Chapter 199 White Mud
As soon as Director Ma finished speaking, a steady sound of footsteps was heard outside the laboratory.
"Director Ma has such great authority." Lu Liangchen's voice came from the door with a hint of coldness.
"Director Lu?" Director Ma was shocked. Didn't they say that Director Lu was in a meeting today and was not in the factory?
Lu Liangchen had no intention of greeting Director Ma and went straight to the point.
"I never knew when the Light Industry Bureau would be able to directly intervene in the personnel arrangements for the military region's special approval projects."
Jiang Haitang turned around and saw Lu Liangchen in a navy blue Zhongshan suit, standing tall and handsome. He was holding a document in his hand and followed by two comrades in military uniforms.
The sunlight shone in from behind him, casting a long shadow on the ground.
Director Ma, who was caught in the act, had his expression frozen instantly, and beads of sweat oozed from his forehead.
"Director Lu, you misunderstood..."
"Misunderstanding?" Lu Liangchen snorted coldly, walked to Jiang Haitang and handed the document to her without even glancing at Director Ma.
"Yes, there's a misunderstanding. We have no intention of interfering with the military district's special approval project!"
"Haitang, this is an urgent telegram just sent from the Military Region Logistics Department, expressing concern about our research and development progress."
When Jiang Haitang heard Lu Liangchen's words, her face was full of joy.
Lu Liangchen turned his gaze to Director Ma, his eyes as sharp as a knife.
"If Director Ma has any guidance, why not report it directly to Division Commander Zhao Weiguo?"
The faces of the "experts" behind Director Ma changed when they heard this.
Zhao Weiguo was a notoriously iron-blooded general who hated bureaucracy the most.
He couldn't even handle Lu Liangchen alone, let alone go find Zhao Weiguo.
What they originally thought today was to take advantage of Lu Liangchen's absence, execute first and report later, and create a fait accompli. At that time, Lu Liangchen would have no choice but to accept it.
But now Lu Liangchen is in the factory, what else can they do?
"No, that's not necessary..." Director Ma took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his face. "We're just doing a routine inspection..."
"Do we need to bring so many 'experts' for the inspection?" Lu Liangchen's voice was still cold.
"That's not what Director Ma said just now. Director Ma seemed to be saying, 'It's not that I look down on female comrades, but this kind of high-tech project should be handed over to a professional team. These are all experts who returned from studying in the Soviet Union. Why not let them take the lead!'"
Director Ma had no idea that this female comrade didn't give them any face at all and repeated his exact words.
"It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, it was just a joke!" Although Director Ma felt aggrieved, he could only smile and say so.
Jiang Haitang ignored him, opened the document Lu Liangchen gave her, and suddenly her eyes lit up.
"That's perfect, Director Ma. The military district requires us to submit an interim report within three days. Since you've brought an expert with you, why don't you help us review the technical parameters?"
Her tactic of retreating in order to advance put Director Ma in a dilemma. If he agreed, they would not understand the technology. If he refused, he would appear guilty.
"This...we have other arrangements..." Director Ma hesitated, his eyes flickering, and he didn't dare to accept the challenge at all.
"That's such a shame." Lu Liangchen took over the conversation, his tone suddenly becoming friendly. "By the way, Director Ma, the Provincial Machinery Factory mentioned to me yesterday that they want to recruit a few Russian-speaking technicians. It seems your son has also signed up..."
Director Ma's expression changed immediately.
He has been in the business for many years and is a shrewd person. How could he not understand that these words are full of threats?
Unfortunately, he had no way to fight back against Lu Liangchen's threat. The Light Industry Bureau had no control over the machinery factory, and the machinery factory was now in a honeymoon period with the textile factory, and their relationship was very good.
It is really easy for Lu Liangchen to do something bad.
"Director Lu has a good relationship with the machinery factory?"
"It's just so-so. It's just a matter of people carrying each other in a fancy sedan chair, giving each other face." Lu Liangchen said lightly, and at the same time gave Director Ma a meaningful look, "These days, it's not easy for young people to get a good job."
Jiang Haitang almost laughed out loud.
She knew Lu Liangchen too well - this was clearly a hint: If you dare to make trouble, I will make your son lose his job!
If they can't find a job, they will have to go to the countryside. I don't think Director Ma would want to see this situation.
Director Ma was indeed caught in the trap, and his attitude immediately softened.
"Director Lu is right. Young people do need opportunities... Well, we won't disturb you from working."
He turned and winked at his entourage, "Let's go to the next unit."
The people following Director Ma were all confused. They came here today just for the textile factory project and hadn't heard that there was another unit!
Someone wanted to ask, but was stopped by Director Ma's fierce look.
When the group left, they moved even faster than when they came, as if there were wolves chasing them from behind.
After Director Ma and his group left in disgrace, the laboratory erupted in long-suppressed laughter.
"Director Lu, you're amazing!" Zhou Xiaomei exclaimed admiringly. "That Director Ma's face turned green!"
Lu Liangchen restrained his smile and looked solemn.
"It's not that simple," he said to Jiang Haitang in a low voice. "I just received news that someone has reported our project team to the provincial government for 'wasting national resources.' Director Ma is just here to scout out the situation."
Jiang Haitang's heart tightened, and he subconsciously thought of a possibility.
"Is it directed at you?"
"Maybe there's more." Lu Liangchen shook his head. "It could also be that some people don't want to see us succeed because of the entire project."
That night, Jiang Haitang and Lu Liangchen worked late into the night in the office to prepare the report required by the military district.
It would be best if this report is prepared early and coordinated by the military region.
The two worked until late at night and finally prepared the report.
On the second day, Jiang Haitang arrived at the laboratory early. Since some people did not want to see them succeed, they could only compress time desperately and try to develop the most suitable fabric within a limited time.
"Look here," Jiang Haitang pointed to a piece of experimental data. "Using a mixture of rosin and rubber, the waterproofing performance increased by 40%, but the fireproofing effect decreased."
Zheng Mingyuan came over, and the two of them stared at the experimental data for a long time.
“Could it be a matter of proportion?”
"I've tried three different ratios." Jiang Haitang rubbed his temples in distress. "Each time I end up focusing on one thing and losing the other."
Zheng Mingyuan suddenly stood up and said, "I'll go find someone who might be able to solve this problem. I won't be here for the next two days."
Jiang Haitang knew that Zheng Mingyuan was a man of great power, and therefore, she respected him.
Sure enough, two days later, when Zheng Mingyuan came back, he brought a small notebook wrapped in brown paper.
"Mr. Jiang, take a look at this."
Jiang Haitang flipped open a yellowed notebook filled with densely packed chemical formulas and experimental data. "This is..."
"This was left by my uncle. He studied similar problems back then."
Jiang Haitang looked up in surprise.
During the days they worked together, Zheng Mingyuan rarely mentioned his family.
"Your uncle..."
"He died. This record has been in my cousin's hands." Lu Liangchen said briefly, his fingers gently stroking the handwriting on the page. "My uncle said that during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, the soldiers wore thin cotton clothes and fought in the snow at -40 degrees Celsius... He wanted to research the best warm fabric..."
When Zheng Mingyuan spoke, his voice was slightly choked.
Jiang Haitang didn't say anything. At this moment, all the comfort was pale and powerless.
Fortunately, Zheng Mingyuan adjusted himself quickly and calmed down after a while.
"On page 18, he mentioned using a mineral powder called 'white mud' as an additive."
Jiang Haitang quickly turned to that page and found a record about a certain white clay that could enhance the waterproofness and fire resistance of fabrics.
"This 'white mud'..."
"It should be kaolin." Zheng Mingyuan had regained his composure. "I've asked my colleagues to check and see where this kind of mine can be found."
Jiang Haitang suddenly remembered something and took out a letter from the drawer.
"We have this kind of white mud in the mountains behind Qingshuigou in Sangyu County! I remember the villagers used it to mend pots. It won't burn or rot!"
The two looked at each other and saw the excitement in each other's eyes.
Zheng Mingyuan didn't expect that it would be so easy to get.
"I will report to Director Lu immediately and go back to Qingshuigou to collect samples tomorrow!" Jiang Haitang said impatiently.
"no."
Lu Liangchen happened to walk into the laboratory and heard Jiang Haitang's words. He immediately shook his head to stop her.
"Liangchen, it's just a ditch. I can handle it."
"I'll let someone else handle this. Go back to Qingshuigou. It's too dangerous."
At the beginning, Lu Liangchen had a bad impression of Qingshuigou, a poor place, after the trip. In addition, because of Li Shengli's relationship, Lu Liangchen rejected this place from the bottom of his heart.
"But I'm familiar with it. I'll go get the samples. It's the fastest way!" Jiang Haitang still insisted.
"Let Zhao Kai arrange a few people to go. Many of his men have served as scouts and are familiar with the rural situation." Lu Liangchen still disagreed with Jiang Haitang taking the risk.
Jiang Haitang was about to argue when hurried footsteps were heard outside.
It was Xiao Gao, an official from the factory office. He rushed in with a serious expression.
"What's wrong?" Lu Liangchen asked.
"Director Lu, the machinery factory just called and said something's wrong," Officer Xiao Gao said gravely. "All of the fifty hosiery machines that just came off the production line had their key components sabotaged."
Jiang Haitang gasped. "Did you do that on purpose?"
"Anyone who can destroy key components must be a very professional person. It should not be ordinary destruction." Lu Liangchen's eyes were sharp. Although it was a guess, he spoke with great certainty.
Jiang Haitang also thought of this possibility. Although Secretary Xiao Gao did not say what the key part was, it seemed that the key part of the sock knitting machine was the yarn feeding system. If there was really a problem here, it would be deliberate sabotage, and an outsider would not be able to find that location at all.
The two looked at each other and thought of a possibility at the same time: the enemy spies are still active and hiding inside the machinery factory!
Their previous actions eliminated the potential dangers in the textile factory, but they forgot that problems could also occur in the machinery factory.
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