The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 28 Project Team Established

"You're young and promising, Technician Zhou. I didn't expect you to come up with a new alloy production process at such a young age."

Even the professors at the industrial university praised the new alloy process you presented.

Upon arriving at the Second Steel Rolling Mill, Zhou Zhiqiang bumped into someone who immediately praised him, while the two factory directors, Zhao Guangzheng and Liu Fuhua, remained silent.

This made Zhou Zhiqiang realize quickly that what Director Zhao had told him before he left was not to be corrupted by sugar-coated temptations.

He thought that someone from the Second Steel Rolling Mill was dissatisfied and would say unpleasant things to him when they came.

Zhou Zhiqiang was mentally prepared to endure it if he could, and to curse if he couldn't; but the people from the second steel rolling mill praised him right away, which left him at a loss for words.

"You're too kind, sir..."

"Oh, look at me, I forgot to introduce myself. I used to be the workshop director of the third workshop, and now I am your deputy and the deputy leader of the new alloy process experimental project team, Bai Shaokang."

The newcomer introduced himself with a smile and extended his hand to shake Zhou Zhiqiang's.

Zhou Zhiqiang returned the greeting, then nodded and said, "Director Bai, you flatter me. From now on, we're comrades in the same trench. Please give me your guidance."

He looks quite young, only about seven or eight years older than him, probably not even thirty yet.

But he was already a workshop director in a large factory directly under a ministry, and he didn't seem to have retired from the military.

The workshop director of the Second Steel Rolling Mill is an administrative-level cadre. To hold this position, one must either be capable or have connections.

Whether it's the former or the latter, we'll have to figure that out in our future interactions.

After the two exchanged a few words, Zhao Guangzheng, the factory director, finally spoke up: "Alright, Director Bai, let's go see Secretary Kang and Factory Director Chen first."

By the way, have the leaders from the Ministry of Metallurgy arrived?

The Second Steel Rolling Mill reported the new alloy process project to the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry. After all, if the experiment is successful, it can replace the current carbon steel on a large scale and be used in various fields.

Furthermore, the new workshop will also undergo many experiments, and any losses incurred during this period must be reported to higher authorities.

Factories directly under ministries are of paramount importance; while they reap the benefits, they are also subject to stricter supervision.

Bai Shaokang said, "They haven't arrived yet, but they'll be here soon, around this time."

"Director Zhao, Deputy Director Liu, let me take you to the conference room first. Secretary Kang and Director Chen are already waiting for you there."

Then Zhou Zhiqiang and his group were taken to the conference room by Bai Shaokang. After taking a look, Zhou Zhiqiang noticed that Professor Zhang had also arrived, along with several other people.

After noticing Zhou Zhiqiang, Zhang Deli gestured to him but did not speak. Zhou Zhiqiang then sat down next to Liu Fuhua.

Before the project officially started, he was practically invisible.

There were quite a few leaders present, but among them, his technician, who hadn't even been officially promoted yet, was probably the lowest-ranking.

Before long, people from the Ministry of Metallurgy arrived. Secretary Kang and Director Chen of the Second Steel Rolling Mill, as well as Zhao Guangzheng and Liu Fuhua, all stood up to greet them.

Although he was just a director of the Iron and Steel Bureau of the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, and his rank was not as high as that of Secretary Kang of the Second Steel Rolling Mill, he happened to be in charge of the project team.

"Excuse me, everyone, it seems I'm the last one to arrive. In that case, I won't waste any more time."

Director Liu from the ministry said a few words, and then immediately got to the point and started talking about the project team.

His work style was also swift and efficient. From personnel to the factory, to support materials and experimental expectations, he explained everything to everyone. After listening for a while, Zhou Zhiqiang realized that Director Liu must have communicated with Professor Zhang privately beforehand, otherwise he wouldn't know so much.

After speaking for less than an hour, Director Liu looked in Zhou Zhiqiang's direction and said, "Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang, the next project experiment will require your joint efforts with Comrade Bai Shaokang."

Do you have anything to say about the experimental projects related to the new alloy process?

This was to let him go up and say a few words. Liu Fuhua, who was standing to the side, also nudged Zhou Zhiqiang, signaling him to get up and speak.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang had no choice but to stand up and say, "Director Liu, I have a preliminary idea regarding the new alloy process experiment. I would appreciate your judgment."

I plan to improve performance by using precision heat treatment, based on existing steelmaking processes.

In less than half an hour, Zhou Zhiqiang briefly explained the experimental direction and procedures, as well as some points that might need attention.

It's explained in simple terms, so even people who don't understand technology can grasp the general situation of the project team.

Director Liu stood up and applauded, saying, "Good, very good. Hearing what Comrade Zhou said, I know he made a lot of preparations beforehand."

"Then I'll leave the project to you all. Comrade Zhou, Comrade Bai, Professor Zhang, and Leader Wang are also aware of this and have high expectations for you."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang and Bai Shaokang immediately pledged to complete the mission. Professor Zhang also nodded solemnly upon hearing the name of Leader Wang.

The meeting is only over when it ends here.

Today's meeting brings together all three parties. The next step is to integrate the strengths of all three parties and work together to complete the new alloy process experiment project.

Although it was a three-way collaboration, Dafeng Machinery Factory and Sijiucheng Industrial University each contributed one person, while the main force was the Second Steel Rolling Mill, which contributed both personnel and labor.

"Zhiqiang, you'll be staying here from now on, and you don't need to come to the factory every day."

Liu Fuhua patted Zhou Zhiqiang on the shoulder and said, "Come once a week, report to Xiao Lü, and don't forget payday."

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded and smiled, "Don't worry, Deputy Factory Director Liu, I won't forget."

"Yes, just a little bit more."

Liu Fuhua lowered his voice and leaned closer, saying, "If anyone from the Second Steel Rolling Mill tells you about transferring to another job, don't believe them."

"It's very difficult to transfer between two departments; they're definitely lying to you. Director Zhao and I will definitely get your permanent position sorted out before the end of the year. After this project is completed, you'll be an indispensable contributor."

"Deputy Factory Director Liu, Factory Director Zhao, don't worry, I'm doing very well at the machinery factory, and this is my father-in-law's arrangement, so there's definitely no chance of being transferred."

Zhou Zhiqiang said with a smile.

He knew that transferring personnel wasn't actually that difficult. With the Second Steel Rolling Mill's strength, all he had to do was make a call to the relevant ministries. If they insisted on transferring him, Dafeng Machinery Factory wouldn't be able to stop them.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang did want to stay at Dafeng Machinery Factory, partly because of Guo Linhua, but also because of his own reasons.

There are many paths to take, from agricultural machinery to heavy industrial machinery; there's no need to be fixated on the metallurgical path.

Moreover, Zhou Zhiqiang had inquired and found that the Second Steel Rolling Mill not only had eleventh and twelfth-level technicians, but also an engineer.

As a college graduate technician who hasn't even been officially hired yet, it would be a huge waste for him to go there. He might as well stay at Dafeng Machinery Factory and continue being a "chicken head" (a low-level employee).

(End of this chapter)