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

"Send someone from your side to Harbin to learn from him for two months. After he comes back, he will become a master and take on apprentices."

"To Harbin?"

"Yes. I'll cover your travel and food expenses, and you'll still get paid. Once you've completed your studies and come back, you'll have the technical expertise here."

Liu Yongqiang turned his head and shouted.

"Xiaojun! Come here!"

Liu Xiaojun was cleaning a machine tool when he heard the shout and came over.

"Uncle, what's up?"

"We're sending you to Harbin to learn a trade from Master Li. Are you going?"

Liu Xiaojun was stunned for a moment.

"To Harbin?"

"Yes, it was arranged by Uncle Ye. He'll learn for two months and then come back to mentor apprentices."

Liu Xiaojun glanced at Ye Bingwen, then at Liu Yongqiang.

"I'll go."

"Go and study hard."

Liu Yongqiang said.

"Don't embarrass our Daxing Village."

"Don't worry, Uncle."

Ye Bingwen said.

"Then it's settled. Hand over your work and come with me in three days."

"OK."

Ye Bingwen stood up and walked around the workshop again.

All three machine tools were still running; Liu Xiaowei was working, while Liu Xiaojun had already started tidying up the tools.

He walked to the window and looked outside.

Daxing Village is different from last year.

Several more streetlights have appeared along the roadside, the utility poles are new, and high-voltage lines have been stretched from the entrance of the village all the way in.

Liu Yongqiang stood next to him.

"Bingwen, don't you think we're on the right track?"

"Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"It feels like a dream. Last year we were digging the ground, and this year we have a factory."

Ye Bingwen lit a cigarette.

"The path is right."

He exhaled a puff of smoke.

"It all depends on whether you can keep going."

"With you leading the way, we'll definitely be able to keep going."

"I can't keep you with me forever."

Ye Bingwen said.

"I can teach you the techniques, and I can point out the methods, but in the end, you have to rely on yourselves."

Liu Yongqiang remained silent for a while.

"I know."

The machine tools in the workshop were humming.

Ye Bingwen stubbed out his cigarette.

"I'm going back tomorrow. Make arrangements for Xiaojun's matter, have him finish his work, and come to Harbin in three days."

"OK."

"besides,"

Ye Bingwen turned around and looked at him.

"We must ensure quality. Every piece of work must be measured, and only those that pass the test can proceed to the next stage."

"It's better to be slower than to produce defective products. This batch of goods is military equipment; even a small problem could be a major issue."

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on it myself."

Ye Bingwen nodded.

"Then I'm leaving."

"Have a meal before you leave, and let your sister-in-law make dumplings."

"No."

Ye Bingwen said.

"There's still a lot going on in Harbin."

Liu Yongqiang followed behind to see him off.

There was a long-distance bus at the village entrance going to the county town. It was almost dark when Ye Bingwen boarded the bus.

"Give me a call when you arrive."

Liu Yongqiang shouted from outside the car window.

"understood."

The car started moving, and Ye Bingwen sat by the window, watching Daxing Village slowly shrink.

The fields had just been watered, and the ground was wet.

The poplar trees along the roadside were a vibrant green.

Three hours later, Ye Bingwen arrived at the county's train station.

I bought a ticket to Harbin, a hard seat, which will take more than five hours.

After boarding the bus, he found a window seat and sat down, holding his bag in his arms.

An old man sat next to me, eating a bag of peanuts.

"Where are you going, young man?"

Harbin.

"go to school?"

"Um."

"University students are great."

The old man handed over the peanuts.

"Want something to eat?"

"No, thank you."

Ye Bingwen leaned against the window and closed his eyes.

My mind is still racing.

It's settled that Liu Xiaojun is going to Harbin to learn a skill; Master Li there has already agreed to take him along.

But Master Li is getting old and can't take on too many apprentices by himself, so we need to find more people.

There's also the matter of materials. He forgot to ask if the silicon steel sheets and copper wires for Liu Yongqiang's fifty units had arrived yet.

I'll call and ask when I get to Harbin tomorrow.

There are also new machine tools, which are still in the break-in period. Master Li said that they shouldn't be driven too fast for the first week.

I also need to go to the provincial military district to ask when the advance payment will arrive.

And An'an...

Thinking of An'an, Ye Bingwen's lips unconsciously curled up slightly.

When I called yesterday, An'an said "Daddy, I miss you" in her sweet, childlike voice.

Zheng Shuyun said that she no longer cries when she goes to kindergarten. Every day she carries her little backpack and walks ahead of her mother, turning back to urge her to hurry up.

The train swayed, and Ye Bingwen opened his eyes.

The old man was already snoring.

It was pitch black outside the window, with only one or two lights occasionally flashing by.

Ye Bingwen closed his eyes again.

The situation in Daxing Village has stabilized.

The transformer has been replaced, the machine can be turned on, and Liu Xiaojun's basic skills are not bad either. He should be able to learn from Master Li for two months and be able to get started.

Once this batch of goods is delivered and I have some money, I'll buy a few more new machine tools.

We also need to expand our factory in Harbin; the current factory is too small, and we can't accommodate all the orders.

Lost in thought, Ye Bingwen drifted off to sleep.

We arrived in Harbin at around 4 a.m.

It was still dark, and there weren't many people at the train station.

Ye Bingwen exited the station.

The early autumn wind was blowing and it was a bit chilly.

As dawn broke, sanitation workers began sweeping the streets, and breakfast stalls started steaming.

By the time we got to the building where the rented apartment was located, it was already broad daylight.

He went upstairs and opened the door.

Zheng Shuyun had just gotten up and was boiling water in the kitchen, still in her pajamas.

Hearing the door open, he peeked out.

"You're back?"

"I'm back."

"An'an hasn't woken up yet."

Zheng Shuyun lowered her voice.

"Go wash up and get some sleep."

Ye Bingwen went to the bathroom to wash his face.

Zheng Shuyun placed a bowl of porridge on the table.

"Eat first, then go to sleep."

"Not sleepy,"

Ye Bingwen sat down.

I slept on the train.

"Can you sleep well on the train?"

"It'll have to do."

He picked up the bowl and took a sip of porridge.

"How's it going in Daxing Village?"

Zheng Shuyun sat opposite her.

"The transformer has been replaced, and the power supply is stable. We can get the first batch of goods ready."

"That's good."

"Oh, right."

Ye Bingwen said.

"Liu Yongqiang has a nephew named Liu Xiaojun who will be coming to Harbin in a few days to learn a skill."

"Master Li will take him. When the time comes, please help me tidy up and let him stay in the room next door."

"OK."

Ye Bingwen finished his porridge.

Zheng Shuyun went to wash the dishes, and he took out the blueprints from his bag.

The situation in Daxing Village has been stabilized for the time being, but the fifty units in Harbin are still undecided.

The new machine tool will need a few more days to break in; the mold isn't ready yet, and the dimensions of the outer casing need to be recalculated.

He picked up a pencil, lowered his head, and began to draw.

The sky outside the window was bright with sunlight, and bicycle bells could be heard ringing on the street.

An'an hummed in the bedroom.

Zheng Shuyun came out of the kitchen and walked behind him for a while.

"You started drawing as soon as you got back."

"We're rushing to meet the deadline."

"You always say that."

Ye Bingwen did not look up.

The pencil scratched on the paper.

An'an called out "Mom" from inside the house, and Zheng Shuyun quickly went in.

An An's coquettish voice came from the bedroom, followed by a burst of giggles.

Ye Bingwen listened without stopping his pencil.

Not a single item in this batch can be defective.