Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

After assuming the position of chief engineer, Wang Huanbo did not bask in honor and joy. He knew that with higher positions came greater responsibilities. The steel rolling mill's technical level, production efficiency, and safety management all had enormous room for improvement. He ignited his first major reforms as a new chief engineer.

His first initiative was to solidify and deepen 6S management. He implemented 6S across all workshops, departments, and even the office building. A dedicated 6S inspection team was established to conduct regular inspections and evaluations, with results directly linked to performance appraisals and bonus distribution. Simultaneously, drawing on later experience, he introduced a "Safety Hazard Checklist" and a "Suggestion Box," encouraging workers to proactively identify and report safety hazards and offer improvement suggestions, with substantial rewards given to those whose suggestions were adopted. This measure greatly mobilized the enthusiasm of frontline employees, resulting in a completely new safety environment and production order throughout the factory.

The second initiative was the standardization of technical training and assessment. Addressing the issue of inconsistent skill levels and vague assessment standards among factory workers, Wang Huanbo personally spearheaded a team of skilled technicians to compile detailed "Handbooks of Essential Knowledge and Skills" and "Standardized Operating Procedures" tailored to different job types and skill levels. All skilled workers were required to memorize the manuals and strictly adhere to the procedures. Regular skills competitions and theoretical examinations were held, with results closely linked to promotions and salary increases. This forced experienced workers like Yi Zhonghai, who had tried to maintain authority by holding back their skills, to reveal their true abilities and feel immense pressure. Younger workers, on the other hand, saw a path to advancement and were highly motivated to learn.

The third and most important initiative was technological transformation and equipment upgrades. Wang Huanbo, utilizing his authority as chief engineer, conducted a thorough inventory of all equipment in the factory. Leveraging his advanced mechanical expertise and forward-thinking vision, he quickly identified numerous design flaws, insufficient precision, and excessive energy consumption issues within the equipment.

At the factory's technical committee meeting, he proposed a systematic technical transformation plan, including piloting the CNC transformation of the old rolling mill, introducing (or imitating) more advanced heat treatment furnaces, optimizing the power system to reduce energy consumption, and developing new alloy steels, etc. These plans were highly forward-looking, but also required huge investment and risk-taking.

During the meeting, the conservatives raised a question: "Engineer Wang, the plan is good, but the investment is too large and the risks are too high. Shouldn't we postpone it?"

Wang Huanbo was well-prepared. He presented detailed data comparisons and feasibility analysis reports, and said firmly, "Comrades, standing still is falling behind! Much of the equipment we use now is left behind by the Japanese, or even earlier! It's inefficient, energy-intensive, and poses a significant safety hazard! Shouldn't the tragedy of Comrade Jia Dongxu serve as a wake-up call? Technological transformation is imperative! We can conduct pilot projects first, and then promote them if successful. As for funding, I can apply for a special fund from the ministry, or I can try to attract foreign investment... or I can use my personal overseas connections."

His last words carried immense weight. Everyone remembered the unfathomable depths of his family background. Factory Director Yang and Li Huaide immediately expressed their support. Ultimately, the plan was approved, and Wang Huanbo personally took charge, establishing a technical transformation leadership group.

Wang Huanbo's decisiveness and vision once again won over the entire factory. The workers discovered that this young chief engineer was approachable, technically skilled, and capable of solving practical problems—a true man of action. His prestige grew steadily through his hard work.

Looking at the workers in the workshop, passionately discussing technical problems with Wang Huanbo and their faces filled with admiration, Yi Zhonghai's last bit of resentment vanished, leaving only a deep sense of powerlessness. He knew that the era of these "veteran craftsmen" was rapidly passing by. Meanwhile, Liu Haizhong began to ponder how to get his son to get closer to Chief Engineer Wang and learn some real skills…

In the evening, Wang Huanbo returned to the west courtyard, closed the door, and shut out the noise from outside. He sat at his desk, spread out his manuscript paper, and began to draw more detailed technical modification drawings. Under the lamplight, his eyes were focused and bright.

He knew that the steel mill's transformation was just the beginning. The knowledge and abilities granted by the system, the nation's trust, and the sense of mission to change the times drove him forward. And the next interdimensional crossing, scheduled for two weeks later, seemed like a new world full of unknowns and challenges awaiting him.

"The road ahead is still long..." Wang Huanbo smiled slightly, his pen drawing clear lines on the paper, as if sketching a brand new future.