Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 412 You only think of me when you're broke.

“No problem.” Sheng Haisen nodded.

"Hey Chen, you're really decisive! You just bought something that costs several hundred yuan without even blinking!"

Chen Luyang said, "I can't blink, bro! This is such a good thing, what if someone snatches it if I blink!"

Sheng Haisen patted Chen Luyang on the shoulder: "Okay, I'll take care of things here. You go back and handle the paperwork."

He turned around, casually covered the tarpaulin again, straightened the edges, pressed down a few bricks, and then went into the nearby office building to lead the way in communication.

That night,

Sun Hongjun stood in the kitchen washing pots, feeling rather unhappy.

A perfectly good National Day holiday,

It was the first holiday everyone had spent in Pian'er City when Director Chen returned.

He prepared so many dishes and made so much delicious food.
The original plan was for everyone to relax, have a few drinks, and have some fun.

As a result, everyone ate the same kind of food as soldiers on a march.
After a hasty clinking of glasses, everyone went off to work, some writing applications, others drawing blueprints.

There was no other way; time was too tight.

Chen Luyang needed to write a report, so he went to the scrap yard to pick up the lathe the next day.

The workers had even heavier workloads!

The task is to draw three basic handcraft patterns before Chen Luyang returns to school.

Despite it being a holiday, the atmosphere in the workshop was busier than usual.

Chen Luyang finished writing the report around 9 p.m.

Put the pen cap on.
Chen Luyang walked into the reception room in the factory, closed the door, and dialed the phone number for the repair shop's equipment.

The beeping sound of the telephone came from the receiver.

After two rings, the phone was answered, and a familiar voice came through the receiver:

"I am Wang Qingzhou."

Chen Luyang's eyes lit up instantly!

"Factory Manager, it's me, Chen Luyang!! I've been missing you so much in Pian'ercheng. How have you been lately? Why are you still working at the factory during this holiday? Haven't you gone home to rest?!"

Hearing the string of excited shouts coming from the microphone, like firecrackers going off uncontrollably,

In the office, Wang Qingzhou took off his glasses, slowly leaned back in his chair, a smile appearing on his face, and said:
"You, Director Chen, didn't even have time to rest during this National Day holiday, how could I dare to rest!"

Chen Luyang said shyly, "It's different! You oversee the whole picture, handling major issues for tens of thousands of people in the factory, while I, with my small arms and legs, am only dealing with small, trivial matters."

Wang Qingzhou laughed and said, "So why did you suddenly decide to call me today, you little rascal?"

"I just missed you~" Chen Luyang's tone gradually became more serious.

“We’ve been in Pian’ercheng for a month now, and we’ve been thinking about reporting the repair center’s progress to our superiors. The car maintenance and repair center is running quite smoothly. In September alone, we repaired more than 70 cars and earned a total of about 9 yuan. Although it’s not a lot, it’s several times more than we expected.”

"Director Lu and Brother Guoqiang are working together very well. Although our business is small, it's starting to take shape."

"Mm," Wang Qingzhou responded on the other end, without interrupting.

"However... there's a small issue." Chen Luyang lowered her voice and became more serious.

"I would like to apply for a small grant. Could you please see if it can be approved?"

"There are three Soviet-made T616 heavy-duty horizontal lathes, all made in Krasnodar in the 60s. They are all steel-framed, with no deformation in the bed and the bearings can still rotate. They are now being sold as scrap metal."

“I asked someone about the price, and the complete set of three machines costs less than 400 yuan. I’ve already made arrangements with the scrap yard. We’ll go through the proper procedures here and pick up the equipment tomorrow.”

“It’s a really good product. If the factory doesn’t approve it, I’ll have to use my own savings.”

Wang Qingzhou: "You're quite daring to invest."

Chen Luyang said smugly, "I'm only doing this because you're backing me up. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't dare to just take down the machine without even giving them a heads-up."

Wang Qingzhou: "Okay, I'll approve this. Tomorrow I'll have the factory office write the expense approval slip and transfer the money to you."

"Thank you, leader!!" Chen Luyang stood up straight with excitement, spitting out saliva.

“I knew you, factory director, had always been the one who cared about us the most and supported our work the most! From the first day I entered the factory, my dad told me that I was lucky to have such a good leader…”

"Alright, what else is there? Go ahead and say it," Wang Qingzhou interrupted Chen Luyang.

He knows Chen Luyang too well.

Unless something bigger and more difficult comes up, this little rascal won't be all sweet talk.

Chen Luyang chuckled: "There really is one."

"Factory manager, I'm currently studying at Peking University, so I have a lot of contact with teachers and classmates. I can use some of their resources."

“Now repair centers deal with a wide variety of car models and parts, and often encounter situations where parts cannot be matched or ordered.”

"I want to take this opportunity to standardize basic components. By standardizing basic components such as engine connectors, shock absorber brackets, clamps, and protective sleeves, we can save half the manpower and resources when repairing and replacing parts in the future."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for two seconds.

"Your idea is quite ambitious... Do you know how many problems this will cause?"

"I know."

Chen Luyang's tone became a bit more serious: "But after all, this is a rare opportunity."

“There are people in the school who understand blueprints, people who are good at design, and a bunch of quick-thinking students. When it comes to getting things moving, it’s much faster than coordinating one department after another in the factory.”

“There are still many small workshops around Pian’er City that are willing to take on jobs, so small-batch trial production is not a problem.”

He paused, then said, "If all goes well, I'll try to develop three universal parts within six months and ten within a year. If we proceed step by step like this, over the next few years, we'll be able to master a complete system of universal parts. At that time, we'll be able to save a lot of money on car repairs, procurement, and inventory."

"What we lack now is start-up capital!"

"...Although I have some savings, they're almost gone. Could you possibly approve some funding for us?"

After a long silence on the other end of the phone, someone suddenly said:

"Chen Luyang, I've noticed that your head just doesn't look like everyone else's!"

"They're always on the go, constantly thinking about how to create more trouble!"

Chen Luyang said shamelessly, "I've just become a little more capable, so I wanted to try my hand at something and do something. I just don't know if the factory will support me."

The person on the other end of the phone said irritably, "Director Chen, you've really gone all out with this!"

"If I didn't support you, wouldn't you be badmouthing me behind my back?"

Chen Luyang quickly explained, "Factory manager, you're wronging me! I'm not the kind of person who gossips behind people's backs!"

I said it to their faces.
Hum!
Wang Qingzhou snorted coldly, too lazy to listen to his nonsense: "Alright, I'll approve the second payment for you too."

Chen Luyang immediately replied with a beaming smile, "Factory Director, I knew you would support me!"

"From the first day I entered the factory, I knew that our factory director was a good leader who cared for the people like his own children..."

"Alright, alright, stop trying to put a hat on me."

Wang Qingzhou interrupted him with a smile, her tone gradually softening.

He paused for a moment, then asked softly:
How are you doing at school? Are you adjusting well?

"I'm doing well at school. My teachers and classmates take good care of me. The department even gave me a special open course to teach my classmates... It's just that I miss home a lot, especially you!"

Chen Luyang's earlier words seemed genuine and heartfelt.
The last sentence had just been uttered

Wang Qingzhou on the other end of the phone silently rolled her eyes and said irritably:

"You only think of me when you're short of money."

Chen Luyang said shyly, "Poverty makes people lose their ambition."

"I miss home when I'm short of money."

"When I miss home, I miss you!"

"Alright, stop joking around." Wang Qingzhou's tone softened.

"It's getting late, get some rest. Don't stay up all night working, your health is your most important asset."

"I'll listen to you!" Chen Luyang said with concern, "Factory Director, you should also get some rest. Don't worry about us young people."

"I'll send you some local specialties from Pian'er City another day, like hawthorn slices and ox-tongue biscuits. I guarantee you'll love them."

There was no immediate reply from the other end of the phone, only a soft "hmm".

Then, with a click, the call ended.

The room fell silent instantly.

Wow! ...

Chen Luyang put down the microphone, stared at the dark outside the window, and excitedly rubbed his hands together.

Money makes things so much easier!
If he were to actually use his slush fund, how many Samuelsons would he have to write to amass that much money?

Chen Luyang happily sat back down on the stool, just about to revise the materials again, when there was a knock on the door. "Come in."

The next moment, the door opens.

Director Lu, Zhang Guoqiang, Tan Rensong, and Liu Kangwen walked in.

"What's wrong?" Chen Luyang looked bewildered.

"Director Chen, Guoqiang and the others told me about the machine tool last night," Director Lu said with a simple and honest expression.

“It would have cost more than 300 yuan to buy those three machine tools, but the repair center only has less than 200 yuan in its accounts.”

“A few of us chipped in and managed to scrape together over 500 yuan. You can take it with you when you buy the machine tool tomorrow.”

Saying,

Director Lu took out a small handkerchief, inside which was a thick roll of money.

They have denominations of 2 yuan, 5 yuan, and 10 yuan.

It looks like it was hastily put together.

Chen Luyang stared blankly at the money in the small handkerchief, then sprang up from the bench like a spring, walked around the table to the four older men, pressed the handkerchief with both hands, and tried to push it back, her voice urgent:
"Uncle Lu, what are you doing!"

"I never intended for you to take any money!"

"This is not about you pooling your money to buy machine tools!"

"This is a repair center, not a self-funded commune team!"

"Take the money back right now!!"

……

Director Lu chuckled and said, "We're not pooling our money to buy it, we're paying for it ourselves~ Director Chen, you can keep it."

Don't let Lu's usual listless appearance fool you; he comes from a factory background and has a surprisingly strong hand.

Chen Luyang is a grown man, and it was almost impossible to hold him down.

"I won't let you pay for it yourself! What kind of situation is it if you pay for it yourself!" Chen Luyang said anxiously.

"I have money! I have enough money."

Zhang Guoqiang said sternly, "What money do you, a little kid, have! Besides, you still have to go to school. Keep the money you have for yourself."

...a little kid?
Chen Luyang stared at Zhang Guoqiang in astonishment, feeling a lump in her throat and nearly choking to death.

He fucking knew it; being too young wasn't a good thing!
I am a proper workshop director and the head of an automobile maintenance and repair center.

Just because he's about the same age as Zhang Guoqiang's son, he's called a little kid?

Zhang Guoqiang realized he had misspoke and quickly tried to correct himself:
"Director, I didn't mean anything by it. You're still in school and have a lot of expenses, while we old men just stay in the factory every day and don't have any expenses."

"The money is either in my pocket or in the repair shop."

"It doesn't matter where you put it."

"no the same!!!!"

Chen Luyang frantically pressed down on the small handkerchief: "You don't need to pay for it yourself!"

"I'm the director, so please listen to me, okay?"

"I'm really rich."

"Uncle Lu, don't argue with me! If you keep trying to pry my hand off, I'll tell my dad!"

……

wipe.

This is a good thing!
Chen Luyang knew that these uncles and elders would have to pay for the machine tools themselves, so he didn't take Zhang Guoqiang and the others with him.

"I'll pay for this; nobody can take it from me."

Chen Luyang got angry and roared out.

He's always smiling.
The sudden outburst startled Director Lu and Zhang Guoqiang, among others.

The tremor had just ended, and the four older brothers hadn't even had time to react.

Next second,
The four people stared at Chen Luyang in astonishment, as if they had seen a ghost.

He stuffed both hands into his waistband and, his face flushed, frantically rummaged in his crotch.

"Snapped!"

A large wad of warm money was pulled out of the small underwear and flashed in front of the four older men.

"I'm so rich!!!"

Chen Luyang felt utterly humiliated.

For the first time in his life, he felt that paying money was such a shameful thing.

"I'm the director!"

"Can you do whatever I say?!"

"Will it work?"

Chen Luyang's voice was almost hoarse from shouting.

"Alright, alright~~" Director Lu noticed that something was wrong with the child and quickly tried to steer the situation back on track.

It's just a child...

They were all in the same class as Chen Dazhi, and their own children were about the same age as Chen Luyang.

Although I call him "Director Chen" outwardly, I see him as my own child.

"Then let's save this money for later use."

wipe……

Chen Luyang watched as Director Lu carefully put away the money from the small handkerchief.

Her nose turned slightly red.

Before he could even speak, Director Lu said with a smile, "Don't worry, it's best if we don't need it. We'll just keep it."

After the group finished arguing, it was getting late.

Everyone went to wash up, fetch water, or make their beds. After all that fuss, everyone climbed onto their beds in the dormitory on the second floor.

Once the lights are turned off, the room is pitch black.

"It's still more comfortable lying on the lower bunk!"

Chen Luyang yawned and stretched his back and kicked his legs comfortably on the bed.

"Director, do you sleep in the top bunk at school?"

Zhang Guoqiang's voice came through the darkness.

"Yeah, the top bunk near the door is really windy!"

Chen Luyang closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep as she said:

"Luckily, the guy who slept in the bunk below me was the workshop director at the machine tool factory, and he fixed the door."

Li He's curious voice came from below: "Is your lower bunkmate also the workshop foreman?"

"Absolutely! He's a proper workshop director, with real skills, unlike a director like me who can't compare."

Chen Luyang has always had a strong sense of self-awareness.

To be honest, he was a "fake" version of a workshop director.

He can neither be a fitter nor handle a wrench properly.

In terms of skill, he probably can't even compare to a junior worker.

He's gotten to where he is today...

emmmm,

In fact, he himself doesn't quite understand how he got to where he is today.

Perhaps Wang Qingzhou was blind to have fallen for him.

While Chen Luyang was still questioning Wang Qingzhou's art of selecting and employing people, Director Lu on the next bed was unhappy.

"Director Chen, in my heart there are few workshop directors who can compare to you."

Chen Luyang snapped her eyes open.

By the moonlight,

Chen Luyang turned to look at Director Lu, her eyes filled with astonishment.

(End of this chapter)