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

"It's not really an experiment."

Ye Bingwen told the truth.

"The problem is that the old machine tool always produces defective products when doing precision work. I measured the vibration data several times."

"We discovered that it matched the natural frequency of the foundation, confirming it was a resonance issue."

Professor Zhao did not ask any further questions.

But Ye Bingwen knew that this explanation could only barely pass muster.

Professor Zhao, being a shrewd person, would not completely trust that a student could complete such an analysis on their own.

Fortunately, he didn't investigate further, perhaps because he felt that as long as the solution was correct, the source was not important.

The infrastructure department's office is located in a row of bungalows behind the teaching building.

Ye Bingwen pushed open the wooden door, and a smell of tea and newspaper mixed together wafted out.

Director Sun was sitting behind his desk reading a newspaper.

Upon seeing Professor Zhao enter, he quickly stood up.

"Teacher Zhao? What brings you here?"

"Let's take a look at your foundation plan."

Professor Zhao sat down directly in the chair opposite Director Sun.

"Director Sun, I've reviewed Xiao Ye's calculations for the factory foundation, and the plan is feasible. Do you have any concerns?"

Director Sun glanced at Ye Bingwen, his expression somewhat subtle.

He didn't expect that the student would actually bring Professor Zhao over.

At Harbin Institute of Technology, Professor Zhao's influence was well-known—he was a senior figure in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and even the university president had to give him some respect.

"Teacher Zhao, it's not that I disagree."

Director Sun carefully considered his words.

"I just think this plan is too expensive. Replacing the fill by 1.5 meters will cost almost twice as much as the conventional plan."

"Our school's budget is tight, so every little bit saved counts."

"save money?"

Professor Zhao took Ye Bingwen's notebook out of his bag and turned to the page with the calculations.

"Director Sun, let me do some accounting with you."

He wrote a number on the paper with a pen.

"This solution will cost an extra five thousand dollars. Five thousand dollars will buy you a foundation that won't settle for twenty years."

He wrote down another number.

"If we follow your plan, the foundation won't last more than two years."

"If the machine tools vibrate excessively, the scrap rate will increase, and the annual loss will be more than five thousand. Can't you do the math?"

Director Sun was momentarily speechless.

Professor Zhao continued.

"When I was studying in the Soviet Union, the foundations of the precision machining workshops in the factories there were all built according to this standard."

"If others can do it this way, why can't we? Just because it costs a few thousand more dollars, we should lower our quality standards?"

Director Sun remained silent for a moment.

He couldn't refute Professor Zhao's words.

He has been working in infrastructure for twenty years, relying on his experience, but experience can sometimes be deceiving.

Especially when facing new equipment and new processes, old experience is often not useful.

"Teacher Zhao, you're right."

Director Sun relented.

"I can approve the plan, but the responsibility..."

He looked at Ye Bingwen.

"Xiao Ye, you need to sign a liability waiver. You'll be responsible for any problems that arise."

"no problem."

Ye Bingwen said.

"I'll sign the liability waiver."

Director Sun took out a blank sheet of paper from the drawer and wrote a few lines on it, the gist of which was...

"The foundation design for this project was designed by Ye Bingwen himself. If the project quality is affected by foundation problems, the project shall be deemed to be in good condition."

Ye Bingwen shall bear full responsibility.

He handed the paper to Ye Bingwen.

Ye Bingwen read it over, picked up a pen, and neatly signed his name at the end.

Professor Zhao watched from the side, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

Director Sun carefully put away the letter of responsibility and affixed the official seal of the Infrastructure Department.

"Alright, the construction team will start work tomorrow."

Ye Bingwen rolled up the blueprints.

Professor Zhao has already stood up.

"Director Sun, I'll treat you to drinks another day."

Director Sun gave a wry smile.

"Teacher Zhao, you're not inviting me to drink, you're forcing me to drink."

Professor Zhao smiled.

As Professor Zhao walked out of the infrastructure department, he looked at the students running on the playground in the distance.

"Xiao Ye, once you sign the responsibility agreement, there's no turning back."

"I know."

"I'll be there to oversee the foundation construction. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me."

Ye Bingwen felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

"Professor Zhao, thank you."

"Don't thank me."

Professor Zhao waved his hand.

"I think your factory has potential; it can provide practical training opportunities for students. Working hard is the most important thing."

After saying that, he slowly walked back.

The construction team arrived at 7 a.m.

In Harbin, the sun rises early in autumn.

Ye Bingwen woke up at 5:30 a.m. without disturbing Zheng Shuyun and An'an, and went out of the dormitory.

When he arrived at the construction site, the construction team's workers were already there.

Seven or eight people, wearing faded blue overalls.

A man in his forties stood at the front, holding a roll of construction blueprints in his hand.

"Director Ye?"

The man walked over.

"Are you Captain Zhang?"

"Yes, my surname is Zhang. Director Sun asked me to lead the team."

Captain Zhang stubbed out his cigarette.

"I've looked at the blueprints. It's a 1.5-meter replacement layer, with a crushed stone subbase, compacted in layers. This job is no easy task."

"Can you finish on time?"

"Ten days, and I guarantee the foundation will be firmly compacted."

Captain Zhang glanced back at his team.

"We're all seasoned veterans with over a decade of experience, so don't worry."

Ye Bingwen squatted down to look at the lime lines that had already been marked on the ground.

The laying out of the lines was completed yesterday afternoon.

He personally watched as the surveyor used a theodolite to mark the axis line, and then checked it point by point with a tape measure.

The length and width dimensions of the factory building, the spacing of the column grid, and the location of the equipment foundation pits are all clearly marked on the lime lines.

He stepped on the soil within the designated line.

In autumn, the soil in Harbin is dry, and the topsoil has hardened, but if you go down another 20 centimeters, you can feel that it is soft.

If we don't remove this layer of soft soil and compact the gravel and pebbles, the vibrations will spread throughout the entire workshop when the machines are turned on.

"Captain Zhang, pay attention to the elevation when you start digging."

Ye Bingwen patted the dust off his trousers.

"The foundation must be dug down to the old soil layer; not even a centimeter off is acceptable."

"Director Ye, your requirements are even stricter than those of regular construction companies."

Captain Zhang smiled.

"Okay, whatever you say goes."

At 7:30, the construction team officially started work.

Around 8 o'clock, Zheng Shuyun arrived carrying An'an.

An'an wore a red cotton-padded jacket today, which Zheng Shuyun sewed herself from the fabric she bought at the supply and marketing cooperative a few days ago.

She was held in her mother's arms and saw Ye Bingwen squatting by the foundation pit from afar, pointing and shouting with her little finger.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

Ye Bingwen went over and took An'an from her.

An'an hugged his neck and pressed her little face against his.

"Why did you bring her here?"

Zheng Shuyun said.

"The kindergarten teachers had a health check today, so they had half a day off. She's been making a fuss at home looking for you, and I can't calm her down."

Ye Bingwen rubbed his chin against An'an's head.

"An'an, be good. Daddy's working. You play here and don't run around."

He put An'an down.