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

After the dinner, the three returned to their room.

Chen An looked at the business card over and over again several times, then carefully put it in his notebook.

"Director Ye, is this Director Wang interested in us?"

"Maybe it is, or maybe it's just a polite gesture."

"Then he asked us to send the documents..."

"We'll know the result once we send it."

Liu Xiaojun lay on the bed staring at the ceiling.

"Uncle Ye, my legs were so weak when I went up there today."

"I didn't realize that."

"Honestly, I was so nervous I could barely speak."

Ye Bingwen smiled.

"Didn't you say it later?"

"Looking at all those people below, some from Tsinghua University, some from Beihang University, some from Harbin Institute of Technology, they were all professors and experts, and I was just a worker..."

"What's wrong with the workers? They can solve the problem."

Liu Xiaojun didn't say anything, and turned over.

After a while, Liu Xiaojun spoke again.

"Uncle Ye, would you say my performance report was a success?"

"Yes, someone applauded, someone asked a question, and someone asked for information. That means we've succeeded."

"What about our award?"

"It will be announced tomorrow."

Liu Xiaojun closed his eyes and stopped talking.

Chen An was on the other side, still flipping through his notebook and organizing things.

"Director Ye, I've compiled today's Q&A. There are seven questions in total. I can print a booklet when I get back, so anyone going out to defend their thesis can just read from it."

Ye Bingwen nodded.

The closing ceremony was held on the morning of the second day.

The host announced the list of winners of the Outstanding Report Award.

There are ten in total.

When they got to the sixth one, they read out "Red Flag Machinery Factory, Liu Xiaojun".

Liu Xiaojun didn't react and remained sitting there blankly.

Chen An nudged him and said:

"I'm calling you, what are you staring at?"

Liu Xiaojun slowly stood up and walked onto the stage.

A bright red certificate was handed to him, which read: Outstanding Practice Case Award.

Ye Bingwen, sitting in the audience, gave him a thumbs up.

Liu Xiaojun held up the certificate, grinning widely.

After the meeting, the three packed their things and prepared to return to Harbin.

Wang Jianguo walked over from the other end of the corridor and said:

"Xiao Ye, you're leaving today?"

"Yes, Director Wang, our train is this afternoon."

"Remember to call me once the documents are mailed out."

"Okay, Director Wang."

Wang Jianguo patted Liu Xiaojun on the shoulder.

"Xiao Liu, go back and work hard. Make good use of that mixer you used. I'd like to visit your factory sometime."

Liu Xiaojun nodded.

"Okay, Director Wang, now that you're here, I'll show you the new one. I'm going to revise it again and increase the speed to 2,000."

"Okay, if you can get two thousand revolutions, I'll apply for a technical upgrade award for you."

After saying that, Wang Jianguo patted Liu Xiaojun on the shoulder and turned to leave.

The three of them left the hotel, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for the train station.

On the train, Liu Xiaojun took out the certificate and looked at it several times.

"Brother Chen, do you think this certificate is significant?"

"Yes, it's nationwide, so it's definitely big."

"Can we put it up at the factory when we get back?"

"Sure, just stick it in the most conspicuous place."

Liu Xiaojun carefully put away the certificate of merit.

On the train, Chen An opened his notebook and began writing a summary report.

Liu Xiaojun leaned against the window, staring blankly at the fields outside.

Ye Bingwen closed his eyes, his mind filled with Wang Jianguo's words.

"I'll visit your factory when I have the chance."

Why would a former leader of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense come to visit such an insignificant little factory?

He couldn't understand it, but he knew it was an opportunity.

It was already dark when the train arrived in Harbin.

The three of them exited the station, where Zheng Shuyun was already waiting.

An'an rode on her shoulders and called out when she saw Ye Bingwen:

"Daddy! Daddy!"

Ye Bingwen walked over, picked An'an up, and said affectionately:

"Missing your dad?"

"I've been thinking about it. Did you bring a gift?"

Ye Bingwen took something out of his bag; it was a small cloth panda.

An'an took it and hugged it to her chest, her eyes almost disappearing from her smile.

Liu Xiaojun took out the certificate and showed it to Zheng Shuyun.

"Sister-in-law, take a look."

Zheng Shuyun took it and glanced at it.

"Award for Outstanding Practice Case, Xiao Jun, you're doing great!"

Liu Xiaojun chuckled, carefully rolled up the certificate, and stuffed it back into his bag.

"Sister-in-law, thanks to your help, otherwise I would have definitely messed up my presentation."

"It's your own good point that's being made; it has nothing to do with me."

The group left the station and hailed two taxis.

Ye Bingwen's family had one car, and Chen An and Liu Xiaojun had one car.

In the car, An'an nestled in Ye Bingwen's arms, playing with the little panda.

"Dad, what's this panda's name?"

"It doesn't have a name yet, you give it one."

An An thought about it.

"Let's call him... Brother Xiaojun."

Ye Bingwen burst into laughter.

"Okay, let's call it Xiao Jun."

When they got home, Zheng Shuyun carried An'an to bed.

Ye Bingwen sat at the table and took out Wang Jianguo's business card to look at it.

Zheng Shuyun walked over and glanced at it.

"Wang Jianguo from the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense?"

"Do you know him?"

"I don't know him personally, but I've heard of him. The publishing house did a special feature on the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. He's quite famous within the system."

"How so?"

Zheng Shuyun sat down.

"He used to work on missiles in Northwest China, and later he was transferred to Beijing. He is known for his pragmatism; whatever he values ​​will definitely be implemented."

Ye Bingwen put the business card away.

He said he wanted to visit our factory.

"Then prepare well. They're not here for tourism; they might be here for business."

The next morning, when Ye Bingwen arrived at the factory, Liu Xiaojun had already pasted up the award certificate.

It's in the most conspicuous place in the office; you can see it as soon as you enter.

Master Li stood in front of it and stared at it for a long time.

"Xiaojun, is this certificate yours?"

"Yes, it's mine."

"Not bad, kid. You're better than your dad."

Liu Xiaojun chuckled, practically wearing his "I'm awesome" written all over his face.

At this moment, Chen An walked over.

"Director Ye, the summary report is finished. I'll send you a copy."

"OK."

Ye Bingwen walked into the office, picked up the phone, and dialed Wang Jianguo's number.

The phone rang three times before being answered.

"Director Wang, this is Ye Bingwen from Hongqi Machinery Factory. We're back."

"Xiao Ye, have you sent the documents?"

"I'll send it today."

"Okay, give me a call when you're done shipping."

They hung up without exchanging many pleasantries.

Ye Bingwen put the documents into a file bag and asked Chen An to mail them.

Ye Bingwen stood at the factory gate, watching Chen An's departing figure.

He turned around, looking at the busy workers in the workshop and listening to the humming of the machines.

An'an's panda, Liu Xiaojun's certificate of merit, Wang Jianguo's business card, and that still-running mixer.

Each and every one of them has been put into practice.

He walked into the workshop and squatted down to look at the mixer.

Liu Xiaojun walked over and said excitedly.

"Uncle Ye, if Director Wang comes, what should we show him?"

"It depends on what you want to show him."

Liu Xiaojun lowered his head and thought for a while.

"I wanted to show him that old motor, to show him that something that costs only a few dozen yuan can still do great things."

Ye Bingwen smiled at Liu Xiaojun and patted him on the shoulder.

"Okay, then let's show it to him."