Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

"We need to clearly define how we'll collaborate from the beginning. I need equal cooperation. Don't label me for no reason; my frail body can't handle that. If that's the case, I'd rather not have started inventing in the first place."

"I'm not very sensitive to policies. I'm still a junior high school student. I used to be a bit slow on the uptake and had a bad temper."

"I enjoy creating and inventing, but I don't want other things or interpersonal relationships to mess things up, because that stifles my inspiration."

"I am very willing to make inventions for the country and contribute to the nation."

"But I don't want or like people to label me every day, saying I'm no good at this or that."

Whether I'm a leader or not, whether I go to work or not, it doesn't really matter to me.

"So I hope you can give me some serious consideration—how to put my mind at ease and give me the freedom to do my own thing."

It can be said that Zhang Dabiao's words were quite bold, and even a bit lawless.

But since things have already turned ugly, what else can be done?

Either I give up and avoid the risks, or I go to Hong Kong.

There is no father here, there is a place to keep the father!

Nowhere wants me, so I'm leaving...

Finally, the leaders discussed it and their underlying idea was to control Zhang Dabiao and make him work for them.

In those days, even food rationing was planned. Zhang Dabiao was outside the plan, which made them feel uncontrollable and uneasy.

But after thinking about it carefully—Zhang Dabiao was just one person, doing inventions and creations. He didn't occupy a position, didn't receive a salary, and had no real power. Although he was uncontrollable to them, he posed no threat whatsoever.

On the contrary, befriending Zhang Dabiao brings occasional surprises. Even if the inventions are useless, the ministry suffers no loss because Zhang Dabiao researches and develops them at his own expense.

So the leaders put their heads together and decided to just let him have his way.

But shouldn't our departments also do something?

The one who left was from the Ministry of Metallurgy, which is perfect.

The leaders of the remaining three ministries—the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Food and Hygiene, and the Ministry of Light Industry—were not high-ranking officials, but they had a certain degree of decision-making power within their respective ministries.

So the three of them pulled Zhang Dabiao aside to discuss it—

As a non-permanent special technical consultant, Zhang Dabiao signed a cross-departmental joint technical service agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Food and Hygiene, and the Ministry of Light Industry, and established his own independent R&D studio (affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Trade, but maintaining completely independent operation), achieving a win-win situation of "surviving outside the system and leveraging the system".

Zhang Dabiao was completely bewildered. Wait a minute, I don't understand. What does this mean?

"It has to be you leaders," they say, sounding sophisticated and classy, ​​but it's all very vague and unclear.

Can you speak like a human being?

Director Zhao explained it to him:

◆Policy Feasibility: In 1960, the country was in a period of "adjustment, consolidation, enrichment and improvement" and urgently needed technical personnel to promote economic recovery. There were precedents for the non-tenured special consultant model (such as inviting overseas experts back to China for guidance).

◆Official Status: Zhang Dabiao could be recommended to apply for the position of Special Researcher of the Central Science and Technology Commission (established in 1958), and concurrently serve as an honorary technical advisor to three departments. He would not occupy any departmental staff position and would not participate in administrative affairs.

Zhang Dabiao immediately refused—"How could a mere junior high school kid like me become a special researcher for the central government just because I invented a lighter?"

I feel so guilty!

He is unworthy of his position!

I'm sure those big shots will tear me apart when that happens!

I'd rather die than do it! I'll remember this for now, and we'll talk about it later when I achieve something even more amazing.

◆Affiliation: Originally, we considered affiliating the studio to the Chinese Academy of Sciences or the Academy of Sciences of the Ministry of Light Industry, using their name to conduct our work, while maintaining complete independence in personnel, finance, and R&D. However, considering that Zhang Dabiao frequently generates foreign exchange patent licensing fees, we decided to affiliate it to the Ministry of Foreign Trade for greater convenience.

◆Office location: Independent office space will be provided by the Foreign Trade Department, but attendance management will not be accepted, and employees will be free to enter and exit at any time.

However, Zhang Dabiao shook his head. Although the Ministry of Foreign Trade was not far from Nanluoguxiang (No. 2 East Chang'an Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, specifically on the east side of the intersection of East Chang'an Street and Taijichang Street, adjacent to the office buildings of the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Textile Industry, it was one of the central ministries built in 1951 on the open space south of Chang'an Street), you are all high-ranking officials or foreign businessmen coming and going here every day. It is not appropriate for a young man like me to come and go like this every day, and I am not comfortable. It is fine for me to work from home.

Zhang Dabiao's core principle is to stay away from medical treatment.

After discussing it, the three leaders decided to continue using the office provided by "Red Star Daily Necessities Manufacturing Factory" for your office space. Since you don't go there often, it doesn't matter whether you have an office space or not. You can apply to our department if you really need one.

◆Personnel allocation: In addition, each department will be assigned a dedicated technician as a full-time liaison officer and assistant, who will be responsible for communication between the department and you, as well as for communication and coordination with the factories under the department. For example, they will know more about what materials you need to make this thing and what kind of workers you need to make it, and they will be able to coordinate and arrange things more easily.

Of course, there was also the intention of having Zhang Dabiao mentor them. Being able to participate in Zhang Dabiao's research and development process would make their resumes look better in the future. They were all graduates of engineering universities, capable and knowledgeable, and could also help Zhang Dabiao avoid some policy troubles—Zhang Dabiao knew nothing about it.

◆ Salary, allowances, and R&D expense reward mechanism: The assistant's salary is still paid by the department, but Zhang Dabiao has to pay the R&D expenses in advance; for R&D results that do not require patent application, the R&D expenses will be reimbursed by the three departments afterwards.

For the three ministries in China, Zhang Dabiao's inventions are exempt from licensing fees, so it is reasonable for them to bear some of the research and development costs.

If you're applying for a patent, you can't touch any of the three departments, otherwise it will be unclear who owns the patent.

In addition, the three departments jointly provided Zhang Dabiao with a research and development allowance instead of a salary, with the three departments giving him a total of 90 yuan per month.

It's not that the three companies are stingy, but these days a senior engineer's monthly salary is only around 150-200. If you, Zhang Dabiao, a young upstart, offer him such a high salary, engineers from other companies will have objections.

The 90 yuan was divided into 3 departments, and each department only gave you a 30 yuan allowance. This is acceptable no matter where you look at it.

In terms of rewards for achievements, there is no such thing as commission in China, and this practice cannot be opened; if it is, then it's all over.

We can only say that we will apply for a separate reward for you based on the evaluation of your results. This will depend on the actual situation.

Zhang Dabiao nodded. While he was unhappy about this, he could understand it. If Zhang Dabiao's technology transfer could bring him a large sum of money or a commission, what about the other inventors? What about the researchers and engineers?

Wouldn't that create chaos?