The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 172 I Want to Be the Chief Engineer
Boom boom boom!
After a while, the door opened, and the middle-aged man who opened it was taken aback when he saw Zhou Zhiqiang carrying wine and gifts outside. He thought Zhou had come to deliver gifts.

Just as he was about to tell Zhou Zhiqiang to leave, he quickly noticed Chen Junfeng standing to the side.

He had met Chen Junfeng, the deputy leader of the Ministry of Light Industry, when he went to the Ministry of Light Industry to discuss matters and heard Chen Junfeng speak.

"Deputy Leader Chen, what brings you here?"

Wu Jiamou asked with a surprised expression, "Who is this comrade?"

“He is your father’s subordinate. He came here today specifically to deliver a gift. You should go and tell Comrade Jianhong about it.”

Mr. Chen said with a smile, "If your father heard that it was him who gave the gift, he might accept it on the spot."

"Uncle Chen, stop joking."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he smiled at Wu Jiamou and said, "Hello comrade, I am Zhou Zhiqiang from the Second Machine Tool Plant. I am here today to wish Vice Leader Wu a Happy New Year in advance."

Upon hearing the name 'Zhou Zhiqiang,' Wu Jiamou felt a sense of familiarity, and then quickly remembered, saying with surprise, 'So you are Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang. I'm sorry, you're too young; I didn't recognize you at first.'
"Come in quickly, come in and tell me, I'll go talk to my father."

After welcoming Zhou Zhiqiang and Chen's father into the house and having someone pour tea, Wu Jiamou went upstairs to call his father.

Although it was a holiday today, his father was still busy in his study, bringing departmental affairs home to save time on the road.

Wu Jiamou went upstairs to the study, knocked on the door, and after a dozen seconds, heard his father's voice from inside, he pushed the door open and went in.

"dad."

"Is dinner ready? I'll eat later, just leave me a little."

Without looking up, Deputy Leader Wu said, "I'll come down after I finish this little bit of work. You guys eat first."

Wu Jiamou quickly said, "It's not about lunch. It's that Deputy Leader Chen from the Ministry of Light Industry has arrived, along with Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang from the Second Machine Tool Plant."

Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang also brought some cigarettes and alcohol as gifts, saying they were for you.

"Who? Comrade Chen Junfeng and Zhou Zhiqiang?"

Upon hearing this, Deputy Leader Wu looked up, then took off his glasses and said with a smile, "This Comrade Zhiqiang even knows to bring me things. Alright, I'll go down and take a look."

After finishing his sentence, Deputy Leader Wu put down his work and got up to walk downstairs.

However, just as they reached the door, Deputy Leader Wu turned around and said, "Have the family cook more food, and also bring the wine they have at home. Never mind, we'll drink what they brought for lunch."

Wu Jiamou asked in surprise, "You're not working this afternoon?"

"That's true, let's have a drink then."

Wu Jiamou was somewhat surprised when he heard his father's words. He knew that his father valued work and revolution above all else and would never do anything that would interfere with his work.

Knowing he had work in the afternoon, he still had a drink, which shows how much he valued the two guests downstairs.

Wu Jiamou knew his father, who said that if he were to have a small drink, the small cup at home would never be filled to the brim, and a small amount would not affect his work in the afternoon at all.

"Comrade Junfeng, Zhiqiang, what brings you two here all of a sudden?"

After Vice Leader Wu walked over with a smile, he looked at the gifts on the table one by one and said, "Zhiqiang, did you buy these? You've been taking cigarettes and tea from me all this time, and today I finally see someone reciprocate, hahaha."

Zhou Zhiqiang also said with a smile, "Boss, I'll give you more next time, and you can give me more of your cigarettes and tea. Let's take turns."

"You're dreaming. Mine is a special supply, and there's only so much of it every month."

Deputy Leader Wu took out a bottle of Fenjiu liquor, looked at it, and then turned to Chen's father and said, "Comrade Junfeng, how about a drink at noon?"

Chen Junfeng said, "Okay, then let's have a drink, but not too much. Just do your best."

Deputy Leader Wu said with a smile, "Yes, just enjoy yourself. I know Comrade Zhiqiang doesn't drink at all. If you want to drink more, then let my son drink with you. He can hold his liquor much better than me."

The three of them sat in the living room and chatted for a while. After a while, Wu Jiamou also brought some peanuts, melon seeds and other things, put them on the coffee table, and sat down to listen.

The main point was that Deputy Leader Wu was showing off their heavy industry's export targets over the past year. Previously, light industry had always been ahead of heavy industry in terms of exports.

But in just two years, it has been completely overtaken by heavy industry.

The major contributor to the significant foreign exchange earnings from heavy industry was Zhou Zhiqiang, who was standing next to Chen's father.

"Zhiqiang".

Deputy Leader Wu suddenly looked at Zhou Zhiqiang and asked with a smile, "Did you win Comrade Licheng's New Year's gifts?"
Comrade Licheng complained to me about you before the holiday, saying you made a bet with him, and you won it on the last day?

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang smiled and said, "I gained a little advantage from Director Ren, but I'll be busy after the New Year. Leader, I plan to temporarily hand over the factory's production work to the newly arrived deputy factory director after the New Year."

As I mentioned before the Lunar New Year, I will begin researching CNC machine tools. However, this will likely require the combined efforts of many departments; it's impossible for the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building alone.

"In terms of scale, it may not be smaller than the last large hydraulic press, and may even be larger."

The next sentence made Deputy Leader Wu's expression turn serious.

The large hydraulic press was deemed an important project by the Ministry of Machinery Industry to be crucial to the development of the country's heavy industry after evaluation. Therefore, it was reported to Mr. Zhou, and finally, the top leaders made the schedule.

It is no smaller in scale than a large hydraulic press. That means that CNC machine tools are also at the level of national strategic equipment.

After a moment of silence, Deputy Leader Wu pondered for a moment before speaking, "Our country should be able to produce a CNC machine tool by now."

Last year, several departments at Tsinghua University collaborated to manufacture the first CNC machine tool; however, the controller for that CNC system was larger than the machine tool itself, and extremely expensive. If a vacuum tube broke, replacing it required a report and approval, making it very troublesome.

After completing its tour, the CNC machine tool was almost completely abandoned, rarely even being started.

After all, it has no practical significance for production, and no leaders from brother countries came to visit, so there's no point in even starting it up.

"That's only slightly related to CNC, and it can't be used in practical production at all. If its significance outweighs its practicality, then it's just meaningless."

Zhou Zhiqiang waved his hand and said, "What I plan to produce are CNC machine tools that can be put into industrial production and can solve many current industrial problems."

If we can successfully develop and manufacture them, our country will be able to achieve rapid development not only in the machine tool field, but also in other fields such as semiconductors.

Only when working on the same project can Zhou Zhiqiang, as the team leader, use the technical results he has learned from the simulation assistants to teach to various industries.

With a research direction in mind, the research and development path becomes much easier, which is much better than the previous path of constant experimentation and trial and error.

"With such confidence, are you planning to make a bet with me?"

Deputy Leader Wu suddenly laughed and said, "So you've shifted your focus from Comrade Licheng to me?"

"How could that be, sir? I simply want to get this done; it would be of great benefit to our country's industrial development."

Zhou Zhiqiang said firmly, "This project is extremely important, even more important than expanding production."

If you, the leader, allow it, I'd like to use the factory expansion funds to set up a project team. Of course, I know that's impossible; I just want to say that CNC machine tools are very important.

Zhou Zhiqiang changed the subject, causing Vice Leader Wu's expression, which was about to change, to return to calm.

He simply meant that the ability to manufacture CNC machine tools signifies a major breakthrough in many fields, including semiconductors, integrated circuits, and CNC computing systems.

These areas will then lead to the development of other industries, driving their growth in a radiating manner.

"I thought what you said back then was just an idea, but it turns out you planned to start it after the new year."

Deputy Leader Wu frowned in thought, then continued, "It's a difficult problem to bring together the First and Fourth Ministries of Machine Building, and your factory has important production tasks next year."

After Comrade Licheng's report, I started thinking about your factory's tasks. Next year, or even the year after, your factory will be very busy."

"But I didn't expect Comrade Zhiqiang to be even more anxious than me, as if you have no intention of stopping at all."

Zhou Zhiqiang shook his head and said, "My ability in production management may be just passable, but I am much stronger in the research and development of technology and processes than in production management."

Since we have this ability, there's no need to waste a year; that would be a huge waste of time.

“For this kind of project, Mr. Zhou’s approval is at least required, and let me tell you beforehand, Mr. Zhou is not as easy to talk to as I am.”

Deputy Leader Wu cautioned, "Even though CNC machine tools are very important to our country's development, Mr. Zhou has his own standards."

He will consider and weigh which are more important and which need to be developed first. Our country cannot support all industries to develop at the same pace; a phased approach is essential.

“If you can’t convince Mr. Zhou, then the Ministry of Machine Building wouldn’t have been able to support the establishment of such a large project.”

After a pause, Deputy Leader Wu continued, "This is already considered a major national project. Zhiqiang, this is a project that at least requires a chief engineer to lead. Are you confident in your abilities?"

The three highest technical levels can all be considered chief engineer level, qualified to lead the research and development of major national projects.

According to regulations, one must be at least a Level 3 engineer to become the chief engineer of a major project.

Becoming a Level 3 engineer is no longer a technical matter; at these levels, the understanding of technology and knowledge is impossible to measure precisely.

Only project experience and past performance can be considered to determine the level of engineer or above.

"If the project is entrusted to me, I am confident that I will live up to the country's hopes and investment."

Zhou Zhiqiang said with great certainty, "Even if there are a hundred unexpected problems in the research and development, I will solve them and eventually develop and manufacture the CNC machine tool."

The nation's heavy industry needs this, so I'll develop it; in short, leader, I hope you can put in a good word for me and give me the position of chief engineer.

"That's not something I can control just by talking."

Before Deputy Leader Wu could finish speaking, an elderly woman pushed open the living room curtain, poked half her body in, and asked, "Lunch is ready. Shall we eat?"

While the others remained silent, Wu Jiamou was the first to react, standing up and saying, "Mom, let's eat later."

He thought that his father and Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang's matter had not been finished, and it might take a little more time, so he decided to postpone it for the time being.

However, Deputy Leader Wu interrupted, saying, "No, let's eat now. There's no custom of serving cold food to guests."

After saying that, Deputy Leader Wu stood up and said to Zhou Zhiqiang, "Comrade Zhiqiang, regarding the matter you mentioned, bring the proposal report to my office within half a month after the New Year, and we'll discuss it in detail then."

But let's eat first, since it's a holiday. Let's talk about other things instead.

Mr. Chen immediately clapped his hands and said, "That's right, the topic you're discussing is too important, Comrade Jianhong, your son and I don't know whether we should listen to it or not."

"Haha, it's my fault. I'll punish myself with a drink when we get to the dinner table."

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(End of this chapter)