I painted an aircraft carrier on the courtyard house for Dongda University.

Afterwards, Zhou Weiguo led everyone back to the workshop and reorganized the layout: his own R&D workshop became Workshop 1, Natasha's became Workshop 2, the machine tools and equipment that hadn't been moved were in Production Workshop 3, and the two newly built large workshops were Workshops 4 and 5. He also brought Dashan and Erniu, and introduced themselves to everyone.

After the exchange, Zhou Weiguo learned that mechanical engineer Zhang Heng and materials engineer Liu Jing were both recent graduate students with solid technical skills; the two level-eight workers, Gao Zhen and Wang Gang, were key personnel from the First and Second Ministry of Machine Building, and this time they were seconded to the Ministry.

Zhou Weiguo assigned 20 college students to two engineers, 10 of whom were assigned to each engineer according to their majors. He also assigned two level-eight workers to lead half of the skilled workers in workshop No. 3, thus creating a competitive mechanism.

Dashan and Erniu continued to stay by his side to assist with his work.

He had Natasha take Liu Jing and her team to the next workshop, while he led Zhang Heng into the office and opened a locked cabinet—inside were neatly arranged detailed blueprints and technical specifications for tractors.

"Zhang Heng, from now on, all the blueprints I draw will be locked in this cabinet. Here's a key. You and your team will study these blueprints, have the manufacturing workshop help with the production, and then assemble and test them. If you need material support, just go to Natasha in the next workshop."

Before leaving, Zhou Weiguo added, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Oh, and one more thing: everything in our workshops is confidential and cannot be outsourced. Remember to remind everyone about this."

Then, under Zhang Heng's bewildered gaze, Zhou Weiguo walked straight out of the workshop and headed towards Li Huaide's office.

He knocked gently on the office door, and only after receiving a reply did he cautiously push it open. Zhou Weiguo's heart pounded, fearing he would once again stumble upon Li Huaide's embarrassing antics.

Upon seeing Zhou Weiguo, Li Huaide greeted him with a broad smile, "Oh! What a rare guest! Weiguo, what urgent matter brings you here? Tell me quickly!"

Zhou Weiguo smiled and got straight to the point: "Brother, could you arrange a few chef's workstations for me?"

Upon hearing this, Li Huaide chuckled: "Why did you have to go through all this trouble yourself for such a small matter? Why didn't you just let Zhu Zi handle it? Why did you suddenly want a chef's workstation?"

Zhou Weiguo then gave a brief overview of the Emei Restaurant. Unexpectedly, upon hearing the words "Emei Restaurant" and "Master Wu," Li Huaide jumped to his feet in excitement: "Emei Restaurant? Master Wu? That's the big brother of Sichuan cuisine in Beijing! Excellent! Public-private partnerships are great! Otherwise, how would I, Li Huaide, have this opportunity today!"

Li Huaide, getting more and more excited as he spoke, suddenly slammed his hand on the table: "Brother, how about this? I'll just clear out the second canteen next to your workshop! Anyway, after the other workshops were transferred east, they're too far from the second canteen, so from now on, this second canteen will be exclusively for your use. Occasionally, I'll even get a few special meals cooked for myself, how about that? By the way, could you ask Master Wu if he could bring a few more apprentices over? I don't mind, if each canteen could get one, that would be even better! It would also improve the meals for the workers in our steel rolling mill."

Zhou Weiguo looked puzzled: "Do we really need so many chefs?"

Li Huaide chuckled helplessly, "You're like a well-fed man who doesn't know the hunger of an starving man! Even our steel rolling mill, which hasn't been expanded yet, already has five canteens. You've been eating at Zhuzi's special kitchen since you came here; you haven't tasted the food prepared by the other cooks. If you were to eat there, I guarantee you wouldn't be able to utter a single word!"

Zhou Weiguo thought about it and agreed that it made sense, so he said, "Brother, the only people I can confirm right now are Brother Wu's family of four: his wife and two sons, plus four apprentices who haven't finished their apprenticeships. Do you think you could arrange temporary work positions for them?"

Li Huaide feigned anger: "Brother, aren't you slapping me in the face? Do you think I'd let the people you introduced work as temporary workers? All of Master Wu's apprentices are full-time kitchen helpers, and his son and daughter-in-law are head chefs! They're taking chef certification exams soon, so I'll issue them letters of recommendation and let them take the exams. They'll get the salary corresponding to the level they pass. As for Master Wu, he'll come to our steel rolling mill as the head of the kitchen team. In a year or two, when Zhu Zi gets promoted, getting Master Wu a director or deputy director position is a piece of cake, isn't it? What do you think of this arrangement?"

Zhou Weiguo smiled and nodded: "Then what else is there to say? It's settled! By the way, tell me about the salary and benefits first, just in case they ask and I'm caught off guard."

Li Huaide chuckled: "I definitely won't let you down, little brother! Master Wu, as the team leader, gets 75 yuan a month; his son and daughter-in-law, as the head chef, get 50 yuan a month; and the apprentices, as kitchen helpers, get 25 yuan a month. Pretty generous, right?"

Zhou Weiguo thought the salary was indeed good, so he urged, "Okay! Brother, hurry up and get the letter of introduction, I'll go get the people right away."

Li Huaide quickly prepared eight letters of introduction. Zhou Weiguo didn't waste a moment; he got in his car and drove home. After parking, he went straight to the south courtyard, and seeing the gate was open, he went straight in.

In the courtyard, Wu Yousheng was directing several young men to move furniture; everyone was working enthusiastically. Upon seeing Zhou Weiguo, Wu Yousheng cheerfully called out, "Hey, brother, why didn't you go to work today?"

Zhou Weiguo smiled and pulled out a stack of letters of introduction from his pocket, handing them over. Wu Yousheng took them with a puzzled look, opened one, glanced at it, and was instantly stunned.

Hearing the commotion, Da Sheng and Er Sheng rushed over, shouting, "For Uncle Guo!"

Zhou Weiguo shook his head helplessly, thinking to himself that the seniority system was set for this, but he said aloud, "I've brought you your workstations, come and take a look."

Everyone eagerly opened their letters of introduction, exclamations of surprise rising and falling. After a long pause, Wu Yousheng asked incredulously, "Brother, you've arranged eight permanent positions for us? And a group leader position too?"

Zhou Weiguo nodded: "That's right! Brother, you'll be the team leader, earning 75 yuan a month; your wife, Dasheng, and Ersheng will be head chefs, earning 50 yuan a month; your apprentices will be full-time kitchen helpers, earning 25 yuan a month. There's also a chef certification exam later; we'll talk about raises after you pass that."

Wu Yousheng's eyes reddened with emotion, and his voice trembled slightly: "Dasheng, Ersheng, and all you fellow disciples, kneel down! Kowtow to your brother Weiguo! Remember, from now on, your brother Weiguo's affairs are my affairs!"

"Understood!" Everyone knelt down in unison and kowtowed three times.

Wu Yousheng walked up to Zhou Weiguo and said solemnly, "Brother, I'll remember this favor! If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know!"

Zhou Weiguo quickly waved his hand: "Brother Wu, what are you doing! We're all family, don't be so formal!"

P.S.: Please urge me to update more and give me good reviews. Thank you!