Chapter 168 Sock Machine

"As long as Xiao Taozi likes it, Uncle Zhao will buy it for us Xiao Taozi when he sees it in the future." Zhao Kai looked at Xiao Taozi with a doting face.

He used to follow Lu Liangchen and was very familiar with Xiao Taozi's father, so he had a special feeling for Xiao Taozi. Although he didn't treat her like his own daughter, he cared for her like his own niece.

At dinner, everyone sat around the table, eating happily and laughing.

After dinner, Zhao Kai and Lu Liangchen went to the next yard to talk. When Jiang Haitang saw this, she knew that the two must have something important to discuss.

She took out the cakes she brought from the capital and handed them to Kang Xiaoxia: "I know you like to eat these, so I brought them specially for you."

"It must be hard to carry it from such a long distance." Kang Xiaoxia said politely, but her hands were already impatient to take the pastries.

Looking at the exquisite snack box, he exclaimed: "The snacks in the capital look different from those here."

Jiang Haitang smiled and said, "When I'm not busy later, I'll make you some snacks. I guarantee they'll be even better than this."

"Don't do it. It's troublesome. Just buying the materials is a lot of work."

Although Kang Xiaoxia likes to eat sweets such as snacks, she also knows that making snacks is not an easy task. Just gathering the ingredients is very troublesome.

"Accompany me to the department store on the weekend. I want to buy some wool." Jiang Haitang changed the subject.

"The weather is getting hot, why are you still thinking about knitting a sweater? Besides, the wool sweaters in our factory are good enough, why should you knit it yourself?" Kang Xiaoxia was a little confused.

"Liangchen's mother gave me a lot of wool coupons, but they will expire if I don't use them. I might as well buy some wool and knit it myself slowly, and then wear it in autumn and winter."

Jiang Haitang plans to hurry up and knit a sweater for Jiang Guozhu. The old man is old and the sweater can still be worn for a while.

But this was a secret that could not be told, so Jiang Haitang found an excuse to cover it up.

"I see. Okay then, let's go to the department store together this weekend. I can do some shopping as well."

Kang Xiaoxia gave all her previous salary and receipts to her family, and she hardly ever bought anything for herself.

Now that she doesn't have to give all her money to her family, she has a lot more money in her hands.

The two of them had almost finished discussing the matter, and Lu Liangchen and Zhao Kai came back after finishing their discussion.

"Xiao Xia, let me take you back to the dormitory." Zhao Kai said.

Kang Xiaoxia stood up and prepared to leave. Jiang Haitang hurriedly gave her the snacks and took out two more portions and handed them to Zhao Kai: "One is for you, and one is for the other brothers to take over and try. I don't bring much, so please don't mind it, brothers."

"Thank you, sister-in-law. It's good enough that I have something to eat. How can you complain about it?" Zhao Kai thanked her with a bright smile, took the snacks, and left with Kang Xiaoxia.

What followed was intense work. Jiang Haitang listened to the roar of machines in the factory and smelled the faint scent of wool in the air. She knew that the new day's work was full of challenges and opportunities.

Because all the previous research projects had been completed, after she started working, she first checked to see if there were any problems with the fabric weaving technology. She was relieved to learn that there was no technical bottleneck at present.

Then, she went directly to the wool sweater weaving workshop and began to understand the recent situation of wool sweater weaving.

She shuttled between the textile machines, observing every production link with keen eyes.

His fingers gently stroked the soft wool fabric, feeling the texture and thickness of the cloth. From time to time, he exchanged a few words with the workers beside him, asking if there were any problems encountered during the production process.

After checking the production records, she nodded with satisfaction. The current production situation is good and there is no need to worry too much for the time being.

Jiang Haitang remembered the design of the wool sweater she had been thinking about recently, so she told the workers about it and asked the team leader Zhang Qiaohong to come to her when she was not busy.

The several wool sweater designs she conceived this time were all good. Not only did they incorporate popular trends in the future, but they also incorporated inspiration she got from the capital.

Zhang Qiaohong came jogging over with an excited smile on her face.

Engineer Jiang has a new design, and she is looking forward to it.

When Jiang Haitang handed her the design drawings, she took them with both hands, her eyes full of surprise and admiration. She couldn't wait to unfold the drawings and look at them carefully.

On the drawings, one after another uniquely shaped wool sweaters come to life. Some use unique cable knit patterns, some have novel neckline styles, and some have unique color combinations.

"Are these wool sweaters prepared for the Canton Fair? Mr. Jiang." Zhang Qiaohong raised her head with a gleam in her eyes.

Jiang Haitang nodded solemnly: "Yes, this spring Canton Fair, our wool sweater can earn more foreign exchange. The Canton Fair is a big platform. If we can get a big order, our factory will be more influential in the future."

"I will ensure that I complete the task and will not hold the factory back!" Zhang Qiaohong straightened her back and spoke in a firm tone.

"Just do your best. Our wool sweaters are new, after all, so they might not be perfect." Jiang Haitang looked at the enthusiastic Zhang Qiaohong and said gently, "Preparing in advance is to leave time to solve any problems that may arise."

People of this era always have unlimited enthusiasm for work, which is incomparable to later generations.

The two exchanged some more details. Just as Zhang Qiaohong was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something. After hesitating for a moment, she finally mustered up the courage to speak.

"Mr. Jiang, I have something I'd like to ask you for help with. I wonder if it's convenient for you."

Zhang Qiaohong has a straightforward personality, and Jiang Haitang became curious about how she could be so shy.

"Tell me first, and I'll see if I can help."

"I have a relative who recently got an old sock knitting machine. I don't know what's wrong with it, but it won't work. Could you help take a look at it?"

When she said this, there was a hint of uneasiness in her eyes, for fear of causing trouble for Jiang Haitang.

Zhang Qiaohong's relative was a smart guy. He somehow managed to get an old sock machine.

He planned to secretly tinker with some socks at home to exchange for money, but who would have thought that this machine was like a "stubborn" one and could not be adjusted no matter what he did. The relatives were so anxious that they had no choice but to ask Zhang Qiaohong for help.

When Jiang Haitang heard the word "sock machine", her eyes lit up instantly.

Various information about sock weaving technology quickly flashed through her mind. In that era, sock production technology was relatively backward, socks on the market had a single style, and production efficiency was not high.

If we can make a breakthrough in this area, it may open up new development directions for the factory.

"Bring it to me and let me take a look, but I may not be able to fix it." Jiang Haitang said.

Zhang Qiaohong was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, Mr. Jiang, thank you so much."

"This matter, after all... no matter whether I can fix it or not, your relatives must not bring me any trouble. Please keep it a secret."

Jiang Haitang did want to look into the principles of the sock machine and see if the machinery could be improved, but that didn't mean she was willing to take the risk.

Zhang Qiaohong nodded quickly. She could guarantee this: "Mr. Jiang, I know my limits. I can guarantee that my relatives won't betray you."

Jiang Haitang nodded in understanding: "I know. If it is repaired, you can knit socks in the future. Your relatives should also be more careful."

"It's natural, it's natural. Don't worry, Mr. Jiang, we must be extremely careful."

After the two agreed to deliver the sock machine in the evening, Zhang Qiaohong left in a hurry.

After Zhang Qiaohong left, Jiang Haitang sat at his desk and fell into deep thought.

She carefully recalled the development of sock textile technology in her previous life.

I remember that at this stage, foreign countries already had advanced automatic hosiery knitting machines that could achieve fully automated production with extremely high efficiency.

The best domestic sock knitting machines are only semi-mechanized electric sock knitting machines. Although they are a great improvement over manual knitting, they still require manual work such as changing threads and sewing the ends. This is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but the quality of the socks produced is also uneven.

Although the factory has no plans for sock textile technology at present, multiple technologies mean multiple paths. The more technologies the factory masters, the stronger its resilience will be when the textile industry declines in the future.

If this old sock machine can be improved, or more advanced production technology can be developed, it may bring new economic benefits to the factory.

Thinking of this, Jiang Haitang felt motivated and decided to study this sock machine carefully, maybe it would bring her some surprises.

That night, after Jiang Haitang finished her meal and returned to her dormitory, she heard someone knocking on the door.

When the door opened, it was indeed Zhang Qiaohong who looked nervous.

Zhang Qiaohong looked around before coming in.

There was another person following behind her, carrying a large bag on his back.

The three people went into the house, opened the bundle, and a rusty sock knitting machine appeared before their eyes.

Jiang Haitang squatted down and ran his fingers over the machine's nameplate - "Made in Shanghai Knitting Machinery Factory in 1963".

This hosiery knitting machine is not the advanced model that Jiang Haitang imagined, but a relatively old hand-cranked hosiery knitting machine.

This type of machine is relatively small and easy to operate, and can be used at home. No wonder Zhang Qiaohong's relative took the risk.

"Mr. Jiang, I'd like to trouble you to take a look..." Zhang Qiaohong said, rubbing her hands.

The man behind her looked even more anxious, fearing that Jiang Haitang would say "it can't be repaired".

The lean man rubbed his hands and asked anxiously, "Mr. Jiang, can you fix it? I've spent all my family savings on this machine..."

Jiang Haitang didn't answer, but began to examine the machine carefully. The spindle was obviously worn, and the needle bed was missing three needles. She tried to turn the crank, and the machine made a harsh clicking sound.

"Several parts are damaged. They can be repaired, but the cost is very high."

Seeing Zhang Qiaohong and the man's pale faces, she added, "But I can try to draw improved drawings and then ask the machinery factory to help with the processing."

"It's going to cost a lot of money, right?" Although he heard that it was possible to repair it, the man trembled slightly when he thought about the repair price.

"After I draw the blueprints, I will hand them over to the machinery factory for mass production. As a reward for providing you with the machine, I will help you repair it for free. Do you agree?" Jiang Haitang asked.