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

The accountant counted the money twice and issued a receipt.

Ye Bingwen folded the receipt and put it in his pocket. His legs felt a little weak when he walked out of the finance department.

He found a guesthouse to stay in, but didn't sleep well all night.

The next morning, when I went to pick up the goods, the machine tools were already loaded, and a forklift loaded the boxes onto a truck.

The driver was a talkative man from Northeast China, in his forties.

"You got a great deal on this bed. It's a C618, sturdy and durable. I've used many of them."

"Master Zhao, how long will it take to get here?"

"Harbin? It's about seven or eight hours. If you're in a hurry, I'll drive faster."

"No rush, safety first."

The truck left Shenyang and got onto the national highway.

Mr. Zhao drove steadily, at a moderate speed.

Ye Bingwen sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window.

"You own your own factory?"

Master Zhao asked.

"I guess so. It was a school-run factory."

"College student?"

"Yes. From Harbin Institute of Technology."

"Wow, college graduates even run their own factories, that's impressive."

Master Zhao took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

"If my son were even half as successful as you, I'd be burning incense in gratitude."

Ye Bingwen did not respond.

He looked out the window, pondering how to arrange things after he got back.

The new machine tools have arrived, and production capacity can double.

Master Li needs to hurry up and train his apprentice; someone needs to operate both beds.

We also need to keep a close eye on Liu Yongqiang's side, making sure nothing goes wrong.

It was already past 7 p.m. when we arrived in Harbin.

Ye Bingwen asked Master Zhao to drive the car to the gate of the school-run factory.

Mr. Li hadn't left yet when he heard the car and came out of the factory.

"Did you buy it?"

"I bought it. C618, 8200."

Master Li walked around the wooden box and patted it.

"Great stuff. I'll unpack it tomorrow and test it out."

Master Zhao helped unload the wooden crate, and Ye Bingwen added 20 yuan to the shipping fee for him.

Mr. Zhao declined briefly, then accepted the money and drove away.

Ye Bingwen and Master Li stood in the factory, looking at the large wooden crate.

The light shone on it, and the words "Shenyang Machine Tool Factory" were printed on the wood.

"Master Li, this batch of orders depends on you."

"Rely on me?"

Master Li lit a cigarette.

"I can't handle this alone. I need to take on apprentices."

"You take it. I'll pay you."

"OK."

The next morning, Ye Bingwen went to the motor factory.

Lin Hui was in her office, with a stack of documents piled on her desk.

She saw Ye Bingwen come in and took off her glasses.

"Sit down. What is it?"

"The provincial military district has signed a new order for 100 units, but my production capacity is insufficient. I'd like to discuss the materials with you."

Lin Hui leaned back in her chair.

"One hundred units? Can your small factory handle that?"

"That's why I came to you. The materials need to be prepared in advance, but we don't have enough money."

Lin Hui took a contract out of the drawer.

"What's your opinion on the collaboration we discussed last time?"

Ye Bingwen took it and flipped through it.

"I agree to a 5% cut and priority supply to motor manufacturers. But there's one condition."

"you say."

"You'll have to pay for the materials upfront. Otherwise, I won't have the money to buy the goods."

Lin Hui thought for a moment.

"How much padding?"

"The first batch, 30,000."

Lin Hui smiled.

"Thirty thousand? You have quite the appetite."

"A motor factory has an annual output value of tens of millions, so what's 30,000 yuan?"

Lin Hui walked to the window.

"Okay. Thirty thousand. But I have conditions."

"you say."

"First, the motor factory will be responsible for processing half of these 100 military units."

"Your factory can't handle this much, I'll help you digest it."

Ye Bingwen thought for a moment.

"Sure. But the precision must meet the standards; military products are not to be taken lightly."

"Secondly, you need to give us a copy of your technical drawings."

"It's not free; it's a technology transfer. Even if the motor factory produces its own brushless motors in the future, you'll still get a share."

Ye Bingwen remained silent for a while.

"I can provide the blueprints. But the profit split can't change. Five percent, not a penny less."

"OK."

Lin Hui took a contract out of the drawer, made some changes to it, and pushed it over.

"Take a look."

Ye Bingwen read it through from beginning to end, then picked up a pen and signed it.

Lin Hui also signed and stamped the document, then handed one of the copies to him.

"I'll have someone transfer 30,000 yuan to your account tomorrow."

"Thank you, Director Lin."

"You're welcome. Business is about mutual benefit."

Ye Bingwen walked out of the motor factory with the contract in his hand, the wind making the contract paper rustle.

He folded the contract, put it in his pocket, and walked towards the bus stop.

The 30,000 yuan advance payment, plus the advance payment from the provincial military region, should be enough for him to get by for a while.

The new machine tools have arrived, and production capacity has increased.

If things can be stabilized on Liu Yongqiang's side, the order for 100 units should be delivered on schedule.

Mr. Li arrived early the day after the new machine tool was delivered.

When Ye Bingwen arrived at the factory, Master Li had already dismantled half of the wooden crate.

He squatted on the ground, holding a crowbar, and slowly pried open the wooden planks one by one, for fear of damaging the inside.

"Master Li, so early?"

"I can't sleep."

Master Li didn't even look up.

"This is on my mind."

The last plank was pried open, revealing a brand-new machine tool inside the straw mat.

The paint is dark green and shiny, and the guide rails are coated with a layer of anti-rust oil.

Master Li stood up, wiped his hands on his pants, and then slowly reached over to touch the guide rail.

He touched it from one end to the other, and then touched it back.

"nice one."

His voice was a little hoarse.

"I've been working for over 20 years and I've never used such a new bed."

"This life has been worthwhile."

He took out a cigarette from his pocket, but his hand trembled twice and he couldn't light it.

Ye Bingwen took a match and lit it for him.

Master Li took a deep drag, exhaling smoke from his nose, his eyes still fixed on the machine tool.

"How long will the debugging take?"

Ye Bingwen asked.

"We can get it running today. But to get it working properly, it'll take a few days to get it set up."

"You work with Zhao Jianguo and the others. Get this batch of goods out as soon as possible."

Master Li nodded, stubbed out his cigarette, and rolled up his sleeves.

"Okay. Let's get started."

......

The day An'an started kindergarten.

The night before, Zheng Shuyun had prepared her new clothes, a floral dress.

An'an twirled around the room in her clothes, jumping for joy.

"An'an, do you want to go to school tomorrow?"

Zheng Shuyun squatted down and asked her.

"good!"

An'an didn't know what going to school meant, but she was happy when she saw her new dress.

The next morning, Ye Bingwen deliberately didn't go to the factory; he wanted to take An'an there instead.

Zheng Shuyun said no, but he insisted on going.

The family of three arrived at the kindergarten gate, and An'an was still smiling.

The teacher was a woman in her thirties, surnamed Wang, with a round face and a soft, gentle voice.

"Is this An'an? Come on in with your teacher."

An'an was led inside by the teacher's hand, while Zheng Shuyun waved to her.

She took two more steps, then suddenly her lips trembled and she burst into tears.

"Mommy! Mommy!"

Zheng Shuyun wanted to go over, but Ye Bingwen stopped her.

"Don't go, you'll be even more unable to leave if you go."

The teacher picked An'an up, and An'an struggled in her arms, stretching out her arms towards Zheng Shuyun.