The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 62 Driving a Tractor to the Industrial Bureau [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]

"Drive a tractor to the Industry Bureau?"

Zhou Zhiqiang couldn't help but say, "Factory Director, this is too ostentatious. Why don't we invite Deputy Director Cai to visit our factory?"

"No, Zhiqiang, he's not flashy at all."

Liu Fuhua stepped forward and said with an excited smile, "We've achieved results, why should we hide it?"
There's a saying that goes, "Returning home in glory is like wearing fine clothes at night; if Dafeng Machinery Factory doesn't let others know about our achievements, how can the bureau give us strong support?"

"Okay."

Seeing that Liu Fuhua had said so, Zhou Zhiqiang had no choice but to agree; since both the factory director and deputy director had spoken, unless Secretary Yan strongly objected, they had no choice but to do as they said.

Secretary Yan went to a meeting and is probably at the Industry Bureau right now.

"Factory Director, Deputy Factory Director Liu, this tractor can only carry one person at most. Why don't you two drive over?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guangzheng and Liu Fuhua exchanged glances. Then Liu Fuhua spoke first, "Factory Director, I can drive a tractor. Have the driver take you there."

The first tractor developed and manufactured by the new China was a much more prestigious vehicle than a jeep when it was driven to the Industrial Bureau.

"Hey, Deputy Factory Director Liu, don't underestimate me. Is driving a tractor that hard? I can even drive a jeep, what's a tractor to me? I was a transport soldier in the army back in the day."

Zhao Guangzheng waved his hand and said to Liu Fuhua, "Deputy Factory Director Liu, you should take the car. Let me handle this."

Zhou Zhiqiang interrupted with a smile, "Two factory directors, we have three tractors. The other two can be set off once they're fueled up. Since you both know how to drive, there's no need to fight over them. Just drive them together."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guangzheng and Liu Fuhua exchanged a glance, then smiled almost simultaneously. Liu Fuhua then coughed and said, "Zhiqiang, have someone load the other two tractors with oil, and we'll go together."

"Oh, right, factory manager, why don't you call Section Chief Lü over and have him ride his bicycle there?"

Factory Director Zhao nodded and said, "Yes, he, as the head of the technical department, should indeed go along."

Zhou Zhiqiang quickly had Miao Hongyu run back to the workshop to load the other two tractors with diesel fuel.

After a few minutes of testing, and confirming that there were no problems, Director Zhao and Deputy Director Liu were allowed to get into the driver's seat.

This tractor is very easy to operate. Because it is designed for use in rural fields where the level of education is not very high, Zhou Zhiqiang eliminated many complicated operations during the initial design phase.

Once started, you can drive it directly. The other tillage functions are just detachable accessories. Driving the tractor is simpler than herding cattle.

After being told twice, both factory managers were able to operate it.

"Let's go, to the Industry Bureau."

At Director Zhao's command, three tractors, making a 'thump-thump-thump' sound, drove off together towards the outside of Dafeng Machinery Factory.

Section Chief Lü and Factory Director Zhao's assistant followed behind on bicycles. The tractor wasn't going fast, so they could easily keep up on their bicycles.

Once the tractor was on the road, it immediately attracted the attention of many people.

These days, a brand-new bicycle can attract attention, and a car can inspire envy.

These three tractors from Dafeng Machinery Factory are enough to make everyone who sees them speculate.

A passerby, emboldened, shouted, "Comrade, what's this? A car?"

Liu Fuhua also shouted back, "This is a tractor developed by our factory, a tractor made in our own country!"

"Our own tractors? That's amazing, comrade!" "Of course! They were developed by our Dafeng Machinery Factory, and soon they'll be in use all over the country!"

Regardless of whether it could be achieved, Liu Fuhua made this boast first. At this moment, he didn't seem like a deputy factory director at all, but rather like an old farmer hawking vegetables at a market stall.

The old farmer looked proud simply because his own "vegetables" were so good.

Along the way, many people turned their heads to look at them, and Director Zhao and Deputy Director Liu also had a great time.

Upon arriving at the Industrial Bureau, the security personnel at the entrance, unaware of the situation, quickly stepped forward to intercept them.

Fortunately, Director Zhao's assistant acted quickly, stopping his bicycle and stepping forward to explain, even showing his identification.

At this moment, Director Zhao stopped the tractor, got out of the driver's seat, and said to the security guards at the entrance of the Industrial Bureau, "Comrades, I am Zhao Guangzheng, the director of Dafeng Machinery Factory. Please register me. I am here to see Deputy Director Cai."

"Okay, Director Zhao, wait a moment, I'll go ask."

The gate security personnel quickly notified the Industrial Bureau office of the incident, and the office then relayed the information to Deputy Director Cai.

When Deputy Director Cai heard that people from Dafeng Machinery Factory were driving over in tractors, he rushed downstairs to come over.

When they arrived at the gate of the Industrial Bureau, there were already quite a few people gathered there.

Deputy Director Cai strode to the front, glanced at it a few times, and immediately asked, "Comrade Guangzheng, is this the tractor your factory developed?"

“That’s right, we drove it all the way here. Deputy Director Cai, what do you think? This is our country’s first domestically developed tractor.”

After Zhao Guangzheng finished speaking, he immediately gave Zhou Zhiqiang a wink, indicating that Zhou Zhiqiang would take over the rest of the introduction.

Zhou Zhiqiang, understanding the implication, stepped forward to introduce: "Deputy Director Cai, our factory's small hand-held tractors have a power of about fourteen horsepower, a total weight of about four hundred kilograms, and a twelve-liter tank of diesel fuel can keep them running for eleven hours."
And this next one is a detachable component for attaching agricultural implements, enabling various field operations.

"Ten small hand-held tractors can basically meet the needs of seven or eight villages for two busy farming seasons!"

Nowadays, a township has no more than forty villages, and sometimes as few as seven or eight.

Five small hand-held tractors are enough to meet all the field operations during the busy farming season in a township.

Moreover, it is convenient and particularly suitable for domestic farming methods. After all, a village doesn't have much land, so a small tractor is just right. Using a large tractor like the Russians would be a waste.

It's like giving a fat person a small stool; they can sit down, but it's so cramped that the fat person feels very uncomfortable.

"Okay, well done."

After listening, Deputy Director Cai clapped his hands with a beaming smile and said, "Comrade Guangzheng, Comrade Fuhua, and Comrade Zhiqiang, your Dafeng Machinery Factory has really given me a pleasant surprise."

I remember you submitted an aid application, but you haven't come to collect it yet, right?

Zhou Zhiqiang explained, "Leader, at that time, tractors had not yet been manufactured, and what we applied for was a special modification to the production line."

"We can't really ask our superiors for something without having any actual sample."

Deputy Director Cai smiled and pointed, saying, "Good, that's ambitious, unlike other factories that shout for support but never actually set off a single firecracker."

Comrade Zhiqiang, now that you've manufactured the tractor, we can also provide you with assistance.

“Drive this tractor in and park it at the bureau. Your factory’s Party Secretary Yan happens to be there. Come with me to find the leader.”

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(End of this chapter)