Siheyuan: I eat melons while doing scientific research

Chapter 1242 They want textbooks? (4k, 5k more)

These words chilled Chief Engineer Wu to the bone: "The Eleventh Ministry of Machine Building? What use would we be? We're not even in the same system. Would they give us anything? The Eleventh Ministry of Machine Building doesn't even have enough to go around to its own factories."

Interestingly, Jiu'an Group, which later became one of the major pillars of domestic car manufacturing, did not belong to the Eleventh Ministry of Machinery Industry, but was part of the Ordnance Industry Group under the National Defense Industry Commission. That's why Chief Engineer Wu made this statement.

There's no need to escalate this to any factionalism; this is simply an internal matter within the Eleventh Ministry of Machine Building.

"Why worry about so much? This is an opportunity. My friend said that this car is also the kind that requires a simple structure and is sturdy and durable, which is exactly the same as the Longjiang 46 we were working on back then. Although the Longjiang 46 wasn't very sturdy and durable either, at least the idea is the same."

When it comes to "durability and robustness," Factory Director Ou felt somewhat unsure of his own abilities, but his initial intention was at least in that direction.

"What you're saying makes sense. Maybe we should talk to the leaders of the National Defense Industry Committee and see if they can help us. Maybe things have already been decided, and we'll need the leaders to step in and help us secure it." Chief Engineer Wu nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes, we don't necessarily have to monopolize it. At least sharing some of the tasks would be fine. With the National Defense Industry Committee involved, there shouldn't be too much of a problem." These days, it's common for multiple factories to produce the same model.

"Then hurry up, hurry up! These things are first come, first served. I'll go find a few deputy factory directors to arrange the work, and you should hurry too. Let's try to get it on the road tomorrow. It would be best if we could get our hands on that new model we're preparing to develop. We have experience in this area, so it's better than having no experience at all. Besides, we've been cooperating with other factories to produce military equipment for the past few years, so we haven't been doing it for nothing. We're not completely clueless like before." Director Ou was a man of action; even if it was just to get a share of the profits, he had to act quickly.

"Okay!" Chief Engineer Wu didn't delay, as this matter was of great importance to the entire factory.

And you know what? The military industry has its advantages – it can hitch a ride on a plane!

While comrades in other places who received the news around the same time were still swaying on the train, they had already shaken their way from Shuangqing to Beijing, changing planes multiple times.

"It's fast, but it's also incredibly tiring. When will we finally have a large, comfortable plane to ride in?" Factory Director Ou said to Chief Engineer Wu, rubbing his aching back as he disembarked in Beijing.

Chief Engineer Wu, rubbing his back, shook his head. A man who, besides his technical skills, also loved history: "This matter... well, it's all about Louis XVI..."

"What do you mean? It's related to the Gauls?" Director Ou wasn't completely ignorant about history.

"It seems to stretch on forever, hahaha~~~"

Hearing Chief Engineer Wu's words, the two men laughed. However, what they didn't know was that this matter actually had something to do with the Gauls.

When the comrades from Jiu'an Machinery Factory arrived at the National Defense Industry Committee and reported their ideas to the chief engineer of the committee, the chief engineer was also quite interested in them.

"Hmm... Your idea is very good. Okay, let's discuss it with the Eleventh Ministry of Machinery Industry." In today's climate where military issues are given relatively high priority, this statement is practically a done deal.

"But I don't know if the Eleventh Ministry of Machinery Industry will agree to let us handle that new model of popular car." Director Ou was a little worried about this. Unlike the minivan, which had already been developed, this car was still nowhere in sight.

Although handing it over to Jiu'an Machinery Factory meant that the Eleventh Ministry of Machine Building would not have to contribute resources, it also meant that the work performance would be lost. For most ministries with ideas, they would rather spend resources than lose their leading role.

"You don't need to worry about that. We know where the technology for this car comes from, hahaha. Besides, it's not like we won't return it to them after we develop it. Their factory under the Eleventh Ministry of Machine Building can just produce it together." The chief engineer of the National Defense Industry Committee laughed. The source of this technology was actually closer to the National Defense Industry Committee than to the Eleventh Ministry of Machine Building.

From the perspective of the National Defense Industry Committee, this person is simply affiliated with other ministries and has an office in another ministry, but he is undoubtedly one of their own.
-
The snowy plateau, Weinan region.

"The people from Sindhu in the south want our teaching materials?" A local comrade was stunned when he heard his comrade tell him this.

The comrade reporting on the work nodded and said, "Yes, that's what they told our comrades at the border. But they don't look like Sindhu people to me." The Republic of Assam is not recognized by us, and we still habitually call them Sindhu people.

However, the six northeastern states of Sindhu seem quite different from those on the Sindhu Peninsula. This area was originally ceded by John Bull from the later telecom fraud zone, and its population is predominantly East Asian.

Moreover, most of the six northeastern states of Sindhu use an official language that belongs to the same language family as ours. In fact, the official languages ​​of these six states are different.

In a sense, if most of them were to learn our language as a foreign language, they would indeed have a natural advantage.

"These people are different from the people on the western Indian Peninsula, so what's the meaning of them asking us for teaching materials?"

"I don't know. Perhaps they want to offer foreign language courses? This matter is rather complicated, and I dare not make a decision myself. I can only report it to you," the comrade who reported said. After all, this is different from providing a little food out of humanitarian concern, or returning a large amount of well-maintained weapons and equipment to their rightful owners after the war.

Things involving culture are always somewhat sensitive.

"Hmm... I understand. I'll consult with my superiors." The official in charge of the Weinan region pondered for a moment. He couldn't just do this on his own. A little bit of teaching material wasn't a big problem, but this kind of action involved a matter of attitude, which was a bit delicate.

With their vital passageway severed, the "Republic of Assam" is actually the most peaceful of the three major regions currently occupied by the Dire Three Kingdoms, allowing them the opportunity to develop quietly. Moreover, their greatest advantage lies in the fact that they also possess a fairly good, fertile, and lush river valley plain, thus effectively addressing their biggest threat—the problem of food security.

With the food problem solved, many other things will have enough time to develop gradually.

Besides the northeastern region, the southern and northern parts of the Sindhu Peninsula are actually more bustling.

In reality, regardless of which side they support, both the Russians and the Americans are troubled by the endless stream of new countries and states.

"John Bull really left us with a lot of trouble when he left!" Even the Langley Center, known for its tendency to stir up trouble, complained about it.

Unlike other places where trouble needs to be stirred up, this godforsaken place, India, doesn't need any stirrings; they can fight each other to the death. "Think about it more positively. Think about it, those Russians on the other side are probably just as stressed as we are. Doesn't that make you feel better?"

"If you're talking about this, I think we still have something to be happy about. Although the Indians have countless 'official languages,' at least English is one of their official languages. We should thank John Bull for being forced out. I think the Russians have a much bigger headache than we do when facing them!"

At this point in their conversation, the two men, with a touch of "the pot calling the kettle black," found amusement in their predicament.
-
At this moment, Gao Zhendong was unaware that he had been given a job, and was instead engrossed in watching his brother-in-law make a fool of himself.

That doesn't seem quite right either; let's look at his happy occasion.

Lou Shouxing and He Wu registered their marriage with the civil affairs department in China. He Wu was overjoyed to see that his name had not been changed to "Lou He XX" on the marriage certificate.

"It's better to stay in the mainland; you don't have to ask your husband to take your surname there." For He Wu, who was quite masculine, this was a great joy.

What pleased He Wu even more was that taking concubines was not customary here. Registering for marriage here also meant that her position was as secure as Mount Tai.

In fact, what's quite surreal is that countries or regions that constantly tout themselves as advanced are not actually that advanced in many ways. For example, Hong Kong only abolished polygamy and concubinage in 1971, and in the United States, even when Gao Zhendong traveled through time, many states still allowed child marriage, and seven of them did not set any age limit at all.

“We liberated women a long time ago, so naturally we won’t do that anymore. Xiao Wu, it’s just that the wedding here might have to be a little less grand for you.”

For the Lou family, although their situation has been getting better and better since Lou Xiao'e married Gao Zhendong, it is unlikely that they can hold a grand wedding for Lou Shouxing like they did before the liberation.

In other words, Lou Xiao'e could invite a large number of people to her marriage to Gao Zhendong, but it was better for Lou Shouxing and He Wu to keep a low profile when they got married.

"So what? I didn't marry you just for the wedding. Besides, we can make it bigger when we go back to Hong Kong Island. Just think of it this way: the people here are the most important to us, and there aren't that many people who are truly important, right?" He Wu was very understanding.

Due to the special circumstances, it was not convenient for He Wu's family to come, so they decided to hold two weddings, one in Beijing and one in Hong Kong.

"Thank you for being so considerate of me."

"If I don't think about you, who will?" He Wu held the marriage certificate, his eyes shining brightly.

Gao Zhendong and Lou Xiao'e were with them, which is why it was said that Gao Zhendong was laughing at his brother-in-law. The one laughing the most was none other than Lou Xiao'e.

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, let me see your marriage certificate. Oh dear, your brother's face is too white, all greasy and powdery, hehehe~~~~~" Her voice could be heard across eight alleys.

Meanwhile, while the younger generation was out accompanying Lou Shouxing to get his marriage certificate, the elderly couple were also discussing things.

"Old Lou, did you really handle this matter of guarding the business so quietly?" Lou's mother still felt somewhat aggrieved for her son.

"Just do it quietly. The auspicious day is in a few days. Only family and friends should come. Making a big fuss will attract too much attention and might lead to something bad happening." Mr. Lou insisted on this.

"What's there to be afraid of? With Zhendong around, our family isn't that scared, is it? Xiao'e isn't someone to be trifled with either." Lou's mother was somewhat unwilling; Xiao'e was already a March 8th Red Banner recipient.

Lou's father was rather annoyed: "Long hair, short brains! I'm not worried about that, but I'm worried that people who were in a similar situation to us back then will see that we're doing well and become psychologically unbalanced, secretly tripping us up! It's not poverty that's the problem, but inequality, and the same applies here. You can't see into someone's heart, it's hard to say."

Lou's father was not unfamiliar with the calligraphy collected by Gao Zhendong's family, and even Lou Xiao'e had a vague connection to it. He was quite certain that his family probably didn't need to worry too much about these things, but the possibility of underhanded attacks from "old friends" in the old society was another matter.

It's better to avoid trouble. The most important thing is that Lou Shouxing has been handed over. As for the rest, we should just give up.

Lou's mother was also surprised by his words: "Oh, yes, you're so thoughtful..."

She was happy for only a few seconds before she suddenly realized what she meant: "What are you saying about me? If you keep saying that, I'll go to the Women's Federation and report you for looking down on women."

"Fine, fine, forget I said anything, okay? Women's Federation, my foot! Do you even know which way the Women's Federation's door opens?" Mr. Lou was quite helpless with his wife.

"Who says I don't know? When Xiao Wu's charity foundation donated to the Women's Federation, I helped her a lot with the donations." Lou's mother said proudly.

"Alright, alright, I give up, okay...?"

Mr. Lou, acting as if he couldn't afford to offend anyone, went straight to his study.
-
Two comrades from Jiu'an Machinery Factory, under the arrangement of the National Defense Industry Committee, met with comrades from the Eleventh Ministry of Machine Building and decided to transfer a set of microvan production technology data from Beijing Automobile Factory to Jiu'an Machinery Factory.

In fact, at that time, apart from Beijing Automobile Factory, which was unable to produce microvans due to the heavy workload of its series of official cars in Beijing, many other automobile factories would produce microvans for a simple reason—transportation.

If the production of microvans is concentrated in one or two factories, not to mention whether the output will be sufficient, it means that there will be huge costs in transportation after production. As an important means of production and basic transportation, microvans will be in high demand all over the country. In this day and age, there will not be the extensive railway network and highway network that we will have decades later, nor will there be the "mommy cars" that can carry a bunch of cars all over the country on the highways.

Therefore, the best solution is to distribute the production of these microvans to various regions, and Shuangqing Jiu'an Machinery Factory is the best choice for producing these vehicles in the Southwest region.

For the Southwest region, this type of vehicle is the best choice. After all, the roads in the Southwest are too bad, and a minivan, which has high power at low speeds, can carry a lot, and has good off-road performance, is much more appealing than a sedan.

Their second task, arranged by the National Defense Industry Committee, was to meet Gao Zhendong, the proposer of the mini-car.

(End of this chapter)