Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 460 Let's take a shortcut!

"Is there anything about your work that you don't understand?" Shen Fei asked.

Three pairs of eyes looked at him clearly.

"Alright! Let's all do a good job!" Shen Fei clapped his hands.

"If you do a good job, I'll get one of the 'December 9th' commemorative medals that the school makes for each of us!"

Ma Tieli rolled her eyes.

The little Chinese speaker pretended not to hear.

Chen Luyang turned her head to look at the scenery outside the window.

The three of them choked on Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's flatbread!

Just as I was looking at it, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

"Excuse me, is Chen Luyang here?"

Upon hearing her name called, Chen Luyang turned around abruptly.

"Zheng Zhe, what brings you here?"

Zheng Zhe said urgently, "Wenwei, the school gatekeeper called our department. Uncle Lu from the repair shop is looking for you."

Director Lu?!
Chen Luyang's expression immediately tightened, and she turned around and rushed out of the teaching building.

Outside the guardhouse, Director Lu pushed his bicycle, stamping his feet in the cold wind.

It snowed heavily in Pian'er City these past two days.

The temperature dropped several degrees, though it's not as cold as winter in the provincial capital.

But standing in the snow for a long time can be quite cold.

Chen Luyang ran out and saw Uncle Lu stamping his feet in the cold.

"Uncle Lu, why did you come all this way!"

Chen Luyang felt sorry for Uncle Lu and asked anxiously.

"Director Chen, I've come to apologize."

Director Lu looked guilty: "The negotiations with several factories have all fallen through."

"...What?!" Chen Luyang's pupils shrank.

“We went to motor factories, electroplating factories and several hardware factories, but they either thought the order was too small or the batch size was too unstable, saying that our job was not worthwhile.”

"What about the small workshop? The one that made spark plugs before?" Chen Luyang blurted out.

"Spark plugs can still be made, but anything more complicated is out of the question," Director Lu shook his head.

“They don’t have molds, winding machines, or the overmolding process.”

"Forget about coils, we can't even make rubber sealing rings."

"..."

Chen Luyang tugged at her collar, letting the cold wind seep into her neck.

"So, you mean we don't even have a single processing unit that can actually produce anything?"

Director Lu looked at Chen Luyang, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded.

To be precise, it's not just that there are no processing units,

There weren't even any blueprints.

But at least Zhang Diancai was in charge of the final review of the drawings, so it was only a matter of time before they were completed.

But factories aren't something you can just find anytime you want.

"……understood."

Chen Luyang said in a low voice, "I'll think of a way."

Seeing that Lu Judong's nose and ears were red, Chen Luyang said with heartache:
"Uncle Lu, don't rush off,"

He reached out and grabbed Lu Ju's car handle.

"Let's go get something hot, you and I. There's a restaurant up ahead that has really good spicy fried noodles, it's really satisfying and warms up your stomach."

But Director Lu patted Chen Luyang's arm and gently pushed him into the campus:

"You should go back to class now, Director Chen."

"I'm not hungry, I'll just ride my bike around and head back."

He spoke as he moved the handlebars.

Don't let Lu Ju's age fool you; he's also incredibly strong!

Chen Luyang, a grown man, couldn't possibly out-tear him.

A moment of relaxation,
Director Lu had already boarded the vehicle, and with a sway, he disappeared into the snowstorm at the street corner.

Chen Luyang stood at the school gate,
As Director Lu pedaled his bicycle, he wiped his nose, his old face, red from the cold, peeking out from under his woolen hat. He was quickly swallowed up by the crowd and the torrent of bicycles.

Chen Luyang looked down at the frozen floor tiles, where snow swirled around the edges.

Processing plant...

In that instant, he had the same thought as Tan Songren and Zhang Guoqiang.

These few parts are nothing compared to what we have back home at the provincial machinery factory.

With so many workshops in the factory, they can manufacture anything they want.

Even without molds, you can chisel and knead, and even if you have to hand-sharpen the drill bit and adjust the lathe tool, you can slowly work your way up!

Even if you rub it hard, you can still make one.

"Wait for me later..."

Chen Luyang couldn't help but clench her fist.

When I become powerful in the future, I will definitely build a decent machinery factory in Pian'er City!
It's better to rely on yourself than on anyone else.

It's better to make your own decisions than to ask others for help!
……

Back to the External Relations Department,
Shen Fei noticed that Chen Luyang's expression was off and asked with concern:
"Hey bro, is everything alright at the factory?"

Chen Luyang waved her hand: "It's nothing!"

Shen Fei stared at Chen Luyang's expression for a moment, then thought for a moment and said:

"Chen'er, if you have something urgent to do, you can put the department's matters aside for now."

Upon hearing this, Chen Luyang immediately waved his hand:

"That won't do! Everyone has a mission, I can't let them down."

He paused, then smiled and said:

"If I really can't raise the money, it's not too late for you guys to step in later."

The External Relations Department is sparsely staffed, consisting of only four people.

Ma Tieli and Xiao Zhongwen both had their own tasks, but Shen Fei had an even heavier workload.

Although the repair shop encountered some difficulties, one thing at a time.

We can't put everything else on hold just because of the repair shop.

If that's the case, then he might as well not attend classes at all!
……

Midnight,

Chen Luyang sat in the corridor, struggling and working her way up in the advanced mathematics homework.

Finally, dragging his exhausted body, he collapsed back onto his bed in the dormitory.

Lying in the cold bed,

Chen Luyang then began to think about the repair shop.

Given the current situation at the repair shop, the first person he should contact is Zhang Diancai!
As a mechanics teacher, Zhang Diancai has participated in numerous engineering projects and has had many dealings with research institutions, military factories, and private technological upgrading workshops. He must have a lot of acquaintances.

Ask him about this; he'll definitely be able to resolve it.

But simply having a place to settle down isn't enough!

The current situation is that large factories ignore people, and small factories can't do it.

The repair shop is small and short-staffed.

The reality is what it is.

Even if all the drawings are complete and the prototypes pass inspection, mass production is still not possible.

We can only try submitting in small batches, making changes and adjustments gradually.

These scattered, unpredictable, and unstable small jobs are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and don't earn much money.

Those reputable large factories simply weren't willing to take on the job.

Regular troops are out of the question.

If you want to push the work forward, you have no choice but to "take a shortcut" and engage in guerrilla-style cooperation.

otherwise……

Vocational school?
Chen Luyang rested his hands behind his head, his eyes showing a thoughtful expression. In recent years, in order to cooperate with the national "part-time work, part-time study" program, many technical schools have actually had their own training workshops.

Although the precision of the manufacturing process cannot compare to that of a regular car manufacturer,
But its advantage lies in the experienced master craftsman's hands-on approach, his dexterity, quick reflexes, and willingness to try.

If we can communicate well, we might actually be able to cooperate.

Moreover, vocational school students are hardworking, obedient, energetic, and most importantly, cheap!

Compared to large factories that have extensive operations and require going through a whole set of official documents, this kind of place might actually be a breakthrough point.

The more Chen Luyang thought about it, the more reliable it seemed, and her eyes gradually hardened.

I'll go find Zhang Diancai tomorrow and ask him if he knows any reliable vocational schools!

……

After finishing her classes the next day, Chen Luyang went straight to Zhang Diancai's office.

He now has a pretty good idea of ​​Zhang Diancai's whereabouts.

Basically, you can find him eight out of ten times you look for him.

This time is no exception.

When Chen Luyang knocked on the door, Zhang Diancai was writing a report in his office.

Upon seeing Chen Luyang, Zhang Diancai immediately smiled and waved for him to come inside.

"Teacher Zhang, I've come here today because I need your help with something."

"Go ahead."

Chen Luyang didn't hold back and briefly explained the recent setbacks that Director Lu and Zhang Guoqiang had encountered when visiting factories, and then described in detail the current technological difficulties of the project.

Zhang Diancai frowned, listening intently.

“...Your project is not a standardized order and does not have a complete set of production conditions, so of course regular factories are not willing to take it.”

Chen Luyang heard that Zhang Diancai had immediately identified the problem, so she followed suit and said:
"Teacher Zhang, I'm thinking of starting with vocational schools. What do you think?"

Zhang Diancai's tone was slightly surprised: "It's not easy for you to think of this."

"Although vocational school students are young and have weak foundations, they spend every day working on lathes, so their hands-on skills are better than those of college students."

"Besides, they have practical training quotas, and some projects require the processing of test pieces."

"Your project can actually become their training material."

"As long as the school supports it and the teachers are willing to mentor you, you can be more flexible in your work than in a regular factory."

“That’s what I think too!” Chen Luyang nodded.

"However, I don't know much about the vocational schools in Pian'er City. Do you have any recommendations, Teacher Zhang?"

After listening, Zhang Diancai frowned slightly and thought for a moment.

“I used to teach at several vocational schools, but I don’t know much about the current state of the equipment or whether the teachers are still there.”

"but……"

Zhang Diancai pointed to the slightly crooked map of the city area hanging by the door.
"Go ask the Beijiao Electromechanical Technical School and the Fengnan Technical School."

“Those two places used to be technical schools for the children of employees of factories under the Ministry of Ordnance and the Ministry of Textile, so they have a solid foundation.”

“Especially Fengnan Technical School, although the workshops are a bit dilapidated, the old teachers are quite capable.”

"I remember they also had an old Soviet lathe, which could handle medium-sized parts."

"Okay, I'll go take a look in the next couple of days!" Chen Luyang nodded as she wrote in her notebook.

"It doesn't matter if the equipment is a bit old, as long as people are willing to work, they can still produce results even if it's slow."

Zhang Diancai listened to his words and a slight sense of relief appeared on his face.

"You're really not picky, kid." He smiled, then added, "But on another note, don't just focus on finding ways to process it."

"You should also be mentally prepared about the blueprints."

"Huh?" Chen Luyang was taken aback.

Zhang Diancai sighed and casually gathered the blueprints on the table.

"The agreed-upon schedule has recently hit a snag."

"The universal ignition coil three-piece set looks simple, but once you design it to be universal, there are many variables."

“Zhang Nan is a student with no experience. The structure he drew was too idealistic and had no machining margin. He didn’t even design the heat dissipation groove. It was sent directly to the workshop for processing and is unusable.”

"I sent it back and asked him to redraw it."

Chen Luyang's pupils contracted.

It turns out the blueprints were also stuck...

He was upset because the production line at the processing plant broke down.
Now I hear the blueprints aren't even out yet.

My whole body suddenly felt like it was stuck in the middle of gears, with the front gears slipping and the back chain spinning freely.

"Teacher Zhang, when... when will the blueprints be ready?" Chen Luyang asked tentatively.

"Don't rush, these things can't be rushed," Zhang Diancai replied.

"Zhang Nan has already disassembled the physical object and redrawn it. I'm also keeping an eye on it every day, striving to produce the first usable sketch as soon as possible."

"But you have to understand that a sketch is not the final drawing."

"Now, this thing not only has to meet mechanical performance requirements, but also needs to be manufactured in the workshop. Every time we draw a stroke, we have to think one step ahead for the other party."

"So it's normal that the progress is slower than you expected."

Chen Luyang nodded: "I understand."

Previously, when manufacturing spark plugs, gaskets, and nozzles, it was a process of constant modification and refinement.

He had anticipated these things.

But psychological expectations are one thing; when things all pile up at once, the pressure still comes crashing down like a mountain.

There are no blueprints on one end, and no factory to manufacture them...

He sighed softly.
Chen Luyang smiled ingratiatingly: "Teacher Zhang, could you please write me a letter of introduction?"

“When I go to the vocational school, I need to bring some evidence that can support my claims.”

"People may not believe me even if I just talk nonsense."

Without saying a word, Zhang Diancai pulled out a fountain pen from the drawer and spread out the manuscript paper.

“I’ll write you two copies, one for Teacher Zhao at the Beijiao Electromechanical Technical School, and the other for Teacher He Zhengshu at the Fengnan Technical School.”

As he wrote, Zhang Diancai said:

"The North Suburbs Electromechanical Technical School is quite far; you have to take bus 307 and then walk a bit."

"Fengnan Technical School is near the No. 1 Textile Factory. You can get there by bike by taking a detour."

"If you're really in a hurry, go to Fengnan first."

"but……"

When I finished writing the first letter,

Zhang Diancai said, "Don't get your hopes up too high."

“Vocational schools also have their own internship arrangements. The tools, working hours, number of pieces, and tolerances are all from the curriculum. Every step is subject to the teaching plan.”

“If your project is implemented in schools, it will take up space and personnel, and it’s not the training content specified in the textbooks.”

"It's common for people to be unwilling to give up their already limited workshop resources or to push things along."

"My letter can only serve as a bridge. To actually reach an agreement, it depends on how you speak and how you move them."

“I understand,” Chen Luyang nodded.

Although the repair shop's project has now been approved as a youth science and technology project by the Research Office, and three other departments are also involved.

But to outsiders, this thing is ultimately not as authoritative as a document with an official "bureau-level" seal.

Moreover, he doesn't represent any ministry or any formal research institute.

It was a newly opened car repair shop with only a few rooms.

The confidence... is far too weak!
However, Chen Luyang is not the kind of person who gets discouraged easily.

"Teacher, as long as they don't kick me out, I will sincerely try to move them!"

Chen Luyang looked optimistic.

"Okay, as long as you're mentally prepared," Zhang Diancai smiled.

He carefully folded the two letters of introduction he had written.

An envelope was addressed to "Teacher Zhao Zhisheng of Beijiao Electromechanical Technical School".
Another letter was addressed to "Teacher He Zhengshu of Fengnan Technical School".
The official seal of the Department of Mechanics was also affixed below.

“I’ve met both of these teachers before, and they’re honest people,” Zhang Diancai said, softening his tone.

"Say it to the teacher properly,"

"understand!"

Chen Luyang readily agreed and carefully put the two letters into her bag.

(End of this chapter)