Rebirth in 1960, My Industrial Age

Chapter 360: Internal meeting finalized, son comes to pick up

The current communications industry is still a blank, but Sijiu City can be built immediately. The wireless communications factory has already built digital communications base stations.

But the business department has not been set up yet. Being able to make phone calls is just the beginning. The subsequent operations and maintenance are the big deal.

After all, making mobile phones is just the beginning. A mobile phone can be used for several years, and the communication costs in the next few years will be more expensive than the mobile phone.

Zhou Fengnian finished talking about digital communications with Gu Wenjie and others, explaining everything in detail and how to operate and develop it in the future.

During the period, Pan Heng was also asked to talk about the plan for operation and maintenance of communications, but these were all told to him by Zhou Fengnian, and now he was asked to let Pan Heng show himself.

After they had almost finished listening, the room fell silent for a moment. They were still digesting what Zhou Fengnian and Pan Heng had said.

"So, next we have to do a good job of maintaining operational communications, which is also the focus. But Comrade Fengnian, how many people will this require?"

Luo Yifeng touched his chin and asked. He quickly realized the key point. Before, apart from Zhou Fengnian, he was the only one in the department who had been exposed to the most new technologies and knew the most about these things.

If we roll out all the mobile phone and telecommunication services, how many people will be needed across the country?

If this continues, a wireless communications factory may be larger than the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building, and will be very important; after all, mobile phones are much more convenient than telephones, and are also cheaper than telephones.

Zhou Fengnian turned around and said, "Director Pan, you go ahead and talk."

Pan Heng nodded, and then said: "Take Sijiu City as an example, at least one hundred more positions are needed to cope with the current communication operations."

He was talking about two urban areas. If communication base stations are expanded to all districts and counties in the city in the future, there will definitely be more people in need.

Gu Wenjie was also surprised when he heard this: "So many people? If you add up the other cities, there must be more than 100,000 people."

More than 100,000 employees, more than their four machine-building ministries, but this is still necessary.

Isn't it enough for a factory to manage so many people? And the power is too much.

It’s not that they want more, but when the number of people reaches a certain level, they will definitely split up.

Aren’t the electronics industry and the steel industry both industries? Aren’t they split into two sectors?

"Not a lot, and probably more than 100,000. How many bicycles were there in the early 1950s? How many are there now? Almost every household has one."

Zhou Fengnian said: "Mobile phones will definitely become a household necessity in the future. When you are out and about, you can quickly contact people. It is possible that everyone will have one.
Moreover, once a bicycle is sold, the bicycle factory does not need to take care of it, but once a mobile phone is sold, it needs to be maintained at all times.”

With Zhou Fengnian's easy-to-understand explanation, others in the conference room quickly realized the importance of communication maintenance.

They quickly made a decision in their minds that the communication maintenance business must be established quickly, but whether or not to build a wireless communication factory remained to be discussed.

Han Hui said, "I have no objection to this matter, but to maintain the communication operation business, should we build a new factory or a new department to be responsible for this matter?"

"I think it's OK, if it really goes as expected just now."

"Wait, that doesn't make sense. When I first envisioned building a wireless communications factory, it was for nationwide communications, and the pager was just for accumulating funds."

Zhou Fengnian interrupted them and continued, "If they don't let the wireless communication factory be responsible for communication operations, then they will have to change their name. Isn't this going too far instead of near?"

"If you ask me, we can separate the manufacturing workshop and let the wireless communication factory be responsible for base station installation and communication operation."

After hearing what Zhou Fengnian said, Han Hui and other people in the room also realized that the name of the wireless communications factory was "communication".

It seems that Zhou Fengnian really wanted to do communications in the beginning.

Gu Wenjie said: "Fengnian, you were thinking really far ahead at that time."

"This is not far away, it should have been done long ago. I have always reminded you to pay attention to this aspect, but the previous factory manager was only thinking about making money from pagers.
I can’t tell the difference between the primary and the secondary. Otherwise, I would have been able to get a digital phone by the end of last year, and this year I can see people using digital phones to make calls on the street.”

Zhou Fengnian once again brought up the previous factory director named Zhao. This person was not recommended by him, so he spoke without restraint, and he had indeed done something bad.

It's bad enough that you have no vision, but you can't perfectly carry out your superiors' wishes, so you should be transferred.

"Then let the wireless communication factory take charge? But if you calculate it this way, there will be too many employees, which will be difficult to manage."

"Let's separate the production workshop and make it special for manufacturing communication equipment. We can also set up a branch factory."

"Report to the higher-ups, Comrade Fengnian. Have you prepared a plan?"

"No, we haven't reached a consensus yet and have yet to come up with a plan. I'm sure you guys won't be happy with what I say."

"."

After hearing the discussions of these leaders, Pan Heng, who was standing by, felt fortunate that his leader was Zhou Fengnian, who had always been helping him fight for his rights.

If he didn't have a backer, he would probably have even lost the power to operate the communications business.

In front of these people, he, the factory director, is nothing at all, and his power is not even as great as that of some department directors.

After discussing for a while in the conference room, Zhou Fengnian and his colleagues finalized a preliminary plan.

The Wireless Communications Factory was upgraded to the communications business department of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building, and Pan Heng continued to be the department director; it was temporarily designated as the deputy bureau level, and there was no change in Pan Heng's position.

However, Pan Heng knew that this was only temporary. Once the communications business developed, his position would definitely be promoted to a higher level, and this business would definitely develop quickly.

In three years, the communications business will surely develop, at least not worse than the current paging business.

By then, Pan Heng will naturally be promoted to the rank of director-general, which will be a very fast progress.

He is only a few years older than Zhou Fengnian, and will be around 47 or 48 years old in three years.

After the meeting, relevant personnel will draft a formal document, and then Gu Wenjie and Zhou Fengnian will report to the leaders together.

I'll go find someone tomorrow, and if things go well, it'll be approved the day after tomorrow.

After returning to the office, Wang Mingjie quickly brought two cups of freshly brewed tea. Pan Heng thanked him and took them. Then he said to Zhou Fengnian with a grateful look:

"Leader, thank you so much for your support just now, otherwise I might have nothing to do with this matter."

Zhou Fengnian shook his head and said, "It should have been yours in the first place, and this department might just be a transition. You just need to do your best when the time comes."

This seems to be a lucrative job, and the ministry will definitely not separate the communications department. It is useless for Zhou Fengnian to say it now.

However, as the communications business grows larger and larger, it will no longer be under the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building.

Next, the workshop producing equipment will probably be separated out. After all, the wireless communications factory is getting bigger and bigger, and Zhou Fengnian has clearly stated that he wants to move overseas, so more workers will definitely be needed in the future.

The development of domestic and international communications business should be based on a 30:70 ratio, with 70% of the focus placed on prosperous areas abroad. After occupying the market and making money, we can then slowly develop domestic business.

Zhou Fengnian and Pan Heng talked a lot about the development of communications, and the latter wrote down everything. It was already noon when they finished talking, so Pan Heng had a meal in the department before returning to the factory.

He had to prepare in advance for things that were basically passed. In the afternoon, when work was over, Zhou Fengnian picked up his briefcase and prepared to go home.

When there is technical research, Zhou Fengnian will not waste any time; but when there is no technical research, he will not waste any time either.

I got up and went home almost on time.

After going out, he said something to Wang Mingjie and then went downstairs. At this time, the driver was already waiting downstairs.

After getting in the car, Zhou Fengnian picked up a book and started reading.

However, he felt that the car had not been driving out for long when it stopped. Before Zhou Fengnian could ask, the driver in front turned around and said, "Leader, your son is blocking the road ahead."

The driver also knew Zhou Xianyang, so he did not warn when he saw him blocking the road.

"Ok?"

Zhou Fengnian looked up and saw Zhou Xianyang jogging towards his car outside the window.

However, when he got closer, Zhou Xianyang did not get in the car immediately. He knocked on the car window and smiled at Zhou Fengnian, "Dad, didn't you ask me to come find you? Take my car back today."

"I asked you to come to me as soon as possible, but you took a whole day to come."

However, Zhou Fengnian did not argue with his son. He turned to the driver and said, "Xiao Li, I will take my son's car back today. You can take a day off."

The driver said, "Leader, I'll follow you. I'll go back after you get home."

Although nothing has happened recently, they cannot just go back carelessly and must provide protection nearby.

"Okay, I'll trouble you."

After Zhou Fengnian finished speaking, he got out of the car and got into Zhou Xianyang's car. After his son started the car, Zhou Fengnian asked, "Where are we going?"

"Let's go to Bian Yi Fang first. Qing'an wants to eat roast duck. He said he has been holding back from eating it for a while and now he is craving for it."

Zhou Xianyang smiled and said, "Grandma doesn't let her eat it, so I have to secretly send it to her."

"Why send it secretly? Why don't you ask the doctor to write a prescription and then show it to your grandma? She doesn't understand anyway. Between the local prescription and the doctor's words, your grandma will definitely listen to the latter."

Zhou Xianyang was stunned after hearing this, and said with some surprise: "Dad, you still have a trick, grandpa and grandma are simply played in your hands.

Now grandma's folk remedies are of no use. Qing'an was very uncomfortable yesterday, but he really doesn't have to work anymore."

To put it simply, it was a mixture of pain and happiness. Bai Qing'an served her comfortably, but her food was restricted.

"Go, if you can't speak, don't speak. This is called attacking the enemy's plan."

Zhou Fengnian scolded with a smile, and then said, "Did anyone contact you yesterday?"

"Yes, Lu Junfeng from the Robotics Research Institute said he wanted to talk to me, but I didn't have time at that time. The appointment was made tomorrow."

Zhou Xianyang said as he turned the steering wheel that when he heard about the Robotics Research Institute, he thought of his father.

However, at that time, the affairs at the factory and at home were combined. After he arranged the affairs at the factory, he immediately came to the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building to "block" Zhou Fengnian.

"Dad, what did he want from me? Did you ask him to do that?"

Zhou Fengnian said: "Yes, aren't you planning to research batteries? The Robotics Research Institute also needs to research batteries, but they are short of money. You can join forces to acquire two battery factories and then reform them into a joint-stock company."

"Join hands to acquire the company? Dad, I'll definitely pay the most, right? How much can the research institute contribute?"

Zhou Xianyang had a bad feeling. Although he signed an export order worth more than 30 million US dollars, he only received a deposit.

However, the expenses are also high. After building a new factory, and the promised benefits and investments, Zhou Xianyang now only has more than 10 million yuan.

"The institute doesn't have a penny, but they have people. Basically, it can be considered that you pay, but the institute can mobilize a scientific research team."

Zhou Fengnian was halfway through his speech when he noticed Zhou Xianyang's look and couldn't help but slap him on the back of the head.

"What's that look in your eyes? Do you think I'm trying to trick you? Now that you have money, you may be able to hire a few researchers, but you definitely can't hire any great ones, and the institute can easily transfer a team here."

And the most important thing is background and resources. No matter how bad the Robotics Research Institute is, it is still an institute under the Academy of Sciences. Although Zhou Fengnian can make connections, he can't do too much.

He cannot try his best to divert the country's resources to his own son, as that would be digging into the country's corner.

The matchmaking cooperation is still feasible. The research institute is short of money, while Zhou Xianyang has money, and both parties are just going in the same direction.

Zhou Xianyang also knew that this was a good thing. He had worked so hard to recruit people before, but in the end, few were willing to follow him.

If he could cooperate with the research institute, he wouldn't have to worry about technical issues. Besides, his father was there and would definitely not let him suffer any loss.

"I really need batteries recently, and I asked them for them, but they acted like they were worth 2.58 million, saying that's it, don't ask for it."

Zhou Xianyang felt sick when he thought of the battery factory in the south.

However, they are one of the best battery factories in China, and apart from them, we can't find any other suitable people.

"Dad, how much does it cost to buy a battery factory?"

"Well, according to the shareholding reform, the battery manufacturer in Jinkou should cost more than 20 million yuan. There is another more suitable one in Henan Province, which may also cost more than 20 million yuan."

"I don't have that much. The factory's account book now has more than 10 million, and Uncle Pan will be able to pay me more than 5 million next month."

Zhou Xianyang said with some embarrassment that Feiyang Electric Appliance Factory now has two sources of income, one is the export orders from the Canton Fair, which have been shipped out and paid for now.

The other is the portable music players that the wireless communication factory helps them sell, which brings them some money every month.

Now Feiyang Electric Appliance Factory and another music player factory have stepped up production and it is estimated that the project can be completed within expectations. However, that is all. This is the most money Zhou Xianyang can make at the moment.

Zhou Fengnian said casually: "Go to the bank to borrow money. Your factory is just temporarily unable to operate, it is not financially bankrupt. It will be able to turn around in one or two years. Banks like to lend money to factories like you.
Wasn’t the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China just established a while ago? If you apply, it will probably be approved in a week.”

Now everyone in the city knows that Feiyang Electric Factory has won an order worth more than 30 million US dollars. If you lend money to Feiyang Electric Factory, there will be absolute security.

Zhou Xianyang asked in doubt: "ICBC. I've heard of it. Will they lend it to me?"

"They were established to provide credit to factories and enterprises. Otherwise, why do you think it is called ICBC?"

After Zhou Fengnian finished speaking, he saw the car stop and planned to get off to go to Bianyifang to buy a roast duck to take back.

It seemed like he hadn't eaten out in a restaurant for a while, and he always went to his eldest brother Zhou Weitian's restaurant.

(End of this chapter)