The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 156 The Dinner, Gradually Improving Development

Zhou Zhiqiang took the technical department's schedule that Ding Zhixue handed him and started looking at it.

Most of the schedules are reasonable, but the shifts are indeed a bit tight, and they even include technicians who are about to be assigned but haven't started work yet in the schedule.

Using code names like A, B, C, D, etc. to replace them really left Zhou Zhiqiang speechless.

"Factory manager, if we were to pull the team members from the new machine tool development group out of the factory, the technical department would barely be able to handle the technical process guidance and temporary worker training work."

Before Ding Zhixue could finish speaking, Zhou Zhiqiang interrupted and said, "Hey Section Chief Ding, how come you don't even understand this kind of thing?"

Research and development absolutely cannot stop. If it weren't so tiring working in the technical department, I wouldn't want to stop even during my daily rest. Whether our factory can develop rapidly depends on research and development.

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Zhiqiang suddenly noticed the expression on Ding Zhixue's face, and then couldn't help but point and say...

"So you knew perfectly well that you were setting a trap for me, trying to get me to ask you for people, right?"

Seeing that his thoughts had been exposed, Ding Zhixue scratched his head sheepishly and laughed, "There's nothing I can do, Factory Director, the technical department is really short-staffed."

I visited the First Machine Tool Plant; their technical department has fifty or sixty people, while we have less than half that number. That's not fair.

“What are you talking to me about fairness? I’m still working as a lathe operator, fitter, and boring machine operator. If you say it’s fair, I should receive two, no, four, wages.”

Zhou Zhiqiang waved his hand and said, "I will report the personnel replenishment to the leaders. Go back and wait for my news."

Seeing this, Section Chief Ding knew that Zhou Zhiqiang had already agreed to the matter, so he said that there was nothing else and that he was leaving.

However, before leaving, Section Chief Ding peeked out and reminded him, "Factory Director, don't forget about the matter of supplementing the technical department with manpower."

"If you keep nagging, you can go to the ministry yourself and ask for the person."

Zhou Zhiqiang's words made Ding Zhixue quickly close the door and leave. Only after everyone left did he start to think seriously.

There is indeed a severe shortage of personnel, and hiring more vocational school graduates won't solve the problem. We need to bring in at least a few university graduates majoring in mechanical structures and electrical engineering.

We may start developing and producing CNC machine tools in the next year or the year after, and the relevant personnel need to be in place in advance.

It's not that Zhou Zhiqiang looks down on vocational school graduates; these days, many vocational school graduates are talented, but they don't study as deeply as college graduates.

When they arrived, Zhou Zhiqiang had to teach them while they worked, and he put the college students to use directly.

But let's get the person here first.

After making his decision, Zhou Zhiqiang picked up the phone and dialed: "Hello, this is Zhou Zhiqiang from the Second Machine Tool Plant. Connect me to Director Ren Licheng of the Machine Tool Administration Bureau of the First Ministry of Machine Building."

"Director Ren? This is Zhou Zhiqiang. Hey, it's not about the meat-making process, it's just that I need your help with a small matter."

Could you transfer four university graduates to me, one specializing in mechanical design and structure, and another in mechatronics, along with twelve vocational school graduates specializing in mechanical and mechatronics?

"Director Ren, I need four college graduates. I guarantee they'll create value for the ministry and you next year. If you don't believe me, I can sign a pledge."

"I'm not trying to trick you, I've even signed a pledge for this."

After pleading and cajoling over the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang finally managed to persuade Director Ren to relent a little.

However, Director Ren didn't give a definitive answer; he only said he would report to Deputy Leader Wu.

Zhou Zhiqiang's request this time was a bit outrageous for Director Ren.

The Ministry of Education assigns only this many students to their mechanical engineering department each year, which adds up to more than 30,000 nationwide.

This number sounds like a lot, but the whole country isn't just one city like Beijing; every province and city needs to retain its own college students.

That would reduce it by half. Then there are factories, research institutes, provincial and national key projects in various places, and finally, there are many bureaus and departments within the Ministry of Machinery Industry, as well as dozens of directly affiliated factories.
The number of talents Zhou Zhiqiang wanted was almost like bleeding money out of Director Ren, if not cutting flesh from his own flesh.

Director Ren couldn't solve the problem, but Zhou Zhiqiang's promise was very appealing. He was willing to develop a high-precision universal grinding machine needed for cutting-edge national defense projects by the end of next year at the latest.

Almost every mechanical department needs this type of machine tool, or rather, almost all of them.

So after hanging up the phone, Director Ren got up and went to report the matter to Deputy Leader Wu.

------

"Deputy Factory Director Zhou."

Early this morning, Director Liu from the factory office knocked on the door to report to Zhou Zhiqiang: "This morning, the ministry delivered three pigs to our factory, weighing approximately 400 jin."

The canteen has already finalized the menu; they're planning a celebratory lunch for the factory today.

After saying that, Director Liu handed the first two meal tickets to Zhou Zhiqiang and continued with a smile, "These are meal tickets that we quickly made. One ticket can buy one meat dish. Factory director, these are yours."

"That's great, it looks quite professional. What kind of dishes does the cafeteria prepare?"

After thinking for a moment, Director Liu said, "It seems to be meatballs and bone and cabbage soup. All the meat is removed to make meatballs, and the rest is used to make soup."

One meal ticket is enough to make one large meatball, which is enough for a meal.

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded, then asked, "One for each person in the factory?"

"We also considered the contribution to the new machine tool project. Those who did not participate in the project can use their meal tickets to buy a meat dish, but they will have to buy the bone broth themselves."

If you're part of the new machine tool project team, you can just use your meal ticket to get a serving of meatballs and bone broth. The canteen makes the bone broth with tofu and cabbage.

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded and said, "Okay, that's good. Let's do it this way. Have the publicity department broadcast an announcement."

"Ok."

After Director Liu finished speaking, he went down to distribute meal tickets. Not long after, the factory's loudspeaker also announced the luncheon.

Zhou Zhiqiang found it acceptable to differentiate between workers who had participated in the new machine tool project and other workers.

After all, when I was involved in the research and development and manufacturing of high-precision coordinate boring machines, I had to work overtime every day.

At the end of the banquet, all we received was an extra bowl of bone, cabbage, and tofu soup; it was hardly even considered special treatment.

The era of eating communal meals is over. Now, distribution should be based on labor; whoever does more work can eat an extra bowl of rice.

When it was lunchtime, both canteens were packed with people.

Zhou Zhiqiang was a little slow in carrying his lunchbox, and when he arrived at the cafeteria, all four windows were already lined up at the door.

"Wow, there are so many people in line."

Zhou Zhiqiang made a casual remark, but soon someone in the line saw him and called out, "Deputy Factory Director Zhou, please put me in line. I'll let you have my place."

"Deputy Factory Director Zhou, please line up here. My position is near the front."

A group of people shouted for Zhou Zhiqiang to cut in line in front of them. When other factory cadres saw this, they secretly marveled at the status that Zhou Zhiqiang, the deputy factory director, held in the hearts of the workers.

I believe it won't be long before Zhou Zhiqiang truly becomes their factory manager. News of the pork delivered to the factory this morning had already spread, and I didn't expect a luncheon to be prepared so soon, complete with large meatballs.

The factory workers hadn't had a decent meat meal in a long time, so this was a welcome treat.

Furthermore, to avoid any misunderstandings in the cafeteria, the publicity department specifically explained during the broadcast that this meat dish was the result of the new machine tool project team's research and development.

Therefore, all factory employees who participated in the new machine tool R&D and manufacturing project could get a free bowl of bone broth.

Most people in the factory had no objection to this; what's wrong with getting a good treat for making a contribution?
Although a small number of people felt resentful, believing they should also receive free bone, cabbage, and tofu soup, they dared not say anything about the factory's decision.

Especially on this auspicious day.

Although there were many people in the cafeteria, they were all very orderly. The security guards didn't even need to remind them; the lines were already very neat.

Even factory director Zhou Zhiqiang was queuing up, so the other cadres could only obediently follow suit. No one dared to cut in line to get food.

After a while, when it was Zhou Zhiqiang's turn, he was a little surprised to find that the person getting food at his window was Mao Pingping.

Upon seeing Zhou Zhiqiang, Mao Pingping immediately smiled and said, "Brother Zhiqiang, it's you! What would you like to eat? I'll get it for you."

"Two lion's head meatballs, plus a serving of cabbage and a serving of soup, and two steamed buns."

After handing over the meal tickets and lunchbox, Zhou Zhiqiang asked, "Pingping, if you need to find me, go to the factory office building. If I'm not there, look for Comrade Zhang Yaoguo."

While getting her food, Mao Pingping smiled and said, "Okay, Brother Zhiqiang, here, this is your food."

I was treated well when I ran into an acquaintance. I got a spoonful of meat broth and a large spoonful of cabbage. The bone, tofu and cabbage soup also filled the whole lunchbox.

Knowing that Zhao Tiandong's family was struggling financially, he sent Zhao Tiandong a letter of introduction the next day, and Mao Pingping started working after receiving the letter.

She was hired for a logistics position and was assigned to the cafeteria, but she ran into Zhou Zhiqiang today.

"Okay, I'll be leaving now."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he carefully picked up his lunchbox and prepared to find a place to eat.

Once everyone else left, the cafeteria resumed serving food, but the way the other customers looked at Mao Pingping was strange.

I thought she was just an ordinary person, but it turns out she's the factory manager's sister?

After finishing the lunch service, as the canteen staff began to clean up, one of the temporary workers couldn't help but ask curiously, "Sister Mao, are you and our factory manager siblings?"

Mao Pingping explained, "They're not siblings. My husband and Deputy Factory Director Zhou were from the same village. They've known each other since they were kids. I called them that together with my husband."

"So this is the factory manager's sworn brother's wife. We can't let you do this job, I'll do it!"

"That's right, from now on, Sister Mao, you'll just focus on serving the food, and I'll do all the sweeping and mopping."

Even if they weren't blood brothers, the fact that Deputy Factory Director Zhou could get him into the factory's kitchen speaks volumes about their relationship.

Besides, Deputy Factory Director Zhou just said that Mao Pingping should go to the factory office building to find him if she needs anything.

They are well-informed in the kitchen, and after finishing their work, they would discuss the factory's gossip.

Many people now know that Zhou Zhiqiang is nominally the deputy factory director, but he holds the position of factory director.

Although Secretary Li Younian also held the position of factory director, he didn't really manage anything. The one who was truly in charge of the factory was Deputy Factory Director Zhou.

Now that they've encountered someone connected to Deputy Factory Director Zhou, they're bound to try and cultivate a good relationship, so they're all vying for the words in Mao Pingping's hand.

However, Mao Pingping remembered her husband's instructions before she came: never do anything under Zhou Zhiqiang's name at the factory, as that would ruin their relationship.

Zhou Zhiqiang has already helped their family so much, so much that they can't possibly repay him.

So Mao Pingping quickly said, "No, this is the work I should do. I came to the factory to work, and I will continue to do so in the future."

After saying that, Mao Pingping snatched the rag back from the group. If they relied on Zhou Zhiqiang's reputation to rest at the factory, it would be a loss for their family and Zhou Zhiqiang's friendship.

"Alright, Comrade Mao Pingping has a high level of ideological awareness, don't overreact."

Lu Dayong, a level-seven cook and also the head of the canteen, spoke up, which put the others at ease.

However, despite saying that, Lu Dayong was already thinking about how to subtly reduce Mao Pingping's burden.

After the meal.

If the production atmosphere in the factory is slightly improved and the workers are well-fed, they will have enough strength to build socialism.

That's absolutely true. It's a pity that the Second Machine Tool Factory didn't have the right timing. If it weren't for the natural disaster, their factory would have had ample supplies.

Zhou Zhiqiang dared to promise to produce 180 coordinate boring machines per month.

Although many workers would resist working three hours of overtime at night, they would only be anxious if they were given overtime pay and a meal.

Overtime pay and a dinner are worlds apart from the value they create.

Unfortunately, supplies simply couldn't keep up, otherwise the Second Machine Tool Plant would have really expanded production.

Machines still require human operation; we haven't yet reached the point where automation makes machines the primary means of operation.

The department has already helped coordinate the production equipment they promised, and it will be delivered within two months.

The recruitment process has been coordinated with the local labor bureau, and 940 positions have now been allocated to various sub-district offices.

In previous years, some quotas would definitely be allocated to communes in surrounding counties, and this was done at a fixed ratio.

But this time, they can't get assigned jobs. Temporary workers are paid less, and if they don't have urban food ration coupons, they won't even have enough to buy food after working for a month. It's like working for a month and starving for half a month. They'll be in trouble after two months.

The factory's side businesses are also doing quite well, and Director Tian Wenguo is very attentive to them.

After Zhou Zhiqiang stopped dealing with these matters, he would report to Deputy Factory Director Sun every now and then.

However, he soon annoyed Deputy Factory Director Sun by reporting on this. "A deputy factory director like you, spending all day listening to me talking about mushrooms and raising rabbits, aren't you bored?"

After being kicked out by Deputy Factory Director Sun and unable to report, Tian Wenguo could only report to Zhou Zhiqiang. However, Zhou Zhiqiang was also annoyed and told him to write it down and come once a week.

So Tian Wenguo had no choice but to keep it to himself, and wait until he had enough time before going to Zhou Zhiqiang's office to talk about the rabbit and the mushroom.

Tian Wenguo had a lot on his plate, but he gradually saw the success of mushroom cultivation. Following the guidance of experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, the mushrooms in the factory had grown to a considerable size in just one week.

They built an entire workshop for the production of this mushroom; they expect to harvest seven to eight thousand catties of mushrooms per season, which will greatly alleviate the factory's food problem.

Once the production tasks were assigned to the factory, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't need to worry about anything; he just needed to follow the production schedule.

Zhou Zhiqiang is currently busy developing a high-precision universal grinding machine every day, and he has also pulled in the technical department to help him share the workload.

　Sorry for the late second update. There will be a third update later, I promise I won't be late.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)