Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 543 The rubber factory poached people again

Why are they hoping for Chen Luyang to come?

It's just because he goes to school in Pian'er City that he has connections with the outside world!
If he could have scouted ahead first, the factory wouldn't have been wandering around like a blind man, wasting money and effort.

Feng Dayong stood up abruptly, picked up his wine bowl, and said in a rough but sincere voice, "Brother, thank you so much! I must toast you with this glass!"

Chen Luyang quickly stood up and waved his hands repeatedly: "Director Feng, please don't be so polite. We're all family. We'll definitely help if we can!"

Before he could finish speaking, Feng Dayong had already raised the wine bowl in front of Chen Luyang, his eyes red and full of gratitude.

Chen Luyang had no choice but to pick up her bowl and clink it against his with a thud, and the two of them downed it in one gulp.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere in the room was quite lively.

Chen Luyang put down his wine bowl, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly said, "Director Feng, I have another idea, it's not quite mature yet, would you like to hear it?"

Feng Dayong immediately sat up straight, his expression serious: "Director Chen, please speak!"

Chen Luyang said slowly, "Now when people talk about milk powder, they focus on infant formula, but our factory shouldn't just focus on that one area."

“Baby formula is certainly important, but we also need to look at the broader market – such as formula for students, the elderly, and nutritional supplements.”

“Student milk powder is the most suitable breakthrough point at present. There are many school-age children in the country now, and parents with slightly better financial conditions want to supplement their children’s nutrition.”

"Moreover, the production process for student milk powder is much simpler than that for infant formula. It doesn't necessarily have to imitate breast milk. As long as the protein and calcium content is sufficient and the taste is delicate, it's fine. This product has high sales volume and quick results, which can help keep the factory running."

He paused, then added, "In other words, baby formula is about word-of-mouth, while student and elderly formula is about sales. Only by walking on two legs can the factory stand firm."

As he listened to Chen Luyang's words, Feng Dayong's face relaxed more and more.

Hearing the last part, he couldn't help but reach out with his chopsticks, pick up a greasy chicken leg from the plate, and shove it into Chen Luyang's bowl with a thud.

"Eat your chicken drumsticks!! Director Chen, you can say whatever you want, but don't forget to eat!!!"

Impressed.

I can't accept it!

No wonder Bai Yunzhao and Liu Yiping have been delivering milk to Chen Luyang's family every day without fail!

That's a really sharp mind!
Chen Luyang was both amused and exasperated, and quickly waved his hand: "Director Feng, you're too kind. I don't know how to make milk powder, I was just offering some suggestions."

Bai Yunzhao took a sip of wine and smiled as he continued, "No matter what the idea is, it makes us feel much clearer after hearing it."

The atmosphere at the dinner table grew increasingly warm, with cups of wine being poured one after another, and the steam from the chicken soup making the room cozy. The group chatted amongst themselves, growing closer with each conversation.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Feng Dayong turned around and took out two salted geese he had prepared himself, a basket of eggs, and also insisted on giving Chen Luyang two packs of "Peony" cigarettes and a pot of homemade sorghum liquor, telling him to take them home.

While Chen Luyang was eating and drinking in the commune,
On the other side, Xiang Guowu was not idle either.

There are no glove molds in the rubber workshop.

In order to complete the task assigned to him by Chen Luyang, Xiang Guowu made a special trip to the rubber factory in the city to borrow a few molds for rubber gloves.

As soon as I stepped into the rubber factory, a familiar smell of rubber filled the air.

The hot air emanating from the vulcanizing furnace and the buzzing of the machines coming from the workshop brought him a slight sense of relief.

As soon as he entered the factory gate, Xiang Guowu felt like he was "coming home".

Although he had only worked there for a little over a year, because there was no conflict of interest between him and the workers at the rubber factory, they didn't engage in much backstabbing or infighting. They simply focused on research, and the days were filled with laughter and shouts. When technical problems arose, they would all gather around the furnace and work together to figure them out.

Although the rubber workshop in the machinery factory now appears to be filled with harmony...
However, the four groups were secretly competing with each other, and none of them were willing to give in. It was really not as comfortable to stay here as it was here.

"Old Xiang?! You're finally back!!!"

Li Mingqi, the technical workshop director of the rubber factory, strode over with a happy face, grabbed Xiang Guowu's shoulder, and put his arm around him so hard that it almost made Xiang Guowu's shoulder bone crack.

"Are you back to report for duty? Come on, I'll take you to see Director Chang!"

"Director Chang will be overjoyed to know you're back!"

Xiang Guowu felt a surge of warmth in his heart and smiled somewhat awkwardly: "Director, I came back this time to borrow some molds, not to report for duty."

"Borrow the mold?" Li Mingqi was taken aback.

What kind of mold?

Xiang Guowu explained, "It's a rubber glove mold."

“Our workshop wants to improve the rubber gloves in the laboratory, and this task fell to me, so I came here to borrow some.”

Upon hearing that it was a machinery factory that wanted to borrow molds, Li Mingqi immediately became alarmed!
Previously, when news about rubber vulcanization technology and diallyl vulcanizing agents broke, they were a step behind, allowing Chen Luyang to seize the opportunity and gain the upper hand.

As a result, all subsequent orders from boiler factories, chemical plants, school playgrounds, and so on were snatched up by the machinery factory.

This incident is truly a painful humiliation in the rubber factory's records!
Losing the contract is a small matter, but losing face is a huge one!
Li Mingqi's eyelids twitched, and he started thinking to himself:
Could it be that this time the machine factory is using the pretense of "borrowing molds" to try and make a quick buck?
Xiang Guowu saw through his thoughts and quickly explained, "Director, don't worry. It's just rubber gloves for the lab, nothing major."

“When we were doing experiments at school, we thought the gloves were too thin and wanted to improve them. The factory asked me to come up with a solution, but our workshop doesn’t have any molds, so I had to swallow my pride and ask you for one.”

After hearing this, Li Mingqi's brows relaxed, and he breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Oh dear, I thought it was some important technology again! You scared me."

"It's just lab gloves, nothing serious."

Li Mingqi laughed and said, "Our rubber factory is currently focused on orders for special tires and conveyor belts. The molds are just sitting idle anyway, so feel free to use them if you want. Consider it a favor to our brother."

Xiang Guowu felt a surge of warmth in his heart: "Director, thank you so much! I really wouldn't have dared to ask for your help if it weren't for you."

Li Mingqi laughed and waved his hand, saying, "Why are you thanking me?"

"I've already told you, coming back is like coming home. When a family asks for your help, no one will object!"

After saying that, Li Mingqi's expression changed, and he still tried to persuade him, "Old Xiang, how's it going for you working at the machine factory?"

"If you ask me, you should just come back. Our rubber factory is rushing to expand production and is short-staffed. If you agree, I'll immediately talk to the factory manager for you!"

Xiang Guowu said in a low voice, "Director, I understand your good intentions."

"But I have a sense of justice. Since the machinery factory still needs me, I can't just leave."

"I have to finish the task at hand before I can talk about anything else. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease."

Li Mingqi stared at him for a moment, then said helplessly, "You!!!"

"If it were anyone else, they would have already chosen a less busy place. You still want to explain things clearly."

"No matter what, the rubber factory gates are always open for you. When you come back, your brother will be the first to wait for you at the door!"

Xiang Guowu felt a warmth in his heart, nodded, clutched the mold tightly in his hand, and turned to hurry towards the machinery factory.

When he returned to the workshop, carrying several heavy rubber glove molds, more than twenty workers immediately surrounded him.

"Master Xiang! You really got it?"

"This mold looks much more refined than the ones in our workshop!"

The eyes of the group of young people lit up.

These people are all new faces.

A few days ago, Chen Luyang called the four group leaders together and asked them to each send five people to work independently under Xiang Guowu. The four group leaders readily agreed, but they all had their own agendas. After much deliberation, they mostly chose young people who had only been working at the factory for half a year.

They have just learned the basic operations, but haven't yet grasped the key procedures or been able to get a complete set of work.

The group of people who were taken away naturally felt resentful.

Isn't this a disguised way of kicking us out?!

At least I had a mentor in my original group, but now I'm following Master Xiang, who knows what I'll be doing?

Unexpectedly, as soon as Xiang Guowu led them up, they encountered the most challenging and demanding task in the entire workshop—oil line hoses!
That's a crucial component; if it malfunctions, the whole vehicle will be grounded.

Everyone thought this task would be difficult for Xiang Guowu, but he quickly figured it out, explained the key points, and everyone understood the principles.

What's even more remarkable is that he didn't hold back; he broke down and taught them all the "tips and tricks of the master craftsmen" and "secret techniques passed down from the old workers."

Over the past few days, the young people have not only learned how to operate the equipment in real-world situations, but they have also discovered some techniques that even their original masters were unwilling to easily pass on.

What was once a misfortune turned out to be a blessing in disguise, leading them down the right path.

"Xiao Sun, Tianbao, come here!" Xiang Guowu called out, summoning the two young men over.

These two men, one named Sun Guangzhi and the other Li Tianbao, were both in their early twenties. Their eyes were as bright as light bulbs, and they were quick and agile. Most importantly, they were very intelligent and could understand things immediately.

"You two try this first, and do the experiment according to the method I taught you a few days ago."

As he spoke, Xiang Guowu held up the mold and explained while gesturing: "The gloves are too thin and will tear easily. The problem lies in the number of times the glue is applied."

“In the past, gloves were made by dipping a single piece in a slurry and molding it in one go. It was fast, but the thickness was uneven, and the stress points were prone to cracking.”

“We need to try a different approach. First, apply a base coat of slurry to set the shape, then let it dry for a while. When the surface is half-dry, then apply a second coat of slurry.”

"By layering them on top of each other, the thickness can be increased, but the flexibility of the fingers and joints can still be maintained, so they won't become stiff."

Li Tianbao asked, "Master, what if it's too thick? Won't it just look like a wooden cover when you wear it?"

Xiang Guowu patiently taught him: "Whether it's thick or not depends entirely on the balance between the palm and the fingertips."

"The palm should be thicker to withstand friction; the fingertips should be thinner to allow for flexibility. When the mold is lifted out of the latex tank, remember this trick: pause at the wrist to let more material adhere, then shake the fingertips to make sure a thin layer is enough. This way, the gloves will be both durable and easy to use."

As he spoke, he picked up a piece of chalk and drew a cross-section of the mold on the blackboard, quickly marking out the thickness distribution.

Sun Guangzhi and Li Tianbao understood perfectly, and excitedly carried the molds to the experimental table.

Then, Xiang Guowu turned to the others and said, "Let's go, let's take down the oil hose!"

During this period, he added a low-temperature softener to the formula, which solved the problem of the hose becoming stiff and brittle in sub-zero environments.

After several tests, the fact that the hose can still maintain its flexibility at minus 20 degrees Celsius is a significant step forward.

But the problem isn't over yet.

When used for a long time, impurities in gasoline will slowly seep into the hose, causing the hose wall to blister and leak oil.

This is the real tough battle we have to fight!

"Let's try a different approach today: add recycled rubber to the outer layer!" Xiang Guowu explained as he assigned tasks.

"Reclaimed rubber has poor toughness but strong density, which can block dirt in gasoline. With an outer layer and an inner layer of our original rubber, impurities cannot easily penetrate."

After hearing this, the young workers rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

"Master Xiang, what proportions do you need?"

"Try 20% first, and reduce it if it's too hard."

While giving instructions, Xiang Guowu taught everyone how to observe the state of the rubber compound—by looking at its color, smelling its odor, and feeling its toughness.

He revealed all those little tricks that the old workers were unwilling to teach.

In a corner of the workshop, machines roared, furnaces crackled, and voices rose and fell.

Seeing Xiang Guowu and his team working so enthusiastically, the other four groups also put in their best effort, some focusing on the molds, some on the processes, some on the formulas, and some on their physical endurance... Their morale was boosted by the energy of Xiang Guowu's group.
In short, no one is willing to submit to anyone else; it's just a stalemate.

Even Du Han threw down his pen, stood in front of the machine tool, and pushed the tool holder with both hands, causing sparks to fly everywhere as he sharpened it.

He transformed an ordinary life into one that seemed to belong to a soldier, abandoning his studies for military service.

Second floor of the machinery factory office building
Yu, Deputy Factory Director's Office

The howling north wind lashed against the glass windows, and the sound of the wind seeped through the cracks.

Yu Anshan stood in front of the window, reached out and touched the radiator, then squinted and looked outside.

Several people were seen walking quickly through the snow, their necks hunched, their hat brims being blown askew by the wind.

He felt a sense of relief and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement: "What a rare moment of peace!"

That's why they say there's always something that can subdue something else!
As soon as Chen Luyang returned, Dong Mangui immediately stopped bothering him.

handy!

……

Finally... the days passed like a diary filled with entries, and the day came for Gorky to meet him.

weekend.

Early in the morning, the bus chugged along in the snow and ice towards the zoo.

The carriage was packed with people, and the windows were covered in white, misty vapor that melted at the slightest touch, dripping water down the glass.

Chen Jinyue and Shen Xia, two girls, stood chatting and laughing on the bus, dressed up beautifully, and happily headed to the zoo.

The northwest wind was like a knife, scraping people's faces, but it couldn't stop the restless hearts of young people.

Especially Chen Jinyue, who was the "chief planner" of this trip to the zoo.

As soon as they got off the bus, Chen Jinyue and Shen Xia saw two young men already standing at the entrance of the zoo.

The two young men were tall and strong, especially their military green cotton coats, which perfectly accentuated their broad shoulders and slender waists.

The two people stood side by side in the wind and snow, looking as beautiful as a painting.

In an instant, Shen Xia's eyes lit up.

The handsome mixed-race youth was looking down, lightly kicking the snow with his right foot, seemingly oblivious to the hustle and bustle around him, lost in his own world.

yes……

lonely.

Shen Xia's eyes softened.

On the other side, Chen Luyang glared at Song Liaosha with annoyance and cursed:
"I told you to wear a hat when we came, but you didn't even know to bring it!"

"Look at you, you're freezing! Your head is practically tucked into your coat."

(End of this chapter)