Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1193 The well-connected secret formula research institute, a different style of the Dongba factory area (bonus chapter for monthly pass votes)
For a moment, no one spoke; only the low rumble of the ventilation system echoed in the space.

The sophisticated equipment I just saw in the workshop now seems rather "ordinary" compared to the security measures in the underground research institute.

They looked at each other, their initial astonishment gradually turning into a complex mix of awe and excitement. They had never even imagined a research lab of this caliber before today.

Fang Yan glanced at the shocked expressions on everyone's faces and knew that this was not just a demonstration of the facilities, but also a way to reassure these Lingnan traditional Chinese medicine practitioners that their skills would be treated as truly valuable assets here.

We've achieved our goal for today; now we need to take these people back to rest.

Without wasting any more time, they called everyone back to the ground.

He raised his wrist to look at his watch and said:
"It's getting late, so let's stop here for now. We'll take you all back to your hotels, and tomorrow morning we'll take you to visit the other two production plants."

Everyone finally came to their senses and readily agreed.

As a result, this time when I went back, I didn't take the same route.

"This way, please. Let's take the elevator up directly." Zeng Luquan's voice was particularly clear in the quiet environment as he greeted everyone.

"There's an elevator?" Shen Huaimin asked in surprise.

“Yes!” Zeng Luquan replied.

None of them could see where the elevator was, so they could only follow Zeng Luquan.

After turning a corner, a corridor appeared with several elevators labeled A, B, C, and D. Zeng Luquan swiped his card at elevator C, and soon, the heavy metal elevator doors slid open silently to the sides, revealing the simple yet sturdy gray interior walls of the elevator car.

Compared to the awe-inspiring underground research institute filled with sophisticated equipment and tight security, this elevator lobby appears cold and efficient.

The fluorescent tubes inside the elevator emitted a soft, even white light, illuminating every well-defined face.

Zeng Luquan was the first to go in.

Behind him, Deng Tietao, Huang Yaoshen, Situ Ling, Zhao Sijing and others filed in, their faces still showing a complex mix of awe and excitement, though their eyes held a hint of contemplation.

The spacious carriage was more than enough to accommodate this group of somewhat taciturn masters of traditional Chinese medicine.

The sound of the metal door closing was soft and muffled, as if separating two worlds.

Then a slight feeling of weightlessness came instantly, accompanied by an almost imperceptible low-frequency hum, which was the sign that the elevator had begun to rise steadily.

The sound of the ventilation system's airflow becomes clearly audible here, low and continuous, like the steady breathing of this steel space.

The group didn't talk immediately, but instead observed the elevator. It looked like the same brand as the Jingxi Hotel, but it was clearly much more upscale, probably a new model.

What they had just seen and heard far exceeded their expectations: the clever camouflage of the boiler room entrance, the pressure sensing and ultraviolet sterilization of the corner passage, the fortified core laboratory, the pre-set pressure relief vents and quicklime emergency pool, and the warehouse that resembled a vault door... Every detail demonstrated the extraordinary level and weight of this place.

These elderly people, who have devoted half their lives to traditional Chinese medicine, felt for the first time so keenly what kind of rigorous and cutting-edge environment their expertise and experience would be placed in to protect, study, and transform.

This is an environment that no ordinary TCM college or local research institute can have.

"This place is really amazing!" Deng Nanxing said to his grandfather beside him.

The old man nodded, then looked at Fang Yan with a complicated expression. This kid used to treat patients at Tongrentang, and now he's actually in charge of such an important place?

That's incredibly fast.

It feels like just yesterday that Fang Yan was practicing medicine at Tongrentang.

The others also had mixed feelings, their silent faces reflected in the elevator walls.

Deng Tietao glanced at the smooth interior of the elevator car, then looked at the steadily rising numbers on the indicator panel. A thought became crystal clear in his mind: Fang Yan and the others were serious about this! Investing in facilities of this caliber was definitely not just for displaying a few medical books.

This time, they are not just showcasing hardware, but also conveying a silent yet powerful signal: here, the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine and their lifelong accumulated skills will not be slighted or shelved; they will be placed in this environment as safe as a vault and as rigorous as a precision operating room, and will be treated as a true national treasure to be protected, interpreted, and have its energy released.

This undoubtedly gave these giants of Lingnan the most powerful reassurance.

The group exchanged glances.

Everyone tacitly agreed that this place was really beyond their expectations, and the local dialect was truly adorable.

"Ding--"

A crisp and steady beep broke the silence inside the elevator.

The elevator doors slid open silently to both sides, letting in softer but warmer floor light that dispelled the last trace of chill from the enclosed space.

The noisy voices and the unique blend of Chinese herbal medicine from the research institute instantly replaced the slightly oppressive cleanliness and silence of the underground area.

This place actually has a door on the second floor of the research institute's office.

"We've arrived." Zeng Luquan was the first to step out of the elevator.

The crowd followed suit, stepping onto the solid cement ground.

At this moment, they return to the world from underground.

"My goodness, this place is incredibly well-connected!" Shen Huaimin exclaimed.

The others were also somewhat bewildered when they saw where they had emerged.

Deng Tietao paused for half a second as he stepped out of the elevator, looking up at the office furnishings before him: filing cabinets, enamel mugs, and a list of medicinal herbs posted on the wall. These ordinary objects, in stark contrast to the steel fortress below, made him chuckle.

"This...this is like crawling back into your own study from a safe."

Others nodded.

Then Zeng Luquan led everyone downstairs and escorted Fang Yan and the others to the door.

"Alright, no need to see me off any further. You still have work to do, so just drop me off here!" Fang Yan said to Zeng Luquan at the door.

Zeng Luquan nodded. Then Fang Yan and the others went outside.

Then they drove off and took all the people from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine back home.

On the bus, Deng Tietao kept reminiscing about what he had just seen. Fang Yan realized that today's "reassurance" had not only been "taken," but its effects seemed to be quite strong.

The old men will probably need some time to process the shock when they get back today.

……

The next day arrived quickly. Fang Yan finished breakfast and ward rounds early in the morning, and then set off with Lao Hu. Today's task was to take the shareholders to visit the production plants in the Chaoyang Dongba and Changping Shahe areas.

Although there is no underground research and development department there, the scale of their production line is definitely much larger than that of the secret formula research institute.

Moreover, Fang Yan had never been there before, so today was a good opportunity to see what his factory looked like.

There aren't many people who have truly abandoned their responsibilities to this extent.

Xiao Chengzhi and Deng Nanxing also came along today. They didn't go home last night, but slept at Fang Yan's house. This morning, they squeezed into the car and set off together.

Fortunately, there were enough seats in the car for the person speaking the dialect.

My father-in-law and father-in-law came along today. They mainly want to see the production line so they can study the upgrade. Their preliminary design is complete, but they still need to see the actual production line to know if it's suitable for modification.

In a local dialect joke, the two professors from the defense industry are essentially getting summer jobs.

The group, consisting of four cars, first arrived at the factory in Chaoyang Dongba.

I also saw Da Jin, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, here.

Since leaving school, he has been helping out at the factory. Now, Lao Jin is in good shape, wearing work clothes, and has fully embraced the role of management.

As soon as Lao Hu got out of the car, he took his things and began to give a report.

Only after finishing the report did I notice Fang Yan and the other people, and then I greeted Fang Yan:

"Brother Fang!"

"You're doing well here, aren't you?" Fang Yan asked.

"Thanks to Brother Fang and Boss Hu's trust, things are going quite well now." Da Jin said to Fang Yan with a smile. No one would guess that he was once a gang leader with many henchmen.

Having been through the baptism of the school library, he is now completely like a factory manager.

Old Hu said to the dialect:

"Alright, let's catch up later. Let's take a tour of the workshop first!"

Fang Yan nodded. This is the important matter today.

The air at Chaoyang Dongba Pharmaceutical Factory is completely different from that at the research institute.

For Fang Yan, who was setting foot in his own "production base" for the first time, the feeling was both novel and strangely familiar.

The vast space, dense crowds, and bustling assembly lines together create a vibrant industrial scene.

This created a strong visual and psychological impact on the underground space of the research institute he had experienced last night, which resembled a science fiction fortress.

Simply put, the research institute is a precision workshop in a steel forest, a labor factory on the ground.

As soon as everyone stepped into the huge corrugated steel factory building, a rich aroma mixed with the fishy smell of raw herbs, the scorching fragrance of drying ovens, and a faint smell of sweat hit them, along with the heat of the morning sun shining obliquely through the tall windows, creating a vibrant yet slightly rough feeling.

This stands in stark contrast to the research institute's environment, which is characterized by layers of filtration, constant temperature and humidity, and precise, frigid conditions.

This place is much more spacious than the production workshops of the research institute. It no longer has the precise feel of the research institute, but rather an endless assembly line battlefield.

Several steel-framed conveyor belts stretched out like giant pythons, emitting a deep and rhythmic mechanical roar. Although the equipment in the Secret Formula Research Institute was sophisticated, it was limited in number. The machines here were products of large-scale production, and the noise carried a sense of industrial power, no longer the "deep operating sound" of the research institute's equipment.

Upon closer inspection, it's actually the same brand of machine, but it has a rather rugged feel when placed here.

The number of workers also far exceeded the number of elite troops in the research institute.

Dressed in uniform blue overalls, with headscarves or dust caps, they worked nimbly at their respective workstations, sorting, feeding, or packaging materials, their movements displaying the skill and strength of working people.

Their voices and the clanging of tools mingled with the roar of machinery, unlike the research institute where everyone held their breath and could only hear the operation of equipment.

The workshop was filled with a complex aroma of medicinal herbs being steamed and dried, mixed with the smell of oil, the aroma of roasting, and a faint smell of sweat.

Overhead were huge ventilation ducts and ceiling fans, trying their best to dissipate the production odor, but it was far less "clean" than the research institute's underground environment, where the environment could be completely controlled.

Huge safety slogans and simplified operating procedure diagrams are pasted on the walls, which are simple and straightforward, unlike the technical flowcharts and technical terms that are often found in research institutes.

Despite its size and noise, the place is well-ordered.

The material flow path is clear, the workstations are clearly divided, and the production rhythm is strong.

This is another form of efficiency.

Old Hu has been here the most and knows the production line very well, so he took on the task of explaining it to everyone.

As Lao Hu rattled off detailed data on daily production capacity, raw material turnover cycle, and finished product qualification rate, everyone's understanding of the large-scale, high-efficiency production in this area became more concrete.

P.S.: I still owe you 34000 words after finishing this chapter.

That's all for today, please come early tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)