PDLP Chapter 19 What to do if the stall is too small?
Chapter 19 What to do if the stall is too small?
After the two sat down, Factory Director Feng looked at Zhang Chengfei with a smile: "Chengfei, I heard you solved a big problem for the steel rolling mill this morning!"
"The problem could have been found simply by disassembling the machine, but I just happen to know a little Russian." He looked at Section Chief Ma. "In the end, it all comes down to our section chief. If it weren't for him, the steel mill wouldn't have let a greenhorn like me disassemble imported machines."
Factory Director Feng waved his hand: "No matter what, this time we have demonstrated our factory's strength in front of the head office."
He then looked at Section Chief Ma: "Pass that blueprint down and let everyone see it."
Section Chief Ma handed the blueprints to Old Tian beside him, whose eyes were immediately drawn to what was on them: "This, this is..."
Several other technicians were drawn in and gathered around.
"This is a mini-tiller, a small agricultural machine designed by Zhang Chengfei. The drawings only show the overall structure, so it's currently just a concept... but..."
Factory Director Feng tapped the table: "But I've talked to Chengfei. Although there's only this one drawing at the moment, he has a complete concept of the machine's drive, internal structure, and power information, and he has already drawn a part of it."
Of course, Zhang Chengfei made up some of the drawings, but he remained unfazed by everyone's inquiring expressions: "I did draw a few assembly drawings, but overall, it's just the first step in a long march."
Section Chief Ma chimed in, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. If you can take the first step, you can take ten thousand steps."
Old Tian exclaimed in surprise, "Section Chief, you can actually quote classical Chinese poetry?"
Although the others didn't speak, their eyes were just like Lao Tian's.
Although the quote wasn't quite right, the fact that a leader with a military background and only a primary school education could use such a sentence was already enough to surprise them.
Old Ma was smug, thinking that memorizing sentences all night had really worked. He had already shocked these people, and it was only a matter of time before he shocked Sister Xie as well!
After teasing the leader, Lao Tian looked down at the blueprints with the others. Everyone asked questions from time to time, and Zhang Chengfei answered them in detail.
However, the audience stared at a single rendering of the mini-tiller for a full fifteen minutes.
Finally, Lao Tian spoke up: "As we all know, since the development of Beidahuang, almost all the large-scale agricultural machinery imported by the country has been used there."
Apart from some areas like eastern Henan Province, many places in inland China have scattered and small-scale farmland. Such land is simply unsuitable for large agricultural machinery such as rotary tillers.
These areas still rely mainly on manual labor for farming, and many farmers don't even know what rotary tillers or combine harvesters are.
Another technician, Xiao Ke, who joined the factory last year and had just been promoted to a permanent position, chimed in: "It's no use knowing. Even if an ordinary commune wanted to, it couldn't afford such a huge expense."
Although since the August Commune was established, rural areas have begun to promote infrastructure construction such as hydropower and dams, the Hongqi Commune under the jurisdiction of Sijiu City even spent a huge sum of money to buy an Dongfanghong tractor.
But poverty was a common problem in all communes.
Old Tian nodded: "The mini-tiller designed by Zhang is small in size, not limited by terrain, and cheaper than rotary tillers. It can be said that it is perfectly suited to most rural terrains in my country. But..."
He paused for a moment, then said, "I have to pour some cold water on this for everyone. First of all, this machine is mainly divided into several parts: diesel engine, gearbox, engine, transmission system, and working system."
"Given our current capabilities, the only thing our machinery factory can produce is rotary tiller blades."
Since their upgrade, their factory's main task has been producing mechanically driven moldboard plows, and they have a complete production line. With slight modifications to the production line, they can produce rotary tillers.
"We can't just give up because there are difficulties!" Xiao Ke's voice rose slightly.
"It's not that we're not going to do it, what I mean is that we still have a long way to go to manufacture such a mini-tiller. Engine, gearbox, transmission system—which of these doesn't require our own production line? Our factory only has a little over two hundred people; we simply can't handle such a project. And..."
Old Tian pushed up his glasses and looked at Zhang Chengfei. "Comrade Zhang Chengfei hasn't finished all the design drawings yet. Whether this project will work or not is still unknown."
"The development of a machine requires hundreds or thousands of blueprints, but what Comrade Zhang Chengfei presented was too flimsy."
His words silenced the previously high-spirited crowd.
Zhang Chengfei pondered for a moment: "Actually, we don't need to invest so much in building production lines in the early stages. We can just build one assembly line."
Section Chief Ma's eyes lit up: "An assembly line?"
Zhang Chengfei nodded: "Initially, we can apply to set up an assembly line, with the superior unit issuing the certificate, or helping to get engines, transmissions, etc. from other units. Later, based on market response, we can decide whether to invest in our own production line."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately began to discuss it.
Factory Director Feng took a sip of the tea his secretary brought him: "In the early days of the People's Republic of China, many factories in our country assembled parts from imported components."
Using parts from our own country's sister companies to assemble parts is a kind of progress.
His words immediately silenced the crowd's discussion.
Factory Director Feng cleared his throat: "Since everyone is silent, I hereby announce that the Hongxing Machinery Factory Mini Tiller R&D Team is officially established today."
"Comrade Ma Liugen was appointed as the head of the research and development team, responsible for overall coordination."
Zhang Chengfei and Tai Jinyan are appointed as deputy team leaders. You two, along with Ke Yisheng, will be responsible for the research and development work.
There were four people in total, three of whom were leaders? Zhang Chengfei was a little confused.
Old Tian raised his hand: "Factory Manager, I'd like to apply to join the R&D team."
Factory Director Feng glanced at him with some surprise.
Old Tian added, "Although I don't have a high level of education, I entered the maintenance class of a capitalist's factory at the age of fourteen. Later, I taught myself the technology, so my professional knowledge is solid."
Moreover, I feel that the R&D team needs someone like me—someone with a strong political background, from a humble background, and skilled in both technical and fundamental aspects.
Zhang Chengfei was puzzled as to why he said that. Xiao Ke, who was standing next to him, leaned over and whispered, "Tai's background as a deputy section chief isn't good. Old Tian is implying something..."
Zhang Chengfei immediately understood and gave Lao Tian a strange look.
Old Tian, however, seemed oblivious to the strangeness between him and Xiao Ke, and continued to tell the factory manager and section chief that if he joined the R&D team, he would definitely be able to provide a lot of help.
Ultimately, he received Director Feng's approval and successfully joined the R&D team.
The moment Lao Tian grinned, Zhang Chengfei felt, perhaps mistakenly, that Section Chief Ma's expression had become particularly meaningful.
This surprised Zhang Chengfei. Although he had only been in the factory for half a day, Lao Ma was, in his mind, a rough and uncultured man who didn't understand technology, was placed in an unsuitable position by the organization, and seemed a bit off.
But just now, Section Chief Ma's eyes were unusually sharp, as if he were a hawk eyeing its prey, ready to pounce and tear it apart at any moment.
The moment this thought popped into his head, Zhang Chengfei found it laughable. He shook his head, trying to banish the idea.