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

"I know."

"Good to know."

The counselor waved his hand.

"Alright, go back and study. Do your best on the final exams, don't let people laugh at you."

Ye Bingwen put the envelope in his pocket and rode his bicycle to the factory.

At the construction site of the new factory, the construction team is pouring the foundation.

The roar of the mixer was deafening as workers pushed carts, dumping truckloads of concrete into the foundation pit.

Director Sun stood on the sidelines directing the operation.

Ye Bingwen walked to the edge of the foundation pit

The concrete was poured very evenly, vibrated properly, and the surface was smooth.

Although Director Sun is conservative, he does a really good job.

"Director Sun, thank you for your hard work."

Director Sun wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"You've come at the right time. The foundation needs to be cured for fifteen days after it's poured, and no loads can be applied during this period. The equipment arrival plan will be postponed."

"Half a month is fine, a few more days won't make a difference."

Ye Bingwen squatted down and looked at it for a while.

Master Li walked over, holding two cups of water in his hand.

"Xiao Ye, what did Professor Cai say?"

"Agreed. But on conditions."

"What are the conditions?"

"You can't fail any of the final exams."

Mr. Li was stunned for a moment.

"Then why are you still standing here? Go back to your book."

Ye Bingwen stood up and took a sip of water.

"I'll stay for a little while and then leave."

He walked around the construction site and confirmed the precautions for the maintenance period with Director Sun.

The old factory has 150 orders lined up, and the existing steel inventory is enough to last for half a month, which is just enough to finish the orders at hand.

Once Professor Cai's composite material solution is finalized, the steel supply disruption will no longer be a concern.

Ye Bingwen went to the old factory to check on Liu Xiaojun's progress in repairing the press machine.

Liu Xiaojun has already machined the new sealing ring and is installing it.

"Xiao Jun, once it's installed, test the pressure."

"Okay, Uncle Ye."

The press started up, and the pressure gauge pointer steadily pointed to 18 MPa.

After holding the pressure for five minutes, the pointer remained completely still.

"It's done!"

Liu Xiaojun happily climbed out from under the machine, his face covered in oil.

"here you go."

Ye Bingwen patted him on the shoulder.

"Xiao Jun, Harbin Military Engineering Institute might send a graduate student over in a couple of days. You should study hard under him."

"Composite materials are something new; mastering them is a real skill."

"Understood, Uncle Ye!"

After leaving the factory, Ye Bingwen went directly to the school library.

There are 31 days left until the final exams.

Advanced Mathematics, Principles of Machinery, Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical Drawing, Political Economy.

Professor Cai's conditions were stringent; he couldn't fail any subject.

He sat by the window in the library, spread all five textbooks out on the table, and marked the key points of each chapter with a pencil.

The only sound in the library was the turning of pages.

He sat in the library for two hours, going through all the exercises in the first six chapters of "Advanced Mathematics".

I flipped through the pages on gear transmission in "Principles of Machinery" again.

When Zheng Shuyun got home in the evening, she was putting An'an to sleep.

Hearing the door open, An'an immediately poked her head out from under the covers.

"Dad's home!"

"An'an, be good and go to sleep."

"Daddy told me a story!"

Ye Bingwen sat on the edge of the bed and told An'an the story of the little horse crossing the river.

As An'an listened, her eyes closed, her little hands clutching the hem of his clothes.

Zheng Shuyun brought out a bowl of noodles from the kitchen.

Have you eaten?

"I ate in the cafeteria."

"Eat just a couple more bites, or you'll be reading until midnight again tonight."

Ye Bingwen took the bowl and lowered his head to eat the noodles.

Zheng Shuyun sat down next to him and looked at him.

"Did you go to Harbin Military Engineering Institute today?"

"I went. Professor Cai agreed to the collaboration, but on one condition—I can't fail the final exam."

"That's a good condition."

Zheng Shuyun smiled.

"I told you long ago, you've missed too many classes."

Which side are you on?

"I'm on your side, but Professor Cai is right."

Zheng Shuyun took the bowl away.

"Focus on your studies. I can't help with things at the factory, and don't worry about things at home."

Ye Bingwen felt a warmth in his heart as he watched her retreating figure.

Outside the window, the night breeze of Harbin was blowing gently.

In the distance, lights were still on at the construction site of the new factory—the construction team was still working overtime to pour the foundation.

In another two months, the new factory building will be completed.

By then, once the equipment is moved in and the production line is set up, production will double.

In the days that followed, Ye Bingwen divided his time into three parts.

He dared not miss Professor Zhao's class anymore, always sitting in the third row by the window, taking meticulous notes.

Even after class, he would proactively go up to ask questions and catch up on what he had missed in the previous weeks.

Professor Zhao's gaze softened considerably.

The foundation of the new factory building is under maintenance, and he goes to check it every morning to make sure there are no cracks or settlement.

Orders for the old factory are still being fulfilled, and Mr. Li and his team are working overtime.

The press that Liu Xiaojun repaired also came in handy, and the stamping efficiency was much higher than before.

An'an recently learned to write his own name, and every day when he comes home, I write it down in my notebook for him to see.

Zheng Shuyun's English correspondence course has also reached a critical stage, and she often reads books until very late at night.

That afternoon, he had just come out of the library when his pager vibrated.

It was Wang Guoqiang calling back.

"Director Ye, Professor Cai called. He said the graduate students have all been arranged and will be able to come next Monday."

"They're asking if we're ready on our end."

"Ready."

Ye Bingwen said.

"Tell Professor Cai that I'll be waiting at the factory at nine o'clock on Monday morning."

After hanging up the phone, Ye Bingwen rode his bicycle to the factory.

He called Liu Xiaojun over and gave him an instruction.

"Xiaojun, a graduate student from Harbin Military Engineering Institute will be coming next Monday. You'll be in charge of learning from him."

"Write carefully down how they adjust the equipment, how they mix the materials, and how they control the temperature. If you don't understand, ask; don't pretend you know."

"Understood, Uncle Ye."

Liu Xiaojun nodded.

"Should the press be adjusted again?"

"Adjust it. Go through all the problems you can think of in the next couple of days, so that we don't find out the equipment is faulty when people arrive."

Liu Xiaojun responded and turned to go to the workshop.

Master Li listened from the side and only spoke after Liu Xiaojun left.

"Xiao Ye, what good things do you think that graduate student can bring?"

"have no idea."

Ye Bingwen said.

"But Professor Cai has the technology, and we have the equipment. If we put the two together, we can always make something of it."

"What about Ma Li?"

Master Li lowered his voice.

"Has the supplier issue still not been resolved?"

"It's not resolved."

Ye Bingwen lit a cigarette

"But the inventory is enough for half a month. If the trial production of composite materials is successful within half a month, then we won't have to worry about the steel."

On the construction site of the new factory in the distance, the concrete has been curing for almost a week.

Director Sun sends people to water the plants every day.

When Ye Bingwen walked over, Director Sun was squatting by the foundation pit, tapping and banging on it with a small hammer.

"Director Sun, is there a problem?"

"no problem."

Director Sun stood up.

"At this rate, the steel structure will be installed in another ten days."

"Thanks a lot."