In the 90s, you could acquire max-level skills every 14 days.

Chapter 133 A Business Opportunity Arrives: Crisis Turns into Opportunity

"Don't rush me, I haven't finished yet."

Fang Qiming continued, raising his wine glass.

"The core elements will not be shaken. Production capacity will not disappear completely, but will only be reduced."

"The impact on coal-fired power plants in the north should be minimal. The main concern is the south, where water resources are abundant, making hydroelectric power generation quite normal. We, located in Tongxian County, have absolutely nothing to worry about."

He took a sip of tea. "But in the long run, we need to prepare. We can't just focus on selling coal mines; we need to think about how to upgrade and how to transform our businesses."

"A tree dies when transplanted, but a person thrives."

Meng Qingshan loosened his grip on the chopsticks.

Zhang Yong didn't say anything more. He continued eating.

Wang Guanghui, who had been somewhat dazed, suddenly brightened up. "Then—then, does working in the power grid have a particularly good future?"

Fang Qiming looked up. "Tell me about it?"

"The country needs to adjust its energy structure, which mainly relies on electricity, right? So the demand for the construction, upgrading, and conversion of the power grid will definitely explode."

Wang Guanghui's voice grew faster and faster. "Electrical engineering graduates were definitely in high demand back then."

Fang Qiming nodded. "You have good foresight. The power grid will definitely be a key area in the future. If you start focusing on this now, you'll have a promising future working in the power supply sector after graduation."

Liu Liang snorted. "The power supply department? How much do they pay a month? It's not even as good as—"

He didn't finish speaking.

Fang Qiming glanced at him. "Worse than what? Better than speculation and profiteering?"

The cafeteria fell silent.

"Let me tell you," Fang Qiming put down his chopsticks and said in a very calm voice, "catching the trend isn't called speculation, it's called foresight."

But there are two types of people who chase trends: those who diligently develop technology and industry, becoming pillars of the sector over ten or twenty years; and those who hype concepts and try to make quick money, ultimately failing and dying out.

He pointed at Liu Liang. "If you really want to design drilling rigs, you have to learn solid skills, accumulate experience, and thoroughly understand drilling rigs."

"In that case, even if the coal mining industry declines, your skills can be applied to other fields, such as oil exploration or geothermal exploration. But if you only want to make quick money, you might be right in ten years but wrong in twenty, and then it's all over."

Liu Liang's face flushed red. He lowered his head and continued eating.

Meng Qingshan slowly relaxed his shoulders. He glanced at Zhang Yong, then at Fang Qiming.

"Then—what about our coal plant?" His voice lowered slightly. "Could it also be rerouted, for example—"

"Let's talk about the future later, let's focus on doing what's right now." Zhang Yong looked up at this moment.

"The secondary air nozzles will be installed in five days, which can save 20% of coal. Once we see the results, we'll figure out how to expand it. Maybe it'll be waste heat recovery, or maybe it'll be waste gas utilization; these are all possibilities."

Meng Qingshan nodded. "Yes, let's get the one in front of us done first."

He turned to Fang Qiming, "Teacher Fang, do you think we should notify the installation workers next week?"

Fang Qiming hummed in agreement. "I'll give Qian Zhiyuan a list tomorrow. He'll bring the team over on Monday; if it can't be finished in one day, it'll take at least two days. Prepare the venue in advance."

Qian Zhiyuan began to scribble furiously in his notebook.

Suddenly, the girl surnamed Lin exclaimed, "Oh dear! We were chatting so much we almost forgot about food. The meat's getting cold!"

Fang Qiming pointed to the plates on the table and laughed. "You see, you still need to use coal or natural gas to stir-fry vegetables. Otherwise, there won't be any wok hei (the smoky aroma imparted by a hot wok), and the food won't taste good."

These words were like a match thrown into cold, tense water. Qian Zhiyuan laughed first, and Wang Guanghui followed suit, finally able to breathe easily.

"That's right," Meng Qingshan said, biting into his steamed bun. "Cooking with electricity definitely won't taste good. I'm relieved to hear you say that."

"Here, there's more wine! Let's have another one."

Laughter filled the cafeteria.

Day five of renovation.

Zhang Yong was installing secondary air nozzles on the boiler platform with Qian Zhiyuan and Wei Shuyun when two people arrived at the factory gate.

One was Section Chief Liu, who had been dismissed from his post. The other was a middle-aged man in a leather jacket with a protruding belly, Zhao Fucai, the owner of "Shunda Coal Industry" in Tongxian County.

The two men stormed into the old factory director's office.

Twenty minutes later, Meng Qingshan hurriedly ran up to the boiler platform.

"Zhang Yong, come down quickly. Boss Zhao is making a scene with my dad."

"Why? What's the point of making a fuss? Would it be appropriate for me to go?"

"Why don't you take a look first?"

Zhang Yong wiped his hands and followed him downstairs.

In the office of the old factory director Meng Dehou, Zhao Fucai sat with his legs crossed in a chair, a coal supply contract spread out on the coffee table.

"Old Meng, let me make this clear. I heard you changed the furnace? If I don't meet my contract quota, who am I supposed to complain to for the year-end settlement?"

Section Chief Liu chimed in from the side, "Exactly. Why bother messing with a perfectly good stove? What if it gets broken and can't heat the house? Who's going to take responsibility then?"

Meng Dehou sat behind his desk, a pipe in his hand, his face grim.

Zhang Yong listened at the door for a while before pushing the door open and coming in.

Zhao Fucai glanced at him. "Oh, so this is the student? An eighteen or nineteen-year-old brat coming to modify the boiler at a state-owned factory, are you kidding me?"

Zhang Yong didn't respond to his comment.

He walked to Meng Dehou's table, took out a piece of paper from his work clothes pocket, and spread it on the table.

"Uncle Meng, before the upgrade, your steam production was 3.8 tons per ton of coal, with an annual coal consumption of 4000 tons. After the upgrade, the expected steam production is 5.5 tons per ton of coal."

The annual coal consumption has been reduced to around 3200 tons.

He turned to look at Zhao Fucai.

"Boss Zhao, I have a question for you."

"Would you rather this factory go bankrupt and refuse to buy a single ton of coal from you, or would you prefer to continue purchasing 3200 tons of coal annually without any problems?"

"To put it bluntly, you can buy coal anywhere these days. If you don't sell it to this factory, who are you planning to sell this Tongxian County to?"

Wei Shuyun also showed her face: "Uncle Zhao! What brings you here?"

Zhao Fucai put his legs down and put on a smile.

"Miss Wei, what are you doing here?"

"Uncle Zhao, my classmate and I are modifying the boiler. He's amazing; he can save the factory 800 tons of coal a year." Wei Shuyun patted Zhang Yong on the shoulder with admiration.

"Oh, really? I didn't realize you were so accomplished at such a young age," Zhao Fucai immediately greeted with a smile.

Meng Dehou didn't give him time to change his face.

"Zhao Fucai! The pithead price is 60 yuan, that's 19 yuan a year for coal. I'm not shortchanging you! Can't you tell the difference between the king and the queen? What are you doing here causing trouble?!"

Zhao Fucai was calculating in his mind: if the boiler's energy efficiency was improved, his sales would decrease, and he wanted to take the opportunity to raise prices. However, with Wei Dabiao's daughter present, there were some things he couldn't say.

Fortunately, Zhang Yong spoke up and smoothed things over.

"Gentlemen, now that energy efficiency has improved, Director Meng will definitely be able to supply more residential areas, and his reputation will naturally improve. At that time, he will definitely be able to expand production, and he will purchase more coal from the mines he wants."

"Exactly!" Wei Shuyun glanced at Section Chief Liu. "I know this guy. He tried to save a few dollars by buying fake oil, which burned out the blower. He lost several thousand dollars and almost blew up the factory. Uncle Zhao, don't believe him! He's just greedy and ruins big things!"

Section Chief Liu's face turned a deep purplish-red, cold sweat poured down his forehead, and he stammered for a long time without being able to utter a single word. He could only slink away in disgrace.

Zhao Fucai pushed his chair aside and went down the steps.

"You, surnamed Liu, are really making a mountain out of a molehill!"

Then, his eyes lit up, and he took two steps to grasp Zhang Yong's hand: "You said you can modify boilers and improve energy efficiency? Well—I know more than a dozen factories—are you interested in doing it together?"