Chapter 208

Director Sun knew that what Ye Manzhi said made sense, but the investment amount for a color TV production line was far greater than that for a black and white one.

The production lines allocated by the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building to various provinces were free of charge.

If we only apply for a black-and-white TV production line, the investment the province can get will be almost cut in half.

Ye Manzhi said, "Director Sun, I don't know about other investments, but a few years ago when the central government invested in the construction of the Binjiang Chemical Plant, they allocated over 30 million yuan, and this investment was allocated in several installments..."

When mentioning Binjiang Chemical Plant, Director Sun frowned unconsciously.

In the past few months, the Binjiang Chemical Plant has made a fool of itself in the province.

The news of a loss of more than 10 million yuan over four years has spread among sister provinces and cities.

Ye Manzhi continued using the chemical plant as an example. "The 30 million yuan investment was allocated in installments. The total cost of the 21 color TV production lines is a staggering 80 to 100 million yuan. It's unlikely the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building would have built all 21 production lines at once, right? They were probably built in batches, right?"

Director Sun nodded slightly. "This time, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chengdu are conducting a major research and development campaign. If successful, they will be given priority for investment and factory construction in these four locations. Even if our province isn't in the first tier, it will definitely be in the second tier."

"Leader," Ye Manzhi said helplessly, "Ten years ago, radios were in short supply, so in recent years, radio factories have been built all over the country to produce them. Let's say Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chengdu were the first to secure color TV production lines, and if color TVs are in short supply in the market, will other provinces and cities follow suit and build TV factories?"

Director Sun: “…”

It's hard to say about this kind of thing.

"If some companies raise funds on their own to produce televisions, the color TV production lines planned by the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building will likely be delayed or not allocated at all. By then, all our efforts will be in vain."

“…”

Ye Manzhi continued, "We have a TV design studio at Shuguang Factory. We copied two black-and-white TVs three years ago, so we have a solid foundation in black-and-white TV research and development."

"Um."

Director Sun had known that they had a TV design studio, otherwise he would not have included Shuguang Factory in the list when the province organized a major campaign to develop color TVs.

"Our factory's design studio has never stopped researching televisions, and we already have a ready-made design plan for putting them into production," Ye Manzhi said with a smile. "As long as this production line can be handed over to our Shuguang factory and put into operation this year, we can officially put black-and-white televisions into production and market next year. When the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building allocates color TV production lines to other provinces and cities, our Shuguang factory can raise funds on its own to build a color TV production line as well. Then we'll have everything we need."

Ye Manzhi painted a beautiful blueprint and boasted without any guilt.

In fact, even if black and white TVs made money, they would not be able to immediately come up with the funds to switch to producing color TVs.

But, now we are fighting for the production line, so just brag!

As long as she can get her leader to give in, she will make any promise.

Anyway, there have been great personnel changes in the province and the city in recent years.

Five or six years later, Director Sun may not be able to stay in this position.

Thinking of this, Ye Manzhi sighed deeply and said, "Leader, let me say something unpleasant. By the time the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building allocates the production line to us, it may be seven or eight years later. By then, I will have been working at Shuguang Factory for more than ten years. I may have been transferred to other units and may not even see the color TV production start!"

The situation of provincial leaders is even more difficult to say.

Director Sun invested so much time and energy in this work, but in the end it benefited his successor.

That's totally unnecessary!

Upon hearing this, Director Sun's eyes flickered slightly.

The other party said so much, but what impressed him most was actually the last reason.

After a moment of contemplation, he said to Ye Manzhi, "Director Ye, applying for a production line is quite complicated. The province will hold a meeting to discuss it. You should go back and wait for further notice."

*

Ye Manzhi knew that free things were hard to come by and that the province would definitely need to discuss it, so she could only say goodbye and leave.

After returning to the factory, she briefed Kang Jian and others on her trip to the province.

Before leaving, Kang Jian whispered, "Deputy Director Wang hasn't been active these past few days. I haven't seen him in the workshop. I wonder what he's doing..."

People like Wang Zaofu, who suddenly stopped making any noise, must be holding back something!

Ye Manzhi went back to the factory headquarters and invited Director Ding from the factory office.

"Director Wang hasn't been working in the workshop lately, has he?" Ye Manzhi asked. "What has he been busy with?"

Director Ding lowered his voice and said, "I was just about to report to you! Yesterday, Deputy Director Wang asked me to go to the Personnel Department and retrieve the employee files."

"Did you transfer it to him?" Ye Manzhi frowned.

"Not yet." Director Ding asked, "Can I show it to him?"

Ye Manzhi said, "He's the deputy secretary of the Party Committee, so of course he can see it. Let's have the Human Resources Department send it to him tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

Except for Pan Kunlun from the design studio and several engineers who were transferred from the provincial university and whose identities are somewhat sensitive, the family backgrounds of other people in Shuguang Factory are relatively clean.

If Wang Zaofu wants to see the files, then let him see them.

Ye Manzhi mentioned another matter. "The province wants to transfer personnel from our factory to Tianjin to participate in the color TV research and development campaign. Director Pan, Engineer Cui, Engineer Chen, and Engineer Guo from the design studio are all going to support the Tianjin war zone. It's estimated that they will be there for several months. The factory office should buy train tickets to Tianjin for the four of them as soon as possible."

Director Ding understood immediately.

After these four people left, Wang Zaofu could read the factory employees' files at will.

"Then I'll try to buy a train ticket for tonight or tomorrow morning. I can't delay the work of the major breakthrough campaign."

"Haha, thank you for your hard work, Director Ding."

…

After seeing off Pan Kunlun and the other three that night, Ye Manzhi found an opportunity to tell Wang Zaofu that all the cadres of Shuguang Factory had to work in the workshop every day, and hoped that Director Wang could adapt to the work rhythm of the factory as soon as possible.

Then he asked Miao Sufen, a female militia company commander in the same workshop, to watch him while he worked, and Ye Manzhi put Wang Zaofu out of his mind.

She was always thinking about the free black-and-white TV production line.

I heard that the province has submitted an application to the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building.

If all goes well, the results may be out in half a month.

However, Shuguang Factory waited for more than a month, and the breeder Xiao Wu had already started her summer vacation, but she still had not received any feedback from the Provincial Revolutionary Committee.

"Director!" Tian Chunshan ran in under the scorching summer sun, panting. "Don't wait! I heard Binjiang Radio Factory No. 2 is also trying to get a production line from the provincial government!"

Ye Manzhi suddenly stood up from his chair. "When did this happen? How come a Radio Factory No. 2 suddenly appeared?"

"It's been the last two days!" Tian Chunshan said anxiously. "When I went to the provincial safety production meeting this morning, I heard that the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building seemed to have approved the provincial application, but now Binjiang Radio Factory No. 2 and Huicheng Radio Factory are both vying for this production line!"

It was a sunny day outside, but Ye Manyzhi's heart was suddenly filled with dark clouds.

She would go to the provincial government every now and then to inquire about the progress, and it was she who suggested to Director Sun the idea of ​​applying for a black-and-white TV production line.

Could it be that the provincial leaders want to get rid of the donkey after it has served its purpose?

If the production line is really given to other factories, then Shuguang Factory will be in vain, right?

Ye Manzhi quickly summoned all the deputy factory directors and inquired about the situation from all parties.

They received the exact news before leaving get off work that day.

Binjiang's telecommunications industry has a solid foundation, with supporting electron tube and transistor factories. The province plans to keep the television production line in Binjiang City.

The company most likely to obtain the production line is Binjiang Radio Factory No. 2.

"Our Shuguang Factory has existing buildings and process plans. We can start production right away once the equipment is in place," Huang He asked. "Where does the Second Radio Factory have any spare buildings? They'll definitely have to rebuild!"

"After they switch to television production, they're going to merge the original radio production line into Radio Factory One. So, now both Factory One and Factory Two are applying together. The two factories are really united!" Kang Jian said dejectedly. "Plus, Radio Factory Two has a say in the Municipal Revolutionary Committee. If the city also prefers to hand over the production line to Factory Two, then we're completely doomed."

Tian Chunshan chuckled twice, "We have some influence in the city, why don't we ask Deputy Director Wang to come forward and try to get him a seat?"

Wang Zaofu has been in office for so long that they have actually already figured out the other party's background.

This Deputy Director Wang has a prominent background. His wife is the second daughter of Deputy Director Zhao of the Municipal Revolutionary Committee.

In other words, Wang Zaofu is the son-in-law of the city leader.

Kang Jian scoffed, "Forget it. Director Wang has said before that televisions are products that serve the bourgeoisie and he has reservations about their production."

If Wang Zaofu agreed to pass the message to the city leaders, wouldn't that be a contradiction in his own words?

Despite this, Ye Manzhi still had a private conversation with Wang Zaofu, asking him if he could help the factory get a TV production line.

But as everyone expected, Deputy Director Wang refused and repeated his bourgeois hedonistic views.

Ye Manzhi was so angry with him that she walked away with her eyes rolled back.

If she didn't have so few people above her, why would she need to ask Wang Zaofu to come forward?

Thinking of this, she returned to her office and wrote a letter to Xia Zhuyun, who was far away in the cadre school, mainly to ask about her recent situation.

By the time I finished writing a letter, the feeling of irritability and anxiety had almost dissipated.

She lay on the table, resting her head on her arms as she sorted out her personal connections.

Xia Zhuyun and Mulan both went to the cadre school, and their college classmate Chen Teye was transferred to the production command center of the Municipal Revolutionary Committee.

However, the ownership of this production line must be decided by the leadership, and Chen Teye has no say.

As for other acquaintances, there is even less to say.

Why--

Ye Manzhi let out a long sigh.

If the production line really falls into the pockets of other factories, she will be so angry that she will die!

She thought in a very narrow-minded way that if she had known earlier, she would not have given Director Sun any advice.

The things that you have begged for yourself are snatched away by others.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She was so pissed off!

…

After sulking, Director Ye worked with several deputy directors to find a solution at the provincial and municipal levels.

After returning empty-handed from the Provincial Revolutionary Committee once again, Ye Manzhi jumped into a car and went straight back to the military industrial compound.

Chang Yue'e had just gotten off work. When she saw her daughter at the entrance of the building, she asked in surprise, "Why are you back today?"

"I came back to see my mother and comfort my wounded heart." Ye Manzhi took her arm and went upstairs, muttering, "We are both factory directors, but the treatment we receive is really different!"

The other people in the family had not returned yet. She stood in the house, her hands on her hips, and chattered on, pouring out all the unhappiness she had experienced during this period.

"I have a boil on my chin and mouth ulcers, all because of work!"

Chang Yue'e comforted her daughter: "Shuguang Factory has nearly 2,000 employees, so they must have a lot of things to worry about. Our meat processing plant has less than 50 people in total, so there are not so many worries. We are both factory directors, but we are not at the same level. My daughter is more capable than me!"

The meat processing plant is small and its employees are all neighbors nearby. They have worked together for more than ten years and get along like a family.

Therefore, when many large factories in the city stopped production and work, their factory only held a few meetings in accordance with the requirements of the commune and was not actually affected.

At that time, the store was unable to purchase products, so it placed the order with their small factory.

In recent years, the factory has been working hard on production, increasing output while also developing several new products. It is one of the few factories that has expanded its production scale.

Chang Yue'e used the coal stove to cook a bowl of mung bean soup for her daughter, "Drink it, it will help you get rid of your internal heat."

"I'm just a little angry," Ye Manzhi said, sitting on a small stool and blowing the steam from her bowl. "That Wang Zaofu hasn't done anything serious since he came to the factory. Now that we finally have a job, he claims that televisions serve the bourgeoisie and refuses to help. What a jerk!"

"Ninety-nine people, ninety-nine different hearts. How could everyone possibly do things your way?" Chang Yue'e whispered, covering her mouth. "I've seen people like Wang Zaofu many times. He married the boss's daughter and was promoted to deputy director of your factory. On the surface, he seems quite prosperous, but who knows what he's like in private?"

"That's right. When I was mediating a dispute at the neighborhood office, I heard about the daughter of the supply and marketing cooperative director who asked her husband to wash her feet. When her mother-in-law found out, it caused a huge uproar. Everyone said that marrying into a wealthy family wouldn't necessarily lead to an easy life."

"So, Wang Zaofu probably won't have much say with his father-in-law," Chang Yue'e said, recounting her experience as a factory director. "Harmony is the most important thing. As a factory director, you should try your best to unite with your colleagues and understand their difficulties."

"Haha, okay, then I'll understand him."

Ye Manzhi imagined the tall, handsome and stylish Director Wang going home to be a bully and a henpecked husband, and she finally felt relieved.

She ate and took food at her mother's house. After finishing dinner, she took the two braised pork trotters handed to her by Chang Yue'e.

When the fourth sister-in-law's neck was about to be stretched like a goose, she quickly closed the lid of the lunch box and took it home to prepare a special meal for Wu Zhengrong and her daughter.

*

Having received her mother's favor and eaten the half pig's trotter that Wu Zhengrong gave her, Ye Manzhi's brain seemed to become a little smarter.

The next day when she went to work, she asked the young clerk from the factory office to go to the county department store to buy a bag of milk powder.

Then, she took the bag of milk powder and went to the staff quarters of Shuguang Factory.

Go straight to Wang Zaofu’s lair!

Shuguang Factory allocated a two-bedroom, one-living-room house to Wang Zaofu.

In addition to their family of three, Wang Zaofu's biological mother also moved in, reportedly to help her daughter-in-law take care of the children.

There was a knock on the door, and it was Aunt Wang who opened it.

She held the door with one hand and the spoon she used to feed her child with the other. She asked politely, "Comrade, who are you looking for?"

Since moving into the Shuguang Factory's staff quarters, her neighbors have all been factory leaders. After repeated reminders from her daughter-in-law, she has learned to use the term "comrade."

"Auntie, I'm looking for Comrade Zhao Weihong," Ye Manzhi said with a friendly smile, "I'm Ye Manzhi from Shuguang Factory."

Aunt Wang was a little stunned at first, but when she came to her senses, she slapped her thigh and said, "Oh, so you are Director Ye, right?"

"Haha, yes, Director Wang and I are colleagues. You can just call me Xiao Ye."

"How can that be possible! Director Ye, please come in!" Aunt Wang cordially let him in and shouted into the room, "Wei Hong, hurry up and pack up! Director Ye is here!"

She had just arrived in Anyang County not long ago, but she had heard of Ye Manzhi's name.

She is one of the only two female factory managers in Anyang County, in charge of the largest factory in the county, and is also her son's superior.

She doesn’t understand anything else, but since the leader is here, she has to treat him well!

Ye Manzhi walked into the house and met Zhao Weihong.

The other person was in his twenties, of medium height, and his appearance could only be considered handsome. His looks were not on the same level as Wang Zaofu's.

But Zhao Weihong has a pair of very bright eyes, and when he looks at people, he has a scrutiny that is not easy to detect.

Ye Manzhi smiled politely and asked, "I hope I didn't disturb your meal by coming here without your permission."

"No, no, we've already had breakfast. We're feeding the baby now. Babies this month are hard to take care of. Wei Hong and I coaxed him all morning, and he hasn't even finished his bowl of rice yet!"

Zhao Weihong didn't comment on this and said to her mother-in-law, "Mom, don't keep feeding him. Let him eat by himself."

Then he looked at Ye Manzhi and asked doubtfully, "Director Ye is an honored guest, but it's working hours now, right? Zaofu is not at home, why are you here at this time?"

After waving hello to the baby, Ye Manzhi placed the milk powder on the dining table and got straight to the point: "To be honest, I'm here on business."

Zhao Weihong was even more confused. She didn't work at Shuguang Factory, so what kind of official business could he contact her about?

Next, Ye Manzhi briefly introduced to her the situation of the black-and-white TV production line and Wang Zaofu's attitude towards the matter.

"They say a new official starts with three major initiatives. Director Wang had just arrived at Shuguang Factory, and it was time for him to make significant progress. But I spoke to him privately, hoping he would speak to Deputy Director Zhao of the Municipal Revolutionary Committee to secure this production line for the factory. Unfortunately, he refused."

Zhao Weihong: “…”

Wang Zaofu rarely mentioned her work at the unit when she got home, and she really didn't know much about what was going on in the factory.

However, according to Director Ye, the factory has already figured out Wang Zaofu's background.

"Wei Hong, we all come from working-class backgrounds, and we know best what the employees want. Director Wang has only been in office for a short time. If he can help the factory get a TV production line, it will be very beneficial both to him personally and to the development of Shuguang Factory."

Zhao Weihong nodded subconsciously.

Wang Zaofu is young and has risen to his position through nepotism. If he can do something big for the factory, he will basically be able to gain a foothold in Shuguang Factory.

Ye Manzhi's face was filled with sincerity, and he spoke earnestly, "To be honest, when I first heard that the city had assigned such a young deputy director to our factory, I was a little nervous. However, after learning about Director Wang's situation, I actually think this appointment is brilliant. Shuguang Factory used to be a military factory, so we didn't have many opportunities to interact with the local government. After it was decentralized from the provincial level a few years ago, the number of city leaders who can have a say is even smaller. Director Wang's coming to Shuguang Factory will enhance our communication with the city leaders, which is a good thing for Shuguang Factory. I welcome Director Wang with open arms..."

Hearing this, Zhao Weihong's discomfort at having her secrets known to others gradually dissipated.

Ye Manzhi said earnestly, "I've taken the liberty of coming here today to ask you and Auntie to help persuade him. Comrade Chairman also watches television programs every day. The Provincial and Municipal Revolutionary Committees have televisions for leaders to watch. How can television be considered to be serving the bourgeoisie?"

Aunt Wang rubbed her hands together and said nervously, "Yes, yes, Comrade Chairman always watches TV programs, so it must be safe!"

"Actually, I can sense that Director Wang still wants to help the factory secure the production line. But he previously expressed his opposition at the team meeting and still has reservations. Haha, men, after all, sometimes care about their reputation. For him to suddenly change his mind and overturn his previous proposal might be a bit embarrassing."

"However, Director Wang is now the Deputy Secretary of the Shuguang Factory Party Committee, Deputy Director of the Factory Revolutionary Committee, and Deputy Factory Director. He should change his mindset as soon as possible. Compared to personal honor and disgrace, isn't it more important to fight for the interests of the broad working class and protect the revolutionary achievements of our working class?"

Ye Manzhi looked at Zhao Weihong again and said, "Weihong, Director Wang and I are colleagues, so I won't be polite with you. To be frank, if the factory leaders want to gain a firm foothold in the factory, they must strive for the interests of everyone, do practical things for the workers, and let everyone see the factory leaders' ability and efforts. Only by treating the factory as home and the workers as their own family can they gain everyone's support. Director Wang has just been in the factory for a short time, and many workers don't know him well. Fighting for a production line for the factory is actually a good breakthrough. We women can hold up half the sky. If Director Wang can't change his mind for the time being, I hope you can persuade him, and even stand up and make the right choice for him when necessary!"

Aunt Wang also looked at her daughter-in-law.

Her family has no background, so to help Shuguang Factory get a production line, the daughter-in-law has to go and talk to her father.

Zhao Weihong sat in a chair, her heart tangled. She frowned and thought for a while. When she looked at Ye Manzhi again, she said simply, "Director Ye, getting the TV production line for the factory is a big deal. I'll try to persuade him when Zaofu comes back. I'll also find time to go back to my parents' home in the next two days."

Director Ye is right. The production line is a good breakthrough.

If this production line could be brought to Shuguang Factory, Wang Zaofu would be able to gain a firm foothold in the factory, which would be more effective than looking for opportunities to criticize and fight this and that.

He comes from a working-class family and has been promoted by her father, so his future is bright.

After getting the other party's approval, Ye Manzhi smiled more relaxedly. She chatted with the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for a long time about family matters and parenting tips before getting up and saying goodbye.

Walking out of the family compound, she couldn't help but sigh in her heart that this could be considered as uniting all the forces that could be united.

Bypassing the stumbling block of Wang Zaofu and talking directly to the person who can make the final decision is indeed more efficient.

She felt that Zhao Weihong was more courageous and far-sighted than Wang Zaofu.

Deputy Director Zhao is so confused. Instead of sending his son-in-law to Shuguang Factory, he might as well let his own daughter take the position!

*

Ye Manzhi sighed and strolled back to the factory.

As a result, as soon as she walked into the factory gate, she saw a team of female militiamen from the militia camp striding towards the factory area.

She reached out and grabbed the female employee who was running last, and asked, "Isn't this military training off-the-job training? Why are you running to the workshop?"

The female worker said anxiously, "Captain Miao sent our company over there to provide support! I heard that Deputy Director Wang Zaofu wants to destroy the washing machines in our workshop!"

"Why did he destroy the washing machine?"

"Oh, he insisted that our washing machines are for the bourgeoisie!"

Ye Manzhi: “…”

What's the matter with this Wang Zaofu?

Wouldn't he feel uncomfortable if he didn't do something?

It's like a hopeless case of useless trolls!

She let go of the other person's wrist and ran to the electric fan workshop with everyone.

Several new college students who came to the factory have tried to develop new products. In addition to enriching the functions of electric fans, they also developed single-barrel washing machines.

However, after a few units were trial-produced, some people in society said that washing machines serve the bourgeoisie, so the washing machine project was stillborn.

The trial products are piled up in the warehouse and workshop.

I don’t know how Wang Zaofu discovered it, but he actually found the washing machine from two years ago.

Hearing the noise coming from the direction of the workshop, her heart tightened and she immediately quickened her pace.

She ran out of breath and finally arrived at the workshop, pushing through the crowd and squeezing in.

Wang Zaofu was seen being pinned to the ground by several female militiamen, while the militia company commander Miao Sufen was riding on him and slapping him.

The crisp sound of "pa pa" makes people's hearts shiver.

Wang Zaofu struggled hard and said, "Hurry up and let me go! I'll see who dares to attack me again!"

"The washing machine is state property. How can you just destroy it? Who gave you the right to destroy state property?" Miao Sufen continued, her hands still moving. She said to the female militia member holding down Wang Zaofu, "Your posture is wrong. All your previous military training was in vain. Try harder!"