Chapter 92: Glory Machinery Plant
The little workshop is finally up and running. Friends, please support it generously. If you like it, don’t forget to add it to your favorites. If you think it’s good, please cast a vote. If you want to discuss it, you can start a thread or join the readers’ group. You can also follow my public account: yinweizhe1980. There will be surprises waiting for you! Rewards and tips—every author wants them, of course, but give whatever you like. Any amount is deeply appreciated!
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Lying in bed, Zhao Guoyang was quietly pondering the question of Xiangyang Machinery Factory’s transformation.
Over lunch today with Liao Jingsheng, he could tell that Factory Director Liao was very tempted by his proposal.
Ning Xiaohong was someone with technical foundations, stubborn, hardworking, and eager to learn. If Xiangyang Machinery Factory truly decided to open up a mold-making line of work, then whether it was his own little workshop or Hongda Machinery Factory, the chances of future cooperation with them would increase greatly.
The reason Zhao Guoyang had suggested to Liao Jingsheng that Xiangyang Machinery Factory try changing its line of business was not because he feared the other side would steal Hongda Machinery Factory’s business. Rather, he understood the principle that one strong man needs three helpers.
He knew that if he wanted to realize his dream of building a powerful industrial nation, it would have to depend on the joint efforts of countless people, not on a lone fighter struggling by himself.
In Zhao Guoyang’s view, there was basically no need to worry about the Hongda Machinery Factory side.
With how highly Factory Directors Mu, Wang, and Ma valued him, he would definitely have a place there in the future. At the very least, he would certainly be able to make the technical decisions.
Once the factory’s performance improved, profits rose, and all kinds of technical conditions matured, Zhao Guoyang would definitely slowly realize his ideals at Hongda Machinery Factory and move into large-scale machinery manufacturing.
After all, things like vehicle frames were still too trivial for him.
In Zhao Guoyang’s grand plan, if Hongda Machinery Factory was his main combat force for realizing his dream, then his little workshop would be the logistics force, while Xiangyang Machinery Factory had a very good chance of becoming his strategic support force.
Of course, ideals were beautiful, but Zhao Guoyang also knew that the road still had to be walked step by step. If he took too big a stride, he’d end up tearing himself apart.
Tracing the outline of his ambitions, Zhao Guoyang drifted into sleep in a daze...
The next morning, before daylight had fully come, Zhao Guoyang got up early to wash and tidy himself. Hearing the movement in the yard, He Huifen came out with a coat draped over her shoulders.
"Guoyang? Why are you up so early? Why not sleep a little longer?" He Huifen asked with concern.
"Mom, I need to go to Black Horse Township for a bit. I’ve got something to do with Monkey. Don’t worry about me," Zhao Guoyang replied with a smile as he brushed his teeth.
"Monkey? You mean Sun Ning, your high school classmate?" He Huifen thought for a moment and asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Yes, yes, that’s him!" Zhao Guoyang had already finished washing up. He waved to his mother and pushed the bicycle by the wall out the gate.
"Guoyang, aren’t you going to eat breakfast?" He Huifen asked anxiously.
"I’m not eating. I’ll buy something on the road," Zhao Guoyang said without turning back as he left.
Only after setting out did Zhao Guoyang realize he had miscalculated.
In this day and age, there were far too few breakfast stalls. Even when there were places selling sesame cakes, soy milk, and fried dough sticks, they were not along his route. Helplessly, Zhao Guoyang could only rub his growling stomach and keep his head down as he hurried on.
When he reached Monkey’s home, that fellow was sitting in the yard drinking porridge. Seeing Zhao Guoyang arrive, Monkey quickly set down his bowl and came out to greet him.
Noticing that there was still steaming white porridge in the pot, Zhao Guoyang said nothing at all, simply ladling himself a bowl and drinking it down.
After he finished, he felt warmth spread through his whole body. Monkey, standing nearby, stared for a moment, then stammered, "Guoyang... you didn’t eat breakfast, did you? Should I go boil two eggs for you?"
"Forget it, no need to trouble yourself. I’m full now," Zhao Guoyang said with a wave of his hand.
"Come on, let’s hurry to your village committee and have them get the electricity hooked up for us."
Just as Zhao Guoyang was about to set off, Monkey stopped him with a grin. "Guoyang, no need to go. Last night, Sun Laogen already had his second son take care of the electricity matter."
"He also said the electricity charge would be collected at the lowest rate set by the township, with no extra fees added."
"Oh? That good a deal?" Zhao Guoyang was slightly taken aback, but after a moment’s thought, he quickly understood.
Looking at Monkey, whose face was full of smiles, he could not help but clap him hard on the shoulder and say, "Not bad, not bad. You deserve credit for this, Monkey. With that Brother Ergazi around, our little workshop will surely have a smooth road ahead in the village."
"Exactly!" Monkey said proudly.
"Guoyang, I didn’t have the idea of asking Ergazi to help us on a whim yesterday. I actually know this guy pretty well. He’s at least a proper high school graduate, educated and capable. He’s just never found the right job for himself."
Hearing this, Zhao Guoyang gave an "mm" and said, "For something this small, you, as deputy general manager, can make the call yourself."
"Deputy general manager?" Monkey stared blankly at Zhao Guoyang.
"Nonsense!" Zhao Guoyang shot him an irritated glance.
"You’d better recognize your own identity properly. You are one of the three board members of our 'Glory Machinery Factory'—personally appointed by me, the chairman. You’re the deputy general manager in charge of production supervision. From now on, when you go out, hold your head high. Don’t go around sounding weak and timid when you speak all day."
Zhao Guoyang’s words sent Monkey’s blood surging, and he was almost delirious with joy.
Their "Glory Machinery Factory" had already been successfully registered with the industry and commerce bureau and the tax bureau. Zhao Guoyang was indeed listed as the person in charge, and among the shareholders were Sun Ning and another investor, Bai Rou.
But Monkey never imagined that Zhao Guoyang would actually appoint him to a position like deputy general manager. He had thought that being made production section chief would already be quite good.
Now that Zhao Guoyang thought so highly of him and directly gave him the title of deputy general manager, how could Monkey not be deeply moved and grateful?
One had to know that in this era, the title of deputy general manager could intimidate many people. It was absolutely a symbol of status.
While Monkey was still excited, Zhao Guoyang had already found in the yard the wire run from the village transformer and a three-phase socket.
He connected the wire to the socket, then plugged the die-casting machine into it.
After turning the machine on, a deep rumbling sound instantly came from inside the die-casting machine. Seeing the equipment running at high speed, Zhao Guoyang forcefully waved his arm at Monkey, looking utterly exhilarated.
"Guoyang, the machine’s started up. What do we do next?" Monkey asked, scratching his head as he came over.
Zhao Guoyang pointed to the materials piled nearby and replied, "Next, of course, we take those spring steels and process them into finished parts according to the mold I drew before."
"Oh, right—you went to the mold factory and had those molds made, didn’t you? Where are they? Hurry up and bring them over," Zhao Guoyang pressed.
At that, Monkey slapped his forehead and said, "Right, making this thing needs molds. Look at my memory. Guoyang, wait here, I’ll go get them from the house right now..."