"The rewards for entering the finals, besides a job at the Provincial Heavy Industry Company, include a 500 RMB prize for first place, 300 RMB for second place, and 100 RMB for third place. All three finalists will be provided with housing: first place gets a small three-bedroom apartment, while second and third place get small two-bedroom apartments. Salary levels are also directly affected: first place gets promoted to engineer level 9, earning 102 RMB per month; second place gets promoted to technician level 10, earning 86.5 RMB per month; and third place also gets promoted to technician level 11, earning 73.5 RMB per month. All other benefits are linked to salary level!"
"Entries that make it to the finals and pass the review process will also receive a reward if they are put into production online!"
"Right now, we've already taken a liking to your work, but since the final competition results haven't been announced yet, it's best if you don't transfer your work to the provincial heavy industry company yet!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhiyuan's eyes flickered, and he quickly understood what the expert meant.
This is for his own good! The tallest tree in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind, not to mention that he has completely clashed with the Lu family, and the Lu family is definitely keeping an eye on him.
To avoid future troubles, it's best to follow the procedures like everyone else.
Therefore, he immediately nodded and said, "I understand! I have no objections and will follow the leader's orders!"
The provincial experts were relieved to see that Gu Zhiyuan understood and had no objections.
She couldn't help but look at Lin's father with gratitude. It was truly a pity that he was willing to give up such a promising talent, who was both skilled and insightful, to the province.
"It's good that you understand! Don't worry about the immediate situation! Think about the long term!" After offering a few words of reassurance, the expert returned to the main topic.
"Because your work is still at the machinery factory, this work of yours cannot yet be considered a product of our provincial heavy industry engineering design department, and you will not be able to enjoy our provincial heavy industry's benefits and rewards for the time being. We will have to compensate you according to other conditions, which is also considered as buying this blueprint!"
"What are your requirements for this condition? You can think about them carefully in the next few days, and then convey them to us through him! We will try our best to meet them!"
This is why the provincial experts accompanied Lin's father and Gu Zhiyuan to the train station separately.
It was to explain this matter to Gu Zhiyuan.
Gu Zhiyuan thought for a moment, then asked only one question: "How did the Provincial Heavy Industry compensate for this situation before?"
This stumped the expert from the provincial heavy industry. He thought for a moment, but couldn't recall it. He scratched his head and said, "I really don't have one. This is probably the first time you've done this!"
At this point, he finally realized what was happening and slapped his thigh: "No wonder those guys let me win so easily this time; they were setting a trap for me!"
Lin's father rolled his eyes: "Alright, Lao Fang! Let me tell you, this compensation can't be less! If it's less, I'll be the first to object!"
The provincial expert glared at Lin's father, annoyed: "Now you're all biased towards Xiao Gu! I know, I know, I won't let him suffer!"
After saying that, he thought for a moment and said, "In that case, I'll go back and talk to my superiors. We need to give you a reasonable price. You won't be taken advantage of! I'll let you know once the compensation terms are finalized. Then you can see if you have any other needs."
This was really done out of respect for Lin's father.
After thanking the experts from the province, Gu Zhiyuan stopped talking and focused on driving.
He was a good driver and drove very steadily. Plus, there weren't many cars on the street these days, so he quickly got the person to the train station.
With about an hour to go before departure, Gu Zhiyuan asked Lin's father to sit with the provincial experts at the station so they could have a private chat.
He withdrew from the meeting on his own.
In less than half an hour, he entered the platform carrying two large lunch boxes and some other things.
The lunchbox contained two generous portions of braised pork belly with bamboo shoots, glistening with oil, and the aroma was irresistible as soon as it was opened.
Lin's father and the experts hadn't eaten for most of the day, and their stomachs started growling at the smell of food.
The expert tried to decline, but Lin's father didn't stand on ceremony. He took the food and shoved it into the expert's hand, then grabbed another portion and started eating, asking, "Have you eaten yet?"
Gu Zhiyuan nodded.
The experts didn't stand on ceremony, and the two finished all the food in the lunchbox. Gu Zhiyuan then took the lunchbox back, put it in a nylon mesh bag, and changed the tea leaves in the experts' teacups, pouring in boiling water.
The train was about to arrive at the station, and Gu Zhiyuan and Lin's father saw the experts onto the platform.
Once the train came to a stop, Gu Zhiyuan boarded first, found his seat, settled the expert in, and hung the net bag he had somehow acquired on the hook next to the expert's seat.
After settling in, because the county town was a small station and the train wouldn't stop for long, the train conductor reminded those seeing off relatives and friends that it was time to get off.
Lin's father and Gu Zhiyuan got off the bus and waved goodbye to the experts from the platform.
After the train left the station, the expert looked back and saw the net bag next to him.
There were two washed apples and half a pound of steamed egg custard inside, just in case he got hungry on the way and needed something to eat.
After all, it takes four or five hours to travel from the county to the provincial capital by train.
The expert shook his head and smiled, accepting the offer with a smile.
However, I didn't expect that Gu Zhiyuan, who doesn't talk much and seems a bit aloof, would be so thoughtful and considerate.
On second thought, if he could be so considerate to someone he'd only met once, he must be even more attentive to Lao Lin! No wonder Lao Lin treats him better than his own son!
Gu Zhiyuan didn't care what the experts thought; he was already on his way back to the factory.
He had to take Lin's father home first, and then return the car to the motor pool before he could go home.
Lin's father was unusually relaxed throughout the journey, and even hummed a few lines of a tune with great interest.
After a moment of joy, he said seriously, "You need to think carefully about how to train two people from the design department in the remaining six months!"
Gu Zhiyuan understood the situation and nodded without saying anything.
Lin's father didn't ask any more questions. He simply closed his eyes, let the wind blow on him, patted his legs with his hands, and silently sang a few lines from a play about stealing the imperial horse: "Back then, Hejian was so grand, who didn't know how fast my double hooks were—"
After returning the car to the motor pool, Gu Zhiyuan went to ride his bike downstairs in the office building. Looking up, he saw that the lights in the conference room upstairs were still on and he could faintly hear voices. He knew that the factory leaders were still arguing about how to deal with Lu Kai.
Gu Zhiyuan raised his hand and glanced at his watch in the light from the stairwell; it was almost nine o'clock.
With a cold smile on his lips, Gu Zhiyuan got on his bike and drove off, unaware that Lu Kai emerged from the shadows deep in the stairwell after he left.
Her eyes were bloodshot, fixed on Gu Zhiyuan's back, filled with undisguised resentment and hatred.
After the factory leaders returned to the meeting room, Lu Kai was immediately asked to leave.
Saying it was an invitation was just a polite way of putting it; Wu Jie's attitude was tougher than ever before. He directly ordered Lu Kai to suspend his duties and stay home to reflect on his actions while awaiting the factory's final decision and notification.
In the past, Lu Kai would always jump out to refute them, but today, no one dared to speak.
Even Lu's father's most loyal lackey, the union chairman, lowered his head and pretended to be dead.
Then he directly instructed his secretary to escort Lu Kai out of the meeting room, saying that he was not available to listen to the rest of the meeting.
Lu Kai's face flushed. He hadn't expected that Wu Jie, the factory manager who had always been very amiable to him, would be so disrespectful.
He stormed out of the meeting room, almost in a fit of rage, and rushed downstairs in a few steps.
But he discovered that the world was vast, and for a time, he had nowhere to go.
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