The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 175 Reminds You of the Treatment of High-Ranking Officials
Two days later, Director Ren led a group of people to move into the Second Machine Tool Factory and convened another meeting of key cadres.

Once everyone had arrived, Director Ren got straight to the point without any small talk, saying to everyone, "I believe your factory director and secretary told you about the expansion of the Second Machine Tool Plant a couple of days ago."

I'm here today to get this matter settled; in order to meet the growing demand for machine tools, the First Ministry of Machine Building's Archives Committee has decided to expand and renovate the Second Machine Tool Plant.”

"It is expected that within three months, seven transformations will be completed, including worker relocation, workshop expansion, and production task guidance."

During the expansion, Deputy Director Liu was appointed as the expansion and renovation team leader, with Deputy Factory Director Zhou Zhiqiang and Party Secretary Li Younian as deputy team leaders, and Zhao Shanhe, Deputy Director of the Office of the Machine Tool Administration Bureau, as the team leader.

After Director Ren made this announcement, he not only announced the specific expansion and renovation tasks, but also the timeframe and personnel.

The main expansion work that followed was handled by Deputy Director Liu and Zhou Zhiqiang.

Director Ren then assigned some specific tasks that required the people he brought with him and the relevant departments in the factory to handle.

This expansion is a complete transformation for the Second Machine Tool Plant. All kinds of equipment will be transferred over, and skilled workers will be brought in from other plants.

Even talent is given priority in allocation, and the technical department is expected to have 80 people within the next three years.

After hearing what Director Ren announced, most of the cadres at the Second Machine Tool Plant gasped in shock.

Although I learned from Deputy Factory Director Zhou yesterday that the factory would be expanding, I didn't expect it to be such a big undertaking.

It was as if he had suddenly become the 'own eldest son' and was to inherit the assets of the Ministry of Machine Building.

They built branch factories and expanded the main factory, giving priority to the allocation of necessary equipment and personnel.

After the expansion, they became almost the number one machine tool manufacturer in the country.

After announcing all the details of the expansion and renovation, Director Ren then handed over the specific tasks to Deputy Director Liu.

After all, the Second Machine Tool Plant is a large factory directly under a ministry at the deputy bureau level. The renovation and expansion of such a unit would definitely require the supervision of a deputy director of the Machine Tool Administration Bureau.

Then Deputy Director Liu stood up and spoke, outlining specific arrangements and who would be in contact with which department.

Over the next three months, all departments in the Second Machine Tool Plant, except for the front-line production workshops, will be very busy.

"Comrade Zhiqiang, come out and let's talk."

After Deputy Director Liu finished speaking, and just as the meeting was about to adjourn, Director Ren called Zhou Zhiqiang out.

Seeing that Director Ren seemed to have something to say to him, Zhou Zhiqiang asked, "Director Ren, why don't we talk in my office?"

"Sure, I'll come over to your place for a cup of tea."

"Oh, I have all the best tea here. I swiped some from Deputy Leader Wu last time and haven't been able to drink it yet. Director Ren, since you're here, I'll definitely have to brew some for you."

Actually, he had almost finished drinking it all, with only one pot left. However, it was up to Zhou Zhiqiang to decide how much to take; if he said he hadn't drunk any, then he hadn't.

Director Ren laughed and said, "Deputy Leader Wu is now most afraid of seeing you come to his door. Now his cigarettes and tea are all kept by his secretary."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang suddenly realized and said, "No wonder! I was wondering why I had searched the drawers twice and couldn't find a single packet of tea."

"Well, if I give it to the secretary, I won't be able to get it. And if I actually manage to get it, it'll put the secretary in a difficult position."

His 'arrogance' in front of Deputy Leader Wu was because he was sure that Deputy Leader Wu wouldn't be angry with him. Moreover, every time he went to see the leader, he would only report good news; he almost never went if he didn't report good news.

Wu Jianhong simply couldn't muster any anger towards a subordinate like Zhou Zhiqiang.

He was genuinely concerned about the cost of cigarettes and tea, as they were rationed every month.

When there was no cigarettes or tea at the end of the month, Deputy Leader Wu sometimes found it difficult to even work.

After the two returned to the office, Zhou Zhiqiang brewed a pot of tea and then brought it to Director Ren.

"Comrade Zhiqiang, your factory is going to be very busy from now on."

Director Ren picked up his teacup and smelled it; it really was good tea that the leader had brought. He also had a ration, but not as much as Deputy Leader Wu.

Therefore, it was especially precious and was usually consumed by oneself. When entertaining guests, tea purchased from the supply and marketing cooperative would be used.

"The ministry has already planned out the machine tools you need to produce this year. Although the task is heavy, the leaders and I still hope that you can produce more than the planned tasks."

Even a ten percent increase would be a great help to our country; the leaders have already decided that your factory's machine tools should also be sent as exhibits at the Canton Fair in the autumn.

"This year?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang asked with some surprise, "Director Ren, isn't the domestic supply insufficient? Are you already planning to export?"

"This was discussed between Leader Sheng and Mr. Zhou, and it was also to gain more say in the international arena. Foreign trade orders are secondary."

Director Ren explained, "Even if we don't get a single order, it's worth it to let other countries know that we can manufacture first-class machine tools."

"Breaking the 'high-end technology' monopoly of Russia and the US can send a signal of independent innovation and blocking useless technologies, and can also bring developing countries closer and enhance their voice."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang immediately understood: it was about showing his strength, except that this strength lay in technological research and development.

'What's the point of your blockade? After all that, we still managed to develop high-precision machine tools independently.'

This signal is used to test the reaction of countries led by Aramco, and also to tell other developing countries that China is developing very well.

It might also help to strengthen ties with neighboring countries. In short, showcasing their domestic scientific research capabilities would be very beneficial for diplomacy.

If CNC machine tools are developed, they might be able to use them to trade for chemical production lines, which would allow China to initially escape the hunger crisis.

"I understand. I'll think of a solution for production."

After taking a deep breath, Zhou Zhiqiang said to Director Ren, "With so many more people after the renovation and expansion, I'll think of ways to improve the production process and hopefully increase production efficiency."

"Once the modifications are complete, I'll immediately begin implementing them to see in what ways we can improve production efficiency."

Director Ren nodded and said, "Well, thank you for your hard work. By the way, Comrade Zhiqiang, haven't you had a physical examination yet?"

Zhou Zhiqiang was taken aback, then asked, "Huh? Director Ren, why are you bringing this up too? It's unlikely for my wife; she doesn't even know where the First Ministry of Machine Building is."

What happened to your wife?

After asking a question, Director Ren continued, "This has nothing to do with your wife. Cadres at level 13 and above are entitled to regular medical check-ups."

You also received this benefit but didn't go. The Cadre Health Care Committee reported this to our department and asked why you didn't go.

"So I'm qualified after all. I always thought I was a Level 5 engineer."

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Zhiqiang shook his head and said, "I was too busy last year and didn't even think about it."

"You're in an administrative position, but you're receiving the salary of a Level 5 engineer. Many technical people are in administrative positions, and there are Level 5 engineers there too, so don't forget about it this year."

Director Ren said with a smile, "Did your wife also send you for a physical exam?"

Zhou Zhiqiang chuckled and said, "Yes, she thinks I stay up late all the time, and then she heard somewhere that staying up late shortens one's lifespan, so she insists that I get a physical examination. It would be good if there were a place that specializes in physical examinations, so I wouldn't have to go to other hospitals and wait in line."

Director Ren said with a smile, "Your wife really cares about you. But just rest well when you get home. You can keep busy at the factory."

Zhou Zhiqiang smiled but didn't respond. He was busy at the factory, and he was busy at home. Besides, he had to take care of his son at home, which was more difficult for him.

Besides this matter, Director Ren also talked with Zhou Zhiqiang about other machine tool factories.

All sectors have seen good development, with increased output value and small breakthroughs in machine tool research and development, resulting in an overall improvement.

However, the Second Machine Tool Plant is the only one in the country to have developed and improved two types of high-precision machine tools within a year.

Zhou Zhiqiang also told Director Ren about setting up a CNC machine tool R&D project, but it hasn't been completed yet, and it's unknown whether the project will be approved.

So Zhou Zhiqiang didn't exaggerate; he just mentioned it to Director Ren.

After discussing the research and development direction for the next few years, Director Ren's assistant came to knock on the door.

Everything that needed to be said has been said. The assistant is here to ask whether we should stay at the Second Machine Tool Plant a little longer or go back now.

Director Ren had no intention of staying any longer, so he got up and prepared to say goodbye to Zhou Zhiqiang.

Zhou Zhiqiang also got up to see Director Ren off. He didn't go very far. After watching Director Ren get into his car downstairs, he went back to find Deputy Director Liu.

Although he and Deputy Director Liu were working together on the upcoming renovation and expansion, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't intend to get too involved. He only needed to nod in agreement with whatever arrangements Deputy Director Liu made.

Zhou Zhiqiang is very clear about his role: he is responsible for technology research and development, knows a little about production management, and is also responsible for some aspects of it, and tries his best to complete the tasks assigned by the department.

But for the other parts, which Zhou Zhiqiang didn't understand, he basically didn't care much about.

If you don't understand something but insist on getting involved, you won't be able to get rid of the problems that arise.

After Zhou Zhiqiang made it clear to Deputy Director Liu that he was only responsible for giving his approval on the factory's renovation and expansion, Deputy Director Liu smiled helplessly and told Zhou Zhiqiang to go back to his office.

There was no other way; Zhou Zhiqiang had said he didn't want to get involved anymore, so we couldn't force him to take on the work.

Moreover, it wasn't like he completely ignored everything; Zhou Zhiqiang took over all the technical and process aspects.

------

After the Spring Festival, factories across the country have begun a new season of bustling production.

Despite the many setbacks in the past year, the workers' enthusiasm for production has not been dampened in the slightest.

When their homes were in poor condition, these homeowners worked hard to rebuild their families. With this spirit and mindset, the workers worked even harder.

The trade union also played a significant role in this, and the trade unions of this era were far more responsible to the workers than Zhou Zhiqiang.

If any worker has a problem at home, the union will quietly visit them to investigate. If it is confirmed that there is a problem, the union will step in to help resolve it.

Because of the worker's family problems, the union contacted Zhou Zhiqiang more than forty times throughout last year.

The union will handle what it can handle itself, and if it can't, it will approach the factory.

Most of them asked for money or help from the factory, and Zhou Zhiqiang approved them immediately after reviewing them.

The phrase "workers are the masters of their own destiny" is not just a slogan in this era, but a reality; when problems arise in their families, the factory, as a large family, will help them solve them.

Zhou Zhiqiang also took some time to have a physical examination, and the final conclusion was that he was as strong as an ox and had an astonishingly large lung capacity.

According to the doctor in charge of the physical examination, he couldn't offer any advice, as he rarely saw such a healthy report.

The doctor in charge of the physical examination looked at Zhou Zhiqiang with some suspicion. How did he maintain such a good physique?

Does he not work all day and just enjoy good food and drink? This doesn't seem like the physique of a deputy director of a large manufacturing plant.

Other high-ranking officials who came for checkups all had some health problems to varying degrees.

Zhou Zhiqiang couldn't stand the doctor's gaze, so after letting Guo Yuting, who had come with him, take a look, he left with his wife.

The medical examination report couldn't be taken away, so Zhou Zhiqiang could only bring his wife to see it.

However, after learning that Zhou Zhiqiang was in good health, Guo Yuting breathed a sigh of relief, and she could temporarily relax her supervision of Zhou Zhiqiang.

After the medical examination, Zhou Zhiqiang returned to the factory with peace of mind and continued to work there.

One day.

Zhou Zhiqiang had just finished finalizing the engineering report for the development of CNC machine tools when the phone on his desk rang.

After picking up the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Hello, Second Machine Tool Factory, this is Zhou Zhiqiang."

"Comrade Zhiqiang, you haven't forgotten what we agreed on before the New Year, have you?"

The voice of Deputy Leader Wu came from the other end of the phone: "It's been half a month since construction started. How are your preparations going?"

Zhou Zhiqiang immediately perked up and said, "Of course it's ready, boss. Shall I take it over for you to see first?"

On the other end of the phone, Deputy Leader Wu said with a smile, "Okay, then come over now. Comrade Jianhui and I are both free today. Let us hear your opinion."

"Then I'll go over now."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he hung up the phone and then called the security department: "Deputy Section Chief Zhao, have the driver come to the factory office building. I need to go to the ministry."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenshan immediately replied, "Yes, Deputy Factory Director Zhou, I will go and inform them right away."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang began to tidy up the report documents. After he finished, he told his assistant Zhang Yaoguo and then rushed downstairs.

After getting out of the car, the driver was already waiting for him in front of the building. Zhou Zhiqiang got in the car and asked the driver to drive to the Ministry of Machine Building.

During this period, he either went to the Ministry of Machine Building or went home. Last year, he went to Changping for a visit.

He rarely went out at other times, which saved the security department a lot of trouble in protecting the driver.

After arriving at the Ministry of Machine Building, Zhou Zhiqiang told the driver to wait for him as usual, and then went upstairs to find his superior.

No one stopped him along the way; many people recognized Zhou Zhiqiang.

When Zhou Zhiqiang saw Wu's assistant, he asked him a question and learned that Wu was in Sheng's office. He was told to go there directly to find them.

Then he turned and walked towards Leader Sheng's office.

After arriving, he knocked on the door, and upon hearing a sound from inside, Zhou Zhiqiang pushed the door open and went in.

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(End of this chapter)