Chapter 89 Guan Shengnan's Letter Cheng Xin said nothing, only...
Cheng Xin didn't say anything, just nodded.
She changed into her work clothes, put on her hat, and walked into the workshop.
The roar of the machines in the workshop makes people's eardrums numb, and you have to lean close to someone's ear and shout at the top of your voice to speak.
"Director Cheng, this machine is too old!" The old master leaned close to her ear, his voice almost drowning out the noise of the machine, pointing at a creaking machine tool next to him, "Eight out of ten parts are useless! The textile factory doesn't want them!"
The dilapidated scene, the numb workers, the mountains of old machines, and the debt of 2.6 million were like huge rocks pressing down on the heads.
The situation was more serious than she had imagined.
She glanced at the several factory leaders who were accompanying her one by one: "Notify all middle-level cadres, technical backbones, and team leaders to gather in the factory conference room in one hour. I want to hear the truth and understand the real difficulties of every link in the Red Star Factory."
The meeting room was dimly lit by low-wattage bulbs.
Some of the people sitting at the long table had sad faces, some avoided eye contact, and some looked at the overly young female factory manager with obvious distrust.
Cheng Xin sat at the main seat and said straight to the point: "I am Cheng Xin, the new director and secretary of the Red Star Textile Machinery Factory. Director Chen has given me a thorough account of the factory's situation. To be honest, this factory is in a state of disrepair. But this is not a reason to give up! Today, let's put aside our concerns, speak freely, and lay out our problems, roots, and ideas. To find a way out, we have to work together to find a solution."
Silence, oppressive silence.
Finally, a sturdy middle-aged man with a greasy face stood up. He was Director Sun from the first production workshop. He said in a tone of gunpowder: "The problem is obvious! The machines are outdated. They work hard all day, but they don't produce much work. Instead, they produce a lot of waste. Which textile factory would buy such antiques now? The warehouse is piled with them and can't sell them. Isn't this a problem?"
His words were like opening a floodgate.
The deputy chief of the technical department, an old engineer with gray hair and thick glasses, sighed heavily: "The aging of equipment mentioned by Director Sun is the root cause. The technical department has thought about improving the drawings and optimizing the design. But a good cook cannot cook without rice. Without new equipment to process precision parts and without the introduction of new technologies, no matter how good the drawings are, they are just empty talk. Our existing technical information is at least 20 years behind that of foreign countries!"
Lao Wang, the head of the supply and marketing department, said bitterly, "We are running out of raw materials. Our old suppliers are unwilling to ship our products when they hear that we owe them hundreds of thousands of dollars. When we go out to do business, their faces change immediately when they hear that the machines are from the Red Star Factory. We have no orders and no raw materials. Even gods can't help us!"
Liu, the chief of the finance department, was even more gloomy: "There is not a cent in the account! The bank is asking for payment every day, and the workers haven't received their wages for seven months. People in the factory are panicking. Director Cheng, this hole is too big!"
He looked at Cheng Xin with a face full of doubt, and he was almost asking directly "Can you do it?"
At this time, a sarcastic voice came from the end of the conference table, near the corner. It was the deputy chief of the Quality Inspection Department, a thin middle-aged man: "Director Cheng is young, and he is a top student who studied abroad. He must be very capable. I just don't know if his ability to make money out of nothing can produce money to pay salaries and orders to feed hundreds of mouths in the factory?" His words caused a few suppressed sneers.
Geng Yunye had been sitting quietly behind Cheng Xin. His expression was slightly cold at the moment, but he didn't say anything.
Cheng Xin's expression did not change at all: "Deputy Section Chief Qian, your ability is not something you can prove with words. I will solve these problems one by one, including wages, orders, raw materials, and technology. But the premise is that everyone who stays here will work together with one mind and one strength! Red Star Factory does not need people who shake the morale of the troops and watch from the sidelines. If anyone feels that there is no hope here, the door is there and they can find another job. I will never stop them. Those who stay, join me in a desperate battle to pull Red Star Factory out of the quagmire!"
Her words were full of unquestionable determination, which instantly quieted the conference room.
Qian Youfu curled his lips and said nothing more, but the disdain on his face became even stronger.
That night, the lights in the small room of the factory staff dormitory were warm.
The verbal sparring, questioning attitudes and heavy debt pressure during the day still weighed heavily on Cheng Xin's shoulders even after returning to this small safe haven.
She had put aside her daytime toughness, and her brows were filled with fatigue. She sat at the table, with a notebook spread out in front of her, which was filled with densely packed records of problems to be solved, and her expression was solemn.
Geng Yunye came in with a basin of warm water, silently soaked the towel, wrung it dry, and walked behind Cheng Xin.
"Are you tired? Close your eyes." His deep voice carried soothing power.
Cheng Xin closed her eyes as she was told and leaned forward.
Geng Yunye placed a warm towel on the back of her neck, pressing and kneading it with soothing force.
The room was very quiet, with only the slight rubbing sound of the towel and the two people's gentle breathing.
Cheng Xin rubbed her brows and recounted the difficulties and reactions of the people at the meeting in a clear and logical manner, her tone full of thought: "The root of the problem lies in the product. The old machines of the Red Star Factory have indeed been eliminated by the times. Brother Yunye, what is the most urgent need of Jiangbin Village now?"
Geng Yunye slightly increased the strength in his hands and pressed precisely on the sore spot near her shoulder blade.
He said slowly, "We are in need of good machines. The underwear factory is expanding the fastest and wants to make high-end lace products for export. The existing looms are slow, have a high failure rate, poor precision, and frequent thread breaks. The accountant is overwhelmed all day long and dares not accept more orders because of the pressure."
Cheng Xin hummed comfortably, and her tense nerves seemed to relax a little. She opened her eyes, and although her body was still leaning back in a relaxed manner, allowing her husband to massage her, her mind had become clear, and she caught the key information in Geng Yunye's words.
She remembered that the bulk of his income came from the shares of the underwear factory. She knew that the underwear factory was doing well, but she didn't expect that this was still the production after the orders were placed. If the production capacity was increased, the underwear factory would probably be able to earn double or even triple the profit.
Geng Yunye continued what he was doing, and pointed out the bottleneck of the current equipment in a pertinent tone: "The first batch of machines were obsolete machines bought at the Guangdong Autumn Fair. We replaced them with domestic looms the year before last, but the delivery speed still couldn't keep up, so we had to make do with them."
He leaned forward, close to Cheng Xin's ear, his eyes fell on her side face with a smile: "If Red Star Factory can produce a new high-speed loom with fast speed, low failure rate, and capable of weaving complex patterns, I will immediately place an order on behalf of Jiangbin Village, starting with no less than 30 units. Other factories will definitely follow suit after seeing the effect. This is the first pot of gold for Red Star Factory to turn around, and it is also the most secure market."
This sudden promise made Cheng Xin open her eyes suddenly. She turned her head to look at Geng Yunye behind her, her eyes full of disbelief.
"Thirty units?! Brother Yunye, do you know the current situation in the factory? What if... I mean what if..."
Geng Yunye put his hands on her shoulders, his deep eyes looked directly into her hesitation, and interrupted her decisively: "Nothing will happen. I believe in you, and I also believe that the old brand of Red Star Factory can be revitalized in your hands. Director Chen is right, the Red Star Factory should produce the best machines that Jiangbin Village needs most! This order of 30 units is not only my attitude, but also the attitude of Jiangbin Village."
His words were like a solid foundation, instantly stabilizing Cheng Xin's somewhat shaky mind.
The uneasiness in Cheng Xin's eyes was quickly dispelled, and was replaced by ignited fighting spirit.
She immediately reached out to take the notebook and pen on the table, and her tone turned professional and urgent: "Clear requirements are the key. What specific indicators are needed? Target speed? Upper limit of tolerance for failure rate? What level of jacquard precision can be achieved? For example, the multi-arm or electronic jacquard capabilities required for lace?" She accurately grasped the core of the technology.
Relying on his many years of management and front-line experience, Geng Yunye gave specific and quantitative demand indicators, just like formulating a rigorous procurement contract.
Cheng Xin wrote quickly, meticulously recording every key parameter.
After Cheng Xin finished writing, Geng Yunye pondered for a moment and added the most critical support: "Demand alone is not enough, technical support is the core. Engineer Wu, who retired from the Provincial Mechanical Research Institute, is an authority in the field of textile machinery. I will go to invite him early tomorrow morning and make sure he comes out to lead the technical research."
He continued to speak, and gave a plan specifically for the current urgent need: "In addition, regarding the start-up capital, there is a sum of money in the collective account of Jiangbin Village. I will immediately transfer a sum of money in the name of 'prepayment of equipment deposit'. First solve the urgent need, purchase urgently needed raw materials, stabilize people's hearts, and let everyone see hope and sincerity."
He considered the funds, raw materials and people's hearts carefully and practically.
Cheng Xin tightly grasped Geng Yunye's big hand on her shoulder. His promise and full support lifted the huge stone from her heart.
She took a deep breath, straightened her spine, and added some seriousness to her tone: "Brother Yunye, I feel more at ease with your and Jiangbin Village's support. Please ask Engineer Wu for help."
Cheng Xin made a solemn promise to him: "Red Star Factory will keep this deposit in its account. When the equipment is manufactured in the future, we will deliver the goods from Jiangbin Village as soon as possible, and at the most favorable price!"
Geng Yunye looked at the fire that had rekindled in her eyes, and raised the corners of his mouth. He held her hand tightly and expressed their relationship and beliefs: "We are a family, and we share honor and disgrace. Just go ahead and do it. If you need me to do anything, let me know at any time."
Under the warm yellow light, the couple leaned against each other. Geng Yunye's support and commitment, like a strong east wind, blew away the haze in Cheng Xin's heart, and also injected the first dose of adrenaline into the dying Red Star Factory, illuminating the way forward for the last stand.
Next, Cheng Xin reorganized the factory affairs in a swift and resolute manner.
Qian Youfu was passive at work and spread rumors among the workers that belittled and questioned the ability of the female factory manager, but was caught in the act by Cheng Xin.
At the general cadre meeting, Cheng Xin spoke harshly, enumerating Qian Youfu's words and deeds and their adverse effects, and announced on the spot: "Comrade Qian Youfu, deputy section chief of the Quality Inspection Section, has a negative work attitude and spreads false statements, which seriously affects the production order and the confidence of employees. After research and decision, he will be removed from his position as deputy section chief of the Quality Inspection Section and transferred to the warehouse of the Logistics Section to be responsible for material registration. I hope he will reflect deeply and perform his duties conscientiously in his new position."
This heavy blow, together with the equipment deposit remitted by Geng Yunye on behalf of Jiangbin Village, reassured everyone and brought subtle changes to the lifeless Red Star Factory.
The food in the canteen has improved, and raw materials have been gradually delivered to the factory. In the workshop, under the leadership of technical backbones, the long-lost sounds of machine debugging and parts polishing can be heard.
However, not everyone is hopeful. Wang Bin, a young technician in the technical department, claims to be a mechanical technical secondary school graduate. He looks down on Cheng Xin, an amateur female factory manager, and does not believe that a dying factory can be revived in the hands of a woman.
He found two young men in the Supply and Marketing Department who also had no hope in the factory and were thinking about finding ways to transfer, and had a heart-to-heart talk with them.
"Just follow her and wait for the end of you! This factory is in debt, we have to find a way out for ourselves as soon as possible, otherwise when the factory collapses, we won't even get severance pay, and we won't have anywhere to cry!"
He found Qian Youfu, who was demoted to the warehouse and full of resentment.
Wang Bin fanned the flames: "Uncle Qian, the first thing she did when she took office was to burn old people like you. Sending you to look after the warehouse, isn't this a humiliation! Taking over such a mess, I don't think she can last for a long time. We can't just let it go like this, we have to let her know that she is not the only woman who has the final say in the Red Star Factory!"
Qian Youfu was so angry that he had no place to vent his anger, and the two of them hit it off immediately.
The few of them had similar interests and frequently colluded in private, planning to embarrass Cheng Xin and pave the way for their own decent departure.
At noon that day, when the workers had just finished their meal and the factory was bustling with people, Wang Bin felt that the time had come.
He brought two followers from the supply and marketing department, followed by Qian Youfu, who looked like he was waiting for a good show, and rushed straight to the factory director's office in a threatening manner.
He walked in without even knocking, attracting the attention of many workers in the corridor.
Wang Bin raised her chin high and spoke in a voice loud enough for people outside the door to hear clearly, with a tone full of disdain and provocation: "Director Cheng, don't bother holding on. The Red Star Factory is in a quagmire. It owes millions and can't even pay wages. It will go bankrupt within half a year! What do you, a female comrade, know about machinery? You are trying to imitate others in reform. We don't want to accompany you, a female director, to mess around!"
He slammed several resignation reports in his hand on the desk in front of Cheng Xin: "Look carefully, resignation reports! We don't want to serve you anymore! You have to approve it, and we will leave if you don't. Anyway, this Red Star Factory is doomed. If the day comes when it collapses, we won't have time to watch you cry."
Qian Youfu folded his arms, leaning against the door frame, a gloating smile on his face, and joined in sarcastically: "That's right, Director Cheng. People go to high places, and water flows to low places. A forced melon is not sweet. We are doing this for your own good, so that you don't have to be annoyed by looking at useless people like us, right?" His eyes were full of vicious sarcasm.
The office suddenly became quiet, with only the sound of Wang Bin's heavy breathing and the faint sound of discussions coming from outside the door.
Cheng Xin sat behind her desk, her eyes calmly scanning the faces in front of her that were filled with arrogance, contempt, and gloating.
She picked up the resignation report on the table, flipped the pages one by one with her fingertips, and paused for a moment at the signature of each report, memorizing the names one by one.
After reading the last report, she put it back on the table, her expression as calm as a deep pool: "Red Star Factory is indeed in trouble now. It is your freedom to choose to leave."
She picked up the pen on the table, uncapped it, and signed her name and the date neatly.
"I approve."
She put down her pen and looked back at their faces: "Go to the Personnel Department to complete the resignation procedures."
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and she added: "I wish you all a bright future."
This calm, almost indifferent reaction instantly extinguished the tragic atmosphere that Wang Bin and others had deliberately created.
All the "impassioned speeches" and "reasonable arguments" they prepared were of no use.
Wang Bin opened his mouth and wanted to say something to save face, but his heart skipped a beat when he saw Cheng Xin's oppressive look.
In the end, the few of them could only leave the factory director's office in disgrace, like defeated roosters, under the complicated gazes of the workers outside the door, their backs looking particularly embarrassed.
The news spread like wildfire in the factory, causing even greater commotion and discussion. Some people were shocked by Cheng Xin's tough tactics, some felt disgusted by Wang Bin and others' defection, and some were impressed by Cheng Xin's calmness in the face of danger, and their hesitation turned into a more determined following.
A few days later, just as Cheng Xin and technical backbones began to outline the prototype of the new machine according to Geng Yunye's needs, a letter from Shanghai was delivered to her.
On the envelope was Guan Shengnan's familiar and beautiful handwriting.
Cheng Xin opened the letter, and Guan Shengnan's passionate words jumped out of the paper, bringing crucial hope.
"Cheng Xin, congratulations on taking charge of the Red Star Factory! I knew you would shine wherever you go! I heard you are going to develop a new type of high-speed loom? Great! I'm in the Foreign Trade Bureau and happened to have access to a batch of internal briefings and some technical parameter summaries of the latest international textile machinery exhibitions. Please note: confidential information cannot be shared."
"I have translated and sorted out the key points, especially the directional information about high-speed transmission, energy-saving motors and simple electronic control systems. I hope it will be useful to you! The attachment also contains the contact information of several European manufacturers with good international reputations who make core components for textile machinery, such as high-performance motors and control chips. If you need more detailed technical advice or want to explore the possibility of cooperation, please let me know at any time! I am familiar with the introduction process in Shanghai and can save you a lot of detours!"
Cheng Xin was overjoyed. Although the information provided by Guan Shengnan did not involve core secrets, it clearly pointed out the development direction and key technical nodes of the international advanced level, which was exactly the guiding light that Red Star Factory needed most for technical research! The information of those reliable suppliers was even more timely.
She immediately wrote back, her words full of gratitude and clear intention to cooperate:
"Shengnan! Thank you so much! The information is just in time, and the directional guidance is worth a thousand gold! What we need most at present is the core control system of the new high-speed loom and the high-efficiency energy-saving motor technology."
"Could you please help me focus on the two Deguo and one Ruishi manufacturers circled in the attachment to see if they have any intention to transfer technology or are willing to supply core components? If we can get their public non-core patent technology manuals or application guides, it will be a huge help to us!"
"Regarding the introduction procedures, Director Chen of the provincial government is coordinating the foreign exchange quota. If there is a faster approval channel or policy information in the Shanghai Stock Exchange, please give me some pointers! The Red Star Factory's turnaround cannot be achieved without you, the foreign aid general!"
Engineer Wu, who was invited by Geng Yunye, arrived quickly.
The veteran expert spent three days in the workshop, carefully studying Geng Yunye's demand report and the international information sent by Guan Shengnan. Combining the poor processing capabilities of the Red Star Factory, he proposed a pragmatic technical route: based on existing conditions, introduce core components, and focus on breakthroughs in transmission efficiency and basic control.
"Let's solve the problems of speed and stability first. Complex patterns can be put off to the next generation!" Engineer Wu made the final decision.
A technical breakthrough team was quickly established under the leadership of Engineer Wu, Engineer Zhang, and Master Zhao, an eighth-level fitter.
Cheng Xin had the advantage of foreign languages. She personally translated the supplementary information that Guan Shengnan kept sending, and directly contacted a Deguo motor supplier provided by Guan Shengnan through a long-distance call specially approved by the factory.
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