The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 56 will receive some additional subsidies. [Seeking monthly votes]

"Section Chief, I'll go to the Industrial University later to try and finalize the list of students who will participate in the project with Professor Zhang."

"By the way, could your factory arrange accommodation? That way, if they stay late, they won't have to travel back in the dark."

Zhou Zhiqiang recalled how, when they were working overtime at the Second Steel Rolling Mill, the factory would thoughtfully arrange dormitories for them.

Although it's ten people sharing a room, the conditions are pretty good.

Zhou Zhiqiang had never stayed there, but the others often did. After all, the Second Steel Rolling Mill was not close to the Industrial University, and it would be too dangerous for those students to travel at night.

In previous years, enemy agents were rampant, and you might be shot while walking on the street. Although a number of them have been eliminated in recent years, no one can guarantee that there are no enemy agents left.

Section Chief Lü shook his head and said, "Our factory doesn't have the resources. You attended the meeting today, so how long do you think it would take our factory to accumulate enough retained earnings to build a dormitory building?"

They only keep 300,000 yuan a year, and they also need to ensure the factory's additional expenses and workers' welfare for the next whole year.

Building dormitories is not cheap now. A five-story dormitory building can cost as much as 50,000 to 60,000 yuan, and their factory doesn't even have the space.

"Zhiqiang, try not to let them work overtime. Let them go home as soon as it's time to leave work. Otherwise, if something happens when they go home late, we can't take responsibility."

"Then I'll apply for travel expenses again so they can take the bus both ways."

Section Chief Lü was also a little worried. These were college students. If anything happened to one of them, the factory director and the party secretary would be scolded and punished, not to mention him, a section-level cadre.

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded: "Alright, that's the only way."

Section Chief Lü shook his head and said, "We still lack talent. You're the only one in our technical department who can fill the gap. It would be great if these students could come to our factory."

He has truly witnessed the prowess of college students.

Previously, Lü Yi didn't think college students were anything special; back then, he believed that the labor of workers and farmers was what the country needed most.

However, after Zhou Zhiqiang arrived, he really helped him solve a lot of problems. He could rest assured about the technical issues after entrusting them to him.

Moreover, the new process developed has won praise from the top leaders of the Ministry of Metallurgy, and recently a new agricultural machinery research and development project has been launched.

Just as a train needs a locomotive to lead the way to run fast, Lü Yi now deeply understands that industrial development needs someone who knows how to drive to guide the way.

Zhou Zhiqiang said with a smile, "If they want to come to our factory, they'll have to pull some strings, otherwise it'll be really hard for them to get in."

"What you said makes perfect sense!"

After saying that, Section Chief Lü laughed at himself. Their small factory was already considered lucky to have even managed to get some vocational school graduates assigned to their factory.

Zhou Zhiqiang was able to come because he wanted to, and his father-in-law worked hard to get him transferred.

But if one can come, a second one definitely can't; there's a shortage of college students all over the country right now, what do you need so many college students for in a factory with a thousand employees?
After the banter, Zhou Zhiqiang and Lü Yi got down to business.

Zhou Zhiqiang was going to the Industrial University in the afternoon to finalize the list of university students who would participate in the project with Professor Zhang Deli.

He wants the previous group of people, with whom he has a history of cooperation.

Moreover, college students of this era are outstanding in both theory and practice, and they are willing to contribute to front-line production and take pride in it.

If you assign a task to this kind of person, he will do an even better job if he can complete it, and he will find a way to understand if he doesn't understand it. He will rarely bother Zhou Zhiqiang.

Lu Yi, the head of the technical department, was responsible for finalizing the project arrangements, including the number of workers needed, the required venue and equipment, and the funding, among other details. This was something Zhou Zhiqiang and Lu Yi had agreed upon when they returned to the office after dinner; each person would take charge of their area of ​​expertise.

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49 City Industrial University

"Teacher Zhang, how many junior students are you going to prepare for me? I've prepared ten desks, just waiting for my junior students to come over."

"By the way, Professor Zhang, I've also prepared a comfortable chair for you. Our department head said this time we'll definitely take good care of you."

Upon hearing Zhou Zhiqiang's words, Zhang Deli glared at him and said, "Where did these ten people come from? And you want me to go and do the work again?"

"Haha, the project really needs you."

"You just want to do manual labor. The operating principle and power structure design of your small hand tractor are excellent. I'm just here to help you fill in the gaps."

Zhang Deli directly saw through Zhou Zhiqiang's little scheme, and then smiled and said, "To be honest, I'd also like to go, but I can't miss my classes. I not only have these students, but I also have quite a few freshmen and sophomores to take care of."
But I'm entrusting my graduating students to you. They're your juniors, so you'll have to take good care of them.

Zhou Zhiqiang assured, "Don't worry, Teacher Zhang, I will pass on everything I know to my junior brothers and sisters completely."

"Okay, come with me, I'll take you to call for help."

Zhang Deli stood up and said, "I have already reported the procedures to the department. They can stay at your place for five days a week, and they have to come back to make up for the classes on Saturdays and Sundays. Just take good care of them at your factory."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang said, "That must be quite tiring; there's no time to rest."

Zhang Deli disagreed, saying, "What's so hard about it? Going there will give you an extra subsidy, and you can learn more and participate in practical activities. It's a good thing. If it weren't for the limited number of places, some people with poor grades wouldn't be of much help, otherwise they would all want to go."

After hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang thought for a moment and said nothing.

It's definitely a win-win situation. He needs helpers who can assist him, and these students need to put what they've learned into practice to prove it. Plus, no one feels tired.

Soon, Zhang Deli led Zhou Zhiqiang to the five students who were going to Dafeng Machinery Factory.

The four men and one woman were all old acquaintances of Zhou Zhiqiang, having worked together on the new alloy steel process project before.

Seeing these people, Zhou Zhiqiang felt relieved. They were definitely capable enough in mechanical matters, and he could confidently entrust them with some responsibilities.

"Classmates, we all know each other, so there's no need for introductions."

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't mince words and went straight to the point, saying, "This project focuses on small agricultural machinery, which may take some time, but our factory's benefits this year are pretty good."

Right now, they're providing two meals and covering the bus fare, but I'll apply for some more subsidies from the factory when I get back. I definitely won't let you juniors suffer."

This project was sponsored by An Xiangjie, the deputy factory director, who contributed the large sums of money. There was no need for him to be stingy with the smaller subsidies.

Each person receives a subsidy of five yuan per month, which adds up to no more than one hundred yuan over three or four months, not much for the project team's budget.

The five students from the industrial university were overjoyed to hear that there would be subsidies; they had no objection to working hard to build socialism.

However, it would be even better if we could get some subsidies to help our families.

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(End of this chapter)