Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 443 Am I not trying to scam funding?

With a "whoosh," Chen Luyang's face turned bright red.

To slightly ease the awkwardness,

Chen Luyang sat obediently beside Lian Yinghua, watching nervously as Lian Yinghua picked up the red fountain pen.

Although I knew this wasn't homework, but rather a project application I wrote for the school,

However, Chen Luyang still felt a surge of tension when she saw the red ink stain on the manuscript paper.

As Lian Yinghua looked at it, he said:

"The section on 'significance of the research' is quite insightful, but it lacks a systematic approach. It would be best to add a background explanation that clearly outlines the current problems of chaotic market availability of generic parts and the difficulty repair shops face in obtaining replacements."

Uh-huh!

Chen Luyang nodded, took out a small notebook, and quickly wrote down Lian Yinghua's opinion.

"And here, in the 'Experimental Process and Participating Units' section, you'd better make sure you know whether Zhang Diancai from the Department of Mechanics was involved. Once you write it down, the school will have to verify it. Don't cause any problems later and affect your project approval."

Uh-huh!!!

Although Chen Luyang appeared calm on the surface, she trembled slightly inside.

Although Zhang Diancai had mentioned in the workshop that he would help them draw blueprints.

But since it was just talk, he did not actually contact Zhang Diancai afterwards.

The reason I included his name is that having a formal teacher in the project makes it seem more legitimate.

Who knew the school would actually ask the teachers to verify!
"And there's the budget details on this last page."

Even Yinghua found it amusing.

What's the meaning of this food allowance?

Chen Luyang spoke honestly: "It's about food expenses... Our little repair shop has a total of 10 people. They can't work if they don't eat."

Lian Yinghua smiled helplessly: "It's fine for you to write down the cost of workshop materials and blueprints, but you can't just write 'meal allowance' directly in the name. The school won't approve that."

Not approved?

Chen Luyang frowned slightly.

"Can I write 'compensation for lost work time during research'?"

“Don’t write that either, it’s too concrete.” Lian Yinghua said, both amused and exasperated. “Write ‘On-site research auxiliary expenses’, be more vague.”

"In short, don't be too straightforward. This isn't like your factory reimbursing overtime meals. The university uses teaching and research funding, so you need to use terms like 'research, practice, and support'."

"Understood, understood." Chen Luyang nodded repeatedly.

I read through the project proposal again from beginning to end.
Lian Yinghua said, "The content structure of your application is already good, but the language and format need to be more rigorous. Especially the 'Project Objectives' section, you need to highlight its practical significance and emphasize 'contributing to the exploration of generalization in basic manufacturing'."

Uh-huh!!!

Holding the handwritten, revised, and scribbled-on application, Chen Luyang asked:

"Teacher, after I finish writing this application, can I just submit it directly to the school?"

"You're really something." Lian Yinghua rolled her eyes at him. "The project proposal needs to be approved by the department first."

"Although you initiated this project in your personal capacity, the research topic is under the name of the Economics Department, and it must be stamped and signed before it can be submitted to higher authorities."

As he spoke, he opened a drawer and took out a clean "Project Recommendation Form".

"Go back and revise the final version as we just discussed, then submit it to the department's academic affairs office. I'll handle the rest of the procedures."

Chen Luyang felt embarrassed.

"Teacher, I've already handled the process myself, why would I trouble you to do it personally?"

Lian Yinghua smiled and shook her head: "You can't run that fast."

"Even though the project is your own achievement, when applying for it, you still have to put our teacher's name on it in order to get it into the school's research system."

Chen Luyang asked, "Can't the students apply themselves?"

Lian Yinghua gave him a disgruntled look.

"Do you think you're some kind of technology leader in society?"

“This is an on-campus project, unlike the factory system, which emphasizes organizational structure and qualification procedures. No matter how well you write it, without the supervisor's signature and the department head's stamp, the academic affairs office simply won't accept it.”

He picked up his pen, wrote his name in the upper right corner of the cover page, and then turned to the last page:
"Besides, these days there aren't many students who take the initiative to do projects, especially since yours is an interdisciplinary project. If you didn't actually have some results, no one would believe you."

"When the time comes, I'll talk to the academic affairs office and ask Director Zhang for his approval. Then I'll leave the rest to them to follow the procedures."

Good guy...

You wouldn't know unless you asked.

It turns out there's a whole set of rules and procedures involved in applying for a project at school.

If it weren't for finding Lian Yinghua today, Chen Luyang probably wouldn't have even submitted his application before it was rejected by the school.

But~~
Now, with Lian Yinghua handling the procedures and readily available results in hand, we have [the necessary resources].

The project application is probably almost finalized.
Chen Luyang's mind also began to stir.

"Teacher Lian~"

Chen Luyang lowered her stance and secretly began to inquire.

"If this project gets approved, how much funding will I get?" he asked in a low voice.

Lian Yinghua shook his head:

“School-level projects generally don’t receive much funding, especially since this is a student project. According to the standards allocated by the academic affairs department this year, it’s usually just a couple hundred yuan in start-up funding.”

"One or two hundred?" Chen Luyang's voice almost cracked.

……no,
How come Peking University, such a large institution, only has funding of one or two hundred yuan for everything?
To establish an off-campus experimental site, only 100 yuan can be allocated each month.

So, even though I took charge of the project, the funding was still only a couple hundred dollars?

He swallowed hard.
Chen Luyang complained, "What can you do with a hundred or two hundred? Our repair shop spent over 200 just on the first batch of parts. This amount of money isn't enough to do anything."

Lian Yinghua smiled and comforted him, "What's the rush? Let me finish."

"Initiating the project is only the first step. Your project is based on actual production. If you can produce phased results, you can continue to apply for rolling support."

"If the school thinks your project has promotional value when the time comes, they might even recommend you for the city's 'industry-university-research collaboration pilot' program."

"At that time, it won't be a matter of a few hundred yuan within the school. It will be a support project with external funding and collaboration between factories and schools, and it's not impossible for it to be several thousand or even tens of thousands of yuan."

"Really?" Chen Luyang's eyes lit up instantly.

"Of course." Lian Yinghua smiled faintly. "It all depends on whether you can make the results a reality."

"What the school values ​​is never what you say, but what you do."

“If this project is successfully approved, you will become the first student at Peking University to have a ‘repair shop project’ approved.”

As Chen Luyang listened, a golden light seemed to shine before his eyes, and he almost floated off his chair.

"Then I'll go back and revise the manuscript right away!"

Chen Luyang could barely sit still; all he could think about was the money he would receive after the project was approved.

If I can apply for projects independently, I can use research funds to produce parts in the future, and I won't have to ask the provincial machinery factory for money anymore.

stand up,
Chen Luyang said excitedly, "Teacher, thank you!"

"No need to thank me." Lian Yinghua waved his hand.

“I’m proud that our economics department has produced a student who can work in the factory, speaks foreign languages, and is willing to take risks.”

He smiled at Chen Luyang, then changed his tone: "However, next time you organize some interdepartmental collaboration, don't just keep working on it yourself, let our teachers get involved too."

"Okay!" Chen Luyang answered readily, her eyes constantly glancing at the school magazine on Lian Yinghua's desk.

"Teacher Lian~" Chen Luyang said with a shameless grin, his face full of anticipation. "Do you still read this school magazine? If not, can I have it?"

Lian Yinghua, without any suspicion, generously handed him the school magazine.

"Take it, keep it as a souvenir."

In an instant, Chen Luyang's eyes were filled with deep affection as she looked at Lian Yinghua.

You have to say, the economics professors are incredibly insightful!
Just say it yourself, and people will know what you mean!
……

Running back to the dormitory, Chen Luyang rewrote the application as Lian Yinghua had requested.

When writing the "cooperative teacher" section,

He hesitated for a moment.

Although the repair shop paid for its first batch of generic parts to be manufactured, it used blueprints drawn by Zhang Diancai and Zhang Nan.

It's fine if it doesn't involve any projects.

If collaborating teachers are not listed when a project is involved, it may be considered "concealing information" or "unilaterally claiming credit for results."

Moreover, Zhang Diancai actually participated in modeling and drawing, which means he has already stepped into scientific research cooperation, so it would be unreasonable not to credit him.

—I should say hello.

After putting the application in his bag, Chen Luyang headed straight for the mechanics building and went straight to Zhang Diancai's office.

Zhang Diancai's office door was open, and there was no one else in the room except him, who was drawing lines on the drawing board.

"Teacher Zhang~"

Chen Luyang stood at the door, smiling obsequiously.

Zhang Diancai looked up and saw that it was Chen Luyang. His face showed a rare warmth as he reached out to greet her.

"Xiao Chen? What brings you here? Come inside quickly."

Chen Luyang chuckled and went into the house.

"Teacher Zhang, I'm here today to discuss something with you."

"What's the matter?"

“I am currently applying for a youth science and technology project at my university, and there is a section for collaborating teachers on the application form… I would like to include your name in the application, is that alright?”

As he spoke, Chen Luyang took the application form and papers out of his bag and handed them over respectfully.

"Apply for a project?"

Zhang Diancai raised an eyebrow, took the materials, and flipped through them.

Does your department know?

"I know, Teacher Lian will be my mentor, and he has already signed the form."

When Chen Luyang heard Zhang Diancai ask about it, she quickly stood up and pointed to the back of the form to show him where Lian Yinghua had signed.

Seeing the teacher's signature, Zhang Diancai nodded, then suddenly laughed and scolded:
"Well, you're something else. I was just thinking about how to get your little repair shop approved for a project, and you've already got me approved first?"

Chen Luyang quickly smiled apologetically: "This project simply couldn't have been done without you. Even without me, we can't do without you!"

Zhang Diancai was amused and casually flipped to the "Project Objectives" column, glancing at it.

"'Promote the standardization of commonly used parts and drive the technological upgrading of workshops,' who taught you that phrase? You're quite good at using fancy words."

"I wrote it myself~" Chen Luyang said shyly.

“I used to be a workshop director at the provincial machinery factory. At the end of the year, I always had to have a few new words in my work summary, otherwise the work summary would not look good, and our factory director would make me stand as punishment and criticize me.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Diancai became interested.

"Your factory manager even made you stand as punishment!"

"Punish them! Why aren't they punished!"

Chen Luyang looked like she was holding a grudge.

"When I first became the workshop director, my factory director made me stand for most of the meeting because I wrote a one-and-a-half-page report."

"I've never been forced to stand for this long even in my advanced calculus class!"

Ok? ? ?
Zhang Diancai didn't expect such an unexpected gain.

"You were also made to stand as punishment in calculus class??"

wipe……

Chen Luyang really wanted to slap herself.

This project has really made me dizzy with all the work. I even brought up the time I was punished by being made to stand during advanced mathematics class while we were chatting.

"It wasn't as punishment... I was just too sleepy in class and afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up, so I offered to stand and listen to the lesson."

"Teacher Zhang, can I put your name on this project?"

Getting back to the main topic, Chen Luyang looked at Zhang Diancai with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

"You, Director Chen, personally delivered the application to me, how could I dare not sign it?"

Zhang Diancai smiled, picked up his pen, and signed his name in the "Cooperating Teacher" column.

"Since my name is on the project, I'll have to keep an eye on it. You'll have to send me a copy of every progress update and every piece of data. You have to make sure it's done properly."

"Don't worry, teacher, I'll definitely do my best to handle this family matter," Chen Luyang said readily.

Zhang Diancai nodded.

"By the way, when do you plan to start writing the first phase summary?"

what?
Chen Luyang was taken aback: "Isn't it supposed to be that the project is approved first, and then the summary is written?"

I haven't even submitted my project to the school yet, isn't it too early to write a summary now?

And what exactly is included in the summary?

"Write it down first, don't wait until the approval is issued and then panic and scramble to supplement the materials."

Zhang Diancai, speaking with the air of someone who had been through it all, began to explain:

"Usually, once a batch of projects is completed, the school will require the submission of a progress plan or a summary of the first phase of results."

"Now that we have results, we shouldn't wait for the school's approval to go back and make up for them. While the memory is fresh, the data is in hand, and the work has just been completed, we should quickly summarize the current content to facilitate subsequent reconciliation, filing, and reporting of results."

"Otherwise, as time goes by, you'll forget the details yourself."

"Understood!" Chen Luyang nodded emphatically. "I'll write it down when I get back."

Zhang Diancai pushed the form back to him: "Take it back and give it to your department office to process the procedures. Just make sure you don't forget me when you send me the materials after the project is approved."

"Okay!" Chen Luyang replied happily.

Just as they were about to leave,
Chen Luyang suddenly remembered something and said with a worried expression:
"Teacher Zhang, the school can't think I'm embezzling funding, can it?"

Ok? ? ?
This time, it was Zhang Diancai's turn to be dumbfounded.

"What do you mean by swindling funding?"

Chen Luyang spoke truthfully:
“Our repair shop has contacted our research group and is already giving us 100 yuan a month as an off-campus experimental site.”

“Now I’ve applied for a research project myself, and I even put your name on it and applied for school funding. Everything here and there is connected to our repair shop…”

"I'm afraid that when the school looks through the forms, they'll think I'm exploiting loopholes, using the research group as an experimental site while simultaneously applying for new projects under the guise of a repair shop. Wouldn't that be... suspected of multiple reimbursements?"

As she spoke, Chen Luyang glanced cautiously at Zhang Diancai, clearly feeling a little uneasy.

After hearing this, Zhang Diancai paused for half a second, then burst into laughter:
"You're so cunning."

(End of this chapter)