frightfiction Chapter 1019 A small boat is easier to turn around!
Chapter 1019 A small boat is easier to turn around!
The July sea breeze, carrying with it the humid heat, poured into a temporary meeting place converted from an old warehouse in the suburbs of Dalian.
The warehouse windows were all open, yet hardly any coolness could get in; only the blinding sunlight reflected off the distant sea was so intense it was hard to open one's eyes.
Several rusty but gleaming old-fashioned bicycles leaned against the shade of trees, their handlebars reflecting the dull gleam of metal in the afternoon sun.
Outside the warehouse, the heat shimmered in the open space, distorting the distant scenery. In contrast to this tranquility, a few middle-aged men were engaged in a somewhat noisy discussion under the shade of a tree.
The focus of the discussion was a peculiar little gadget attached to the rear wheel of one of the bicycles.
That was a 45cc auxiliary engine produced by the Red Star Comprehensive Machinery Plant. At that moment, the engine became the temporary focus of interest for several early arrivals.
These people are the heads of the steel plants under the Fifth Ministry of Machinery Industry.
"Hey, Lao Zhao, your electric scooter is pretty good! Made by Hongxing Factory? Can it really run?" The one who asked the question was a burly man with a face blackened by years of exposure to the furnace fire. He circled the modified vehicle twice, squatted down, and carefully examined the small 45cc engine, his fingers hovering in mid-air as if he wanted to touch it but was afraid of getting burned.
He was Liu Dayong, the factory director of the state-owned Changzheng Machinery Factory (Factory 5147). His personality was as straightforward as the steel forged in his factory.
"Of course!" The one called Old Zhao was Zhao Weiguo, the factory director of Yanbei Machinery Factory. He had a loud voice and a touch of the boldness unique to the Yan and Zhao regions.
"Catching the train from our mountain valley, a hundred miles or so, wouldn't pedaling be exhausting? I asked someone to get this 'power booster' from the Hongxing Comprehensive Machinery Factory, and after installing it, hey, it's much lighter! It's just a bit noisy, like a grasshopper coming to life, and I get a lot of stares on the road!"
"Hey! Old Zhao, you're still asking someone to find a replacement? Why don't you just make one yourself in your factory!"
After giving Lao Zhao a look of disdain as usual, Liu Dayong began to examine the bolts on the small engine, looking like he wanted to take the poor little thing apart right now.
"Hongxing Comprehensive Machinery Factory? The one that was making quite a splash a while ago?" A middle-aged man with glasses and a refined appearance leaned closer, adjusting his glasses. He was Chen Ming, the deputy director of Hongfeng Machinery Factory in charge of technology, and his eyes revealed the research spirit of a technician.
"Director Liu, I'm not trying to discourage you, but this machine may look small, but the requirements for things like cylinder block casting, crankshaft precision, and carburetor are quite high."
Your facility mainly uses cupola furnaces; your precision casting and machining are lacking. This kind of equipment might be more suitable for Old Wang's team at a steelmaking branch in a factory in Northeast China; they at least have some old lathes salvaged from their old partner factories.”
As he spoke, he looked at Old Wang, who was squatting in the shade of a tree, fanning himself with a straw hat.
Old Wang, whose name was called, raised his sun-darkened face, gave a simple smile, and instead of directly agreeing, said, "What Engineer Chen said is true. We do have old beds, but they are all big, clumsy, and heavy-duty."
This delicate, small gadget looks like something a factory specializing in this kind of thing would make.
Upon hearing this, Liu Dayong became displeased and waved his hand dismissively: "Old Wang, I don't like what you're saying! What do you mean by 'our car won't leave'?"
What happened to his Red Star Factory?
I've heard that their factory was formerly known as Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill!
Strictly speaking, the steel rolling mill is downstream of our steelmaking plant!
We can turn ore into molten iron, molten iron into steel, and steel ingots into finished products. They can handle the rest, but we, who are at the front, can't do it.
With a little effort, why can't we succeed? I just hadn't thought of it this way before!
"Heh," a slightly hoarse chuckle came from the side. The tall, thin man who was squatting next to another bicycle smoking spoke up. He was Zhou Anmin, the person in charge of Jin'an Special Materials Factory.
Jin'an Special Materials Factory produces refractory materials. Because the factory is small and its products are specialized, it is often jokingly referred to as "Master Zhou of Kilns".
Flicked his cigarette ash and said slowly, "Director Liu, that's not how it works. The reason why Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill can change its name and come up with these new gadgets is because the factory has capable people who are smart and have guts."
Do you have any?
"Those veteran workers in your factory are experts at judging the heat and identifying sparks, but if you ask them to study the blueprints and figure out the intricacies of an internal combustion engine, I'm afraid they wouldn't even be able to understand the complexities of those drawings."
Although Zhou Anmin's factory produces refractory materials, he has a deep understanding of the technical barriers and speaks frankly.
Liu Dayong's face turned even redder from being choked, and he said stiffly:
"Talented people? Didn't talented people learn from scratch? Can't we figure things out without talented people? Back when our factory erected its first small blast furnace in the wild, what talented people did we have?"
It's all just a reckless drive to 'create conditions even if there aren't any!' That kind of thinking is unacceptable; where has that fearless revolutionary spirit gone?"
"Alright, what's the point of arguing about this?"
A fourth voice rang out, calm and slightly low.
Everyone looked up and saw Zheng Guoxing, the last to arrive at the Hohhot Xinsheng Iron Factory.
His attire was noticeably different from the others: a navy blue police uniform that was slightly faded but ironed to be as crisp as possible, with bright red collar insignia and the top button fastened meticulously.
He wore a matching navy blue liberation cap on his head and clean liberation shoes on his feet.
This uniform, belonging to the public security system, exudes a completely different aura from the casual work clothes or old-fashioned Zhongshan suits worn by other factory directors.
Ok?
Are the departments under the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building really this mixed? Why are there comrades wearing police uniforms here?
Hey, don't forget the steel plant he's in charge of is called Xinsheng!
This factory had a special status; it belonged to the labor reform system, but its production tasks were managed by the Fifth Ministry of Machinery Industry. Internally, it was known as the "Newcomer Factory" or the "Prison Steel Plant." The factory's management and technical personnel were mainly "newcomers."
A new life is the kind of new that means to reform oneself...
As soon as Zheng Guoxing spoke, the heated technical debate instantly cooled down. The factory managers exchanged glances, all seeing seriousness on each other's faces.
Yes, I was studying so well, how did they end up here, and the boss even gave me a forced march?
Several factory managers, without the help of power-assisted engines, almost managed to send the wheels flying into the air.
What? You're saying the factory manager doesn't have a jeep to ride in when he goes out? That's really pathetic?
Correct!
That's how chilling it is!
Compared to the prestigious directly affiliated colleges and universities within the Fifth Ministry of Machinery Industry, known as the "Seven Sons of Weapons," these production units were truly "not worth mentioning to outsiders."
There was no prestigious designation, no systematic research labs, only a few small, outdated furnaces and a group of rough-hewn master craftsmen who had dealt with molten steel and scorching rollers for years.
In terms of resources, it can be described as "small but specialized," even to the point of being somewhat "shabby."
Changzheng Factory guarded a few small blast furnaces and electric arc furnaces, Yanbei Factory relied on old rolling mills, Hongfeng Factory struggled on the narrow path of gun barrel steel and special alloys, and Jin'an Factory sought survival in the small space of special smelting.
As for the new factory...
The conditions were even more special, but behind the glory of "Inner Mongolia's first modern blast furnace pig iron" lay hardships and absolute isolation that are difficult for outsiders to fully understand.
"Alright, stop guessing." Liu Dayong's gaze swept over the group. "Old Chen, Old Zhou, Zheng... Factory Director Zheng, did you hear anything before you came? Why is the department so eager to gather us 'leftovers' together? What are they planning to do? What tough nut to crack?"
Chen Ming pushed up his glasses and shook his head: "They only said it was related to new materials. They didn't reveal any specifics."
Zhou Anmin also shook his head: "Our factory is small and we are even more isolated from the news. However, if we get all of us together, those who work in steelmaking, rolling, and special materials, this will probably be a tough nut to crack."
Zheng Guoxing succinctly stated: "Obey arrangements and complete the task."
Unable to guess, the topic shifted back to their recent "studies".
Liu Dayong recounted the shock he felt upon seeing the 150-ton open-hearth furnace at Ansteel, Chen Ming talked about his experiences learning about vacuum degassing of molten steel at Baotou Steel, Zhou Anmin lamented the ingenuity of Taiyuan Iron & Steel's silicon steel sheet technology and the gap between his own company and Taiyuan Iron & Steel's, and Zheng Guoxing briefly mentioned the strictness of special steel production management he witnessed in Fushun.
His words revealed a yearning for advanced productivity, anxiety about his own limitations, and a hint of resentment—who wouldn't want their own factory, their own furnace, to produce such top-quality steel?
Just as the atmosphere was becoming a little somber, footsteps sounded at the warehouse entrance.
Then we saw the leader of the city's creation campaign, accompanied by two other people, walking briskly towards us.
Ahead stood the sprightly Chief Engineer Wang Li, whom several factory directors recognized.
Half a step behind General Manager Wang was an unusually young cadre with somewhat disheveled hair and a tired look under his eyes, as if he hadn't had a good rest. However, his steps were brisk, his eyes were clear and sharp, and although he wore an ordinary dark blue work uniform, he had an aura that was quite different from ordinary people.
"Everyone has been waiting for a long time!"
……