The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 261 Production Line Successfully Commences Operations; Qian Jin Attends Factory Manager's Dinner
The expansion of the Taishan Road Labor Commando Team is proceeding in an orderly manner.

Qian Cheng and Qian Xi both performed exceptionally well at their workplaces.

Although there are many children in the family, Ma Hongxia takes care of them. In addition, the family life is governed by family rules and regulations. Although there are many people, things are not chaotic and everything is in good order.

More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

The lingering heat of late summer in Haibin City has been completely driven away. After several autumn rains in November, the city began to feel the chill of autumn winds.

In late November, the cold rain had stopped, and lead-gray clouds hung low, like old cotton wool soaked in water, pressing heavily over the city.

The late autumn wind swept in from the sea, passing through the densely packed factories and chimneys of varying heights in the city, and finally lashed against the heavy, wide gray iron gate of the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill, causing the gate to slam against the wall with a dull clang.

Wang Dong rushed over with his drum and gong troupe, shouting, "Old Wang, Old Wang? What are you doing? What day is it today? Aren't you going to guard the gate properly for me?!"

Hearing his shout, two people rushed over from a distance: "What's wrong, factory manager?"

Wang Dong said impatiently, "What else is wrong? Hurry up and secure the gate. The foreign guests are arriving soon!"

The two old gatekeepers nodded hurriedly.

Wang Dong walked out the door and looked back.

It was cold, but today the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill was bustling with activity.

The brand-new red banner hanging on the gate fluttered in the wind:

"A warm welcome to the successful installation of the advanced production line from the American company, Wodes."

The magnificent red cloth against the gray background resembles a burning flame.

A jeep pulled up, and Deputy Factory Directors Wang Defu and Qiu Guohua jumped out one after the other, nodding solemnly to Wang Dong.

Wang Dong was overjoyed: "The machine has been completely disassembled? No problems?"

Qiu Guohua readily replied, "There was absolutely no problem. We hired the Jiagang Transport Team from the Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative to handle the unloading work, and there wasn't a single bump or scratch."

Wang Defu muttered, "The machines are good, but why do they look so small? Even if we assemble them, they're not as big as any of the production lines in our workshops."

Wang Dong laughed, went up and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Comrade Defu, you need to change your old ideas."

"The production capacity of a machine is indeed related to its size, but it is no longer a direct correlation. It is not necessarily true that a large machine has a greater production capacity than a small machine."

"Especially the advanced production lines in the US, Europe and Japan, they all emphasize small size and great capacity."

The three people were chatting.

Several Jiefang brand trucks covered with green tarpaulins were slowly driving into the gate, their tires making a hissing sound as they rolled over the wet cement road.

Soon, the wheel rim was covered in fresh mud.

Inside the truck bed, huge wooden crates, their shapes clearly defined, were tightly wrapped in multiple layers of tarpaulin, like lurking steel behemoths, silently enduring the cold sea wind.

There was a car in front of and a sedan behind the Jiefang heavy truck.

Wang Dong waved his hand in response.

The drum and gong team, which had already lined up, began to sound loudly and clearly.

A young man shouted, "Shall we light some firecrackers?"

Qiu Guohua hurriedly waved his hand: "Wait a minute, wait for the leader to get off the car."

The beige Volga sedan stopped.

Wang Dong personally opened the car door, and the city leaders and the operating experts assigned by Wodes got out of the car.

At this moment, firecrackers are lit.

Instantly, red scraps of paper tumbled on the ground, smoke billowed, and the smell of gunpowder mingled with the earthy smell after the autumn rain and the ash from a distant coal-fired boiler, all carried on the wind.

The car behind drove up.

The vehicle was filled with engineers specializing in production line installation and operation, all dressed in dark blue Wodes company overalls, and each one looked radiant.

The expert leading the team was named Tom. He was not tall but exceptionally muscular, with blond hair and green eyes. He was in his early fifties and had no gray hair, making him appear to be an energetic man.

After shaking hands with the leaders, Wang Dong shook hands with him and said warmly in the English taught by Qian Jin, "Mr. Tom, welcome to the Chinese seaside. We warmly welcome your arrival."

Tom paused for a moment, then smiled: "Thank you for your welcome, Mr. President. Your English is excellent. I hope we can have a pleasant collaboration in the days to come."

However, Wang Dong couldn't understand a single word of what he was saying.

But he noticed that Tom was a very capable person, because his hands were large and broad, and his palms were covered with calluses from years of operating machines and dealing with various tools.

At that moment, Wang Dong didn't have time to greet him.

The factory director's attention was focused on the machines in the truck bed.

He took a deep breath of the cold, complex air, a burning sensation surging violently within his chest.

The final jolt has arrived!
After the welcoming ceremony, the truck drove to the workshop entrance.

The strong young men selected from the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill began unloading the trucks under the guidance of foreign experts.

Soon, with the combined efforts of manpower and machinery, these machines, which had traveled all the way from across the ocean, were moved into the bright and bustling factory.

They were freed from their wooden crates, gleaming with a cold, hard, and brand-new metallic sheen, which drew high praise from Wang Dong.

It's absolutely brand new; every screw and every wire on it is brand new!

The assembly and debugging of the machinery took up most of the day. In the afternoon, Tom stood in front of the control panel of one of the machines and began trial production.

The light illuminated his thick beard and the beads of sweat on his forehead. He gestured nervously to a young technician next to him, dressed in the uniform of the No. 6 State-Owned Cotton Mill, speaking in broken Chinese mixed with rapid English:

"This...button...Press! Look! Look at the loose thread!"

Liu Shengli, the deputy factory director in charge of production, asked Wang Dong, "Factory director, aren't we in a hurry to get our own people on board? We should let our own people handle the trial production. If anything goes wrong, don't blame us."

Wang Dong laughed heartily: "Old Liu, you're just too cautious."

"Of course, I'm not saying that caution is a bad thing. Sometimes caution is necessary, but excessive caution is undesirable."

"There won't be any problems with the new production line. Director Qian also checked for me, and Wodes' export production line has never had any problems during transportation."

"So what we lack now is time and talent. Don't worry about unexpected events. Let the talents we have selected seize the time to learn from the foreign experts."

Liu Shengli shook his head and muttered, "The sea is rough and the winds are strong; it's inevitable that the machine will malfunction a little..."

laugh……

As the young technician pressed the red button forcefully under everyone's watchful eyes, a stream of air gushed out.

Almost simultaneously, the lights in the factory went out rapidly.

Then a deep, smooth hum with a strange rhythm spread evenly throughout the huge, empty factory, instantly drowning out all other noises.

It doesn't roar or howl like an old-fashioned loom full of brute force and impact, but rather sounds like a deep and vibrant harmony produced by the coordinated operation of all the internal components of a precision musical instrument.

The machine starts.

Several engineers started operating the equipment.

They started up the different machines on the production line according to the pre-determined setup.

A few seconds later, countless silvery-white threads seemed to come alive, leaping lightly from their respective bobbins.

They are precisely guided by an invisible force at high speeds, along complex, precise, and dazzling guide rails that are difficult to detect with the naked eye.

No longer needing rough impacts and friction, the shuttles silently and gracefully "drift" through the sea of ​​warp threads with dazzling trajectories.

Wherever it passed, a plain-colored, fine-textured white cotton cloth, as fine as silk, gradually "flowed" out below at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Wang Dong and Liu Shengli practically raced each other to check the cotton cloth.

The machine runs smoothly.

The woven cotton fabric is white, smooth, and flawless.

Tom came up to look too, and then grinned.

He gave Wang Dong a thumbs-up, his voice cutting through the buzzing noise and reaching deep into Wang Dong's heart: "Mr. President! Perfect! Wow, good!"

Wang Dong turned around, gave him a thumbs up, and shouted, "Yes, yes, Wreguid! I think they're Wreguid!"

At the same time, the leaders who had been waiting for a long time also applauded and exclaimed in praise: "Good! Good!"

The introduction of this machine by the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill was a major event for the textile industry in Haibin City.

In the morning, the deputy director of the Textile Bureau went to the dock to personally receive the machines. At this time, the official director, Sun Chengyi, and several other leaders from the city's industrial sector were present.

Seeing the production line start up smoothly and the cotton fabric produced successfully, their faces were also filled with excited glow.

Sun Chengyi strode forward and patted Wang Dong hard on the back, his thick Sichuan accent loudly drowning out the machine's low hum.
"Old Wang, well done! I must commend you; this is how you should work on the 'Four Modernizations'! The production line your factory introduced is excellent; it has both speed and quality!"

The leaders gathered around, their fingers unable to resist touching the flowing fabric, its fine texture filling them with admiration.

The person under the most pressure and who was relieving the most pressure at this moment was Wang Dong. Every muscle on his face seemed to be trembling, and he tried his best to pull the corners of his mouth upward, revealing a huge smile of joy, but his eyes were uncontrollably red and hot.

He may not have contributed the most or been the most important in the introduction of this production line, but he bore the greatest and most severe pressure.

If there is a problem with the production line, the government will hold him accountable first.

That would ruin his future.

His personal future was not the most important thing; the future of the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill and the country's precious foreign exchange were what mattered.

If the production line breaks down, then the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill will have no future, and the country's foreign exchange reserves will be wasted.

At this moment, he raised his hands above his head and clapped vigorously, his eyes red and his throat tight. A thousand words were stuck in his throat, and in the end he could only nod heavily and make a few muffled sounds in response.

He bypassed the crowd around the control panel, walked to the production machine, and reached out to almost reverently stroke the smooth, cold steel plate.

The machine didn't vibrate at all when it was working; this huge thing ran more stably than the floor fan in his house!

Soon, a roll of finished fabric was successfully produced.

The workers intercepted it, and cheers and applause rang out once again.

The scrap of cloth was handed to Wang Dong.

The thick, fine cotton fabric rustled softly as it rubbed against his palm.

He looked at the cold, smooth metal around him, touched the object he was clutching tightly in his hand, and finally couldn't hold back his tears.

This is a machine, but it is also the future—the future of Wang Dong and the entire No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill!

A heavy sense of reality, accompanied by the steady hum of the machine, settled heavily on his heart.

Liu Shengli, who had previously been the most opposed to introducing this production line, has now become a supporter of the new machines:
"Wow, how come these foreigners are so skilled? How can just a few people control this production line?"

"Great, great! This fabric is of excellent quality. In the future, the clothing that the country wants to export will probably have to use fabric from our Haibin State-owned Cotton Mill No. 6."

"When can we import another production line like this? If all the production lines in our factory were replaced with these foreign machines, that would be truly amazing!"

Wang Dong turned around and shouted, "No way! When our entire factory production line is replaced with domestically made machines that can replace foreign ones, that'll be truly impressive!"

Liu Shengli laughed wildly.

But he shook his head repeatedly.

He's now convinced; he's been impressed by the advanced technology of the foreign machines.

Wang Dong disagreed. He had discussed it with Qian Jin.

Reform and opening up will be a golden opportunity for the evolution of domestic productivity.

As the country with the largest population, the largest workforce, and the most successful literacy campaign, China's industry will never lag behind the world's advanced level forever!

That evening, Wang Dong hosted a banquet for the leaders and the Wodes expert team. The next day, he hosted a banquet at the Donghai Hall of the State-owned Second Hotel for his colleagues and Qian Jin who had visited the production line that day.

Qian Jin wasn't interested and refused over the phone, but Wang Dong sent a car from the factory to pick him up at the entrance of the Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

It rained that day.

A thin stream meandered down the dusty glass windows of the State-run Second Hotel, leaving behind blurry, transparent trails.

The temperature has dropped sharply, and the nights are now considered winter nights.

The dim yellow light from the streetlights spread out in blurry patches on the wet asphalt road, and everywhere you could see people hurrying home on bicycles.

After Qian Jin entered the East Sea Hall, he found himself in a completely different world.

A bright chandelier hangs in the center of the ceiling, its light gleaming white, illuminating the slightly worn propaganda poster on the wall that reads "The Motherland's Country is All Red" and the neatly arranged wine bottles in the corner.

The air was filled with the warm aroma of food, the pungent blue haze of tobacco, and the malty scent of hops.

As soon as Qian Jin entered, Wang Dong pulled him to sit down next to him: "We've been waiting for you, my Director Qian!"

"I'm really sorry, our department is really busy." Qian Jin smiled wryly at the table full of middle-aged people.

Wang Dong had mentioned on the phone that the table was full of key leaders from various factories and enterprises in Haibin City.

It's easy to tell which factory's leaders they are; many of them are still wearing the factory's blue khaki work clothes with the factory name woven in red or gold thread on their chests.

Wang Dong wasn't wearing work clothes; instead, he had changed into a crisply pressed gray Zhongshan suit. His face still had the flush of excitement from the afternoon in the workshop. He pulled Qian Jin aside and began to introduce himself in a serious manner.

Qian Jin is now a true celebrity in Haibin City.

The main reason is that the Taishan Road Labor Commando Team is too formidable.

Wang Dong introduced them one by one, and Qian Jin shook hands with each of them.

Introducing one is like having a beer!
This is the environment where leaders of large state-owned factories have meals together.

This is also why Qian Jin is unwilling to attend the gathering.

He enjoys a little drink, but hates drinking contests or even alcoholism.

Fortunately, Wang Dong understood this, so he said early this morning that he wanted to drink beer; otherwise, he would have been drinking glass after glass of baijiu too...

He turned around from left to right, finally landing on a middle-aged man on his right.

This middle-aged man was taciturn, sat upright, had scars on his face, and his scalp was bald as if it had been ripped off.

Qian Jin could tell that he came from a military background.

Sure enough, Wang Dong said in a loud voice, "Director Qian, I must formally introduce this person to you."

"Who is this? It's Yang Dagang, the director of our Haibin State-owned Fertilizer Plant!"

"Don't let his current position in charge of a chemical plant fool you; he used to be in charge of the military. He's a true veteran, a man of steel, and a hero of our country!"

Wang Dong joked a bit when introducing other people, but he was very serious when introducing Yang Dagang, his voice filled with sincere admiration.

The other leaders were obviously aware of Yang Dagang's past as well. When the others introduced him, they exchanged a few jokes. When Yang Dagang was introduced, the noisy private room suddenly became much quieter.

Qian Jin was about to raise his glass.

Wang Dong continued to speak at length: "Director Yang had already made outstanding contributions during the self-defense counterattack against India on the southwestern border in 1962. At that time, he charged ahead with his troops, holding a steel gun and braving Indian artillery fire, and was awarded a second-class merit."

Yang Dagang was clearly used to introductions in similar situations. He stood up, leaning on the table, and gave Qian Jin a military salute.

Qian Jin looked at him carefully, noticing most of the scars on his face.

The scar, sloping diagonally from the cheekbone down to the jaw, gleamed a pale white under the light, truly a badge of honor imbued with warmth.

Wang Dong was clearly aroused, and he picked up his glass and said, "This is just the beginning. We all know about the border self-defense counterattack that just happened a few months ago."

"At that time, our factory director Yang had already transferred to the public security system, but when the country gave the order, he, as a reserve officer, rejoined the ranks without hesitation!"

"And the Battle of Lang Son, right?"

He asked Yang Dagang.

Yang Dagang felt a little uncomfortable at this point and said, "Alright, everyone knows about my situation, there's nothing more to say. Don't bring it up every time we eat."

Wang Dong insisted, "This is different. Director Yang, Director Qian admires people's heroes like you the most. I must let him know about your heroic deeds."

He then told Qian Jin, "In this battle, Director Yang led the reserve team to attack the enemy. He braved the poisonous mosquitoes and sweltering miasma in the foxholes, and worked with the main force to break through. When the battle ended, he lifted his clothes and found a piece of shell casing here!"

Wang Dong excitedly gestured to his left lower back: "Our Factory Director Yang almost died there. This is another second-class merit award, isn't it, Lao Yang?"

Yang Dagang nodded slightly, letting out a short, muffled "hmm" sound.

Then he raised his glass: "As you all know, I, Lao Yang, am a straightforward person who only speaks the truth."

“I’m proud of my past achievements, but there’s nothing to say about them. How many comrades who were braver and more accomplished than me sacrificed their lives on the battlefield? I appreciate everyone’s recognition of me, Lao Yang, but let’s not talk about that today.”

He smiled kindly at Qian Jin and said, "If you like to hear about the heroic deeds on the battlefield, bring some wine one day and I'll tell you a good story."

Qian Jin immediately raised his glass and bowed.

Few people in Haibin City commanded his respect, but Yang Dagang inspired a deep sense of reverence in him.

So after clinking glasses, Qian Jin drank it all in one gulp, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Emboldened by the alcohol, he asked curiously, "Director Yang, how did such an outstanding military officer like you end up transferring to civilian life? Is this your second transfer? Were you previously in the public security department?"

Yang Dagang nodded and said frankly, "I have a fiery temper and no sharp mind. I have become a leader in the public security field but have accomplished nothing. I am truly ashamed of the organization's cultivation and the people's expectations."

Wang Dong slammed his wine glass back on the table and said, "Director Yang is just being modest."

“A few months ago, he was transferred to civilian work for the second time. The organization originally wanted to arrange for him to take up an important position in your supply and marketing cooperative. You two almost became colleagues!”

Qian Jin hurriedly said, "No, Director Yang should be my superior."

Yang Dagang remained calm and composed.

This is natural.

Wang Dong said with great interest, "But our old comrade Yang didn't go to your system to become a leader. Instead, he took over the Haibin Fertilizer Plant without saying a word!"

Several factory managers nodded in agreement: "This is truly impressive."

"Director Yang, your awareness is too high..."

"I'm impressed. I'm truly impressed that you dared to take on the fertilizer plant project..."

Qian Jin knew about the situation at Haibin Fertilizer Plant.

This is a well-known, large factory in Haibin City, but it is now facing difficulties and is lagging behind.

Haibin Fertilizer Plant is a factory that existed before the founding of the People's Republic of China. To this day, its production lines have not been upgraded, and the equipment is so old that it looks like something out of an industrial museum.

This factory has alarmingly high energy consumption, and given the current agricultural shortage of fertilizer, its products are piling up and unsold.

They reported losses every year and were listed as a poor household in the city.

Qian Jin couldn't help but raise his glass to him again: "Director Yang, you've taken on the job at the fertilizer plant?"

Yang Dagang said firmly, "It's nothing. We've never hesitated to face the hail of bullets on the front lines, and I believe I can also tackle the tough challenges of economic development in the rear."

"Based on my observations of rural areas, the country needs food now, and food needs fertilizer, so the Haibin Fertilizer Plant cannot be shut down, otherwise the people will have to go hungry while carrying out reform and opening up."

Qian Jin was completely convinced by him.

He could tell that Yang Dagang wasn't just saying polite words.

In fact, everything the people who dared to take on the job at the fertilizer plant said was the truth.

Qian Jin exclaimed, "Director Yang, I must say, you are truly a good soldier of our leader."

Yang Dagang was indignant after hearing these words and said, "Judging from your attitudes, it's as if the fertilizer plant is something that should be swept into the dustbin of history."

"We who wear this uniform do not believe that there are any tasks that cannot be completed, any difficulties that cannot be overcome, or any enemies that cannot be defeated!"

His words carried immense weight, and after finishing them, he raised his glass and downed it in one gulp.

Qian Jin's heart skipped a beat.

He was sincere, but he ended up expressing contempt for the fertilizer factory.

He made a mistake; he overlooked a key point, which is that soldiers are protective of their own.

Yang Dagang is now the director of the fertilizer plant. They look down on the fertilizer plant, so Yang Dagang is naturally unhappy.

Wang Dong was a shrewd man. He took charge of the large No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill when he was only in his forties, not only because of his work ability but also because of his skills in navigating the officialdom.

He immediately saw the problem and said, "Director Yang and I have talked privately. He is very clear about the fertilizer plant's problems. To turn things around, the fertilizer plant needs to focus on technology and change its core business!"

"So this time, Lao Yang has gone all out and is determined to give Haibin Factory the wings of technology. He wants to introduce a new urea synthesis tower so that the land that our People's Liberation Army soldiers defended with their lives can truly be planted with increased grain production."

Wang Dong raised his glass: "Come on, comrades, let's toast again to Director Yang's determination and contributions!"

"Go one!"

"Respect to Factory Director Yang!"

"A national hero!"

Once again, a chorus of sincere agreement and the clinking of glasses filled the table.

Yang Dagang was not good with words, but his Adam's apple bobbed heavily as he raised his glass: "Thank you, comrades. For the country, for the people, and for the workers of the fertilizer plant, I'll drink another glass!"

After setting down his wine glass, Wang Dong gave Qian Jin a wink, then smiled at Yang Dagang and said, "If you're going to introduce new equipment, I can recommend an expert to you—my brother here."

He put his arm around Qian Jin and patted him on the shoulder.

Qian Jin said sincerely, "I am deeply impressed by Director Wang's introduction of your past today."

"Whether on the battlefield or in the factory, you are a true warrior. It is a blessing for the workers and a hope for the country to have a leader like you at the seaside factory."

"I believe that with your spirit and energy, there is no tough nut to crack. This glass of wine."

He raised his voice slightly and held up his glass, "For no other reason than your pure heart, for your courage and determination to fight for the country and its people, I must toast you."

"I wish you great success in achieving your ambitions and a triumphant return. I'm sure the Haibin Factory will win the battle to turn things around!"

"If you need me to lead the charge, just say so. I may not be a genius, but I have excellent execution skills. I can go wherever you point!"

Yang Dagang was very satisfied with his attitude.

But after raising his glass to clink with his, he shook his head and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Director Qian. Maybe next time. I'm afraid I won't need your help this time. Our equipment import work is nearing completion."

Qian Jin asked in surprise, "The fertilizer plant is going to introduce new equipment? May I ask which country and company's equipment you are planning to import?"

Yang Dagang smiled vaguely and said, "Let me keep this a secret for now. It's not that I'm trying to be mysterious, but the other party made this request."

Wang Dong knew his personality, so when he heard him say that, he changed the subject: "Okay, then we'll wait for good news."

"Come on, comrades, let's dig in! With such good food and wine right in front of us, we can't put down our chopsticks!"

(End of this chapter)