In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 359 Qu Hongtao is inhuman: He makes academicians and professors do radio calisthenics and even takes attendance.
“Principal Qu, you are in charge of logistics, so you are the most suitable person to go there… This matter needs to be kept confidential. Currently, only the three of us here, plus Principal Zhang and Secretary Liu know about it.”

Seeing that Qu Hongtao no longer objected, Xie Wei also breathed a sigh of relief.

He originally intended to give this opportunity to Yuan Zhenyue.

However, Yuan Zhenyue wanted to obtain a higher position to realize his ambitions, but on the other hand, he resisted contact with Xie Wei. This put him in a key position and caused uncontrollable impacts on Xie Wei's plans.

It wasn't that Xie Wei wanted Yuan Zhenyue to listen to him in everything.

No matter what Xie Wei brought up that was related to Yuan Zhenyue, Yuan Zhenyue's first thought was not about the outcome, but whether Xie Wei was planning to use this opportunity to frame him again.

People with paranoia don't go far.

Qu Hongtao was tricked by Li Rui, not because he actually conspired with Factory 122 without regard for the school's interests. Xie Wei naturally couldn't just let him take the blame and leave as before.

Going to the special economic zone can be seen as compensation for Qu Hongtao.

"Don't worry, I know the confidentiality rules."

At this moment, Vice Principal Qu no longer felt bullied at all. "Could you tell me the specifics of what's going on over there?"

He even started to look forward to it.

Xie Wei had previously set up Wenxuan Auto Service Company in Huadu, but placed the school's Pearl River Delta office in the Special Economic Zone, which was already puzzling. After learning about the plan to build a branch school, Qu Hongtao began to look forward to it.

"We will first manufacture the computers at Huafeng in Shanghai and launch them to the market. Then, we will develop new products based on market conditions... Meanwhile, we are setting up a computer factory in the Special Economic Zone... That factory has only one task: to promote the development of the chip industry! Therefore, product design and development will all be completed there..."

Xie Wei took out a proposal from the drawer.

The fact that the school-enterprise joint venture has money is only relative.

It's still too little compared to the funding needed for the school's current projects and development.

"Digital watch? Mobile phone? Chinese SMS transceiver? VCD/DVD player..."

The plan is just a draft, listing a long list of products.

"Yes. You can't take this proposal with you..."

"Hey Xie Wei, what do you think about me coming back to be the principal now?"

At that moment, Li Rui regretted it.

Although he recognized all those names, he didn't know what they were or what their purpose was. However, Xie Wei's emphasis on them suggested they had a significant market potential.

Xie Wei rolled his eyes and didn't want to pay any attention to him.

In order to make money, he racked his brains to list out various technological products that were popular in the domestic market since the 1980s and that the school had some basic technology products.

This document can also be considered as the school's future development outline in the field of civilian technology.

"By the way, Principal Qu, actually this matter doesn't need to offend too many people... I think we can do it like this..."

Since Qu Hongtao wasn't really betraying the school's interests, Xie Wei told Qu Hongtao about the method he planned to use.

After hearing this, Qu Hongtao's eyes lit up instantly, then slumped again, "What if word gets out later..."

"How can word get out? There are only the three of us here."

Xie Wei glanced at Li Rui.

Li Rui rolled his eyes: "Am I the kind of person who can't keep his mouth shut?"

Even Qu Hongtao cast a disdainful look at him.

Principal Li is ruthless in achieving his goals; aside from top-secret state secrets, there's nothing he won't say in order to get what he wants.

"The Shanghai Large Aircraft Factory and the Y-10 team will also be visiting the school in the next few days. You can discuss and communicate with them..."

Li Rui immediately changed the subject.

They're gone, they're gone.

If I stay any longer, I'll never be able to save face again.

Even though he regretted leaving the school too early, and even wanted to stay in the principal's position until he couldn't anymore, he had no choice but to leave.

His current position allows him to provide more support for the school's development than the principal.

"Old Qu agreed?"

Zhang Mingqiu looked at the proposal Liu Debao handed over, quite surprised. "Isn't he particularly opposed to this?"

They were unaware of Xie Wei's communication with Qu Hongtao.

"Who cares! He's already submitted his resignation. Let him retire once this is over. Xie Wei said it before..."

Liu Debao looked completely unconcerned.

Things have to be done by someone.

"Then I will send a notice to all laboratories and project teams as requested by Lao Qu, informing everyone that there will be a meeting tomorrow morning."

Zhang Mingqiu had no other ideas.

He simply notifies the bigwigs to hold a meeting, rather than announcing policies, so as not to offend anyone.

As a result, all the laboratory leaders, project managers, and technical leaders in the school received a notice from the school: a meeting will be held at nine o'clock tomorrow morning to discuss issues such as adjustments to the school's project funding.

Before the Lunar New Year, the authorities had already instructed schools to scale back their projects to avoid blind expansion.

Everyone involved knows this.

Several months have passed, and there has been no further news.

It's like the Sword of Damocles hanging over everyone's heads; no one knows which projects will be cut or which projects will have their funding reduced.

finally come.

Even though they were reluctant, many of the school's project leaders and technical personnel still showed up in the auditorium on time.

From tanks to fighter jets, and then to specific projects, from materials research labs to CNC equipment, from chemical laboratories to chemical processes...

The auditorium, built in 1926 and originally only able to accommodate 200-300 people, was packed to capacity.

At this point, many of the top researchers who had devoted themselves to research since entering Harbin Institute of Technology realized why the university was required by higher authorities to slow down its expansion and reduce its R&D projects.

Too much!
Many of the bigwigs don't know each other, but those who are here are all associate professors and management cadres at the level of section chief or deputy director or above from the class of 16.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am very sorry to have taken up your valuable time..."

Looking at the hall packed with bigwigs, Liu Debao, who was presiding over the meeting, sighed inwardly, thinking that Xie Wei should also be invited to come and see.

“……学校大型科研项目一共27类，项目总计187个，还有更多配套的子项目在排队等候……80年一年时间内，学校总计投入科研经费2亿8734万5731元4角7分……”

"Suck~"

When Zhang Mingqiu released the school's research investment data from last year, all the bigwigs gasped in astonishment.

However, the thought of nearly 200 projects under development at the same time, including many large-scale projects that consume a lot of money, made the already heavy expressions on the faces of the research leaders even more serious.

"The higher-ups have ordered the elimination of some unnecessary projects to save money..."

"You can't cut it!"

"Although our current project has a high budget, it involves multiple fields..." "Give us a little more time, and we'll have results soon..."

When Liu Debao mentioned that the higher-ups had ordered the cutting of projects and budgets, the auditorium instantly became noisy.

Yu Guofeng, Du Guowang, Liang Hongbin and other bigwigs looked at each other in bewilderment. After exchanging glances, they began to search for Xie Wei's whereabouts, since this matter was inextricably linked to Xie Wei.

Xie Wei hasn't revealed anything, which is unusual!

Therefore, they all remained calm and waited for Liu Debao to continue.

"Everyone has seen your hard work and efforts... The school has limited funds, and the logistics supply system is under tremendous pressure..."

After receiving a signal from Liu Debao, Qu Hongtao took a deep breath and began his performance.

"As the person in charge of logistics, serving everyone, I really struggled to make decisions when school leaders asked me which projects should be cut or whose funding should be reduced... Every project is very important..."

Qu Hongtao said through gritted teeth.

The more I talked, the more uneasy I felt.

While this is much better than forcibly introducing regulations to force leading researchers to leave their research positions, it will still be criticized.

"Therefore, given the current uncertainty, I suggested to the school that the progress of various projects be slowed down to alleviate the financial pressure on the school... Specifically, this means cutting back on working hours... All laboratories must turn off the lights at 10 p.m. every night... and cannot be turned on until after 8 a.m. in the morning..."

"Nonsense! We're halfway through writing a computer program, how are we supposed to stop it? Especially the program that's entered the testing phase, are we just going to cut off the power?"

Yu Guofeng was the first to object.

What a fuss!

This is yet another variation of the school's mandatory rest order.

Who wouldn't want to rest if they could?
"Director Yu, the situation with the computers is indeed special... a power outage is not required..."

“Isn’t electricity free?”

Yu Guofeng was furious.

"Exactly, what if a chemical reaction is in progress, and someone leaves? What if something goes wrong? Or what if the experiment is stopped halfway through?"

Kang Yi was also unhappy.

"When we study alloy materials, the high temperature and high pressure are all within a fixed time. Does that mean we can just ignore everything once the time is up?"

Qu Hongtao's proposal was met with resistance from all the bigwigs as soon as it was released.

Every bigwig who resisted him had very valid reasons—and that's true, various experiments, once started, simply cannot be stopped without results.

In an instant, the entire auditorium turned into a vegetable market.

Everyone turned their anger towards Qu Hongtao.

Liu Debao and Zhang Mingqiu exchanged a glance, thankfully it wasn't them who suggested it.

Even limiting research time has met with such resistance, let alone cutting funding for any project.

However, radio calisthenics, which are meant to get people moving and exercising, will face even stronger resistance—it's something that also hinders people's research!
"Bang bang bang~"

Qu Hongtao was extremely panicked, but he still tried to remain calm on the surface. He braced himself on the table with one hand, but his legs were trembling uncontrollably.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the school's research funding from above is less than 1200 million yuan per year. Most of it is self-raised, relying on the profits of the school-enterprise office for support... Currently... Factory 122... has broken the agreement. 3000 Hongguang minivans that should have been sold by Wenxuan Auto Service Company, a subsidiary of the school-enterprise office, were sold privately by them, causing Wenxuan Auto Service Company to lose at least 2 million yuan in profits..."

When talking about Factory 122 breaking the agreement, Qu Hongtao paused three times in a row, and his legs trembled even more violently.

The matter has not been made public yet, and people are unaware of the details. Once the matter is made public, he will face even more criticism.

Ultimately, however, you have to bear it all yourself.

"Wow~"

The entire auditorium erupted in an uproar.

It's like when it rains, it pours. Just when the higher-ups were asking for project cuts, our partner betrayed us, resulting in a loss of at least 200 million. And this is just the beginning!

"Bang bang bang~"

Qu Hongtao forced himself to slam his fist on the table again to silence the auditorium.

"Since no one wants to slow down the progress, who can show some sportsmanship and voluntarily suspend the project and give up the funding?"

"..."

The auditorium was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Nobody wants that.

It's not out of selfishness that I don't want my research projects to be cut. If the projects are cut or the funding is reduced, how can I contribute to the country's development?

The greatest contribution that every researcher can make to the country is to strive for breakthroughs in their field of research and to narrow the gap between their research and the international advanced level.

"According to logistical statistics, the cost of errors caused by researchers operating under fatigue due to prolonged fatigue tactics accounts for about 10% of the total cost of the university's scientific research investment... Under the current circumstances, all research projects must ensure that researchers have sufficient rest time; otherwise, the university will directly stop issuing subsequent research funding..."

Qu Hongtao then began to calm down.

This isn't something he just made up on the spot.

With sufficient funding, the school worked day and night to conduct research on newer technologies for each project in order to achieve results more quickly.

Due to a shortage of staff, a large number of students who are still in their undergraduate studies have also joined the project.

Due to lack of experience and fatigue, the waste of R&D costs in various projects is quite serious.

Upon hearing this, many project leaders turned away from Qu Hongtao's gaze as he swept across the room.

"Therefore, from now on, all research projects must ensure that researchers get enough rest... Funding will be changed from quarterly payments to monthly payments... Otherwise, the project will be canceled!"

At this point, even though the project leaders were extremely unwilling, they could no longer refute them.

"To monitor everyone, the school's labor union will be fully involved in attendance tracking. If there is work that cannot be stopped on the same day, it can continue, but it must be deducted from subsequent research time after it is finished..."

Thus, the "research time system," which was later criticized by all relevant research teams in the school but envied by research teams in other units, was born: researchers are given a fixed amount of research time each month and year. Once the research time is up, they can no longer go to the laboratory and can only do theoretical research in the office at most.

"Furthermore, given the prolonged period of exhaustion and lack of exercise among all researchers, this is detrimental to the development of the university's research projects and also hinders cost savings... Only a healthy body can ensure the continued and stable progress of projects... Therefore, after applying to the Ministry, starting tomorrow, all faculty, staff, researchers, and students will uniformly perform the fifth set of broadcast gymnastics starting at 7:40 AM..."

"What the hell?"

"The fifth set of broadcast gymnastics?"

"Do it all the same way?"

The bigwigs were completely dumbfounded at this moment.

What a mess!

The above really shows a lack of consideration for how much time is wasted.
"The union will also take attendance for all research teams. If too many people miss morning exercises for a certain project, or if it exceeds an average of three times per month, the funding will be reduced first... If this continues for three consecutive months, the project will be cut..."

"..."

Looking at Qu Hongtao, all the bigwigs gritted their teeth.

Many bigwigs who are usually very good-tempered wanted to curse Qu Hongtao's female relatives - are you afraid of offending people by cutting projects, so you use this method to cut project funding?
(End of this chapter)