The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 83 Another Promotion?! [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]

The next day.

Zhou Zhiqiang spent almost the entire morning in the workshop, keeping an eye on the new production process and offering technical guidance from time to time.

He now holds a dual position: he is both the most technically skilled person in the technical department and the most skilled craftsman among the workers.

No matter how high-ranking the worker is, they can't put on airs in front of Zhou Zhiqiang.

They could only listen to Zhou Zhiqiang's words obediently; otherwise, if Zhou Zhiqiang glared and raised his voice, few of the senior workers would have the face to refute him.

Otherwise, it would be embarrassing for Zhou Zhiqiang to compare their skills with theirs; after all, workers rely on their skills to make a living.

Zhou Zhiqiang had just sat down in the technical department and hadn't rested for long when he saw that his department head, Lü Yi, had returned.

When Lü Yi returned, he immediately said to Zhou Zhiqiang, "Zhiqiang, come to my office. I have something to tell you."

"Row."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang got up and followed Lü Yi to his office; this morning, Lü Yi had gone with the factory director and secretary to attend a small meeting on behalf of the technical department.

The first thing I did after I got back was to contact him, which was probably related to the meeting that morning.

Upon arriving at the office, Lü Yi first brewed two cups of tea, offering one to Zhou Zhiqiang before sitting down with a smile and saying to him, "Zhiqiang, this is great news, truly wonderful news."

Zhou Zhiqiang asked curiously, "Section Chief, what good news is it? Tell me quickly, did the higher-ups give out a reward?"

"There's no reward yet. They said it would be paid after the production target is met, so it definitely won't be early. Your reward will probably be at the end of the year. But the good news I'm about to tell you is similar."

Lu Yi said with a smile, "From now on, I'll call you Section Chief Zhou."

Zhou Zhiqiang was taken aback: "Huh? Section Chief, you mean..."

"Didn't Leader Sheng and Director Qiao say that it would be most suitable for our factory to build a branch factory? Dafeng Machinery Processing Plant, it's already been approved by the higher-ups!"

Lu Yi said with a happy expression, "The branch factory is to process supporting parts for Dafeng Agricultural Machinery General Factory, so we definitely need someone familiar with it to go there and set up the branch factory quickly."
So the factory director and the party secretary both recommended me, and the higher-ups also considered my outstanding performance in the small tractor project, so they agreed!

"Oh, by the way, our factory will be renamed soon. It will be called Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Section Chief, you're going to be the factory manager of the branch factory? That's really great news, congratulations!"

“You got promoted, and it was all thanks to you, Zhiqiang. This weekend, let’s go to Donglaishun for mutton hot pot. Let’s invite your sister-in-law too.”

After Lü Yi finished speaking, he took a sip of tea with a happy expression, but immediately spat it out because it was too hot. However, he couldn't shake off the excitement in his heart.

He is now a section chief, and the branch factory is at the deputy division level. Moreover, he went to the branch factory as the factory director and party official, which means he is in charge of both production and discipline.

If it were anyone else, they wouldn't have been so lucky; it was just that he happened to be in the right place at the right time. Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory didn't have any other suitable people, so Lü Yi was the only one who was familiar with the small tractor project from start to finish and knew how to manage production.

Within two years of meeting Zhou Zhiqiang, he was promoted. Zhou Zhiqiang was truly his lucky star. Now, Lu Yi's eyes are full of gratitude when he looks at Zhou Zhiqiang.

"Section Chief Lü, you're too kind. The leadership chose you as the branch factory manager because of your exceptional abilities, it has little to do with me."

After finishing his sentence, Zhou Zhiqiang changed the subject and continued with a smile, "But if you invite me to dinner, I'll definitely go. My wife said the other day that she wanted to eat mutton hot pot."

“I’m definitely going. Let’s meet at the entrance of Donglaishun at 11 a.m. this weekend.”

Lu Yi patted his chest and assured him, "Zhiqiang, you and your sister-in-law can eat whatever you want this time. I've prepared enough!" He planned to bring four catties of meat coupons, which would be more than enough. Although he didn't have enough at home, he would find someone to help him get some in the next few days.

"Zhiqiang, once I go to the branch factory, you'll be the head of the technical department."

It's a bit of a shame. I really wanted you to come to the branch factory with me, but unfortunately, I just mentioned it, and the factory manager and the party secretary both scolded me."

When Lü Yi said this, he was genuinely a little regretful. If they had gone to the branch factory together, they could have definitely made it bigger and stronger.

Moreover, the branch factory's provisional number of employees is no less than that of the main factory, with a planned number of 2,500 people, while the main factory of Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory only has 3,000 people.

Moreover, branch factories are easy to expand, and they might even surpass the main factory in the future.

However, neither the factory director nor the party secretary gave in on Zhou Zhiqiang's matter, and even the deputy factory director Liu voiced his opposition, leaving Lü Yi speechless.

Anyone can see that Zhou Zhiqiang is technically proficient and can take care of both technological innovation and process improvement in the factory. Although he is a college graduate of less than two years, his technical skills are no worse than those of many veteran engineers.

I just haven't taken the technical assessment yet. If I had, aside from the seniority restrictions, I might have been able to directly pass the exam and become a level 7 or 8 engineer.

Zhou Zhiqiang smiled, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "If I become the head of the technical department, who will be the deputy head?"

Lu Yi thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "They didn't say anything about that, but the position of deputy section chief is dispensable anyway. If you don't bring it up with the factory leaders, it will probably just fizzle out in the end."

Besides you, it seems like no one in our technical department is suitable for this deputy section chief position. I guess they won't be selecting anyone, or they'll be looking for someone from outside."

Based on technical skills and abilities, Lü Yi felt that no one in the technical department was suitable to be the deputy section chief, and there was no need to send someone from outside.

Lu Yi patted Zhou Zhiqiang on the shoulder again and said, "Don't think too much about it. Anyway, you're going to get the position of section chief. As for the deputy section chief, it doesn't matter whether you get it or not."

Even if there's a deputy section chief, they still have to listen to you and work for you; besides, our factory will definitely get promoted by half a grade next year, Zhiqiang, then you'll be in the same position as me as a section chief.”

"The prospects for export earnings are also very good. After all, our small tractors are of good quality and there are many places abroad that need them. Although the factory director did not reveal any information, he kept smiling when I asked him."

With the expansion of scale and the construction of branch factories, there will be opportunities for export and foreign exchange earnings in the future, so a promotion of half a level is appropriate.

By then, their Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory will be a large factory at the deputy provincial level, with a total of five or six thousand people in the main factory and branches.

If we achieve success in export earnings in the future, we might expand to a large factory with seven or eight thousand employees, or even more than ten thousand.

"makes sense."

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded and said that he had graduated less than two years ago and had already become a level 16 section chief in a state-owned factory, earning a salary of 110 yuan.

Zhou Zhiqiang is already content. After completing the production task at the end of the year, he probably won't get much of a reward. At most, he'll get some vouchers and bonuses.

But that's enough; Zhou Zhiqiang and his wife could never spend all the money they had.

Zhou Zhiqiang is already 'wasteful' enough; according to the prevailing social norms of this era, he is anything but frugal.

But their savings continue to grow, and in a few years, they will be able to buy another detached courtyard house.

　Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)