The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 208 Attending a Meeting at a Ministry

"You must be Comrade Yuting's husband. Congratulations, mother and daughter are safe and sound."

After the doctor who delivered the baby came out, he said directly to Zhou Zhiqiang, "After you are taken back to the delivery room, your family can take care of him. He will be observed in the hospital for a day. If there are no problems, he can be taken home."

In this era, even if ordinary families come to the hospital to give birth, they will leave on the same day, and at most rest for half a day to recover.

A hospital stay isn't cheap. If you're not a worker's family member or if the factory reimburses you, you can only afford to eat five or six kilograms of cornmeal a day.

Furthermore, doctors would not recommend prolonged hospitalization; once the body has recovered, there is no need to continue staying in the hospital.

Not only are they taking up hospital beds, but hospital disinfection isn't very good at this time, and with patients coming and going, who knows if they might spread other diseases.

After Guo Yuting was taken back to her ward, Zhou Zhiqiang and Mei Xiuxue followed her.

Before the two could speak, Guo Yuting woke up and immediately asked, "Where's the baby?"

"Your daughter is being taken care of by the doctor, so don't worry. Are you hungry now? Would you like something to eat?"

After talking about his daughter, Zhou Zhiqiang asked about his wife's condition, and then continued, "Mom just brought me some mushroom and chicken soup, but I haven't had a chance to drink it yet."

Guo Yuting said, "Then let's eat together, I'm a little hungry."

Mei Xiuxue, who was standing nearby, said, "She's been pregnant for almost a day, how could she not be hungry? Zhiqiang, don't worry about her, I'll feed her, you eat first."

After being helped to sit up, Guo Yuting suddenly remembered the situation at home and asked, "Mom, what will happen to the family now that you're here? Who will take care of Chenghua and Bocai?"

"With Comrade Mao Pingping here, don't worry. Once you recover quickly, you can go home and take care of Bo Cai."

Zhou Zhiqiang was a little hungry after waiting all night, and he hadn't eaten when he was called over yesterday.

Now, with the mushroom and chicken soup, I quickly finished the two steamed buns.

After he finished eating, Guo Yuting had also almost finished eating. Having just given birth, she didn't eat much and only ate a few bites before losing her appetite.

"Zhiqiang, is your work at the factory alright?"

"It's okay, I can take two days off. They don't really need me right now."

Zhou Zhiqiang comforted him, saying, "Don't worry about me. You're the most important person at home right now."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a nurse from the Second Hospital brought the baby over; after examination, the child was perfectly healthy and there were no problems.

After handing the child over to Mei Xiuxue, the nurse added, "Guo Yuting's family, you should go and pay the money."

You only need to pay for one day's stay; doctors usually won't make you stay for two days. Remember to keep the receipt; you can give it directly to the factory for reimbursement later.

"By the way, new mothers will receive two ounces of brown sugar and one pound of eggs. Remember to pick them up from your workplace after you leave the hospital."

They reminded all the workers' families that this was their responsibility; otherwise, a day in the hospital would cost 80 cents, which most families simply couldn't afford.

"Mom, Yuting, I'll go pay the money first."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he followed the nurse to the front desk to pay the bill.

After everyone left, Mei Xiuxue brought the child to Guo Yuting's side and said, "Here, take a look at your daughter. She looks quite like you when you were little..."

"How could you tell that the skin is wrinkled like that?"

After glancing at the child, Guo Yuting took the child into her arms and continued, "You should at least wait until the child is a little older before saying that."

Have you decided on a name for the baby?

"I've already decided. If it's a girl, we'll name her Zhou Caiwen. Zhiqiang chose the name by looking it up in the dictionary."

Mei Xiuxue nodded after hearing this. She had originally wanted to ask her daughter if Zhou Zhiqiang would have any opinion on this, since most people nowadays value boys more.

However, seeing Guo Yuting like this, Mei Xiuxue knew that she was overthinking things; she didn't need to worry about the couple's affairs at all.

When Zhou Zhiqiang paid the money, he also used the hospital's phone to call the Second Machine Tool Factory and asked Secretary Li for a day off so he could go back to work the next day.

Secretary Li also learned this morning that Zhou Zhiqiang had gone home early last night because his wife was giving birth, so he immediately approved his leave request.

After making the phone call and paying the bill, Zhou Zhiqiang returned to his ward.

By the afternoon, Guo Yuting felt that she had almost recovered, so she left the hospital to go home and rest.

She has more than ten days of maternity leave after giving birth, so she can rest at home until she is fully recovered before going back.

When we got home, I tidied up a bit and then put my daughter in the crib. It was the one Zhou Bo had used before, and now it was my daughter's turn.

"Zhiqiang, you've worked hard. Have some water."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished his work, Guo Yuting handed him a glass of water and then asked, "How many days off did you take?"

"Just one day. I'll stay home today, and I have to go back to the factory tomorrow."

Zhou Zhiqiang was quite worried about the deviation of the CNC machine tool. If the deviation of ten micrometers could not be resolved, then this CNC machine tool could only do low-end processing in the future. However, it could definitely be resolved, but it would take time to troubleshoot the deviation.

If he goes, he might be able to shorten the investigation time.

Once the CNC machine tool is successfully developed, Zhou Zhiqiang will be able to relax for a while and get off work regular hours for half a month.

"When are you going on that business trip? You don't even know where you're going yet?"

Guo Yuting paused for a moment before continuing, "The two places you mentioned last time are quite far apart. I wanted to prepare clothes for you in advance, but I'm a little worried that I might make a mistake."

"No rush. I estimate I'll stay in Beijing for at least another month. I'll call and ask tomorrow."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he thought for a moment. Deputy Leader Wu said he would send someone to investigate, but it had been almost a month, and there should be news by now.

"Actually, clothes don't matter, just bring a couple of outfits."

Zhou Zhiqiang is in such good physical condition that he rarely gets sick. He didn't feel cold at all throughout the winter, and if he really needs clothes, the Ministry of Machine Building will definitely provide them for him.

After hearing this, Guo Yuting didn't say anything more, and then she followed Zhou Zhiqiang to tidy up the house.

Since their daughter was just born, she will definitely be living with Zhou Zhiqiang and his wife. The room they are currently living in is not small.

After tidying up the house, Zhou Zhiqiang went out to buy some things.

So many people heard about the birth of his child yesterday, so prepare some candy to give to everyone and share in the joy.

------

The day off I took was quickly used up.

The next morning, Zhou Zhiqiang took a car to the Second Machine Tool Factory.

I had just sat down in my office when the phone rang.

"Second Machine Tool Factory, oh, leader, what can I do for you?"

On the other end of the phone, Deputy Leader Wu said, "The two inspection teams have returned, and the ministry will also discuss and come to the meeting today. You should also come to the meeting."

"Will you have time at 2 PM?"

"I'll have to squeeze in some time even if I don't have any. I'll definitely be there on time at 2 PM." Zhou Zhiqiang had originally planned to resolve the CNC machine tool issue today, but now half of his time is going to be taken away.

However, the information on the selected factories for the development of heavy machine tools has been almost completed, and the project team is about to start.

However, the CNC machine tools in the factory have not yet undergone long-term working tests. If any problems arise during long-term working tests, Zhou Zhiqiang will have to step in to solve them.

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang took his briefcase and walked outside.

Just as he was leaving, Zhang Yaoguo walked over with some documents. Seeing Zhou Zhiqiang come out, Zhang Yaoguo said, "Factory Manager, these are documents from the Quality Inspection Department. You need to sign them."

Zhou Zhiqiang took it, glanced at it, and then said, "Put it in my office for now, I'll take a closer look when I get back. Oh right, my daughter was born yesterday, here, share in the joy."

After saying that, Zhou Zhiqiang took out a few candies from his briefcase and gave them to Zhang Yaoguo.

He didn't buy much candy, but he had fruit candy, coffee candy, and milk candy, totaling a little over three pounds. He would give some to whoever he met.

After receiving the candy, Zhang Yaoguo smiled and said, "Factory Director, congratulations! You now have both a son and a daughter. Your future is bright."

"Haha, you too, try to hold your big, chubby son soon."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he walked towards the precision workshop.

The precision workshop was already bustling with activity, and everyone had arrived earlier than Zhou Zhiqiang.

"Good morning, factory manager."

"Team Leader Zhou, you've arrived."

Upon seeing Zhou Zhiqiang arrive, everyone in the workshop greeted him.

Zhou Zhiqiang took out the candy from his briefcase and handed it to someone next to him, saying, "Xiao Yu, please distribute this at noon. My daughter was born yesterday, so let's all share in the joy."

"Hey, congratulations, factory manager! Now you have both a son and a daughter!"

"Congratulations, factory manager, on the birth of your beautiful daughter."

"Congratulations, Factory Director Zhou."

Having worked with Zhou Zhiqiang for a while, I learned that he has a son who is now four years old.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang looks very young, and he is indeed very young, so many people don't realize he has a son, and that's why they inquire about him.

It was only after asking that I learned that Zhou Zhiqiang's son was already four years old, and now he had a daughter.

After giving him the candy, Zhou Zhiqiang went to the CNC machine tool and asked, "Professor Yu, how's the positioning deviation problem?"

"As you said, the drive wheel has been adjusted, and it's being assembled now. I don't know if it will work."

Professor Yu tilted his head and said that several technicians were reassembling the machine tool, and it seemed that the drive wheel had been corrected yesterday.

CNC machine tools are extremely precise, with complex servo linkages and CNC systems, so they must be operated by technicians who have a special understanding of CNC machine tools.

"If it's not a problem with the drive wheel, then it must be something else. A deviation in the CNC system?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang shook his head and said, "It shouldn't be. The test results should fluctuate from the expected values, but this didn't happen at all during the test. Let's check again later."

Assembling these CNC machine tools is quite troublesome; this whole building won't be finished until at least noon.

Before this, the CNC project team could relax for a while.

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't go anywhere in the morning; he stayed in the precision workshop to oversee production. The factory was busy with production, and the most important thing was the CNC machine tool project.

There's no need to rush the documents submitted by the quality inspection department; just get them approved before the end of the month, before the machine tools are transported away.

Zhou Zhiqiang had no doubt about the success of the CNC machine tool; it was ready to perform machining operations, and the next step was to make minor adjustments.

The conversation with Professor Yu mostly revolved around servo linkage in the school, and they planned to incorporate these concepts into their teaching. However, they also wanted to invite Zhou Zhiqiang to give a presentation.

But Zhou Zhiqiang refused without even thinking about it. If he had the time, he would definitely give Professor Yu that face.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang still has a lot to do. He can barely take care of things at the factory, let alone go to Tsinghua University for classes.

After Zhou Zhiqiang briefly revealed to Professor Yu that he would be away on a business trip for a long time in the second half of the year, Professor Yu quickly understood and stopped talking about it.

When it was lunchtime, the CNC machine tool was still not assembled, so Zhou Zhiqiang had to go eat first and then leave the task of restarting the test after it was assembled to Professor Yu.

After finishing his meal and resting for a while at the factory, Zhou Zhiqiang asked his driver to take him to the Ministry of Machine Building.

Arrived at the ministry.

After getting out of the car, Zhou Zhiqiang walked upstairs, but before he reached Vice Leader Wu's office, he was stopped by his assistant.

"Director Zhou, the leader asked me to pick you up. Once you arrive, I will take you directly to the conference room."

"Then I'm sorry to trouble you."

Zhou Zhiqiang then followed Wu's assistant toward the conference room.

After pushing open the door, Zhou Zhiqiang saw Shen Changlin and Engineer Lin, who had worked together on the large hydraulic press project last time. They were old acquaintances.

Zhou Zhiqiang greeted them, "Dean Shen, Engineer Lin, it's been a long time."

"Comrade Zhiqiang."

Shen Changlin turned around and saw that it was Zhou Zhiqiang. He immediately stood up happily and said with a smile, "It's been a long time. It must have been more than a year since the large hydraulic press project, right?"

"It was exactly two years. After that, I went to the Second Machine Tool Plant, which was around two years ago."

After shaking hands with Shen Changlin, Zhou Zhiqiang greeted Engineer Lin, saying, "Engineer Lin, it's been a long time. Have some wedding candy. My daughter was born yesterday, so I'm sharing in the joy."

"Oh, congratulations, Comrade Zhiqiang."

Shen Changlin and Engineer Lin offered their congratulations and then accepted the wedding candies.

Even if they don't eat candy, they can't refuse wedding candy, as it's considered a blessing. If they don't eat it themselves, they can take it back for their families.

The three sat down and started chatting. They all knew what the mission was, and now they were just waiting for the final decision after the discussion.

Shen Changlin also asked about the CNC machine tool, and Zhou Zhiqiang told him that it was in the final stages and that it could be put into mass production as soon as it passed a long period of working tests.

Once CNC machine tools are developed, they will essentially have a level 7 or 8 worker who never rests, enabling continuous processing and production day and night, and the standardization of parts will also be higher.

creak!

While the group was chatting, the meeting room door suddenly opened, and then Deputy Leader Wu and Deputy Director Liu walked in.

"You've all arrived quite early. Zhiqiang, how's the CNC machine tool project coming along?"

Deputy Leader Wu said with a smile, "In two more months it will be fifteen months. If you haven't produced it by then, you'll lose to me."

Zhou Zhiqiang chuckled and said, "Boss, you'd better prepare some cigarettes and tea for me. The CNC machine tool started operating a few days ago, and we're currently checking for positioning deviations."

(End of this chapter)