Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 560 Roll Call and Let's Do It!
Chen Luyang read Luo Tian's article again with great interest, word by word.

I must say, no wonder he's a third-year economics student at Peking University, this writing is really impressive!
The entire article is not only meticulously written, but every analysis hits the nail on the head, with each word sharp and incisive.

It possesses both the theoretical depth typically found in classrooms and the ability to connect to real-world institutional operations, making it a sharp and insightful read.

In particular, the angles of "coordination costs," "institutional environment," and "concentrated risks" are blind spots that he did not touch upon at all in his article, which immediately made his "economic benefit calculation" seem weak.

As Chen Luyang read Luo Tian's relentless and demanding words, he felt the flames of battle within him ignite completely.

An unprecedented surge of passion welled up inside me!

The feeling was like being slapped in the face in public, or having a knife shoved into his throat, leaving him no choice but to retaliate!
But the more this happened, the more excited he became.

What's the point of having only one person's writing, no matter how beautifully it's written?
At most, it's just self-praise; others will nod in agreement and move on.

There needs to be sharp debate and heated exchanges to make this matter truly exciting and to ensure that the viewpoints and articles are seen and remembered by more people!
Moreover, since Luo Tian's article specifically targeted him by name, he had even less reason to back down.

This academic journal isn't just read by economics students and teachers; students from other departments, journal editors, and even school leaders also flip through it.

If he is suppressed here and can't hold his head up, then who will take his future projects and articles seriously?

To put it another way, if his argument is theoretically untenable, then no matter how much he tries in practice, it will be dismissed with a dismissive "lack of foundation."

In short, just do it!
Chen Luyang shouted loudly, his voice so loud that the windows shook.

This roar startled all five older brothers in 421, causing them to shudder involuntarily.

"Xiao Chen, this is nothing to get into a fight!"

Pan Yu, fearing that he was young and impetuous, quickly changed the subject.

"Yes, Chen'er, writing is writing, and arguing is arguing. Don't be impulsive," class monitor Tao Runze quickly advised.

“That’s right, that’s right,” Zhang Dongliang chimed in from the side.

"The academic journal is a platform for people to give their opinions. Everyone can express their views freely without fighting or killing each other."

"What are you all chatting about?" Chen Luyang asked the older men suspiciously.

"How could someone as refined and handsome as me be the kind of petty, narrow-minded person who would try to kill someone just because they said something about me?"

Chen Luyang spoke casually, her expression indifferent and unassuming.

But his eyes were gleaming with excitement!

The older men were so startled by his gaze that they broke out in a cold sweat.

You think you're refined and handsome?

That was someone who had asked Professor Zhang Diancai from the Department of Mechanics to help draw a diagram, but Professor Zhang disagreed.

Finally, he simply brought a big, thick iron bar and waited at the door of Teacher Zhang's office, as if he had been persuaded by Teacher Zhang!

If they're this cruel to teachers, imagine how they'd treat a student.

Just as the older brothers were about to continue their persuasive words,
Chen Luyang cracked her knuckles, making a "crack" sound.
"It's an academic journal, a place to make friends through writing!"

Let's make friends through literature!

……

For hundreds of years, besides eating and sleeping, another instinct deeply rooted in people's blood is the love of watching excitement!
Especially when watching others argue.

Unfortunately, this time they're facing someone who isn't just some nobody.

Both Chen Luyang and Luo Tian are prominent figures in the economics department.
One is the most dazzling "repair shop manager" among the freshmen.
The other one is the student council president.

When the second issue of the journal was published, Luo Tian's article, "Blind Spots and Risks of Parts Standardization," was like a pebble thrown into a pond, instantly stirring up ripples throughout the entire system.

Not only students, but even teachers in the economics department are curious whether Chen Luyang will respond.

Soon, the third issue of the Economics Department Journal was published.

Economics Department Faculty Office
"This kid really dares to write!"

Lian Yinghua looked at the academic journal in her hand and couldn't help but click her tongue.

The academic journal's title was clear: "The Dual Logic of System and Efficiency—A Reconsideration of Component Standardization"

In the opening of the article, Chen Luyang first acknowledged and quoted Luo Tian's criticism in the previous issue of the academic journal, listing the three arguments of "coordination cost", "centralized risk" and "institutional constraints" in a humble yet assertive manner.

Then, suddenly, the focus shifted:
"Without a unified standard, coordination costs will only be repeatedly incurred in the long run."

"Without proper concentration, risks will only accumulate quietly through dispersion and repetition, until they explode exponentially."

"If the institutional environment remains rigid, reform itself is out of the question."

Between the lines, he not only knows how to accept criticism, but also how to respond with rhetorical questions, and even elevates the debate to the level of "the dialectical relationship between system and efficiency".

hiss……

Are kids these days really this outspoken?!
Most importantly, Chen Luyang refuted Luo Tian's points one by one, and even went so far as to name names without hesitation:

"The coordination costs, concentration risks, and institutional obstacles listed by Luo Tian are certainly noteworthy."

"But there is a fundamental logical blind spot in this."

"That is, he attributes all the risks and costs to the promotion of generalization, while assuming that the existing decentralized system is stable and harmless."

Then, shifting his focus, Chen Luyang provided examples one by one, sharply dismantling the claims:
But the truth is quite the opposite!

“The repetitive design and processes caused by decentralized production are themselves a greater coordination cost; the chaotic standards for small batches of parts mean that risks are spread across countless links, making them more difficult to detect and control; as for the supply and distribution links, there are many standards and long processes, and problems are often delayed in the process, which increases the time cost all the way up.”

"To reject any exploration of unified standards simply because of concerns about new problems is tantamount to clinging to existing waste and inefficiency."

Finally, Chen Luyang threw the question back at him without any mercy:
"The real question that needs to be answered now is: is the cost of maintaining the status quo greater, or is the cost of promoting unified standards more worthwhile?"

This viewpoint is like a sharp, hidden arrow, piercing straight into the logical gaps in Luo Tian's article!

Luo Tian may question the "risks of generalization," but he can hardly deny the "waste of the status quo."

It can be said that Chen Luyang's words not only completely reversed the momentum of the article, but also pushed the balance of the conflict to Luo Tian's side, forcing him to answer.

In an instant, the entire economics department was ablaze with excitement.

Many students initially just wanted to watch the excitement and casually glanced at the academic journal, but they found it increasingly thrilling as they read on!

Chen Luyang not only dared to accept the challenge, but also had a sharp and uncompromising writing style.

Especially the final question was clearly meant to be a prelude to Luo Tian's response!

Once Luo Tian replies, it will be a series of battles between academic journals!
Wow... The students were all thrilled by those two pages in the academic journal.

Although there are many debates in class, it is extremely rare to see such a serious, written debate with specific names and arguments.

The third issue of the journal had only been out for a few days when it became the hottest topic in the Department of Economics.

Tao Runze and the others advised Chen Luyang to leave room for maneuver and not to name names in the article.

We all know who we're talking about, so let's just leave it at that.

To everyone's surprise, Chen Luyang's eyes widened immediately after hearing this.

Who said it's over?

What should we do?
Why should we let it go?

They've already named and criticized the generic parts in the title, which is basically no different from naming and swearing at them!

Chen Luyang's decision not to include Luo Tian's name in the title was already a gesture of leniency towards her classmate.

Let him let it go...

It's nothing!
Before everyone could catch their breath, Luo Tian's second article was published!
The title is even more direct than the last one—"Between Unity and Decentralization: A Rethinking of the Efficiency Myth."

At the outset, Luo Tian directly addressed Chen Luyang by name:

"What Chen Luyang said, 'The waste in the current situation is undeniable,' is true."

"However, waste is a visible loss, while systemic risk is a potential disaster."

"The former is visible and controllable, while the latter, once it breaks out, is irreversible."

Immediately afterwards, Luo Tian launched into a highly compelling metaphor, elevating the conversation to an even higher level:
"Repetitive design and repetitive processes are certainly inefficient, but they are like mosquito bites, which may damage the skin but not the bones."

"If the standardization process is not handled carefully, it could lead to a 'crisis of broken bones' and affect the whole situation."

"Which price is more bearable?"

But the most tricky part is yet to come.

Luo Tian was not content with just defense; instead, he proactively raised a new question:
"Who exactly sets the 'unified standards' that Chen emphasizes? Is it the factory? The higher-ups? Or the academic community? Behind the unification, there must be an authoritative 'judge'."

"If this referee lacks credibility, or only represents a portion of the interests, then the standardization process will degenerate from reform into a monopoly!"

These words were like a blow to the head!
Luo Tian not only countered the debate on "waste and risk," but also directly addressed the question that Chen Luyang had not answered: who has the right to set standards?
After all the students in the department read it, the discussion grew even louder.

"This is truly an unavoidable problem."

"Exactly, who decides on standardization? If we really go for a one-size-fits-all approach, what if the person who set the standards is problematic? Wouldn't that be even worse?"

"Now, it will be difficult for Chen Luyang to come back."

For a moment, the wind direction almost entirely tilted towards Luo Tian.

Many students even secretly thought: No matter how good Chen Luyang is at writing, he's probably been overshadowed this time.

To everyone's surprise, before Luo Tian's article had even circulated in the academic journal for a few days, Chen Luyang quickly responded with another article!
When the new manuscript was delivered to the girls' dormitory, Liu Hejuan was completely numb!
What kind of speed is that?!
Don't these people ever think before they write? They just write whatever comes to mind!

"Are we still releasing this issue? Should we wait?" Liu Hejuan asked her roommate, unsure of what to do.

The academic journal is usually published once a month, but sometimes when there are many student submissions, it can take up to half a month.

However, recently, because of Chen Luyang and Luo Tian, ​​it's been almost a week since the last draft was written.

Thanks to the large number of submissions from first-year students this semester, we've been able to keep the journal's content going for each issue.

Otherwise, there really wouldn't be much left.

"We'll get rich! We'll definitely get rich!!" my roommate said firmly.

Currently, the economics department has subtly split into two factions.

One faction supports Chen Luyang's new style!
The other faction is the moderate faction that supports Luo Tian!

Unfortunately, my roommate is a supporter of Chen Luyang!

"Think about it, everyone in the department is waiting for Chen Luyang's reply. He's already submitted his manuscript, and if the department holds it back, won't people think he chickened out and couldn't write a rebuttal?"

"Wouldn't Chen Luyang be taking the blame for nothing? That's so unfair!"

My roommate looked righteous!
Upon hearing this, Liu Hejuan hesitated.

“But we’ve published almost all the manuscripts we’ve received so far, and the current manuscripts simply can’t support the content of an academic journal.”

The roommate's eyes darted around, and a mischievous idea immediately popped into his bright black eyes.

"If we can't publish an academic journal, then let's publish a supplement!"

"The supplement?" Liu Hejuan was taken aback.

"Yes!" My roommate excitedly slapped the table.

"Don't many big magazines have supplements? We can publish one too, specifically to publish Chen Luyang's article!"

"This way, everyone can see it without disrupting the layout of the main publication."

She got more and more excited as she spoke, even using hand gestures.

Liu Hejuan's thinking was completely opened up!
It's much easier to run a supplement than a school journal!

Even if you only use a single sheet of A4 paper, put the article in it, and add a lead paragraph, it can still be a standalone issue.

Moreover, if you put in a good word with the teachers at the school printing plant, you might be able to print a few dozen more copies and distribute them to each class.

Just do it!

Right then and there, Liu Hejuan, holding the manuscript, called a small meeting with the students in charge of the academic journal.

Several people, one after another, worked through the night to format and copy the document.
By dawn, the first issue of the "Economics Department Journal Supplement" was freshly printed!
With the official publication of the supplement, Chen Luyang and Luo Tian's debate became famous!
As is customary, each issue of the academic journal is first distributed by the faculty members of the department. A stack is placed in the faculty office for them to browse, and then the academic representative takes a few copies back to their classes for everyone to take turns reading.

The school's Youth League Committee would also send a few copies to departments such as Philosophy, Law, and History under the guise of "academic exchange."

In the past, when these academic journals were sent to other departments, teachers and students would usually just flip through them casually, look at the table of contents, nod and say "the students are quite enthusiastic", and then put them on the bookshelf.

But this time the situation is completely different!
When the supplement to the "Journal of Economics" was published, it not only had a unique layout and eye-catching paper, but also...
Most importantly, the article inside didn't shy away from naming him by name at all, clearly writing "Luo Tian" in his name, which was a direct confrontation!
The title is straightforward: "Risk and Order: The Real Game Behind Standards".

(End of this chapter)