The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 138 Pre-Departure Arrangements and Recommendations [Please Subscribe]

"Director Ren."

After leaving Deputy Leader Wu's office, Zhou Zhiqiang first went with Secretary Yan to complete some personnel procedures.

Having completed the procedures ahead of time, Zhou Zhiqiang had already stepped into the Second Machine Tool Factory. After finishing his work at the Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory, he could simply call the Ministry of Machinery Industry and report directly to his new post.

This could be considered a special case handled specially. In order to get Zhou Zhiqiang appointed as the deputy factory director, Deputy Leader Wu even stopped the investment there.

The current factory manager is not capable enough, so investment in him has been stopped, and recently he has only been responsible for supervising production management, and has not been involved in other matters.

After Zhou Zhiqiang leaves, the current factory director will be transferred, and the secretary of the Second Machine Tool Factory will concurrently serve as the factory director, but he will basically not take on the responsibilities of the factory director.

Everything about the factory director is still managed by Zhou Zhiqiang, the deputy factory director. After a year or two, once the Second Machine Tool Factory has made significant improvements, Zhou Zhiqiang will be promoted to the position of director.

After completing some formalities in advance, Zhou Zhiqiang went to the director's office of the Machine Tool Administration Bureau and found Director Ren.

"Comrade Zhiqiang, Vice Leader Wu said you're back today. Sit down, let's sit down and talk."

Director Ren quickly gestured for Zhou Zhiqiang to sit down, then took out a document, handed it to Zhou Zhiqiang, and said...
"Your timing is perfect. This is the bureau's detailed investigation of the Second Machine Tool Plant. You should have seen the documents with Deputy Leader Wu."

However, that was a compilation from last year; the one I'm giving you is a summary from a recent survey and investigation.

After taking the documents, Zhou Zhiqiang weighed them in his hand and exclaimed in surprise, "So thick?"

"This contains not only detailed production data for this year, but also some personnel files, which can help you get familiar with the Second Machine Tool Plant as soon as possible."
Comrade Zhiqiang, you can take it back to read, but you must ensure that there are absolutely no omissions.

Upon hearing Director Ren's words, Zhou Zhiqiang immediately felt he was in for a busy day, so he said, "Director Ren, don't worry, as long as nothing happens to me, this file won't be lost or damaged."

"I believe you. After all, many people in the First Ministry of Machine Building know about Comrade Zhiqiang's fight with the robbers while protecting the blueprints, hahaha."

Director Ren couldn't help but laugh after he finished speaking. The young man in front of him was more than just a researcher.

In order to protect the archives and his comrades, he once fought with several street thugs who were robbers, and ended up killing three and seriously injuring two of them.

Without a gun, few could stand a chance against Zhou Zhiqiang, which is why Director Ren made an exception and allowed Zhou Zhiqiang to take it ahead of time.

Logically, this document should have been given to Zhou Zhiqiang after he took office as the deputy director of the Second Machine Tool Plant.

"Comrade Zhiqiang, can you tell me your thoughts? If you go to the Second Machine Tool Plant, what are you planning to do first?"

Director Ren suddenly spoke up, as he was the director of the Machine Tool Administration Bureau and knew the current state of machine tools in China better than anyone else.

He could even recount the entire situation within the Eighteen Arhats Factory.

The Second Machine Tool Plant lacks momentum for future development, and the current factory cadres have a flawed understanding of development.

If this continues, the gap between us and other machine tool manufacturers will only widen.

"Technological innovation must achieve breakthroughs in at least two areas: medium and large-sized high-precision machine tools and CNC machine tools."

Zhou Zhiqiang quickly said, "Let's start with medium-sized high-precision machine tools and strive to make existing machine tools break through the micron positioning accuracy. Only high-precision machine tools are the essential machine tools for the national defense and military industry."

As for CNC machine tools, they are essential products for future industrialization. While there are still technological constraints, we will definitely catch up with foreign countries in the next few years.

Zhou Zhiqiang then went on to talk about some of the problems that the Second Machine Tool Plant was currently facing, including its monotonous production and lack of technological innovation.

Although this year's annual output value is good, it has broken through the 10 million mark.

However, there were no technical research reports for the next two years, and the technical department had very few technicians, seemingly lacking any research capabilities.

If he goes to the Second Machine Tool Plant, he will definitely address the issue of technological innovation, and most of the next two million yuan investment will be allocated to technological breakthroughs.

"Okay, that's insightful. I'm relieved to hear what you just said. You know which direction machine tools should develop in the future."

Based on this alone, it's safe to say that the Second Machine Tool Plant will be a good fit for you.

Director Ren said with a smile, "Comrade Zhiqiang, if you need any help in the future, just come to the Machine Tool Administration Bureau to find me."

"I understand, Director Ren."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he knew that Director Ren had to get back to work, so he took the documents and got up to leave.

After coming out, Zhou Zhiqiang went downstairs and found Secretary Yan, and then they took a car back to the factory together.

On the way back, Secretary Yan also poured out his grievances to Zhou Zhiqiang.

However, that's all he could say; he could only complain about the decision made by his superiors.

Secretary Yan was quite hopeful that Zhou Zhiqiang would take the initiative to go to the leaders and say that he was willing to stay at Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory.

But Zhou Zhiqiang was someone who followed orders from his superiors, and besides, studying machine tools and agricultural machinery made little difference to him.

Moreover, the Second Machine Tool Factory is closer to his home, so he can ride his bicycle to work in just twenty minutes.

"Don't worry, Secretary, I will definitely stand guard until the very end."

Zhou Zhiqiang was getting a headache from Secretary Yan's nagging, so he changed the subject and said, "Instead of talking about me, why don't you and the factory director consider who should take over the technical department?"

"That's true, you're leaving after the New Year, and you need to finalize things by the end of the year."

After thinking for a moment, Secretary Yan asked, "How has Comrade Chen Li usually performed?"

Zhou Zhiqiang's past honors were so great that they overshadowed everyone else in the technical department.

Although Chen Li had attended a few meetings and given a few reports, Zhou Zhiqiang was the main researcher behind the factory's major inventions. It's normal that other factory leaders didn't remember Chen Li.

"He's a good comrade."

Zhou Zhiqiang and Chen Li were fairly close, and their families also had a good relationship, so he directly praised her, saying, "Her research ability may be a bit weak, but she is serious and cannot tolerate mistakes."

"If I entrust the technical department to her, I don't need to worry about mistakes, and she will definitely do her best to handle any tasks assigned to her."

But Zhou Zhiqiang kept the thought that there was no need to expect the technology department to develop new agricultural machinery to himself.

However, given the production tasks of Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory in the next few years, it can be said that there is no need for new project research and development for the time being.

If we do a good job on the production tasks at hand, we can ensure that everyone in the factory has enough to eat.

"I see. It seems Comrade Chen Li is quite good. I'll discuss it with Comrade Guangzheng and Comrade Fuhua when I get back."

After listening, Secretary Yan nodded and said that the head of the technical department was already a fairly high position in the factory, and the matter needed to be discussed at the meeting. However, Zhou Zhiqiang did not need to attend this meeting.

After returning to the factory by car, he said goodbye to Secretary Yan and went back to the technical department.

However, before heading back, Zhou Zhiqiang remembered something and asked Secretary Yan, "Secretary Yan, could you install a telephone for the technical department as well?"

Secretary Yan asked, "We're all in the same building, why install a telephone?"

Zhou Zhiqiang explained, "In the future, there will be too many situations in production where we need to use the technical department, and there are some things we need to ask the factory leaders, so it will save us from running back and forth, right?"

This could be considered the last bit of benefit he managed to secure for Corey.

"And the technical department is going to expand next year. I remember three new people will be joining. You know, with so many people in the technical department now, if they don't even have a phone, that's just... something else."

"You little rascal, you've put your cleverness not only into research and development, but also into this area."

Secretary Yan smiled and pointed, then said, "You should apply to Comrade Guangzheng and ask him to help you contact the telephone exchange."

After saying that, Secretary Yan left.

Zhou Zhiqiang smiled and walked towards the technical department.

The first thing I did upon returning to the technical department was to gather everyone together and announce that a meeting was to be held.

"Comrades, some changes have forced me to make some adjustments to the upcoming work tasks. I will give a brief overview below, and the detailed arrangements will be announced later after I discuss them with Deputy Section Chief Chen."

"The number of people conducting workshop inspections and process reviews has been reduced to five, and this must be completed every morning."

Off-site missions are not included in the planned tasks, but a separate shift schedule will be created. Whoever's turn it is, they should go. Don't delay while you're out there; finish as soon as possible and come back quickly. If you're late, I'll have to call to check on you.

Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment, and after he finished speaking, he immediately saw that everyone except Chen Li's face fell.

"Also, from now on, everyone except those working outside will join the research and development of the combine harvester. Let's stay an extra hour in the evening."

Upon hearing Zhou Zhiqiang's final decision, everyone sighed in reluctance, "Sigh."

However, Chen Li immediately said, "The section chief's arrangement must make sense. Just follow the task assignment."

Zhou Zhiqiang also spoke up, saying, "It's the end of the year, and I don't want you to work overtime so I can give you a break."

However, unforeseen circumstances may arise, so please be patient. If the combine harvester can be successfully manufactured and tested, everyone will receive a reward.

"That's fine then. I'll have Deputy Section Chief Chen bring out the detailed plan later."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he beckoned to Chen Li, asking her to come to his office with him.

After entering the room and closing the door, Chen Li finally spoke, "Section Chief, why the sudden rush? You were just about to relax this morning."

"I will be transferred in February after the Spring Festival, which is the second month after the start of the project, so I need to finalize all the drawings of common parts as soon as possible before that time."

Zhou Zhiqiang explained, "Otherwise, this project might be shelved, since it would be difficult for me to come back and help you after I'm transferred."

Chen Li was quite surprised upon hearing this and quickly asked, "Section Chief, where are you being transferred to?"

"After the New Year, I will go to the Second Machine Tool Factory as the deputy director. It's a promotion, but the tasks are also heavy."

Zhou Zhiqiang shook his head and said, "Going there might be even more tiring than now, but it's a new platform. By the way, Deputy Section Chief Chen, I've recommended you to the factory to take over as the head of the technical department."

Once the combine harvester is successfully prototyped, the technical department's work for the next six or seven years can be completed systematically.

Zhou Zhiqiang has really left a lot for the technical department: small tractors, small threshers, and if the combine harvester is successfully manufactured, it will be another trump card for foreign exchange.

There is no need to worry about any production problems in the next eight years, unless foreign countries develop and manufacture agricultural machinery with better performance and lower prices, it will not be able to replace them.

Moreover, labor costs are very low for heavy industrial products in China, which alone can save a lot of money.

If foreigners engage in a price war with them, it won't end well. In the end, they'll simply resort to tactics to stop their allies from buying their products.

However, the combine harvester was mainly invented to be sold to the Russians, and the Russians will definitely purchase them before the relationship completely breaks down.

Their large farms desperately need this, and the Russians are investing heavily in military industry in a biased and unbalanced way; the ratio of light to heavy industry is almost like a limp, and the ratio of military to other industries within heavy industry is also exaggerated like a limp.

They clearly have the ability, but they just don't invest in the research and development of agricultural machinery. If it weren't for Zhou Zhiqiang, the Russians would definitely have purchased tens of thousands of units from Aramco.

It's better for them to earn this money than for Amer to earn it; it can offset a lot of debt and reduce the burden on domestic farmers.

This can be considered a form of indirect assistance to farmers.

Chen Li didn't hear anything else, only that Zhou Zhiqiang was leaving. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, she said, "Section Chief, why is the factory like this? Our factory needs you a lot too."

"Haha, this isn't a decision made by the factory, it's a decision made by the ministry, and the Second Machine Tool Plant is also directly under the ministry."

Zhou Zhiqiang then continued, "Forget about that, let's get the shift schedule sorted out first."

The factory leaders will definitely talk to you after the New Year, so just prepare to take over as section chief.

If Chen Li is old enough to take over as section chief, she might have a chance to become deputy factory director when she turns thirty, and then become factory director a few years later.

Finally, with a little more effort from his family, he was transferred to a ministry, becoming a deputy director-general level cadre.

This already puts him on the verge of becoming a high-ranking official, and after weathering that storm, his future looks incredibly bright.

Although she can't compare to Zhou Zhiqiang, Chen Li took six or seven years, or even seven or eight years, to reach the same level, while Zhou Zhiqiang has already achieved it.

Moreover, Zhou Zhiqiang had met Chen Junfeng several times, and he was a cunning and cautious old fox, unlike Yu Zhongguo, who was simple-minded.

Even if no one reminded him, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't think that his deputy leader, Chen Junfeng, would get into trouble.

However, Chen Li wasn't thinking much about future plans right now. Only after Zhou Zhiqiang urged her again did Chen Li take the schedule and prepare to reshoot it.

After arranging the shift schedule and the upcoming tasks, Zhou Zhiqiang and Chen Li left the office and announced the matter to everyone.

Many people's faces fell immediately after reading this. With the Lunar New Year approaching, suddenly having to work overtime until the last day is bound to make them lose their motivation.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang had enough prestige to make the decision firmly, and the others in the technical department only had some dissatisfaction and complaints in their hearts.

No one has ever dared to directly criticize Zhou Zhiqiang or refuse his request.

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(End of this chapter)