The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 213 The Deputy Factory Director Who Shouldn't Have Been Sent
"Zhiqiang, bring another scarf. It's very cold in Liaoyang. I heard it snows even in summer. Don't get cold when you go."

As Guo Yuting spoke, she stuffed a scarf into the backpack that Zhou Zhiqiang was going to take.

"Who told you that? Summer might not be that hot, but it's not that cold either."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he walked over and immediately found that his backpack was stuffed full, just like when he was moving house.

"Yuting, you've packed way too much stuff. Just bring two sets of warm clothes and some daily necessities. What have you packed for me?"

Guo Yuting casually said, "It's nothing, just two more pairs of shoes, two cans of tea, and a box of candy. You often stay up late at night, so eat a piece when you're hungry."

I also brought you some dried meat; it seems they can store it there. I also brought two pairs of gloves.

After hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang quickly said, "Yuting, take out all the food you have. You don't need to bring so much."

The place we're going to this time has much better conditions than our factory; they definitely won't treat us badly.

The Northeast is the most economically developed region and one of the most resource-rich regions in the country; the treatment at the Liaoyang No. 1 Heavy Machinery Plant is much better than at their factory, and even when it comes to purchasing unplanned materials, it's more convenient than at the No. 2 Machine Tool Plant.

Zhou Zhiqiang felt that he had packed too much stuff and there was nowhere to put it on the train; it would definitely take up two berths.

“What do you mean by too much? You’re so strong, you can lift a whole water vat. This isn’t even as heavy as the water vat.”

Guo Yuting was unhappy that her husband said she didn't need the things she had worked so hard to prepare, so she said firmly, "It's not much. Just take what I packed for you, and it's all durable. Don't complain."

His wife went to great lengths to worry about him getting cold or hungry, and he didn't even appreciate it.

Guo Yuting muttered to herself, even her bandage packing became perfunctory, and she was somewhat unhappy.

Zhou Zhiqiang noticed his wife's displeasure and said with a smile, "I was thinking of bringing you a gift when I came back, but now I've packed too much and there's not enough left. I didn't expect you to misunderstand. It's my fault."

"You don't need to bring any gifts, just come back soon."

Upon hearing this, Guo Yuting's displeasure vanished instantly.

"Don't wait until your daughter can talk before you come back, by then she'll be calling you uncle again."

"That's impossible, there's always a holiday for the New Year. If it really doesn't work, I'll buy you tickets, and you can go to Liaoyang for a visit?"

Zhou Zhiqiang suddenly remembered that it seemed that people couldn't go back home until major engineering projects were completed, and he wondered if it was the same during the Spring Festival.

If he can't go back home for the Chinese New Year, then Zhou Zhiqiang has no other options.

However, the development of heavy machine tools is not difficult. Zhou Zhiqiang has been preparing for this period of time. The most difficult part is the rotation and servo linkage of the CNC system. Even the CNC system has to be redesigned.

He has already told Deputy Leader Wu that this time they may still need the assistance of Factory 190, and it would be even better if they could call in a few people from the Computer Research Institute.

The long-term machining operation test of the CNC machine tools in the factory is nearing its end.

There have been no problems for two consecutive months. Although there are still more than 100 hours to go, based on the current testing status, it has fully met the requirements for long-term processing operations.

Mass production can only begin next year.

Currently, Zhou Zhiqiang can only spare one precision workshop in the Second Machine Tool Plant to produce CNC machine tools.

A single precision workshop can operate on a three-shift system, with people resting while the machinery continues to operate, and can produce approximately eight CNC machine tools per month.

The First Machine Tool Plant cannot be relied upon for the time being. They not only need to learn the technology and production processes, but also need to build new workshops. It will probably be three months before they can start production.

But it was already August, and the task set by Deputy Leader Wu of the Ministry was to produce thirty units by the end of September. The main production force would probably still be their Second Machine Tool Plant.

Of these thirty CNC machine tools, about three are being sent to the Canton Fair in the fall. Foreigners visiting China will see that their countries have such high-performance CNC machine tools.

They will definitely recognize China's industrial strength and scientific research capabilities, and they will also realize that simple blockades are useless.

If blockades don't work, then Western countries might have to try some other methods.

Coupled with the hostile factors from the Russian bear, it might open up a new diplomatic situation.

Other machine tools may be supplied to military factories that produce defense weapons; CNC machine tools offer stable machining accuracy and high production efficiency.

Ten CNC machine tools can replace more than a hundred senior technicians, and require very little manual operation, which can greatly enhance national defense capabilities.

"It's okay if you can't come back. I'll send you a few more photos so your daughter can recognize me."

Zhou Zhiqiang was also worried that the construction project wouldn't release people ahead of schedule, so he added a caveat.

"I can't even go to see you anymore."

Guo Yuting sighed, but she knew there was nothing she could do. She then changed the subject: "Chenghua will be going to school soon. Bocai has been arguing for days about going to school too after he heard the news a few days ago."

“It’s definitely not going to work out this year. He just hasn’t settled down yet. Let him try going to school next year.”

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Let Bo Cai go play with Tian Dong's child. They're about the same age anyway."

Zhou Bo is only five years old (by Chinese reckoning). Sometimes he stays quiet for a while, but then he becomes noisy and disruptive. He will probably be sent back to school by the teacher after only a few days.

Moreover, their family isn't in a hurry to send their child to school; it's okay if it's a year or two later.

This period was one of the few times Zhou Zhiqiang had a break. His daily work consisted of CNC machine tools and production at the factory, while he spent his free time researching and developing heavy-duty machine tools.

We will make some research and development plans in advance so that we can start working quickly after arriving at Liaoyang No. 1 Heavy Machinery Plant.

I usually finish get off work and go home around 6:30 in the evening, with Deputy Factory Director Liu helping to keep an eye on things at the factory.

Liu Wenzhou also knew that Zhou Zhiqiang would soon be going to participate in an important engineering project, so he had no objection to Zhou Zhiqiang going home early.

I'm going to be away from home for almost a year and a half, so what's wrong with going home early to spend time with my family? It's perfectly reasonable!

Zhou Zhiqiang chatted with Guo Yuting in the room for a short while before being kicked out again; it seemed that Guo Yuting was planning to bring him something, so she took out a large cloth bag to pack it for him.

------

Zhonghaiyuan.

A jeep from the Ministry of Machine Building slowly pulled up to the gate. After the security guard checked their identities, he let Leader Sheng and Deputy Leader Wu in. Once inside, Leader Sheng and Deputy Leader Wu went to Leader Zhou's office.

After the assistant reported, Leader Sheng and Deputy Leader Wu went inside.

Upon seeing the two enter, the deputy leader said to them, "You've arrived. I've reviewed your report from last month and your recent inspection. Today, I'd like to discuss this matter with you."

"We'll definitely need to increase CNC machine tool production, but how much money can your department squeeze out?"

The deputy leader set the tone, but his next sentence made both Leader Sheng and Deputy Leader Wu understand the general situation: the China Ocean Institute probably wouldn't support all the investment funds.

"It's around nine million. The investments for the first two quarters of the first half of the year have all been paid out, and the budget for the second half of the year has also been prepared. Nine million is the limit we can squeeze out right now."

Leader Sheng quickly replied that they had made extensive preparations before coming, and could readily answer any questions related to investment and expansion.

The deputy leader nodded and said, "Nine million, so we're still fourteen million short of the expected investment you submitted."

Previously, Director Sheng and Deputy Director Wu had reduced the investment target for Director Ren a bit; they felt that the chances of getting 30 to 40 million were slim.

It's almost the middle of the year, not the beginning of the year, when there were still some projects that could be squeezed in. The worst-case scenario now is to postpone it until next year.

However, that would delay the mass production of CNC machine tools by more than half a year, and after learning about the production efficiency of CNC machine tools, they were unwilling to do so.

“I can approve the 14 million, but it will be paid to you in two installments over three months.”

After pondering for a moment, the deputy leader said, "You should prepare a plan first. After the expansion, there will be more people. Comrade Yongliang also thinks we can add a deputy director to the Second Machine Tool Plant to assist with production management and external communications."

"Deputy Leader Zhao? Why would he be interested in the Second Machine Tool Plant? Didn't he mention it last time?"

"Comrade Jianhui, last time you had different perspectives on the issue, let's not talk about anything else."

After interrupting Sheng Jianhui, the deputy leader continued, "His reasons are very valid. The total number of employees in the main plant and branch plants of the Second Machine Tool Plant has exceeded eight thousand after the expansion."

The annual recruitment quota will then increase to four hundred, and in less than four years it will become a factory with ten thousand employees. For a factory of this size, adding a deputy factory manager is only natural.

Upon hearing this, Leader Sheng and Deputy Leader Wu nodded calmly in agreement.

Although he didn't show it on his face, he didn't think that way in his heart.

Previously, they had been very hostile towards Zhou Zhiqiang, but now they've suggested adding a deputy factory director to help Zhou Zhiqiang—neither of them believes it.

As for the need to add deputy factory managers when there are more people, this is indeed a common practice. In factories with more than 10,000 people, half of them have three deputy factory managers to share the production and other affairs.

Modern factories are essentially 'mini autonomous regions,' where even workers' families are held accountable, and the spirit of workers being the masters of their own destiny is strictly enforced.

Roughly calculated, a factory with tens of thousands of employees may have to take care of fifty to sixty thousand people in the surrounding area. Even if a worker's family member has a problem, they will have to go to the factory first.

"Isn't Comrade Zhiqiang going to the heavy machine tool project? With him gone, will the factory's production be fine?"

"Don't worry, leader. He will definitely arrange things at the factory before he leaves. Besides, Comrade Jianhong and I arranged for Comrade Liu Wenzhou to assist with production management. If there are no unforeseen major events, the production tasks of the Second Machine Tool Plant will definitely not be a problem."

After Leader Sheng finished speaking, Deputy Leader Wu added: "This time, the main issue is to solve the problem of 'having or not having,' with a focus on meeting the demand for heavy machine tools to manufacture submarine propulsion systems and fan blades for large ships."

If we concentrate our efforts on overcoming this challenge, it should be developed in one to two years at the shortest; moreover, given Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang's capabilities, the development time will likely be significantly shortened.

"Why do you say that? Were the engineering projects he led in the past very fast?"

“He has a lot of energy. Once a project starts, Comrade Zhiqiang basically only sleeps four or five hours a day, and spends the rest of his time on research and development.”

Deputy Leader Wu continued, "When we were developing CNC machine tools, Comrade Zhiqiang thought that the low output of semiconductor components at Factory 190 might affect the production efficiency of CNC machine tools."

So after a day's R&D work, they would train technical personnel at Factory 190 until the early hours of the morning, a practice that lasted for nine months.

"To be honest with you, sir, when Comrade Zhiqiang said he would develop a CNC machine tool within fifteen months, I didn't quite believe it. How could such a complex machine tool reach the world's first-class level in fifteen months?"

He challenged me, saying that if I could develop it within fifteen months, he would demand a fifteen-month supply of tea and cigarettes from me. I lost; he only took thirteen and a half months.

The deputy leader chuckled a few times after hearing this. He really didn't know about the bet and never expected to win a fifteen-month supply of cigarettes and tea.

"Judging from this, he really does have the spirit of a workaholic, but even with all that dedication to scientific research, one must take care of their health."

After speaking, the deputy leader pondered for a few seconds before continuing, "I have approved the appointment of a special car and assistant for Comrade Zhiqiang."

Furthermore, during the project, he doesn't need to be completely isolated from the outside world. If problems arise at the Second Machine Tool Plant, he can contact Comrade Zhiqiang without disrupting the project's progress.

Both are quite important; you could say they're both equally precious, with the CNC machine tool even being slightly more important.

"As for the investment and production increase of Factory 190, Comrade Jianhui, you should work with the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building to come up with a reasonable plan, discuss its feasibility, compile it into a report, and then submit it to me."

Sheng Jianhui immediately replied, "I understand, sir."

After discussing some details, the deputy leader then mentioned other matters concerning the Ministry of Machine Building before Sheng Jianhui and Wu Jianhong took their leave.

Deputy leaders have many things to do every day, and once they have finished speaking, they should not be disturbed.

------

on the way back.

While still in the car, Leader Sheng couldn't help but ask, "Comrade Jianhong, Zhao Yongliang, he..."

"Cough cough."

Wu Jianhong coughed twice, then said soothingly, "Forget it, you're so old and still have a temper. Didn't you see that the deputy leader agreed?"

Moreover, it's reasonable for a factory with 10,000 employees to have three deputy factory directors, and his suggestion is indeed reasonable, although it's a bit obvious.

The Second Machine Tool Plant is currently developing like a powerful dragon in the heavy industry sector. After the news of its CNC machine tools spread, everyone could see that it was poised for takeoff.

Even before CNC machine tools were available, the Second Machine Tool Plant achieved the top spot in foreign exchange earnings last year; it goes without saying that it did even better after acquiring CNC machine tools.

"Let's see who the people are first. Anyway, the Second Machine Tool Plant is directly under the ministry, so why are you in such a hurry?"

(End of this chapter)