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

Professor Cai scribbled a few notes on the paper, then looked up.

"With 150 units, the monthly gross profit is only around 500 yuan. After deducting labor, utilities, and equipment depreciation, how much is left?"

"Around two hundred yuan."

"Then your factory is barely enough to make a living."

Ye Bingwen did not deny it.

Professor Cai was telling the truth; his small factory was indeed small in scale and had very low profit margins.

"That's why we need to find new avenues. If we can make composite materials, the cost will come down, and our orders can double."

Professor Cai's eyes showed a hint of approval.

Do you know how much composite materials cost?

Ye Bingwen knew that Professor Cai was testing him.

"The raw material cost of glass fiber reinforced phenolic resin is about 2.5 yuan per kilogram."

"Making one motor housing requires one and a half kilograms of material, and the material cost is three yuan and seventy-five cents, which is about the same as A3 steel."

Professor Cai leaned back in his chair.

"Looks like you didn't just make this up on a whim. Do you know that the molding process for composite materials is far more complex than metal stamping?"

"The molds, the equipment, the operators—everything has to be built from scratch."

"If you factor in these costs, your ex-factory price of 7.2 yuan simply won't be enough."

That's why I came to find you.

Ye Bingwen said.

"You provide the technology, and we provide the conditions for pilot production. Once it's successful, your research will have an application validation."

"My costs have come down. I'm not losing money on either side."

Professor Cai picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Ye Bingwen continued.

"You've been doing research on composite materials for several years now, haven't you?"

"The lab prototype has been produced, and the performance data has been obtained."

"But we haven't found any real-world application scenarios yet, right?"

Professor Cai looked at him.

"You saw my motors and my production line at the meeting that day."

"I'm not here to buy materials, I'm here to cooperate with you."

"You provide technical guidance and material formulations, while our factory provides production equipment and application scenarios. We share the results and the risks."

"If you succeed, your research will have a real product to validate it. If you fail, you will lose several tons of materials."

"I lost military orders. Professor Cai, you know who suffered greater losses."

The office was silent for a few seconds.

Professor Cai wrote a few lines on a piece of paper and pushed it in front of Ye Bingwen.

"These are the performance data for the composite material I prepared. Take a look and see if they meet your requirements."

Ye Bingwen took the paper.

He glanced at it and already had a good idea of ​​what was going on.

"Professor Cai, the data is fine. But I have one request."

"explain."

"You need to send a graduate student to our factory to provide on-site guidance on the molding process of composite materials."

"It's too slow for us to figure it out on our own; we can't afford to wait."

Professor Cai glanced at him.

What kind of equipment does your factory have?

"A 100-ton press was just repaired. We modified the heating system ourselves."

"What is the temperature control accuracy?"

"Plus or minus five degrees."

"Five degrees?"

Professor Cai frowned slightly.

"The curing temperature of phenolic resin requires a range of plus or minus two degrees Celsius. A fluctuation of five degrees Celsius will result in unstable product performance."

"Then we'll need your students to help us adjust the process parameters."

Ye Bingwen said.

"Heating rate, holding time, and cooling method can all affect the final result. If the equipment is not precise enough, the process can compensate."

Professor Cai suddenly smiled.

"You don't seem like a freshman."

Ye Bingwen's heart tightened.

"I learned it while working in the factory for over a year."

Professor Zhao told me about you.

Professor Cai picked up his teacup.

"He said you often skipped classes, but never failed an exam. He also said you implemented an assembly line-style job placement method."

"His efficiency tripled. I asked him how he did it, and he only said one sentence—'This student is extraordinary.'"

Ye Bingwen had no idea that Professor Zhao had said these things behind his back.

"Professor Zhao, you flatter me."

Professor Cai put down his teacup.

"Alright, I agree to the cooperation in principle. But I have three conditions."

"Please speak."

"First, your factory will cover the testing costs for the composite materials. I won't ask for much more, just five hundred dollars to buy raw materials and prototype molds."

"no problem."

"Secondly, if you send graduate students to your factory, you must provide them with food and lodging. Students have a hard life, and we can't let them suffer losses."

"Tube."

"third."

Professor Cai's tone became serious.

"Professor Zhao said you have five courses in your final exams. I told him that if you fail even one, the collaboration will be canceled."

"I can't work with someone who can't even manage their studies."

Ye Bingwen was taken aback.

"Professor Cai, isn't this inappropriate? The factory is waiting for materials for its orders, and the final exams are still over a month away—"

"It's precisely because there's still more than a month that you have time to prepare."

Professor Cai interrupted him.

"Ye Bingwen, let me tell you the truth. I could tell at the meeting that day that you were a capable person."

"But you are a student, and your studies should come first. No matter how well the factory is run, if you don't study well, then you're putting the cart before the horse."

"Professor Zhao thinks so too."

Ye Bingwen wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back.

"Okay. I agree."

"no sooner said than done."

Professor Cai took a form out of the drawer.

"This is an application form for joint technical cooperation. Take it back and fill it out. Once you've filled it out, take it to the department office, and I'll sign it."

Ye Bingwen took the form and glanced at it.

"Professor Cai, I'll fill this out when I get back, and then I'll bring it over."

"No rush. You should focus on your final exams first."

Professor Cai stood up and extended his hand.

"Ye Bingwen, it's a pleasure to work with you."

Ye Bingwen shook hands in return.

"It's a pleasure working with you."

It was almost 11 o'clock when I came out of Harbin Military Engineering Institute.

Ye Bingwen rode his bicycle back to school and went to the department office.

The counselor is organizing documents.

"Bingwen, you've come at the perfect time."

"Advisor, I'm here to confirm my final exam subjects. All five courses, right?"

"It's all been submitted."

The counselor took a form out of the drawer.

"Wait a minute, I have something else for you."

He pulled an envelope out of the filing cabinet.

"What is this?"

"Scholarship. Eighty yuan. Your overall evaluation ranks third in the class, plus the bonus points for your social practice at that factory."

"The school's evaluation committee awarded you an 'Outstanding Individual in Social Practice' award. It's not a lot of money, but it's an honor."

Ye Bingwen accepted the envelope.

Eighty yuan is enough for two months' living expenses at home.

"Thank you, counselor."

Don't thank me. Thank yourself.

The counselor sat down.

"Bingwen, I have something to tell you. The school has high expectations for your factory."

"Principal Liu specifically mentioned at the Party Committee meeting that your school-run factory is a pilot project for teaching reform."

"If you mess up your studies, Principal Liu won't look good either."

"Professor Cai also told me that if you fail your final exam, the collaboration will fall through. Don't make everyone worry."