The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 131 "Big Boss, I Want Your Stick" [Please Subscribe]

Since learning that a high-ranking leader was coming, the entire Shanghai Heavy Industry Plant No. 1 has been mobilized.

They not only thoroughly cleaned the factory, but also made many preparations.

Even some leaders in Shanghai inquired about this matter, urging Director Liu to make thorough preparations and not to be negligent in the slightest.

On that day, Shen Changlin, along with the project team, Factory Director Liu, and a group of factory cadres, waited at the factory gate.

When it was almost time, several cars slowly drove toward the factory gate.

After the first car stopped, the top leader opened the door and got out.

"Hey, why are you being so formal again? Next time, don't have so many people waiting for me at the door."

Although the senior leader spoke words of reproach, he always had a smile on his face.

People also got out of the other cars; it was Vice Chairman Wu from the Ministry of Machine Building and some leaders from Shanghai.

Shen Changlin stepped forward and said with a smile, "Big Boss, we all wanted to meet you, so we came here on our own initiative."

"This is because Director Liu hasn't told anyone in the factory yet; otherwise, all the workers would have stopped working and come to see you."

Upon hearing this, the high-ranking leader laughed happily and said, "I'm just an ordinary person, I don't have that much to look at."

Let's take a look at the 'big guy' you've developed and manufactured, Comrade Changlin, tell me about it."

Shen Changlin quickly stepped forward and said, "Okay, leader, let's talk as we walk."

The group then walked into the factory, explaining to the senior leader the uses of the large hydraulic press and its impact on the development of heavy industry.

It can manufacture the necessary parts for large machine tools, which are essential for large transportation vehicles and military equipment such as airplanes, tanks, and ships.

With the large hydraulic press, China's heavy industry gained a crucial new pillar.

Moreover, during the research and development of large hydraulic presses, they also developed many new technologies that can be applied to various industries.

The top leader also visited the large hydraulic press. When he heard Shen Changlin say that they had manufactured such a large thing in just one and a half years, he immediately laughed with delight.

"You've all worked hard. Our comrades are no less capable than our big brother's engineers. They're unwilling to give to us and are wary of us, but they can't stop our engineers."

Deputy Leader Wu, who was standing to the side, said, "Yes, leader, we can also make our own things domestically, and our little talent even said that."

Large hydraulic presses are just the beginning. Next will be large machine tools and CNC machine tools. Once this leg is complete, the era of rapid development in heavy industry will begin.

Upon hearing this, the senior leader became interested and asked, "Which young comrade is it?"

Deputy Leader Wu said, "It's the youngest researcher in the large hydraulic press team, Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang."

Upon hearing this, the senior leader turned to look at Shen Changlin and his group. Before he could ask any questions, Zhou Zhiqiang was pushed forward from behind by several people.

He was still a little dazed when he suddenly heard Deputy Leader Wu mention his name and then he was pushed to the front again.

The senior leader smiled and asked, "You really are young, young comrade. How old are you this year?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang immediately straightened his back and said, "Reporting to the big leader, I am the head of the technical department of Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory. I am twenty-four years old this year, but I will be twenty-five soon. I graduated from Sijiucheng Industrial University."

"You're really young. You're from Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Factory, so you were the one who researched and developed the tractors and threshers that secured the trade orders?"

"It is the result of my work and the efforts of everyone in the technical department; it is a collective achievement."

"Haha, Comrade Jianhong, I admit defeat to you."

The senior leader suddenly laughed, then took out half a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, intending to hand it to Deputy Leader Wu; however, just as he was about to reach out, he pulled it back, took out one cigarette, and handed over the rest.

Deputy Leader Wu chuckled and accepted the cigarette, saying, "He's said these kinds of things to me far too often, of course I know what Comrade Zhiqiang would say."

Just as Zhou Zhiqiang was wondering, the senior leader explained, "Before we came here, on the train, Comrade Jianhong mentioned you to me and even made a bet with me."

I bet if I asked you, young comrade, whether you developed the tractor, you'd say it was a collective project.

"It seems Comrade Jianhong knows you very well."

Zhou Zhiqiang smiled a little sheepishly and said, "That's true. At most, I just stayed up late and worked overtime."

Shen Changlin stepped forward and said with a smile, "Big leader, Comrade Zhiqiang was the same way when he was in the project team. Even though he did the most work, when asked, he would say that he didn't have any credit."

However, the fact that the large hydraulic press was completed in a year and a half is largely thanks to Comrade Zhiqiang, a fact that all of us in the project team acknowledge.”

"Ah, it turns out he's still our hero."

The senior leader immediately pointed at Zhou Zhiqiang and laughed. After he finished laughing, the senior leader asked Zhou Zhiqiang, "Comrade Zhiqiang, you have made such a great contribution this time. What kind of reward would you like the organization to give you?"

"Now that Comrade Jianhong is here, you can ask for anything you want."

"Big boss, I don't want anything. The benefits the organization is giving me right now are already good enough."

Zhou Zhiqiang spotted something with sharp eyes and immediately said with an idea, "But if you really want something, there is, but it requires your approval, big boss."

The high-ranking leader immediately became interested and said, "I agree? Then tell me, what do you want that I can only grant?"

Zhou Zhiqiang immediately said, "I want your stick, the one with the smooth surface and the rope tied to it."

"My stick?"

Upon hearing this, the top leader immediately realized what Zhou Zhiqiang had said.

He sometimes has difficulty walking and needs a bamboo cane to help him, so he always keeps a bamboo stick with him.

He also liked the bamboo sticks this time, and even asked Yinqiao to help him with some modifications.

"Why do you suddenly want my stick? Oh, you little comrade, never mind, never mind. Yinqiao, go and get my stick."

After the guard brought the bamboo stick over, the senior leader handed it to Zhou Zhiqiang while pointing at him and laughing, "You little comrade, you've taken away my most precious stick all of a sudden, haha."
"With this stick, you won't take the wrong path anymore, and you'll walk faster too."

"Don't worry, boss. I've taken your stick, so I'll naturally follow in your footsteps."

Zhou Zhiqiang said with a smile.

I must say, this bamboo stick is really good; it's straight and upright, and there's even a rope tied to the handle.

After receiving the stick, Zhou Zhiqiang felt that future rewards wouldn't be as good as this bamboo stick.

If Zhou Zhiqiang's grandson becomes interested in his affairs in the future, Zhou Zhiqiang will take out this stick and show it off, saying that he got it back from a high-ranking leader.

'Grandson, you don't know, back then, even the leaders of Southern Vietnam couldn't get a bamboo stick, but your grandpa got one.'

After visiting the large hydraulic press, the senior leader toured other facilities at the No. 1 Heavy Industry Plant and asked the workers about their situation.

I was relieved to learn that the workers here were doing well, with good work and life.

After the visit lasted until noon, the top leader personally paid for a meal for the researchers outside.

It's just an ordinary state-run restaurant, with three meat dishes and five vegetable dishes per table, just enough for seven people.

You won't go hungry, and you won't waste too much food.

After lunch, the top leader held another meeting with the cadres, urging them to accelerate development. Now that they had large hydraulic presses, they needed to speed things up even more. Their heavy industry was to catch up with Britain's century-long progress within a decade or so.
After the meeting, they chatted for a while longer before the senior leader said goodbye to the project team of the large hydraulic press and left in the evening.

He will be inspecting many places this time, and Shanghai is just the starting point.

------

dong dong!

After Fei Yunzhi knocked on the door and came in, he saw Zhou Zhiqiang packing his things and asked, "Zhiqiang, have you packed everything?"

"That's about it, we've brought everything we need."

Zhou Zhiqiang put his large bag of luggage on the bed and said with a relaxed expression, "I can rest for a while after I go back this time. Professor Fei, you've worked hard too."

"Compared to you, what's so hard about my job? You do the most work. I'm just getting old. Otherwise, I could definitely keep up with your workload."

After Professor Fei finished speaking, he sat down and then rubbed his lower back.

"As people get older, their backs weaken, and they soon become unable to walk."

At first, Zhou Zhiqiang thought there was nothing wrong with it, but the more he listened, the stranger it seemed. He felt that something was off about Professor Fei's visit.

Could it be that they have some ulterior motive?

"If only I had a walking stick at this moment."

"Give me a break, Professor Fei. So you were just waiting for me here?"

Without a second thought, Zhou Zhiqiang immediately interrupted, "If you need a walking stick, when you come back to Beijing, I'll find you a redwood one. Don't even think about this one."

I'll keep this to brag about to my son and grandson; don't even think about it, it's impossible.

After hearing this, Fei Yunzhi stood up and said, "Look at how stingy you are. I just wanted to use it."

"That won't do either. If your back hurts, I'll carry you on my back tomorrow, but I can't give you the bamboo stick."

Zhou Zhiqiang had only one attitude: he himself could be a bamboo stick, but he would never give that bamboo stick to anyone else.

In the end, Fei Yunzhi didn't take it and left with a pout.

The mission here is complete. Next, there are some finishing touches to be done back in Beijing.

Reporting to superiors, summarizing and organizing technical information, and possibly teaching and instructing others.

After all, electroslag welding technology and processes must be taught, and it would be best if welding institutes all over the country learned them.

However, compared to overseeing the project day and night, these tasks were far too easy for Zhou Zhiqiang.

Soon, Zhou Zhiqiang and his group took the train back to Beijing.

Fortunately, team leader Shen Changlin bought them hard sleeper berths; otherwise, even Zhou Zhiqiang would have struggled to endure the journey in one day.

He wasn't afraid of being tired, but he couldn't stand the stifling feeling on the train.

It was already evening when they arrived at the Beijing Railway Station, and the Ministry of Machine Building sent two cars to pick them up.

Before getting on the bus, Shen Changlin said to everyone, "Comrades, the ministry is giving you a day off. We'll go back to the ministry to report the day after tomorrow."

You all get some rest tomorrow, and report to work on time the day after tomorrow.

After saying that, Shen Changlin instructed the driver to take each of the returning people home.

Zhou Zhiqiang sat in a car, and he missed home more than ever. He had only exchanged three letters with Guo Yuting since he left home.

After the car had driven for a while, Shen Changlin suddenly said casually, "Comrade Zhiqiang, Vice Leader Wu told me before he left that he was planning to adjust your work."

Not only that, Deputy Leader Wu also inquired about Zhou Zhiqiang's performance from Shen Changlin. However, given Zhou Zhiqiang's performance at Shanghai Heavy Industry Plant No. 1, even if he told the truth, he would only receive praise and compliments.

"Ok?"

Zhou Zhiqiang was taken aback for a moment, then quickly remembered that several months ago when he left, Deputy Leader Wu had also talked to him about changing jobs.

“Deputy Leader Wu also mentioned it to me, but he never explained how the adjustment would be made. I have no idea what he wants me to do.”

"Team Leader Shen, did Deputy Leader Wu tell you again?"

Shen Changlin said with a smile, "Didn't he tell you? Then I can't just reveal it to you."

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Hey, why do you all like telling riddles? Actually, I quite like working at Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory."

There is still significant room for research and development in the manufacturing of agricultural machinery in our country.

"But isn't Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory already operating at full capacity? I heard they've taken on production quotas from many other factories as well."

Shen Changlin was also from the Ministry of Machinery Industry, so he was familiar with Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory.

Judging from the current production tasks of Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory, it may continue to produce small tractors and threshers even the year after next and the year after that.

In that case, it would be a waste to put someone like Zhou Zhiqiang, who is good at research and development, in Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Factory.

If the local area remains unchanged, Zhou Zhiqiang might be out of work for two or three years.

Shen Changlin didn't think this was a good thing, so he agreed with Vice Leader Wu's arrangement.

"Don't worry, there probably won't be any changes to your job position this year. If there are any changes, it will have to wait until next year."

Shen Changlin said with a smile, "Anyway, it's definitely a good thing. Just listen to the leader's arrangements; he might change his mind again."

Zhou Zhiqiang shook his head. He'd rather not guess than guess; he'd find out when the time came.

The car soon arrived at No. 63 Courtyard in Nanluoguxiang. After getting out of the car with his luggage, Zhou Zhiqiang thanked the driver and Shen Changlin.

After watching them leave, Zhou Zhiqiang took out his key and opened the door.

The sound of the door opening made Guo Yuting, who was just about to go to sleep in the backyard, get up immediately. It wasn't the sound of knocking, so Guo Yuting quickly realized that Zhou Zhiqiang had returned.

Guo Yuting put on a coat and got out of bed. When she walked out of the main house, she saw Zhou Zhiqiang coming in from the front yard.

"Zhiqiang!"

Guo Yuting rushed forward excitedly, hugging Zhou Zhiqiang tightly. Her voice was tinged with grievance as she said, "How long has it been? Why did it take you so long to get back?"

"It's too busy over there. I felt homesick as soon as I got off the bus."

Zhou Zhiqiang comforted his wife for a while, and only after Guo Yuting calmed down a bit did he speak, "Yuting, is there any food at home? It's not convenient to eat on the train, and I haven't eaten yet."

"Go back and put your things away, I'll go and make it for you."

"If there's no food, that's fine, but don't cook so late at night."

"It's okay, you go back and rest, I'll cook."

　Third update.

　　Dear readers, please vote for me with your monthly tickets!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)