Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 546 You call him Chen Lao Er?!

Chen Luyang smiled and looked at the three people opposite her: "Which workshop are you three from?"

The young man who was called on quickly straightened up and reported one after another: "Brother Chen, I'm in the second group of the forging workshop."

"I'm in the machining department."

"I'm in the assembly workshop."

The three spoke frankly, their eyes showing a hint of nervousness.

Don't let Chen Luyang's age fool you; he's not only a workshop director and senior engineer, but also the head of the machinery factory's repair shop in Pian'ercheng, and a favorite of the factory director.

Not only did he single-handedly set up a repair shop in Pian'er City and lead a team to do projects, but he also really made a name for himself.

Everyone in the factory was dissatisfied!

So even though the three of them usually treated Sun Hongjun like brothers, they were still feeling quite uneasy sitting across from Chen Luyang.

I was afraid that I wouldn't speak fluently enough and that Brother Chen would think I was being unreasonable.

Seeing the three of them looking nervous, Chen Luyang couldn't help but laugh and said, "We're all brothers, relax. Sitting at the same table with me doesn't feel like you're taking an exam."

The three of them blushed and chuckled awkwardly, which eased the tension a bit.

Chen Luyang picked up his enamel mug, took a sip of soup, and then changed his tone: "I understand the brothers' intentions. The repair shop really needs capable people."

"However, space is tight right now. More than a dozen people are crammed into a small building, and there's barely enough room to turn over in the bunk beds. If there were a few more people, we would really have to sleep on the floor."

He paused, then added with a smile, "When the repair shop expands in the future, with more spacious workshops and more dormitories, we can discuss it again if there's still a shortage."

Hearing that Chen Luyang didn't directly refuse, the three young men breathed a sigh of relief.

They hadn't dared to expect Chen Luyang to agree on the spot.
The main purpose of my visit today is to strike up a conversation with Chen Luyang, get acquainted with her, express my stance, and make Chen Luyang remember me. That would be the greatest victory!

Chen Luyang originally thought that only some small workers would come to him, wanting to go out and broaden their horizons.

But to his surprise, in the following days, several other workers also approached him, expressing their desire to work with him in Pian'ercheng.

Chen Luyang was really looking forward to it.

These are not ordinary laborers, but skilled master craftsmen.

If they take them all, the repair shop will definitely have a few more trump cards.

The reality is that the two-story repair shop is already too crowded to accommodate everyone. If we were to bring the mechanics there, things would probably fall apart within a day.

Helpless, Chen Luyang could only appease the experienced mechanics, saying that as long as the repair shop expanded and there was space available, he would invite them all over.

……

As the Spring Festival draws ever closer, the entire machinery factory is filled with a festive atmosphere.

Large red lanterns were hung on both sides of the factory gate, bright red paper-cut window decorations were pasted on the window frames at the workshop entrance, and even Spring Festival couplets with the words "Welcome the New Year and Celebrate a Bountiful Year" were pasted on the pillars of the corridor.

Normally, the four groups would compete with each other in the work process, and none of them would admit defeat. But as the year draws to a close, their competitive spirit gradually subsides.

Laughter filled the workshop, and the workers were working with a relaxed, festive spirit, as if it were the Lunar New Year.

In the morning, with the snow still lingering in the yard from the previous night, the familiar screeching of a small truck's brakes echoed from the entrance of the Chen family's courtyard.

At this time every day, Junjun would skip and hop out to get today's milk.
He had barely run out when he yelled into the yard, "Uncle! Uncle Bai is looking for you!"

"Here I am!" Chen Luyang ran out wrapped in a cotton-padded coat.

Seeing Bai Yunzhao wearing a military green Lei Feng hat, pushing open the car door, and carefully taking out a red cloth bag from his cotton-padded coat pocket.

"The bracelet is finished. I personally watched it being made at the jewelry store, and the weight is exactly the same."

Chen Luyang hurriedly opened the cloth bag.

Inside, there lay a heavy, golden bracelet, thick and round, gleaming softly in the morning light.

"Brother Bai, I really have to thank you this time. If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't have been able to make such a good bracelet."

Bai Yunzhao waved his hand, looking like a seasoned veteran: "No need to thank me! If you're really being polite with me, then you're being too formal."

"Besides, women just like this; they feel at ease when they wear the bracelet."

Chen Luyang listened with a smile, carefully putting the gold bracelet into her pocket.

Luckily, I went back to the factory and got two months' wages; otherwise, I really wouldn't have been able to scrape together the money to make the bracelet.

As I pushed open the door and entered the room, a gust of cold air rushed in.

Junjun saw Chen Luyang and ran over in a flash, asking:
"Uncle, what's in your pocket? It looks like you're carrying an egg."

As he spoke, Junjun curiously tiptoed to peek, as if Bai Yunzhao had given Chen Luyang something delicious.

Chen Luyang chuckled and slapped his head down.

"Stop asking questions, this is a gold bracelet for your future aunt!"

Upon hearing that it was a gold bracelet, Junjun immediately lost interest.

The eldest sister, Chen Lihong, couldn't help but interject, "Didn't Mom prepare a set for you a long time ago? It's locked in the cabinet, have you forgotten?"

"That was a family heirloom that my mother left for her daughter-in-law, but this is something I called to give to my girlfriend~ It's different~" Chen Luyang said cheerfully.

The Chen family has always upheld the principle of treating everyone equally.

Back when their eldest sister got married, Chen Dazhi and Feng Jiuxiang had already prepared all the gold jewelry for their three children's weddings.

The main idea is that each person gets their own set, so no one has to argue.

The things Chen Luyang needed for his wedding were prepared well in advance and all locked in a small drawer by his parents' bedside.

"Whatever, I think you just can't stand not spending money!"

Chen's mother lifted the curtain and carried the freshly heated milk into the room.

"Go call your sister for dinner! She never sleeps at night and never gets up in the morning!"

Accompanied by Chen's mother's mutterings,

Chen Luyang walked to Chen Xiaoling's room door without even raising his hand, then turned and walked back into the main room, calling out:
"Mom, she won't eat."

Chen's mother immediately started shouting.

"She doesn't care whether she eats or not, and she insists on reading at night... When did she develop such a bad habit!"

Chen Xiaoling, who was still fast asleep in the room at this time:

……

The noisy morning came to an end.

The adults in the family rode bicycles to work.

Although Chen's mother scolded her daughter, she knew that she was staying up late studying.
Before leaving, he specially boiled an extra egg for Xiaoling and kept it warm in the pot, so that Junjun could give the egg to his aunt when Xiaoling woke up.

Looking at Junjun, who stood tall and proud, promising to take good care of his aunt,
Chen Luyang really felt that his sister was lucky.

Chen Dazhi doted on me since I was a child.
When I grow up, I'll have my older brother to support me.

Even though my brother is at work, there's still my classmate Sun Junjun, the successor of socialism, to worry about.

When Junjun grows up...

"Oh, Panpan's here!"

Just thinking,

Chen Luyang saw Zhang Panpan carrying her schoolbag and walking obediently along the factory alley.

"Uncle Zhang's child seems quite reliable; he'll probably be able to take care of people in the future."

Chen Luyang was nodding inwardly when the other person opened their mouth, almost making him stumble.

Good morning, Uncle Chen.

Zhang Panpan stood still, extremely polite.

"..."

Chen Luyang's eyes instantly darkened.

Damn it!
You're the uncle!

Your whole family are uncles!

Seeing Chen Luyang's dark and brooding eyes, Zhang Panpan's heart skipped a beat.

In terms of age, he and Xiaoling were in the same class, so it was only natural for him to call her "Brother Chen";
But there’s nothing I can do!
In terms of status in the underworld, his father worked under Chen Luyang. Even Zhang Guoqiang had to respectfully call Chen Luyang "Director Chen."

If he still calls himself "Brother Chen," what would that make him?!

No trick,

"Brother Chen" could only be awkwardly translated as "Uncle Chen".

However, Chen Luyang still had to maintain a friendly demeanor, so he cleared his throat and nodded:
"Hmm... Good morning."

……

Chen Luyang originally planned to find some free time on the weekend to personally deliver the bracelet to Chen Jinyue.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I arrived at the office, the factory manager's secretary called me to the main building.

The provincial machinery factory recently had a batch of new equipment purchase quotas, and it needed to go to the provincial government to complete the procedures and get the official seal.

Wang Qingzhou, as the factory director, personally led a team to communicate with the Provincial Economic Commission and the Planning Commission.

It just so happens that someone from the provincial planning commission is keeping an eye on foreign trade. Wang Qingzhou thought that Chen Luyang was quick-witted and articulate, so maybe he could strike up a conversation with her.

Chen Luyang agreed decisively and without hesitation!

This is a golden opportunity!

He could both work with the factory and meet Chen Jinyue on the way to put the newly made bracelet on her wrist.

So Chen Luyang quickly rode his bicycle home, intending to put the gold bracelet in his pocket and then go to the provincial government with the car.

To my surprise, as soon as I entered the room, I saw Chen Lingling and Zhang Panpan sitting around a large table, studying earnestly.

Although at home,

But the two of them were very quiet, even quieter than in the classroom.

"Brother, why are you back?"

When Chen Xiaoling saw Chen Luyang rushing home, she subconsciously looked up and asked a question.

"I've come to get something. Where's Junjun?" Chen Luyang answered as she walked into the house.

"JunJun went out to play with PangDun..."

Before Chen Xiaoling could finish speaking, Zhang Panpan politely said, "Hello, Uncle Chen."

Chen Xiaoling immediately raised her voice.

What did you call him? Uncle Chen?

Zhang Panpan nodded reluctantly.

Chen Xiaoling immediately went ballistic.

She jumped up from the chair with a thud, "How much older is my brother than you? At most, one grade older!"

"At school, it's fine for you two to call each other 'classmate' and 'deskmate,' but why are you calling each other 'uncle' at my house?!"

Isn't this a generational gap?
Upon hearing this, Chen Luyang's initial "displeasure" suddenly turned into something else entirely.

I just felt like I'd been cheated, being made to look several generations older.

Now, seeing the little girl getting angry, he finds the word "uncle" incredibly pleasant to hear.

"Hehe~"

Chen Luyang tucked the gold bracelet close to her body, looking like she was deliberately stirring up trouble for Xiaoling:

"Panpan, when you read your book later, if there's anything you don't understand, just ask your uncle, and he'll explain it to you."

Before Zhang Panpan could even agree...

Chen Xiaoling stomped her foot in anger, pointed her finger at him furiously, and shouted:

"Chen Luyang!!! You did this on purpose!"

Chen Luyang grinned smugly, turned around, shook his clothes, and walked happily toward the door.

Before leaving, he added:

"Study hard, Xiaoling. As an elder, you should take good care of Panpan."

Chen Xiaoling: I'll tear you apart!

The instant Chen Xiaoling's book flew towards him, Chen Luyang decisively jumped on his bicycle and sped away.

"That bastard!!"

Chen Xiaoling angrily picked up the book, gritting her teeth and cursing:
"When he gets back, I'll make sure he pays the price!"

Back in the main room, Chen Xiaoling glared fiercely at Zhang Panpan, the innocent instigator.

"I'm telling you, Zhang Panpan, from now on, you have to call him 'uncle,' understand?"

"If you call him 'uncle' again, I'll never be friends with you again, and you can forget about ever coming to my house to read again!"

Zhang Panpan, who knew she had caused trouble, never expected that her simple way of addressing Chen Xiaoling would make her so angry.

"If I don't call him Uncle Chen, what should I call him?"

Calling someone "brother" isn't quite the right thing to do!
Zhang Panpan was very worried.

“You call him Chen Lao Er!” Chen Xiaoling gritted her teeth.

Zhang Panpan: ...

……

Although the purpose was ostensibly to bring Chen Luyang to connect with foreign trade channels,

Ultimately, the machinery factory did not have the actual qualifications to import and export equipment. This was just an opportunity to get acquainted with the people from the Provincial Planning Commission and build relationships.

If we're talking about core matters, it's still up to Wang Qingzhou and the factory leaders to keep an eye on them.

So Chen Luyang sat next to him, mostly just serving tea and water and smiling, unable to get a word in edgewise.

It was almost noon.
The provincial leaders warmly invited him to dinner, so Wang Qingzhou naturally went along.

Chen Luyang quickly found an excuse: "Factory manager, I have some personal matters to attend to, so I won't join in the fun for now. I'll meet up with you this afternoon."

Wang Qingzhou was busy dealing with the greetings and didn't ask any more questions. He just waved his hand and said, "Okay, keep an eye on the time and don't go too far."

Chen Luyang nodded in agreement and turned to leave the office building.

Chen Jinyue's current department is called the Office of Individual and Private Economy Management.

When others heard that he was looking for Director Chen of the Office for the Management of Individual and Private Economy, they immediately gave him directions.

"The sign is hanging on the second floor of the east side of Building No. 2."

Chen Luyang walked down the corridor.

The office door was wide open, and inside were seven or eight tables, each piled high with documents, some of which were registration applications for individual businesses, and others were local reports on stall statistics.

The phone rang incessantly as officials spoke with local industrial and commercial bureaus to verify whether there were "eighty-seven stalls" or "ninety stalls" in a certain city.
Someone unfolded a thick register and started rapidly calculating with an abacus;
Others were typing away at their typewriters, copying down the latest documents.

The scene was far from orderly; everyone was extremely busy.

Amidst this chaotic atmosphere, Chen Jinyue appeared remarkably calm.

She was sitting by the window, with a thick stack of materials submitted by the township on the table.

With his left hand turning the pages and his right hand holding a pen, he quickly sketched out the key data and then casually wrote annotations in the blank spaces.

It instantly brought Chen Luyang back to the days at Songting Hotel, to the image of the decisive and efficient female manager.

dong dong dong.

Chen Luyang raised her hand and gently knocked on the door frame.

Chen Jinyue subconsciously looked up, her beautiful face momentarily stunned, then surprise and an undisguised smile appeared in her eyes:
"Xiao Chen? What are you doing here?"

Chen Jinyue strode out of the office.

Chen Luyang grinned, and the two of them stood in the corridor, lowering their voices as they spoke:

"I came here with the factory manager to take care of some business, and I just happened to stop by to see you."

(End of this chapter)