78: Bringing his wife and children to Harbin Institute of Technology

The next morning, Chen An arrived on his bicycle.

The carbon fiber sheet was contained in the canvas.

"Director Ye, I'm going to Professor Cai's place now. I'll call you when I'm done with the tests."

"Drive carefully."

Chen An rode away on his bicycle.

Ye Bingwen entered the workshop, where Master Li was already preheating the press.

There is one last batch of orders for civilian products, fifty pieces, to be delivered at the end of the month.

"Master Li, get the orders for civilian products done today," Ye Bingwen said.

"Okay. Xiao Jun isn't here, so I'll have to work slowly, but I can finish it today." Master Li loaded the mold onto the press and said, "Xiao Ye, for that carbon fiber stuff, if we're going to produce it in bulk, will this press be enough?"

"That's enough. It's just slow, only a few pieces a day. But the provincial military region's project isn't large, so it's sufficient."

Master Li nodded and began preparing the ingredients.

Ye Bingwen returned to his office and opened his textbook.

The class schedule for next semester is posted on the wall. The first class is Professor Zhao's "Mechanical Vibration" on Wednesday morning.

the phone is ringing.

"Director Ye, the data is in," Chen An said excitedly. "The impact resistance is two and a half times higher than the original formula, the temperature resistance is 190 degrees Celsius, and the surface finish is Ra0.35. Professor Cai said this is a leading level in China."

Ye Bingwen held the receiver but didn't speak.

"Professor Cai said he could include this data in the paper and put our factory's name on it."

"Okay. Tell Professor Cai to thank him."

In the afternoon, Wang Guoqiang came over from the purchasing department, holding an envelope in his hand, and said with a smile.

"Director Ye, we've received a reply from Jilin. They're purchasing carbon fiber in bulk, over ten kilograms, at 65 yuan per kilogram. Delivery time is fifteen days."

"Order ten kilograms first. Write a purchase request and I'll sign it." Ye Bingwen took out a purchase order from the drawer and handed it over.

Wang Guoqiang took the pen and wrote the application.

Ye Bingwen signed the document and said, "Wang Guoqiang, tell them to pay upon delivery."

"Okay. I'll send the remittance tomorrow," Wang Guoqiang said, holding the purchase order.

In the evening, Ye Bingwen was about to lock up and go home when Old Zhou from the gatehouse called him to answer the phone.

"Xiao Ye, it's your apprentice calling."

Ye Bingwen walked over and answered the phone.

"Uncle Ye!" Liu Xiaojun shouted, "I'm graduating early! Everything's settled here at school, I'm going back tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow? Didn't they say there were still a few days left?"

"The teacher said I learn quickly and have learned everything I need to, so she let me leave early. I'll take the train early tomorrow morning and arrive in Harbin at noon."

"Okay. Come straight to the factory when you arrive."

"knew!"

After hanging up the phone, Ye Bingwen smiled.

Liu Xiaojun returned early, indicating that someone was keeping an eye on the carbon fiber matter.

The next day at noon, Liu Xiaojun entered the workshop carrying a canvas bag.

My face is tanned and my hair has grown longer, but I'm in great spirits.

"Uncle Ye! I'm back!"

Ye Bingwen came out of his office, smiling, and asked, "Where's the certificate?"

"Here it is." Liu Xiaojun took a red booklet out of his bag and handed it over.

Ye Bingwen flipped through it, nodded, and said, "Okay. From today onwards, you're a technician."

"Uncle Ye, I won't be a technician. I'll be your apprentice," Liu Xiaojun said with a smile, putting the certificate back into his bag.

Master Li poked his head out from behind the press and said, "Xiao Jun, I've been working myself to death while you were gone."

"Master Li, I'm back. You can rest. I'll take care of it."

Liu Xiaojun rolled up his sleeves and asked, "Where's Brother Chen?"

"I went to Professor Cai's place. I'll come over this afternoon," Ye Bingwen said.

"Uncle Ye, regarding that carbon fiber sample, I kept a trick up my sleeve when I was making the layup fixture. There's a movable pressure plate on the fixture that allows you to adjust the pressure. Does Brother Chen know about it?"

"He knows. He's seen your sketch."

Liu Xiaojun squatted down to check the hydraulic lines of the press and said, "Uncle Ye, the press is fine. After I get used to it for a couple of days, the carbon fiber can be mass-produced."

Ye Bingwen patted him on the shoulder and said, "No rush. The provincial military region's project hasn't been approved yet. You should finish the civilian product orders for Master Li first."

"OK."

Liu Xiaojun walked over to Master Li and asked, "Master Li, how much are you paying today?"

"There are still twenty pieces left. Now that you're here, we can finish them before dark." Master Li handed him the container of ingredients.

Ye Bingwen turned and went back to his office.

The phone rang; it was Mr. Zhang calling.

"Xiao Ye, the approval has come through. The Provincial Military Region Equipment Department has officially approved the project, and your factory will be responsible for the trial production of the composite material shell." Engineer Zhang's voice was not loud, but very solemn. "Deliver the sample in three months."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang."

"No need to thank me. I'll send the official documents over; you can sign them and send them back." Zhang paused, then continued, "Xiao Ye, the higher-ups are keeping a close eye on this project; you can't afford to make any mistakes."

"I know."

After hanging up the phone, Ye Bingwen walked to the workshop door and said with a smile, "Master Li, Xiao Jun, the provincial military region's project has been approved. Samples will be delivered in three months."

Master Li paused for a moment, then smiled.

Liu Xiaojun said happily, "Uncle Ye, three months is enough! We can definitely make it!"

On the day the provincial military district's approval arrived, Wang Guoqiang walked in with an envelope, smiling, and said, "Director Ye, registered mail."

Ye Bingwen took the document, pulled it out, glanced at it, and handed it to Liu Xiaojun: "Xiaojun, take a look. It's the seal of the Provincial Military Region."

Liu Xiaojun took it and looked at it several times, then said with a smile, "Uncle Ye, this time it's a done deal."

"Even if it's a done deal, we have to get it done." Ye Bingwen put the documents away. "Starting today, we'll officially begin working on the carbon fiber prototypes."

Master Li poked his head out from behind the press and asked, "Xiao Ye, how do we plan to get it done in three months?"

"The first month is for finalizing the process, the second month is for making samples, and the third month is reserved for debugging. We can't delay the beginning, otherwise we won't be able to catch up later."

Ye Bingwen walked up to the press and said earnestly.

"Xiaojun, you're in charge of layup and pressing. Master Li, you oversee the ingredient mixing and molding. Chen An, keep an eye on the formula and testing. I'll handle materials and external affairs," Ye Bingwen said.

Liu Xiaojun nodded and said, "Uncle Ye, I'll sand the workpiece again. There are some burrs on the edges, and I'm afraid they'll snag the carbon fiber fabric."

"Okay. Make it more detailed."

Master Li patted the worktable of the press and said, "Xiao Ye, carbon fiber is much more expensive than fiberglass. It's 65 yuan per kilogram; if you ruin it, you'll lose tens of yuan."

"So we make a small sample for the first batch, and thoroughly understand the process parameters before starting the official batch."

Liu Xiaojun squatted in front of the layering work clothes and used sandpaper to polish the edges little by little.

"Uncle Ye, it's done."

Ye Bingwen walked over, touched the surface with his fingers, and nodded, saying, "Okay. We'll start making the first batch tomorrow."

When I got home in the evening, An'an was already asleep.

Zheng Shuyun was flipping through an English book in the living room when she heard the door open and looked up.

"Has the approval arrived?" she asked.

"We've arrived. The project is officially approved, and samples will be delivered in three months."

Zheng Shuyun closed her book, looked at him, and asked, "Three months, is that enough time?"