The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 158 Protection of Zhou Zhiqiang

One machine department.

"lead."

After Director Ren knocked on the door and entered the room, he smiled and said to Deputy Leader Wu, "There's a surprise in the cafeteria at noon today. You can go and take a look."

"The cafeteria? What surprises await?"

Deputy Leader Wu took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and said, "It's good enough that you don't call me. I get a little scared whenever I hear the phone ring."

Lately, it seems like all we've heard is bad news; we haven't heard any good news in our First Ministry of Machine Building for ages.

Last year, influenced by the prevailing trend, the First Ministry of Machine Building also made a lot of blind investments, but this year, all the aftereffects have come to light.

Investment failed to translate into increased productivity; production not only did not improve but also showed a downward trend. This was compounded by natural disasters causing shortages of supplies.
This year's growth rate in heavy industry is unlikely to yield satisfactory results.

Upon hearing this, Director Ren also said with a serious expression, "Last year we made a very memorable mistake. This may be an inevitable part of development. After all, who doesn't make mistakes?"
But boss, we definitely won't make the same mistake again. We just need to focus on improving from now on.

"You're right."

Deputy Leader Wu nodded, then suddenly remembered and looked up to ask, "What was that surprise you mentioned about the cafeteria? I almost forgot."

"It's from the Second Machine Tool Factory. They delivered a thousand catties of mushrooms this morning. We can add a dish to the canteen at noon."

Director Ren said with a smile, "I just called Comrade Zhiqiang, and he said that his factory asked the Ministry of Agriculture to send people to guide them in making this, and they have already successfully harvested the first batch."

The first batch alone weighed over 8,000 jin (4,000 kg). They not only ate at the factory, but each worker was also given two jin (1 kg) of mushrooms.

"Over 8,000 jin?"

Deputy Leader Wu was surprised after hearing this, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Comrade Zhiqiang really has a lot of ideas. He has made such a great profit from agricultural products."

It seems there's still a lot of room for him to develop his abilities. I think this kid could do very well anywhere.

Agricultural machinery factories can develop machinery and equipment that generate foreign exchange trade orders and improve farming practices.

Upon arriving at the Second Machine Tool Plant, the machine tools they developed and manufactured were in high demand by the Ministry of Machine Building. They have also now produced over 8,000 jin of mushrooms in the first phase.
Is there anything this comrade can't do?
Deputy Leader Wu added, "Speaking of which, he is a descendant of revolutionary martyrs. His biological father was Yu Zhongguo, a military attaché stationed abroad by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

It's a pity something went wrong back then, otherwise this kid would have grown up in Yanchang, Shaanxi Province.

Upon hearing this, Director Ren exclaimed in surprise, "Is that so? I remember he was from a family in a village near Beijing?"

"That was before. Actually, he was the child of Yu Zhongguo's first wife. Back then, Comrade Yu Zhongguo's wife planned to join our organization."

However, an accident occurred on the way to Shaanxi and Yan'an. Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang himself was abducted by that family and taken as their son. Later, they had their own child and began to mistreat Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang in every way.

After a pause, Deputy Leader Wu continued with a smile, "Comrade Junfeng from the Light Industry and Comrade Yu Zhongguo are old comrades-in-arms. He even called me back then, hoping that I would take care of Zhou Zhiqiang."

At that time, Zhou Zhiqiang was already playing a pivotal role in the large hydraulic press project; with his abilities, he didn't need my help at all.

He never took care of Zhou Zhiqiang. The sons of high-ranking leaders all started out working in factories, let alone Yu Zhongguo's son.

Zhou Zhiqiang was able to become the deputy director of a large factory directly under a ministry at the age of 25 or 26, purely through his ability.

After listening, Director Ren nodded in surprise and said, "So that's how it is. In that case, Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang can be considered one of our seeds of inspiration."

Fate is cruel. If that female comrade who was loyal to the organization had arrived safely in Shaanxi and Yan'an, Zhou Zhiqiang would definitely have been given special attention and training.

He wouldn't have wasted so many years at home. If Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang had gone to study with the Russians, he might have been even more capable than he is now.

"By the way, you came to see me not just for a mushroom dish, right?"

After asking the question, Deputy Leader Wu said, "It's good that you've produced such remarkable agricultural products, but I didn't send him there to work on agricultural products. This kid shouldn't forget his job."

"Haha, of course he won't forget."

After Director Ren finished speaking, he handed the documents in his hand to Deputy Leader Wu, and then continued, "Besides mushrooms, Comrade Zhiqiang also reported to me on their factory's next plans."

Last time, as the director, I didn't know the progress of the Second Machine Tool Plant's research and development. This time it's different. I inquire about it every now and then, and Comrade Zhiqiang also proactively reports to me.”

"Look, sir, this is the new machine tool that Comrade Zhiqiang is preparing to develop—a high-precision universal grinding machine."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Leader Wu, somewhat surprised, put on his glasses and said, "Another new machine tool? Didn't they just develop a new one?"

After receiving the document, Deputy Leader Wu began to read it carefully.

Director Ren took very detailed notes, even summarizing and organizing the expected processing methods and operating range of the universal grinder.

This made it very clear to Deputy Leader Wu, who quickly understood the positioning of the high-precision universal grinding machine.

"Hmm, this looks a lot like a processing request we received at the beginning of the year."

After reading it, Deputy Leader Wu immediately got up and found a document sent by the Third Ministry of Machine Building, which listed in detail some of the assistance needs.

He remembered this application request. Initially, because it was impossible to meet so many processing requirements, the Technical Department discussed the matter and went through a long detour, sending more assistance, before they could barely fulfill the requirements of the Third Ministry of Machine Building.

Now that Deputy Leader Wu has brought this up for comparison, he feels that if they had this kind of machine tool, they wouldn't have had to rack their brains so much at the beginning of the year.
"Not bad, pretty good."

Deputy Leader Wu nodded and said, "Let Comrade Zhiqiang do it as soon as possible."
"Well done, truly well done! If our department had more talents like Zhou Zhiqiang, I wouldn't have to worry so often."

"Yes, Comrade Zhiqiang is probably the one who gives the most surprises, but leader, surprises often come with requirements."

After Director Ren finished laughing, he took out a document recording various requests and handed it to Deputy Leader Wu, saying, "These are Comrade Zhiqiang's requests. He said we should prepare them for him within two years."

"What else does he want? Oh, is he playing the landlord game?"

After reading it, Deputy Leader Wu almost thought he was a landlord.

Pointing anxiously at the document filled with requirements, he said, "Didn't you just give him four college students? Why do you need so many more?"

"This is for his next research and development project. Oh right, it's for CNC machine tools."

Director Ren said with a wry smile that while they were still struggling with the current issues, Zhou Zhiqiang hadn't even developed a high-precision universal grinding machine yet, and was already thinking about the supporting resources for the next project.

"Comrade Zhiqiang said that two supporting factories are a must, otherwise it would take too long to build them in two years, and the leaders would ask him for production efficiency, which he certainly could not guarantee."

Moreover, the supporting factory can not only produce what is needed for CNC machine tools, but Comrade Zhiqiang plans to build a precision parts factory with universal standards. Director Ren explained to Deputy Leader Wu, basically conveying Zhou Zhiqiang's original words.

After a long explanation, Vice Leader Wu finally understood.

Simply put, it's about being full of confidence and planning ahead. Zhou Zhiqiang has absolute confidence in developing and manufacturing it, but he doesn't want to wait until the finished product is produced before building the related supporting processing plants.

"Such strong self-confidence."

Upon hearing this, Director Ren smiled and said, "Yes, he was afraid I wouldn't believe him, so he gave me a pledge, saying he'd bet me how much support I'd give him if he succeeded."
I'm not stupid. Hearing his confident tone, I didn't willingly fall for his trick and make a bet with him.

"Uh-huh?"

Deputy Leader Wu quickly realized what was happening and pointed at Director Ren, saying, "Comrade Licheng, you're reminding me."

Director Ren laughed and said, "The leader doesn't need me to remind him. Even if I don't say anything, you already know what to do."

"Alright, stop flattering me."

Deputy Leader Wu waved his hand and quickly continued, "You make a plan, and try to start construction by the end of next year if there are no unexpected events."

Last year, we had so many investment targets that we didn't even need to consider them. But now we have to scrape together funds from all over the place. Comrade Jianhui and I will discuss where to allocate some investment to the Second Machine Tool Plant.”

Comparing the two, we should choose the better one. Zhou Zhiqiang can bring them surprises and results, so the ministry will naturally give strong support to the Second Machine Tool Plant.

At least this kind of investment will not be wasted; on the contrary, it will bring great investment surprises.

Deputy Leader Wu suddenly said, "Comrade Licheng, once all these are achieved, I'm afraid the level of the Second Machine Tool Plant will also need to be changed?"

There are many supporting factories and a large number of workers in the factory. It is estimated that the number of workers will exceed 10,000 by then. It can be regarded as a leader in the machine tool industry. It seems not an exaggeration to say that it can guide the development of the machine tool industry.

Many machine tool factories are directly under the ministries, because machine tools occupy a very important position in the country's industrial development.

It is no exaggeration to say that machine tools are the two legs of China's industrial development, so the Machine Tool Administration Bureau has always been the most important department of the First Ministry of Machine Building.

Several important machine tool factories are all deputy bureau-level units directly under ministries.

Previously, the Second Machine Tool Plant was not doing well, and the ministry originally planned to transfer it to the Municipal Bureau of Industry, which was a demotion to a division-level unit.

But Zhou Zhiqiang revitalized the business, and the momentum of investment expansion was very strong.

Given the Second Machine Tool Plant's rapid development over the next two years, it would be quite reasonable for it to be upgraded to a higher level.

There are factories at the ministerial level, they have two in the First Ministry of Machine Building, and five or six in the other Ministry of Machinery Industry.

There are also four or five in the military industry, all of which are important in their respective sectors. The Second Machine Tool Plant can now be considered qualified.

"I suggest we wait on this matter. Let's keep a low profile and just promote Comrade Zhiqiang to a higher position."

Ren Licheng shook his head and said, "Two years later, Comrade Zhiqiang will only be twenty-eight years old. Although he has made many contributions, his position as the director of the Second Machine Tool Plant is not low."

Besides, if he's promoted, what if people who don't know the truth have something to say? Should we announce Comrade Zhiqiang's achievements?

"If we announce it, wouldn't that put Comrade Zhiqiang on the edge of a knife? Although there are far fewer enemy agents in Beijing, there are still some."

They are doing a good job of keeping Zhou Zhiqiang's identity confidential; basically, only people in the ministry know how many merits he has made.

Other outsiders only knew that Zhou Zhiqiang was the deputy factory director; they didn't know anything else.

"Yes, indeed, you've thought of everything."

After thinking for a moment, Deputy Leader Wu nodded and said, "If he really achieves his goal in two years, then promote him to the top position. By then, Comrade Zhiqiang should be very familiar with the production of the Second Machine Tool Plant."

"When the time comes, the ministry should arrange some people to accompany him. People who go out on trips must be able to withstand investigation."

Director Ren nodded and said, "I understand. I already spoke with the Armed Forces Department about the expansion of the Security Section this time."

Production safety within the factory is just as important as Comrade Zhiqiang's safety; the security department should have already received the relevant arrangements.

"That's fine."
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"Comrades, after a few days of understanding, you should all have a clear understanding of the upcoming research and development tasks."

Technical Department, Second Machine Tool Plant.

Zhou Zhiqiang was in the department office, preparing to assign research and development tasks to the research and development team.

"I introduced you to the high-precision universal grinding machine a few days ago. You now understand its research and development direction and the functions that need improvement. Next, I need you to explain how to implement all of these."
I will also join in and help out. Our workload will be heavy for the next period, and we may need to work overtime frequently. We hope you can understand.

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, Section Chief Ding took the lead and said, "Factory Director, we all understand."

"Yes, factory manager, research and development work is never easy; breakthroughs always require long periods of research and calculation."

"That's right, and besides, when it comes to working overtime, you're the one who works the hardest!"

The last sentence resonated deeply with everyone in the technical department.

If Zhou Zhiqiang makes them work overtime while he goes home on time, they will feel resentful even if they don't complain.

However, the leaders took the lead in working overtime to conduct research, and their workload was even greater than theirs. They even compiled and organized the research and development direction and technical principles.

There is absolutely no resentment or dissatisfaction with this feeling.

"Director."

A new college student, Miao Huiyang, raised his hand and asked, "Why don't we continue to study coordinate boring machines? Instead, we've turned to developing grinding machines."
Our factory has a significant advantage in the technological accumulation of boring machines.

"Good question. The benefits of developing more boring machines are not significant, and when we develop technological achievements, the most important thing to consider is what domestic industrial development needs!"

Zhou Zhiqiang explained, "The coordinate boring machines produced in our factory can meet more than 90% of the high-end precision machining operations in China. Even if we deepen our research and development, how much more can we gain?"
On the contrary, there are still gaps in other types of machine tools in our country, so we need to fill these gaps.”

　I'm so sorry for being a little late.

　　First update! Requesting monthly votes!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)