A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

After installing the hydraulic pump, Director Hu patted the Yellow River truck.

"This thing of yours has taken a lot of effort from Lao Liu. This time, make it in Beijing and do your best!"

"Huh? What are we going into Beijing for? The expert team won't be here for inspection for another month!" Jiang Xia was dumbfounded.

"Hey, teacher? Is your car factory completely isolated from the world? You don't even know about this? The municipal party committee was just calling us this morning, asking us to cooperate more with your car factory?"

Factory Director Liu, having just finished adjusting his right leg, limped over and asked, "Old Hu, what did you say? What notice did the Municipal Party Committee issue?"

Factory Director Hu was speechless for a moment: "Hey, is there no one left in your factory office? You don't even know about this big thing?"

"The logistics department of the unit suddenly issued a notice saying that the army is going to be motorized and invited truck manufacturers from all over the country to come and evaluate them. Whichever one is better will be used. What, you didn't know?"

Morning?

Factory Director Liu recalled that he had assigned all the more educated people that morning to record the steps for installing the grinding machine in Jiangxia. It seemed there was no one watching over the office!

Factory Director Liu grabbed Factory Director Hu: "Old Hu, take me to the Municipal Party Committee to find out what's going on! The Logistics Department's centralized procurement is a big deal!"

"Mr. Jiang, I'm so sorry to trouble you to go back with the truck!"

Jiang Xia waved his hand and said, "Do as you please. I'm more comfortable without you sitting in the passenger seat."

Factory Director Hu frowned, looking at the bloodstains on Liu Mingzhong's trouser leg: "How about we take you to the hospital to get checked out first?"

"It's nothing! Just a scrape. Let's go. This is a military matter; we can afford to pay for it if we're delayed!"

……

On the way back, Jiang Xia opened a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes and handed one to the truck driver.

If it weren't between men, the best way to break the silence would be to offer a cigarette. After a couple of puffs, driver Liu would start talking non-stop.

"Hey, Mr. Liu, how long have you been driving this car?"

"It's been almost half a year. I drove it for a test drive as soon as it was built!"

What do you think of this car?

"Hey, it was good enough that it could even run at first. Especially in the first few months, I had to half-squat to drive it, it was so annoying!"

As he spoke, Master Liu pointed to a certain part.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Perhaps because the factory manager was not present, Jiang Xia listened to Master Liu talk about the various problems with the Yellow River truck, occasionally responding and helping Master Liu adjust the steering wheel.

Meanwhile, his pen never stopped, jotting down all sorts of problems, big and small, filling two whole pages.

Not only did they discuss the Yellow River Card, but Master Liu also frequently mentioned Liu Mingzhong, the factory director who was missing his right leg.

There are countless examples of people limping into the workshop or using crutches to participate in labor.

The prosthetic leg he's using now was specially made for him by the experienced craftsmen in the workshop.

The truck returned to the car factory, and Jiang Xia rushed to another prototype that had already been disassembled.

The master craftsmen at the car factory have finished grinding the steering mechanism parts. Although it's not as good as the steel rolling mill's process, it's still quite standardized.

Ding Dana brought over a bowl of minced meat noodles: "Teacher Jiang, you must be tired from your journey. I specially saved this for you!"

Dumplings on the train, noodles on the way off – it's perfect!

Jiang Xia looked at the enormous bowl: "Are you treating me like a glutton? I could drown myself if I put my head in this bowl."

Looking at the noodles in the bowl, they were white and each strand was about the thickness of a finger. This bowl probably weighed more than a pound.

"Um, does Master Liu have any? Should I share some with him?"

Turning around, I saw Master Liu holding a large bowl just like mine, drinking heartily.

Yes, it's drinking, not eating!

Jiang Xia leaned closer, and Chef Liu hid the bowl behind his back: "Hey, Teacher Jiang, please eat. Let me tell you, my meals are excellent!"

"The driver of the Jiefang truck only weighs 36 jin a month, but I weigh 40 jin a month!"

"Oh, yes, there are 40 jin, but you still need to be able to buy them." Jiang Xia, with her sharp eyes, had already noticed that what was in Master Liu's bowl wasn't noodles at all, but a bowl of corn porridge so thick you could see your reflection in it.

Eat! With snot and tears streaming down his face, Jiang Xia gulped down a bowl of noodles, soup and all.

The comforting noodles brought warmth, which spread from my throat all the way to my stomach, and soon my whole belly felt warm.

He wiped his mouth and said, "Comrades! I just heard that the comrades from the logistics department of the army have invited our Yellow River trucks to participate in their bidding!"

"Let's go to Beijing!"

A suppressed gasp escaped from the crowd.

“There, we’ll run into Nanjing’s Yuejin, Shanghai’s Jiaotong, and FAW’s Jiefang. They’re all big shots. Aren’t you scared?”

The young men looked at each other, realizing that it would be a lie to say they weren't afraid. After all, the car hadn't even passed the Ministry of Transport's inspection. Compared to these older men, they really didn't have much confidence.

But most of them came from the team; they might lose in terms of personnel or battle, but they would never lose in spirit.

"I'm not afraid!"

"That's right! What are we barefoot people afraid of, those wearing shoes!"

"Come on, install this steering system and show those big brothers a thing or two! Let them change their arrogant ways!"

The front of the Yellow River truck is already large, and even with the marine engine in the middle taking up most of the space, there's still room for a hydraulic pump. No need to use a mallet anymore, isn't that great?

There was a problem with the installation of the gear and rack.

The two wheels have rims that are different sizes. When I asked, I found out that they were made by modifying I-beams.

Uh, it's not a big problem, let's fix it manually now.

Once mass production is possible, Jiangxia decided to send them a batch of lathes.

After a flurry of activity, it was already night.

Two large lights were set up at the installation site.

Liu Mingzhong, leaning on his cane, watched the busy crowd from afar.

"Tsk, this teacher isn't just making things up! I think he's better than you!" Director Hu of the water pump factory put his hands on his hips, looked at Jiang Xia who was directing everyone to work, and finally blurted out a compliment.

"Ha, why would I go through all that trouble to invite him if he wasn't strong enough? Would I just be wasting food?"

"By the way, Lao Hu, could you give me some more food? The young man is energetic and gets hungry quickly!"

"Hey hey hey, you've turned my water pump factory into your logistics warehouse, huh? You might as well just take all my machines with you!"

"Factory Manager!" Ding Dana ran over excitedly.

"Hey, factory manager, why are you using a cane again?"

"Get to the point. Can't you let it breathe a little after wearing it for so long?"

"Uh, Teacher Jiang said we should find another drilling machine, because the center hole for the steering shaft we made earlier is crooked! He said that if it's like that, the steering wheel won't straighten itself!"

Liu Mingzhong looked at Director Hu: "Hehe, old company commander, let's not bother two people for one thing, shall we make another trip?"

"Pull the anchor! I shouldn't have carried you down with me."

……

With a rumble, the Yellow River truck demonstrated its power as a heavy-duty truck, towing a drilling machine and several large bags of flour as it drove away in style.

The gatekeeper at the water pump factory looked at the gate that had been smashed down to allow Huang Heka to enter the factory area, and felt like crying.

"Factory manager, should we still keep an eye on this gate?"

"Screw you! Build me a machine gun emplacement! I'll stand guard with you!"