The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 174 Factory-wide Commencement Meeting
"Zhiqiang, I'm entrusting the family to you. If anything happens, just send me a letter."

Two days after the New Year, Guo Linhua packed his things and prepared to take the train back home.

The vacation he applied for this time was only eight or nine days at most. After deducting the two-plus days of train travel, he could only stay at home for the Chinese New Year.

Zhou Zhiqiang assured him, "Dad, don't worry, I'll take care of things at home, nothing will go wrong."

If you need anything over there, just write home.

As the deputy director of a large factory, taking care of his family is a piece of cake, especially since he has already taken care of everything that needs to be done.

Guo Linhua found a primary school for Guo Chenghua, and he will be able to start school in July this year.

Zhou Zhiqiang's eldest nephew will be five years old by then. He has already learned to recognize characters and do some basic math, so he will definitely have no problem starting primary school.

Guo Linhua took a lot of things with him when he left. When he arrived there, Zhou Zhiqiang's brother-in-law, whom he had never met, would be waiting to pick him up at the station. This time, he would be traveling in a sleeper car.

Safety is definitely not a problem.

hum!
The train was about to depart, so Zhou Zhiqiang had his wife and mother-in-law talk to Guo Linhua for a while longer before finally letting Guo Linhua board the train when the train conductor was loudly urging him to hurry up.

After seeing his father-in-law off, the group went home.

We'll just see each other less often in the future, not never at all. Besides, Guo Linhua is very safe over there, with troops and military units all around.

After returning home, Zhou Zhiqiang went to his study and started working.

Within half a month of the project starting, Deputy Leader Wu was to take him to meet Mr. Zhou, but before that, he had to persuade both Deputy Leader Wu and Leader Sheng.

If Zhou Zhiqiang can't even get past this hurdle, he definitely won't be able to meet Mr. Zhou.

Beyond just technological research and development, Zhou Zhiqiang also needs to compile and list all the impacts of CNC machine tools on domestic industry and the development of various sectors.

The workload is considerable, and he also needs to find a lot of information to verify that now is the best time to develop CNC machine tools.

Apart from a few countries like the United States that have developed and manufactured relatively mature CNC machine tools, most industrialized countries are still in the initial stage.

This is not in other fields where they are decades behind; in CNC machine tools, they are only a little over a decade behind.

Even the difference between them and Xiao Rizi in terms of CNC machine tools is that Xiao Rizi can import CNC technology from countries like the US, while they cannot.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang can rely on the data collection and simulation system to obtain more advanced technologies and processes such as CNC, semiconductors, and integrated circuits.
So now is the perfect opportunity to catch up and surpass them. However, Zhou Zhiqiang cannot say that he is absolutely certain, otherwise Mr. Zhou and other leaders would think it is unreliable.

When facing the unknown, there is no such thing as absolute certainty; if Zhou Zhiqiang had given Mr. Zhou an absolute guarantee, this project would most likely have been shelved.

We need to increase the importance of developing CNC machine tools from all aspects.

Moreover, once manufactured, CNC machine tools can not only meet domestic production needs but also export demands. Even if the West imposes further sanctions, can all countries refuse a highly advanced machine tool?

When the benefits are significant enough, blockades are not so effective; otherwise, the US wouldn't have discovered the Russian submarines before slowly investigating and finding out that its products were being exported to the Russians.

Zhou Zhiqiang was busy in his study for a long time, and even his lunch was brought in by Guo Yuting.

Upon seeing Zhou Zhiqiang's reclusive demeanor, his mother-in-law, Mei Xiuxue, quietly asked her daughter, "Yuting, was Zhiqiang like this before?"

"Yeah, last year I often didn't go to bed until two or three in the morning. Once I got up at a little after one o'clock and saw that the study light was still on."

Guo Yuting sighed and said that she also had a watch at that time. She vaguely saw that it was past 1 a.m., but the bedding next to the bed was still neat and tidy.

When I woke up the next day, I didn't even know when Zhou Zhiqiang had gotten up.

Mei Xiuxue shook her head and said, "He can stay up even later than your father. Can his body handle it? You should talk to him another day and tell him not to stay up too late. I've heard some people say that not sleeping for a long time or sleeping too little will shorten your lifespan."

"They say a person's lifespan is limited, and if you're busy during the day, you need to rest at night to make up for it. But if you don't sleep enough at night, your lifespan will be shortened."

"Oh? Mom, don't scare me. Zhiqiang seems perfectly healthy."

Guo Yuting complained, saying that if Zhou Zhiqiang hadn't been so energetic during the day, she would have already tried to dissuade him.

Moreover, Zhou Zhiqiang did all the heavy work at home, and his strength didn't seem like he was sick.

"Stop talking, that's feudal superstition. We should believe in science now."

After Guo Yuting finished speaking, she also felt a little worried and secretly thought about taking Zhou Zhiqiang to the hospital for a check-up sometime.

After saying that, Guo Yuting patted the dust off her hands, then called Zhou Bocai and Guo Chenghua over and whispered to them, "Chenghua, take your younger brother to the study and ask your uncle to come out and play with you."

"Okay, Auntie."

After Guo Chenghua finished speaking, he pulled Zhou Bocai along and jogged to the front of the study.

After pushing the door open, he said to Zhou Zhiqiang, "Uncle, come out and play with us."

After hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment before looking up and saying, "Okay, wait a minute. Go find your aunt first and ask her to take you to play."

My aunt sent my brother and me to find you.

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang looked up again, thought for a moment, then put down his pen, stood up, went to the two children, and picked them up, one in each arm, saying...
"It's alright, I'll take you to find her. I'll make you some toys another day, and carve a set of military chess pieces for you."

Guo Chenghua replied sensibly, "Okay, Uncle!"

Zhou Bo, on the other side, didn't quite understand what it meant, but he clapped his hands happily after hearing about the toy.

Zhou Zhiqiang has a lot of ideas about toys suitable for children, especially wooden products.

Even wooden rifles and pistols are enough to keep children entertained for a long time; Zhou Zhiqiang didn't know how to do woodworking at first, but after familiarizing himself with the tools a few times, he gradually got the hang of it.

He has very precise self-control; if he says he will use three-tenths of his strength, he will never exceed it by even a fraction. So, after having a carpenter roughly process some toys, he can come back and refine them himself, resulting in a decent wooden toy.

Previously, Zhou Zhiqiang had given each of the children a wooden pistol and a wooden rifle.

Another day when he has time, he can carve a few riflemen, artillerymen, and cavalrymen, and invent a kind of military chess so that the children can play it slowly.

After carrying the two children out of the house and letting them play in the yard, Zhou Zhiqiang went to the kitchen and asked his wife, "Yuting, what's wrong? Why did you have the children call me?"

"It's holiday time now, but you're not resting at all. I'm worried about your health."

Guo Yuting approached Zhou Zhiqiang and said solemnly, "You can be busy, but you have to take some time to go to the hospital with me for a check-up."

If you're healthy, then I won't bother with you. But if the doctor tells you to rest, you're not allowed to stay up until 1 or 2 AM anymore.

"A medical check-up? Okay, I promise you."

Zhou Zhiqiang agreed without much hesitation: "Don't I know my own body? I'm definitely healthy." He wasn't lying. If other ordinary people were as busy as him, they would have suffered a heart attack or other illnesses from exhaustion long ago.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang relied solely on his physical strength to withstand the strain, and he also frequently underwent physical enhancement. It can be said that he replenished his energy after each bout of exertion, and after several repetitions, his body remained very healthy.

Guo Yuting said with satisfaction, "Okay, then I'll go to the hospital to make an appointment after we start work. Don't make any excuses to skip it then."

"Why would I refuse? You're doing this for my own good. If I refuse, wouldn't I be ungrateful?"

Zhou Zhiqiang chuckled and said, "Next time, you can just come to me directly. Why send the two kids to me?"

"It's not that I'm afraid you're busy. What if I go directly to you and you yell at me? My dad yelled at me when I was a kid."

"Haha, I definitely won't. Feel free to bother me anytime in the future."

After laughing, Zhou Zhiqiang chatted with Guo Yuting for a few more minutes before returning to his study to continue his work.

------

The next morning, after having breakfast, Zhou Zhiqiang went out to take a car to work.

The Second Machine Tool Plant will officially start production tomorrow, but he requires all workers except those on the front line of production to arrive a day earlier to perform auxiliary production tasks.

Simply put, it means making preparations in advance so that the workers can start work immediately upon arrival.

After arriving at the factory, Zhou Zhiqiang toured all the departments and then chatted with Section Chief Kong, Deputy Section Chief Chen, and Deputy Section Chief Zhao of the Security Department.

As long as nothing unexpected happens during the holiday, the factory will be fine. At that time, only the security department and the logistics staff who come to work every day are left.

The logistics staff are there to take care of the rabbits. Although the factory is on holiday, the rabbits still need someone to look after them. Otherwise, if one of them dies, Tian Wenguo will be heartbroken for a long time.

Fortunately, they were well taken care of during the Chinese New Year.

Moreover, once the factory starts production, they can try to continue growing mushrooms once the boiler room next door is lit.

Even if only half a crop survives, the factory can provide the workers with a few more nutritious meals.

Zhou Zhiqiang toured all the departments in the factory, gave them all the necessary instructions, and then returned to the factory to continue his work.

I was busy in the office until after 9 p.m. before I finally finished work and went home.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the Second Machine Tool Plant officially started operations.

Thousands of workers arrived at the factory and went to their respective posts. After listening to the production tasks assigned by the workshop director, they all got to work.

At 9:00 a.m., as is customary, the factory held a meeting for all staff and employees in the conference room.

Sitting at the top were Li Younian, Zhou Zhiqiang, Sun Yifei, the chairman of the labor union, and the director of the women's federation, representing various leading cadres from the factory's production, archives, and other departments.

After everyone had arrived, Secretary Li turned to Zhou Zhiqiang and said in a low voice, "Comrade Zhiqiang, how about we talk about that matter first?"

"Alright, Secretary, you announce it?"

"You should handle the production matters. Also, explain the production tasks in one go, and I'll just add to them."

Although the Party Secretary was the highest-ranking official in the factory, during that special era, those in charge of production held the most power.

Now Li Younian has to give way to Zhou Zhiqiang at the factory, which is also the order of the higher-ups.

However, Sun Yifei on the other side looked puzzled. He had heard what Secretary Li and Zhou Zhiqiang had said, but it was precisely because he had heard it that he was puzzled.

What were those two whispering about? What was that matter? Why were they keeping it from him, the deputy factory director?

"Comrades."

Zhou Zhiqiang tapped the table twice before speaking, immediately drawing everyone's attention to him in the conference room.

"Next, let's talk about the new year. There's a lot to say today, and it's crucial for the future development of our Second Machine Tool Plant."

Our factory developed and manufactured a new type of grinding machine before the Lunar New Year, which can be used in many domestic production and processing applications, so expanding production is essential.

"The ministry asked me and Secretary Li to attend a meeting before the Lunar New Year, specifically to discuss this matter; our factory is going to establish a branch factory with about 2,500 employees in the Changping area."

This branch factory specializes in processing and producing common parts for two types of machine tools. It was formed by merging several small factories in Changping and transferring several hundred skilled workers to create the new processing plant.

The factory is expected to have 2,500 employees, which is nothing in Beijing, but it's a large factory in Changping.

"In addition to the branch factory, the head office will continue to invest in expanding production, setting next year's production target at twice this year's, and expecting to increase the workforce to 4,500."

When Zhou Zhiqiang got to this point, the factory workers below were already quite surprised, and even made some noise.

Zhou Zhiqiang had to tap the table twice to quiet everyone down before he could continue talking about other things.

This includes adding a deputy factory director, and most of the expansion will be taken over by the ministry.

After all, the Second Machine Tool Plant has already undergone an expansion, so it's definitely not fully integrated yet. Those temporary workers are just getting familiar with the tasks in the plant.

The number of people will double next; such a large operation can only be handled by the ministry.

"There's going to be a big event happening at the factory soon, but I need to reiterate: production must not be disrupted in the slightest. Don't get involved in anything that doesn't concern you; production is the most important task."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he turned to look at Secretary Li, indicating that he had finished speaking.

Next, Secretary Li emphasized several points, mainly concerning discipline and regulations. While production is important, it is crucial not to violate discipline and regulations.

After Secretary Li finished speaking, the other leading cadres also spoke.

The director of the Women's Federation made a suggestion: to include more female workers in the expanded recruitment and to have them promote the idea that women hold up half the sky.

After thinking about it, Zhou Zhiqiang neither refused nor agreed, but promised to report the proposal to his superiors.

This factory expansion was overseen by the ministry, and they just had to passively accept it.

The ministry agreed that it would be implemented when workers were transferred, and the Women's Federation could do whatever it wanted then.

There were two special departments in the factory: the labor union and the women's federation. At that time, these two departments had a lot of power. If something involved them was important, they could almost bypass the factory and handle it directly.

The factory is also difficult to manage.

Zhou Zhiqiang's attitude towards them was casual and indifferent; as long as it didn't affect production and research and development, he would let them do as they pleased.

　Second update, please vote for me!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)