Chapter 150
Niu Enjiu read the research report twice and took off his glasses.
"Director Ye's report is well thought out, and contains much that is worth discussing. However, I still need to explain the matter of the raw material base."
"In 1959, industrial production was booming nationwide. We produced 4,900 tons of various canned foods that year, the highest output since the factory was founded. That year, the factory experienced a period of raw material shortages, and we considered establishing a raw material base. We also applied to the city government for land for cultivation."
"However, for reasons we all know, the city prioritized ensuring food supply, so we didn't approve the land," Niu Enjiu said. "We've had smooth cooperation with the commune over the years, so we haven't considered building a raw material base."
Chen Qian is the deputy director of production and has a say in this matter.
"Production targets have decreased in recent years, and the fruits and vegetables the commune supplies us with are basically sufficient to meet our production needs. There's really no need to increase labor costs by setting up another fruit and vegetable base."
"I disagree with that," Jiang Wenming objected. "The method Director Ye proposed perfectly suits our factory's actual situation. The contract we signed with the commune places too few constraints on the production team. When faced with particularly low-quality raw materials, they're simply dismissed with a simple "we'll have to rely on the weather." The production team focuses primarily on growing grain, with tending to the vegetable and orchard fields as a side job. Yield and quality are completely dependent on the will of fate. How can this work?"
In addition to providing vegetables to food factories, several communes in the suburbs also supply the city's fruit and vegetable companies to solve the daily vegetable problems of citizens.
The pickle workshop contracted by Jiang Wenming is also a major user of vegetables.
All those weird-shaped, crooked radishes, cucumbers, mustard greens, and Chinese mustard were assigned to their pickle workshop.
Wang Shihu disagreed, "Establishing a raw material base not only requires acquiring land from the city, but also requires a significant investment of manpower and resources. The canning workshop just burned down, and the money used to build a raw material base would be better used to buy equipment. If we're investing so much money in canning, what about developing other businesses?"
"I just got back from a meeting at the city government yesterday. This year's mooncakes are going to be priced lower. For the past two years, they were 3 yuan per jin (approximately 100g), which was unaffordable for most people. This Mid-Autumn Festival, they'll be brought back down to a more affordable 85 yuan per jin (approximately 100g). The city government has given us a task to produce 200,000 jin (approximately 100g) of mooncakes to ensure a supply for the festival. We'll start purchasing raw materials and preparing for production in July. If we invest all our cash in raw material production, will that affect mooncake production?"
Ye Manzhi stroked the pen and said to himself, 2 to 2.
She and Jiang Wenming supported the establishment of a raw material base.
Chen Qian and Wang Shihu objected.
Everyone’s stance is actually quite clear.
She and Jiang Wenming were responsible for the canning workshop and the pickle workshop respectively. If the factory invested in building a professional raw material base, it would definitely be beneficial to these two businesses.
The other two people's responsibilities had nothing to do with vegetables and fruits, so naturally they didn't want them to take up the factory's cash.
Especially Wang Shihu.
He is both the deputy technical director and a pastry technician. Before Qingfangzhai Food Store was incorporated into the First Food Factory, he was the manager of Qingfangzhai and had excellent skills in making pastries.
Mooncakes have been removed from the ranks of high-priced pastries, and the supply has been increased for the Mid-Autumn Festival. This is the time for him to show his skills, and he will never allow other things to affect the production of mooncakes.
Several deputy factory directors had a heated discussion on the research report submitted by Ye Manzhi.
Everyone has his or her own stance and calculations, and everyone can give reasonable reasons.
The factory has limited cash flow, and how to allocate it depends on the factory director Niu Enjiu.
After several rounds of discussion and debate, Niu Enjiu put down his teacup and said, "First, we must acknowledge the value of Director Ye's research report. Director Ye has provided a comprehensive analysis of the canning workshop's problems. In particular, the canning workshop's six-month work-and-a-half-year rest cycle should be given our immediate attention."
"We've imported two sets of canning equipment from the Heavy Machinery Factory, one of which is for producing luncheon meat. Now that we have the equipment, there's no point in leaving it idle. The trade fair in Guangzhou just ended, and I plan to go to Beijing in the next couple of days to visit the National Food Import and Export Corporation in person to secure export orders for luncheon meat for our factory."
"Raw materials are crucial for canned meat production. When the head office assigns production tasks, they also consider local raw material supply capabilities. Therefore, my suggestion is to postpone the construction of the fruit and vegetable base. After all, we've already signed a contract with the commune, so we won't have to worry about raw material supplies this year. Let's start by setting up a small pig farm. It doesn't have to be too large, just around fifty pigs for now. This will demonstrate our production capabilities and show the head office our confidence and strength. If we secure a solid order in the future, we can expand the farm."
Upon hearing this, Ye Manzhi immediately agreed, "The factory director's approach is still the best! We need to address the main issue first. Getting the luncheon meat order is the key!"
The other three deputy factory directors: "..."
People who come from a secretarial background are all masters of flattery.
Ye Manzhi smiled and said, "I have experience running a pig farm. The pig farm in Guangming Commune was built when I was in office. In recent years, the city has closed several small pig farms. We can find the nearest one and apply to the city for it. The site is ready, and the bulk of the expense will be buying piglets. It's estimated that the pig farm can be built for 1,500 yuan, and it won't affect the production of other businesses."
Fifteen thousand is not a particularly large expense for a factory of the size of a food factory.
There was no need for the other deputy factory directors to oppose Niu Enjiu's decision for 1,500 yuan.
Seeing that no one in the meeting room was speaking anymore, Niu Enjiu made the final decision, "Okay, I'll go to Beijing in the next couple of days to secure orders for the factory. Director Ye will be in charge of the pig farm construction and will arrange for the suspended employees to work there as soon as possible."
*
Nothing can be achieved overnight. Being able to get a pig farm has already met Ye Manzhi's psychological expectations.
The food factory has a wide range of business operations, and each factory manager is in charge of a lot of work. It is impossible for her to take all the benefits.
Let’s build the breeding base first, and then we can build the planting base gradually.
After returning to the office, Ye Manzhi first contacted the head of the personnel department to recruit a manager for the pig farm.
After she took office, she had more work interactions with the Finance Department and the Supply and Marketing Department, and never had any one-on-one contact with the Head of the Personnel Department.
When Section Chief Zhu was called to the office, he was still worried.
Why is this new deputy factory director starting to interfere in personnel matters?
Ye Manzhi revealed to him the news that the factory was going to open a pig farm.
"A train's speed depends on the locomotive. If we want our pig farm to thrive, we need a suitable person in charge. Chief Zhu, please help us find a manager for the pig farm as soon as possible."
She paused for a moment and felt that the pig farm manager didn't seem very impressive.
Most people probably wouldn't want to switch from state-owned factories to pig farms.
She changed her tune and said, "When we're hiring, don't say we're looking for a pig farm manager, just say we're looking for a breeding base manager."
Section Chief Zhu: “…”
The manager does sound more senior than the director.
Ye Manzhi continued, "We don't need to recruit externally. We'll start by selecting from within the food factory. Anyone with management experience, from team leaders in all workshops, is welcome to apply."
Section Chief Zhu asked as he took notes, "Any specific requirements?"
"Managers must have experience in pig farming, be familiar with the habits of livestock and poultry, be able to work and live in the suburbs for a long time, and have a junior high school degree or above. Age and gender are not limited. Under the same conditions, comrades from the canning workshop will be given priority, as will Party members, demobilized soldiers, and families of military personnel and martyrs."
Section Chief Zhu paused with his pen in his hand for a moment, then asked politely, "Isn't the educational requirement too high?"
Although he is described as a breeding base manager, he is essentially the director of a pig farm.
The most important thing is to know how to raise pigs.
The minimum requirement for food factories to recruit workers is a high school diploma. If the educational level is set at junior high school or above, a large number of people may be eliminated.
"A junior high school education isn't very important," Ye Manzhi said. "Pig farming is also a science. A manager must not only be literate but also be able to absorb new scientific knowledge and write relevant work reports. We'll recruit based on this requirement. If the factory doesn't find anyone suitable, we'll open up to external candidates."
Section Chief Zhu nodded in agreement, and when he saw that she had no other requests, he stood up and left the office.
Not long after, Zhou Ruyi knocked on the door and came in to report, "Section Chief Zhu went directly to Director Niu."
Ye Manzhi nodded.
The Party is in charge of personnel matters, Niu Enjiu also serves as the Party Committee Secretary, and the Personnel Department is directly responsible to the factory director.
Anyone who can hold the position of head of the personnel department must be Niu Enjiu's confidant.
Ye Manzhi was very clear about her position. She had no intention of interfering in personnel matters. The recruitment of a pig farm manager was just a work requirement.
Niu Enjiu would not argue with her about such a thing.
Sure enough, the next morning, the recruitment notice was posted on the bulletin board at the entrance of each workshop and the entrance of the factory cafeteria.
The workers gathered around the notice and had a heated discussion.
"What is this breeding base for? What position in the factory is the manager equivalent to?"
"I guess they raise pigs, cattle, chickens, and ducks. I don't see any requirements for being familiar with the habits of livestock and poultry. A manager is probably about the same level as a workshop director, right? He can't be on the same level as a factory director, haha."
Some people say, "Are breeding bases just pig and chicken farms? We finally have commercial grain. If we become managers, won't we just be back in the countryside?"
Another person said, "What's wrong with going back to the countryside? Your thinking is wrong! Besides, the person they want to recruit must be at least a squad leader, and we don't even meet the requirements!"
Ye Manzhi had many requirements for the selection of managers, not only requiring them to have a junior high school education, but also giving priority to party members, demobilized soldiers, and military and martyr families.
Make this position look like a hot commodity.
Therefore, since the notice was posted, many employees have been concerned about the final selection of the manager.
The notice was posted for two days and a total of seven people signed up.
According to the recruitment conditions, the Personnel Department nominated three people, one man and two women, as team leaders of the canning workshop, canning workshop, and bakery workshop respectively.
The three of them all had rural household registration and had experience in pig farming.
After talking to the three people separately, Niu Enjiu asked, "Who does Director Ye think is more suitable?"
"I'm more optimistic about Comrade Dai Xianhua from Canning Workshop No. 3," Ye Manzhi said. "We also need to organize the workers from the canning workshop to work at the pig farm. It would be more convenient to find a manager who is familiar with the people. I've met Team Leader Dai a few times. She has a very straightforward personality and is very popular in the workshop. She's also a Party member. Once the pig farm is established, we can directly establish a Party branch."
Zhu, the head of the personnel department, said, "Dai Xianhua has all the right qualities, but one thing she lacks is her education. The recruitment requirements require a junior high school degree or higher. Dai Xianhua only graduated from elementary school and is currently attending the district's adult night school. Upon graduation, she'll have the equivalent of a junior high school degree, but she still has a year to go before graduation."
Ye Manzhi asked, "Since she doesn't meet the educational requirements, why did the personnel department put her on the list?"
Section Chief Zhu replied, "Dai Xianhua's sister-in-law is the director of women's affairs at Xiangqian Commune."
Ye Manzhi and Niu Enjiu: "::::::"
Niu Enjiu immediately made the decision and said, "The three of them have similar qualifications. Comrade Dai Xianhua is actively studying and improving her academic qualifications, which shows that she is very motivated and will obtain her academic qualifications sooner or later. We can relax some of the requirements in this regard. What do you think, Director Ye?"
"I'll listen to the factory director." Ye Manyi nodded.
Among the several closed pig farms that the food factory targeted, one was located in Xiangqian Commune.
In order to obtain the right to use these abandoned pig farms, not only the city’s approval is required, but the cooperation of the commune is also important.
It's easier to get things done with acquaintances. Dai Xianhua's sister-in-law is the women's director of Xiangqian Commune, so at least she can have some face.
Therefore, at the Party Committee meeting, after the appointment of Comrade Dai Xianhua was approved, Manager Dai officially took office.
Dai Xianhua is not yet used to the sudden change from a workshop team leader to a breeding base manager.
As soon as she received the appointment, she hurried to Ye Manzhi's office to inquire about her specific work.
"Manager Dai, being a manager is pretty much like being a team leader. You just organize everyone's work and production, and report on the production status to the factory." Ye Manzhi said with a smile, "Your three main tasks right now are: first, obtain the right to use the Dongfeng Pig Farm in Xiangqian Commune. The factory has already submitted an application to the city government, and you will be responsible for going to Xiangqian Commune to receive the site. Second, organize and mobilize the workers in one workshop to work at the pig farm. Third, purchase piglets."
Dai Xianhua thought for a while and said, "Director Ye, everything else is easy, but mobilizing everyone to work on the farm may not be easy."
We are all workers in state-owned factories. How many of us are willing to go to a farm to raise pigs?
Ye Manzhi smiled and said, "Then I'll ask a few workshop directors to cooperate with your work."
There are four canning workshops in total, and currently only one workshop is producing candied cherries, while the other three workshops take turns moving bricks on the construction site.
Ye Manzhi went to the workshop in the afternoon and called a work meeting with the directors and deputy directors of the three workshops.
"Has everyone heard? Our factory is about to resume canned meat production. Once we get the export order from the head office, we'll start by organizing a workshop of workers to produce luncheon meat."
"I heard about it." Several directors nodded.
"Our canned food business will resume work in batches. The factory's current arrangement is to first set aside a workshop to familiarize themselves with the use of the luncheon meat production line. Once we receive the order, we will start production immediately."
"The workers in the other workshop will temporarily go to the Xiangqian Commune to work on the breeding base and get it up and running as soon as possible. The last workshop will stay in the factory and continue to work on the factory building."
After he finished speaking, the director of Workshop 4 quickly raised his hand and said, "Director Ye, our Workshop 4 has experience in producing canned meat. Most of the canned meat exported to the Soviet Union was produced by us! Our Workshop 4 will definitely be able to complete the production task of luncheon meat!"
Ye Manzhi immediately made the decision and said, "Then let Workshop 4 be responsible for luncheon meat production first. We will organize everyone to familiarize themselves with the production process and equipment for a period of time."
The directors of the second and third workshops: "..."
This is too fast, there is no time to react or fight back.
The deputy director of the third workshop nudged the director's foot and quickly said, "Director Ye, our third workshop has trained a group of experienced construction workers. They will definitely be able to cooperate with the comrades of the construction team to complete the factory building construction work!"
The director of the third workshop came to his senses and said, "Yes, yes, we must..."
After hearing him pat his chest and express his opinion, Ye Manzhi said, "Okay, since Workshop 3 has volunteered, let them stay on the construction site."
Seeing this, the director of the second workshop, who was always slow to react, sighed and said, "Director Ye, it's not that we're trying to shirk responsibility. But asking everyone to go to the pig farm to raise pigs is really not an option. The workers will get upset!"
"Director Hou, I understand your concerns. You're just worried you won't be able to come back after going to the pig farm!" Ye Manzhi rolled her eyes ungraciously. "Comrades, raising pigs in a factory also has to consider costs. With a worker earning only 20 or 30 yuan, how can we possibly send dozens or even hundreds of workers to a pig farm?"
"The reason we sent some workers to the pig farm is, firstly, because the factory hasn't resumed work and can't temporarily arrange so many positions, and secondly, because the pig farm is just being built and needs a lot of manpower. To save labor costs, we try to use our own people and don't recruit outsiders."
"But this situation will only last two or three months at most. Once the equipment is in place, everyone must return to the factory to resume production. As for the pig farm, we can borrow a few people from the production team. The production team members are better at raising pigs than we are, and they don't need to be paid. The production team will be responsible for recording work points, and we will just have to deliver the pig manure to the production team for watering the fields."
Compared with chemical fertilizers that cost money, free manure was obviously more popular among production teams.
The dry toilets of various units in the city were contracted to various communes and production teams, and only production teams with connections could get them.
Ye Manzhi left Director Hou alone and whispered, "If there are comrades whose families are truly in financial difficulty and who are not suitable for working at the pig farm, we shouldn't force them. At least forty people must remain at the pig farm, and the rest will remain at the construction site to build the factory building. However, comrades who go to work at the pig farm will receive a five-cent daily transportation allowance."
When Director Hou heard that there was also transportation subsidy, he felt a little relieved.
The pig farm is not particularly far from the city, less than an hour's walk away.
If employees can save their transportation allowance, they can earn an extra RMB 1.50 per month.
A dollar and a half isn't much, but it's better than nothing. Both on the farm and on the construction site, it's all labor, so there are always people who will sign up for that dollar and a half.
*
Ye Manzhi handed over the work of the pig farm to the new manager Dai Xianhua, finally putting his mind at ease.
In a few days, Ye Manzhi will be participating in the May Day city race, and he plans to cram for it.
After get off work, she first went to the dessert station at the factory gate, bought today's cherry dessert, and then planned to run all the way home with great ambition.
However, Director Ye felt that he was carrying too much weight and his shoes were not suitable, so he ran for two stops and jumped on the bus home.
She was bragging at home yesterday that she would definitely win a medal in this city race.
As a result, she was out of breath after running only two stops today.
Lying on his big bed at home, Director Ye said stubbornly, "No! Tomorrow I'm going to go light and give it a proper test run! From our house to the military industrial compound!"
Wu Zhengrong glanced at her flushed face and grumbled, "You're lucky you can walk from our house to the military industrial compound."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
She doesn't believe in evil!
The next day was the weekend, and she put on her sports rubber shoes early in the morning and left home.
Destination - my mother's home.
Wu Zhengrong followed her on a motorcycle with a sidecar. In the sidecar were Wu Yuzhuo, who was sitting with his legs crossed and drinking sugar water, and two bags of pastries for Chang Yue'e.
"Mom, keep running!" Wu Yuzhuo yelled. "I've already made an agreement with the kids in the kindergarten. I'll lend them the medal you won in the running competition!"
Ye Manzhi: “…”
Wu Zhengrong couldn't hold back his laughter and helped his wife, who couldn't run any longer, to find a way out. "The official competition is only a few days away. You should exercise moderately and save some energy."
"Dr. Wu is definitely experienced! I really need to save my energy for the official competition, so let's just run here today." Ye Manyi hurriedly jumped into the sidecar, sweating profusely, and commanded his daughter while holding her in his arms, "Dr. Wu, speed up, move forward!"
The second attempt collapsed again.
The family rode their bikes back to the military industrial compound. Before the bike stopped, Wu Yuzhuo shouted to "Brother Cheche" and "Brother Qiuqiu" who were playing glass balls downstairs, asking the two little brothers to get in the bike together.
Ye Manzhi gave her seat to her two nephews, leaving Dr. Wu to take the three little ones for a ride on the street, while she herself went upstairs with two bags of pastries.
Seeing her daughter coming back, Chang Yue'e quickly pulled her into her room.
"Director Chang, what's going on? You're so mysterious!"
"Let me show you something! Your fifth brother gave it to me yesterday. He asked me to see if it was from your factory."
Chang Yue'e opened the drawer and took out a can of apples.
The glass bottle is bare and has no trademark label.
But the can lids of the First Food Factory all have a unified trademark logo printed on them, so Ye Manzhi could tell at a glance that the can was produced by the food factory.
The factory has not had any production tasks for canned apples in syrup recently. The shelf life of canned food is generally about two years. This can of apples should not have been produced recently.
She looked for the number on the tinplate, 6402261, which means it was produced on February 26, 1964, by Team 1.
Looking at the line of small words, her heart tightened for no reason.
February 26th was the day before the fire on February 27th.
Ye Manzhi put away the relaxed look on her face and asked, "Mom, where's the label on this can? Who tore it off?"
"No one tore it off. It was like this when your fifth brother gave it to me," Chang Yue'e whispered. "He said someone's selling these cans on the free market for 80 cents a bottle. None of them have labels, and it seems they still have quite a bit in stock."
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