My 1978 Hotel

Han Fuguo and Han Futian were actually quite worried. They knew that the furniture factory had very few carpenters, and although it had some small machines, it was still not a large factory.

"We're probably going to be short-handed."

A few idioms popped into Han Futian's mind.

"Let's take it one step at a time. Forget about 50,000 or 100,000, we'll be grateful for 20,000." Han Fuguo picked up the porcelain jar with a broken piece of porcelain, took a sip of water, and said to calm his nerves.

"Yes, I was hoping to make a few hundred or a thousand at most."

Han Futian sighed. "Who knew this kid was so capable? We'd better have a good talk with Secretary Gao and Secretary Wu this time, lest something goes wrong and this kid gets blamed."
"Don't worry, Secretary Gao and Secretary Wu are determined this time."

Han Futian sighed. "Alas, a family of eight. Now, whoever can get food is the benefactor of the Ma Ya Commune. To repay kindness with enmity is not something a human being can do."

"That's what they say, but nothing has ever happened in all these years."

Han Futian lamented that he had encountered all sorts of things in previous years, and there were many people who did inhuman things.

“If anything happens, the tall ones can handle it. We just need to do our own jobs well. Having enough to eat is the most important thing, so let’s not worry about anything else.” Han Fuguo put down the porcelain mug. “I have to go to the furniture factory to see if there’s anything I can help with.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Han Futian patted his briefcase. "I'll learn from that kid Li Feng and maybe get a bonus."

While excited, Li Feng also had some worries. The chainsaws used in the furniture factory were all too small; they were fine for cutting small planks, but working on large logs would be a real hassle. Back home, Li Feng discussed with Gao Jiu and Gao Cheng whether they should bring a larger chainsaw next time.

Unfortunately, later woodworking saws were too large. Although they were fully functional, they were too heavy, making them virtually impossible to manufacture.

"Mr. Li, about the chainsaw you mentioned, I have an idea."

After listening for a while, Dong Qing finally understood. It turned out that they couldn't bring products with technology older than that era, but they didn't say they couldn't bring spare parts. Especially since Dong Qing was quite skilled with mechanics. "We can bring a larger motor or a gasoline motor. It won't be difficult to modify it into a simple electric chainsaw later. And since we're only bringing the most essential parts, the weight won't be too much."

"That's a good idea. Do you know how to do it?"

My only fear is that if I bring it over and can't handle it, then it'll all be for nothing.

"It shouldn't be a big problem."

Dong Qing still had some confidence.

"Okay, then keep this in mind. Think about what you need to bring, preferably lightweight but essential components." Li Feng thought to himself that college students can be quite useful sometimes.

"And that solar panel, Mr. Li, you're overestimating its capabilities. The technology isn't actually that advanced; it already exists, just more mature than later technologies. There are more experimental products now, but we can assemble it ourselves and get some parts. The technology isn't too advanced." Dong Qing looked at Li Feng. "We can get some battery packs, and we can use things like chainsaws."

"You make it sound so easy; I'm afraid you couldn't carry that many in one or two trips."

"You can bring more chickens and ducks."

Dong Qing put it more casually: "Each chicken and duck costs 20,000 yuan, but that's not much. I'll bring more later; ten or eight shouldn't be a problem."

"Actually, I wonder if we could avoid this by getting some blueprints and finding an eighth-level fitter to make the parts..."

Li Feng had actually considered Dong Qing's idea as well, but the cost was no less than bringing chickens and ducks. "Let's just bring the parts directly; this is probably more troublesome."

"Too."

An eighth-level fitter is considered a top-tier technical talent anywhere. If you were to actually make parts by hand, it would probably take one person several years to make a chainsaw. He said he could even make an aircraft carrier by hand, but he didn't say how long it would take.

"Let's think about the furniture instead."

Li Feng plans to design two more sets of modular furniture, since he doesn't know when the county furniture factory will get involved. These days, there are no patents, and if the county furniture factory just copies them, they really won't have a good way to deal with it.

"This is simple."

Chengcheng said with a smile, "Go find Sister Xue'er and the others, aren't they designers?"

"We should be able to get the furniture too."

As expected, Cheng Xue and Mu Yang nodded when asked. Furniture design was relatively simple. Although they hadn't specifically studied it, designing a few simple pieces of furniture wasn't difficult. After all, anyone who studied design had some basic design skills.

"Modern furniture doesn't seem to fit."

Cheng Xue drew a set, but after looking at it once, she painted over it. "We need some time to collect some information and design a piece of furniture that is both in line with the times and fashionable."

"There aren't that many rules."

Li Feng thought to himself, "These two are really serious." "By the way, when designing, use as little glass as possible, or better yet, none at all, because glass is difficult to work with at this stage."

"By the way, you can discuss any ideas you have with the second brother and the others." Li Feng was still a little worried that Cheng Xue and Mu Yang might design some impractical furniture. It was better to just take a look at the design. Just like geniuses, being too advanced doesn't necessarily mean it has to be good.

Furthermore, this design was mainly as a precaution. Li Feng planned to postpone the power plant project and process some furniture first before transporting it to the power plant. Even if the county furniture factory discovered it, they probably wouldn't have the capacity to produce too many pieces in a short time.

Li Feng understood the time difference; fortunately, the brigade wasn't short of money, so the cost of timber wasn't a concern for the time being, and they could focus on manufacturing furniture. For the next few days, the furniture factory worked day and night at full capacity.

Almost half the brigade went to the furniture factory. Children earned 15 cents a day, adults 25 cents, those who knew a little carpentry 35 cents, carpenters earned 50 or 60 cents, and master carpenters and Gao Cheng earned 1.5 yuan.

Li Feng's salary as an advisor was an astonishing two yuan, not including advertising expenses. Originally, Li Feng didn't really want the money, but Han Fuguo and Han Futian made the decision, since it was Li Feng who proposed setting up the furniture factory.

No one had any objections, except for the Han Wang family who murmured a few words behind their backs. During this time, Li Feng took Han Anmin and others to the steel factory again, and sold three sets of modular furniture that day, all of which were taken to be exhibited.

Unexpectedly, they bought it directly and brought it back—an order for more than ten sets of modular furniture. This time, the order was worth over ten thousand yuan. Nobody had anything to say; they were truly capable.

Has the timber arrived yet?

"More than ten oxcarts came over early this morning."

"The yard is piled high with firewood. I had Anbing and the others go roast the wood early this morning," Han Anmin said. "Now, Anbing and the others' eyes are all red from the heat."

"There's no other way, these next few days will be a bit tough."

The furniture factory is operating day and night, but everyone is incredibly enthusiastic. It's all about making money—cash on delivery, no delays whatsoever. I wonder what Han Futian was thinking with this move. I'm probably a little worried, considering the furniture factory isn't exactly rolling in money; they can only sell two or three sets of modular furniture a day.

Several hundred yuan a day is too scary. Han Futian was afraid that he would lose this money, so he paid wages every day. He was not afraid of the trouble and worked hard to calculate the amount. Whether it was children or the elderly, they could all get a wage.

Who wouldn't want to work? These past few days, everyone in Hanjiaba has been eating much better, comparable to the food during the double harvest season. Li Feng mentioned this to Han Fuguo, but Han Fuguo didn't take it seriously. What's twelve or thirteen hours of work a day?

It's not like we don't get to sleep; everyone's happy to work. Li Feng thought to himself, "Forget it. Everyone wants to go to work, and I can at least have weekends off." He didn't care about others, but he definitely wanted weekends off and no pay. When this got around the village, many people thought Li Feng was embarrassed because he was paid too much.

Li Feng was speechless. He just didn't want to go to work every day, but everyone seemed to want to work sixty days a month. It was truly exasperating. These days, working people are incredibly enthusiastic about their jobs; as long as the pay is enough to eat and drink, they'd gladly work thirty-one days a month.

People from neighboring villages inquired about whether Hanjiaba needed manpower, and carpenters and craftsmen came to ask. Li Feng was willing, but Han Guofu and his group were not. The furniture factory was in Hanjiaba, and modular furniture making was a valuable skill; how could they teach it to outsiders?

Well, Li Feng originally wanted to recruit some carpenters so that the furniture factory could produce more furniture.

"Why don't you, Anmin, try to persuade Uncle Fuguo?"

"I don't advise you."

Han Anmin looked at Li Feng. "This is a great skill. What if outsiders learn it?"

"never mind."

Li Feng was speechless. Everyone was worried about this. Modular furniture doesn't involve much technology, so why were they treating it like a treasure?

"Don't worry about it. There's no one at the furniture factory. Aren't they all studying and being settled here?"

"I think they've done a pretty good job."

Learning is one thing, but an apprentice can't compare to a seasoned carpenter in a short time. Forget it, let's think of something about woodworking tools. The idea of ​​getting a large chainsaw, which Dong Qing mentioned, needs to be put on the agenda.

"Then let's start learning."

Seeing that everyone was against it, Li Feng couldn't insist on going his own way.

"Deliver the two sets of modular furniture to the steel mill tomorrow. I'll have them settle in and get them ready, and then deliver them first thing tomorrow morning."

"Don't worry, I've given all the instructions."

"It's a pity we were a bit slow," Han Anmin said. "Otherwise, we would have delivered three sets tomorrow, which would have brought in over a thousand yuan."

"That's not bad."

Although there were quite a few people, there were actually very few skilled carpenters. They used small chainsaws, and sanding was all done by hand. Fortunately, Secretary Gao and Secretary Wu helped transport a large quantity of oil, which would be enough for the time being.

"We also have preparations for the power plant. Now the whole team is working together, and the speed is quite good."

Li Feng sighed. It would be even better if more carpenters came. With so many people, they couldn't make that much furniture in a day. Li Feng was originally quite optimistic. With so many orders, 50,000 shouldn't be a problem, and with good luck, 100,000.

Looking back now, it seems we overestimated ourselves and these people. Let alone 100,000, even 50,000 would be difficult; furniture processing simply can't keep up. Without large equipment and a sufficient number of skilled carpenters, simply having a large workforce isn't enough.

Fortunately, there's no need to worry about timber. The three villages have been cutting down and delivering trees day and night. The warehouses and courtyards are already full, and the threshing grounds outside are also littered with timber. Good heavens, these three villages have practically cut down the entire mountain.

The commune turned a blind eye; the mountain was barren, but it was better than people going hungry. The people of Hanjiaba were also very helpful, taking as much timber as they could get; in less than a week, they'd already spent almost five hundred yuan just on timber.

It was really frightening. Gao Tianmin and Wu Feng even made a special trip to Hanjiaba, fearing that the three villages had transported too much timber and Hanjiaba would be overwhelmed. However, they did not expect that Hanjiaba would be quite relaxed, and even settle the accounts on the same day.

They showed no intention of tying up any money, which emboldened the three villages even more. Li Feng even heard that they went up the mountain to cut down trees at night, determined to cut the mountaintop bare. Fortunately, they only had saws and axes. If they had chainsaws or chainsaws, they could probably fill all the open spaces in Hanjia Dam with logs.

"Finally done."

When Li Feng got home, he overheard Mu Yang and Cheng Xue discussing the data collection. "So fast?"

"The professor has also helped us organize some materials these past few days."

"Let's speed things up," Mu Yang said.

"Okay, we'll head back after we've finished things here."

Li Feng also has a seminar to attend. The region sent a telegram the day before yesterday, informing both the province and the region that Xu Mao and his daughters' publication had been announced. He'll definitely be holding a seminar for himself this time; Li Feng originally planned to showcase his modular furniture at the seminar.

Now he's not in such a hurry. Li Feng plans to bring a few new desks with him, as these are exactly what writers need. As for modular furniture, Li Feng thinks he can bring a new modular furniture design by Mu Yang and Cheng Xue.

Let me show you first. As for ordering this set of furniture, I'm afraid we'll have to wait until at least after the National Day holiday. Right now, Hanjiaba's production capacity can't keep up. We can only bring some equipment next time we come to make a better chainsaw.

"The professor said there's no need to rush."

Wu Xun has been quite interested in the abandoned stone houses on the hill behind the mountain these past few days. He goes there whenever he has free time. Originally, there were no proper paths because of the weeds and shrubs, but now he has cleared a path that people can pass through. You have to admire Professor Wu.

"Then let's wait a couple more days."

These past few days, Li Feng has been sending telegrams and writing letters to writers in the region and province. He's also been asking some friends to help him get some liquor—Wuliangye, Moutai, anything from well-known brands. In addition, he's been mentioning furniture trade-ins, porcelain, and antiques from time to time.

Gradually, many people learned that Li Feng liked these things, and they would come to Li Feng either because they had them themselves or because their friends wanted to sell them. "I have to go to the county in the next couple of days to prepare for the seminar."

Another thing is to go see Zhang Susu. She went back a few days ago. I wonder if she's finished with her work. That girl didn't even bother to write a letter or ask someone to pass on a message. Li Feng doesn't think Zhang Susu is the kind of person who turns her back on people.

Something must have happened. Li Feng was unaware that Zhang Susu was in considerable trouble. He had been too busy selling furniture these past few days to check on things; otherwise, a simple call to the pig farm would have revealed what was going on. (End of Chapter)