The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 278 Can’t delay any longer

"We are also aware of Comrade Li Younian's recent condition. Although he is recovering well, his condition is clearly not suitable for him to return to his post."

The Organization Department also sent someone to inquire about his opinion. Now Comrade Li Younian has also expressed that he can no longer work and hopes that the organization will approve his medical retirement.

Director Ren paused for a moment after saying this, and then continued, "The Party Group of the Ministry has already agreed, and the Organization Department will not stop us."

"When Comrade Li Younian applied for retirement due to illness, he also explicitly recommended you to them, hoping that you would take over as the party official of Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory. I heard from Director Chen that the people from the Organization Department who visited him at that time didn't look too good, even before they had started asking questions."

Hearing Director Ren's laughter on the other end of the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang also laughed.

For someone unfamiliar with the inner workings of Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory, it would be hard to imagine how high Zhou Zhiqiang's prestige was within the factory.

From the factory's cleaners to the members of the factory's Party Committee, out of more than 10,000 people in the factory, probably no more than 50 people would truly say they dislike Zhou Zhiqiang.

The rest of the workers either admired or respected Zhou Zhiqiang. Even if they spoke ill of Zhou Zhiqiang in the factory, they would be denounced by the other workers.

This is Zhou Zhiqiang's reputation at Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory.

"Director Ren, regarding personnel matters, I'll just follow the arrangements made by you leaders. However, if it requires me to fight for it, then I will definitely fight for it. But does the ministry have any plans for composite CNC machine tools?"

Zhou Zhiqiang quickly changed the subject and asked about the latest CNC machine tool: "Compared with the previous CNC machine tool, it has an extra processing step, which reduces the accuracy error caused by switching."

"By producing more CNC machine tools for various other processing steps, we can basically process all small and medium-sized parts. This composite CNC machine tool will greatly help the development of our domestic industry."

Upon hearing this, Director Ren quickly understood the implication in Zhou Zhiqiang's words and asked, "Your suggestion is to keep this type of composite CNC machine tool in China and not take it to the Canton Fair?"

"My suggestion is this: the existing CNC machine tools are enough to earn a lot of foreign trade orders, so there is no need to use the newly developed composite CNC machine tools."

However, when it comes to foreign trade, it's best to follow your supervisor's arrangements. I'm just offering a suggestion.

Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment before continuing, "While domestic low- and mid-end industrial manufacturing may not need them, defense and military factories absolutely require these machine tools."

Ren Licheng on the other end of the phone nodded and said, "This is indeed something we need to discuss with the leaders. At least this year we need to find out how many factories in China need composite CNC machine tools."

However, I remember that the French diplomatic delegation was quite interested in the composite CNC machine tools your factory developed last time, right? Didn't he say he would mention it to France when he got back, and that he wanted to buy some in the future?

Zhou Zhiqiang recalled for a moment and said, "I think I did say that, but given the circumstances, I would have believed it if someone said I was joking."

"Report this situation to them as well. They are currently in a honeymoon period with us, and the two sides may establish diplomatic relations soon."

Director Ren revealed this.

They and France have found many common ground in their cooperation, and their last visit by foreign officials was very fruitful.

Establishing diplomatic relations with them would be a very important step in breaking the diplomatic blockade.

Working in isolation won't lead to rapid development, and even if it does, it will be extremely slow. The machine tool industry alone has been developing for so many years, and there are countless other areas in China that need further development.

Agricultural machinery and chemical industry both need development, and if we could import them from abroad, that would be exactly what we need most in China.

"No matter what, the most important thing now is to help you get the position of a party official."

Director Ren sighed and said, "It would be good if we could arrange a capable assistant for you, someone who wouldn't interfere with your production plans for the factory, just like Comrade Li Younian."

But hearing about the commotion at your supporting branch factory, coupled with the fact that your factory always has such a large fiscal surplus every year, and considering your personality and temperament, Zhiqiang, I feel that it might be hard to find a comrade like Li Younian.”

Zhou Zhiqiang immediately replied, "Director Ren, I have a good temper, I've always been quite gentle and refined."

"You've got to give up, huh?"

Even though it wasn't in person, Director Ren rolled his eyes. He was usually so gentle and refined that he wouldn't use such harsh methods to deal with people.

Having known Zhou Zhiqiang for so long, he realized that when Zhou Zhiqiang dealt with someone, he was the type to kill them on the spot.

Whether it was the team leader of the transportation team or the previous logistics director, they would deal with things as soon as they were told to, regardless of what happened outside. They just focused on dealing with him personally.

"The current trend is quite clear, and now with the good news of composite CNC machine tools, the Party Group of the Ministry is even more confident."

Your most important task is to ensure the subsequent testing of the composite CNC machine tool and to produce as many as possible, six units before October.

"Six units is still feasible, but we'll have to test and produce them simultaneously."

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Zhiqiang said, "But it's alright. I have a lot of confidence in the composite CNC machine tool we're producing this time. It will definitely be able to operate continuously without any problems, and we can even start production ahead of schedule."

Director Ren said, "Okay, that's settled then, at least six units. Maybe more will be needed, but I won't put any more pressure on your factory."

If the news gets out, more major engineering project teams or factories might come to their department asking for machine tools.

We can only select a few to send out four units, and then take two units to exhibit at the Canton Fair.

We don't necessarily have to sell, but we need to let foreigners know how well their industrial development is going.

France reached some consensus with them on industrial cooperation, partly because their country had directly jumped to the forefront of the world in the field of CNC machine tools.

Zhou Zhiqiang then chatted with Director Ren about other things for a while before ending the call after Zhang Yaoguo knocked on the door.

"Factory Manager." Zhang Yaoguo knocked and entered, asking, "It's almost lunchtime. The canteen has prepared special meals, and the rest of the project team is heading there. Section Chief Ding asked me to ask you about it."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he stood up and headed towards the cafeteria.

As soon as you enter the cafeteria, you can smell the rich aroma of food. It seems that the cafeteria is serving meat dishes at noon today, and the workers in line are all talking about it.

When they saw Zhou Zhiqiang walking towards the canteen, the workers greeted him and he returned their greetings one by one.

Upon entering the private room, everyone else was already seated, with the head seat reserved for Zhou Zhiqiang.

"Director Zhou, over here."

Director Chen waved his hand, indicating the empty seat next to him.

After Zhou Zhiqiang sat down, he saw that several dishes had already been placed on the table, so he smiled and said, "Everyone, please don't be shy. You must all be starving after a busy morning. I'm starving myself now. Let's start eating."

There's not much of a drinking culture here, and besides, there's work to be done in the afternoon; there's not even tea on the table.

Everyone was busy all morning. After having a light snack, they got busy with the assembly and testing of the composite CNC machine tool.

Those speeches and remarks can be left for later.

The chef at Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory is quite skilled, though not quite like Chef Wei from Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory, who came from a high-end restaurant.

But he also has excellent Sichuan cuisine skills. Zhou Zhiqiang can't tell whether it's authentic or not, but it's definitely delicious.

The others at the table were also hungry, and they quickly started eating after Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking.

There are ten people at a table. When a dish is served, it's all gone in just a few bites. They basically eat with empty plates until they've almost finished eating, at which point they slow down their eating speed.

Director Chen suddenly spoke up: "I reported what you said earlier to the dean after I went back, and our institute fully agrees with it."

We even hope that the Jiuzhou Machine Tool Plant can be a permanent internship site for our third-year students, where they can gain experience. The internship period won't be long, usually three to four months.

"Of course, this is a great help to us, Director Chen."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang immediately smiled and said, "You are welcome anytime. I have been applying to my superiors to bring in more talented people, but college graduates are in high demand, and every unit is vying to hire them."
"If your students are willing to come, our factory will definitely welcome all of them."

Professor Yu, who was standing nearby, also spoke up: "Director Zhou, our school feels the same way. We hope to have more collaborations in the future. Our department will also be conducting some independent research projects, and we hope that Director Zhou and your factory can provide some assistance then."

Talent exchange and project cooperation are things that Tsinghua University wants, and the support that Jiuzhou Machine Tool Plant received from the Planning and Development Commission is something that Tsinghua University envies.

Although many universities are carrying out research projects, most of their work is still focused on education, and they do not receive much support for research.

Because of a lack of support, they mostly collaborate with factories and research institutes.

The best partner in Beijing was Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory.

Foreign trade orders are increasing year by year, the factory scale is growing year by year, and the development momentum is thriving, with many R&D projects.

When the leaders of the two universities heard that there was an opportunity to cooperate with Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory, they did not hesitate at all.

Moreover, Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory is a factory at the level of a provincial-level department, which is even higher than their college.

Everyone was very satisfied with the lunch provided by the special meal. Not only was the food delicious, but Zhou Zhiqiang also reached cooperation agreements with two universities.

Although it was a bit expensive, he paid for five small meals at noon, which cost him over a hundred yuan.

The meal cost him almost half a month's salary.

However, since there were some happy things happening today, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't pay much attention to them.

Now his family has basically no material needs, and even if they do, the ministry will try its best to meet Zhou Zhiqiang's needs.

The only thing Zhou Zhiqiang hasn't won over yet is his emotional connection with her.

------

Zhonghaiyuan.

When Leader Sheng entered Office No. 2, he saw that several people were already sitting on the sofas around him, and the leader was also at his desk.

"Comrade Jianhui is here. You're the last one today. Please have a seat."

When the deputy leader looked up and saw that Sheng Jianhui had arrived, he got up and walked towards the sofa and coffee table.

"The reason I called you here today is still about the matter of the party officials of Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory. Logically speaking, this matter should not have been dragged on for so long."

But neither of your departments could come up with a unified opinion, so I had no choice but to call you here to discuss this matter face-to-face.

After speaking, the deputy leader looked at Sheng Jianhui and said with a smile, "Comrade Jianhui, and Comrade Xiang Song, this matter cannot be delayed any longer. We don't need to waste too much time on this."

(End of this chapter)