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

Chapter 136 The Graduate Pilot Program That Shocked the Entire School

Wang Lixin nodded, opened his interview notebook, and got straight to the point.

"I've always been curious about something: you write both serious literature and popular science literature. Many people say that serious literature is declining, and popular science books and romance novels are taking over the market. What's your opinion on that?"

Zhang Yong sat upright and spoke in a steady tone.

"It's not that popular science and romance novels have stolen literature's thunder; it's that serious literature has become stagnant."

Wang Lixin was surprised and looked up at Zhang Yong. He didn't expect this person to be so bold.

"In this day and age, millions of workers deal with machines and boilers every day. What they need are practical technologies that can solve problems, and they don't have much time to read serious literature."

Zhang Yong continued, "Of course, I'm not saying that serious literature is bad, but literature should serve society. Whatever the people need, the writing should be grounded in their needs."

"Perhaps in a few years, popular science literature will also lose its appeal to the people."

"I understand. So what is your future career path?" Wang Lixin pressed.

"Literature carries on craftsmanship, and craftsmanship contributes to national prosperity."

Zhang Yong pointed to the technical renovation drawings on the wall.

"I write popular science articles and build communities not for the sake of words, but for practical application. The boiler modifications we are currently undertaking can save the factory hundreds of tons of coal and tens of thousands of yuan in costs each year."

"Currently, twelve factories and more than thirty boilers in Tongxian County are waiting for technological upgrades. We have established a technical service center with the help of the Youth Industrial Literature Society. It is a pilot project for industry-university-research cooperation with the dual endorsement of the Ministry of Education and the school's Youth League Committee, and we provide industrial technical services in a compliant and legal manner."

Wang Lixin focused on the key point: "Although you have the qualifications, you are just a student club. What gives you the right to take on industrial work from state-owned factories?"

"Based on ability."

Zhang Yong picked up the hand-machined tapered nozzle.

"This was hand-polished on a 1958 lathe, with an error margin of less than half a millimeter. Once installed, it will allow the boiler to reignite, improving efficiency and saving coal. We don't rely on words, but on data and results."

"Moreover, thanks to Kyoto University, we have the opportunity to access the latest technologies and new talent, and our technological updates are no less advanced than those of any state-owned enterprise."

The young reporter was also busy, interviewing everyone in the lab and taking many photos of hands-on activities.

At the end of the interview, Wang Lixin asked one last question: "What do you think is the biggest deficiency in China's industry?"

Zhang Yong leaned against the lathe, looking at Fang Qiming with a gratified expression, and calmly said, "We don't lack smart people, nor do we lack hard-working people. What we lack are people who can combine knowledge with practical skills."

"Teacher Fang once said that his goal as a teacher was to bring everyone together."

Wang Lixin closed the notebook and nodded.

"Thank you, it will be in the paper next week."

Five days later.

Tuesday, April 1990, 9.

The entire page of the Education, Science, Culture and Health section of the Beijing Daily.

The title is in large boldface: "An 18-year-old adult education student transforms a state-owned factory boiler, saving 800 tons of coal annually—A true account of the industry-academia-research pilot project of the Peking University Youth Industrial Literature Society."

Three pictures are attached. One is a group photo of Zhang Yong and his classmates standing in front of the lathe, one is a comparison picture of the boiler before and after the modification, and one is a copy of the approval document from the Ministry of Education.

The article is 6,000 words long, and there is not a single empty sentence from beginning to end.

Wang Lixin verified every single number Zhang Yong mentioned.

The amount of steam produced per ton of coal, the annual coal consumption, the renovation cost, and the expected payback period are all clearly stated.

The last paragraph quotes Zhang Yong's original words: "Literature carries industry, and industry revitalizes the nation."

That morning, forty copies of the Beijing Daily were sold out in no time at the newsstand on the Peking University campus.

Zhao Huaijin's office phone rang all morning.

The door to Fang Qiming's laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering was knocked on and closed repeatedly in the morning, only to be knocked on again after it was closed.

There are undergraduate students, graduate students, and teachers from other departments.

They were all asking how to join the "Youth Industrial Literature Society Technical Service Center," and some of the more sincere ones even brought their resumes.

When Wang Guanghui was having lunch, he pulled all four of his roommates into the laboratory.

"Professor Fang! Everyone from the Electrical Engineering Department is here!"

"Our advisor has said he agrees to let us participate in the social practice program. We'll handle everything: electrical control, inverter selection, and temperature control solutions!"

"He even said that if there weren't enough people, he should be brought along too!"

Fang Qiming looked at the stack of registration forms, and the corners of his mouth, which had been smiling all morning, curled up again.

"it is good."

In the afternoon, Qian Zhiyuan picked up his first formal contract from the school's Youth League Committee.

Party A: Tongxian Dongsheng Coal Plant.

Party B: Technical Service Center of the Youth Industrial Literature Society of Beijing University.

The contract was stamped with the official seal of the "Industry-University-Research Cooperation Office of Beijing University".

Contract amount: RMB 12,000 for boiler modification technical services.

Prepayment: 5,000 yuan.

Qian Zhiyuan clutched the contract in his arms and jogged from the administration building to the laboratory, almost tripping over the threshold as he entered.

"The money has arrived!"

He carefully placed the contract and a bank deposit slip on the counter, his hands trembling.

"Five thousand yuan! Prepayment! It's been transferred to the school's special finance account!"

Several graduate students gathered around to look, their breathing becoming heavy.

Zhang Yong walked over, picked up the bill, and glanced at it.

Five thousand yuan.

Fang Qiming cleared his throat.

"Classmates, this 5,000 yuan is an advance payment from Dongsheng Coal Mine. After all the installations are completed, they will have 3,000 yuan left, and there are 12 more to come. Zhao Fucai's data is not yet complete, and we need to come up with the standardized construction plan before the data arrives."

"I'll discuss the distribution of this money with the school, and I guarantee everyone will be happy!"

He walked up to the organizational chart on the wall and added a few names in red pen.

"Qian Zhiyuan, you lead the mechanical team. Wang Guanghui, you lead the electrical team. Lin Ling, you're in charge of testing and recording. Zhang Yong, you continue to coordinate the data provided by Zhao Fucai and see what we need to purchase and what parts we need to make."

"Everyone, starting today, weekends are canceled."

No one complained.

Zhang Yong rolled up his sleeves, turned around, and went to work on the lathe.

evening.

After leaving the lab, Zhang Yong rode his Jialing 125 back to Jinsong Community, the system panel silently appearing in his mind.

[Fighting Lv.5: Progress 99% (AFK — 30x speed)]

almost.

The lights in the guardhouse were still on.

Grandpa Chen was leaning back in his rattan chair listening to the radio, holding a handful of sunflower seeds in his hands.

"Zhang Yong! You have a phone call!"

Grandpa Chen poked his head out of the window.

"Who hit him?"

"Little Li from the police station said to call back as soon as you get back; he has some good news!"

Zhang Yong strode into the reception room, picked up the receiver, and dialed a number.

It rang twice, then the call connected.

"Zhang Yong?" Xiao Li's voice sounded a little anxious.

"it's me."

"There's movement in Baoding. Your uncle Zhang Dewang's two-story house in Zhangzhuang—"

There was a pause on the other end of the phone.

"It's sold."

Zhang Yong gripped the microphone tightly.

"I didn't expect it to be this fast either; you'd never guess from the buyer."

"He's also someone who has a grudge against Ma Degui."