The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 79 From Deputy Section Chief Zhou to 'Little Zhou' [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"Sir, Dafeng Machinery Factory has already renovated three workshops, all of which are now used to produce tractor engine cylinder blocks, crankshafts, connecting rods, valve trains, and so on."

Currently, 40% of the tractor's components are manufactured in-house; however, the machine tool upgrades have not yet fully met all production needs, and it is estimated that the entire upgrade will not be completed until July.”

As Zhou Zhiqiang led the way, he explained things to Leader Sheng, who was the highest-ranking leader he had ever met, the highest-ranking leader in the Ministry of Machine Building.

For higher-ranking leaders, you can only see them in newspapers or at grand ceremonies. Otherwise, when they become National People's Congress representatives, you can go to the annual meetings to see them in person and have the honor of shaking hands with them.

With Zhou Zhiqiang's abilities, there's still a good chance he can become a people's representative.

"Boss, look at these. These are improved machine tools, specially designed to produce tractor cylinder blocks. The previous machine tools couldn't manufacture these parts, so we had to rely on senior technicians to produce them slowly, which was much slower. It would be good if we could produce one every five or six days."

However, with machine tools, it's possible to manufacture one a day if you're fast, and two a day is not impossible. But if you work faster, the scrap rate will also be higher.

To avoid wasting steel billets, we didn't ask production to be sped up.

After a pause, Zhou Zhiqiang continued to say to Leader Sheng and Director Qiao, "If the production of other factories can keep up, then Dafeng Machinery Factory can produce 110 small tractors a month."

After the expansion in August, and with another two months for adjustment and familiarization, production should be able to double again.

"Well, it's fine."

With a smile, Leader Sheng asked a few more questions, which Zhou Zhiqiang answered without much hesitation.

All of these were within his area of ​​expertise, and Zhou Zhiqiang had become very familiar with them during his time producing small tractors.

From a single screw to the final assembled tractor, no problem could stump Zhou Zhiqiang.

Leader Sheng asked several questions, all of which Zhou Zhiqiang answered fluently. He wasn't deliberately making things difficult; he was genuinely seeking answers. However, seeing how skilled Zhou Zhiqiang was in the production of small tractors, he felt increasingly satisfied.

"Look at that! No wonder you're a college graduate; your technical foundation is really solid!"

After asking his questions, Leader Sheng patted Zhou Zhiqiang on the shoulder, smiled, and turned to the others, saying, "Our First Ministry of Machine Building has also struck gold, Deputy Section Chief Zhou. I am very satisfied with you all and with you today."

Zhou Zhiqiang was pleased and said with a smile, "You flatter me, leader. This is my job. It would be a dereliction of duty if I didn't understand it."

"Being modest is fine, but don't be too modest. I've met quite a few college students, and Comrade Zhiqiang is one of the most outstanding among them."

I didn't say the strongest, because there are some college students who are even more amazing, such as the geniuses who developed their own theories without ever going abroad.

Seeing that Boss Sheng was in a good mood, and that it was almost time, Zhao Guangzheng stepped forward and asked, "Boss, it's lunchtime now. Do you think we should go eat first?"

"It's already noon? I'd really like to hear Xiao Zhou talk a little longer."

Upon hearing this, Leader Sheng said with some surprise that he had also changed his way of addressing Zhou Zhiqiang, from "Comrade Zhiqiang" to "Little Zhou".

Although "comrade Zhiqiang" is a term of endearment, "Little Zhou" sounds even more intimate, almost indicating that Zhou Zhiqiang has already caught his eye.

"Okay, let's go eat first, otherwise if we don't leave, the workers in the workshop won't be able to go either."

Leader Sheng said that if they continued to wander around the workshop, the workers would definitely have to stay as well, which would take up their rest time.

Upon hearing what the leader said, Secretary Yan and Factory Director Zhao quickly sent someone to make arrangements.

In fact, the canteen had made all the arrangements in advance, even the food preparation was in place. As soon as someone came to notify them, the kitchen would immediately start cooking. Upon arriving at the canteen, Leader Sheng smelled the aroma of the food and couldn't help but say, "Comrade Juncheng, Comrade Guangzheng, the food in your canteen seems pretty good. It smells even better than the food in the ministries."

Yan Juncheng, the Party Secretary of Dafeng Machinery Factory, quickly explained: "The food in the kitchen wasn't very good a while ago, but the logistics department considered that the workers had worked hard all morning, and it would be wrong if they couldn't even get something good to eat at noon."

So they hired a sixth-level cook so that the workers could have a good lunch.

Leader Sheng nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, logistics is about supplies. If supplies can't keep up, we'll lose the battle."

Factory Director Zhao said, "That's right, that's what we've been thinking too, so we will absolutely not let the frontline production workers suffer in terms of logistics."

There was a logistical mess a while ago, but they made some minor modifications and it turned into a situation where they had considered the issue beforehand and patched up the loopholes, which happened in almost every place.

At this moment, Secretary Yan's assistant ran over and whispered to Secretary Yan that the private rooms were ready, but there were only enough seats for ten people, so two private rooms were prepared.

Ten people certainly couldn't fit everyone; just the group led by Director Sheng and Director Qiao alone numbered twelve.

Moreover, there are also Secretary Yan and Factory Director Zhao. It wouldn't make sense to have visiting leaders sitting together without any of our own factory staff around.

You can't have guests sitting at a table without the host to keep them company.

As if he had also heard this, Leader Sheng turned to Secretary Yan and said, "Comrade Juncheng, please have Xiao Zhou come along later. I have some questions for him."

"I understand, boss."

After Secretary Yan finished speaking, he turned to Zhou Zhiqiang and said, "Deputy Section Chief Zhou, please take Leader Sheng and Director Qiao to the private room."

"Okay, Secretary."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang stepped forward and led the way.

As for the others who accompanied them, they consciously left a few people behind according to their positions, so that the number of people going to the private room was exactly ten.

Among these ten people are Secretary Yan and Director Zhao from Dafeng Machinery Factory. It would be inappropriate for them not to go.

After being led into the private room, Director Sheng and Director Qiao's group had barely sat down when the kitchen began serving the dishes.

When the workshop staff decided to come for a meal, Secretary Yan sent someone to the kitchen to notify them to prepare the food.

The time it took to walk here, plus the time spent chatting in the cafeteria, was enough for the kitchen to prepare two dishes.

The kitchen prepared twelve dishes today. Although there are standards for entertaining guests now, which is at most four dishes and one soup, there are many people. Four dishes and one soup are definitely not enough for ten people, so it is normal that they exceeded the limit.

Moreover, there is no official regulation on four dishes and one soup; it's just that the higher authorities have required that no waste be allowed, and four dishes and one soup are basically enough.

"Come on, everyone, eat up. There aren't many rules at the dinner table. The most important thing is to be full."

After speaking, Leader Sheng took the first bite of food, then nodded and said, "It's really good; the cook's skills are excellent."

However, after taking a couple of bites, Leader Sheng slowed down his eating and turned to Zhou Zhiqiang, who was standing next to him, and asked, "Little Zhou, I heard from Comrade Qiao Yong that you think small tractors can also generate foreign exchange."
Tell me what you're thinking.

　Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)