Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 481 Your Education Wasn't Wasted
The leaders of the vocational school exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat subtle.

Cheng Wei showed no outward reaction, but the corner of his mouth twitched unconsciously.

Their electromechanical technical school had a close cooperative relationship with the old state-owned enterprise, but now they have to turn around and go into a "solo operation" with a small repair shop that has only been around for a few months?
Even if it doesn't explicitly show resistance, it still feels a bit beneath me.

Lu Shichang's expression also became subtle.

He had originally intended to remain neutral, since the First Industrial Technical School was always cautious, but the current situation was somewhat like being "assigned" to this new testing ground, leaving him no choice but to stay put.

Looking at the factory directors of those established large factories next to them—the spokespersons of Xishan Machinery Factory, Electrical Equipment Manufacturing Company, and No. 1 Machine Tool Factory—their eyes were all somewhat complicated.

To say I'm unhappy wouldn't be quite accurate.

But for a small repair shop that had only recently opened to the public to suddenly receive special support and resources from the city government made them think twice...

Who exactly is behind Chen Luyang?

What kind of powerful connections do they have?!

Liang Zhongwei cleared his throat and said:
"Today's coordination meeting lasted quite a while, and everyone's points were very solid."

"The cooperation history and production capacity of the various units were explained, and the actual situation and ideas of the technical school were also put forward. The discussion atmosphere was quite frank and pragmatic."

He then shifted his focus back to the main point:
"I have a suggestion: this meeting should not involve mandatory matching, on-site assignment, or fixed locations and personnel."

"But after the meeting, our Municipal Economic Commission will issue a 'Suggested List of Factory-School Connections'. The list will make a suggested classification of the technological directions and contents that each unit discussed today, as well as the professional configuration, teaching staff and equipment conditions of the technical schools."

"As for how to connect, who can get along with whom, and whose projects can be compatible, we'll discuss that separately later."

"Those who are willing to work together should report on the project, sign the contract, and go through the procedures."

He spoke tactfully and with perfect tact, especially the last sentence, "Who would be willing to come together?", which was a light touch and a fitting conclusion.

This approach avoids the awkwardness of roll call and puts the initiative back in the hands of both the factory and the school.

At least they were given a way to "save face".

"Then let's do it this way. We'll find the relevant departments to communicate with later," someone in the meeting said.

The air felt a bit lighter.

Liang Zhongwei raised his hand and gently tapped the table twice, bringing the three-hour meeting to a successful close:

"Industry-education collaboration is a key area set by the city, and it lays the foundation for the future workforce."

"The city's special funds for technological upgrading, equipment purchase approvals, and quotas for expanding technical schools next year, including the number of recommended units for industry-education integration pilot projects, all need to be approved and reviewed."

There are only so many spots available.

"Whoever produces results first, whoever produces a finished sample, has an acceptance report, and has a record of participation, will be approved first."

After a pause,
Liang Zhongwei glanced one last time at Chen Luyang sitting in the corner and smiled:
“Some organizations may be small, but they have clear ideas and high enthusiasm, and that’s another way.”

"You can decide for yourselves how to choose."

With things said to this point, no one in the meeting room dared to criticize anymore.

Liang Zhongwei waved his hand: "Let's disperse."

The chairs rustled as the delegates stood up in twos and threes.

"Xiao Chen, are you going back to school or somewhere else? I'll take you," He Dahua asked.

“I think Xiao Chen should come with me. My car is better than yours,” Lu Yongqiang said with a smile, glancing at He Dahua as if deliberately stirring up trouble.

He Dahua raised an eyebrow: "Your beat-up Jeep, you have to step on the door yourself to get in, what kind of good is that?"

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Chen Luyang quickly spoke up:
"Uncle Lu, Uncle He, I won't trouble you two any longer. I still need to go and have a chat with my senior brother."

"Your senior brother?" The two were taken aback at the same time.

"Who?"

"Director Liang is my senior colleague." Chen Luyang didn't intend to hide it from the two of them and spoke directly.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yongqiang and He Dahua exchanged glances, then simultaneously revealed an expression of "I see."

No wonder Liang Zhongwei didn't say much at the meeting today, but kept calling on him.

In conclusion, the two of them will still have the same relationship.

"Your education was definitely worthwhile!" Lu Yongqiang said with a smile.

Chen Luyang smiled shyly, looking bashful.

His demeanor was completely different from that of the repair shop manager who had just been emphasizing responsibility, cooperation, and engaging in heated arguments in the meeting room.

"Alright, go ahead then, have a good chat with your senior brother." Lu Yongqiang waved to Chen Luyang.

"If you really can't find anyone on the production side, come find me."

He Dahua chimed in, "That's right, I'll find a workshop to get those two or three parts for you later."

Chen Luyang was moved.

"Thank you, Uncle Lu, Uncle He~ I'll think of something myself first!"

"If I really can't find the way, I'll come back to you for help!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yongqiang's eyes showed even more appreciation.

"It's good for young people to have backbone. But while backbone is important, don't try to tough it out when things go wrong."

“I understand, Uncle Lu, don’t worry,” Chen Luyang said.

After saying goodbye to the two elders,
Carrying a file bag, Chen Luyang walked through the gray brick and blue wall corridor outside the Municipal Economic Commission's meeting room and followed Liang Zhongwei all the way to his office door.

The door was half-open.

He knocked twice on the door frame, then peeked inside with a smile: "Senior brother, I'm just getting familiar with the door!"

Liang Zhongwei smiled and said, "Come in and sit down."

Chen Luyang walked in happily, and as soon as she sat down, Liang Zhongwei praised her:

"You performed well today, quite spirited."

Chen Luyang laughed and said, "This is also the first time I've dealt with so many factory directors and school principals. To be honest, my calves are so tight."

Liang Zhongwei gave a soft hum and poured a cup of hot water, handing it over: "If your calves are so tight, then those principals this afternoon probably had their knees trembling."

The two exchanged a smile, and the atmosphere relaxed.

Chen Luyang tentatively said, "Senior brother, I came here today because I'm afraid I'll have to ask you for a favor."

"Could you... give me a little more support in this factory-school matchmaking event?"

Liang Zhongwei didn't rush to express his opinion, but instead asked, "At least half of the people in this meeting today are wondering, what gives your repair shop the right to be allowed in this room?"

Chen Luyang chuckled and replied, "Because I'm your junior brother."

Liang Zhongwei burst out laughing and pointed at him, saying, "You've got a knack for cracking jokes!"

After laughing,
Liang Zhongwei then changed the subject, his expression turning somewhat somber: "I don't have that much influence."

"You were able to get into that room today not because I'm your senior, nor because the repair shop did a great job."

"It's because you hit the right spot."

Liang Zhongwei said seriously, "The industrial structure of the entire city is loosening right now. The old approach of 'schools adjacent to factories and students working in workshops' is outdated."

“All those big companies want to cooperate, but when it comes to specific projects, the vocational school is just a figurehead, and the students are just there to help out; they don’t get anything out of it.”

"But you're doing the exact opposite."

“A small unit took the initiative to leverage the resources of universities and colleges, forging a completely new path of collaboration by adopting the ‘small factory + university’ approach.”

"It's not about relying on a large system, but about stepping forward as a node, drawing up blueprints, making demands, and designing processes, so that universities and vocational schools can connect with you."

"To put it bluntly, your repair shop is currently the only project in the city attempting to 'organize and integrate peripheral resources'." He glanced at Chen Luyang, pausing for a moment:
"Once your mechanism is running smoothly, the city can use you as a model to bring together scattered small workshops, small technical schools, and marginal positions into a network, and build a low-cost, cross-entity, and modular light industry collaboration platform."

"This is what the city really wants to see."

"So you're not here to 'report results,' you're here to 'provide solutions.'"

He pointed to the documents on the table:
"Who among those people at today's meeting didn't achieve anything?"

"But they've been on this path for ten years. Your path is a new one that no one has ever walked before."

“Right now, there are a lot of small workshops in the suburbs and towns, all of which are stuck at the threshold of ‘being able to do the work, but not being able to do it big’.”

"Your repair shop's pilot program is, in essence, paving the way for everyone."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of meaning:

"If your 'blueprints out, test pieces back for calibration, closed-loop feedback' model can really work, then it won't just be your repair shop that benefits."

"It provides a reference model for the entire light industry and university-enterprise cooperation."

"That's the real reason you're in this room today."

At this point, Liang Zhongwei finally raised his hand and pushed the document on the table over.

"I will have the Equipment Department and the Vocational Education Office fully cooperate with you."

"Regarding vocational school resources, you can choose two in the first batch. After things go smoothly, depending on how well you do, I will expand the program for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Luyang's mind went blank, and he felt as if he had been swept away by a surge of adrenaline.

He stood up abruptly, his fingers unconsciously picking at the edge of the table, as if trying to calm himself down, but he couldn't stop talking:

"Thank you, senior!"

"I will definitely work hard and not let you down!"

Liang Zhongwei smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'm relieved to hear that."

"I have to go downstairs to hear a report in a bit, so I won't keep you any longer. We can chat again later."

"Alright, senior brother!"

……

Just as Chen Luyang's eyes lit up, and he decided to make great strides.

At this moment, on the campus of Peking University...

A red banner hangs diagonally across the lake, bearing eight large characters:

"Inherit the spirit of our martyrs and bravely shoulder the mission of youth"

The banner was flanked by neatly arranged drum and bugle corps and flag bearers.

With the host's introduction, the rehearsal for the December 9th Torch Relay officially began.

On one side of the viewing area, Secretary Wang of the Youth League Committee accompanied Vice Principal Liu to watch the rehearsal.

Due to the high level and large scale of this year's December 9th commemoration activities,

The school attaches great importance to this.

Therefore, Vice Principal Liu, who is in charge of the Youth League Committee, also personally went to the site to oversee the work.

As the torch was passed to the seventh person, the vice principal held up the list in his hand, looked at it, and suddenly asked in confusion:

Vice Principal Liu held up the list in his hand, puzzled: "The seventh runner is... Chen Luyang, but she doesn't look like her picture at all?"

Although Vice Principal Liu had never met Chen Luyang

However, Chen Luyang couldn't resist constantly posting on social media during this short semester.

It's either in the school newspaper today or in the newspaper tomorrow.

Teachers and students at the school who pay even a little attention to campus affairs have all heard his name and seen his picture.

Secretary Wang of the Youth League Committee quickly explained, "Chen Luyang asked me for leave, saying he was going to attend a coordination meeting of the Municipal Economic Commission. This is a classmate who was asked to stand in for the rehearsal."

Vice Principal Liu looked slightly surprised: "He went to the Municipal Economic Commission for a coordination meeting?"

"Yes." Secretary Wang nodded. "I've also seen the official notice from the city. It does indeed require project leaders to attend the meeting."

"These students nowadays are getting better and better with each graduating class," Vice Principal Liu remarked with considerable emotion.

"When he comes back, remember to explain the rehearsal details and the order of movement to him clearly."

"There can be no mistakes on the day of the ceremony."

"Don't worry, Vice Principal." Secretary Wang nodded repeatedly.

……

It was already completely dark by then.

Several 15-watt light bulbs hang in the corridors of Peking University's dormitory buildings, casting a dim, swaying light that exudes a sense of warmth.

As soon as Chen Luyang pushed open the door to dormitory 421, she found the room filled with a lively chatter.

"Wow, it's getting lively here!" he said with a laugh as he took off his hat. "What are you talking about?"

Tao Runze slapped his thigh: "I'm talking to you!"

"Talk about me?"

When Chen Luyang heard her name called, she put her bag on the bed and rubbed her hands, which were red from the cold.

"What's wrong with me?"

"What else could it be? It's just a rehearsal."

Zheng Zhe sat cross-legged on the bed, cracking sunflower seeds as he shouted, "If you don't come today, I'll take your entire seventh battering job!"

"The wind was so strong it made my face numb!" he said, taking a deep breath. "You owe me a meal, you can't get rid of it."

"Sure! I'll treat you later, all you can eat." Chen Luyang patted his shoulder with a smile. "Tell me, how was the rehearsal?"

Zheng Zhe perked up: "It's so lively! The person before you, the sixth batter, is actually a foreign student!"

"Huh?" Chen Luyang was taken aback. "Male or female? Which country?"

“A man! I heard he’s from France, and his name is… something like… Pi?” Zheng Zhe scratched his head.

“Pierre?” Chen Luyang blurted out.

"Yes, yes, that's him!" Zheng Zhe slapped his thigh.

"His eyes were bright blue, and he spoke with a nasal tone; he was very civilized."

"Really?" asked Sun Legen, the chubby pig butcher, curiously.

"Of course it's true!" Zheng Zhe said, holding a handful of Mao Ke (a type of Chinese snack).

To be honest, although they were all from the same school, most of them didn't really interact with international students. So when they suddenly heard that they would be receiving the torch with foreigners, they found it all very novel.

"And then? How do I get there?" Chen Luyang asked with a smile.

Zheng Zhe hurriedly and enthusiastically recounted the entire rehearsal route, slogans, and signature moves, including details like turns and positioning.

As everyone listened with great interest, Zheng Zhe suddenly lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously:
"By the way, can you guess who's hosting this event?"

"Who?"

"Xu Yunfeng from the drama club."

(End of this chapter)