Chapter 3: A Clear Understanding

“All right, it's getting late. I suggest we all head to the canteen for a meal, then come back and figure out if there’s any way to resolve this issue.” In the end, it was Mu Aijun who broke the stalemate.

Wang Youchang had wanted to say something, but seeing his team from the technical department standing there with drooping heads and listless faces, he could only nod silently and agree to Mu Aijun’s proposal.

Ma Jian, quick on the uptake, immediately volunteered to go ahead and make arrangements at the canteen.

Just as the group was quietly discussing and preparing to set out for the canteen, someone with sharp eyes spotted Zhao Guoyang sprinting towards them from outside the workshop.

Mu Aijun also noticed the young man who had recently acted so bravely, and, with a hint of surprise, said, “Oh, Xiao Zhao is back so soon? Shouldn’t he still be at the hospital?”

“Director, Deputy Director!” Gasping for breath, Zhao Guoyang wiped the sweat from his brow and greeted them.

“Xiao Zhao, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you resting in the hospital?” Despite his worries about the plant, Mu Aijun still asked with concern.

Wang Youchang nodded in agreement, “That’s right, Xiao Zhao. We’ve all heard about your act of bravery—well done, you’ve made us in the technical department proud.”

“But your health is the foundation of everything. You should rest. There’s nothing urgent at the moment, so there’s no need to rush back to work.”

Hearing the two directors’ words, Zhao Guoyang quickly shook his head. “Director, Deputy Director, I’m fine now. The doctor just approved my discharge from the hospital.”

“I heard there was a problem with the motorcycle frames we’re supplying to Siyang Group and thought I’d come to see if there was anything I could do to help.”

Wang Youchang sighed. “Xiao Zhao, it’s thoughtful of you. But this isn’t the kind of problem that can be solved with a few words…”

“That’s right. The products developed by our technical department actually have issues like ‘incomplete welds’ and ‘porosity’. That’s not something you can fix just by talking.” Hu, the head of the sales department, interjected in a tone that was neither friendly nor hostile.

“You…” Wang Youchang was stifled with annoyance but couldn’t lose his temper; he could only snort and stride away.

In the argument earlier between Wang Youchang and Ma Jian, some harsh words had been exchanged, offending those in the sales department. Now, given the chance, Hu was merely returning the favor. It wasn’t yet a time when rank could silence dissent.

Mu Aijun could only sigh at the situation. He patted Zhao Guoyang on the shoulder. “Xiao Zhao, come eat with us first. You and the technical team will have a busy evening ahead of you.”

“No need, Director. I’ve already eaten at the hospital; I’m not hungry now.” Zhao Guoyang waved his hands.

“You go ahead. I’ll stay here and take a look at the frame, see if there’s any way to solve the problems the sales department just mentioned.”

Seeing Zhao Guoyang’s determination not to eat, Mu Aijun nodded and left with the others.

To be honest, he hadn’t taken Zhao Guoyang’s words to heart. In his view, the young man was of good character and a promising technician, but it was unrealistic to expect him to solve problems that had stumped even the plant’s veterans.

After everyone had left, Zhao Guoyang stepped forward, squatted down, and began to examine the motorcycle frame in detail.

This frame had just come off the line; it had not yet been polished or coated. In this state, it was easier to spot any issues.

Zhao Guoyang widened his eyes, scrutinizing every inch of the frame, inside and out, top to bottom. Before long, he had a pretty good idea of the problem.

In less than fifteen minutes, Mu Aijun and the others, having hastily filled their stomachs, returned to the workshop.

Seeing Zhao Guoyang squatting in front of the frame, chin in hand, deep in thought, Wang Youchang’s interest was piqued.

As the deputy director in charge of the technical department, he favored Zhao Guoyang, the recent university graduate. It wasn’t that Zhao Guoyang had already proven himself, but rather, he was humble, eager to learn, and frequently sought advice from the workshop veterans—without the airs common among young graduates.

Such conduct was rare among university graduates. In the early nineties, unlike in the twenty-first century, college students were considered the elite, many destined to become leading figures in various fields. For Zhao Guoyang to lower himself like this was, in Wang Youchang’s eyes, quite remarkable.

“Well, Xiao Zhao, out of the hospital so soon! I was planning to visit our hero this evening, but you didn’t even give me the chance,” Ma Jian joked, having not seen Zhao Guoyang earlier.

“Thank you for your concern, Director Ma!” Zhao Guoyang quickly stood and greeted Ma Jian politely, then turned to Wang Youchang.

“Deputy Director Wang, while you were eating, I carefully examined the frame. There are indeed some issues with the workmanship…”

“Oh, Xiao Zhao, you, a fresh graduate, think you can spot the flaws in this frame?” Before Wang Youchang could speak, Ma Jian interjected.

“Go ahead, let’s hear your thoughts,” Wang Youchang glanced at Ma Jian with mild irritation and encouraged Zhao Guoyang.

Zhao Guoyang nodded modestly. “The problems with this frame are obvious. Director Wang, if you look at the surface, you’ll see clear traces of oxidation and rust. When you weld on such material, the quality is bound to suffer. So it’s understandable that Siyang Group says our product develops pores after coating.”

“Hmph, young people don’t know the limits of their knowledge—‘it’s understandable’, you say?” A senior technician muttered with some dissatisfaction. “How many domestic factories can produce perfect welds? They all have some issues. A few pores—how much can they really affect the quality?”

“I think it’s just an excuse from Siyang Group. Frankly, they never intended to cooperate with us and are just looking for a reason to brush us off!”

“What are you trying to say, Ermao? Are you suggesting all the hard work Director Ma put into securing this contract in Qizhou was for nothing?” Hu from the sales department immediately protested.

“I didn’t say that!” Ermao glanced nervously at Ma Jian’s darkening face and fell silent.

The man called “Ermao” was Hua Guosheng, a mainstay of the technical department and a long-time employee. He had joined the plant straight out of technical school and had worked in every part of the factory. Though not highly educated, he was technically proficient. He had always looked down on the sales department, seeing them as nothing but smooth talkers, so his words often had a sharp edge.