Reborn in 1977, I will no longer be my brother's blood bag.

The workshop director stared at the pen handed to him.

"Take it."

Du is still holding it up.

"Director, thirteen units, one of which is scrap. You watched it from startup to shutdown."

"I told you, this is a trial production."

"Then I'll write 'trial birth'."

The workshop director raised his face.

"Du Yongcheng, are you really going to take this seriously with me today?"

Du's lips moved slightly.

The machine started up again, and as the pulley turned, the window frame vibrated with a buzzing sound.

He glanced down at the numbers he had just written down, then pushed the notebook forward a little more.

The number cannot be changed.

"Or... you could just write a sentence next to it saying you don't recognize it."

The workshop director's face immediately darkened.

"you--"

"Alright."

Factory Director Liang reached out from behind and took the pen.

From 10:20 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.

New arrangement method.

Thirteen sets were completed.

A piece of junk.

After reading it, he added two words next to it.

Trial production.

He then signed his name below.

"Thirteen is thirteen."

"If anyone asks in the future, just come to me."

The pen was shoved back into Du's hand.

"Continue writing this afternoon."

Du brought the notebook back.

"Why."

The workshop foreman stood there for two seconds, then turned and left the workshop.

Master Fang squatted down and turned the finished products in the basket over again.

"No more people, no more machines."

"This time I'm starting to get the hang of it."

Lin Xiuhe stood at the other end of the worktable and went over the records from the morning again.

The first group is fast, but also produces a high number of defective products.

As the speed slowed down, the finished product became more stable.

We have to run again.

She returned the notebook to Du, the statistics officer.

"Don't change your notation this afternoon."

Du nodded.

"Still, one hourly interval."

There were hurried footsteps at the door.

The purchasing manager came in with the delivery slip.

"Don't get too excited yet."

Master Fang looked up.

"What's wrong?"

"Steel materials."

The purchasing manager slammed the order form on the table.

"The freight station has been holding it for five days, costing 1,680 yuan. If we don't address it today, they'll charge extra for storage tomorrow."

The joy on Director Liang's face vanished instantly.

"What's in the account?"

The female accountant had already brought over the abacus.

The beads made a crackling sound for a while.

"Seven hundred and thirty-two."

Master Fang smacked his lips.

"That's far from the truth."

The purchasing manager was checking the order.

"If there's no steel tomorrow, all the fancy new sorting method we use today will be for nothing."

Lin Xiuhe picked up the delivery slip.

Five days.

The specifications of the steel are exactly what will be used as the main material for this batch of sheet metal shears.

"How long can Curry hold on?"

Master Fang thought about it.

"No problem tonight."

"What about tomorrow morning?"

"Use it sparingly; it can last for a while."

He looked toward the material rack.

"If they don't come back this afternoon, the market will definitely be shut down by tomorrow afternoon."

Lin Xiuhe put the delivery note back on the table.

"Director Liang."

Zhou Guifen came over from the grinding table.

She had just taken off her arm sleeves, and her arms were still covered in iron dust.

"Since everyone's here, I'll ask one too."

As soon as Director Liang heard this, he knew what she wanted to ask.

"salary?"

"The day after tomorrow."

Zhou Guifen said, "It was five days late last month."

"Is it too late this time?"

Old Han next to me was packing up his tools; his hands stopped moving.

"I still owe money to the grain store."

Zhou Guifen added:

My second child's tuition is due next week.

"The teacher has urged us a second time."

The purchasing manager frowned.

"Guifen, what's the factory like now? You can't see it every day!"

"visible."

"Why rush them when you can see it?"

Zhou Guifen placed the arm protector on the stage.

"Then I'll go back and tell the teacher that the factory doesn't have money, and the child shouldn't go to school yet?"

The purchasing manager's expression stiffened for a moment.

"I did not mean that."

"I didn't say the factory had money."

Zhou Guifen looked at Director Liang.

I just want to hear the truth.

"Should we issue it the day after tomorrow?"

Factory Director Liang took out a cigarette from his cigarette case and pulled one out.

I struck the match twice, but it wouldn't light.

He simply tucked the cigarette behind his ear.

"Let's get through this batch of goods first."

Zhou Guifen pressed further:

"And the day after tomorrow?"

"Gui Fen—"

"Factory manager."

She interrupted him.

"As for next month, you already mentioned that last month."

"I'll ask about the day after tomorrow."

Several machines in the workshop were still running.

Old Han held the hat in his hand.

The female accountant slowed down her movements as she flipped through the ledgers.

After a moment, she suddenly pulled out two acceptance forms.

"The agricultural machinery station hasn't collected this payment yet."

Factory Director Liang turned his head.

"Wasn't the test already done?"

"The test is complete."

"What about the money?"

"It turns out they all settle their accounts together at the end of the month."

"What time is it already, still talking about the end of the month!"

Factory Director Liang reached out and snatched the order form.

"What about the food factory's share?"

"He didn't reply either."

The financial accountant received the acceptance form.

"I'll go ask now."

"I'll go with you."

Zhou Guifen had already gone to the wall to get the bicycle keys.

Factory Director Liang frowned.

"What are you going to do?"

"I know Sister Sun from the agricultural machinery station warehouse."

"I'm going to say something."

The purchasing manager said:

"Aren't you going to work this afternoon?"

Zhou Guifen pushed the cart out.

"If I can really get the money back, I'll accept it even if I have to go through ten less rounds of haggling."

Master Fang laughed and scolded:

"Then don't just rely on your words."

Zhou Guifen turned around.

"If you really get the money back, you can plead with me ten more times tonight."

"OK."

Factory Director Liang waved his hand toward the door.

"Go quickly."

"Take as much as you can."

Zhou Guifen stepped onto the bicycle.

"I'll go and get everyone's wages."

The bicycle rushed out of the factory gate.

In the afternoon, the new scheduling method continued to be implemented.

The second hour.

Twelve sets.

A piece of junk.

The third hour.

Eleven.

Zero waste.

After Du finished taking notes, he deliberately placed the notebook on the side of the worktable.

Anyone who passes by can see it.

Old Jiang turned off the machine and wiped his neck with a towel.

"Is this still considered a coincidence?"

The workshop director stood a few steps away.

Let's run it for a day and see.

Master Fang picked up a pair of newly assembled scissors.

open.

combine.

He then looked at the blade edge again.

"Then run."

"Anyway, the number is right here, no one can eat it."

Du picked up his pen and wrote after the third line:

Waste: Zero.

Lin Xiuhe took the morning and afternoon records from the side.

Thirteen.

twelve.

eleven.

The speed fluctuated, but the amount of waste decreased. At least the new sorting method didn't drag down the quality as well.

She had just finished folding a few pages of paper.

Suddenly, a series of bicycle bells rang at the factory gate.

It was both urgent and chaotic.

Someone poked their head out of the window.

"Guifen is back!"