The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 104 Zhou Zhiqiang Wants to Dig Deeper [Please Subscribe]

"Director Liu, what's going on in your workshop? The apprentices are doing so poorly in their assessments. It's impossible that they haven't learned anything after three months."

The main entrance of Workshop 5 at Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory.

Zhou Zhiqiang handed an apprentice assessment report to Liu Gensheng, the director of Workshop Five, and continued:

"The apprentices in your workshop who came in August are still the same as they are now."

Oh no, that's not quite right either. At least they have a good understanding of the production and assembly processes, but that's our technical department's achievement.

What are you all doing in your workshop? Why aren't you teaching your apprentices skills?

Zhou Zhiqiang's tone was somewhat stiff, and the questions he asked were not originally within the scope of the technical department's responsibility. Even if an apprentice could not learn any skills in one or two years, it had nothing to do with the technical department.

However, the factory's production targets have been set; by the end of next year, it must complete the production of 9,500 small tractors.

If it's not completed, not only the technical department, but all the managers in the entire factory will be held responsible.

In order to complete the task, Secretary Yan and Factory Director Zhao made many trips and obtained a lot of resources to support them.

Furthermore, the factory delegated some of its production task allocation authority to the technical department, which is why Zhou Zhiqiang questioned the workshop director today.

If apprentices don't learn any skills this year, what will happen to production next year? Zhou Zhiqiang is planning for next year's production tasks to be even heavier than this year's.

If things continue like this, then there's no need to increase next year's production targets; just wait for the criticism from higher-ups.

"Section Chief Zhou, I'm truly innocent!"

Director Liu of Workshop Five, looking anxious, pulled Zhou Zhiqiang aside, glanced at the direction of the workshop gate, and then continued to explain.

"I also wanted the experienced masters in the workshop to mentor the apprentices, but it seems like they all agreed not to, not a single one."
No, saying you can teach them is one thing. Some apprentices have told me that if they want to learn skills from their masters, they have to offer them good cigarettes and alcohol as a form of "filial piety."

Director Liu paused for a moment, then continued, "But the child told me that his family relies on him to earn money, and he really couldn't bear to spend this money."

And it seems like they'll have to pay him a monthly tribute.

Chen Li, who was following behind Zhou Zhiqiang, couldn't stand it anymore and asked directly, "How can this still happen? Isn't this a bad habit? Our factory doesn't fail to reward those who train apprentices."

This time, Director Liu didn't explain, but Zhou Zhiqiang reminded him from the side, "Deputy Section Chief Chen, you get a five-yuan reward for each first-class worker you train."

Five yuan might only buy two packs of good cigarettes or a bottle of good wine.

But according to Workshop Five, the apprentices had to pay them a monthly allowance of cigarettes and alcohol, which couldn't be settled with just five yuan.

"This is a bad habit; it's delaying factory production!"

At other times, Zhou Zhiqiang wouldn't care. When he found mentors for Wu Xiaojun and Zhao Tiandong, he tried his best to find mentors who were good at teaching their apprentices, and he even used his connections to get Wu Xiaojun and Zhao Tiandong to give him gifts.

But now the ministry is putting quotas on the factory, and the factory is putting quotas on their technical department, so the technical department can only put quotas on the workshop.

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he walked towards the workshop.

Upon seeing this, Chen Li quickly followed. Director Liu, who was standing nearby, sensed that something was wrong and hurriedly called out, "Section Chief Zhou, Section Chief Zhou, wait for me!"

However, Zhou Zhiqiang was quick on his feet, and Director Liu was unable to stop him at the workshop entrance, watching as Zhou Zhiqiang walked into the workshop.

Zhou Zhiqiang walked around the workshop and found that many of the experienced workers were not working, and the other workers were also distracted and not paying attention to their work.

He seemed quite concerned about what he and Director Liu were talking about outside, which even delayed production.

Since they hadn't done much work, Zhou Zhiqiang wasn't worried about the danger of suddenly stopping them.

If a production accident were caused by his sudden interruption, he really wouldn't dare to take the responsibility.

So Zhou Zhiqiang found a chair, stood on it, and tapped his tools to draw everyone's attention before speaking.

"Comrades, I am Zhou Zhiqiang, the head of the technical section. I will now take a minute to announce something."

The technical department has decided to conduct two hours of training on turning and machine tool operation techniques for the apprentices in Workshop 5 tonight, which I will personally conduct.

The training will begin today and continue until you have a basic grasp of the technology. Those who wish to stay and learn the technology should meet at Workshop 5 at 6:40 PM tonight.

After saying this, Zhou Zhiqiang got off the chair and said, "I've finished speaking. You can continue working."

He then left Workshop 5.

Seeing this, Chen Li followed, while Director Liu looked shocked. He thought Zhou Zhiqiang would use some tough measures, prioritizing the factory's production tasks and forcing the workers in Workshop 5 to teach their apprentices.

But unexpectedly, Zhou Zhiqiang used a radical approach, directly undermining the very foundation upon which the master craftsmen of Workshop Five would teach their apprentices.

'Don't like teaching? Then don't teach at all, I'll teach you myself!'

This is the attitude that Zhou Zhiqiang left behind, and no one doubts that Zhou Zhiqiang is a bad teacher.

Back when he was processing and producing core components for small tractors, Zhou Zhiqiang's superb lathe and fitting skills were already renowned throughout the factory.

He had never learned it before, but after a few tries, he impressed the master machinists from other machine shops with his skills, which were comparable to those of a level eight master machinist. When others said they were teaching apprentices, they didn't care at all, thinking it was just bragging; but the machinists in Zhou Zhiqiang's workshop were genuinely a little flustered after hearing it.

Does this mean they won't be allowed to teach apprentices anymore?
A fifth-grade worker couldn't help but complain, "Director, you can't do this, can you? Xiao Hao was learning from me just fine, why is Section Chief Zhou doing this?"

When the other workers heard someone speak, they all came to Director Liu's side and asked.
"Director, this is against the rules. These days, which master craftsman doesn't have apprentices under him?"

"Exactly! If we don't have apprentices, are we supposed to do all the manual labor ourselves, carrying and moving things? Wouldn't that disrupt production?"

Upon hearing this, Director Liu immediately rebuked, "Wang Youshui, stop putting accusations on me. Section Chief Zhou said that the training in turning and machine tool technology is only held at night. The apprentices are still working in the workshop during the day."

"Besides, I told you before not to do these things. Next year's production targets are even heavier. The factory director and the party secretary have repeatedly warned us. We're all under a lot of pressure. And what are you doing?"

"The technical department is working tirelessly every day to train apprentices. If our workshop's apprentices don't even have the skills of first- or second-level lathe operators next year, who will complete all those production tasks? You guys?"

"Alright, what can I change when Section Chief Zhou makes the decision? One is willing to teach, and the other is willing to learn. Who am I?"

What can a mere workshop foreman like me do? Even if I were the factory manager, I couldn't stop it!

"Go back to work, everyone. Don't let today's production targets be missed, or you'll have to stay and work overtime tonight!"

Liu Gensheng scolded them irritably, then waved his hand dismissively, ignoring them completely. "Like to put on airs like a master craftsman? Then keep putting on airs."

Without apprentices, who will your master craftsmen put on airs for now?

Seeing Liu Gensheng, the workshop director, go aside to drink tea, the machinists gathered around were somewhat at a loss.

They don't teach apprentices because they tacitly accept the unspoken rules, but those unspoken rules don't teach them what to do when faced with such situations.

"Section Chief, wait for me."

Hearing Chen Li call out from behind, Zhou Zhiqiang, who had left Workshop 5, slowed down.

After Chen Li caught up, Zhou Zhiqiang finally spoke up, saying, "I'm sorry, Section Chief Chen, I was a little angry just now."

But everything's alright now, and there's no point in getting angry about this situation.

Chen Li said, "Section Chief, we can go to the factory manager and tell him that this bad habit still exists in the factory, and directly rectify Workshop 5."

"It's no use. This isn't just a problem in Workshop 5. Other workshops have it to some extent, and other factories have it too."

Otherwise, the factory wouldn't have that rule of awarding five yuan to anyone who mentors a permanent employee.

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "It will probably take several years, or even ten years, to change this mindset; and at another time, I wouldn't really want to get involved."

However, next year's production tasks are too heavy. This year, we must accelerate the training of a group of workers who can assist in the production of parts and master the technology of formal employees. Otherwise, if the production tasks cannot be completed, it will be a collective responsibility.

I'm now using 'this chicken' from Workshop 5 to warn 'that monkey' in the other workshops.

"However, Deputy Section Chief Chen, could you please adjust my evening schedule? I'll be focusing on training the apprentices in Workshop 5 recently."

Now that five new people have joined the technical department, there are enough people for the night shift, so Zhou Zhiqiang dares to do this.

Chen Li nodded and said, "Okay, I'll rearrange the table in a bit."

------

The Party Secretary's Office.

The phone rang, and Secretary Yan immediately picked it up, held it to his face, and said, "Hello, this is Yan Junsheng from Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory."

"Comrade Junsheng, I am Cai Borui from the Technical Department of the First Ministry of Machine Building. Please inform Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang from your factory to come to the First Ministry of Machine Building to see me at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."

Just tell the security guard my name; I've already spoken to him.

Secretary Yan was taken aback upon hearing this. Looking for Zhou Zhiqiang? What does he want with him?

"I understand, Director Cai. I will inform Section Chief Zhou in a moment."

After assuring him that the task was completed, Secretary Yan cautiously asked, "Director Cai, what brings the Ministry to Section Chief Zhou?"

Director Cai said, "I can't say anything else, and don't ask too many questions. What I can tell you is that there's a project that might require the transfer of Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang, so we're talking to him first."

"Reassign Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang? But he's from our factory..."

"Comrade Junsheng, this is the ministry's decision and also Vice Leader Wu's instruction. Complete the task."

These words immediately dispelled all of Yan Junsheng's thoughts, and he quickly assured him, "Yes, I understand, Director Cai."

After hanging up the phone, Secretary Yan was unwilling, but he still had to carry out the ministry's order.

He then immediately called his assistant and asked him to go to the technical department to fetch Zhou Zhiqiang.

　Chapter 8, guaranteed to be completed!
　　Please vote for me, dear readers!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)