HPDBC Chapter 28 A newcomer has arrived!
Chapter 28 A newcomer has arrived!
Xiao Ke told Zhang Chengfei that their factory director was trying to make a big splash in the First Machinery Department by bringing an improved trenching machine.
Unexpectedly, when he took out the gift, he didn't receive the reward; instead, he was severely criticized.
"The higher-ups said that Xiao Rizi's side had already produced an exact replica and even applied for some kind of international patent!"
"Back then, the ministry even said that if we took this product to the Canton Fair, and those vindictive people found something to use against us, not only would we not be able to sell it, but we might even lose money!"
At this point, Xiao Ke asked, somewhat puzzled, "By the way, what exactly is that patent? If it's that powerful, won't we run into problems if we try to copy our Russian counterparts?"
Zhang Chengfei told him that my country had received a large amount of industrial technology and equipment assistance from Russia. These technology transfers were carried out through intergovernmental agreements and project cooperation, rather than based on market-based patent licensing or transfer.
"So, there won't be any problems with us improving Big Brother's machines. Unless someone beats us to it and applies for a patent for our stuff."
Just like the trencher that Da Liu and his team modified.
After answering Xiao Ke's question, he continued the previous topic: "So, someone in our technical department betrayed the country and became a spy?"
Xiao Ke kept his voice low: "Anyway, everyone was investigated back then, even the maintenance crew. The main suspects were..."
He pointed to Section Chief Tai's desk: "He came from a bad family, but after the investigation, he was actually released. Later, because of this incident, the section chief at the time was transferred, but he, the deputy section chief, was unharmed."
Recalling his experience of being jointly interrogated by the security department of the machinery factory, the security office of the steel rolling mill, and the Jiaodaokou Police Station, Xiao Ke still felt lingering fear.
Zhang Chengfei's eyes darted around: "After the original section chief was transferred, Section Chief Ma was parachuted in?"
"That's right. Our Section Chief Ma is a roughneck. He's a master of military campaigns, but he knows absolutely nothing about technical matters."
Xiao Ke was a chatterbox, and immediately recounted several of the jokes that Section Chief Ma had made because of his lack of technical knowledge after arriving at the technical department.
After that, he added, "But precisely because he doesn't understand technology, Deputy Team Leader Tai's influence in our department has actually increased compared to before."
"So, let's just leave that espionage case out of the blue?" Zhang Chengfei steered the conversation back to the topic.
Xiao Ke said, "Who knows? Anyway, it just fizzled out later."
Was it just dropped? Zhang Chengfei gave him a strange look, sighing that a chatterbox really wasn't a deep thinker.
How could something involving espionage and the sale of agricultural machinery secrets possibly be left unresolved?
Although, according to Xiao Ke, the machine designed by Da Liu was merely a copy and improvement, not a research and development project, and it did not cause any very serious consequences.
But if the spy isn't eliminated, who can guarantee that he won't cause even more serious consequences?
Thinking of this, Zhang Chengfei couldn't help but look at Section Chief Tai's desk again.
This person is said to have studied abroad, which is indeed a stain on his background in this era that values family background.
But then Section Chief Ma assigned him to the project team and made him the deputy team leader. Was this a sign of trust, or a trap?
At 8:00 AM sharp, Section Chief Tai arrived at the office as the bell rang.
He simply nodded in response to Xiao Ke and Zhang Chengfei's enthusiastic greetings, then lowered his head to begin handling the work he was responsible for.
Seeing this, Zhang Chengfei and Xiao Ke stopped talking and began to focus on their work.
……
The morning flew by. Zhang Chengfei had been drawing blueprints for several hours and felt like his floaters were about to flare up.
As soon as the get off work bell rang, he rushed to the steel rolling mill's canteen with lightning speed. Because he ran fast enough, he beat Xu Damao to the punch and became the first one, earning 5 points of dislike.
Five points is not a small amount; every little bit counts, and Zhang Chengfei doesn't mind.
"Brother Zhu, two big white steamed buns, a stewed radish, a scrambled egg, and a hot and sour soup." Zhang Chengfei handed over the lunchbox.
He Yuzhu served Zhang Chengfei a large spoonful of vegetables and then asked his apprentice Ma Hua to pick up a large steamed bun for him.
As he handed the lunchbox back, he chuckled, "You eat meat with every meal, kid! You're living like Big Brother Bear!"
Zhang Chengfei laughed and said, "This is nothing! When our country becomes rich and powerful, we can all eat meat whenever we want and eggs whenever we want."
I'm afraid that by then, even if you were given meat, you wouldn't want to eat it.
"Why don't you want to?" Xu Damao peeked out from behind.
"We'll get tired of eating it. By then, meat won't be worth much, but wild vegetables will be." Zhang Chengfei said, walking out of the group.
Behind him, the crowd murmured amongst themselves. Some said, "Will anyone ever get tired of eating meat?" Others said, "What nonsense! Wild vegetables are everywhere, they're worthless!"
Xu Damao chuckled, "You're all talk and no action, always just bluffing with your brothers."
Zhang Chengfei smiled noncommittally, waved his hand, and found a table to sit down.
The moment his bottom touched the stool, a fat man, no less chubby than Liu Haizhong, and a girl with double braids sat down next to him.
"Brother, are you Zhang Chengfei, the new technician at the machine factory?" the fat man asked.
Zhang Chengfei nodded.
The girl with twin braids generously extended her hand: "Let me introduce myself. My name is Nie Lan, and I graduated from Baocheng Institute of Technology. I was assigned to the technical department of the machinery factory, and today is my first day reporting for duty."
"Zhang Chengfei, eighteen years old. Graduated from the Mechanical Engineering College of Beijing." Zhang Chengfei also extended his hand.
After the two of them finished introducing themselves, the fat man couldn't wait to introduce himself as well: "Me? My name is Zhao Xu. I dropped out of junior high school, and well, I graduated. I was assigned to this factory as an intern technician."
Before Zhang Chengfei and Nie Lan could speak, he suddenly leaned closer to Zhang Chengfei and said, "Brother, I heard you got some kind of machine yesterday and showed it off to Lao Feng?"
"There are no outsiders here. Tell us, was that blueprint of yours deliberately left out so that Lao Feng would see it and then he could get some benefits from it?"
That was a bit rude of me to say.
Nie Lan subtly moved aside and rebuked, "Comrade Zhao Xu, what are you saying? Comrade Zhang Chengfei is devoted to the people; how could he do such a thing?"
Zhao Xu pursed his lips: "Taking benefits and having a passion for serving the people are not mutually exclusive."
"Just like the factory workers, they go to work to earn money, but also to build our country. It's a win-win situation, do you understand?"
This chubby kid is quite interesting to talk to. Zhang Chengfei watched him with great interest.
Nie Lan was even angrier: "What are you saying? Comrade Zhang Chengfei couldn't possibly be that kind of person!"
The chubby boy exclaimed, "You just exchanged a couple of words with Zhang Chengfei, right? How do you know he's not that kind of person?"
"Of course I know! Comrade Zhang Chengfei looks upright and dignified, he looks like a good comrade." After Nie Lan finished speaking, she suddenly realized what she had said and her face turned red.