone. The foreigners are definitely after profits.

If they were allowed to obtain key core technologies effortlessly, the joint venture would be scrapped; now that the core components are separated out for production, they can be preserved.

The two parties in the joint venture are simply playing a game of chess, and it will depend on who has the better move.

After leaving the First Ministry of Machine Building, it was almost time to get off work, but Zhou Fengnian had no intention of lazing around and going home today as there were still a lot of things waiting for him to deal with in the ministry.

After returning to the office, Zhou Fengnian specifically asked Gu Wenjie about the joint venture and factory merger and when the meeting was held.

"Just last week, departments directly under the civilian factories all went there, so of course we have to go too."

Gu Wenjie said after hearing this: "But our civilian electronics factories are said to be civilian, but according to your plan, they will all be involved in military and national defense in the future, so before I even opened my mouth, the leader rejected it, haha.
After that I just went through the motions, listened to other people’s speeches and came back.”

How many civilian factories were managed by the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building? No more than ten. The least important one was probably the electronic radio factory, but this factory was looked down upon.

In fact, foreigners were most interested in the Shenzhou Computer Factory, but no leader dared to mention it.

After hearing this, he shook his head and refused, and even used the most important company in the other country as an example, asking them whether they were willing to sell their most important company.

It's simply a fantasy. How dare they get involved in their Shenzhou computer factory?
With a net profit of $600 to $700 million a year and no shortage of technology or supporting electronic components, they would have to be fools to agree to this.

Whoever dares to agree, Zhou Fengnian doesn’t need to say anything, the more than 10,000 workers at the Shenzhou Computer Factory can teach them how to behave.

Gu Wenjie said: "It's actually the business of the First Ministry of Machine Building and the Ministry of Light Industry. They manage the most factories for people's livelihood, and the factories selected this time are all from these two departments. We are just going through the motions.
Fengnian, why do you suddenly ask this? "

"Deputy Leader Li from the First Ministry of Machinery Industry, he is my old leader. He asked me something today, about the joint venture with SAIC."

After Zhou Fengnian finished speaking, he continued, "The old leader also wants me to go to the Northeast to give some advice on the technical optimization of FAW Automobile Factory."

"That won't do. The Fourth Machine Department can't do without you!"

After listening to this, Gu Wenjie said immediately without thinking.

Zhou Fengnian is a treasure in the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building. Several important development plans were formulated by him and it is impossible to leave him.

Only after working with Zhou Fengnian can you understand the benefits of working with a top scientific research talent.

There won't be any trouble at all with technical matters. As long as you help him solve his worries, you can achieve results continuously.

The wireless communications factory and the drone factory have only been in operation for three years, but they have already opened branches in twelve cities across the country, and their profits in the second year have reached 67 million.

Moreover, it will be responsible for laying the national communications network. It is not only a goose that lays golden eggs, but also has a heavy responsibility.

Not to mention the drone factory, which is highly valued by the troops. It was originally thought that the border battle with the Southern Monkeys would last for ten years, but the Southern Monkeys were beaten back last year.

Now, let alone the border, they directly withdrew twenty miles from the border and established a defense line against China here.

The biggest credit for this situation goes to the drone factory. Even if the Southern Monkey discovered the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft in the sky, it had no way to deal with it.

Every time they harassed, the border troops retaliated twice. With aerial bombings and surprise attacks and decapitations by small teams, as well as infrared reconnaissance from the sky, the Southern Monkeys simply couldn't withstand it.

In the end, they could not bear this kind of damage. Even though the Russians repeatedly urged them to send support, the Southern Monkeys dared not harass the Chinese border anymore.

Zhou Fengnian built these two factories casually without putting all his energy into them. If Zhou Fengnian had focused on developing these two factories, perhaps Asia's first drone factory and Asia's first communications center would have emerged.

"Feng Nian, the department needs to develop this year, but it can't do without you."

"I know. I have a lot to do, but some things don't really require me. How about we hold an internal meeting to adjust the work content?"

Zhou Fengnian thought for a moment and said, "The UAV factory and the wireless communication factory will be closed every quarter.
No, just report to me every six months. From now on, I will only take care of technical issues, and you can share the other matters."

Gu Wenjie asked in astonishment: "Why did you suddenly stop caring about things?"

"I'm already too busy to handle too many things. This year I've been given the new position of director of the Robotics Institute and I have to supervise students. To be honest, I don't have much time left."

Zhou Fengnian shook his head and said that he was serious. From now on, he would only focus on the development direction and would no longer care about other trivial matters.

The work needs to be redistributed, otherwise he will be exhausted to death.

"Okay, if you really want to, let's have a meeting tomorrow afternoon to discuss it."

Gu Wenjie nodded and consoled him: "If you feel tired, just tell me, Fengnian. I know the burden you are carrying."

"Really? I just happen to be a little tired lately."

"Hold on a little longer, we're almost retiring at this age."

Zhou Fengnian rolled his eyes after hearing this and then left Gu Wenjie's office.

If he retires at the age of 63, he will have to work for at least another 20 years. Gu Wenjie will be relieved. If he persists for another five or six years, he probably will not choose to continue working at that time.

If you don't have too much desire for power, it's good to be an old retired cadre. The country will take care of your daily life perfectly in the future, and you basically don't have to worry about anything.

After Zhou Fengnian returned to his office, he saw several new documents on his desk that needed to be processed. He couldn't help but sigh, then sat down at his seat and continued to work.

He now suddenly wanted to hand over the trivial matters of the Shenzhou Computer Factory. Wouldn't it be great as long as he could understand the development status every six months and control the technological upgrades?

This idea suddenly popped up in Zhou Fengnian's mind. He felt that as long as he could keep the development direction unchanged and the technology updated, he would not have to worry about things like staff promotion and welfare benefits.

I'll have to talk about this tomorrow too.

After work today, Zhou Fengnian worked for another hour. After finishing his work, he went downstairs and took a taxi to go home.

However, just after Zhou Fengnian got in the car and drove out of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building, the vehicle suddenly braked, causing Zhou Fengnian to almost hit the back of the seat in front of him.

"What's wrong, Zhao Qiang?"

Zhou Fengnian asked. Zhao Qiang had been driving for him for more than ten years, so this kind of mistake shouldn't have happened.

"Leader, please don't get out of the car yet, someone is trying to stop us."

After Zhao Qiang finished speaking, he touched his gun and opened the car door. Then the security guard standing guard at the gate of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building also came over. Stopping the deputy leader's car at their door? Didn't they think their security guards didn't exist?

Zhou Fengnian tilted his head to look, and saw that there was indeed someone blocking the car, but he didn't seem to be a gangster. He was holding his hands high to be inspected, and Zhou Fengnian thought he looked familiar.
"Mr. Zhou, it's me. I'm Yang Tianbing, the team leader at Huaxia Machine Tool Factory."

After hearing what was being shouted outside, Zhou Fengnian suddenly remembered who this person was, so he got out of the car and said to him, "Zhao Qiang, this is a comrade from FAW, let him come over."

After hearing this, Zhao Qiang said, "I understand, leader."

However, he still checked Yang Tianbing to see if he had any weapons before letting him get in the car. He also explained the situation to the security guard at the gate of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building.

After getting back in the car, Zhou Fengnian asked, "Comrade Tian Bing, what are you doing? Stopping a car is very dangerous. If the driver wasn't an experienced one, I might have crashed into it."

It is very dangerous to stop a senior leader's car. If the driver determines that it is an enemy spy attack, he can just drive into it.

Yang Tianbing quickly apologized: "Mr. Zhou... Leader, I'm so sorry, I really wanted to see you. I missed you at the First Ministry of Machine Building before, and then I came to the gate of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building to wait for you."

Zhou Fengnian asked: "Why don't you come in to see me?"

"I have already registered, but you may not have time until tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, so I'm in a hurry. I'm really sorry, leader." Yang Tianbing said quickly. He had no choice. After hearing from Deputy Leader Li that there was little hope, he came to the door in a hurry and tried to stop the car.

The foreign regulations and restrictions affect not only SAIC, but the entire Chinese automobile manufacturing industry.

Although FAW still has a domestic market, if it is unable to export, their losses will be too great and the current factory scale will not be able to be maintained for long.

"Let's drive to my house first. If it's late, I'll ask Zhao Qiang to take you back. We haven't seen each other for more than ten years.

I have used up all the deer antler and tiger bone wine you gave me. They are of really good quality."

Zhou Fengnian smiled and said, then let Zhao Qiang drive.

After Yang Tianbing returned, he also sent some Northeast specialties to Zhou Fengnian. Later, when Zhou Fengnian wanted to buy something, he also contacted him. After all, Yang Tianbing was the director of a large local factory.

More than ten years have passed, and now I have become the factory director.

There was no need to go back to the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building to discuss matters at this time, nor was there any need to go to a restaurant. It would be better to go to his home to discuss it. Anyway, his chef’s skills were not bad. Master Yang had learned a few tricks from him recently and had made considerable progress.

Yang Tianbing said quickly: "Leader, as long as you like it, I will find some for you when I go back. I dare not say anything else, but the Northeast has a lot of wild game."

"No, no, you can't accept it now. If you accept it again, it will be a mistake."

"It's a personal relationship, what does it have to do with mistakes? If it doesn't work, I'll charge you a little money and I'll just buy it for you."

Yang Tianbing quickly said that at worst they could just resell it at the cost price that the mountain villagers paid for it. That would be no problem at all, it was just like helping out by running errands.

"Comrade Tian Bing, I know why you came to me. Please tell me about the situation of your factory. Although I know a little about the technical transformation of automobiles, I can't give you any advice without understanding the situation."

Zhou Fengnian paused for a moment, then continued, “Besides, I’m really busy now.

Deputy Leader Li has already told you, I am responsible for more things, and I don’t even care about the Huaxia Machine Tool Factory. "

"Yes, Mr. Zhou, I know this matter troubles you. FAW previously had a key project on heavy trucks, and we have done a good job in this area."

Yang Tianbing quickly introduced Zhou Fengnian to the matter. He had not been in the Ministry of First Machine Building for a long time and usually did not take the initiative to inquire about things, so naturally he was not aware of these things.

However, FAW had earned a lot of foreign exchange by learning and transforming, exporting sedans and Jiefang pickup trucks, and with the support of the state, they had also developed considerably.

It's just that the previous factory director made a mistake. He was determined to expand the production of cars and increase exports.

It may be that they saw that other factories were exporting very quickly, and coupled with the current reform and opening up, they all want to make every effort to earn foreign exchange.

As a result, the foreigners have strangled them, which is a terrible situation. Now it seems that they have only two options left. One is to support the supporting manufacturing factories and carry out technical improvements so that the products meet the standards of foreigners and can continue to be exported.

But if they can get stuck once, they can get stuck a second time.

The other option is to do as SAIC does, accept joint ventures and factory mergers, introduce foreign parts, and improve production processes as a sign of surrender.

The previous factory director did not make any choice but chose to retire and handed over the business to Yang Tianbing.

The result was that Yang Tianbing was also a little confused. After learning about the situation in the factory, he didn't know what to do, and the engineers in the factory couldn't give him a good solution.

It would probably take another three or four years for the transformation, but their factory couldn't last that long.

When Yang Tianbing finished speaking, the two had already arrived at Zhou Fengnian's house. He was still talking when he got off the car just now. After Gong Lin brought the tea, he had just finished introducing the situation in the factory.

"Leader Zhou, this is the current situation of FAW. If we want to survive now, it seems that there is no other way except to accept foreign investment."

Yang Tianbing said exhaustedly that he had been running around for the factory these past two days, but still couldn't find a feasible solution.

"One incompetent general brings trouble to the entire army. Did your former factory director just walk away like that?"

Zhou Fengnian shook his head and said, "I haven't heard Deputy Leader Li say that. Are you hiding this from him?"

"I was thinking of learning something from you, Mr. Zhou."

"Comrade Tian Bing, do you think I am the Buddha? Can such a thing be concealed?"

Zhou Fengnian was so angry that he laughed. He was planning to trick him first and then hand the bomb to him.

"Leader Zhou, I was planning to confess to you when I saw you. I know this kind of thing cannot be concealed, but the factory still has sufficient funds, with more than 20 million yuan left."

Yang Tianbing quickly explained that it was impossible to hide the addition of several new production lines, as they could be discovered by going to their factory.

"What can you do with more than 20 million? Do you think this is the 1950s, Comrade Tian Bing?"

Zhou Fengnian's words choked Yang Tianbing so much that he was speechless. He kept admitting his mistake and apologizing to Zhou Fengnian.

The room fell silent for a while. Zhou Fengnian was also thinking. He could do nothing about it. It couldn't be blamed on him.

Yang Tianbing seemed to see what Zhou Fengnian was thinking, and quickly pleaded, "Leader Zhou, only you can save FAW now."

"Don't rush me, I'm still thinking."

Zhou Fengnian waved his hand and said, after thinking for a while, he said to Yang Tianbing: "Just listening to what you said, I'm not sure, and I can't leave easily.
You go back to the factory first and compile a copy of your factory's information for me, or you can stay and have your factory's people compile it and send it to Sijiucheng."

"Yes, yes, I understand. Thank you, Mr. Zhou."

Yang Tianbing understood the meaning of Zhou Fengnian's words and thanked him excitedly.

"Don't thank me yet, this is all nonsense. It's just you, Yang Tianbing. If it were someone else, I would definitely not even think about it. There is no way I would agree to such an unreasonable request."

Zhou Fengnian regretted asking Yang Tianbing to buy medicinal materials. Although Li Huaide could help, he couldn't get much of the good medicine he needed, so he contacted Yang Tianbing, a local man.

Yang Tianbing was also happy to help, and in the process he bought him nearly a thousand yuan worth of ginseng and other medicinal materials.

"Comrade Tian Bing, please help your factory sort out the information quickly. I need to at least understand it in detail before I can come up with a solution."

"Okay, I'll call the factory when I get back."

Yang Tianbing agreed without thinking, and then prepared to return to the guesthouse.

Zhou Fengnian said after seeing this: "Why are you in such a hurry? Your factory must be off work, so stay for dinner."

"There's someone on duty, boss. For something like this, the sooner the better. If it's quick, we can get on the train tomorrow afternoon."

Yang Tianbing had no time to even think about having a meal now. Saving the factory was the top priority. If the former factory director had not promoted him, he would have started cursing long ago.

If the production line had not been expanded, FAW would have had many ways to save itself with so much capital.

But now it's only 20 million. Yang Tianbing was glad that Zhou Fengnian just challenged him with words instead of scolding him directly.

Spending 20 million to save a factory is no different from a joke.

When Yang Tianbing was about to leave, Zhou Yan just opened the door and came back. Seeing someone coming home, she couldn't help but ask, "Fengnian, who is this?"

"Sister-in-law, I came here to talk to my boss. I have to leave now because of something."

"Oh, have you eaten yet?"

"No, no, I have something else to do. I have to go back and make a phone call."

Yang Tianbing bowed, then said goodbye and left.

After everyone left, Zhou Yan came to Zhou Fengnian and asked, "Fengnian, he calls me sister-in-law. But why do I feel that he is older than me?"

Zhou Fengnian smiled and said, "To get closer to you, what else can I call you other than sister-in-law? I can't call you sister-in-law."

If a factory director wants to be the brother of the deputy leader of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building, he needs to have a great heart to do it.

(End of this chapter)