The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 234 Arranging the Selection of Factory Director

"What? Where did this big truck come from?"

Several truck drivers looked surprised upon hearing this, and then exchanged glances; weren't all the truck drivers in the factory here? Besides them, who else could drive a truck?

However, Master Ma ignored them, took his things, and left.

Upon hearing this news, Captain Niu and his group became quite uneasy.

"Captain, should we go take a look?"

One of the drivers suggested that if truck drivers were to replace them, wouldn't their coordinated efforts be awkward?

Moreover, the initial penalty was imposed on Captain Niu and his group of eight. The other truck drivers only joined the strike and refused to transport goods because they didn't want to offend Captain Niu and his group.

They thought to themselves that the factory wouldn't punish them, the truck drivers, too severely, since drivers are scarce these days and they not only need to learn to drive, but also to repair vehicles.

As the saying goes, three parts driving and seven parts repair, these days large trucks often have problems, so drivers need to know how to fix them.

Therefore, there are very few drivers who can actually drive long distances, and the factory's transportation is usually quite strained. Does the factory manager really think he can stop them from working?
They only dared to gather together because they thought the factory wouldn't punish them.

I didn't expect there to be other truck drivers in the factory so quickly.

"Go and see."

Captain Niu said with a grim expression, "I don't believe that with so many truck drivers, other factories would stop working."

After saying that, the group headed towards the warehouse in a small group.

As soon as they arrived near the warehouse, Captain Niu and his group saw seven or eight large trucks waiting to load and disassemble CNC machine tool parts.

These large trucks clearly didn't belong to their factory, and what really worried these drivers was that the factory had actually found other drivers.

"Brother Niu, what do we do now? Are we really out of work?"

A truck driver asked in a panic, "No work means no subsidies. If it were just no subsidies, that would be one thing, but the drivers' wages aren't low."

But they were afraid the factory would reassign them to other positions!

If someone suggests a job transfer, they'll definitely scoff. Do they really think workers' rights are just for show? They'll just let them transfer jobs at will.

But it was Zhou Zhiqiang who said this, daring to say at a meeting of leading cadres, in front of the union director, that he would transfer them to different positions, and the union director didn't say anything.

No wonder they're worried.

The driver's salary can support a large family, but the boiler operator's salary can't support that many people in his family.

"Don't worry, go and ask what happened."

Captain Niu was also extremely flustered, but he still tried his best to remain calm and said.

Then he happened to see the deputy head of the dispatching department directing the porters to load and unload parts of the CNC machine tool, so he went up to him and said, "Old Xu."

The deputy head of the dispatching department turned around and saw that it was Captain Niu. He said, "It's you, Captain Niu."
"Well, I know what you want to ask. Let me just tell you directly, this is the transport team from the First Machine Tool Plant. They'll be handling all the transport for our plant for the next four days."

"Old Xu, is this in accordance with the rules? We're having people from other factories handle our factory's transportation tasks?"

Upon hearing this, Captain Niu said anxiously, "Is Zhou Zhiqiang determined to ruin our transportation team? I'm going to report him to the union! I'm going to report him to the ministry!"

"Come on, Captain Niu. The factory director said it right in front of the union chairman. Did the union chairman even say anything?"

The deputy head of the dispatching department spoke up, feeling in his heart that this Captain Niu was truly a stupid ox, still going against Director Zhou.

With just a few phone calls from Factory Director Zhou, he got the transport fleets from three factories to come and help. And this wasn't even Factory Director Zhou's fault, so what grounds do you have to sue him?

"Captain Niu, let me tell you, these past few days it's the First Machine Tool Plant's transport team, in a few days there's the Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Plant's transport team, and then the Second Steel Rolling Mill's transport team."
"You guys, if you make a mistake, just honestly admit it. Look at Section Chief Tang, he honestly got a major demerit, and he's still a section chief. What are you arguing with Factory Director Zhou about?"

The deputy head of the dispatching department shook his head and said, "When Director Zhou was still the deputy director, he was in charge of the entire factory, and the workers in the factory were so supportive of him."

Besides, this time it was Captain Niu who had no grounds to stand. If you really go to the ministry to complain, you might end up getting yourself implicated.

"Captain Niu, you guys go ahead with your work. I still have a batch of goods to check the inventory list."

After saying this, the deputy head of the dispatching department ignored Captain Niu. He had only spoken to him so much out of consideration for their past relationship.

If he were to offer them further advice, wouldn't that make it seem like he was offending the factory manager?

Seeing that the deputy head of the dispatching department was ignoring them, Captain Niu and his group panicked, especially the drivers who hadn't occupied the staff dormitory but were still following Captain Niu on strike. They hurriedly asked...

"Captain Niu, what do we do now? There are other truck drivers at the factory, what should we do?"

"We're not really going to be transferred to clean toilets, are we? Captain Niu, that salary won't be enough to support a family. I have elderly parents and young children to take care of."

"That's right, it wasn't my fault that the staff dormitory was occupied back then. If you don't want us to do that, we should apologize to the factory."

Captain Niu was annoyed by what he heard and shouted in a low voice, "What's all the noise about? Why didn't you say anything when you were enjoying the good life with me? Didn't you ever play cards in the dorm?"
I refuse to believe they can keep using truck drivers from other factories. If this really doesn't work, I'm going to see Deputy Factory Director Hou!

Just as Captain Niu and his group were panicking and didn't know what to do, the deputy head of the personnel department also walked towards the warehouse.

Arriving at Captain Niu and his group, he said, "I've been looking for you for ages. It's good that you're all together. Niu Datian, your job transfers have been finalized. Report to the boiler room tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Captain Niu shouted in a panic, "Boiler room, you bastards! You are blatantly persecuting the working class! I'm going to sue you!"

"Go ahead, but the factory is being lenient by not telling anyone about you occupying the staff dormitory."

If you go and file a complaint, the factory will post the whole story on the notice board.

After saying this, the deputy head of the personnel department turned and left, muttering to himself as he walked away, "He's got a dirty job and he's threatening the factory. Go ahead and do it."

If even the union doesn't care, who can they expect to back them up? They haven't even fired you.

dong dong!

"Come in."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, Tian Wenguo from the logistics department pushed open the door and walked in. He then came to Zhou Zhiqiang's desk with a smile and asked, "Factory Director, did you need something from me?"

"Hmm, let me ask you your personal preference. Would you like to go to the branch factory?"

Zhou Zhiqiang put down his pen and, without beating around the bush with Director Tian, ​​said directly to him: "If you go to the branch factory, you will be the factory director, in charge of the general affairs department and the publicity department. I will also serve as the secretary of the CNC branch factory, in charge of technology and production."

"If you're willing, I'll submit your application tomorrow; the head of the dispatching department has already agreed to become the deputy factory director, so think about it."

"Me, become the factory manager?"

Tian Wenguo was stunned. This news was really unexpected for him. He never thought that he would become the factory director one day. Although it was a branch factory, his rank would definitely be promoted one level.

Moreover, his relationship with Factory Director Zhou was initially just so-so, but it gradually improved after he went along with him. Tian Wenguo really didn't expect Zhou Zhiqiang to want him to be the factory director. "Factory Director, this is a bit sudden for me. Can I go back and think about it?"

"I'll consider it here. I'll submit the list after it's finalized today. If you're not willing, I'll call the next one."

Zhou Zhiqiang looked up at Tian Wenguo, then continued, "Is this harming you? You're supposed to be in charge of logistics at both the main factory and the branch factory? What could you possibly be in charge of at the main factory?"

He figured that Tian Wenguo hadn't made any mistakes when he left, and given his position as logistics director, he was sure he could get involved in the staff dormitory situation.

But Tian Wenguo really didn't get involved. In the year or so that Zhou Zhiqiang was gone, Tian Wenguo basically did only one thing: the worker-peasant mutual aid project.

Using the name of the Second Machine Tool Factory, he established worker-peasant mutual aid agreements with twelve communes in Changping, Yanqing and other areas.

If there are any surplus materials, they can be transported to the machine tool factory. If any items are needed, the machine tool factory can also help solve the problem.

Machine tool factories can make things like faces or teacups themselves, or they can replace them.

This not only facilitated the commune's need for industrial products but also met their factory's demand for additional supplies.

The extra supplies from the twelve communes were enough to allow the factory to have several good meals every month and hold a factory-wide banquet every three months.

Although Zhou Zhiqiang first proposed this method, Tian Wenguo has consistently implemented it and further developed it, truly demonstrating his pragmatism.

Letting him handle the logistics of the branch factory would be a good help; besides, setting up the branch factory requires someone to keep an eye on the progress, and Zhou Zhiqiang can rest assured that he can leave it to Tian Wenguo.

"Then I'll be the factory manager!"

Urged on by Zhou Zhiqiang, Tian Wenguo quickly came to his senses.

They all do logistics work; going to a branch factory is the same job, and you can even get a promotion.

"Okay, go and make preparations, and while you're at it, think about who can take your place. We'll discuss it at the meeting next Monday, and then we'll handle the handover procedures for you."

Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment and then said, "Be careful when selecting people, don't choose those with many flaws."

"Yes, I understand, factory manager."

Tian Wenguo immediately said loudly. He was genuinely moved this time, not expecting the factory director to ask him to recommend someone.

You really trust him!
Zhou Zhiqiang waved for him to leave, and Tian Wenguo then took his leave.

After leaving the office, Tian Wenguo secretly resolved to give them careful instructions when selecting personnel.

If you are selected by the factory director to become the logistics director, and then make a mistake, don't bother asking him for leniency; he'll just kick you while you're down.

He betrayed the trust of him and Director Zhou, and deserves to be punished!
After Tian Wenguo left, Zhou Zhiqiang finished writing the last word in the car repair manual in his hand.

This repair manual is tens of thousands of words long, and he even drew diagrams. This repair manual alone could be promoted nationwide. It would definitely enable even a car mechanic with only a smattering of knowledge to find it and learn how to repair and disassemble.

It has been almost ten days since he reassigned the transportation team. In these ten days, he has been busy with this matter, except for planning the establishment and development of the CNC branch factory.

There is also a driving instruction manual that teaches you about the various functions of a large truck, which takes less time.

Ultimately, to learn how to drive, you need to practice in real-world conditions; simply reading the instruction manual summarized by Zhou Zhiqiang is not enough.

After finishing this task, Zhou Zhiqiang picked up the phone and dialed: "Connect me to Zhao Chenghui, the deputy director of Factory 190. This is Zhou Zhiqiang from the Second Machine Tool Factory."

After the call was transferred, Zhou Zhiqiang waited a while, and after hearing Zhao Chenghui's voice on the other end of the line, he spoke.

"Comrade Chenghui, I am Zhou Zhiqiang. I have come to you for help."

On the other end of the phone, Zhao Chenghui said with a smile, "Comrade Zhiqiang, is the CNC branch of your Second Machine Tool Plant the thing you're talking about?"
I've heard about it even though I haven't been out much at the factory. Apparently, our department head is quite angry, haha, saying you poached our people.

"It's all construction, so how can you say it's poaching? But the reason I came to see you today is indeed about this matter."

Zhou Zhiqiang said with a smile, "Your factory lent me 150 technicians who process semiconductor devices, and I will return them to you in five months."

"Goodness, you really have a lot to go for, 150 people?"

Zhao Chenghui was startled upon hearing this, and then quickly asked, "Zhiqiang, are you trying to hollow out our factory?"

“Your factory has over a thousand people on the production line, and I’ve trained several hundred of them for you every year. Besides, I’m not asking for them, I’m borrowing them!”

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "The Fourth Ministry of Machinery Industry will definitely provide equipment and instruments, so I'm not worried about that. But we probably won't have many people, so we'll have to train them ourselves."

But even if I were made of iron, I could only train so many people; Comrade Chenghui, you can't just leave me without helping me.”

On the other end of the phone, Zhao Chenghui scratched his head and said, "Even if you say that, I'm the deputy factory director, and the transfer of these 150 people requires Comrade Ruiguang's approval."

"Could you talk to him for me?"

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "You two are on good terms. If I talk to Director Liu, he will definitely be in a difficult position. It won't be good for him to agree or not. If you talk to him, there will be room for negotiation."

But Comrade Chenghui, you must help me persuade Director Liu; our branch factory desperately needs these people.”

"Alright, I'll go talk to Comrade Ruiguang about this right away. If he doesn't agree, I'll just stay in his office and not leave."

Zhao Chenghui said with a smile, "Comrade Zhiqiang, you've done our factory such a big favor. If we don't agree to your request, we'll really feel bad!"

"Haha, thank you very much, Comrade Chenghui. Remember to let me know as soon as you have any news."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang felt that the matter was settled after hearing Zhao Chenghui's words.

One hundred and fifty people is not a serious blow to Factory 190. They can adjust the working hours of the other technical staff and the production tasks will not be delayed.

But for the CNC division of the Second Machine Tool Plant, it was a huge help.

In the early stages, production can be expanded, and apprentices can be trained. In five months, a batch of qualified apprentices can be trained.

Zhou Zhiqiang personally taught the technicians in the integrated circuit workshop; and none of the people who could enter this workshop were apprentices, but were all technicians transferred from other electronics factories to provide support.

However, it is impossible to transfer a large number of technical processing personnel from the semiconductor production workshops to provide support; the CNC branch can only train them themselves.

The department will allocate the construction funds for the CNC branch factory next week, and then they can start construction.

dong dong!

Suddenly someone knocked on the door again, and Zhou Zhiqiang called out, "Come in."

After peeking in, Zhang Yaoguo said, "Factory Director, Deputy Director Bai from the labor union has something to discuss with you."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Let Deputy Director Bai in. I happen to have some time right now."

(End of this chapter)