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

Ye Bingwen went up to the third floor, walked to the door of the innermost office, and knocked.

"Come in."

A man in his fifties was sitting in the office, with a stack of blueprints spread out on his desk.

"Who are you?"

"Hello Chief Engineer Meng, my name is Ye Bingwen. Engineer Hu asked me to come and see you."

Ye Bingwen took out Hu Guangzhi's report and handed it over.

"Mr. Hu previously prepared this technical assessment report for me. I'm here today to ask you to take a look at another report."

He then handed over the quality inspection report from the Provincial Department of Industry.

Chief Engineer Meng first read Hu Guangzhi's report, nodded, and then picked up the report from the Provincial Department of Industry.

After watching for a while, his brows furrowed.

Who issued this quality inspection report?

"Gu Ming from the Quality Inspection Division of the Provincial Department of Industry, Ma Li from the Management Division reviewed the application, and Deputy Director Zhou signed it."

Chief Engineer Meng placed the two reports side by side on the table.

"The data in the report that Professor Hu gave you is correct. But the data on insulation resistance in the report from the Provincial Department of Industry is clearly incorrect."

He looked up at Ye Bingwen.

"Have you offended someone?"

"Someone is trying to trap us and then beat us."

Chief Engineer Meng dialed a number.

"Old Zhou? This is Old Meng. Your Industrial Bureau recently released a quality inspection report on motors."

"I'll give you the number... Yes, this is it. I want to access the original testing records... I'm not trying to cause trouble."

"It's a technical review. The data you tested doesn't match what I know about the actual situation... Okay, I'll wait for your reply."

After hanging up the phone, Chief Engineer Meng said something to Ye Bingwen.

"Deputy Director Zhou is my college classmate. I'll help you get the original test records."

"If the records don't match what you said, then there's something to say about this."

Ye Bingwen stood up and bowed.

"Chief Engineer Meng, thank you."

"No need to thank me. I can't ignore what Teacher Hu brought up."

Chief Engineer Meng waved his hand.

"Go back first. I'll have someone let you know if there's any news."

The Provincial Defense Industry Office, the Provincial Machinery Research Institute, and the Provincial Military Region are advancing the project simultaneously on three fronts.

Director Fang submitted the materials to the Provincial Defense Industry Office, while Chief Engineer Meng retrieved the original testing records.

Liu Deben sent the materials to the Provincial Department of Education.

He didn't believe he couldn't cut that fake report.

Chief Engineer Meng acted even faster than Ye Bingwen had anticipated.

The next morning, Ye Bingwen received a call from Chief Engineer Meng.

"Xiao Ye, everything's ready here. It'll be 2 PM today."

"I took two engineers from the institute to the Quality Inspection Department of the Provincial Department of Industry, ostensibly for technical review."

"Seal the original test records and samples of that batch of disputed motors. Do you have any issues with that?"

Ye Bingwen gripped the receiver tightly.

"Chief Engineer Meng, Gu Ming from the Quality Inspection Department will probably try to stop us."

"He couldn't stop him."

Chief Engineer Meng's tone was very calm.

"Technical review is authorized by the Provincial Defense Industry Office, and the Department of Industry has no right to refuse. I have already obtained the request for review."

"Shall I come pick you up?"

"No need. You go about your business, I'll have someone let you know when there's a result."

After hanging up the phone, Ye Bingwen sat down at the table.

When Chief Engineer Meng personally intervened, the nature of the matter changed.

This was a technical supervision exercise conducted by the Provincial Machinery Research Institute against the Provincial Department of Industry.

With equal levels of authority and compliant procedures, even the most arrogant Gu Ming wouldn't dare to stop them.

At 3 p.m., Liu Yongqiang called.

"Old Ye, it's done!"

"What's done?"

"Chief Engineer Meng called. They arrived at the quality inspection department at 2 PM, but Gu Ming initially wouldn't let them in."

"He said the test drafts were internal documents and could not be lent out, and Chief Engineer Meng didn't waste any more words with him."

"They directly presented the request letter from the Provincial Defense Industry Office and the official letter from the Mechanical Research Institute, demanding that the original records and samples be sealed on the spot."

Ye Bingwen's heart jumped.

"and then?"

"Then Gu Ming said he needed to consult Ma Li. While he was making the call, Chief Engineer Meng had already sent someone into the testing room."

"We sealed up all the original drafts and samples of that batch of motors and affixed seals to them."

"By the time Gu Ming finished his call and came back, the things had already been sealed."

"What was Gu Ming's reaction?"

"His face turned green. He said he was going to take it to the court. Chief Engineer Meng said, 'Go ahead and take it, I'm waiting.'"

Ye Bingwen let out a long breath.

"Yongqiang, we will never forget Chief Engineer Meng's favor."

"I've got it."

......

Quality Inspection Division of the Provincial Department of Industry.

Gu Ming stood at the door of the testing room, his face ashen.

Chief Engineer Meng and the engineers from the two institutes have already left; the testing platform is empty.

The test drafts and samples that were originally there were all sealed up and taken away.

He returned to his office and dialed Ma Li's number.

"Director Ma, something's happened."

"What is it?"

"Chief Engineer Meng from the Provincial Machinery Research Institute brought people to seal up the original drafts and samples of that batch of motors. I couldn't stop them."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Chief Engineer Meng? Which Chief Engineer Meng?"

"Meng Qingshan. Chief Engineer. He and Deputy Director Zhou were university classmates."

The sound of horsepower decreased.

"Does Deputy Director Zhou know about this?"

"I don't know. But I have to report it right away."

"Meng Qingshan came under the guise of technical review by the Provincial Defense Industry Office. He had all the necessary paperwork, so I couldn't stop him."

"Don't worry. I'll call Deputy Director Zhou."

Ma Li sat at his desk for a while before dialing Deputy Director Zhou's number.

"Director Zhou, this is Ma Li. I have something to report to you."

"explain."

"Chief Engineer Meng Qingshan led a team to the Quality Inspection Department this afternoon."

"Under the guise of technical review, the original test drafts and samples of that batch of products from Nangang Electric Machinery Factory were sealed up."

"Gu Ming tried to stop him, but he couldn't."

There was silence for a few seconds on the other end of the phone.

"Did Meng Qingshan go in person?"

"Yes."

"Under what pretext did he use?"

"The technical review request from the Provincial Defense Industry Office, plus the official letter from the Mechanical Research Institute. The procedures are complete."

Deputy Director Zhou remained silent for a long while.

"Old Ma, don't do anything about this yet. I know Meng Qingshan; he wouldn't personally intervene without a reason."

"Since he dared to seal the manuscript, it means he has something in his possession."

"What about the Nangang Electric Machinery Factory area—"

"Let's put it aside for now. Have Gu Ming review the original records and check for any loopholes."

Ma Li's heart sank.

"Director Zhou, what do you mean—"

"What I mean is, if the original manuscript really has problems, no one can protect it. Do you understand?"

Ma Li's hand holding the receiver trembled slightly.

"clear."

He put down the phone, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Deputy Director Zhou's attitude began to waver.

Two days later.

Director Fang called Ye Bingwen's office.

"Xiao Ye, get ready. Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, in the conference room of the Provincial Defense Industry Office, several senior experts want to hear your report in person."

Ye Bingwen put down the blueprints in his hand.

"Director Fang, is this a formal meeting for the technical review?"

"Yes. The engineering office invited three senior experts in the field of electrical machinery, one of whom is a professor who retired from Harbin Military Engineering Institute."

"One is the former director of the Provincial Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and the other is the chief engineer of the Northeast Electric Power Administration."

"All three are veterans in the domestic motor industry."

Will the Provincial Department of Industry send someone to participate?

"Yes. Ma Li and Gu Ming will both go. Deputy Director Zhou will not go, but the head of the Quality Inspection Department will."