Chemical Empire 1980

Chapter 85 Able to bend and stretch
"You are so young and promising!"

In the restaurant of the Provincial Defense Industry Office's guesthouse, Gao Zhiguo patted Xu Qiang on the shoulder and said to Liu Biao beside him: "It seems that your Shengli Machinery Factory is really full of talents. Any worker can come up with such a good technical transformation plan. I really didn't expect it."

"Xiao Xu is indeed a chemical genius. I never noticed it before, but as the old saying goes, gold will shine sooner or later. This time I finally met him."

Liu Biao was obviously very satisfied with Xu Qiang's performance in the afternoon, and even felt a little shocked. He did not expect that Xu Qiang could actually "compete" with the experts from the province. In the end, Xu Qiang was the only one giving the speech, and the several chemical experts present could only listen to the lecture!

"Thank you for the compliment, leader. Actually, I am just an ordinary worker who is interested in chemical engineering and likes to think about things. Today, I have learned a lot from communicating with all the experts..." Xu Qiang said modestly.

In fact, Xu Qiang didn't want to show off too much, but since it was related to his own future, he had to show some real skills. Now that the task has been completed, he tried his best to praise the experts present today.

"Xiao Xu, I heard that you only have a junior high school diploma, but I don't think so." Cao Liansheng also interrupted at this time, and he said, "I didn't come into contact with the things you talked about this afternoon until I went to college, so I'm very curious, where did you learn chemical engineering?"

"Most people from our village who work in the factory work in the chemical workshop. My father also likes chemicals. Since I was a child, I have been influenced by him and have developed a deep interest in this industry." Xu Qiang pondered for a moment and continued, "So since I was very young, I have liked reading books like "100,000 Whys". Later, after graduating from junior high school, I would read some books on chemical engineering when I had free time after doing farm work..."

"It's even more amazing that he is self-taught," Cao Liansheng praised.

“This is absolutely genius!”

"What a terrifying life."

After hearing Xu Qiang's self-introduction, several other experts were also amazed.

It can be said that this afternoon's conversation made Xu Qiang a rising star in the provincial military industry system and successfully attracted the attention of his superiors.

Although Xu Qiang was the absolute protagonist in the afternoon meeting, he had to play a supporting role at this dinner because it was Liu Biao's turn to take action.

Xu Qiang and Liu Biao have clear division of labor. Xu Qiang is responsible for dealing with the experts from the province and making sure they approve of the military-to-civilian technical transformation plan, while Liu Biao directly faces his superiors to ensure that funds and grants are received as soon as possible.

"Director Gao, I'm flattered by all the delicious food and wine..." Liu Biao said to Gao Zhiguo when he saw the table full of sumptuous dishes.

"Don't worry, the reception standard here is four dishes and one soup, but this time I'm paying for it out of my own pocket, so it doesn't count as a violation!" Gao Zhiguo said with a smile.

In fact, Liu Biao and Gao Zhiguo have been friends for a long time. When Liu Biao came to Jiangxi to build a factory, Gao Zhiguo had just been transferred from the front-line troops to the Provincial Defense Science and Technology Office. During this period, he also followed the leaders at that time to visit Shengli Machinery Factory many times. From that time on, the two have known each other.

Over the years, the relationship between the two has always been good. It is precisely because of this that whenever there are policy changes and various internal information in the country, Liu Biao can learn about it through Gao Zhiguo first.

"Come to think of it, I haven't been to the Provincial Labor Office for nearly a year." Liu Biao sighed, and then continued, "Last time, you and Director Luo entertained me, an old man, and you managed to get me drunk. But drinking with you guys is just two words: it's fun!"

"It's a pity that Director Luo went to BJ for business this time, otherwise he would have received you in person if he had known you were coming." Gao Zhiguo smiled slightly, and then said: "There are a few veteran experts accompanying us today, so you must perform well." "Of course!" Liu Biao said with a smile.

Seeing the two leaders and several experts taking their seats, Xu Qiang immediately opened a bottle of wine and poured wine for everyone one by one.

At this time, Xu Qiang behaved very humbly. He would say a few words when others asked him questions, and would not interrupt if others did not ask him. He was just busy serving food and pouring wine for everyone.

The wine table is the place where class and status can be best reflected. At this moment, Gao Zhiguo was undoubtedly the focus of everyone's vying for favor. Whether it was Liu Biao or those experts, they all stood up to toast him.

"... Regarding your factory's military orders, I have really tried my best." After a few glasses of wine, Gao Zhiguo finally got to the point after Liu Biao's repeated reminders. He continued, "The instructions from the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building are very firm. They are to do their best to reduce the military orders of your third-tier enterprises. Director Luo and I also know that it is not easy for you. Director Luo went to BJ this time just to buy you some time, but judging from the current situation, this is very difficult..."

"Thank you for your hard work, Director Gao." Liu Biao pondered for a moment and then said, "But our company is indeed in trouble. There are more than 10,000 employees and their families in the factory. If we reduce the orders of one in three people, many people may not be able to get their salaries."

Liu Biao's best skill in front of his superiors is to "cry poor". As the saying goes, the crying child gets the milk, and as the factory director, Liu Biao naturally knows this truth.

This also made Xu Qiang see another side of Liu Biao. Although this old man had the final say in the factory, he was very humble in front of his superiors. For the benefit of the factory, he was able to bend and stretch.

"You can apply for a loan from the bank to get through the current difficulties. Isn't that what many factories are doing now?" Gao Zhiguo sighed and said, "You can't always ask your superiors for help. You also have to learn to be self-reliant. For example, this time, the technical reform plan proposed by Xiao Xu is very good. It has now been approved by experts. The next step is for me to apply for special funds for you from the ministry."

At this time, Gao Zhiguo finally said that Xu Qiang's technical transformation plan had been approved. If it weren't for Liu Biao's "pressure", Gao Zhiguo might not have announced it so quickly.

At this moment, Xu Qiang’s mission was successfully completed!
"That's really great!"

"In the future, your factory can carry out more technical transformation activities like this one. As long as they can pass the review of experts, I will report them to you. No matter what the results of the technical transformation are, at least you can still get the project funds."

"Yes, yes, yes! Director Gao, let me toast you another glass!" Liu Biao said with a smile on his face.

Seeing this, Xu Qiang, who was standing by, immediately filled both of their glasses with wine.

“I really can’t drink anymore…”

Gao Zhiguo said this, but still picked up the wine glass.

The next moment, their cups clinked together crisply, and then they drank it all...

(End of this chapter)