The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 185 Donating Money to Do Good Deeds

After getting ready and washing up, Zhou Zhiqiang went to bed with his wife.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't go to sleep immediately. It was only nine o'clock, and he couldn't fall asleep so early.

A small kerosene lamp was lit by the bedside. Zhou Zhiqiang would lean against the headboard and read a book. If he came across a professional book that he hadn't read before, he would bring it back and read it slowly.

There are still several mechanics textbooks in his study that he hasn't finished reading; he bought them from Tsinghua University through connections.

University course books are the best way to acquire knowledge. Zhou Zhiqiang read all the books from different majors at universities such as Beijing Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University, and Beijing University of Technology. Then he went to find textbooks for higher-level professional fields to read slowly.

"Zhiqiang".

Guo Yuting wasn't asleep either. After lying on her side for a while, she turned over and said to Zhou Zhiqiang, "Mom gave me thirty yuan today, saying it's for her and Chenghua's living expenses."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang frowned and said, "Thirty yuan? What do we need this for? Didn't we say we didn't want it? Why are you calculating so precisely?"

"That's what I said too, so I didn't take it and forced it back to her."

Guo Yuting, holding onto Zhou Zhiqiang's arm, said, "If she offers it to you again, don't take it."

“I definitely don’t want it. Our family isn’t short of money. Tell my mother-in-law not to think too much about it. Why should we divide living expenses among family members? If we calculate it that way, we still have to pay rent.”

Zhou Zhiqiang casually mentioned that he and his wife's combined salary and subsidies amounted to about two hundred yuan a month.

Moreover, Zhou Zhiqiang neither smokes nor drinks; at most, he buys cigarettes when giving gifts. He usually eats and drinks at the factory or project team, and his annual expenses are probably no more than sixty or seventy yuan.

Even if you spend all your tickets every month, you'll still have a hundred dollars left. You can only spend that hundred dollars at the trust store, where you don't need tickets for anything.

It can be said that the mother-in-law and Chenghua's nephew do not account for much of the household expenses, even if his nephew goes to school.

Guo Yuting looked at Zhou Zhiqiang and asked with a smile, "You don't want Mom and Chenghua's living expenses, so why are you still thinking about paying back the money?"

“That’s different. I can be indifferent to what others owe me, but I feel uncomfortable if I owe others something.”

Zhou Zhiqiang explained that this was just his personal habit; when he was not short of money, he generally wouldn't dwell on the debts owed to him.

But if he owes someone, even if it's just a few dollars, he'll think about it from time to time, and he won't feel comfortable until he pays it back.

It's been a long time since they bought the yard, and the couple has saved up a thousand yuan so far. In another year or so, they will be able to save enough money to pay back their parents-in-law in one lump sum.

“I knew you would say that. Today, Mom said we don’t need to pay back the money, and that it was Dad’s idea too, but I didn’t agree.”

Guo Yuting said with a smile, "I knew you definitely wouldn't agree, so I told Mom that the money for the house would definitely have to be paid back, and then I didn't give her a chance to speak."

"That's fine. After all, my brother and sister-in-law are still alive. We don't lack money, so there's no need to ask my parents-in-law for so much money."

After pinching his wife's cheek, Zhou Zhiqiang continued, "You should go to sleep early. I'll read a little more and then go to sleep too."

"Ok!"

Guo Yuting responded and then turned around to go to sleep.

The kerosene lamp wasn't very bright, so if you turned your back, it wouldn't disturb your sleep at all; the couple had always lived like this, and if they weren't doing *that*, Zhou Zhiqiang would definitely be reading until very late.

His improved physical condition also gave him a lot of energy, so Zhou Zhiqiang also wanted to study and improve.

Otherwise, if someone receives the salary of a level 5 engineer but doesn't know the answer when asked something, it would seem a bit inadequate.

Early the next morning.

After getting up, Zhou Zhiqiang washed up early and then went to the kitchen to start a fire.

However, as soon as he got the fire going, Guo Yuting came in and chased him out of the kitchen.

Now Zhou Zhiqiang has fewer and fewer opportunities to cook. Cooking and other housework have been completely taken over by Guo Yuting, and her cooking skills are getting better and better.

It can't compare to the chefs in state-run restaurants, but it's so much better than when I first started cooking.

After breakfast, Zhou Zhiqiang took a car to work at the factory.

After entrusting her son to her mother, Guo Yuting went to work at the neighborhood office. At this time, having an elderly person at home is advantageous, as they can help share the housework.

Apart from a small number of families where the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is strained, most families are of one mind and work together towards a common goal.

Most families are already living a modest life. If they can't work together and are constantly scheming against each other, then they really have something wrong with their brains.

Upon arriving at the subdistrict office, Guo Yuting immediately got busy. The household registration statistics from yesterday hadn't been organized yet, and she needed to finish them today to report to her superiors.

However, not long after Guo Yuting started working, a clerk came to her and said, "Xiao Guo, Deputy Director Yue wants to see you and asks you to come over."

"it is good."

Upon hearing this, Guo Yuting put down her work and got up to walk towards Deputy Director Yue's office.

After arriving, she knocked twice on the door, and Guo Yuting came in and asked, "Deputy Director Yue, did you want to see me?"

"Yes, Comrade Yuting, sit down and talk."

After Deputy Director Yue finished speaking, he found a public rental housing document, pulled out a slip of paper from it, and handed it to Guo Yuting, saying, "Comrade Yuting, this is the rent for your public rental housing last year. It is settled annually."

"Count the money. If the amount is correct, then sign here and collect your payment."

"Public rental housing rent"

Guo Yuting quickly remembered this matter after seeing the stack of money on the table.

She then glanced at the table and saw that the rent on it was about a hundred yuan. After doing a quick mental calculation, she realized that it was the same as the rent for the seventeen or eighteen households.

If they receive this much money every year, they could probably recoup their investment in the house very easily.
However, Guo Yuting remembered what her husband had said, so she signed the document briefly, but pushed the money back and said, "Deputy Director Yue, please donate this money for me."

I remember our neighborhood's children's welfare home applied for funding to buy some secondhand furniture, right? Please donate this money to the children's welfare home for me.

Upon hearing this, Deputy Director Yue looked surprised and asked again, "You don't want it anymore? You plan to donate it?"

That's over a hundred yuan! That's almost half a year's salary for other clerks. Even for Guo Yuting herself, it would take five months of not eating or drinking to save that much.

He said he didn't want it anymore, and Deputy Director Yue wondered if he had misheard him.

"That's right, they donated for me. My wife is being taken very well by the organization, and thanks to their care, our family is doing quite well."

Let's donate these rent payments to those who need them more. We plan to donate all the rent payments from now on.

Guo Yuting said with a determined look that her husband had mentioned it before, and now she was just carrying it out. Seeing that Guo Yuting didn't seem to be joking, Deputy Director Yue said, "Alright, Comrade Yuting, I'll donate this money to the children's welfare home for you. But you should still go back and discuss the rent with your husband."

"After all, there's still a long road ahead."

Guo Yuting nodded and said, "Okay, then thank you for your help, Deputy Director Yue."

She felt that Zhou Zhiqiang would definitely agree, since he was the one who brought it up; moreover, their family's combined monthly income exceeded two hundred, and their annual income was more than two thousand.
The 100 yuan rent was just icing on the cake for their family; it was insignificant.

It would be better to help more people and gain a good reputation. Guo Yuting had previously registered at a children's welfare home and felt bad when she saw the children who had been trafficked or abandoned.

"The neighborhood committee should be thanking you, Comrade Yuting."

Deputy Director Yue remarked with emotion, "The street office's finances are also tight. The director of the welfare home told me that three or four children there squeezed into one bed."

"Not only is it difficult to sleep, but there are other risks involved. But you know the situation at our neighborhood office; money is needed everywhere. With your money now, I estimate it can significantly improve the situation at the welfare home."

Second-hand beds can cost around ten yuan, and the most expensive one won't exceed fifteen yuan. If it's more expensive, they might as well just make a new bed.

The money donated by Guo Yuting will greatly improve the situation of the welfare home.

"Comrade Yuting, I will definitely talk to the director about this matter and spread the word about you and your husband."

Upon hearing this, Guo Yuting said somewhat embarrassedly, "Deputy Director Yu, it's not for those reasons."

Deputy Director Yue said, "I know, but we always advocate that good deeds should be publicized and praised."

When others hear that someone has done a good deed and been praised, and has become a role model, they will feel a sense of honor and foster a social atmosphere where everyone strives to do good deeds.

Therefore, their subdistrict office often publicizes good deeds and good people. Guo Yuting, who donated more than 100 yuan at once and plans to donate every year, is definitely their subdistrict office's biggest role model.

Moreover, Guo Yuting's husband is the director of the Second Machine Tool Plant, which is no secret in Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office and is known to many people.

The Second Machine Tool Factory is of a higher level than their subdistrict office. Just considering Zhou Zhiqiang's status, it wouldn't be unreasonable for their subdistrict office to give him some preferential treatment.

Last time, we also gave them a lot of job openings in the subdistrict office, which helped eight impoverished families.

This couple genuinely wants to help impoverished households, and their neighborhood committee will definitely take good care of them.

After Guo Yuting left, Deputy Director Yue registered Guo Yuting's information and then took the money to go and talk to the director.

------

The Second Machine Tool Plant

After arriving in the morning, Zhou Zhiqiang continued his work from yesterday, busying himself with the technical processes of wafer cutting and surface treatment.

He had been busy in his office for about two hours when there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Come in."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, Zhang Yaoguo pushed open the door and came in, reporting to Zhou Zhiqiang: "Sir, Professor Yu from Tsinghua University has brought people here. Director Liu from the factory office has already gone to the factory gate to pick them up and asked me to come and tell you."

"They're already here? Okay, I'll come down right away."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang put down his work and followed Zhang Yaoguo downstairs.

When they arrived, Director Liu Aihua happened to lead Professor Yu and the others to the front of the factory office building.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Zhiqiang quickly stepped forward to greet him: "Professor Yu, we've finally waited for you. Are these all the team members?"

"Yes, Team Leader Zhou, let me introduce you."

Professor Yu Hongye smiled and stepped aside, then introduced the people beside him, saying, "This is Professor Lin Yi, this is Professor Yang Kaishan, and this is Teacher Liu Yongqiang."
The others were all third- or fourth-year students from their respective departments, assigned here for practical learning.

Seven professors and advisors came, which shows how much Tsinghua University values ​​the CNC machine tool project team; if there were more people, their department's normal teaching tasks would be somewhat difficult, after all, there are still many students who have not yet graduated.

"Welcome everyone, I am Zhou Zhiqiang from the Second Machine Tool Plant, and I am also the head of the CNC machine tool project team."

Zhou Zhiqiang introduced Director Liu, saying, "This is Director Liu Aihua from the office of the Second Machine Tool Plant. If you have any needs in the plant, please contact Director Liu."

Director Liu, is the office space ready?

Director Liu quickly replied, "Everything is ready, Factory Manager. I'll take you there right away."

Zhou Zhiqiang turned to Professor Yu and asked, "Professor Yu, let's settle down first. The factory has arranged a place for you to rest, but it's under renovation."

"We can have someone take you there in two days, and also check on the food situation at the factory. We can start research and development after we understand all of this?"

Professor Yu readily agreed, "Okay, then I'll do as you say, Team Leader Zhou."

Then Zhou Zhiqiang led Professor Yu and his group to the office that Director Liu had prepared for the project team in the factory.

There are four rooms connected together, which were specially cleared out for the CNC machine tool project team; and since they are at the end of the corridor, no one usually comes to disturb them.

The room is fully equipped with tables, chairs, bookshelves, and other office supplies. If anything is still missing, Director Liu will arrange it immediately.

The people Professor Yu brought only needed three of the offices; the last office was used by the CNC machine tool project team for meetings.

Zhou Zhiqiang stipulated that a seminar be held here once a week. Director Liu also distributed pre-made meal tickets to Professor Yu and the others, one month's worth to each person.

From now on, meals will be provided by the kitchen canteen using meal tickets.

Originally, only two meals were provided for other workers, but if the CNC machine tool project team arrived early, they could also buy breakfast at the canteen window, so a special breakfast window was opened for them.

This also takes into account that they might live near the factory and come to work there early in the morning before the factory has started operations.

After Director Liu finished explaining the arrangements, Zhou Zhiqiang asked Yu Hongye, "Professor Yu, is this arrangement acceptable?"

"That's so thoughtful, Team Leader Zhou."

Professor Yu shook his head and said, "If we don't produce any research results, we'll feel like we're not worthy of this treatment."

Other professors and teachers from various departments nodded in agreement, saying that this was great for them and that it put some pressure on them.

They've taken care of our food and lodging, and we can just ask for whatever we need. If we don't achieve any results in the end, how can we live up to the efforts of the Second Machine Tool Plant?

"Hehe, don't put too much pressure on yourself, Professor Yu, and the other teachers and students."

Zhou Zhiqiang reassured them, "We already have experience manufacturing CNC machine tools. This is just a matter of modification and optimization. The difficulty lies with the CNC system team, but I believe you will succeed."

(End of this chapter)