Chapter 155 Educated Youth in the 1970s (19) I Want to Build! I Want to Learn...
Time flies, and before we knew it, it was the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.
Thanks to the Qing-A1 self-propelled combine harvester developed by Song Ce, which boasts a reasonable structural design and advanced technical parameters, agricultural production efficiency in Qing City has been greatly improved. An ordinary farmer can now harvest two to three hundred acres of land a day using only one Qing-A1, something unimaginable before.
The successful development of the Qing-A1 not only alarmed the mayor of Qing City, but even important leaders of China had heard of this young developer.
With the development of the rural economy, the demand for agricultural machinery has become increasingly urgent. Across the country, there have been repeated joint appeals to higher authorities, demanding a swift resolution to the labor shortage during the summer harvest. In wealthier areas, people can afford to buy imported machinery, which often starts at 200,000 yuan, and for better specifications, the price can reach 300,000 or even 400,000 yuan.
How can people in impoverished areas afford such high prices?
Moreover, even if the organization allocates funds to local areas so that agricultural machinery can be used everywhere, one point cannot be ignored—that is, the operation procedures of foreign machines are too complicated, which is another major problem for farmers who have dealt with the land all their lives.
If the Qing-A1 developed by this young comrade is indeed as simple, reliable, and easy to operate as reported by Qing City, then China will no longer need to spend hundreds of thousands of US dollars to import machines from abroad.
He immediately decided that if the situation was true, he would do everything in his power to promote the machine in China.
That afternoon, the important leader gave Zhao Ruochun, the director of the Agricultural Machinery Bureau, an order to go to the Qing City Agricultural Machinery Institute to see for himself whether the Qing-A1 was really as amazing as reported.
Just one day later, several military green jeeps arrived at the Qing City Agricultural Machinery Institute.
After the car door opened, the mayor of Qing City stepped out first. With a polite smile on his face, he quickly walked to the other side of the jeep and personally opened the car door for the people in the back seat.
"It seems like a very important person has come to our agricultural machinery depot."
"Shh, keep your voice down! Haven't you heard? This important person came directly from the north."
"So... this means the organization sent people to inspect our agricultural machinery depot?"
"I heard they came for Researcher Song's combine harvester!"
"Ah? No wonder! That explains why they brought out our institute's anniversary-A1 camera so early this morning..."
Soon, a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit stepped out of the jeep. He was tall and straight, with a resolute expression, clearly a dignified and upright person who had held a high position for many years.
With a gentle smile, Zhao Ruochun shook hands with the mayor of Qing City and asked with concern, "Mayor Du, is that young comrade who developed the Qing-A1 now working at our Agricultural Machinery Research Institute?"
Mayor Du nodded hurriedly and replied modestly, "Yes, yes. Director Zhao, Researcher Song has been waiting for you at the experimental field since early this morning! Shall we go over now?"
"Alright, then I'll trouble Mayor Du to lead the way." Zhao Ruochun nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the clean and tidy courtyard of the agricultural machinery institute, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
"Director Zhao, please."
Along the way, Mayor Du kept telling Zhao Ruochun about Song Ce: "Director Zhao, you don't know, Comrade Song is a real genius! A couple of years ago, when he was working in Xinhe Village, Huoxian County, he built a harvester out of scrap materials from a recycling station! The village head was overjoyed at the time..."
Zhao Ruochun listened attentively, nodding and smiling from time to time. Hearing this, he smiled slightly and said, "I've heard about this too. Wasn't it in the newspapers back then? I remember this young comrade was on the list of 'Five Good Educated Youths' that year!"
“You remember perfectly! It was precisely because of this that our Qing City Agricultural Machinery Research Institute discovered this hidden gem and subsequently increased its cultivation…”
Zhao Ruochun nodded slightly, saying nothing more, but his eyes revealed a hint of curiosity. He had come here on an important mission for the organization, and he could not be careless in the slightest, nor could he be swayed by hearsay; he had to see for himself.
From a distance, the group saw a young man standing by the experimental field.
The young man, dressed in blue overalls, was intently fiddling with something on the red machine, completely unaware that someone had come over.
"Director Zhao, that's Comrade Song Ce," Mayor Du said with a smile, pointing.
Zhao Ruochun looked in the direction he pointed, and at first glance, he felt a good impression of this overly young comrade.
Mayor Du led Zhao Ruochun over and called out in a slightly louder voice, "Comrade Xiao Song!"
Song Ce looked up abruptly, and when he saw who it was, he quickly put down the tools in his hand and said respectfully, "Mayor Du, you've arrived." As he spoke, his gaze fell on Zhao Ruochun, who was standing to the side. Seeing that the other man was wearing a crisp Zhongshan suit and had a pen clipped to his breast pocket, he immediately realized that the person in front of him was probably no ordinary person.
"Young Song, this is Director Zhao from the Beijing Municipal Agricultural Machinery Bureau," Mayor Du said kindly.
Song Ce smiled shyly, wiped his hands on his work pants a few times before extending them, and said, "Hello, boss!"
"Hello, Comrade Xiao Song." Zhao Ruochun shook his hand and said gently, "Don't be nervous. Mayor Du has been praising you to me all the way here. I came here specifically to see the harvesting machines in our institute. I heard that the Taiqing-A1 you've been researching can work on slopes?"
"Yes, sir!"
Upon hearing this, Song Ce immediately perked up. He pointed to the experimental field not far away and introduced, "There is a three-acre sloping field over there. We tested it during last summer's harvest. The balancing device that comes with the Qing-A1 can control the tilt angle within ten degrees, and the cutting platform will not touch the ground."
Zhao Ruochun nodded and said with a smile, "Could you give us a live demonstration?"
“No problem! Would you like to try on flat ground or a slope?” Song Ce asked.
“Let’s go on a slope! Slopes are more difficult, but if we can do it on a slope, we can definitely do it on flat ground.” After saying that, Zhao Ruochun took the lead and stepped onto the ground, walking forward step by step.
"Comrade Song, are all the machines properly maintained? Don't let them break down at this crucial moment!" Mayor Du asked in a low voice, lagging behind a few steps.
"Mayor Du, rest assured! This is a major event concerning our Qing City. I assure you, nothing will go wrong."
"Good, good! Comrade Xiao Song, you'd better do a good job!"
Song Ce started the Qing-A1 and drove into the test field. He held the steering wheel with his left hand and gently pushed the control lever with his right hand, steadily descending the slope. In less than fifteen minutes, the entire acre of sloping land was harvested.
Mayor Du explained to Zhao Ruochun, "This batch of seeds is a new variety sent by the Agricultural Research Institute. It matures late by nature, and coupled with the poor climate in Qing City this year, this batch of wheat only matured last month."
Zhao Ruochun nodded and asked, "How is the yield of this new seed? Are there many bran grains?"
"Compared to last year, the yield of this batch of seeds has only increased by 9%, but the drought resistance rate is much higher."
"Um."
After the two finished talking, the wheat in Qing-A1 was transported by a screw conveyor to the grain bags that had been prepared earlier and packed into them.
Mayor Du invited Zhao Ruochun to come forward and inspect the harvest results of Qing-A1. Zhao Ruochun reached into the grain bag and grabbed a handful. He saw that the wheat grains in his hand were particularly clean and fully met the standards for storage.
Zhao Ruochun took out a small notebook from his pocket and scribbled a few notes. Then he waved his hand and beckoned Song Ce over: "Comrade Song, I'd like to ask, what is the approximate production cost of your Qing-A1?"
"If we only consider the materials and accessories, one unit costs nearly 10,000 yuan. If we replace some of the high-precision parts, the cost can be reduced by another 2,000 yuan."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ruochun gasped and turned to Mayor Du beside her, asking somewhat anxiously, "Mayor Du, can our Qing City mass-produce this?"
Mayor Du nodded without hesitation, “Currently, the Agricultural Machinery Institute can assemble about eight units a month, but I have already arranged for people to set up a standardized production line, which will be put into production next spring. At that time, the monthly production capacity of Qing-A1 will reach one hundred units.”
"Good, good!" Zhao Ruochun sighed, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Mayor Du's hand with a force that surprised him. "Mayor Du, Comrade Song's machine has solved a major problem for our country! I'll go back and submit a report to apply for the inclusion of Qing-A1 in our country's promotion catalog. But there's something you need to prepare in advance."
He paused, his expression turning serious: "I hope that after the Qing-A1 is promoted, farmers all over the country can get started using this machine as soon as possible. The terrain and climate are different in many parts of our country, and all sorts of problems will inevitably arise when it is actually used. Mayor Du, do you understand what I mean?"
"Don't worry, Director Zhao!" Mayor Du straightened his back and said loudly, "Professor Wei has already taken the lead in preparing the operation manual and maintenance guide. In addition to the text, there are also illustrations. The last page has the Agricultural Machinery Institute's phone number printed on it, ensuring that our machines won't break down and we won't be unable to find anyone to help us!"
"Good, good!" Zhao Ruochun was extremely satisfied. After carefully inquiring about various details of the Qing-A1, and confirming that there were no omissions, he boarded the jeep back to Beijing that same day at dusk.
After seeing Director Zhao off, Mayor Du smiled slightly and patted Song Ce on the shoulder: "Little Song, haven't you been home for two years?"
Song Ce was taken aback, then nodded.
"Good boy, I've approved your leave this year, go home early!" Mayor Du said, taking two train tickets out of his pocket and handing them to him. He laughed and said, "I heard you're bringing your girlfriend home this year, so I've bought the tickets for you. Go back and see your parents and brothers, they must miss you."
Song Ce's throat felt like it was blocked by something: "Mayor Du, I..."
"Alright! It's almost the end of the year, it won't matter if you're missing! I've already spoken to Professor Wei and the others in advance, so hurry back and pack your things. Don't forget your train is at 7 pm tomorrow night!"
"Um……"
That evening, Song Ce strode to the guesthouse next to the agricultural machinery institute, placed two train tickets on the table, and said gently, "Fang Ning, the institute has approved my leave in advance. The train leaves at seven tomorrow night. Come home with me for the New Year!"
Upon hearing this, Jian Fangning looked up at Song Ce and saw an undisguised joy in his eyes and brows, which made her heart flutter slightly. She stared at the two tickets on the table, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the hem of her sweater.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Song Ce leaned forward, the warm yellow light of the guesthouse falling on the tip of his nose, almost touching hers.
"I...I didn't expect it to be so fast..."
Jian Fangning's voice was a little unsteady, her face flushed and she didn't dare to look at him, "My family isn't well-off, I'm afraid..."
Song Ce reached out and pulled the girl, who was lost in thought, into his arms. His voice was very gentle: "Don't be afraid. You're so wonderful. Anyone would like you... Or are you regretting getting married to me?"
"I don't!"
"Hmm... It's too late to regret it now. In this life, you can only be with me."
These words were like a pebble thrown into the center of a lake, rippling outwards in waves. After a long while, Jian Fangning finally managed a hesitant reply.
"I have no regrets."
The guesthouse window let in a warm yellow light, casting a soft glow on the silhouettes of the two people embracing.
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Author's note: I'll bravely write a little bit of romance every day [doge emoji]
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