Rebirth in 1960, My Industrial Age

Chapter 82: Get off work before the New Year (Subscription Request)

After preparing the meal for Li He and others, Zhou Fengnian went up to sit with them.

Among those at the dinner table, except for Luo Cheng, the head of the technical department, he had the lowest rank.

However, Li Hetong kept asking Zhou Fengnian questions. In addition to enjoying the food, he also asked Zhou Fengnian what he planned to do next year.

The tasks of the technical department are very flexible. In addition to guiding technology and solving technical problems, the more important ones are process reform and technology upgrades.

Most ordinary technicians are unable to upgrade their technology, but Zhou Fengnian definitely has the ability to do so.

From previous conversations and reports, Li Hetong and others were fully certain that the CNC machine tool was developed under the leadership of Zhou Fengnian.

".Leader, Mr. Luo and I plan to continue to deepen the field of CNC automation, and strive to ensure that the machines will not stop working for 24 hours without the need for workers to operate them.

All you have to do is move the raw materials to the transfer port, and someone on the other side will receive the finished parts.”

".However, this requires a more powerful computing system. I plan to continue to establish a research team with the Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering of Tsinghua University, and strive to fully realize this goal next year or the year after."

Zhou Fengnian revealed his plan. The domestic machine tool level was not weak from the beginning, and even if it lagged behind a little, the gap would not be difficult to catch up.

Due to various reasons, there was no development afterwards, and decades of time were wasted.

If they do it well and achieve what Zhou Fengnian just said, they will be able to export the next batch of machine tools. This way, they can export several years earlier than the Europeans and Americans and make money that they cannot make.

"Okay, Xiao Zhou, if you have any ideas, just bring them up. If the factory can't satisfy you, come to the ministry and find me. I'll find a solution for you."

After listening to Zhou Fengnian’s grand ambitions, Li Hetong said with a smile.

Deputy Director Gao quickly said, "Don't worry, leader. Our factory attaches great importance to the technical department."

Li Zhengyang on the side also nodded, and at the same time thought secretly in his heart that it was fortunate that he had adjusted Zhang Anhong's job as well.

Otherwise, if the leaders knew that Zhou Fengnian was wronged in the machinery factory, they would most likely use this as an excuse to transfer him away.

"Xiao Zhou, the machine tools you developed can greatly improve the domestic industrial development. However, most regions in the country are tightening their belts now, and the rewards are not much. I feel sorry for you."

Li Hetong said earnestly that the belt was too tight in the past few years, and some supply has just been restored this year. It will take another one or two years to fully restore the supply.

There were not as many dishes on the table as the one next door. There was only one meat dish and one fish, a total of two meat dishes, which were just to entertain Li Hetong, the leader of the ministry.

The table for entertaining professors and students was much more sumptuous, also to attract college students.

Zhou Fengnian immediately said: "Leader, the reward is already very generous, enough for my family to spend for a long time, I don't feel wronged at all.

I will try my best to fill whatever the country needs, and that is what I should do."

"Well, just for that, I have to toast you."

Li Hetong picked up the wine glass and said, "But there is no wine to drink during working hours, the glass is filled with tea."

Zhou Fengnian raised his glass and said, "It's my turn to toast you, leader."

Except Zhou Fengnian and Luo Cheng, everyone else has work in the afternoon, so if they don't have to go to work, it's okay to have a couple of drinks.

Not long after lunch, seven military trucks arrived, drove into the machinery factory and directly surrounded the machine tool workshop.

Now, apart from the military transport teams, even the senior workers in the machine tool workshop have left.

Li Hetong handed over the machine tool to the military, and then moved the disassembled and packed machine tool parts onto the truck. After confirming that everything was correct, he sent the people away. The work was over.

Later, Li Hetong and his group also left. Zhou Fengnian and Luo Cheng went to see Professor Xie and Professor Feng off.

Luo Cheng knew Zhou Fengnian's plan, and when he was seeing him off, he kept persuading his old friend Feng Xiangwen to talk to the school when he returned and try to establish a cooperation intention with the machinery factory as soon as the project started next year.

After sending the people away, Zhou Fengnian and Luo Cheng were completely fine.

By the end of the year, factories of all sizes had basically completed their planned tasks for the year, and some factories had even shut down their machines early.

After completing the planned tasks, there is no need to turn on the machine again, otherwise it would be a waste of resources.

After returning to the technical department office, Zhou Fengnian poured two cups of hot water, then rubbed his hands and said, "Engineer Luo, I saw that you were more anxious than I was just now. You asked Professor Feng so many questions that he was speechless. Haha."

"Old Feng is a person who easily forgets things if you don't push him hard."

Luo Cheng smiled and said, "I will push a few more times after the New Year, and try to finalize the matter in the first month of construction."

"The first month? Engineer Luo, this is too hasty. We haven't come up with a plan yet."

Zhou Fengnian smacked his lips and said, although he had an almost perfect idea in his mind, with Luo Cheng's enthusiasm, didn't he plan to complete it within a year?

But there's no need to rush. His plan is to develop and manufacture it within two years, which is already very fast.

Two years later, it was only 1964. If we had realized a CNC automated production line at that time, we would still be at the world's leading level.

At this time, foreigners may have just come up with this concept, and it will take at least a few years to research and manufacture it, but China has already manufactured it and is completely one step ahead.

"I'm not in a hurry, I just want to see it sooner."

After Luo Cheng finished speaking, he shook his head and remained silent. Only he knew what he was thinking.

If I go to the northwest, I will definitely be assigned other tasks, and there is a high probability that I will not be able to participate in the completion of this project.

"Don't worry, Engineer Luo, I will try to speed up. I will start drafting the plan tomorrow. Is that okay?"

Zhou Fengnian said helplessly that he had not planned to work before the New Year, but he had been working hard for half a year. Even though the physical work was not heavy, he was always tense mentally.

But looking at Luo Cheng's expression, it seemed as if he was very uncomfortable seeing him resting, so Zhou Fengnian had no choice but to slowly draft a plan.

Luo Cheng laughed and said, "Don't be too tired. I'll help you. I'll make something good with the New Year's goods the factory gave me. You can take yours home for the New Year."

"Then I'll be polite. I'll cook tonight."

Zhou Fengnian immediately smiled and said that the New Year's goods distributed by Deputy Director Gao were quite generous, with six kilograms of cured meat, ten kilograms of rice and flour each, and some pork and eggs.

I don’t know about the other things, but the cured meat must have been obtained by Deputy Director Gao from the Northeast, probably because of his connections.

There are so many New Year's goods, which are private rewards, and the factory still has to close before the holiday.

Even if there are ten people in a family, they can have a good New Year. If they eat frugally, they can have enough food from New Year's Eve to the fifteenth day of the lunar year.

Zhou Fengnian is not very clear about the factory benefits at Electrical Appliance Factory No. 1, but they are probably not low.

I heard that the First Electrical Appliance Factory won several large orders at the Autumn Canton Fair, which amounted to more than 6 million RMB.

So they have been working at full capacity recently. Other factories stop their machines when the Chinese New Year approaches, but the First Electrical Factory may not stop its machines until the last day.

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The next day.

“Dear leaders and workers, our factory has accomplished its tasks excellently in the past year, and the inventions of the technical department have been praised by the superiors.”

Suddenly, a notification rang out from the factory radio. Zhou Fengnian knew it was his beautiful girlfriend as soon as he heard the gentle voice. He put down the drawing in his hand, listened carefully for a while, and then a smile appeared on his face.

As soon as the broadcast ended, Zhou Fengnian said to Luo Cheng, "Mr. Luo, the factory is planning to give us an early holiday. We can hold the meeting tomorrow, collect our wages and factory benefits, and then go back to celebrate the New Year."

Luo Cheng looked up and asked in confusion: "Tomorrow is the holiday? Isn't it still a few days away?"

"We've already held a staff meeting, and after receiving the commendations and benefits, who would still want to go to work?"

Zhou Fengnian said directly, "Besides, there are no tasks in the factory. Instead of forcing the workers to stay in the factory, it is better to give them two days off early."

Luo Cheng thought about it and agreed. He and Zhou Fengnian were researching and designing a new CNC boring machine, but the other workers had no tasks.

Once the other workers leave, the factory will be closed, and there will only be people on duty to guard it.

"Alas, I was thinking of perfecting it before the New Year."

"There is always work to be done, Mr. Luo, don't think too much."

After Zhou Fengnian finished speaking, he took out a chess box and put it on the table, saying, "Let's play a game of chess and relax."

"I'll take the black chess piece, you kid."

Seeing this, Luo Cheng had no choice but to accept it. He put the drawings aside and started playing chess with Zhou Fengnian in the office.

Until the end of work tomorrow, it's just pure killing time.

Once the heat from working has worn off, it’s unrealistic to ask others to work harder. I’m not in the mood for it, and it seems a bit unreasonable.

After returning home in the evening, Zhou Fengnian started to make a fire and cook.

This year is similar to last year. Before leaving, he planned to help Luo Cheng and his wife make dumplings before going home.

"Third brother, I'm back."

When Zhou Fengnian finished cooking, Zhou Chunhua also came back from work. After greeting Aunt Li and Luo Cheng and his wife, she washed her hands and sat down with a smile.

After living in the same courtyard for more than a year, Zhou Chunhua and Luo Cheng became very familiar with each other, especially with Aunt Li, whom Zhou Chunhua often helped with housework.

There was no need to mention the matter of eating at the same table; the rations of the two families were almost mixed together.

While eating, Zhou Fengnian suddenly asked, "Chunhua, when will your factory get off work?"

Zhou Chunhua thought for a moment and said, "It should be next week. What's wrong, Third Brother?"

Zhou Fengnian said: "Oh, our factory will be closed the day after tomorrow."

Zhou Chunhua pouted immediately, feeling that her third brother did it on purpose and felt a little unhappy.

"I think the holiday is early, and Zhou Yan wants to go home with me, so I plan to go back first."

Zhou Fengnian paused for a moment and continued, "Chunhua, you can go back with your elder brother and second brother when the time comes. I will go home and rest for a few days first."

"Brother, are you going to take Sister Zhou Yan back? Is she really my sister-in-law?"

Zhou Chunhua suddenly widened her eyes and asked, "Take him back to see my parents, isn't that a safe thing?"

Aunt Li, who was standing by, couldn't help but interrupt after hearing this: "Fengnian, the girl is willing to go back with you, which means she has lowered her attitude on her own initiative. You have to treat her well."

"Don't worry, Aunt Li. Take him back to meet people. I will personally send him back before the New Year. Just relax."

Zhou Fengnian assured that Zhou Yan also wanted to see the scenery in the countryside and would not stay long.

Going to his house is a statement. Although Zhou Fengnian thinks it is unnecessary, Zhou Yan is a little determined to do so, probably to rebel against her family.

This year, the four brothers and sisters are all in the city. Even if Zhou Fengnian goes back early, Zhou Chunhua can still be with her eldest and second brothers, so there is no need to worry about their safety.

Zhou Fengnian's nephew was also sent home early and is now being taken care of by his second sister-in-law. His eldest sister-in-law gives one dollar and fifty cents a month to his second brother's family, and also provides some food.

Otherwise it would be inconvenient to bring the baby to work, and Qu Ying was also worried about leaving the baby in a nursery because there were too many people there and she was afraid she wouldn't be able to take care of it.

Luo Cheng suddenly asked: "When do you plan to get married?"

"Maybe after May, when I finish the technical grade examination of the First Ministry of Machinery Industry. Then I will go to her house to propose marriage."

Zhou Fengnian thought for a while and said that this was also a decision made after discussing with Zhou Yan.

If he passed the eighth-level engineer exam in one go, it would definitely shock everyone in the Zhou family.

It's useless to talk nicely to someone like Lu Honghui, the only way is to use force to suppress her. This is also what Zhou Yan thinks.

If Lu Honghui had been a little more fair, Zhou Yan would not have had such thoughts.

"I also asked around. There's a courtyard near Zhengyang Gate that might be for sale. It's right next to a busy street. I'll ask about it next year."

But before Zhou Fengnian finished speaking, Luo Cheng interrupted and said

"That place is far away. I'll ask around for you. It's definitely better than the courtyard you mentioned. Besides, it's hard to do business with strangers. If you run into a scammer, the loss will be huge."

Now the government does not support the open sale of houses, so it can only be done privately by individuals and a sum of money is paid to transfer the ownership.

It’s good that there are no scammers, they just transfer the house for money.

But I ran into a scammer, my money was taken away, and the house was not transferred to me. There was nothing I could do even if I called the police, because it was a private transaction.

"Can we make it in time, Mr. Luo?"

Zhou Fengnian asked with some doubt. Luo Gong had been helping him inquire for more than a year, but the result was still at a loss.

"Don't worry, we'll definitely make it in time!"

Luo Cheng was not embarrassed at all. He submitted the application two or three months after the New Year. By then, he would not need the furniture anymore and would leave it all to Zhou Fengnian.

Before he became an engineer, his salary was not low, and after that he received more than 100 yuan per month. Over the years, Luo Cheng's savings were very substantial.

Luo Cheng didn't care about the small amount of money he could make from selling furniture.

After dinner, Zhou Fengnian returned to the house and took out the iron box where he kept his money.

My salary is increasing and is almost filling up this small box. There are also many accumulated bills.

He hasn't had any big expenses recently and has received a lot of rewards. He bought the radio with the bonus from the factory.

Zhou Fengnian often ate in the small canteen arranged by the factory, so he rarely spent money on meals. Most of the food coupons in his food coupons were given to his eldest and second brothers because he could not finish them.

Zhou Fengnian counted them, took out all the bills that he needed to spend before the New Year, and took out some money.

"That's all. After work tomorrow, Zhou Yan and I will go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy some things to take home."

There weren't many things to buy, mainly because the factory distributed a lot of New Year's goods. He only had one bicycle, and if he bought too much, he wouldn't be able to take them all back.

(End of this chapter)