The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 189 Returning to the Factory to Host the Reception
Before leaving, Zhou Zhiqiang swiped a packet of tea from Deputy Leader Wu, and then had his driver take him back to Factory 190.

The tea supplied to high-ranking officials is very fragrant, and the tea leaves remain intact after brewing. It's a pity that Zhou Zhiqiang is one rank below him, otherwise he could also receive the special supply.

He was just one rank away from becoming a senior official.

But there's no rush. He's only in his early twenties, and he has a long life ahead of him. Let's win over Vice Leader Wu's share of the past year first.

After returning to the factory, Zhou Zhiqiang tidied up his lunchbox and then went to the technical department.

Seeing Zhou Zhiqiang return, Zhao Chenghui asked curiously, "Comrade Zhiqiang, what's the matter that you're in such a hurry? Is it something about the other groups?"

"No, it's something that happens in our factory, but it's also somewhat related to the CNC machine tool project team."

Zhou Zhiqiang realized that Petrov's plan was to spy on the CNC machine tool project, and the core team for CNC machine tools was located in Factory 190. So he said to Zhao Chenghui and the others...
"The chief engineer from the Russian side who initially assisted in the construction of the Liaoyang No. 1 Machine Tool Plant was Petrov. He knew about our CNC machine tool project, so under the guise of purchasing machine tools and visiting the production line, he wanted to find out about the No. 2 Machine Tool Plant."
My supervisor asked me to go back and make arrangements; I'll be in charge of dealing with the Russians. I was the one who hosted Petrov last time, so I was chosen again this time.

After listening, Zhao Chenghui clicked his tongue and said, "These people have never considered us as comrades. They've been eyeing this land since ancient times."

Another technician in the technical department asked curiously, "Deputy Factory Director Zhao, didn't you go to Russia for learning and exchange?"

A few years ago, not only did China send college students to study in Moscow, but some engineers also went there to learn the technology and processes in the Russian factories. Zhao Chenghui was one of them.

"Engineer Lin has also been to Moscow. You asked her if she has a good impression of the Russians?"

Zhao Chenghui gestured with his chin and said, "Engineer Lin is the head of the technical department and has also been sent to Russia."

Seeing that everyone in the technical department was looking at him, Engineer Lin had no choice but to say, "It's just as Comrade Chenghui said. Don't have any biases against the Russians. After dealing with them, you'll realize that they've always been on guard against us."

But don't say anything more about it afterward. Once you leave this office, none of you should mention what happened today.

They are just technical researchers. Their job is to develop technologies and processes to build the country. Other people are none of their business, and Engineer Lin doesn't want to get involved either.

"Yes, don't talk about this matter or the project anymore. Don't tell anyone except Factory 190."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he turned to Zhao Chenghui and said, "Comrade Chenghui, I'm entrusting you with the experimental results report for the next two days. I need to go back to the factory immediately."

Zhao Chenghui immediately said, "Go ahead, Team Leader Zhou. I'll call you after the report is finished."

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't delay and quickly had the driver from Factory 190 take him back to the Second Machine Tool Factory.

When Zhou Zhiqiang arrived at the factory, it was almost time to leave work, but things weren't arranged properly, so he didn't leave on time.

Moreover, the current "standard closing time" at the Second Machine Tool Plant is 9:30 PM, which is not explicitly stipulated by the factory or the state.

It's just that the production tasks require the factory workers to work for so long, and the workers are all willing to contribute to the factory.

With such a massive production task looming over them, all departments of the Second Machine Tool Plant were busy.

While workers are producing on the front lines, logistics support is needed to ensure the supply of materials, and the propaganda department is responsible for comforting the workers' families and organizing film screenings for their entertainment from time to time.

The trade union is responsible for solving the difficulties of workers' families, while the women's federation encourages women in the family to contribute their labor. Every department contributes its manpower and effort, and sometimes they are still working overtime to clean up after the front-line workers have finished their shifts.

Of course, manual labor is certainly not as demanding as front-line production workers, that's for sure.

"Yaoguo, go and inform Deputy Factory Director Liu, the head of the Security Department on duty today, and Professor Yu from the CNC project team to come to my office."

After Zhou Zhiqiang returned, he asked Zhang Yaoguo to invite people to his office for a meeting. Everyone related to the visit of the Russian bear to the factory should be invited.

The CNC machine tool project team is essential. Although the servo motor driven parts have not yet started manufacturing, Professor Yu's team often manufactures simulated parts models in the precision workshop.

If Petrov sees this, he might discover something, so the precision workshop must never be opened to the public.

"Director."

Deputy Factory Director Liu was the first to arrive. He was handling factory affairs in his office when he received the notification and came over.

"Comrade Wenzhou, wait a moment. I've notified quite a few people. I'll talk to them all at once once they've all arrived."

Zhou Zhiqiang pointed to the kettle and said, "If you want to drink water, pour it yourself."

Liu Wenzhou waved his hand and said, "No need for water, I'll wait a while."

Shortly after, Chen Weiguo and Zhao Wenshan, deputy section chiefs of the security department, Professor Yu Hongye, and Director Liu from the factory office arrived.

Zhou Zhiqiang told Zhang Yaoguo to close the door before speaking to them: "The ministry informed me this afternoon that the Russians who visited our factory last time are coming again."

Deputy Factory Director Liu and Professor Yu may not know, but the order for high-precision coordinate boring machines that our factory exported to Russia was placed during that visit.”

"However, their purpose in coming here this time is not pure. They learned from a leaker that our factory is developing CNC machine tools, so they wanted to come and take a look, but in fact they just wanted to gather information."

After a pause, Zhou Zhiqiang continued, "So we need to be prepared tomorrow. Professor Yu, you should go back to your offices for a few days and don't let anyone in."

The precision workshop is temporarily locked. We'll reopen it whenever they leave.

Upon hearing this, Professor Yu immediately replied, "Okay, I'll make the arrangements right away. But Team Leader Zhou, are Mao Xiong and the others coming tomorrow?"

"Yes, that's really rude. They treat our factory like a park, coming and going as they please."

Zhou Zhiqiang was also furious about this, but the Russians were now particularly clamorous, their words implying that they didn't need any aid if they didn't agree. The key point was that the people they were supposed to help were now refusing to work. They weren't doing the work, yet they were enjoying the same benefits as the aid workers, all of whom had been squeezed out from other places.

When Deputy Leader Wu talked about this matter, he also disapproved of the Russians, but as a deputy leader of the Ministry of Machine Building, he had many things to consider. At the very least, he couldn't let the Russians find an excuse to make trouble.

The task that Deputy Leader Wu gave to Zhou Zhiqiang was to make them suffer in silence.

It's a bit difficult to complete; Petrov is not someone you can fool.

"Deputy Section Chief Chen, Deputy Section Chief Zhao, please arrange the factory's security patrols tomorrow. Place more people near the confidential workshop; no one is allowed to approach."

"Don't worry, factory manager."

Chen Weiguo and Zhao Wenshan both agreed.

"Didn't Section Chief Kong come today?"

Zhou Zhiqiang asked, since it wasn't time to leave work yet. He was assigning tasks, but only managed to call in two deputy section chiefs.

After hearing this, Chen Weiguo and Zhao Wenshan exchanged a glance, and then Chen Weiguo spoke up: "Section Chief Kong... took the afternoon off. It seems someone came to see him."

"Why didn't I receive a leave slip? Who did he ask for leave from? Deputy Factory Director Liu, do you know him?"

"unclear"

Liu Wenzhou shook his head decisively and said that he was only responsible for production management, and other cadres would take care of the rest.

Zhao Wenshan said, "It seems he asked Secretary Li for leave."

Zhou Zhiqiang frowned upon hearing this, but he didn't dwell on the matter at this point, since the other person wasn't around. However, he still said to Zhao Wenshan, "When he comes back tomorrow, have him come find me."

After discussing the confidentiality issues related to patrolling the precision workshop, Zhou Zhiqiang spoke with Liu Aihua from the factory office about the hospitality arrangements for tomorrow.

Just like last time, there's not much to say. Just don't let the Russians use this as an excuse to cause trouble.

------

the next morning.

Zhou Zhiqiang was in the CNC machine tool project team office discussing with Professor Yu and others how to solve the coordination problem between the servo unit and the mechanical platform.

Zhang Yaoguo then ran over to inform him that the people from his department and Mao Xiong had arrived.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang had no choice but to put down his task and go out to greet them.

However, this time the personnel were different; apart from Petrov, none of the others were the technical experts who had come with the previous group.

It wasn't Deputy Director Liu who accompanied Petrov; it was a director from the Machine Tool Management Department. Zhou Zhiqiang had chatted with this Director Fang a few times when he went to a meeting at the ministry.

While accompanying Petrov on a tour of the production line at the factory, Zhou Zhiqiang secretly inquired with Director Fang and learned some information.

Many of the Russian technical experts have already planned to return home and are preparing to leave by train.

However, no replacement has been sent yet, which puzzled Director Fang. Usually, he was in charge of the technical staff's coordination, and after Mao Xiong sent people back, he would arrange for someone else to take over.

But now that person is gone, just gone, without any assigned technical experts. Director Fang went to inquire, but there was no news.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang had some guesses in his mind: the Russians were most likely going to withdraw their troops.

The technical experts who recently returned may be posing a further threat to their country: 'If you don't back down, I'm really going to withdraw all my technical experts. Without us, you're just a poor, backward agricultural country.'

The Russians probably wanted to convey this attitude, but they probably didn't expect that the people in China would be even tougher than they imagined.

By making a complete break, not only can they not need assistance, but they can also repay the loan in advance, even if they have to tighten their belts to pay off their debts.

The subsequent escalation of tensions, and even the possibility of it gradually escalating into war, was also due to the attitude within the country.

The Russian bear has always wanted to suppress them to the status of a second or satellite state, and now that relations have broken down, it seems to be acting somewhat resentfully.

This was Zhou Zhiqiang's deduction based on the information he had received and his understanding of what would happen afterward, while Director Fang knew nothing about it.

The newly appointed director of the Machine Tool Administration Bureau knows some of the details.

Zhou Zhiqiang knew that one was of a high rank, and the other was that he had made numerous meritorious contributions and participated in major national engineering projects.

He himself was a second-generation red, with a red family background, so Deputy Leader Wu often took care of Zhou Zhiqiang.

Sometimes, Deputy Leader Wu would reveal information that Zhou Zhiqiang shouldn't know, and then instruct Zhou Zhiqiang not to leak it.

Deputy Leader Wu is optimistic about Zhou Zhiqiang's future. He is proficient in technology, understands industrial development, and is good at interpersonal relationships. He will definitely become a cadre in the Ministry of Machinery Industry who can regulate the macro-development of industry.

She could even take his place.

(End of this chapter)