The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 90 This is the work assigned by the section chief. [Seeking monthly votes]

dong dong!

"Section Chief Zhou."

After knocking on the door, Chen Li heard Zhou Zhiqiang's permission and then pushed the door open and came in.

After entering the room, she glanced around casually, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She hadn't expected the section chief's office to be so small. She had never seen such a small office when she was in the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the First Ministry of Machine Building.

But that's not important. Chen Li asked, "Section Chief Zhou, I have a general understanding of the current work and plans of our technical department. How will the work be assigned next?"

"You've figured it out so quickly? You've worked so hard, Deputy Section Chief Chen. Come, come, let's sit down and talk."

Zhou Zhiqiang greeted her with a smile, then got up to get a kettle and new water cups to pour water for Chen Li: "Deputy Section Chief Chen, these water cups were issued by the factory, they're all new, you can take them and use them later."

This is in his office. It's nothing unusual for him to pour water for his colleagues; it's about maintaining good working relationships.

After handing over the water glass, Zhou Zhiqiang sat back down in his chair and said to Chen Li, "Let's talk about work assignments, Deputy Section Chief Chen. Here's what I'm thinking: the factory's development plan is basically finalized."

So, your next tasks will be daily work arrangements, duty rosters, handling unexpected rural assignments, providing process guidance, and training workshop workers.

"Of course, I'll guide you through the daily work arrangements for the first two days. Once you're familiar with them, I'll hand them over to you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me as soon as possible."

Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment, then, as if remembering something, added, "Deputy Section Chief Chen, you should also handle the weekly departmental work summary report."

I'm in charge of new product development and manufacturing process innovation, is that alright?

Chen Li was stunned after hearing this, and then quickly went through it in her mind.

But after reviewing it, she still felt something was off. Wasn't this just placing all the responsibilities and tasks of a section chief on her? And Zhou Zhiqiang, the section chief, was more like an ordinary technician.
Unable to contain her doubts, Chen Li asked, "Section Chief, are you only in charge of technology and process research and development?"

“Hey, Comrade Chen Li, don’t underestimate this job. Sometimes I have to work at home until one or two in the morning.”

Zhou Zhiqiang quickly said, "You also have a technical background, so you should know how troublesome it is to develop a new product, from basic theory to structural design."
Just the part of manufacturing, assembling, and adapting components requires countless brain cells; it's no easy task.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang was an exception. He lazily handed over the most brain-draining stage to the data collection and deduction assistant. Zhou Zhiqiang's task was to collect and integrate data and perfectly replicate the mature technology and process.

However, it was still not a simple project. The diesel engine for the small tractor alone required hundreds of drawings, which Zhou Zhiqiang had to work on for a long time before he finally produced them.

He then remained undisturbed, spending his days cooped up in his office, and after dinner at home, he would go to his study to work overtime. It would probably take him about a month to finally complete the blueprints for the parts of another small seeder.

Zhou Zhiqiang is now consciously using a modular industrial production model to make the parts of these small agricultural machines as interchangeable as possible, which will reduce the difficulty of production.

After listening to Zhou Zhiqiang's words, Chen Li remained silent for a while. "Even if you say that, Section Chief Zhou, I still feel that my workload is quite heavy."

"Comrade Chen Li, must revolutionary work be divided into 'you' and 'me,' and 'major' and 'minor'?"

Zhou Zhiqiang put down his teacup, then turned to the table and said, "Since you feel you can't handle this job, let's cancel some of it. From now on, you'll be in charge of scheduling shifts."

Chen Li found it extremely offensive. What did they mean by "incompetent at this job"? How could that be acceptable if word got out?
"Section Chief Zhou, I am fully capable of handling the work assignment. Since you've agreed, let's start with the work you assigned me the first time and see if I can handle it."

Chen Li stood up and said to Zhou Zhiqiang, then paused, feeling even more resentful, "Section Chief Zhou, I think I might be able to adapt to the work of developing new products. If there is any work required, please assign it to me."

“Okay, I’ll definitely arrange work for you.” Zhou Zhiqiang didn’t expect this girl to be so stubborn, but that was for the best. With a little provocation, she took the job.

"Let me arrange a desk for you, Comrade Chen Li."

After saying that, Zhou Zhiqiang got up and led Chen Li to the technical department outside. He pointed to the desk he used to use and said, "This is the desk I used before. There are bookshelves behind it and some empty space. Comrade Chen Li, is this desk okay for you?"

"Sure, revolutionary work doesn't require a place that's too luxurious."

His words were barbed, but Zhou Zhiqiang didn't take it too seriously and nodded, saying, "Then you can tidy up. I already cleaned the desk earlier."

After saying this, Zhou Zhiqiang turned around and went back to his office to continue working.

A hotheaded deputy is much better than a cunning old fox; as long as he doesn't cause trouble, he's a good hothead.

Moreover, it allows you to delegate some of your work.

Chen Li, the deputy section chief, was also stubborn. She insisted on doing things herself and had no intention of asking others for help.

She made three trips up and down the stairs to collect and move things, and after buying meal tickets at the factory, she immediately went to Zhou Zhiqiang's office to return all the meal tickets she had borrowed for lunch.

After the meeting, Lü Yi left the factory early without saying goodbye to the technical department or anyone else. He had to go to the Municipal Bureau of Industry and was particularly busy lately, so he didn't come.

I said goodbye to Zhou Zhiqiang when I came out of the meeting room, and I was going to the branch factory, so there will be many opportunities to meet in the future.

After the meeting on Monday, the renaming of Dafeng Machinery Factory was officially announced to all workers through the factory's loudspeaker.

From now on, Dafeng Machinery Factory will be the branch factory in Changping; they are Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory.

Chen Li, the new deputy head of the technical department, quickly got into work mode.

For the first three days, Chen Li followed Zhou Zhiqiang closely, familiarizing herself with the work content and procedures of her position as deputy section chief.

Sometimes Chen Li would stubbornly try to express her opinions, but Zhou Zhiqiang would reject them after listening, telling her that there was no need to rigidly follow the rules and procedures.

Production is the top priority right now. Anything that doesn't affect production efficiency or the quality of the finished products should be ignored.

Chen Li initially disagreed, but Zhou Zhiqiang was too lazy to explain and simply used his position as section chief to tell her not to interfere.

At that moment, Chen Li was angry and resentful, but she was smart enough not to argue with Zhou Zhiqiang, the section chief, in public.

As for whether he would complain to his superiors afterward, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't care. Even if he complained to Director Qiao of the Industry Bureau, he wouldn't suffer any loss.

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't have time to worry about all that. During the day, he was drawing and copying blueprints for small seeders in his office, and after returning home at night, he would sit in his study until eleven or twelve o'clock.

If we follow the established procedures without working overtime, it would take at least four or five months to complete the blueprints for the core components of the small seeder.

This was too slow for Zhou Zhiqiang, especially since he still had some habits from his later years, such as not liking to go to bed early at night and not being able to fall asleep without staying up late.

　Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)