The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 141 Reporting to the Machine Tool Factory [Please Subscribe]

"Yes, it seems like she starts arguing with her mother as soon as she gets home, and recently it's gotten to the point where they're almost throwing things at each other."

Guo Yuting said with some difficulty, "She just said she wanted to rent a room with us, but we only have one empty room; the others are uninhabitable."
And I didn't know how to refuse at the moment; I was a little reluctant to rent it out.

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "It's a normal thought, there's no need to be embarrassed. Back then, the neighborhood committee wanted our family to rent out the house, but I refused."

Previously, there were many empty rooms in the family home. When Guo Linhua was alive, there were guest rooms in both the front and back yards.

However, after Guo Linhua, Zhou Zhiqiang's father-in-law, went on to help build in the Northwest, Zhou Zhiqiang and his wife made some renovations to the two-courtyard house.

The empty room in the front yard was turned into a storage room and a place to store sewing machines, with only one guest room, which was used to accommodate temporary stays.

There is only one room in the backyard that Guo Yuting used to live in. The couple has agreed that it will be left for their son, Zhou Bocai, to live in from now on.

"Forget it, you can tell Chen Li that I'll help her get a single room in the factory's dormitory after the New Year. It's a bit inconvenient for our family."

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Zhiqiang shook his head and refused, saying, "If it were someone else, I might have agreed casually because we're friends."

But you heard Aunt Chen's angry shouts just now. What if she comes to our house and argues with Chen Li? And Uncle Chen definitely wouldn't want his daughter living with someone else.

“If you mention it to her, you might be worried about Aunt Chen’s reaction. Chen Li will understand your concerns. Then you can tell me to think of a solution, and I will go and ask around at the factory after the New Year.”

There must still be vacant rooms in the factory's female employee dormitory. There are already few female employees, and even fewer living in the dormitory.

They are usually quite young, but their homes are cramped, so they move out to live in dormitories to make room for their families.

There should still be several empty rooms. He can talk to the logistics department and ask for one room specifically for Chen Li to stay in. It shouldn't be a problem.

It's safe and secure, and having a room to myself will definitely be quieter than before.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, Zhiqiang."

Guo Yuting also recalled the shouting of Chen's mother during their previous argument, which still made her feel uneasy; if the mother and daughter went to her house and shouted like that, Guo Yuting would be extremely unwilling.

I was so focused on feeling sorry for Chen Li that I almost forgot about Chen's mother.

I can't help her at home, but the method my husband just mentioned is good; staying at the factory will solve the problem.

Even if Chen's mother was anxious, she wouldn't go to the factory to cause trouble. She definitely wouldn't, after all, she was the wife of the deputy leader of the light industry.

After receiving the good news from Zhou Zhiqiang, Guo Yuting went back inside and told Chen Li about their decision.

It wasn't that they didn't want to rent the house to Chen Li, but they were a little afraid of offending Aunt Chen. If she came knocking on their door, neither she nor Zhou Zhiqiang would know what to do.

Upon hearing this, Chen Li thought of her mother and sighed deeply. She could only ask Zhou Zhiqiang to help her find a dormitory room at the factory.

She doesn't plan to go home anytime soon.

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't stay out with the child for long before Chen Weiguo, feeling bored at home, also came out.

While watching the children in the yard, he chatted with Zhou Zhiqiang and mentioned that Zhou Zhiqiang had beaten three robbers to death with a flurry of punches.

Their police station had also heard about this. Another jurisdiction had produced a "top scholar and martial arts expert"—he was clearly a technician, but he single-handedly took down five robbers.

Two of them were armed with knives, but three of them died and two were seriously injured.

It's something a normal person couldn't do. After learning about this, Chen Weiguo became very curious about Zhou Zhiqiang and kept thinking about asking him something.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang used his great strength as a reason, and it is indeed true that he is very strong now.

After demonstrating how he could lift Chen Weiguo, who weighed over 140 pounds, with one hand, Chen Weiguo finally believed Zhou Zhiqiang's words.

He was lifted up with one hand and held on for four or five seconds without even breaking a sweat; that's no ordinary strength.

Chen Weiguo was not surprised at all that such strength could kill someone with a single punch.

The two chatted outside for a while, and after the children finished setting off the firecrackers, Zhou Zhiqiang and Chen Weiguo sent them back inside.

After the new year.

Once construction began, Zhou Zhiqiang immediately submitted an application to the factory leadership to trial-produce a combine harvester.

He doesn't have much time left at Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory; he has less than a month left.

During this period, he needs to manufacture all the sealing components that require high precision and have complex curved surfaces as soon as possible.

Other tasks that don't have such strict requirements can be left to other senior craftsmen.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang only felt at ease when he personally took on the most difficult tasks.

After receiving approval, Zhou Zhiqiang immediately designated a work area for himself and began processing.

Once he starts processing, Zhou Zhiqiang becomes completely focused and highly concentrated.

He doesn't even need to look at the blueprints to know all the precision requirements for all the sealing components.

With just over twenty days, plus a few extra hours of work at night, Zhou Zhiqiang had enough time to process all the important sealing components.

Time passes day by day.

During this period, Zhou Zhiqiang stayed at his workstation almost day and night. Finally, he managed to process all the sealing parts with the highest precision requirements the day before he was to be transferred to the Second Machine Tool Plant.

The error is within half a millimeter, and all parts are qualified.

After finishing the last part, Zhou Zhiqiang called Chen Li and the others from the technical department and said, "I have finished the most difficult batch of sealing parts, and the technical drawings are also available in the department."

Next, we can begin manufacturing the other parts. Deputy Section Chief Chen, keep an eye on things and make sure the progress isn't too slow; also, make sure these parts are not damaged in any way, and have the warehouse store them properly.”

If this part is damaged, then he will have to process it again. However, Zhou Zhiqiang has to report to the Second Machine Tool Factory tomorrow, so this matter cannot be delayed.

Chen Li said, "Section Chief, don't worry, we will definitely build the rest within the next month and get the combine harvesters running successfully in the fields."

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded and smiled, "Yes, I believe that. After all, our technical department has grown considerably in terms of personnel and strength."

This year, three more people were assigned to the technical department. Previously, you had to beg for people, but now many people are vying to be assigned there.

Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory has now become a popular destination, attracting many visitors.

However, this is not surprising, after all, it is a large factory that has won large foreign trade orders for two consecutive years, and anyone with discerning eyes can see that it has a bright future.

"Alright, that's it for today, no overtime."

Zhou Zhiqiang checked the time; it was almost time to finish work.

"But don't forget, those of you who are scheduled to work shifts, you still need to work shifts tonight." Before leaving, Zhou Zhiqiang made sure to arrange the last of his work before heading home.

Everything was arranged, and the leaders had been informed in advance. At noon, Secretary Yan, Factory Director Zhao, Deputy Factory Director Liu, and others arranged a private room in the canteen for him as a farewell dinner.

Zhou Zhiqiang came to Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory right after graduation and spent nearly three years bringing the factory to its current size.

He absolutely did not let down the treatment he received from the factory and the country.

Next, he will go to the Second Machine Tool Plant to continue to shine. If he can make a breakthrough in this area, it will drive the overall heavy industry to start and move forward.

After all, machine tools are the mother of industry; if industry wants to develop, it cannot do without machine tools.

------

A jeep slowly drove toward the Second Machine Tool Plant.

There were four people in the car: besides the assistant and the driver, there was Director Ren from the Machine Tool Administration Bureau and Zhou Zhiqiang.

"Director Ren, I didn't expect you to personally escort me to report for duty. I'm truly flattered."

Zhou Zhiqiang was genuinely surprised by this. He had just stepped out of the house with his bicycle in the morning when a jeep blocked his way.

After rolling down the car window, Zhou Zhiqiang saw that the person sitting inside was Director Ren Licheng.

As the director of the Machine Tool Administration Bureau, he was one of the highest-ranking officials under Deputy Leader Wu, so it was quite unusual to send him to take up his post.

"Vice Leader Wu and I have high expectations for you, and we will definitely take good care of you. Only by resolving your worries can we enable you to lead the factory to develop well."

After a pause, Director Ren continued to say to Zhou Zhiqiang, "Comrade Zhiqiang, there may be some problems and issues within the Second Machine Tool Plant. Last year's rapid expansion was abruptly halted by Deputy Leader Wu, which may have caused some resentment among them."

With the factory manager being transferred and you, the young deputy factory manager, taking over, the situation within the factory might be a bit complicated, but go ahead and do your job.

"Deputy Leader Wu and I are your backers. Anyone who obstructs technological innovation and factory development will be dealt with accordingly, without any leniency!"

Director Ren's words were very firm; he and Deputy Leader Wu now had complete trust in Zhou Zhiqiang.

He had already spoken with Deputy Leader Wu and Secretary Li Younian of the Second Machine Tool Plant, instructing him to focus on his duties as secretary, while leaving production and technical matters to Zhou Zhiqiang to handle independently.

Their trust in Zhou Zhiqiang was so great that if someone were to accuse Zhou Zhiqiang of this, the one at fault would definitely not be Zhou Zhiqiang, but the person who made the accusation.

The vehicle soon arrived at the gate of the Second Machine Tool Plant.

However, the driver glanced around and found that there was no entrance, so he honked the horn a few times.

A few seconds after the horn sounded, two security guards ran out from the gate, opened the gate, checked the driver's work permit, and then immediately let him through.

Director Ren watched the whole thing without saying a word, but after the car drove into the factory, he turned to Zhou Zhiqiang and said, "Zhiqiang from the factory security department, you should also mention this. It's the factory director's responsibility. Never mind, I'll talk to Comrade Younian about it later."

He and Deputy Leader Wu did indeed instruct Comrade Li Younian to keep a low profile on Zhou Zhiqiang, and as long as there was no violation of discipline, let Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang do as he pleased.

But it seems that Comrade Li Younian doesn't care much about other things anymore. Even if he's old, he shouldn't be like this.

The security department has become somewhat lax; when those two men came out just now, they even tucked their work clothes into their pants.

The car stopped in front of the factory office building. After Director Ren and Zhou Zhiqiang got out of the car, some people walked over from the front of the building.

"Director Ren, welcome to our office. This must be Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang. Hello, hello, I am Li Younian."

After greeting Secretary Li and Director Ren, he began to chat with Zhou Zhiqiang.

Zhou Zhiqiang shook hands and smiled, saying, "Secretary Li, hello, I'm Zhou Zhiqiang. From now on, we're comrades in arms."

"Haha, the Second Machine Tool Plant is really looking forward to seeing you, Deputy Director Zhou."

After exchanging a few words, Secretary Li turned to Director Ren and asked, "Director Ren, should we go to the conference room to announce this to the factory's cadres, and then use the factory's loudspeaker to inform Deputy Director Zhou about it?"

"Well, let's do it."

Director Ren said, "I have something else to say. Have all the cadres at level 18 and above in the factory been notified?"

Below level 18, one is at the section level, which is not a formal cadre position, and even calling it a cadre is a stretch.

Secretary Li quickly replied, "We've already notified them. Some cadres are already waiting in the meeting room. There's enough space; just bring a chair and sit in the back."

"Alright, let's go to the conference room to announce the appointments first, and then you can get to know each other privately; let's go, Comrade Zhiqiang."

After Director Ren finished speaking, he walked ahead towards the factory's conference room.

The Second Machine Tool Factory had also visited twice, so Director Ren knew where the meeting room was and didn't need anyone to show him the way.

When we arrived at the conference room, there were already some people sitting inside, but they all brought their own chairs and sat in the last row.

The seats in front are reserved for the leaders.

Director Ren glanced at it, then sat down in the seat with the microphone.

After everyone else was seated, Director Ren took out an appointment document and announced:
"Comrades, as decided by the Archives Committee of the Ministry of Machine Building, Li Younian, the former secretary of the Second Machine Tool Plant in Sijiu City, is hereby appointed as the plant director."

Zhou Zhiqiang, former head of the technical department and a fifth-level engineer at Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory, is hereby appointed as the deputy director of Sijiucheng No. 2 Machine Tool Factory.

Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang was primarily responsible for the factory's production management, technological upgrading and innovation, and assisting Comrade Li Younian in managing factory safety issues.

After all the appointments were announced, some people in the meeting room were so surprised they couldn't close their mouths.

Some well-informed people knew about this, but they were also shocked; although they knew in advance that a deputy factory director would be coming, they did not expect that this deputy factory director would have so much power.

He had all the power of the factory director, and also took away some of the power of the party secretary.

Although Secretary Li Younian concurrently serves as the factory director, according to the leadership's arrangements for the factory, Secretary Li Younian has no way to interfere with the factory's production.

After announcing the personnel arrangements and appointments, Director Ren said solemnly, "This adjustment by the ministry is in the hope that you will achieve even greater success in this year and next."

Meanwhile, support from the ministry for the factory will also be on the agenda. By the end of the year, the ministry hopes to see a different Second Machine Tool Factory.

After the director finished speaking, the meeting room fell silent.

After a few seconds of silence, Zhou Zhiqiang spoke up: "Please rest assured, leaders, the Second Machine Tool Plant will definitely make changes and show you a new Second Machine Tool Plant!"

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(End of this chapter)