At that time, agricultural mechanization was very low, and many communes didn't even have a tractor, so the agricultural machinery stations were mostly idle. Now that the college entrance examination was over, he had nothing to do, so he thought about renovating a cheap electric fan. The main reason he wanted to do it was because the weather was too hot. Electric fans were already available in China, but unfortunately, not only were they inaccessible to ordinary people, but they were also very expensive. Thinking of this, he took out a notebook and began to draw.
Wu Dahai had gone to the warehouse to comfort Jiang Xiaoyu, but when he returned, he saw Zhu Youliang writing and drawing. He quietly walked over and saw a rough sketch. There was no ruler, but it was very neat.
"Mr. Zhu, what are you painting?" Wu Dahai asked as he moved closer.
"Desktop fan," Zhu Youliang continued to speak. He had been here for some time, and through indirect inquiries and the relevant literature, he had a general understanding of the current technological development. To him, an electric fan was a relatively simple appliance; the real challenge was how to create one using the available materials of the time.
"Okay, you can do this too, you're a jack of all trades. It would be great if you could really make an electric fan. Fatty people like me are most afraid of summer because it's so hot!" Wu Dahai said as he fanned himself with his hands.
Zhu Youliang suddenly stopped writing, looked up, and said, "Mr. Wu, I remember your uncle works at the county plastics factory?"
Wu Dahai said proudly: "Yes, if it weren't for my uncle, I wouldn't be able to enter the agricultural machinery station."
Zhu Youliang hurriedly handed over his notebook. "Mr. Wu, can you help me see if the plastics factory can make fan blades and bases like these? I don't have many requirements, just something light and durable."
Wu Dahai didn't understand this at all. He just glanced at it and then looked away, stroking his chin and saying, "It should be possible, but you should ask my uncle for details. How about this, we can get off work early this afternoon and I'll take you to meet my uncle. The plastics factory isn't far from here. I'll borrow a bicycle to take you there. It'll only take an hour."
"Engineer Wu, you've done me a big favor. As you know, our village doesn't have electricity yet. This electric fan is only going to be used by the two of us in the office," Zhu Youliang said with a smile. The most troublesome part was the fan blades and the mesh cover around them. Improving the motor was a simple matter for him. The motor capacitor needed for the fan was small and plastic, so fifty or sixty watts would be enough. The agricultural machinery station warehouse also had a lot of discarded motors, and after some repairs and modifications, he had a working one. Once he finished the improved table fan, he would take it to a machinery factory to test it out and see if he could sell the technology, which would then cover Atong's tuition.
Wu Dahai became even more enthusiastic upon hearing this. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it. Tell me what else is needed to make this electric fan, and what the exact process is, and I'll get it for you. Although I can't repair tractors, I know a lot of people, so I can definitely help you build this fan."
Zhu Youliang had an idea and pointed to the blueprints and explained them to him one by one. Wu Dahai saw that he was talking so clearly and thought that he really could make a cheaper and better electric fan, so he started to think about it. After thinking for a while, he said, "Engineer Zhu, what do you think of me, Brother Wu?"
Zhu Youliang gave a thumbs up, "So righteous!"
Wu Dahai was amused when he heard this. He liked people like Zhu Youliang, who had real skills but also didn't look down on others. So, he stopped hesitating and said, "Youliang, since you said so, we have to talk about this electric fan. You made this electric fan not just for your own use, right? If you want to sell it, I can connect you with the machinery factory with just a word. My old man has a classmate who is an old classmate of the new deputy director of the machinery factory, and they have some friendship. I understand what you just said. The most important thing about this electric fan is the motor, and this matter is under the jurisdiction of the machinery factory. As long as the machinery factory agrees, there is no need to go to my uncle's place. We can just let the machinery factory negotiate directly."
"Without samples, will the machinery factory trust me?" Zhu Youliang hesitated. He could just give me the blueprints, but if someone knowledgeable saw them, they might copy them and the technology wouldn't sell.
Wu Dahai patted his chest and said, "Leave it to me."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youliang said, "Brother Wu, since you've helped me like this, I can't let you suffer any loss. How about this, you'll be the one taking the lead on this matter. If it succeeds, you'll take 20% of the profits. How about that?"
Wu Dahai was delighted. Electric fans had been around in China for a long time, but they weren't widely used. Firstly, they were too poor to afford electricity, and secondly, they were too expensive. But according to what Zhu Youliang had just said, this electric fan not only used less electricity but was also inexpensive to produce. The machinery factory would definitely agree. A new technology like this, even if it wasn't worth a few hundred, would probably be worth at least five or six hundred. Even with 20% of the prize, it would still be close to a hundred. Even though he was thinking this, he muttered, "Youliang, what are you talking about? Am I helping you just for a commission? You're really looking down on me, Brother Wu."
If he had just arrived, Zhu Youliang might have agreed immediately, but he was no longer the same person he was when he first arrived. So he quickly said, "Brother Wu, if we weren't brothers, you'd be at a loss for taking 20% of the money you've helped me with. If we were true brothers, you'd agree to this. Otherwise, I'd be embarrassed to ask you for help again in the future."
Wu Dahai nodded at Zhu Youliang and said with a smile, "Alright, I took advantage of you this time. Just call me if you need anything next time."
"What's the big deal about whether it's cheap or not? If I can't make this fan, it will just be a pile of waste paper." Zhu Youliang said and closed his notebook.
Wu Dahai agreed after hearing this and said that he would go find his father when he got home.
As they were talking, Jiang Xiaoyu suddenly walked in from outside.
She didn't come in either, but stood outside the door and said, "Wu Dahai, come out for a moment."
Wu Dahai winked at Zhu Youliang and ran out.
"Xiaoyu, what do you want to talk to me about?" Wu Dahai followed her attentively.
Jiang Xiaoyu didn't answer and walked straight into the warehouse.
After arriving at the warehouse and closing the door, she turned and stared at Wu Dahai for a long time without saying a word.
Wu Dahai was completely confused and couldn't help but ask, "Xiaoyu, what are you doing? You don't have to force me, I'm willing."
Jiang Xiaoyu: "..."
After a while, she wiped her tears and said, "Wu Dahai, you said you wanted to marry me before. Do you still want to marry me now?"
Wu Dahai was delighted at first, but soon lost interest again. "Xiaoyu, I do want to marry you, but you don't have me in your heart."
Jiang Xiaoyu couldn't help but raise her voice and said, "I just want to ask you, are you willing to marry me?"
Wu Dahai wanted to say yes, but he didn't open his mouth for a long time.
Jiang Xiaoyu was so angry that she opened the door and pointed at it, saying, "Get out!"
Wu Dahai felt numb all over and fled from the warehouse.
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