BSI Chapter 180 Year-End Summary, Blueprint Drawn
Chapter 180 Year-End Summary, Blueprint Drawn
On the winter solstice of 1984, Zhangcheng enjoyed a rare clear day. The morning mist hadn't yet dissipated, but the factory area of Chenqing Hardware Manufacturing Joint Venture was already bustling with activity. As soon as the gatekeeper, Old Zhang, opened the iron gate, Accountant Xiao Li rushed in carrying a stack of ledgers. Snowflakes still clung to her cotton hat, and she called out, her breath steaming in the air, "Uncle Zhang, are the tables and chairs for today's summary meeting all set up? Director Lin said it will start promptly at 8:30!"
Old Zhang smiled and nodded, his gaze sweeping over the new changes in the factory area—beside the formerly low-rise brick and wood-structured factory buildings, two brand-new red-brick workshops had sprung up, with wooden signs reading "Precision Forging Workshop" hanging at the entrance; on the newly paved cement road in the yard, several workers were unloading newly arrived machine tools, the words "Shenyang Machine Tool Factory" prominently displayed on the trucks. He rubbed his ears, which were red from the cold, and recalled that three years ago this was still an abandoned old factory, and couldn't help but sigh, "Time flies so fast, our factory has really changed a lot!"
In the conference room on the second floor of the office building, sunlight streamed through the glass windows onto a long wooden table, on which were neatly arranged enamel mugs, notebooks, and rows of meticulously printed reports. Lin Chen stood by the window, holding a yellowed blueprint in his hand. It was the first set of blueprints for wear-resistant plowshare parts drawn when the company started in 1978. The edges were worn and curled, and Su Qing's cost accounting notes in red pen were still on it.
"What are you thinking about?" Su Qing walked in carrying two cups of hot tea, handing one to him. "I just went to the workshop. Liu Guangtian and the others are debugging the new machine tool. They said they're trying to get the third production line up before the New Year. Also, Xiao Chen from the foreign trade department just called. The New Year's gift box that Boss Chen sent from Hong Kong has arrived. It contains the imported measuring instrument you mentioned last time."
Lin Chen took the teacup, the warmth spreading from his fingertips. He watched the workers entering the factory through the window, some wearing brand-new work clothes, some carrying children, all with smiles on their faces. "It reminds me of when we first started the business," he said softly. "Back then, there were only eight of us, working overtime in a drafty factory. You used an abacus to calculate costs, and Uncle Wang and the others forged parts by hand. Who would have thought that we would have more than fifty workers now, with annual sales exceeding two million?"
Su Qing followed his gaze, a smile playing on her lips. "Back then, you said you'd make sure everyone who worked with us had enough to eat and wear. Now, not only have you achieved that, but you've also provided staff dormitories. Last month's statistics showed that our factory's average worker's wage was 30% higher than other hardware factories in Zhangcheng, and three skilled workers even bought houses in the city with their bonuses." She flipped through the reports in her hand. "By the way, the year-end net profit is in. After deducting equipment investment and bonuses, there's still 350,000 left. According to the previous plan, 200,000 will be set aside as R&D funds, and 150,000 will be invested in the construction of the new factory area?"
Lin Chen nodded, about to speak, when a commotion erupted at the door. Liu Guangtian pushed a wheelchair in; sitting in it was Uncle Wang, the veteran technician. Uncle Wang had injured his leg in the workshop last year, and Lin Chen had specially arranged for handrails to be installed and a doctor to visit regularly. "Director Lin, Manager Su, we're late!" Liu Guangtian's voice boomed. "We just finished debugging the new machine tool with Uncle Wang, and the scrap rate is below 1.5%, even lower than expected!"
Uncle Wang sat upright in his wheelchair, holding a badly worn wrench in his hand: "This is the first wear-resistant wrench our factory made. I've kept it as a memento. Now with fully automatic machine tools, the precision of our parts is even higher than imported ones. Last time, a customer from Shanghai saw the sample and immediately signed an order for 100,000 yuan worth!"
The conference room gradually filled up. Just after eight o'clock, Su Qing tapped on the enamel mug: "Everyone, please be quiet. The Chenqing Hardware 1984 Annual Summary Meeting is now beginning. First, I will report on this year's business performance." She opened the report, her clear voice echoing in the conference room, "This year, our factory produced a total of 120,000 sets of hardware accessories, of which 70,000 sets were sold domestically and 50,000 sets were exported, covering 18 provinces in China and 6 Southeast Asian countries. Annual sales reached 218 million yuan, an increase of 120% over last year; net profit was 520,000 yuan, and after deducting equipment upgrades and employee benefits, the surplus was 350,000 yuan."
As soon as he finished speaking, enthusiastic applause erupted in the conference room. Uncle Wang, the veteran technician, excitedly patted the armrest of his wheelchair: "I used to work in a state-owned factory for twenty years, and my highest annual salary was only 1,200 yuan. This year, I got 2,500 yuan at our factory, plus winter clothes and cured meat. Life is getting better and better!"
Su Qing smiled and waited for the applause to subside before continuing, "This success is inseparable from everyone's hard work, especially the colleagues in the technical department. This year, their fully automatic forging machine tool obtained a national utility model patent, tripling our production efficiency. And Xiao Chen from the sales department traveled to more than a dozen provinces in the south, signing five long-term cooperative clients. To thank everyone for their contributions, the factory has decided to double this year's year-end bonus. In addition, starting next year, we will implement a paid annual leave system. Employees who have worked for a full year will receive fifteen days of annual leave, and there will also be a children's education subsidy: 200 yuan per year for those admitted to high school, and 500 yuan per year for those admitted to university!"
The meeting room erupted in excitement. Young technician Li stood up excitedly, "Really? Manager Su, my sister's taking the college entrance exam next year! If she gets in, she'll get a subsidy!" After receiving confirmation from Su Qing, he excitedly high-fived his colleague. In the corner, warehouse manager Zhao's eyes reddened. He had three children, the eldest starting high school next year; this subsidy was a godsend for him.
Once everyone had calmed down, Lin Chen stood up, holding the old blueprint in his hand: "The reports in your hands record our achievements, but this blueprint records our original aspirations. In 1978, we started our business with 800 yuan in seed money, relying on our dedication to technology and mutual trust. Now we have become a benchmark in the southern hardware industry, but this is not the end, but a new beginning."
He walked to the factory layout map hanging on the wall and circled an empty space with a red pen: "Here, we will build a provincial-level R&D center. Construction will begin next spring. We will introduce advanced testing equipment from abroad and recruit a group of college graduates to specialize in the research and development of high-end hardware accessories. Within three years, we will increase the proportion of R&D investment to 15%, so that Chenqing's technology can truly lead the country."
Someone in the crowd whispered, "Director Lin, we're doing quite well with our agricultural tool parts and export orders right now. Isn't there a risk in developing high-end products?"
Lin Chen looked at the worker who had spoken; it was Xiao Zhou, a recent vocational school graduate responsible for operating the machine tools. "There are risks, but even greater opportunities," he explained. "The reform and opening-up policies are getting better and better. The automotive and home appliance industries are developing rapidly, and the demand for precision hardware parts is increasing. If we don't plan ahead, it will be too late to transform once the market is saturated." He took out a sample of an automotive wheel bearing from his drawer. "This was brought back from abroad by a friend. The precision requirements are ten times that of the parts we currently produce. Within five years, we must master this technology, enter the automotive parts market, and have Chenqing's products installed in domestically produced cars, driving all over the country!"
Liu Guangtian stood up, holding a thick technical manual in his hand: "Director Lin is right! Guangfu and I have been researching the forging process of automotive bearings for the past six months, and we've already drawn up preliminary blueprints. As soon as the R&D center is built, we can start testing immediately. Back in my hometown steel mill, I never dreamed we could manufacture such high-end products. Now, with Director Lin, I believe we can definitely succeed!"
Applause erupted in the conference room again, this time louder and more resolute than before. Lin Chen looked at the familiar faces before him: veteran technicians who had started the business with him, recent graduates, and Liu Guangtian, the brother who had come from his hometown to join him. His heart was filled with emotion. He recalled the difficult years in the courtyard house of his previous life, the cold night after his rebirth when he activated the system, and the countless all-nighters he and Su Qing had spent in the workshop. It was these experiences that made him cherish everything he had now even more.
After the debriefing meeting, the workers left one after another. Some went to the workshop to continue debugging the equipment, while others gathered in small groups to discuss how to use their year-end bonuses. Liu Guangtian pushed Uncle Wang to Lin Chen, holding an application report in his hand: "Director Lin, this is the production line renovation application that Guangfu and I wrote. We want to convert the remaining old-fashioned machine tools into semi-automatic ones, so that the entire workshop can be fully automated by next spring."
Lin Chen took the report, which detailed the renovation plan and budget in neat handwriting and included a simple diagram. "I think it's feasible," he said, signing it off on the spot. "The funding will come from the R&D budget, and if that's not enough, we'll supplement it from profits. Also, after the New Year, I plan to send you to the Shanghai Machine Tool Factory to learn from their experience in managing automated production lines."
Uncle Wang, holding Lin Chen's hand excitedly, said, "Director Lin, although my legs are weak, I can still read blueprints and calculate data. After the R&D center is completed, I want to stay in the technical department to help the younger generation ensure quality. We can't let Chenqing's reputation be ruined by quality issues!"
Lin Chen nodded vigorously: "Uncle Wang, you are a hero of our factory, and you must have a place in the R&D center. When spring comes, I will have someone convert the office in the R&D center to be barrier-free, and I will also assign you an assistant, so you can focus on providing technical guidance."
After everyone had left, Su Qing walked up to Lin Chen and handed him a series of neatly written letters: "These are from our hometown, written by He Yushui. They say the courtyard house is going to undergo protective renovations, Qin Huairu's sewing shop has expanded, and she's hired two apprentices. Jia Geng has also entered the steel rolling mill, learning a trade from Liu Guangfu's former master. He's no longer the mischievous child he used to be."
Lin Chen opened the letter. He Yushui's handwriting was clear and strong. It described in detail the changes in the courtyard house: Yi Zhonghai was living alone in the suburbs after his release from prison, and the neighborhood committee had arranged for him to receive a minimum living allowance; after Liu Haizhong suffered a stroke, the Liu brothers took turns caring for him, and his condition had stabilized considerably; Qin Huairu's sewing shop was doing very well, and she was even named a "model entrepreneur" by the neighborhood committee. At the end of the letter, He Yushui said that everyone missed him and hoped that he would have time to come back to Beijing to visit.
"Let's go back to Beijing after the R&D center breaks ground." Lin Chen folded the letter and put it in his pocket. "Let's see our old neighbors in the courtyard and let the children know where we came from." He walked to the window, where the setting sun was slowly sinking, turning the factory rooftops golden. In the newly built workshop, the faint roar of machine tools could be heard—the rhythm of Chenqing Hardware, and the rhythm of this era.
Su Qing walked to his side, and they looked out the window together. "Next year, our foreign trade orders will increase by another 30%, and Boss Chen even said he'd help us expand into the European market. Once the R&D center is completed, we'll be able to produce high-end components that meet European standards." She paused, then smiled and said, "By the way, last time I went to a vocational school to recruit, the principal said he wanted to cooperate with us to set up a hardware processing-oriented class. We'll provide the teachers and equipment, and the school will be responsible for enrollment. After graduation, they can come directly to work in our factory, which will solve our problem of skilled workers."
Lin Chen's eyes lit up: "That's a great idea! I'll talk to the principal tomorrow. We need to not only set up special classes, but also establish scholarships to support talented students from disadvantaged families. Our generation turned our lives around through technology, and the next generation needs to rely on technology to establish themselves." He remembered the points displayed on the system panel, enough to exchange for several sets of advanced technical blueprints. Once the R&D center was built, these technologies could be transformed into actual products.
As night deepened, the streetlights in the factory area gradually lit up, like strings of golden lanterns. Lin Chen and Su Qing walked downstairs. The workshop was still brightly lit. Liu Guangtian was leading the workers in debugging a new machine tool, Xiao Zhou was diligently recording parameters in a notebook, and Uncle Wang, sitting in a wheelchair, was instructing the younger workers on how to operate it. Seeing this scene, Lin Chen recalled the ultimate mission given to him by the system when he was reborn—"Establish yourself through technology, and pass on goodwill." He knew that he was gradually achieving this goal.
"Let's go home and make dumplings for the kids," Su Qing said softly, linking her arm with his.
Lin Chen nodded, glancing back at the brightly lit factory area, his heart filled with determination. From a small side room in a traditional courtyard house to a hardware factory in the south, from hand forging to fully automated production, he had changed his own destiny with technology, leading a group of people who trusted him onto the road to wealth. And he knew that this was just the beginning. A provincial-level R&D center, an auto parts market, European export orders… many more goals awaited him, many more dreams awaited him to pursue.
In the night, the signboard of Chenqing Hardware Manufacturing Joint Venture stood out prominently under the lights, as if foreshadowing a bright future for the company. Lin Chen held Su Qing's hand and walked step by step towards their home outside the factory, his steps steady and powerful. His journey in the business world had just begun, but he was already well-prepared.