The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 259

"Where is Director Zhou?"

While addressing the workers receiving awards on the stage, Secretary Li turned to Zhang Yaoguo, who was jogging over, and asked him a question.

The latter quickly replied, "I've already called the CNC division to ask. The factory director just left the secretary's office by car. The factory director is here."

Before Zhang Yaoguo could finish speaking, he saw Zhou Zhiqiang hurrying towards them, so he pointed him out to Secretary Li.

Zhou Zhiqiang rushed to the platform next to the year-end commendation meeting, squeezed through the crowd to stand beside Secretary Li, and said, "I'm sorry, Secretary Li, I only got here after finishing up the R&D tasks at the branch factory."

After shaking his head, Secretary Li asked, "It's alright, but is the branch factory still busy?"

"On the last day, Deputy Director Zhao of Factory 190 said that we would have another holiday in two days, but I persuaded him to go back, so as not to trouble the branch factory's security department."

Zhou Zhiqiang whispered some information about the CNC branch factory and the research and development tasks of composite machining CNC machine tools. Among the factory's senior leaders, only Secretary Li knew about it.

The others were not in charge of the technical department and did not know much about the factory's research and development tasks.

"That's all set up. Luckily you arrived early; you'll still make it in time for the concluding remarks later."

After Secretary Li finished speaking, he gestured to the ongoing commendation ceremony.

We just finished awarding the factory's outstanding individuals: two front-line production workers and one technical staff member.

The reason that comrade in the technical department was able to be rated as an advanced worker was because he discovered that several machine tools in the factory were overused and showed signs of damage. He then led the maintenance team to investigate and fix them for half a month.

His performance was outstanding, which is why he was awarded the title of "Advanced Individual." Now, after giving his acceptance speech, he happily left the stage with his certificate, award, and radio.

Everyone in the factory who is eligible for the titles of model worker and advanced individual has outstanding performance. When awarding the titles, the reasons for the advanced individual award must be explained, otherwise it will not be convincing to the public.

"Hey, how come Hou got the award in our workshop? Old Cui, didn't you get it this year? Is this a shady deal? We'll talk to the factory manager for you."

Among the workers in Workshop Six, a middle-aged worker noticed that the person who went up on stage to receive the award was a young man. Although he was young, he was almost thirty years old and could definitely be considered a strong and capable worker.

But compared to these older workers, they do look young.

"Stop arguing, stop arguing. It's not some shady deal. I know about this."

Old Cui quickly grabbed his impulsive old coworker and whispered, "The workshop director talked to me before. I've already secured a welfare housing quota this year, so it's best not to try to grab any more of the other rewards."

This was also the factory manager's idea. He wanted to ensure that more workers could have a happy New Year, so he crossed my name off the list.

He worked the most overtime in Workshop 6, sometimes working 16 hours a day for up to a month.

It was precisely because he worked so hard that he was selected as one of the recipients of welfare housing at the end of the year.

He's already been allocated a house this year, so what's the point of those bicycles? Cui Niuye isn't greedy; his whole family is already very happy to have received a welfare house this year.

Apart from Cui Niuye, all the workers and clerks in the factory who had housing allowances were removed from the year-end commendation list.

After the commendation and award ceremony was over, Secretary Li said to Zhou Zhiqiang beside him, "Zhiqiang, it's your turn. Go up and give your summary."

"Row."

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't stand on ceremony. For several years in a row, he, as the factory director, would summarize and praise the factory's performance throughout the year, and this year was no exception.

After walking up to the platform, Zhou Zhiqiang's voice was clearly transmitted to everyone in the factory through the microphone: "Fellow workers, the commendation ceremony is over. I just listened to what was going on, and all the workers and clerks in our factory have done a great job."

"Everything you've done is commendable, and I, as the factory director, will be proud of you all." "Those of you who didn't receive an honor shouldn't be discouraged. There will be other opportunities next year, and the year after. As long as you remain focused on industrial development and building socialism, the factory's Party Committee and all its employees will never forget your contributions."
If your contributions are overlooked, then it would be a dereliction of duty on my part as the factory manager, and I would bear the responsibility.

Zhou Zhiqiang talked at length, from the performance of all the factory workers over the past year to the achievements of Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory. Although the state has not yet recognized it, and there has been no official statement.

But Zhou Zhiqiang can already make a definitive judgment: their Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory is undoubtedly the number one heavy-duty factory in the country this year.

Bang bang bang bang
After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking about the "Number One Heavy Factory in the Country," all the workers in the audience excitedly applauded, and thunderous applause resounded throughout the factory.

"The No. 1 Heavy Factory in the country should look like the No. 1 Heavy Factory in the country. This is the reward we started distributing bicycles and sewing machines in the third year, and it is also the first year we distributed welfare housing for family members."

If our factory performs well next year, I, as the factory manager, guarantee that the distribution will continue indefinitely, with everyone having a tenement building to live in, and every household having a bicycle and a sewing machine.”

Upon hearing this, all the workers in the audience became even more excited, and they all believed that Zhou Zhiqiang could do it.

Everything the factory manager said before has come true. Moreover, the welfare building was not something the workers suggested at all; it was the factory manager who offered to provide them with welfare benefits.

Housing is extremely scarce in Beijing right now, and all the workers know how rare it is; the fact that their factory is getting big items like bicycles is already quite unusual in Beijing.

The idea of ​​distributing houses was something none of the workers had expected, but it was their factory manager, Mr. Zhou, who brought it up.

However, some people in the audience scoffed at Zhou Zhiqiang's speech.

"Director Hou, did you hear the confidence our factory director has?"

Chang Zhiwei said in a low voice, his tone filled with resentment. He was very careful when he said this to Hou Yufeng.

After being reprimanded, he made a self-criticism at the factory's Party Committee meeting and was also scolded by Secretary Li, which made him lose face.

I originally thought that by being transferred from the Civil Affairs Bureau, I could benefit from the rapid development of this machine tool factory, but I never expected to receive a major demerit as soon as I arrived.

Although he was promoted, if the major demerit is not removed, it will be even more difficult for him to be promoted in the future, so it is not worth it.

Even now, Chang Zhiwei doesn't think he's wrong at all. Instead, he thinks that Zhou Zhiqiang, the factory director, is domineering and petty, retaliating against him for the slightest procedural error, and that he's so domineering that he almost ignores the other comrades in the factory's Party Committee.

So even if everyone in the factory supports him, it's impossible for him, as the logistics director, to support Zhou Zhiqiang.

"Just you wait and see. Daring to claim that they are the number one heavy factory in the country, if word gets out that they are going to attract hatred, other factories will definitely be dissatisfied."
"Director Hou, look, there are reporters over there. Our director's arrogant words might end up in the newspapers tomorrow."

Deputy Factory Director Hou glanced to the side and indeed spotted two strangers writing and jotting things down in the corner.

"Hehe, then let's wait and see what our factory manager will do."

Deputy Factory Director Hou felt a mixture of resentment and jealousy towards Zhou Zhiqiang.

He was jealous that Zhou Zhiqiang was fourteen years younger than him but ranked one level higher, which caused him to be scolded in the face by a young man in the factory.

Previously, Deputy Factory Director Hou had hoped that Zhou Zhiqiang would be appointed to a position such as chief engineer in the factory, but now he only wants to get rid of Zhou Zhiqiang.

But it's too difficult. The workers below support him, and the leaders above protect him. Now Hou Yufeng can only hope that Zhou Zhiqiang will make a mistake on his own. Otherwise, no one can take away his position as the factory director of Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory.

At the year-end commendation meeting, after Zhou Zhiqiang's concluding remarks, Secretary Li also went on stage and said a few words.

However, his words were measured and steady, unlike Zhou Zhiqiang's sharp and ambitious pronouncements about becoming number one in Asia within a few years, or even number one in the world in the future. Secretary Li didn't say a single word.

He said some formalities to boost morale, and then announced the end of the year-end awards ceremony.

(End of this chapter)