A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

After discussing with the two bigwigs, Jiang Xia wanted to promote his "concept of a device for raising groundwater by utilizing atmospheric pressure".

Unexpectedly, both bigwigs were not interested, as they were completely absorbed by the "truck two-piece set".

Because Jiangxia proposed to apply for a patent for these two pieces!

What is a patent? Is it edible?

What? You have to pay to get a patent?

Li Changfu and Yang Youning expressed little interest.

However, upon hearing that they could earn foreign exchange, their interest was piqued again. After repeated questioning, Jiang Xia told them everything he could.

Finally, I shrugged and said that was all I knew.

Any more and it will be a 404 error.

The two big shots, who were neither particularly influential nor influential, praised him for knowing quite a lot at such a young age.

However, the knowledge dissemination was not in vain. Director Yang readily signed the approval document for "a concept based on using atmospheric pressure to lift groundwater" and even promised Jiang Xia that he could find team members himself.

Mo also approved 500 yuan in research funding.

Jiang Xia burst into tears. He hadn't realized that having the approval document meant he could actually receive funding!

Shouldn't we pay an additional design fee for the two-piece truck kit?

Jiang Xia, who considered himself shy, ultimately didn't have the heart to ask Yang Youning to reimburse him for the previous expenses.

Back in the staff dormitory, they found that the five pillars were still awake.

Wu Zhu leaned against the doorway, chatting with a few sleepless coworkers about all sorts of things.

One of them seemed quite excited, with a cigarette dangling from his lips and his head held high, enjoying the compliments from his fellow workers.

"Wow, Er Gou, your family is really something! From now on, you'll be city folks with food ration coupons!"

"Yes, from now on, we won't need any travel permits to enter the city!"

Jiang Xia narrowed his eyes, not expecting Zhao Dezhu to be so capable of carrying out his orders; he was already setting people up for trouble.

Without saying hello to Wuzhu, he quietly walked straight back to his dormitory.

Upon entering the house, Dazhu was pouring rice into a cloth bag, and only breathed a sigh of relief after carefully collecting the few grains of rice scattered on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Grain prices have gone up again. Rice has increased by 4 cents per pound, and mixed flour has increased by 3 cents per pound."

Jiangxia nodded. Sixty years. It was exactly two years of natural disasters, a year when people's hearts were most restless.

After all, no one knows what the days ahead will bring.

Is it getting better? Or worse?

No matter what, life goes on.

Silent all night.

…………

Early in the morning, Yang Youning rode a bicycle with Li Changfu to the Ministry of Machine Building.

Yang Youning probably didn't even realize it himself, but he was smiling the whole way. Even the sunlight didn't seem as glaring as usual.

Upon entering the Ministry of Machine Building, the gatekeeper, a man in his sixties, glanced at him and exclaimed "Oh!"

"Director Yang, congratulations! Congratulations! You came to pick up your appointment letter so soon after receiving it?"

Yang Youning, supporting himself on one leg with his bicycle, turned around and helped Li Changfu.

After Li Changfu had regained his footing, he got off the bus from the side.

"Sir, has the minister arrived yet?"

"Hey, I've been here for a while. The minister didn't go home yesterday. But you can just take your appointment letter to Secretary Lin!"

Yang Youning thanked him and accompanied Li Changfu into the building.

Halfway there, taking advantage of the fewer people around, Li Changfu pulled out two cloves of garlic and, ignoring Yang Youning's objections, smeared them directly into his eyes.

The gatekeeper shook his head as he watched the two enter the building.

"Is this the capable Yang Youning they were talking about? I think he's a complete idiot, getting tricked and still so happy!" She paused, glancing at the young man beside her.

This is a habit of people in Beijing; they're waiting for the straight man to finish the joke!

Fortunately, the young man was quick-witted. "Sir, what do you mean? He's the steel mill manager! This is the first time I've ever met him in person!"

The old man stroked his beard: "Hmph, a mere factory director! You should know where this is! The First Ministry of Machine Building! In the long run, you'll see all sorts of factory directors."

"However, that factory manager might be the shortest-lived one ever!"

The young man shuddered. "Grandpa, you really dare to say that! He's much stronger than you."

"Hey, I meant his position! What are you thinking!"

The young man offered a peony with a fawning smile, "Sir, so-and-so in the logistics department is my uncle. I just arrived, please tell me more!"

The old man smiled with satisfaction, lowering his voice: "Let me tell you, that foolish factory manager took on a hot potato..."

…………

The minister's office was a small suite, and Secretary Lin worked in a small room outside.

Seeing Yang Youning's tear-streaked face, Secretary Lin's heart skipped a beat: Could it be that this sucker has figured things out and is going to cause trouble?

Only after Yang Youning explained himself, tears streaming down his face, did Secretary Lin abandon his plan to call for help.

After consulting with their superiors, they were led inside.

After Secretary Lin took his leave, Li Changfu swaggered over and picked up the breakfast that the big boss had placed on the table, taking a big bite out of it.

"Old Xia, that's impressive. You're already eating white flour buns! I was in a rush this morning and haven't had a proper meal yet, so this is a good snack!"

Minister Xia looked helpless: "You old Li, still the same bandit you always were. There are only two of us, and I've been in meetings all night, my stomach is really empty!"

He picked up the last steamed bun, thought for a moment, and broke it in half: "Xiao Yang, you haven't eaten either, have some."

Seeing Yang Youning's face covered in tears, I couldn't bear it.

He then called out, "Xiao Lin, go see if the cafeteria has anything left to eat, and bring some over."

Secretary Lin responded and hurried off to the department's small canteen.

There were many people in the morning, and Secretary Lin didn't return for a while.

Li Changfu and Yang Youning were really hungry, and they finished off the steamed buns in just a few bites.

Minister Xia waited with a smile as the two people in front of him finished eating their steamed buns with tea.

"Alright, we've eaten and met. Now let's go get the merger notice from Xiaolin and get things done!"

"I heard there's some trouble at the machine factory!"

Li Changfu raised an eyebrow: "Hey, so you're kicking people out already!"

"So what else do you want, you old bastard? You ate my breakfast, what more do you want?" Minister Xia, who usually had a dignified appearance, now had a roguish look on his face.

"Hey Xia, yesterday was a meeting, I gave you some face. Now that I'm here, don't you know what I mean?"

"Hey, you surnamed Li, you think you're so great? You think you can defy the Ministry of Machine Building's resolution?!"

Minister Xia slammed his hand on the table, startling Yang Youning so much that he lowered his body slightly.

"The resolution is fine! As long as the Party and the country need it, I, Li Changfu, will do my best to complete the task, even if it means sacrificing my own flesh!"

"But you can't fool this idiot. You sent over a hundred or so men, but didn't even provide any support or supplies!"

Li Changfu wasn't intimidated by him. Pointing at Yang Youning, who was trembling like a quail, he retorted without any politeness.

"Oh dear, I'd rather stretch every penny I have to spend, can you pay me back first?"

"Pah! You have steamed buns to eat, and you say you have no money!..."

Yang Youning stared blankly at the clash between the two big shots, trying his best to shrink himself into a small ball.

I felt I should be outside, not sitting in a chair.

"No matter what you say, the Ministry of Machine Building simply doesn't have the money. What can you do about it?" Minister Xia, seeing that he couldn't win the argument with Li Changfu, simply gave up.

"Hmph," Li Changfu snorted coldly.

He kicked Yang Youning off the chair: "Scream! Shout louder! Let everyone outside see how Minister Xia bullies people!"