Chapter 655: Rewarding according to merit

After another ten minutes, as Master Gu put the final stroke on the sketch, the decoration plan for Li Chongguang's home was finally finalized.

From the color of the walls to the style of the furniture, to the location of the flower beds in the yard, everything is planned clearly.

Li Chongguang looked at the plan and clapped his hands in satisfaction. "Great, let's do it this way. Thank you both for your hard work."

Zhou Yimin stood up and stretched his legs, which were numb from squatting. "It's good that the plan is finalized. Now it all depends on the master's craftsmanship."

At this moment, Li Chongguang noticed that Master Gu was looking at the plan, his lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed his words back, with a hint of hesitation on his face.

Li Chongguang was a little puzzled. He was present during the entire discussion and the plan was quite reasonable. He didn't find any problems.

He couldn't help but ask, "Master Gu, is there something wrong with this decoration plan? If there is anything inappropriate, let's change it."

If there is a problem, it must be solved. Otherwise, if you wait until the renovation begins to raise it, the cost of solving it will be a lot.

When Master Gu was asked this, he quickly waved his hands, a slightly embarrassed look on his face. "No, no, Chief Li, this plan is fine, it's great. I just... I just have an unwelcome request."

Li Chongguang saw this and said gently, "Master Gu, please feel free to tell me what you want to say. I will do my best as long as I can do it."

Master Gu rubbed his hands together and lowered his voice, "It's like this. I want to ask, can the wages for these renovations be…can they be exchanged for food instead of cash?"

Li Chongguang and Zhou Yimin were stunned when these words came out. Li Chongguang's smile slowly froze, and his heart skipped a beat - how could he have forgotten this?

The ration on the family food card is just enough to feed my wife, children and elderly mother. Last month, the child fell ill, and in order to supplement his nutrition, I used a lot of extra food coupons to exchange for some meat. Now the rice in the jar is only enough to last until the end of the month. How can I have extra food to exchange for wages?

He looked at Master Gu's haggard face and the earnestness in his eyes, and felt like something was pulling at his heart.

If I refuse, I really can’t say it since Master Gu’s family is about to run out of food.

Agree to it. You really don’t have enough food at home, and you can’t let your wife, children and the elderly starve.

Li Chongguang pursed his lips tightly, his fingers unconsciously stroking the seam of his trousers. He was caught in a dilemma, with beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.

Master Gu saw that he hadn't spoken for a long time, and the expectation on his face gradually turned into disappointment. He stammered, "Chief Li, if it's inconvenient, forget it. Just pretend I didn't say anything..."

"No, Master Gu," Li Chongguang spoke quickly, his voice a little hoarse.

"It's just...it's just that my family really doesn't have any extra food. Please let me think of a solution."

He suddenly raised his head and his eyes fell on Zhou Yimin, with obvious request in his eyes.

Among the people he knew, Zhou Yimin was the most quick-witted and had extensive connections, so he might be able to find a solution.

Zhou Yimin caught the plea for help in his eyes and had already made a plan in mind.

He stepped forward, patted Li Chongguang on the shoulder, and said to Master Gu, "Master Gu, don't worry. Section Chief Li's family is indeed in trouble, but I'll take care of the food issue. I can only get some negotiated grain, which is a bit expensive, but it will eventually make up the difference."

Zhou Yimin can buy food cheaper than on the market, but he should do less of this kind of thing, and he is not very familiar with Master Gu.

So it's not worth the risk.

Upon hearing this, Master Gu's eyes lit up instantly and he excitedly shook Zhou Yimin's hand: "Yimin, thank you so much! You really saved our whole family!"

Li Chongguang also breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Zhou Yimin gratefully: "Yimin, this time it is really thanks to you."

Zhou Yimin smiled and said, "We're all colleagues, so it's a bit awkward to say that. Master Gu, just focus on your work. I'll contact you about the food and make sure it won't be delayed for you."

Li Chongguang quickly turned around and went back into the house. He came out a short while later and said to Master Gu with an apologetic look on his face, "Master Gu, I've told my family. You can go ahead and do the work without worry. If you need any help or need to go in or out when no one is home, just tell my wife."

He also gave some specific instructions about protecting the belongings at home, and Master Gu agreed to all of them.

Master Gu put the renovation plan in his pocket, as if it were a treasure, and said anxiously, "Then I'll go back and call two apprentices to move all the stuff over here, and try to start work and finish it as soon as possible."

He was thinking about food and just wanted to finish the work as soon as possible so that his family could have enough food to eat.

"Don't worry, pay attention to safety and quality," Li Chongguang said quickly. Master Gu smiled and responded, then turned and walked away quickly, his steps light as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

Li Chongguang watched Master Gu hurriedly leave, then turned to look at Zhou Yimin: "Yimin, let's hurry to the factory and don't delay the important work."

Zhou Yimin nodded, and the two walked out of the yard side by side.

When locking the door, Li Chongguang couldn't help but look back at his yard, as if he could already see what it would look like after decoration, and his heart was full of anticipation.

One of them rode a bicycle and the other drove a motorcycle, rushing towards the steel plant.

There were gradually more and more pedestrians on the road, most of them were workers rushing to work. The sounds of bicycle bells and people's voices intertwined, filling the road with the breath of life.

"When Master Gu finishes decorating the house, I will definitely invite you to my home to have a seat and let you taste my wife's cooking." Li Chongguang said sincerely to Zhou Yimin while pedaling his bicycle.

Zhou Yimin smiled and said, "Then I'll be waiting. But for now, I should take care of things at the factory. I don't know how those small dryers are doing at the port. I need to ask the Ministry of Foreign Trade."

"Yes, I hope everything goes well." Li Chongguang said with emotion.

As the two talked, they pedaled their bicycles faster. The chimney of the steel plant was getting closer and closer. A new day of work was about to begin, and there were many things waiting for them to deal with.

Zhou Yimin returned to the purchasing department's office and had just made a cup of hot tea. Before he could take a sip, the phone on his desk rang.

He picked up the receiver and heard a voice from the other end: "Yimin, notify everyone in the research lab, including you and Section Chief Li, to meet immediately in the third-floor conference room. Director Hu has an important announcement to make."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Yimin's heart skipped a beat and he quickly got up and walked towards the laboratory.

Li Chongguang had just sat down at his desk, spreading out his blueprints to study the next step in technical improvement, when Zhou Yimin hurried in. "Chief Li, the office has notified everyone in the research lab, including the two of us, to go to the third-floor conference room for a meeting immediately."

Li Chongguang was also a little surprised when he heard this. He looked up at the other people in the laboratory, and everyone had a puzzled expression on their faces.

Xiao Zhang paused his experiment and couldn't help but mutter, "Having a meeting at this time? Could there be something wrong with those small dryers?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the laboratory suddenly became solemn.

Everyone looked at each other, and saw a hint of worry in each other's eyes.

After all, the 5,000 small dryers had just been delivered to the port, and it was a critical time. If something went wrong, all previous efforts would be in vain.

"Don't make blind guesses. You'll know when you get there." Li Chongguang took a deep breath and walked out first.

Zhou Yimin and other people from the research lab quickly followed, and they all walked towards the conference room on the third floor with a nervous mood.

When the door to the conference room opened, everyone saw Director Hu already seated in the main seat, looking down at a document in his hand. His expression was unclear; he didn't have his usual smile, nor was there any obvious anger.

Seeing this, everyone tacitly did not ask any questions and found a place to sit down.

The conference room was so quiet for a moment that the only sounds left were everyone's soft breathing and the occasional roar of machines coming from outside the window.

Zhou Yimin sat next to Li Chongguang, quietly observing Director Hu's expression, and secretly guessing the content of the meeting.

Is the dryer having trouble at the port?

Or is there any new news from the Ministry of Foreign Trade?

Or are there any new arrangements in production?

Everyone's heart was beating fast, but no one spoke first. They just waited quietly for Director Hu to speak.

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze, filled with an indescribable tension.

Li Chongguang tapped his fingers lightly on his knees, and questions in his heart surged like a tide.

He really couldn't hold it in any longer, so he cleared his throat and was about to ask something when Director Hu suddenly raised his head with a long-lost smile on his face.

"Okay, everyone is here, I won't keep you in suspense any longer." Director Hu slammed the documents in his hand on the table in a loud voice.

"I invited you here this time to reward you according to your merits!"

"Reward according to merit?" Li Chongguang repeated subconsciously, his eyes full of surprise.

Everyone in the laboratory was also stunned, and then they reacted, and their hearts suddenly relaxed like a stone fell to the ground.

Xiao Zhang's tense shoulders relaxed and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up. Lao Wang almost dropped the pen in his hand. He quickly adjusted his glasses and the wrinkles on his face all smiled.

The solemn atmosphere in the conference room disappeared in an instant, replaced by an indescribable sense of ease and joy.

"Director Hu, what you mean is..." Li Chongguang was also a little excited, with a slight tremor in his voice.

"It means exactly what it says." Director Hu stood up and paced around the conference room.

He looked at everyone, his eyes full of admiration: "The factory has decided to reward you well. Everyone, don't hesitate, tell me what reward you want."

As soon as the words fell, low discussions were heard in the conference room.

Everyone looked at each other, with happy smiles on their faces, but no one took the initiative to make a request.

Xiao Zhang opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed his words back and just looked at his colleague next to him excitedly.

Lao Wang touched his chin, a smile on his lips, his eyes full of relief, but he didn't say a word.

The others were mostly talking in low voices, their eyes twinkling, but they all tacitly agreed not to voice out their specific thoughts.

Although this is not the first time that the factory has decided to reward people for their R&D achievements, everyone is both looking forward to it and a little embarrassed. They all want to see what others say and also want to hear the factory's plans.

Director Hu just stood there quietly, with his hands behind his back and a gentle smile on his face. He let everyone talk without interrupting or urging them, as if he was patiently waiting for them to think it over.

Li Chongguang looked at the scene in front of him and felt a warm current in his heart.

He looked at Zhou Yimin, who smiled at him, his eyes full of recognition for the team.

They all know that no matter what the reward is, it is a recognition of everyone's hard work. This recognition itself is more exciting than any material reward.

You have to know that in this era, honor is much better than some material things.

If it happened in later times, it would be exactly the opposite.

The sunlight from outside the window shines through the glass and falls on everyone, as if coating them with a layer of golden light.

Everyone was still whispering, their faces full of anticipation, waiting for Director Hu's next words.

Director Hu looked at the watch on his wrist. The hour hand pointed to ten o'clock. He cleared his throat, and the discussions in the conference room immediately stopped. Everyone's eyes were focused on him.

"Okay, it's almost time, I will announce the reward plan." Director Hu walked to the conference table and picked up the list on the table.

"The successful production of the small dryer this time is due to the contributions of the comrades in the research laboratory, and the greatest contribution belongs to Comrade Zhou Yimin."

Zhou Yimin suddenly raised his head, his eyes full of surprise.

Director Hu looked at him and said solemnly, "After discussion and decision by the factory, Comrade Zhou Yimin will be promoted to a higher administrative rank. In addition, he will be awarded a bicycle ticket and two kilograms of fat pork!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the conference room fell silent, followed by the sound of people gasping for air.

Everyone looked at each other, shock written all over their faces.

The pencil in Xiao Zhang's hand fell to the ground with a "click", but he didn't notice it. He just looked at Zhou Yimin with his mouth wide open.

Old Wang's hand holding his glasses stopped in mid-air, his eyes widened; Li Chongguang was also a little surprised. He knew that Zhou Yimin deserved a heavy reward, but he didn't expect the factory to be so generous.

An administrative grade upgrade means a salary increase, and bicycle tickets are in short supply right now. Add to that two kilograms of fatty pork, and the reward is really generous!

"Oh my God, this reward is too real!" Someone whispered, expressing everyone's thoughts.

Director Hu looked at the crowd's reactions, a satisfied smile on his face. He raised his hand to signal silence, "Comrade Zhou Yimin overcame numerous technical challenges during the R&D process and also provided thorough coordination throughout the production process. He truly deserves this award."

Zhou Yimin stood up, his voice a little excited: "Thank you for the recognition from the factory. I just did what I should do. This is inseparable from everyone's support."

Although he didn't take it too seriously, he definitely couldn't say this out loud. If others knew, they would definitely think Zhou Yimin was being pretentious.

"This is what you deserve." Director Hu waved his hand and glanced at everyone.

"Don't worry, everyone will be rewarded."

These words were like a stone thrown into the water, instantly causing ripples.

Everyone's eyes were filled with anticipation, and the shock just now was gradually replaced by excitement.

Xiao Zhang sat up straight with his ears perked up; Lao Wang picked up the pen that had fallen on the ground and held it tightly in his hand.

The others also held their breath, waiting for Director Hu to read out their names and rewards.

(End of this chapter)