The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 121 Factory Upgrade, Directly Under the Ministry [Please Subscribe]

Zhou Zhiqiang immediately understood; someone had sent a message.

Deputy Leader Wu continued, "He said you are the long-lost son of his old comrade-in-arms. Your mother was on her way to Shaanxi Yan'an when the accident happened. Although she hadn't had time to join the organization, you are still considered a descendant of a martyr."

He said he wanted me to look after you, but I immediately thought he was just being overly concerned. I know what's going on with you, Zhiqiang; you're incredibly capable and principled. Even without my help, you can handle anything."

This is not boasting. Although he didn't know much about Zhou Zhiqiang before, after hanging up the phone with Chen Junfeng, Deputy Leader Wu had someone bring him Zhou Zhiqiang's file.

College graduates shouldn't be assigned to small factories, but perhaps his father-in-law used connections or something, and he was assigned to Dafeng Machinery Factory.

Then, you earn merit—become a full-fledged section chief—earn merit—be promoted to deputy section chief—earn merit—be promoted to section chief.

Now, I am able to participate in this key national industrial project of large hydraulic presses, and I have a deep understanding of machine tools.

His achievements and abilities are all traceable, and everyone speaks highly of him. Apart from being a little young, there is absolutely nothing wrong with him.

Moreover, being young is not a problem; youth means enthusiasm and drive. Zhou Zhiqiang also has brains and is good at research and development.

Deputy Leader Wu originally just wanted to look at Zhou Zhiqiang's resume, but the more he looked, the more he liked it. This is the future!

The future industrial development of the nation must be entrusted to these young people.

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Leader, I don't need any special treatment. I'll just accept what I'm given. Leader Chen, you seem a little worried."

They were indeed too concerned and anxious, which disrupted his future plans.

Getting promoted based on ability and getting promoted based on connections are two different things. In this era of development, Zhou Zhiqiang is not worried at all about not being able to get promoted, so he doesn't need any special treatment.

"That's right. Putting capable people in the right positions is the only way to promote development."

Deputy Leader Wu nodded in agreement, then asked, "Comrade Zhiqiang, what do you think we should do next, or rather, in which direction should our country's industry develop?"

"Leader, this topic is too broad; we could talk about it for days and still not finish. Our country's industry is still in its infancy, just a few years old, and it's a blank slate."

No matter which direction we develop in, we can achieve excellent results in a short period of time.

Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment, then, seeing that Deputy Leader Wu was gesturing for him to continue, he continued speaking.
"If you insist that I tell you which direction to develop in, I'm not sure. I don't have much contact with people in my daily life, so it's not easy for me to say."

But no matter what aspect of industrial development, machine tools are indispensable. Therefore, we should improve the level of machine tools, such as CNC machine tools and high-precision large machine tools.

"Large, high-precision machine tools are the foundation for the development of many industries. They are like two feet. Even if your brain sees the way, you still can't walk without your feet."

Deputy Leader Wu asked, "So, you're planning to develop machine tools next?"

Zhou Zhiqiang laughed and said, "It's not that I want to develop this business, it's just that I have some research on machine tools, and I'd say I'm interested in them. I've made some minor modifications to the machine tools in our factory."

Deputy Leader Wu nodded and said, "I see. Okay, I understand."

Zhou Zhiqiang was completely bewildered upon hearing this. What did this leader know? He had just said it casually.

"lead."

"Alright, let's go eat first. No matter how busy we are, we have to fill our stomachs first, even on the battlefield."

Deputy Leader Wu stood up and said, and Zhou Zhiqiang had no choice but to follow.

The food in the ministry canteen is guaranteed to be good, and it's definitely not bad. Plus, the "shaking spoon" problem doesn't exist here at all.

The food in everyone's lunchbox was basically excessive. Today at noon, Deputy Leader Wu arranged for a special meal, with Zhou Zhiqiang, Secretary Yan, Factory Director Zhao, and others at the same table.

After finishing his meal, Zhou Zhiqiang also planned to return to the First Machinery Factory and leave the Ministry of Machinery Industry with Secretary Yan and Director Zhao.

After leaving the ministry building, Director Zhao called out, "Zhiqiang, where are you going? Secretary Yan and I will give you a ride."

Zhou Zhiqiang pointed to the bike shed and said, "I have another bicycle over there."

"Just put it in the back; it fits in the jeep. Secure it with a rope to make sure it doesn't fall off."

Factory Director Zhao said, "Secretary Yan and I have something else we'd like to ask you."

Hearing his boss say that, Zhou Zhiqiang had no choice but to push his bicycle over and put it in the back of the jeep with the driver.

After getting into the car, Secretary Yan told the driver to drive slowly. Then, Factory Director Zhao asked, "Zhiqiang, you need to come up with some ideas for the factory's 20% increase in output value the year after next."

"Factory manager, I thought you had a solution."

Zhou Zhiqiang feigned shock, saying that although he had guessed the factory manager would come looking for him, he didn't want to take on this task so easily.

Their factory's output value has been somewhat unevenly distributed over the past two years. This year it may only be over ten million, but next year's output value will immediately soar to over thirty million.

The bulk of small tractor production will be completed next year. This year's efforts have all been focused on recruiting more apprentices, upgrading machine tools, and training apprentices, without much attention being paid to production.

But next year's output value will definitely be more than 30 million, without a doubt, because we need to complete the foreign trade order tasks.

However, the growth rate needs to be 20% the year after next, which means it needs to reach at least 36 million.
One dared to speak, and the other dared to promise. When Zhou Zhiqiang heard this number, he thought that Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory had become a factory with 10,000 employees.

"At that time, how could I back down and say I couldn't do it in front of the leaders? Secretary, do you think you would have agreed if you were in their shoes?"

Factory Director Zhao asked Secretary Yan this question.

Secretary Yan in the front seat did not answer, but that was the answer in itself.

"If the workers are enthusiastic about production, other factories will also be enthusiastic about production. If we don't show any enthusiasm for production, wouldn't that be going against the grain?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Factory manager, even if you say that, the output value is not something I can decide. Why don't we stick to the old method and find another factory?"

I've been at the First Machinery Factory for a while now, and I've noticed they have a problem too: they're inconsistent with their planned tasks. I've spoken with their deputy factory director about it.”

Recently, the production at the First Machinery Plant has been like a lost ox—energetic and capable of charging forward, but unsure whether it should.

The factory completed its twelve-month production plan in nine and a half months; however, it was impossible to give the workers a three-month break after that, so production continued.

However, if production continues, the higher-ups don't want it, so it becomes an unplanned production material.

So how do we handle it?

We can only ask around to see if they need any unplanned supplies, and if so, we can try to coordinate with their factories.

If things are like this this year, what will happen next year?
Lowering the planned production targets? Wouldn't that dampen the workers' enthusiasm for production? Many workers don't realize that the planned production targets have increased; they only know that production needs to be reduced, there's no work to do, and this year's production will be even less than last year's.

Even if you understand why the factory is lowering production targets, if there's not much work to do this year, and you've been slacking off for a year, can you regain the production enthusiasm of previous years next year?

Certainly not.

Therefore, the workers' enthusiasm for production could not be dampened, and they had no choice but to grit their teeth and continue production. Zhou Zhiqiang, when he was in the factory, felt this "passionate production" most clearly; they were truly going all out to surpass Western countries.

"Since the First Machinery Plant is in this situation, we can try to 'take over' its extra production capacity and let them produce for us."

Our factory has reduced production again, outsourcing all modularly assembled parts. We'll only handle the more difficult parts and assembly work.

Zhou Zhiqiang suggested the same old method: reduce the pressure on the factory workers again and bring in surplus production capacity from other factories to help them with production.

This can be considered a win-win situation: other factories don't waste their productivity, and their factory can also achieve the additional output growth promised to their superiors.

"Moreover, we can also try producing the threshing machine next year and send it to the Canton Fair for exhibition."

However, I feel that participating in the spring tournament is unnecessary; it would be better to directly participate in the autumn tournament, since we need to focus on preparing for the tournament the year after next.

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he immediately added a supplement to what he had just said: "Of course, what I said is just a personal opinion. The specific decision will depend on the two leaders."

However, I feel that the thresher performed no worse than a small tractor at the Canton Fair.

The global sales volume at this time could reach hundreds of thousands of units. If they could capture one-tenth of that market with their excellent performance, that would be too high to hope for. But if they could capture one-twentieth of that market, that would be enough for Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory to make a big profit.

"Comrade Zhiqiang, are you sure the threshing machine is really as good as you say?"

“Secretary, I research and develop agricultural machinery. If I don’t even know what kind of machines are needed for agricultural production, then all my research has been for nothing.”

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Once our factory's threshing machine is produced, we can take it to the countryside for a trial and see how much it can help agricultural production."

"Okay, then I'll do as you say."

Factory Director Zhao quickly made a decision: "Secretary Yan, shall we go back to the factory for a meeting?"

"Row."

Secretary Yan said, "I unconditionally support your decision regarding production matters."

He kept to his duties at the factory and rarely interfered in production matters, so he didn't know much about production.

In terms of production planning at the factory, Secretary Yan always placed unlimited trust in Director Zhao, his partner.

After finishing discussing production matters, Zhao Guangzheng turned to him and asked, "Zhiqiang, did Vice Leader Wu tell you anything else about our factory?"

"No, he asked me what development suggestions I had for the future. How could I give development suggestions to such a high-ranking leader? I just said that developing machine tools is the key."

Almost any industrial development is inseparable from machine tools; to achieve rapid development, one must lay a solid foundation.

"Isn't this related to our factory?"

"Then the leader just replied 'I understand.' It's impossible for the leader to talk to me about things at our factory. I haven't been back for months."

Even if we were to discuss it, it should be a matter related to projects organized by the Technology Department.

Zhou Zhiqiang had no intention of saying a word about what Deputy Leader Wu had said about him. Anyone who made a fuss about it and then boasted that the whole world knew was a fool.

Seeing that there was nothing to do with their factory, Director Zhao was somewhat relieved.

Otherwise, he was really afraid that Deputy Leader Wu would inquire about something in private, such as whether the factory could complete its tasks.

After chatting for a while in the car, Director Zhao and Secretary Yan drove back to the First Machinery Factory after dropping Zhou Zhiqiang off.

They need to hold a meeting as soon as possible to discuss production and matters directly under the ministry with the main leaders of the factory and branch factories.

In short, the task must be completed, and the factory reform and upgrading must be achieved. Anyone who fails to complete the task or obstructs it will truly be an enemy of the entire factory.

After returning, Director Zhao also planned to promote the lathe and pliers technical manual summarized by Zhou Zhiqiang in the name of the factory office, both in the main factory and the branch factories.

Before the assessment in March next year, all apprentices must master at least Level 1 lathe and pliers skills.

------

The festive atmosphere is growing stronger. Although it's not yet Chinese New Year, the streets are already filled with the spirit of the New Year.

Some families even hung lanterns at their courtyard gates, bringing the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival in advance.

"Zhiqiang, when are you on vacation?"

Guo Yuting carried her son into the study and felt the temperature was very cold. However, thinking of her husband's body, which was good at "warding off the cold," she frowned and then stopped thinking about it.

"There are only three more days left. After I finish my last shift, I can go on vacation."

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't even turn his head. While writing a report in his notebook, he explained, "The comrades from other places went back ahead of time. As a local, I have to help them finish their work as well."

Guo Yuting said with dissatisfaction, "You're the only good person here, and nobody else cares?"

Zhou Zhiqiang looked up and smiled, "They promised to send me local specialties, it's just reciprocity; besides, we're free at home, and I haven't been working overtime lately, so I'll come home early to keep you company."

"Working overtime at this hour? Your boss is going too far."

Guo Yuting said, "By the way, Brother Xiaojun and Tian Dong brought back the factory benefits for you today, as well as your reward."

The awards and certificates of honor for outstanding individuals and model workers are in the main house.

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Okay, I'll go take a look later."

Given his performance over the past year, these two honors are not an exaggeration; although he has not been in the factory for long, his contributions are real.

"Let's take some of the New Year's gifts from the factory and give them to Tian Dong and Brother Xiao Jun. They've helped us a lot lately."

This is where the advantage of living close by comes in; Zhou Zhiqiang and Guo Yuting basically didn't have to worry about storing vegetables, coal, firewood, and the like during the winter.

Wu Xiaojun and Zhao Tiandong will definitely buy it for them first, and then prepare their own.

Moreover, during the time Guo Yuting was at work, Mao Pingping also took good care of their son.

The apprentices didn't get many New Year's goods, while Zhou Zhiqiang had a lot, so giving them a little wouldn't be a big deal.

“Then I’ll go talk to them later, otherwise both families will have to go back to Sanhe Township for the New Year tomorrow.”

Guo Yuting paused for a moment, then looked at Zhou Zhiqiang and asked, "Zhiqiang, are we going to your...father's house? You mentioned it last time."

　Second update,

　　Asking for a monthly ticket!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)