The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 154 Handing Over the Work

"Comrade Yaoguo, what does this mean?"

Deputy Factory Director Sun pointed to the documents on the table with some doubt and concern, and then continued, "Aren't these things Deputy Factory Director Zhou's responsibility? Why did you send them to me?"

"Deputy Factory Director Zhou asked me to deliver this, saying it's a logistics matter."

Zhang Yaoguo explained, "Before coming here, I had already spoken with Director Tian and Director Liu. We will report the follow-up of this matter to you, Deputy Factory Director Sun. This is also what Deputy Factory Director Zhou asked me to do."

Deputy Factory Director Sun was still puzzled after hearing this. Who would hate not having power? Was this really a plan to give it to him?
"Then leave it here for now. I'll have someone send it back to Deputy Factory Director Zhou after I've finished looking at it."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yaoguo quickly shook his head and said, "No, no, Deputy Factory Director Zhou said not to give it to him, just give it to Secretary Li directly."

As Secretary Li also serves as the factory director, these matters ultimately require his approval.

'So you knew all along? You used to take on so much responsibility; I thought you really liked power!'

Deputy Factory Director Sun thought to himself, but after looking through it, he found that it was all about logistics and office reports.

Some things were his responsibility, and some weren't; it seemed like they were all being handed over to him at once.

"Okay, then I'll leave it here for now."

Deputy Factory Director Sun couldn't quite figure out what Zhou Zhiqiang was thinking, so he could only say, "I'll send it to Secretary Li after I've approved it."

"Thank you for your help, Deputy Factory Director Sun."

After saying this, Zhang Yaoguo turned and left.

Zhou Zhiqiang wasn't completely uninvolved; he was primarily responsible for technical research and development reports and adjusting the factory's production tasks.

He tries to ignore everything else as much as possible, otherwise, even with his good physical condition and energy, he won't have enough time each day.

Zhou Zhiqiang isn't an emotionless work machine; he also wants to spend time with his family.

After delegating everything today, I was able to work much faster.

The production task arrangement was adjusted in no time. Tomorrow, the office will send it to each workshop director so that they can adjust the production tasks of their workshops in order.

The technical training arrangements can be copied from the technical training group of Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory, but the training content needs to be reorganized.

After handling things this way, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't have much to do anymore.

When it was time to leave work, Zhou Zhiqiang tidied up his office and then asked his driver to take him home.

"You're back quite early today. Isn't the factory busy?"

Guo Yuting was a little surprised to see her husband arrive home so early, and asked curiously, "Are you leaving again after dinner?"

"Look at what you're saying, can't I even leave work early and go home?"

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he noticed his wife's "what else?" look, so he chuckled and went inside to hug his son without replying.

He has been coming home quite late lately, but he'll be able to relax a bit in the next few days.

The factory needs to be expanded, new buildings need to be constructed, equipment needs to be purchased, and temporary workers need to be recruited; Zhou Zhiqiang will only get busy once the people, land, and equipment are all in place.

Before that, he had already handed over all his work and felt a great sense of relief.

As for the rest, Zhou Zhiqiang could handle it during his work hours.

If there's anything else he could dedicate all his energy to, it would be the high-precision universal grinding machine he's currently developing.

Like coordinate boring machines, they are also used for high-precision machining operations to meet the needs of cutting-edge projects.

Once their factory has developed and manufactured these two types of machine tools, they can then begin researching and producing CNC machine tools.

However, to manufacture mature CNC machine tools, it would probably require the help of the Fourth Ministry of Machinery Industry. Without the assistance of several electronic component factories and research institutes, even if Zhou Zhiqiang could deduce mature technology, he would not have the conditions to manufacture it.

If we could manufacture CNC machine tools that can be maturely used in industrial production earlier, even if it was only five years earlier, it would be a leap forward for China's industrial development.

If they can develop and manufacture it next year or the year after, it will mean that their level in the machine tool industry has caught up with the second tier of international companies and is now among the top.

However, it's too early to think about these things now. Zhou Zhiqiang thinks it's not too late to think about them at the end of the year.

The research and development work is still in its infancy, and the foundation of the Second Machine Tool Plant is too weak.

Both processing and production, and technological research and development, are too weak.

It needs to develop into a large factory with nearly 10,000 employees within at least three years to be considered a top-tier machine tool factory in China, and only then will it be qualified to lead CNC machine tool R&D projects.

"Zhiqiang".

Guo Yuting suddenly pushed the door open and came in, smiling as she asked Zhou Zhiqiang, "What would you like to eat tonight? It's rare for you to come home for dinner, so I'll give you a special privilege today. Whatever you want to eat, I'll make it."

"So easy to talk to? But we don't seem to have much to eat at home. How about we cut up a couple of ounces of cured pork and stir-fry it? Do you have any chili peppers?"

"Yes, then I'll make stir-fried cured pork with chili peppers. I'll make the rest. You take care of our son first."

"Okay, I'll keep an eye on him."

Zhou Bocai is almost two years old now. He can walk and talk simply without any problems. He even plans to teach his son to recognize characters ahead of time.

Guo Yuting hasn't had much time lately; she works at the neighborhood office. She can only say she doesn't work overtime. It's unlikely she'd actually be at work taking care of her child and teaching Zhou Bocai to read.

It would be helpful to Aunt Fang, but neither Zhou Zhiqiang nor Guo Yuting were willing to do so.

If it were her biological mother, she would definitely shamelessly send her over, but a stepmother is out of the question; besides, there are two children on her side who need to go to school, so it's not an easy situation for her either.

While taking care of his child in the backyard, Zhou Zhiqiang suddenly heard someone in the front yard call out "sister-in-law," which sounded like Zhao Tiandong's voice.

Zhou Zhiqiang told his son to go play aside, then went to the front yard, opened the small gate, and saw that it was indeed Zhao Tiandong knocking and calling out. "Brother Zhiqiang? You're back so early today."

Zhao Tiandong said with some surprise, "Brother Zhiqiang, it feels like I haven't seen you in ages. Are you guys very busy?"

"It's alright. When things get busy, we're constantly on the go, just like at the Dafeng factory. Come on, let's go inside and talk."

Zhou Zhiqiang called Zhao Tiandong into the courtyard and then asked, "Tiandong, what brings you here?"

"I'm here to return the money, and I originally wanted my sister-in-law to tell you that Brother Xiaojun plans to thank you next month for the baby's one-month celebration."

According to Uncle Wu, they'll just set up one table at home, mainly for you, Xiao Jun's wife and her family, and me. They can't fit many more people in the table.

After Zhao Tiandong finished speaking, he took out twenty-five yuan from his pocket, handed it to Zhou Zhiqiang, and continued, "Brother Zhiqiang, this is the malted milk powder coupon from before, and the money I borrowed from you, which Brother Xiaojun is going to pay back, is also in here."

"Row."

Zhou Zhiqiang took the money, didn't count it much, and put it in his pocket.

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Zhiqiang asked, "What day of next month?"

"Probably around the middle of the month. Brother Xiaojun plans to go to the pigeon market a few more times recently. If he can't buy any there, I'll go with him to the black market tonight."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang frowned and said, "The black market is not a good place. If you want to go, you should bring a few more acquaintances with you."

It's not safe for just two people to go; you'd better not go if you don't have three or four people."

At least the pigeon market has some order, and it doesn't stay open very late.

The black market is purely a matter of luck; you might buy meat, good cigarettes, and good alcohol, but you might also get robbed.

That place is chaotic and disorderly.

Zhou Zhiqiang went to the pigeon market many times, but he never went to the black market, because he might get ripped off if he went alone.

"I understand, Brother Zhiqiang. I'll talk to Brother Xiaojun about it. If he doesn't agree, I'll say it was you who said it."

Zhao Tiandong added that they both listened to Zhou Zhiqiang, and Wu Xiaojun was very stubborn; he probably only listened to Zhou Zhiqiang, besides his parents.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang couldn't help but laugh at those words. When it comes to shrewdness, Zhao Tiandong is the best; he knows how to use tricks.

"Okay, just be careful. How have you been lately? Is everything alright at the factory?"

Zhao Tiandong said, "It's alright. My brother Xiaojun and I have also started helping my dad with his work, participating in advanced parts processing, and we've learned quite a bit."

Although we're only at the third-level worker level now, I feel that in two years, my brother Xiaojun and I will be able to pass the fourth or fifth-level worker exams.

It's just that food is a bit hard to buy, but Zhao Tiandong didn't mention it to Zhou Zhiqiang.

He and his wife had ration coupons, but life was tough in the countryside. Zhao Tiandong went to the black market hoping to buy more grain and send it home.

If it weren't for passing the Level 3 worker exam, Zhao Tiandong really wouldn't have been able to make ends meet; he also has a son.

His hometown and his small family in the city both depend on his salary. He hasn't been able to save any money for the past few months; he's spent it all on food.

"Brother Zhiqiang, I'll head back now. Dinner's cooking at home."

"Row."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he suddenly remembered the factory's recruitment, so he quickly called out to stop him: "Tian Dong, wait a moment."

After hearing him called, Zhao Tiandong turned around and asked, "Brother Zhiqiang, is there anything else?"

"Who's been taking care of your child lately? My factory is hiring temporary workers, and we have a few openings. Do you want your wife to come work here?"

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Although they are temporary workers, they will definitely be able to become permanent workers after two years. They are only hiring temporary workers because there is no food allowance now."

"If your wife is willing to work, I'll arrange for her to work in the logistics department of the Second Machine Tool Factory. It's a low-stress job with no overtime, and she can earn twelve yuan a month."

"It's your child."

Zhao Tiandong quickly said, "Brother Zhiqiang, of course she's willing! Pingping will definitely be willing; Pingping's mother can help take care of the child."

With these ten yuan, they could alleviate a significant burden on their family and even buy an extra fifty jin of grain.

"Brother Zhiqiang, thank you so much. I'll consider this job as a gift from my family."

"Hey, alright, alright, stop talking about buying or not buying. I never intended to sell."

Zhou Zhiqiang waved his hand and quickly stopped him, saying, "I'm the deputy factory director now, why would I rely on selling jobs to make this kind of money? Tian Dong, I want to help you, but don't make me make a mistake."

Go back and wait for my news. I'll send you a letter of introduction from the factory in a couple of days. Once you've settled things at home, your wife can start working at the factory.

“With me here at the factory, you definitely don’t need to worry about anyone bullying her.”

"Brother Zhiqiang, thank you."

Zhao Tiandong was deeply moved. Zhou Zhiqiang had helped his family so much that it was impossible to count them all.

Two jobs are something many families would kill for; it might take a lifetime of saving to get two jobs.

"Alright, no need for all this sentimental talk. I don't know many people, it's just a matter of lending a hand."

Zhou Zhiqiang waved his hand and said, "Go back quickly, just wait for my news in a few days."

　Third update, please vote with monthly tickets! Double monthly tickets were added at midnight, brothers, please give me some!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)