The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 22 The Second Steel Rolling Mill

"Comrade Zhiqiang, don't refuse. I also think you are the most suitable person."

Deputy Factory Director Liu Fuhua also spoke up with a look of agreement: "After all, you were the one who proposed this new material process. Besides you, who else knows about it?"
And you represent our Dafeng Machinery Manufacturing Plant, so show some confidence.”

The smelting of steel resources was the responsibility of the Ministry of Metallurgy, while Dafeng Machinery Factory belonged to the Ministry of Machinery, so they were essentially two separate departments.

However, in the context of production and construction, machinery cannot function without steel resources, and factories that have business dealings with each other can be considered sister factories.

Liu Fuhua saw that a professor from an industrial university was willing to facilitate this, which meant the success rate was very high.

In that case, their factory needs to change from an assistant to a facilitator. This project was proposed by their factory, and the second steel rolling mill was just assisting.

This is the only way to maximize benefits. If the project succeeds, Dafeng Machinery Manufacturing Plant will be the one to take the lead.

And Liu Fuhua, the deputy factory director in charge of the technology department, also deserves a prominent place on his resume.

"Comrade Zhiqiang, don't refuse. You young people should be more confident. What's wrong? Professor Zhang and I both believe in you, so why are you becoming insecure?"

Seeing that Zhou Zhiqiang wanted to say something more, Liu Fuhua interrupted him and continued...
"If you don't have confidence in yourself, how can you expect others to believe in you? Don't you think that makes sense?"

"Factory manager, it's not that I lack confidence."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang quickly understood Liu Fuhua's meaning and immediately said, "I'm afraid that others might see me as a young guy and become resentful, which could negatively impact the project."

"Anyone who dares to joke about a project is wasting their time."

Professor Zhang Deli slapped his thigh and then continued, "It either works or it doesn't. Scientific experiments are very rigorous; there's no such thing as 'almost perfect' or 'close enough.'"

It must be done completely to achieve the expected goals, so the person in charge must be someone knowledgeable in the field.

He supports experts leading laymen. If a layman is in charge and he doesn't understand anything, then any wild idea he comes up with could cause unpredictable damage to the project.

This was something Zhang Deli could not tolerate.

Liu Fuhua also spoke up, saying, "That's right, Comrade Zhiqiang, you shouldn't refuse anymore."

After a pause, Liu Fuhua turned to Zhang Deli and said, "Professor Zhang, what do you think about us going to the Second Steel Rolling Mill now and talking to them about this?"

Zhang Deli immediately agreed, saying, "Sure, I don't have class today. It's hard to say if it's tomorrow. It's better to finalize it as soon as possible."

Then Zhou Zhiqiang noticed that both of them were looking at him. At this point, Zhou Zhiqiang stopped refusing and immediately assured them, "Factory Director, Professor Zhang, since you trust me so much, I will also act as your guarantor."

"With this project, there's only success, no failure!"

Based on the calculations collected by the simulation assistant, the success of the new alloy process can be considered a foregone conclusion.

As long as they don't mess around recklessly or rely on a fool's sudden inspiration, success is inevitable if they follow his new alloy formula and process flow for improvement.

Since both Deputy Factory Director Liu and Professor Zhang wanted to give him fruit, Zhou Zhiqiang accepted it.

He only wanted to get a permanent position and a raise, that would be enough, since he had just graduated.

He skipped a grade in junior high and another grade in high school, and he's only 21 years old this year.

According to Zhou Zhiqiang's development plan, he will have enough time to upgrade his technician level in the future.

But now that someone is feeding him, he just opens his mouth and swallows it. "Professor Zhang, wait for me a moment. I'll call Old Xie at the Second Steel Rolling Mill and tell him about this. Comrade Zhiqiang, you'll come with us in a bit."

Liu Fuhua called out to Zhou Zhiqiang, but not to Lü Zheng, the head of the technical department.

One person is enough to be in charge of explaining the technical aspects. The technical department is also very important, and we can't let so many people leave at once.

Soon, Deputy Factory Director Liu Fuhua dialed Xie Desheng's number. Xie Desheng was the deputy factory director of the Second Steel Rolling Mill, a rank one level higher than Liu Fuhua.

"Hey, Lao Xie? This is Liu Fuhua. I need to discuss something with you. We'll talk at your place later. Also, Professor Zhang Deli from Beijing Institute of Technology is here."
We need your factory's help with a new material process project. If it goes well, it will also benefit your factory.

Upon hearing what was said on the other end of the phone, Liu Fuhua quickly replied, "Professor Zhang is right next to me. Would I lie to you like that? Okay, okay, make the arrangements. We'll be there in a bit."

After saying that, Liu Fuhua hung up the phone and explained to Zhang Deli with a smile, "Professor Zhang, this old guy doesn't believe me yet. He's been taken advantage of by me before, but once you get there, he'll definitely believe you."

Zhang Deli said with a smile, "Then let's hurry up and go."

"Okay, I'll go call the driver."

Upon hearing this, Liu Fuhua made another call to the factory office and asked the transportation team to send a driver.

At that time, Dafeng Machinery Factory had only two jeeps. One was shared by the factory director and the party secretary, and the other was shared by the deputy factory director, the trade union, the women's federation, and other organizations.

Their factory wasn't profitable enough to provide a dedicated car for a leader; even the Party Secretary shared one, except the Party Secretary and the factory director shared one car.

The transport team quickly had the driver wait in front of the factory office building.

Liu Fuhua, Zhang Deli, and Zhou Zhiqiang also came down from upstairs, got into the car, and soon set off for the Second Steel Rolling Mill.

Before long, the car arrived at the Second Steel Rolling Mill.

After registering with the gatekeeper, I arrived at the office building of the Second Steel Rolling Mill.

This place is much more impressive than Dafeng Machinery Factory, and it has a larger workforce. It integrates steelmaking and rolling, and now has more than 4,000 workers.

In the heavy industry system, steel is the lifeblood; without steel resources, 95% of heavy industries cannot develop.

Therefore, the support received by the Second Steel Rolling Mill was much greater than that received by their Dafeng Machinery Manufacturing Plant.

As soon as Zhou Zhiqiang and his group got out of the car, they saw a middle-aged man walk out of the factory office building and head straight for them.

Upon approaching, he greeted him and extended his hand, saying, "Old Liu, this must be Professor Zhang. It's such an honor for us to have you visit our factory!"

Upon seeing this, Liu Fuhua laughed and said, "Haha, Lao Xie, when did you start studying idioms? It must have been difficult for you to come up with such a word."

Zhang Deli stepped forward to shake hands and said with a smile, "Deputy Factory Director Xie, our Industrial University also cooperated with you a few years ago. Unfortunately, I was too busy with my coursework at the time and did not participate in the technical renovation project of the Second Steel Rolling Mill."

Xie Desheng quickly shook his head and said, "Professor Zhang, now we have the opportunity. To be honest, your university helped us a lot last time. The production process after your guidance is much better than before."
"By the way, Professor Zhang, it's already noon. There's no rush to talk business. Why don't you try the food at our factory and see how it compares to what you get at your industrial university?"

"Deputy Factory Director Xie."

"Don't worry, Professor Zhang, I paid for lunch myself today."

Xie Desheng quickly interrupted, saying that their factory also had its own small kitchen. Although the chefs there weren't as skilled as the chefs in restaurants, the food was still cooked in small batches.

(End of this chapter)