Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

As Qi Wangzhi finished speaking, the entire conference hall fell silent. Everyone looked at Elder Yan, who was in the main seat, waiting for the final words from this veteran minister who had experienced the flames of war and presided over the allocation of key equipment for the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" project.

Old Yan stopped stroking the enamel cup and looked at everyone. His weathered face, covered with age spots, had a deep and firm gaze. He knew that the ownership of each piece of equipment would affect the development trajectory of China for the next ten years, and he had to consider many things carefully!

"Comrade Wangzhi's suggestion," Old Yan finally spoke, his voice not loud, but enough to quell all the commotion in the conference room, "is courageous and farsighted."

He slowly stood up, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and looked at the desolate sycamore trees in the early spring of Beijing. Their branches stubbornly pointed to the gray sky, just like this republic that has suffered so much, unyielding and standing tall among the nations of the world.

The five-thousand-year-old mother tree has endured all kinds of hardships and fires, but these difficulties have not broken her. Instead, they have made her even stronger. Even though her bark is peeling off, she is still one of the tallest mother trees in the world!

"We're used to being poor, and we're used to dividing things up. Every piece of equipment, every project, every hilltop—it's the only way we can manage," Old Yan turned around, his gaze sweeping across every face. "But these two machine tools aren't ordinary equipment; they're seeds!"

Old Yan's words, spoken with a Xiangtan accent, echoed in the conference hall: "Seeds need the best soil to grow into big trees, and the Tuocheng Special Economic Zone is currently the best fertile ground, capable of greatly supporting our industry economically!"

"The reason we need to reform the economy is to better achieve the 'Four Modernizations.' The best equipment should be placed in the most economically developed special economic zones, and given the best policy support!"

Old Yan walked back to the table, placed his hands on the surface, and said, "I agree with Comrade Wangzhi's opinion. In Tuocheng, relying on the Nanshan Precision Machinery Research Institute, we will establish the 'National High-Precision Complex Curved Surface Manufacturing Center'! The equipment will not be dismantled, but centrally managed and uniformly dispatched."

Vice Minister Liu asked urgently, "Old Yan, what about the propellers for the 'Blue Whale' project..."

"Schedule!"

Old Yan stated firmly, "For all key national projects in the Navy, Air Force, Army, and Aerospace, special scheduling committees will be established, led by the Equipment Department, to determine the processing cycle based on urgency, strategic value, and technological readiness."

"The center operates 24 hours a day, with machines running even when people are resting."

"Then who has the authority to allocate resources, and who determines the priorities?" Director Chen pushed up his glasses and asked the question that everyone wanted to ask.

"The newly established coordination committee will be responsible for the work! The committee members include technical leaders and chief engineers from various fields," Yan Lao said, looking at Qi Wangzhi. "Comrade Wangzhi, you will have to work hard and serve as the chief technical advisor to oversee the process plan and quality standards."

Qi Wangzhi nodded solemnly and bowed slightly, without refusing.

"As for secrecy and security," Yan continued, "the Special Zone has its own methods. Externally, this is 'Nanshan Precision Machinery Company,' which undertakes overseas precision parts manufacturing. Internally, it is a top-secret research and production base. Security, secrecy, and counter-espionage work are handled directly by the National Security Headquarters, completely isolated from the local area."

He paused, his voice growing deeper, "Comrades, this is not a stopgap measure, but an experiment to see if we can break down barriers and truly concentrate our efforts on accomplishing great things."

"Machine tools are inanimate, but people are dynamic. The greatest value of these two machines lies not only in producing a few propellers and blades, but also in cultivating a group of talents who can operate world-class manufacturing equipment and exploring a new mechanism for efficient collaboration!"

"If necessary, I will even propose to the highest levels that a new university be established in Tuocheng specializing in industrial machine tools and other equipment. Whether China's machine tools can break free from being held back by the West now depends on those two machines in Tuocheng!"

Old Yan's words were a wake-up call, and the conference hall fell silent. Young Director Sun from the Army was the first to raise his hand and declare, "As long as our Army's new transmission system is up to par, our Army Equipment Department will support this proposal!"

Director Sun knew that the "National High-Precision Complex Surface Manufacturing Center" proposed by Elder Yan was currently the most advantageous solution for the Army.

Both the naval and air force plans involved directly dividing up the two pieces of equipment, leaving the army with nothing. Director Sun naturally supported Elder Yan's plan.

Vice Minister Liu and Director Chen exchanged a glance, both seeing the struggle in each other's eyes, but also recognizing the necessity of compromise. Almost simultaneously, they both nodded.

"The Navy also supports it!"

"Our air force supports this as well!"

A faint smile finally appeared on Old Yan's weary face. He picked up the old cup, its porcelain chipped in many places, took a sip of the long-cold tea, then put the enamel lid back on and said to everyone, "That's settled then. Meeting adjourned!"

One by one, everyone got up, began to pack up their documents, and walked out of the conference hall in hushed tones. Old Yan was the last to leave and called out to Qi Wangzhi, who was also about to leave.

"Wangzhi," Old Yan said, looking at the veteran expert Qi Wangzhi, "at your age, we still have to push you to the front lines. You've worked so hard!"

Qi Wangzhi smiled, his wrinkles smoothing out. "Old Yan, I've dedicated my entire life to materials science and technology, waiting for such 'treasures' to be able to touch them with my own hands in my lifetime, to guide young people to thoroughly understand them, to replicate them, and to enable the nation to stand tall. Even if I were to die right now, it would be worth it!"

"Hey! Wangzhi, don't say that. The country and the people still need you to lead new talents. Your task is very heavy," Old Yan said with a smile, patting Qi Wangzhi on the shoulder. "Tuocheng is by the sea, and the humidity is high. I'm just worried about your old rheumatism; it'll be tough on you!"

"It's alright. I've been through so many years, it's always been painful, I'm used to it now. If it doesn't hurt anymore, I'll feel strange!" Qi Wangzhi waved his hand dismissively.

"Hahaha!"

Qi Wangzhi smiled, his eyes filled with anticipation. "Right now, all I want to do is get to Tuocheng as soon as possible to see those two treasures. Whether they're German or Japanese, now that they're in our hands, they belong to China!"

Old Yan patted Qi Wangzhi's shoulder heavily again, his eyes also filled with longing for a better future. The two walked out of the conference hall in silence, everything understood without words!

Yan Lao's proposal in the conference hall was quickly submitted to the highest level for decision-making. After a non-expanded meeting, the highest level unanimously decided to establish the "National High-Precision Complex Curved Surface Manufacturing Center" in the Tuocheng Special Economic Zone. At the same time, the document was quickly issued to the Tuocheng Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government.