A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

"Old Xia, give me a straight answer. Are we going to get this drilling rig or not? If so, give me a plan."

Li Changfu was holding a meat bun and taking a big bite.

Minister Xia looked at his meat bun being snatched away again and grimaced with heartache: "Hey Lao Li, you can't just target me for taking advantage of others. I need a ration coupon to buy a bun too!"

"Hey, Xia Heizi, you only get 4 jin of meat coupons a month, what are you complaining about being poor for!"

"Fine, fine, I won't argue with you anymore. You said you came alone, but why did you bring two people with you? Do you really think I'm a tycoon?"

Ren Zhongyuan didn't even lift his eyelids: "I'm here to avenge the theft of my child!"

Wang Chaogui also said sarcastically, "Heh, some people are just kicking away the ladder after they've crossed the river. I'll make sure you go broke!"

Minister Xia felt a pain in his cheek; what kind of insolent words were these?

Originally, Li Changfu was the only reckless person in the First Ministry of Machine Building, and Minister Xia felt that he could still fight him for a few rounds.

Why is the Ministry of Agricultural Machinery getting involved too?

Is Li Changfu, that old bastard with his elbow turned outwards, planning to fight Lu Bu like the Three Heroes?

Minister Xia looked at Elder Ren and Elder Wang, still feeling somewhat guilty. After all, he had really misled them back then.

The Ministry of Agricultural Machinery, officially known as the Ministry of Heavy Agricultural Machinery, was the very organization that initiated the construction of the factory in the imperial garden of Emperor Yang of Sui.

At the time, Minister Ren Zhongyuan, along with Chief Engineer Wang Chaogui, was deeply involved in the construction of the Sui Yangdi Imperial Garden factory area. They were also the ones who negotiated the complete production technology for the DT-54. Moreover, under the guidance of their elder brother, they worked tirelessly to produce China's first tracked tractor.

If the steel rolling mill was the son of the First Ministry of Machine Building, then the First Tractor Plant was Ren Zhongyuan's grandson.

The Ministry of Machine Building had many sons, but Ren Zhongyuan only had one grandson.

Ren Zhongyuan hadn't had enough of spoiling his grandson when the First Tractor Factory was placed under the management of the First Ministry of Machine Building.

After that, the level of the Ministry of Agricultural Machinery was adjusted, and it was eventually merged into the Ministry of Agriculture.

The stubborn Ren Zhongyuan gave up the title of Vice Minister of Agriculture and insisted on staying in the Ministry of Agricultural Machinery, thus achieving a high-level appointment despite a low rank.

Knowing he was wronged, the higher-ups let it go. Externally, it was still called the Ministry of Agricultural Machinery, not the Agricultural Machinery Bureau.

Ren Zhongyuan is a veteran Party member who deeply understands the principle of "the whole country working as one, with everyone of one mind." He firmly supports the resolution passed by the higher authorities.

But the hatred of having one's child taken away is irreconcilable! Expecting Ren Zhongyuan to give the Ministry of Machine Building a pleasant look is wishful thinking.

After finishing his steamed bun, Ren Zhongyuan glanced sideways at Minister Xia.

Minister Xia quickly stuffed the last meat bun into his mouth, "That's it! That's all, don't worry about it. I'm not providing lunch!"

"Alright, I know you're stingy, Xia Heizi. Let's get down to business. If your First Ministry of Machine Building doesn't like the drilling rigs, just give them to our Agricultural Machinery Department. They're a perfect match!"

Minister Xia glanced at the project application upon hearing this. "A research project on a well drilling rig based on a power crankshaft linkage device?"

"Oh my, this long string of names, was it your precious apprentice who came up with it?"

"Where are the blueprints? Why are there only two?"

Li Changfu dragged the blueprints out a bit: "It's just a well-drilling thing, nothing special."

"Look, it's just a drill bit connected to a device. Why would we need blueprints?" Li Changfu vaguely mentioned the name of the device.

"Look, we were drinking yesterday. Old Ren said that just having a hand pump well is useless; the real goal is to actually draw water. So that kid rushed to get it done overnight. It wasn't difficult at all, simple!"

Minister Xia looked at the blueprints again; they were incredibly simple. Just two thin pages, the first showing an assembly diagram. A long, narrow strip, resembling a drilling rig, was connected to a rectangular component.

The rectangle appears to have been deliberately blacked out.

Seeing that Minister Xia wanted to ask for details, Li Changfu quickly said:

"Sign quickly, sign quickly."

"Didn't some people say that our hand pump wells are just for kids? This time we've even equipped ourselves with the tools for drilling wells. Let's see if that shuts up those stinking mouths!" Li Changfu said, glaring at Ren Zhongyuan.

Ren Zhongyuan adopted an arrogant attitude and snorted coldly.

Minister Xia chuckled; it turned out Old Li was trying to save face for him.

Not bad, not bad. I almost wronged Comrade Li Changfu earlier. Comrade Li Changfu is great, no wonder he's a veteran of the First Ministry of Machine Building. He's still on our side.

"Okay, it's signed. Here's the arrangement: your agricultural machinery department will submit a request to the First Ministry of Machine Building, and I'll delegate the task to the steel rolling mill. How does that sound?"

Ren Zhongyuan silently took out an official document, then picked up the seal and breathed on it.

It slammed down.

Minister Xia gave a thumbs up: "It has to be you, you can even carry the official seal around everywhere."

Ren Zhongyuan blushed. He knew his own situation best; the agricultural machinery department only had a handful of people, big and small. Aside from the few learning how to install hand pumps, only he and Old Wang were left.

But he couldn't sit still, so he simply brought his equipment with him and started a mobile office. His main goal was to build wherever he went.

Unfortunately, there are very few agricultural machines available now, so there are almost no places where he would stamp his seal.

The three old buddies were overjoyed when Secretary Lin brought over the application form stamped by the Ministry of Machine Building. They ran off happily.

Minister Xia touched his newly sprouted stubble and felt that something was wrong.

However, Li Changfu is an old friend, so how could we doubt him?

"Old Li, hurry up and get the drilling rig done. I'm still waiting to slap Old Ren in the face!"

"Absolutely!" Li Changfu drawled out his words. He had already reached the bottom of the building.

Minister Xia nodded in satisfaction and resumed his work at his desk.

The three old men ran at the speed they used to achieve during a forced march.

"Ha!! Ha~~~ That's far enough, I'm not running anymore! If I run any further, I'll die." Wang Chaogui was the first to give in and plopped down on the curb.

The remaining two old men also bent over and panted for a while. The three of them looked at each other and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hey, what do you think will happen when Lao Xia realizes what's going on?"

Ren Zhongyuan patted his bag: "It's in black and white, and it even has the seal of their Ministry of Machine Building. What can they do? Lock this document in the safe later. If they say another word, and push me too far, I'll go complain to the instructor!"

Wang Chaogui lay on the ground, "Haha, didn't you see how stupid Old Xia looked? If he knew there was a whole basket of real blueprints, wouldn't he be terrified?"

The three unscrupulous old men laughed again.

It turns out they had hidden the blueprints for the diesel engine and were applying for the project under the guise of a well drilling rig.

The original main focus—diesel engines—was incorporated into this project.

At this point, Ren Zhongyuan frowned: "Old Li, can your steel rolling mill be built according to the blueprints?"

"Don't waste such good blueprints."

"Hey, back in the day, I really wouldn't have dared to make that guarantee. But now that the machine factory has merged with us, the skilled workers there are top-notch. There won't be any problems."

"However, Mr. Ren, there are priorities. I think my son's idea is right. The first batch of engines is ready, and we should use them for well drilling."

"With this drought, it's hard to say whether it will be the same next year."

Human life is of utmost importance!

Ren Zhongyuan works in the agricultural machinery industry, so he understands the principles involved. He nodded emphatically upon hearing this.

"Then we'll split up. I'll go modify the tractor blueprints, and you can have the engine!"

"Hmph! You're restricting engine import quotas, huh? I don't want your quotas anymore! I'm going to build all domestically produced tractors!"

Old Ren's eyes were red.