Chapter 648: Being Conscripted
Zhou Yimin returned to his office and first carefully sorted out the documents for the pork entering the warehouse in the morning and filed them away. He then quickly processed several urgent food purchase applications and signed his name on them.
After finishing these important things, he leaned back in his chair and stretched, looking around the quiet office, suddenly feeling a little bored.
He glanced around the room and found nothing that needed to be dealt with immediately, so he stood up and walked out of the office, wandering aimlessly around the factory.
As he walked, he unknowingly arrived at the entrance of the research laboratory. He used to come here often. Ever since he led everyone to successfully invent the solar water heater and the air fryer, the equipment and conditions in the research laboratory have improved a lot, and the R&D atmosphere has become more intense.
"I'm free anyway, so I might as well go in and take a look." Zhou Yimin thought to himself, and reached out to push open the door of the laboratory.
The door was pushed open with a creaky sound. The busy people looked up and saw that it was Zhou Yimin. They stopped what they were doing, smiled warmly on their faces, and took the initiative to greet him.
"Section Chief Zhou is here!" said a young researcher who was debugging an instrument with a smile.
"Chief Zhou, how come you have time to come here today?" Another female researcher who was recording data also looked up, her tone full of respect.
Everyone knows that the research laboratory’s current scale and achievements are inseparable from Zhou Yimin’s strong support.
When developing solar water heaters and air fryers, it was Zhou Yimin who ran around to coordinate resources, solved funding and material problems, and personally participated in R&D discussions, putting forward many key ideas.
It can be said that without Zhou Yimin, there would be no these two inventions that are so popular among people.
Zhou Yimin smiled and waved at everyone: "Come over and see if you're busy lately."
He glanced at the various instruments and semi-finished products displayed in the research lab and asked curiously, "Are there any new inventions recently? Let me open my eyes."
Hearing this, the smiles on everyone's faces faded a little, and they shook their heads helplessly.
A bespectacled researcher sighed and said, "Chief Zhou, we've tried a few new ideas recently, but they haven't been very successful. We're still in the exploratory stage."
Another person chimed in: "It's really difficult. It's not easy to come up with something new."
At that moment, the door to the inner room of the research lab opened, and Li Chongguang walked out. He was wearing a greasy white coat, his hair was a little messy, but his eyes were bright.
Seeing Zhou Yimin, his eyes lit up and he immediately walked over quickly, saying enthusiastically, "Yimin, why are you here? Come on, come in and sit down."
As he said that, he extended his hand as an invitation and pulled Zhou Yimin inside.
The inner room is Li Chongguang's office. The small space is filled with various drawings and parts. A simple camp bed is leaning against the corner of the wall. It seems that he often stays up late here recently.
Li Chongguang poured a cup of hot water for Zhou Yimin, pulled a chair and sat down. Just as he was about to say something, he sighed deeply first.
"Yimin, you don't know, I've been under so much pressure lately that I can hardly breathe." Li Chongguang rubbed his eyebrows, his tone full of fatigue.
Zhou Yimin paused holding the cup of water and asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Isn't it great? Solar water heaters and air fryers are so popular now. The factory should pay more attention to the research lab."
"It's because we take it too seriously that it gives people a headache." Li Chongguang smiled bitterly.
"As you know, once these two products came out, the factory's profits improved significantly, and the leaders' expectations for the research lab skyrocketed. Before, we were chasing the leaders for resources, but now they're constantly demanding results from us."
He picked up a document on the table and flipped through it irritably. "Just last week, Director Hu came and told us to come up with another product like the air fryer that can open up the market as soon as possible."
"Yesterday, Deputy Director Li called again, saying that the popularity of solar water heaters is almost over and that we need to come up with something new as soon as possible. He also said that if there is no progress within three months, research funding will be cut."
Only then did Zhou Yimin realize that the high expectations of his leaders had turned into heavy pressure.
He looked at the dark circles under Li Chongguang's eyes and understood a little: "Indeed, these expectations are too high, and they actually restrict people's hands and feet. When it comes to invention and creation, you can't just push them along step by step. You need inspiration."
"That's right." Li Chongguang sighed.
"I can't sleep every day now. My head is full of new ideas, but no matter how many times I try, nothing works. My researchers are suffering with me, their eyes are all dark circles from working so hard. A few days ago, a young man fainted in the lab from exhaustion."
"What kind of thing is this? Research and development used to be quite fulfilling, but now it's become a burden."
He stood up and paced back and forth in the office. "Yimin, when you first led us to invent, your ideas were so clear. What do you think we should do now?"
Zhou Yimin looked at Li Chongguang's anxious expression and fell into deep thought.
He knew that being pushed around was not a pleasant feeling, especially when it came to research and development, which required concentration. Excessive urging would only backfire.
The two continued chatting, and as Li Chongguang spoke, the topic always came back to the point.
"Yimin, it would be great if there was something as convenient and practical as an air fryer. You're smart, do you have any ideas?"
"That solar water heater idea was so brilliant last time. If you think about it a little more, maybe you can come up with a new idea."
In just a few words, every sentence was about hoping that Zhou Yimin could come up with some good ideas.
Zhou Yimin listened, feeling a little speechless. Then he realized that Li Chongguang had pulled him into the office not just to chat and complain, but to pin his hopes on him.
He smiled helplessly, not hiding anything: "Hey, Chief Li, you're beating around the bush just to get me to give you some advice, right?"
Li Chongguang's thoughts were exposed, but he was not embarrassed. Instead, his eyes lit up and he rubbed his hands and laughed: "You still understand me!"
"You have a thorough understanding of market demand and a quick mind. Which of those two inventions you made last time wasn't eye-opening? Our brains are almost at a loss right now. If you could give us some pointers, maybe we could find some new ideas."
Zhou Yimin shook his head, but he didn't refuse in his heart.
After all, I have put in a lot of effort to bring the laboratory to its current state, so of course I would help if I can.
"Okay, I can't guarantee anything either, but let's just exchange ideas. Maybe we'll come up with some ideas while we're talking."
He stood up and walked to the table piled with blueprints. He picked up a blueprint of a half-finished kitchen appliance and asked, "Are you still focusing on kitchen appliances lately?"
Li Chongguang nodded: "Yes, the air fryer has received great response, so I'm thinking of exploring its potential."
Zhou Yimin pointed to the heating device on the blueprint and said, "This heating method is too old-fashioned. Can we try something more energy-efficient? Nowadays, everyone cares about saving electricity."
Li Chongguang narrowed his eyes: "Energy saving? You mean..."
"It doesn't have to be limited to the kitchen," Zhou Yimin changed the subject.
"Look, solar water heaters solve the problem of hot water, and air fryers solve the problem of cooking. They are both closely related to our daily lives. Besides these, what other inconveniences do you encounter in your daily life?"
Li Chongguang stroked his chin, thinking, "There are so many inconveniences. Does washing clothes count? Hanging clothes out to dry in the winter takes time, and they're hard."
Zhou Yimin's eyes lit up. "Hey, this idea seems interesting! Can we make something that can dry clothes quickly? It doesn't have to be as bulky as a large dryer, something that can be placed at home."
"Small dryer?" Li Chongguang immediately started drawing on the paper.
"Using hot air? Or some other principle? If it could be combined with solar energy, wouldn't it be even more energy-efficient?"
Zhou Yimin leaned in to look at the sketch he had drawn: "You can give it a try! Look at this..."
The two of them chatted back and forth, and ideas came out one after another like a faucet, and the dull atmosphere in the office was gradually replaced by heated discussions.
Zhou Yimin paused mid-sentence, his brow furrowed slightly. He stared at the sketch drawn by Li Chongguang, his initial excitement slowly fading, and a hint of regret welled up in his heart.
"What's wrong?" Li Chongguang looked up in confusion when he saw him suddenly fall silent.
Zhou Yimin smacked his lips, his tone uncertain: "Chongguang, was I taking things for granted just now?"
He pointed at the sketch and said, "Think about it, this small dryer looks convenient, but is there really such a big market for it?"
Li Chongguang paused his pen on the paper: "What do you mean?"
"Who doesn't hang clothes out to dry in the yard or on the balcony these days? On sunny days, there's sunshine to dry them, and on rainy days, you can hang them up for a few more days. Although it's slower, it doesn't cost a penny." Zhou Yimin counted on his fingers and analyzed.
"But this dryer, no matter how compact it is, still uses electricity, right? Ordinary people are very frugal and save whenever possible. They might not be willing to spend money on something that is unnecessary."
"Besides, when the rainy season really comes, every household will need to dry it, but what about during the rest of the year? It might just become a decoration. Who wants to buy something that takes up space and is rarely used?"
The more he spoke, the more it made sense to him. The light brought by his previous idea seemed to be shrouded by a layer of mist: "Look, solar water heaters solve a basic need. You can't take a shower without hot water."
"An air fryer can make meals more varied and useful in every household. But this dryer... doesn't seem to be a must-have."
After saying this, he couldn't help but sigh, secretly blaming himself for being too hasty and speaking out his thoughts without thinking about it carefully.
Unexpectedly, Li Chongguang shook his head after hearing this. Not only was he not moved, but his eyes became brighter: "Yimin, your idea is wrong."
He put down his pen and said firmly, "You only see the daily lives of ordinary people, not those special situations. Take the female workers in the factory, for example!"
"They live in a dormitory with such a small space. On rainy days, clothes are hung all over the room, and they get so damp that they smell musty. How could they not want a dryer?"
Zhou Yimin was stunned by what he said, and his frown gradually relaxed. He had to admit that he had not considered the situations Li Chongguang mentioned.
Seeing his expression soften, Li Chongguang struck while the iron was hot and said, "I think this direction is reliable! Let's not think too much about it for now, let's make a sample and try it out first. True gold fears no fire. Whether it's good or not, the market has the final say!"
As he spoke, he lowered his head and began to draw on the paper again. His brushstrokes were more powerful than before, as if he had already envisioned small dryers being placed in thousands of households.
Zhou Yimin was stunned by what he said, and his brows gradually relaxed.
He had to admit that he had not considered the situations that Li Chongguang mentioned.
But he stroked his chin, still hesitant: "That's what I said, but don't forget the current situation."
"Take the workers in our factory for example. Their monthly salary is only a few dozen yuan. After deducting the money for food and supporting the family, there is very little money left to save."
"Even if this dryer is made cheaply, it's at least a hundred or eighty yuan, right? With today's spending power, I'm afraid not many people can afford it."
He paused, then added, "And have you ever thought about it? Cloth is in limited supply now. You need cloth coupons to buy cloth. Without cloth coupons, you can't even buy a patch."
"Ordinary people only buy a few new clothes a year. They wash and wear clothes every day, so why would they need to dry so many clothes? The demand itself is limited. Even if the product is good, I am afraid it will not be sold well."
The excitement on Li Chongguang's face faded a little, and the pen in his hand stopped.
Yes, he really didn't think about these practical problems carefully.
The office fell silent for a moment, with only the occasional roar of machines running outside the window.
At this moment, Zhou Yimin's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he was awakened by something, and he slapped his thigh: "Section Chief Li, I got it! If we can't afford it domestically, we can go abroad!"
"Abroad?" Li Chongguang was stunned and didn't understand what he meant.
"Yes!" Zhou Yimin became more and more excited as he spoke. He stood up and paced around the office.
"Look, many foreign countries have more developed industries than ours, and their people have more money and stronger spending power. They don't lack cloth, and they have plenty of clothes."
"Besides, some countries have a humid climate and rain all year round, so the demand for dryers is definitely much greater than in our country."
"If we can sell this small dryer overseas, not only will it solve the sales problem, but it will also help the country earn foreign exchange. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"
Li Chongguang's eyes widened instantly. He stood up from his chair and walked a few steps to Zhou Yimin. The fatigue on his face was swept away, replaced by uncontrollable excitement: "Yimin, what's wrong with your brain? This is a great idea! Why didn't I think of it!"
I was thinking of giving up, but Zhou Yimin suddenly said that I could export it.
Li Chongguang's mood was like riding a roller coaster. If he were not young and in good health, he might not have been able to withstand it.
(End of this chapter)
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