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

After the meeting, Director Fang came over.

"Xiao Ye, you led a fantastic meeting today. Professor Cai just said something to me, would you like to hear it?"

"What did you say?"

He said, "If this young man weren't still in school, I'd really like to get him into Harbin Military Engineering Institute."

Ye Bingwen smiled.

"Director Fang, please thank Professor Cai for me. I'd better focus on what's at hand first."

Director Fang looked around and said in a low voice.

"Xiao Ye, I have something to tell you, but don't tell anyone."

Ye Bingwen nodded.

"The provincial defense industry office has already received word. This falsification of quality inspection reports isn't just a problem unique to your factory."

"The implications could be quite broad. The leadership of the industrial office has made the decision to conduct a thorough internal investigation."

Director Fang paused for a moment.

"It seems that Ma Li's people are going to have their old grievances brought up again this time."

"How far have they investigated?"

Ye Bingwen asked.

"It's hard to say."

Director Fang lit a cigarette.

"But I can tell you one thing—Engineer Gu has been called in for questioning. Nobody knows how much he confessed."

"You need to be prepared, there might be a chain reaction afterward. Some people are unwilling to accept defeat and will try to drag others down with them even in their dying moments."

Ye Bingwen remained silent for a moment.

Director Fang's meaning was very clear.

Ma Li will not sit idly by and wait for his doom; a counterattack is inevitable.

"I understand. Thank you, Director Fang."

"Don't thank me. I'm only doing this because I see you're doing legitimate work and I don't want you to be dragged down by those crooked ways."

Director Fang patted him on the shoulder.

"I'm leaving. Keep in touch."

Ye Bingwen stood there watching the convoy drive away.

The information revealed by Director Fang is both good news and a warning—someone above is going to target Ma Li, but Ma Li still has cards to play. A man like him won't sit idly by and wait to be killed.

When Ye Bingwen came out of the Provincial Defense Industry Office, it was already past four o'clock in the afternoon.

He didn't ride his bike to school. There was a "Principles of Machinery" problem-solving class this afternoon, with Professor Zhao personally tutoring him, and he didn't want to miss it.

When I arrived at the teaching building, the class bell had just rung.

Ye Bingwen slipped in through the back door and found an empty seat on the side.

Professor Zhao is explaining a complex example of gear meshing.

"The key to this problem is that the overlap ratio must be greater than 1, otherwise the gears will disengage."

"Go back and redo the example problems on page 137 of your textbook. Hand in your homework tomorrow."

Ye Bingwen lowered his head to take notes, but his mind was still on the afternoon meeting.

Professor Cai asked for his materials on the spot, which shows that the expert group's attitude was clear.

Ma Li's side won't let this go easily; a counterattack is only a matter of time.

"Ye Bingwen".

Professor Zhao suddenly called out his name.

Ye Bingwen raised his head.

"Come up here and draw the meshing line of this set of gears."

Ye Bingwen stood up and walked onto the podium.

He quickly went through the basic laws of tooth meshing in his mind, then picked up the chalk.

The trajectory of the meshing line and the contact point of the tooth profile was accurately drawn.

Professor Zhao offered no comment, but simply waved for him to leave.

After class, Professor Zhao called him over.

"Ye Bingwen, please stay behind."

Ye Bingwen walked to the edge of the podium.

Professor Zhao is tidying up his lecture notes.

"You've been missing quite a few classes lately. I know you're working on that factory, but your studies should come first."

"If you fail the final exam, no one can save you."

"I know, Professor Zhao."

"Good to know."

Professor Zhao tucked the lecture notes under his arm.

"You weren't distracted in class today, but your notes from the previous classes weren't complete. Ask a classmate to help you catch up, so you don't fall behind."

"It's already been repaired."

Professor Zhao nodded, picked up the enamel mug, and walked out of the classroom.

Ye Bingwen returned to his seat and packed his schoolbag.

He rode his bike to the factory.

Mr. Li was smoking at the workshop entrance.

"Xiao Ye, is the meeting over?"

"It's finished."

"How is it?"

Ye Bingwen propped up the bicycle and took out his notebook from his canvas bag.

"All three experts agreed. Professor Cai asked for my materials on the spot and said he would issue a review opinion within a week."

"Ma Li barely said a word the whole time, and Gu Ming's face turned green."

Master Li breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good. I was worried those people would cause some trouble again."

"It's not over yet."

Ye Bingwen closed his notebook.

"Director Fang told me something. The Provincial Defense Industry Office is conducting an internal investigation into the falsification of quality inspection reports, and Gu Ming has already been summoned for questioning." "Ma Li won't sit idly by."

Master Li frowned.

"How can he retaliate? The report is fake, the motor is real, what other tricks can he pull?"

"It may not necessarily turn the flowers upside down, but it can certainly add to the annoyance."

Ye Bingwen placed the canvas bag in his hand on the worktable.

"He wants to hinder us, and the easiest way to do so isn't through technical skills, but through something else."

"What is it?"

"Supply chain".

Ye Bingwen walked into the workshop.

"Where is Section Chief Wang?"

"In the office."

Ye Bingwen turned and went to his office.

Wang Guoqiang, the head of the purchasing department, is sorting out the documents.

"Director Ye, what is it?"

"Compile a list of all the suppliers' contact information and give it to me before you leave work today."

"Also, check the existing database and see how long it can last."

Wang Guoqiang was stunned for a moment.

"What happened?"

"It's not certain yet. Go and sort out the accounts first."

Wang Guoqiang didn't ask any more questions and started looking through the receipts.

Ye Bingwen went to the workshop again.

Liu Xiaojun was squatting next to the old press, his hands covered in grease, and tools scattered all over the floor.

"Xiaojun, how's the press repair going?"

Liu Xiaojun had a black mark on his face.

"Uncle Ye, the sealing ring is worn out and needs to be replaced. This model is hard to find on the market, I'll have to machine one on a lathe."

Liu Xiaojun was an apprentice at the factory, and he had been learning lathe operation from Master Li for more than half a year.

He learns quickly and is skillful with his hands; he can now work independently.

Ye Bingwen's decision to have him participate in repairing the press machine was both a form of training and a sign of his trust.

"How long will it take to recover?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

Liu Xiaojun said with great confidence.

"I'll try turning a copper one first, and if that doesn't work, I'll think of something else."

"pay close attention."

Ye Bingwen squatted down and took a look.

"If Professor Cai is willing to cooperate, we need to use this machine for trial production."

"Professor Cai?"

Liu Xiaojun raised his head.

"Which Professor Cai?"

"From Harbin Military Engineering Institute. A materials expert."

Liu Xiaojun continued to work diligently.

He was a reliable worker; he never questioned why Ye Bingwen asked him to do something, he just did it well.

Ye Bingwen glanced around the entire workshop.

Two old machine tools were turning, and Master Li was leading two workers to rush a batch of military product casings.

Orders are piling up, and the old factory is almost overflowing.

He walked out of the workshop and glanced at the open space next to the playground.

At the construction site of the new factory, most of the foundation has already been dug.

Ye Bingwen squatted down to check the progress of the foundation pit.

"Xiao Ye".

Master Li followed.

When will the new factory building be completed?