Siheyuan: Game of Red Dust

Chapter 52 Ding Qiunan and Nan Yi
Li Weidong and his friends drove to the machine repair shop very quickly.

When they arrived at the entrance of the machine repair shop, they found a group of people standing there. At this time, they saw Li Weidong's car stopped, and three people walked out of the crowd and walked towards the jeep. One of them was Deputy Director Liu Feng who they had met yesterday.

Li Weidong and the others got out of the car, and Liu Feng also walked closer.

"Director Li, welcome! Our factory director and secretary knew you were coming today, so they have been waiting at the door early in the morning. They are just waiting for you." Liu Feng said with a smile.

"This is Director Liu from our machine repair factory, and this is our Secretary Zhao." Liu Feng pointed at the two people next to him and introduced them one by one.

Li Weidong also shook hands with Director Liu and Secretary Zhao one by one.

"Director Li, we have heard of your great name for a long time." Director Liu said.

"Director Liu, you are too polite." Li Weidong said.

"Old Liu, let's go into the factory quickly. We can't let Director Li stand at the door all the time." Secretary Zhao said at this time.

"Yes, yes, yes, look at me. Director Li, please come in." Director Liu said with a smile.

Li Weidong followed them into the machine repair shop, where Director Liu and his team led him into a conference room. After chatting for a while, Director Liu began to tell Li Weidong about the difficulties they were facing, including the serious aging of the equipment and the difficulty in repairing it. Finally, he asked Li Weidong to help him see if he could repair any broken equipment.

Li Weidong agreed, and then Director Liu took Li Weidong and the others to the workshop.

When he arrived at the workshop, Li Weidong would stop for a few minutes in front of each piece of equipment to observe it, then take out a notebook from his briefcase and start writing and drawing.

After visiting several workshops that morning, Li Weidong discovered that the machine repair shop only had a few types of equipment and felt there was no point in continuing.

He called Director Liu and said:
"Director Liu, I've taken a general look at your factory's equipment. Are these the only types of equipment you have? Are there no different models?"

"Director Li, there are no more. There are only these models, but the problems with each device are different." said Director Liu.

"Well, then you don't have to look at it. I will give you an improvement plan later, and you just need to modify it. By the way, is the technician from your factory here? I will talk to him later." Li Weidong said.

"Oh, okay, the technicians are here, I'll call them over right away." Director Liu said excitedly.

Then Li Weidong and his team went to the conference room. When Li Weidong arrived at the conference room, he asked for some paper, lay on the table and wrote and drew, and finished it in a short while.

Li Weidong handed the finished blueprint to the technicians at the machine repair shop and asked them to review it. Then, he began explaining it to them. The equipment at the machine repair shop was very simple, so Li Weidong made some minor improvements, making it more stable and less prone to breakdown, which improved work efficiency slightly. The principle behind it was very simple, and it was easily understood.

So it didn't take long to finish.

Li Weidong said to Director Liu, "Director Liu, you just need to make improvements according to the drawings. If you have any problems in the future, you can call the steel mill. If I have time, I will come to take a look, or call you to tell you how to solve it."

Director Liu said with a smile, "Okay, Director Li. It's getting late now, let's go to the cafeteria and have a meal."

Li Weidong did not refuse. He helped the machine repair factory and had a meal with them. It was not too much, right?

When Li Weidong and his team arrived at the cafeteria, the workers were just finishing their get off work and having lunch. When they saw them, they all made way for them.

Li Weidong also observed the food in the machine repair shop. It was not as good as that in the steel rolling mill. After all, it was of a lower level than the steel rolling mill, which was understandable.

Suddenly, Li Weidong was stunned to see a girl of about seventeen or eighteen years old standing among a group of men. It was quite obvious.

Li Weidong took a closer look. This must be Ding Qiunan. Her cold and arrogant expression was particularly noticeable in the cafeteria. Li Weidong glanced at her and then looked away. He had seen many beautiful women. Chen Xueru and Xu Huizhen were similar to her, and Zhou Xiaolin was even prettier. Moreover, Li Weidong did not like her personality very much.

In his previous life, Li Weidong had always felt that Ding Qiunan was a very selfish person who valued his reputation and could not empathize with others. He was suspicious of love, unwilling to take the initiative, and overly timid. He appeared noble on the outside, but had a rich inner life.

But Li Weidong didn't care. He was just a stranger and there wouldn't be any interactions. He glanced at her and then looked away.

We followed Director Liu and the others into a small private room. The dishes were placed on the table, and everyone sat down and started eating.

Li Weidong took two bites and found it was better than the food made in the steel mill. Li Weidong rolled his eyes and said to Director Liu:
"Director Liu, your chef is really good! He cooks really well!"

Director Liu laughed and said:
"Director Li, this chef in our factory is the heir of the imperial chef, but his ingredients are not very good, otherwise he would not be able to come to our factory."

Li Weidong also smiled and said:
"That's a shame. How about you introduce me to Master Nan? If there are any banquets or something like that in the future, I can ask him for help."

Director Liu said:

"No problem, I'll ask someone to call him over." After saying that, he asked the secretary to call Nan Yi.

After a while, Nan Yi was brought in by the secretary. Li Weidong looked at Nan Yi and felt that he was much younger than when the story began.

Director Liu introduced:

"Director Li, this is the chef from our machine repair shop, Nan Yi, Master Nan.

"Nan Yi, this is Comrade Li Weidong, Director of the Technical Department of the Steel Mill. You can just call me Director Li." Li Weidong stood up, shook hands with Nan Yi, and said to him, "Master Nan, your cooking skills are really good. Master Nan, would you like to prepare a family dinner?"

Nan Yi said, "Director Li, if you need me, just let me know."

Li Weidong smiled and said, "Okay, then Master Nan, leave me your address. I'll come find you if I need anything."

"Okay." Nan Yi didn't care. He wrote down an address and handed it to Li Weidong.

Li Weidong took it with a smile and chatted with Nan Yi for a few more words. Then Nan Yi said goodbye and left.

After finishing his meal, Li Weidong and his colleagues chatted with Director Liu for a few words, and then left the machine repair shop, using the excuse that they had something to do at the steel rolling mill.

On the way back to the steel mill, Li Weidong asked Team Leader Wang:

"Brother Wang, what do you think about sending Nan Yi over here to be our chef?"

"Master Nan's craftsmanship is indeed good, but will the machine repair shop agree? Besides, the confidentiality level of the newly established research institute is very high, and he probably won't be able to get in with his background." Squad Leader Wang said.

"A living person can be suffocated to death by urine. I will go back to the steel mill to find Director Wang. This matter must be handled by Director Wang. It would be best if it is resolved today. I plan to go to the research institute tomorrow.

"Brother Wang, go back and make some arrangements. When the factory director and his team get off work, notify Uncle Zhou and his team to send someone and a car to pack up the lab stuff tonight. We'll go directly to the research institute tomorrow," Li Weidong arranged.

"Ah! Is this okay?"

"It's okay, just listen to me, don't worry." Li Weidong said.

"Okay, I'll arrange it when I get back." said Squad Leader Wang.

Li Weidong was chatting with Team Leader Wang and before they knew it, they had returned to the steel mill.

After entering the steel rolling mill and stopping the car, Li Weidong got out and went straight to the factory director's office.

I found Director Wang and told him about my trip to the research institute tomorrow. Then we talked about what we saw and heard at the machine repair shop today.

"Weidong, have you helped their machine repair shop solve the equipment problem?"

"It's solved. I originally wanted them to help me make an engine, but after seeing their equipment, I didn't even mention it. The equipment is too poor." Li Weidong said.

"Well, engine? What kind of engine does Weidong have? Can our factory produce it?" Director Wang instantly became excited.

"I designed one for motorcycles. We should be able to do it, but large-scale production requires modifying the machine tools, which is a bit troublesome," said Li Weidong.

"Our factory is not afraid of trouble. Weidong, when you have time, please draw the blueprints and I will arrange the production and give it a try." Director Wang said anxiously.

Li Weidong said helplessly, "Director, it's not that I don't want to help, I just really don't have the time. I'm going to the research institute tomorrow, and I haven't found a chef yet. I guess even eating will be a problem when I get there."

I went to the machine repair shop today and found that their chef Nan Yi is a good cook. I was planning to visit him tonight.

Director Wang quickly said, "Nan Yi from the machine repair shop, right? I'll get it for you. Just focus on drawing the diagram. I'll call their director right away."

Li Weidong quickly stopped him, saying, "Director, wait a moment. When you call, mention secondment, not direct transfer. They probably won't agree if you say transfer. A secondment for a while will probably be fine."

Director Wang looked confused and said to Li Weidong, "No, Weidong. If I'm on loan, don't I have to return it?"

Li Weidong smirked, "What are you returning? Director, let me ask you, did Monkey King return the Dinghaishenzhen he borrowed from the East China Sea? Did Liu Bei return Jingzhou when he borrowed it?"

Director Wang said speechlessly, "Weidong, we can't compare to those two. If our steel mill really doesn't return the money, they'll dare to go to the Ministry of Industry to demand an explanation."

Li Weidong said to Director Wang with a sly smile, "Director, you have to be flexible. You can be seconded to our steel mill, and I can be seconded from our steel mill to our research institute. That's all."

When they come looking for you, just push it onto me.

Even if they approached the Ministry of Industry, they probably wouldn't intervene. After all, our research institute is jointly managed with the military, and it's not worth it for such a small matter."

Director Wang was stunned and thought to himself that this was the only way to operate it. He had learned something new.

"Weidong, our factory has been very good to you. You can't cheat our factory in the future." Director Wang said solemnly.

Li Weidong was speechless and said to Director Wang, "No, Director, how could I cheat our factory? I returned to our factory right after graduation, so I must have some feelings for it. Director, don't let your imagination run wild. Go call the machine repair shop quickly, it's almost time to get off work."

Director Wang smiled awkwardly and said, "Okay, I'll go right away."

After Director Wang left, Li Weidong showed an intriguing smile.

(End of this chapter)