That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1416 We Won't Change (One Update After Taking a Break)
"Second prize: Wu Zhangfa, Han Sumin, and Zhang Zongtao will each receive a motorcycle."

"The first prize is a Xiali sedan."

January 1, 1993, Friday, high temperature 6 degrees Celsius.

The annual year-end commendation meeting of the First Branch Factory was held on time as usual.

Even though the First Factory was already very wealthy, it still didn't build a large auditorium, and the commendation meeting was still held outdoors with a large group of people.

However, the atmosphere at the scene was very lively because although the conditions were simple, the prizes were quite generous!

Motorcycles, refrigerators, large color TVs, and the top prize is a car. Do you think we could use the money spent on building the auditorium to make prizes and distribute them to the workers? Would that get everyone's support?

Isn't that nonsense?
The buildings are built in a grand and magnificent manner, but what benefits do the workers who do the work receive?
In recent years, even the office building of the No. 1 factory has looked "shabby," becoming a laughing stock among its sister factories. However, the workers' wages have increased year by year, and the year-end bonuses and prizes have been rising steadily.
Over the years, even the most slow-witted child has come to understand the principle that "the filling of a bun isn't in the pleats," so no one feels at all that standing outside in this freezing weather is suffering.

Moreover, after each announcement of the winners, everyone would express their support and enthusiasm with enthusiastic applause.

This isn't the kind of fake enthusiasm where people "have to applaud"; it's genuine support from the bottom of their hearts.

Because these award winners are ordinary people just like everyone else, chosen through a collective vote by all the staff in each workshop and department.
The voting at the First Factory is conducted on-site, and anyone who wishes can personally verify the vote count, ensuring that there is absolutely no situation where the "awards are predetermined".

Whether you are a cadre or a worker, as long as you work hard and the branch factory maintains its current momentum, you will always have the opportunity to win an award based on your abilities.

As for whether the first branch factory can maintain its momentum of rapid development, everyone agrees.

Just like a dynasty at its inception, or the rising sun in the early morning, the No. 1 Factory's various systems were in excellent condition at this time, showing no signs of decay or corruption.

Because the person who formulated the system was in his prime and enjoying a successful career, he could completely keep all the unscrupulous villains in check and prevent them from doing anything despicable.

Li Ye, as usual, was the deputy director of the No. 1 factory, sitting next to Lu Zhizhang.

Today, Li Ye attended as a "group leader," taking the main seat on the stage and "squeezing" Lu Zhizhang off.

However, no one thought it was inappropriate, not even Lu Zhizhang. The faster Li Ye climbed the ranks, the faster the branch factory would develop. If someone else were put in charge of the branch factory, the development direction might take a 180-degree turn.

Have you ever seen the "strange thing" where the year-end bonus falls on the head of an ordinary worker who works hard, while his boss can only look on with envy?

This is the branch factory that countless workers wholeheartedly support.

Furthermore, according to convention, the group leaders are considered "higher and more prestigious" than the factory cadres. Even Xiao Zhu from the technical department was ranked ahead of his old buddy Wu Yan, which infuriated Wu Yan.

After the commendation meeting was over, Li Ye, Lu Zhizhang, Wu Yan, Xiao Zhu and others went to the conference room. Wu Yan gave Xiao Zhu a deep bow with a forced smile.

He grabbed Xiao Zhu's neck and put his arm around her neck. It looked like two good buddies were being affectionate, but in reality, he was choking Xiao Zhu so much that she could hardly breathe.

"Vice Minister Zhu, you now hold a high position and wield great power. I'm bowing to you, are you comfortable with this? Are you touched?"

Xiao Zhu and Wu Yan used to be the head and deputy head of the technical department, respectively. They had worked together for five or six years and had a very pleasant relationship. However, after the group merger, Xiao Zhu followed Li Ye to work at the group headquarters.

Although the two were of equal rank, he was now the "group leader," which made Wu Yan both angry and amused.

While holding his breath, Xiao Zhu said with a grin, "That feels so good, so touching! You, surnamed Wu, are so damn righteous! I'll definitely give you a good promotion when I have the chance in the future."

"I can go to you!"

Wu Yan released his arm and shoved Xiao Zhu away, saying with a look of disgust, "If I wanted a promotion, would I need your help? I can get one through my own abilities."

"."

At this moment, Li Ye said with a stern face, "Wu Yan, what are you saying? You and Xiao Zhu each have your own skills. He can't match your technical skills, but you can't learn his management skills either. If you're not satisfied, I'll have you two switch places tomorrow."

"No way, I'm not going to a place full of backstabbing and intrigue!"

Wu Yan waved his hand, refusing Li Ye's offer.

Within the First Factory, Wu Yan was second to none, because his skills were truly outstanding. His contributions to the factory's current achievements were undeniable.

But he still has a good sense of self-awareness compared to Li Ye.

Moreover, he knew Li Ye was right. Technically, Wu Yan was second to none, but Xiao Zhu going to the group headquarters with Li Ye wasn't about discussing technology; it was about backstabbing and infighting. Given Wu Yan's "arrogant" style at the branch factory, at the group headquarters he'd either be fighting with people every day or practically suffocating. Where was the comfort compared to being at the branch factory?

"Everyone, please sit down. I have something to say."

Li Ye and the others quieted down, then he said in a deep voice, "The research allocation plan for the Kamaz project has been finalized. The entire vehicle frame, engine, and cab will be assigned to Southwest Heavy Truck, while the gearbox and drive unit will be allocated to us."

"What? The engine was given to Southwest Heavy Truck?"

Wu Yan exclaimed in surprise, "Li Ye, you know about Southwest Heavy Truck, right? They don't have the capability to develop engines. If we're relying on their engines, we'll never see a complete vehicle."

"Yes, Mr. Li, Southwest Heavy Truck hasn't been able to develop a usable engine in decades. How can we let them take over engine research? What if we develop everything else, only to have them hold us back? Wouldn't that be a waste of all our efforts?"

Chen Yazhi and his team went to Southwest China and thoroughly investigated Southwest Heavy Truck. If the allocation were to proceed as Li Ye suggested, the Kamaz project would most likely have only one outcome—running out of funding and completely failing.

Wu Yan chuckled coldly, "Heh heh, engine R&D costs the most! As for whether it can be developed or not, how many projects have been wasted over the years and ended up failing?"

Li Ye let out a breath, then calmly said, "This is the decision from above, but I don't intend to abide by it. We need to develop the engine, we need to develop the cab, and we need to develop the entire vehicle frame."
In short, we will develop the parts that Southwest Heavy Truck cannot develop, and we will also develop the parts that they can develop. I am determined to completely crush them.

"."

"Okay, let's do it that way. I've disliked them for a long time."

"Exactly, crush them first, then incorporate them."

"What? You're actually thinking of recruiting them? Aren't you afraid they'll stab you in the back? Didn't you see Xiahou Xiaoxu's face?"

"If we don't incorporate them, then our merger will have been for nothing."

"."

Listening to his old comrades chattering away, Li Ye smiled and said, "How could we have merged for nothing? Our ranks are different now, and the benefits we receive are different too."
At least we have some land for the new factory, and the government's funding has been basically secured. I plan to move the R&D center to the west side later. What are your opinions?

Wu Yan frowned: "West? Where is west?"

Li Ye said calmly, "Go ten kilometers to the west and quietly search the area nearby!"

Wu Yan immediately asked, "So, are we going to move there? What will happen to our current house?"

Li Ye smiled and said, "There's plenty of land over there; we can build new dormitories. Don't worry, each person will have at least 100 square meters."

Wu Yan's current house is a three-bedroom, one-living room apartment of 70-80 square meters, while the other technicians' houses are two-bedroom, one-living room apartments of 50-60 square meters. Therefore, Li Ye's proposal of no less than 100 square meters is considered a good condition.

But Wu Yan blinked, smiled, and uttered two words: "No trade."

Li Ye tilted his head: "Huh? Wu Yan, what do you mean?"

Wu Yan said frankly, "Ten kilometers to the west is the mountainous area. A hundred square meters there is not as good as thirty or forty square meters here, so we are not moving."

Li Ye asked in surprise, "Who told you that a 100-square-meter house over there is not as good as a 30 or 40-square-meter house here?"

Wu Yan chuckled and remained silent.

Meanwhile, Old Jie, standing nearby, said in a muffled voice, "Director Li, when you were at my wedding, you told us after a few drinks that the closer you got to the city center, the more valuable the houses would become. Have you forgotten all about that?"

Wu Yan smiled and said, "Director Li, you're not going to forcibly take back our current houses, are you? You promised that as long as we work hard for the factory, we can live here forever."

Li Ye exclaimed in surprise, "Damn, drinking really does lead to trouble!"

But Lao Jie said, "The current R&D workshop is indeed too small, so we are willing to move to the west. Please prepare temporary dormitories and shuttle buses for us!"

"."

Li Ye chuckled.

These guys may be shrewd, but they're still reasonable and understand the bigger picture. Since they asked Li Ye to prepare temporary dormitories, they're prepared to work overtime.

　I have some family matters to attend to today, so I'll be taking a break from updating today. I'll make up for it soon.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)