PDLP Chapter 41 This is what true brothers are like!
Chapter 41 This is what true brothers are like!
Factory Director Yang then changed the subject: "However, is it possible that our main factory could set up this electric kettle production line, with the machinery factory participating?"
He tried to present the facts and reason, analyzing the establishment of the machinery factory and its original production tasks, saying that the machinery factory was originally an auxiliary factory of the steel rolling mill.
"Although the machinery factory later started producing agricultural machinery, it did not essentially separate itself from the steel rolling mill and remained part of it."
Deputy Factory Director Nie continued, "The production of agricultural machinery and electric kettles are unrelated. On the contrary, the steel rolling mill can produce the kettle body and parts itself..."
Li Huaide: "In the end, the machinery factory is part of the steel rolling mill. Whether the steel rolling mill is in charge of production or the machinery factory is in charge, the result is the same. We share the honor. Director Feng, would you consider this?"
"If you agree, I'll speak to the Ministry of Machine Building."
He smiled and gave Xu Damao a wink, and Xu Damao immediately got up to pour wine for the leaders of the machinery factory.
As the wine glass gradually filled with Moutai, Fatty Feng chuckled and said, "Director Yang, Director Li, and Director Nie all make a lot of sense."
However, today I not only went to the Ministry of Machine Building, but also to the Ministry of Foreign Trade to inquire about patent matters.
Seeing the shocked looks on the three men's faces, he smiled and said, "The comrades from the Ministry of Foreign Trade said that although we do not have the conditions to apply for patents domestically, they have channels to deal with it."
He tapped the table: "In recent years, through the channels of those patriotic overseas businessmen, they have applied for a lot of patents."
The Ministry of Foreign Trade is very optimistic about the electric heating cup project and has asked us to prepare the patent application materials as soon as possible.
The three men from the steel mill clearly hadn't expected this outcome, and they cursed inwardly that Fatty Feng was a cunning old fox.
On the surface, he looks like a smiling Buddha, but in reality, he has a heart of 48 pounds inside a 50-pound belly! This guy must have guessed something long ago, which is why he went to the foreign trade department.
The die is cast. The three of them looked at each other and decided to stop arguing.
Li Huaide smiled and raised his glass: "That's wonderful! In the end, the reason we proposed the plan was to contribute to the country."
Now that the problem has been resolved satisfactorily, we can rest assured.
Deputy Factory Director Nie also smiled and said, "That's right. As long as the project can be launched smoothly and generate foreign exchange for the country, it doesn't matter who produces the electric kettles."
"That's right, they're all the same!" Old Feng laughed heartily, raised his glass, and said, "Come on, let's have a toast, as an early congratulations on the success of our factory's electric kettle project!"
The others were cursing under their breath, but said aloud, "We must succeed, of course we must succeed."
Old Qian clicked his tongue in amazement, leaned closer to Old Ma, and whispered, "You know, being a leader requires some skill. They were all on edge just a moment ago, and now they're all smiles again."
Old Ma picked up a peanut and popped it into his mouth: "In the workers' hearts, you are also a leader."
Old Qian: "I'm in charge of technology, and I got my position based on my technical skills. It's different from theirs."
Old Ma grinned mischievously: "How are they different? What qualifications did they have to rise to power?"
"They relied on..." Old Qian was about to speak when he suddenly slammed on the brakes, "You little brat, are you kidding me?"
Old Ma laughed heartily and popped a peanut into his mouth: "Eat up, brother, it's delicious."
Old Qian chewed and swallowed the peanuts: "But in terms of their nature, electric kettles should be under the management of the light industry sector, right? The Ministry of Machine Building just started this project like this, and the Light Industry Bureau didn't have any objections?"
Old Ma shook his head: "How would I know? Go ask our factory manager."
Old Qian thought to himself, "Your factory manager looks like Zhu Bajie, but he's even more cunning than Sun Wukong. How could I possibly ask him?"
The people from the steel rolling mill knew they couldn't get a share of the electric heating cup project, so they stopped mentioning it and just focused on eating and drinking, treating it as a real dinner party.
Xu Damao, trying to liven things up, kept pouring drinks for his friends, but soon he tripped and fell.
The drinking session lasted until 10 p.m. before everyone finally dispersed.
The leaders of the steel rolling mill exchanged pleasantries for a while before leaving, supported by their respective secretaries.
The four men from the machinery factory stood in a quiet spot next to the canteen. Old Ma stood at attention, head down, silent.
Fatty Feng unbuttoned his coat to cool off and looked at him: "Do you know you were wrong?"
Old Ma nodded.
"What's wrong with it?"
"I shouldn't have disobeyed you and gone to ask Yang Gangtie for a favor," Old Ma said dejectedly.
He only went to Yang Gangtie because he wanted to help the factory with something. He thought that since they were all demobilized soldiers, Yang Gangtie would definitely help them find Lou Zhenhua and get the patent rights sorted out.
Who would have thought that those people from the steel rolling mill were actually plotting to seize the fruits of the machine factory's labor?
"These people are even more despicable than Yuan Shikai!" he angrily cursed.
Compared to him, Fatty Feng was much calmer. He told Section Chief Ma that no matter what happened in the future, he should not bypass him, the factory director, to go to the steel rolling mill.
"Since we started producing agricultural machinery, the relationship between our factory and the steel rolling mill has changed. Although we are still nominally an affiliated factory of the steel rolling mill, the higher-ups are already planning to make us independent."
"So, you can't be blamed for what happened today."
Yang Gangtie and Li Huaide orchestrated this trap today because they clearly knew that the machinery factory's days as an auxiliary plant of the steel rolling mill were numbered.
If the electric cup production line is left to the machinery factory, once the machinery factory becomes independent, the production line will have absolutely no connection with their steel rolling mill.
Old Ma smacked his lips. "Factory manager, why is everyone so eager to get this production line? Is foreign exchange really that important?"
Fatty Feng and Old Tai both rolled their eyes at him, and Old Feng even cursed, "I told you to go to school, but you insisted on raising pigs. As a government official, you don't even know what foreign exchange reserves mean?"
Although Zhang Chengfei didn't say anything, his expression showed considerable disdain.
Old Ma was furious: "I accept that they look down on me. But you're just a kid who hasn't even grown a beard yet, only graduated a few days ago, what right do you have to look down on me? I don't understand, but do you?"
Zhang Chengfei laughed: "Of course I understand."
He spoke eloquently, listing the importance of foreign exchange reserves one by one, and finally summarized:
"Therefore, foreign exchange reserves are the core strategic resource that our country has used to gain living space, establish an independent industrial system, safeguard national defense and security, and stabilize domestic society under conditions of heavy blockade and extreme difficulties."
This is also why the country is willing to lose money to produce some products that generate foreign exchange.
Because of the comparison with Lao Ma, Zhang Chengfei's words earned praise from both Fatty Feng and Lao Tai.
"You really know that?" Old Ma fell silent, his silence expressing his utter contempt and disgust for Zhang Chengfei's opportunistic behavior.
Dislike rating +35!
A few minutes later, Old Tai's wife arrived.
A few minutes later, Fatty Feng was also picked up by his wife. Watching the factory director's wife carrying the factory director's burly body and walking briskly, Zhang Chengfei was shocked.
Old Ma patted him on the shoulder: "Our factory director's wife is no ordinary person. She has been incredibly strong since she was a child. Her family slaughtered pigs when she was young, and she worked at the meat processing plant when she grew up, where she was specifically responsible for moving pork."
Zhang Chengfei glanced at him silently: "I'll tell the factory director tomorrow that you compared him to a pig, Section Chief..."
Old Ma was furious: "Someone like you would be a traitor in wartime, and I'd have to kill you!"
Zhang Chengfei shrugged: "If you want to shut me up, give me two ounces of tea leaves. I want top-grade Maojian."
Old Ma cursed and swore, "You brat, you have no sportsmanship! I only have enough of your fine tea leaves for two brewing sessions, but you dare to come up here and try to extort two ounces of good tea leaves from me!"
Zhang Chengfei didn't care what he said; he insisted that two ounces of tea leaves were absolutely necessary.
Old Ma reluctantly agreed in the end, but then said, "I'll buy you the tea, but you have to promise me you won't get too close to Li Huaide."
He saw it for himself today; Li Huaide was extremely enthusiastic towards Zhang Chengfei.
He suspected that the guy had designs on Zhang Chengfei.
Zhang Chengfei looked at him strangely: "Section Chief, what are you talking about? What do you mean by having feelings for me? Both Deputy Factory Director Li and I are men."
And another thing, the way Old Ma looked when he told me not to get too close to Li Huaide, it was like he was dealing with an incompetent husband! Ugh!
Old Ma had no idea what he was thinking. If he had, he would have kicked him.
He told Zhang Chengfei that he suspected that it was Li Huaide who instigated Lao Qian from the steel rolling mill to poach technical personnel from the machinery factory.
"You just joined the company and you've already repaired an imported lathe for the steel rolling mill. I suspect Old Li has his eye on you. You'd better be careful." Although he was just working undercover in the technical department of the machinery factory, Old Ma had already treated him as one of the people there.
Only after seeing Zhang Chengfei nod did he feel relieved enough to leave.
Zhang Chengfei asked curiously, "Section Chief, the factory director and Deputy Section Chief Tai's wife have come to pick them up. Where is your wife?"
Old Ma said gruffly, "I'm still a bachelor, where would I get a wife?"
Zhang Chengfei was shocked: "You're over thirty and still not married??"
Old Ma glared and yelled, "Does the country stipulate that anyone who isn't married by thirty should be executed?"
"No, I'm just curious. If you're not married, then will you still be Chu Nan?" Zhang Chengfei said with a mischievous grin.
Old Ma's face suddenly turned red, he muttered something, and turned away.
At 10:30 p.m., Zhang Chengfei encountered Sha Zhu, who was carrying Xu Damao back on his back, on his way back to Nanluoguxiang.
"Brother Zhu, why are you with Brother Da Mao?" he asked curiously.
"I was just about to go home when I saw this bastard lying drunk on the side of the road, fast asleep."
"It's almost the twelfth lunar month, and a grandfather can't just watch his grandson freeze to death, can he?" Sha Zhu said, while trying to lift Xu Damao up a bit.
"You know what, this guy looks skinny, but he's actually quite heavy to carry."
Zhang Chengfei walked shoulder to shoulder with him, occasionally helping him along.
Back at the courtyard house, the two escorted Xu Damao back to the Xu family home in the backyard.
Sha Zhu said with dissatisfaction, "Uncle Xu, you should also tell Xu Damao, if you can't hold your liquor, don't always try to show off. Why do you always get so drunk?"
Xu Fugui's tone carried a hint of disdain: "If you want to climb the ladder, you can't do without socializing at banquets. You, Sha Zhu, are too easygoing and don't understand this."
He Yuzhu didn't understand "go with the flow," but he vaguely sensed a hint of disdain in Xu Damao's words. He shoved Xu Damao into Xu Fugui's hands and turned to leave.
Xu Fugui didn't say anything. After he walked away, he turned to Zhang Chengfei and said with a smile, "Technician Zhang, thank you for taking Da Mao back today. I'll have him treat you to drinks later."
Zhang Chengfei said calmly, "Da Mao and I are brothers, so please don't stand on ceremony, nephew."
Xu Fugui: "..."
Back in the front yard room, Zhang Chengfei first replaced the coal briquettes (honeycomb briquettes). He didn't throw away the old coal ash; he just put it next to the stove, because it would be useful.
It can be used to clean up vomit on the ground when you're drunk, and it can also be used as a mat to prevent slipping when it snows.
After changing the stove, I picked up the tin kettle, washed my face with hot water, brushed my teeth, and soaked my feet.
Finally lying on the cold earthen bed, Zhang Chengfei's mind stirred, and he began to check the system panel.
P.S.: I'd really appreciate it if my godfathers would lend a hand and send some encouragement for more updates and monthly tickets. Thank you.