Chapter 207
Ye Manzhi tiptoed into the study and patted Wu Zhengrong on the shoulder.
"What's wrong with you? It's great that Youyan can make new friends. Why did you call the male classmate ugly?"
Wu Zhengrong threw the book on the table and asked, "Do you know the name of that boy?"
"Chen Weixing," Ye Manzhi chuckled softly. "Youyan has mentioned Chen Weixing from Shanghai several times at home, but today is the first time we've met."
"Which parent would easily name their child 'Satellite'?" Wu Zhengrong said indifferently. "Satellite is similar in concept to Founding of the Republic, Liberation, National Day, and Leap Forward."
"Well, I guess he was born around the time the Soviet Union launched its first artificial satellite. The launch was a huge celebration across the country, so naming a child 'Satellite' would be quite commemorative."
"The Soviet satellite was launched in 1957, which means the child was born in 1957 and should be in sixth grade this year," Wu Zhengrong said with disdain written all over his face. "Why is he a sixth-grade student doing homework with two fourth-grade girls?"
Ye Manzhi: “…”
How would she know!
Youyan has mentioned Chen Weixing, who transferred from Shanghai, several times recently. She thought he was Youyan's classmate, but she didn't expect him to be a sixth-grade student.
However, when my daughter brings her classmates home, the parents should just treat them well. Why do we have to analyze so much?
Ye Manzhi revealed with a smile: "Youyan is explaining math problems to Chen Weixing!"
Her original intention was to comfort her old father. A fourth-grade student could explain questions to a sixth-grade student. How amazing is her family!
Wu Zhengrong raised his eyebrows and asked, "Did she explain the problem to Chen Weixing in front of you?"
"Um."
"She always skips steps when doing her own homework. How could she have the patience to explain any problem to Chen Weixing?"
Moreover, Wu Yuzhuo is a bit like him when he was a child, and he can't play with fools.
Whether it is Zhou Yi, Zhou Mo, or the friends she made in the children's group before, they are all relatively smart children.
How could she have the patience to play with a sixth-grade idiot and explain the problem to him?
Wu Zhengrong said firmly, "They're just pretending in front of you. They're probably discussing something they don't want the parents to know. In a day or two, they'll start to act up."
"..." Ye Manzhi was speechless. "Why don't you stop doing research at the institute and go to the Public Security Bureau after you are demobilized. The public security front needs talents like you."
Youyan just took his classmates home to do an assignment, but he was able to analyze so many things out of it.
"So what do we do now? Should we intervene?" she added, "If you want to intervene, go ahead. I don't want to be a nasty parent."
Wu Zhengrong had no interest in intervening, so he stood up and said, "Let her be. We can go out for a walk."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
Okay.
This is indeed Dr. Wu’s style.
I know it, but I'm too lazy to care.
Three elementary school students were still sitting at the dining table, chirping about something. When the wooden door of the study opened, the discussion suddenly stopped.
The couple pretended not to notice, said hello to the elementary school students and left the house.
In the past, they could go see a performance or a movie, but in the past few years, all the drama theaters, opera houses, Peking opera houses, and Ping opera houses have been closed.
The content in theatrical performances and cinemas is mostly the Eight Model Operas.
They really didn't want to watch the model operas, nor did they want to spend the money.
Therefore, their current entertainment activities are both hardcore and unpretentious.
The hardcore one is shooting, and the simple one is walking.
The shooting club was not far from the military academy, and the two could walk there while chatting.
As the instructor of the militia camp, Ye Manzhi also needs to master basic military skills.
But unlike Lei Wanyuan, the demobilized soldier, she had never learned how to shoot before. Not wanting to appear intimidated by the militia, she enrolled in a shooting club and became a regular there over the past two years.
Wu Zhengrong thought air rifles were boring and only occasionally accompanied her to the club to shoot a few times.
The couple strolled to the club and prepared to shoot a box of lead bullets before going back.
The three elementary school students in the family compound were still gathered around the dinner table, planning their trip for tomorrow.
Wu Yuzhuo walked into her father's study with her head held high and found a map of Binjiang.
I spread the map on the dining table and began to plan the route according to the map.
"The Military Academy is here," she said, pointing to a spot. "The zoo is here. We can ride along the route of the No. 19 bus. Once we get to the city center, we can follow the route of the No. 7 bus. We should be there soon!"
Yi Yi held her chin and asked, "Can you ride there in an hour?"
"I don't know," Wu Yuzhuo also leaned his elbows on the table, "I always took the bus before, I've never ridden a bike before!"
Chen Weixing asked doubtfully, "If ten of us go at once, can we really get in without tickets?"
"Sure, we can just say we're an employee's family member looking for someone," Wu Yuzhuo said affirmatively. "My fourth uncle works there, so just mention his name. My brother Qiu and I do that all the time!"
After graduating from junior high school, Maiduo's brother took over her fourth uncle's job and went to the food factory to drive a forklift.
Grandpa didn't want my fourth uncle to retire at such a young age, so he wanted him to go out and find a job.
Last year, the Binjiang City Zoo was recruiting temporary workers. After hearing the news, my fifth uncle encouraged my fourth uncle to apply for a job at the zoo.
Her fourth uncle was very good at taking care of flowers, birds, fish and insects. At that time, the zoo was in urgent need of staff, so they kept her fourth uncle to work in the waterfowl hall.
Ever since my fourth uncle became a zoo keeper, the children in our family have received preferential treatment as employees' family members. They visit the zoo every now and then and never have to buy tickets.
"Two Siberian tigers recently arrived at the zoo. They're so majestic!" Wu Yuzhuo explained the zoo's situation. "There are also golden monkeys, elephants, and fawns..."
The two little friends were very interested in what they heard and looked forward to going to the zoo tomorrow to see the tiger.
Yi Yi was jumping for joy, but at the same time she said worriedly, "What if our father doesn't let us go out? We've already greeted the uncles at the door."
Primary schools implement a two-session system, with students in grades 2, 4, and 6 only attending classes for half a day in the afternoon.
I study at home in the morning.
So, there are many children running around in the family compound all day long.
Her father and Uncle Wu were afraid that they would follow the Little Red Guards and run around outside the compound, so they had already told the soldiers on duty that they were not allowed to leave the compound before 12 o'clock and could only go out when school was almost about to start.
Thinking of the house arrest order for the two of them, Wu Yuzhuo also felt a little depressed.
"How about letting my dad tell the uncle on duty?"
"No, no," Yi Yi waved her hand and said, "If Uncle Wu tells my dad, we won't be able to leave!"
Her father is different from Uncle Wu. If Youyan doesn’t want to go to school sometimes, she doesn’t have to go to school.
But her father attaches great importance to the studies of the four siblings, and skipping classes is absolutely not allowed!
The zoo is a bit far from the military academy. The time spent riding a bike back and forth plus the time spent visiting the zoo might delay afternoon classes.
It certainly wouldn't work with her dad.
Wu Yuzhuo said confidently, "Leave this matter to me, I'm sure it will succeed!"
Her father is very tight-lipped and can help them keep the secret. As long as they tell him not to tell Uncle Zhou, he will definitely not tell anything.
So, when her parents came home, she told them their plan without any hesitation.
"Dad, can you tell the uncle on duty to let us go to the zoo tomorrow morning?"
“…”
Wu Zhengrong didn't know where his daughter got the confidence from, and she thought he would agree to let them go to the zoo alone.
He and Ye Lai Ya exchanged a glance, and there was a clear expression in his eyes: "See, she's really going to cause trouble."
"How many of you are going?"
"Ten people, all my classmates and Chen Weixing's classmates."
Wu Zhengrong asked, "Do they all have money to buy round-trip bus tickets?"
You need to transfer to go to the zoo, and the round trip fare is more than 30 cents.
It’s not that Wu Zhengrong looks down on these kids. Primary school students really don’t have much pocket money, and not everyone can afford the travel expenses.
"We can go there by bike, it doesn't cost any money."
Wu Yuzhuo is now able to use a bicycle skillfully. The two training wheels at the back of the children's bicycle had long been removed by her father.
Ye Manzhi reminded her: "Baby, a trip to the zoo requires riding for more than ten miles. Can you handle it? What if someone falls behind? What if someone gets hungry or thirsty? What if someone gets injured?"
"Well, Mom's concerns are justified," Wu Zhengrong said decisively. "You can go to the zoo, but you should write an activity plan first. With so many people going at once, accidents are likely to happen. Make a contingency plan first."
Wu Yuzhuo: "..."
They were just bored staying in the compound and suddenly decided to go to the zoo to play.
Why do I have to write an activity plan?
*
Wu Zhengrong has already played the good guy, so of course Ye Manzhi has to play the bad guy!
The next morning, when her daughter was feeding the chickens, she generously said that if the activity plan was well written, she could sponsor two dollars for the activity funds.
"Can you really give me two dollars?" asked the breeder Xiao Wu in surprise.
"Here," Ye Manzhi touched her rosy little face, "Baby, you have to write well!"
"Yeah, I'll find Yi Yi to write with me later!"
So, with the breeder Xiao Wu constantly exclaiming "Mom is so good", Ye Manzhi went to work in a happy mood.
She had just received a meeting notice from the Provincial Revolutionary Committee yesterday. After going to the unit, she discussed it with several deputy factory directors and decided to attend the meeting with Kang Jian and Director Pan from the design studio.
As for the newcomer Wang Zaofu, she simply ignored him.
Kang Jian asked hypocritically, "It would be a shame not to bring Deputy Director Wang with us, right?"
"I didn't find him in the workshop. I guess he's still getting familiar with the environment. I won't be bringing Director Wang with me this time."
Kang Jian thought, he is working in the office at the factory, you will definitely not be able to find him if you go to the workshop!
He was happy to see Wang Zaofu suffer a setback, so he didn't say anything else.
The three arrived at the meeting room of the Provincial Revolutionary Committee on time.
The companies that came to the conference this time were all from the telecommunications industry. Shuguang Factory only had one TV design studio and was not formally involved in this industry, so Ye Manzhi and Kang Jian were not familiar with the other participating companies.
On the contrary, Pan Kunlun, as the former head of the Telecommunications Engineering Department of the Provincial University, is familiar with the leaders of many enterprises and research institutions.
Looking at Director Pan shaking hands and greeting others, Kang Jian muttered softly, "It's a waste of Director Pan's talent to have to stay in our design studio."
"Right now, our heroes are useless," Ye Manzhi said with a smile. "If we ever switch to producing televisions, Director Pan will be able to play a big role!"
A total of three scientific research units and thirteen enterprises came from various cities and districts across the province. In addition to seven radio factories, there were also units such as broadcasting equipment factories, transistor factories and television equipment factories.
After representatives from all units arrived, the leader of the Production Command of the Provincial Revolutionary Committee began to speak.
"The Provincial Revolutionary Committee just sent people to Beijing to attend the National Television Professional Conference. According to the spirit of this conference, all provinces and cities across the country must focus their efforts on developing color televisions and organize personnel to launch a nationwide campaign to tackle key challenges in color television technology..."
After listening to only the first half, there was a buzz of discussion in the conference room.
The director of the TV equipment factory asked, "Director Li, there aren't many black-and-white TVs left. Are we really going to develop color?"
"Well, when it comes to television, we still need to try our best to keep up with the international standards. The international community already has mass-produced color televisions, and our socialist country is not far behind in this regard, so naturally we must catch up!"
Ye Manzhi was quite concerned about the development of the TV station, so she took the initiative to ask, "Director Li, the programs currently broadcast by the TV station are still in black and white. If the TV station's equipment is not upgraded, even if it uses a color TV, the programs it receives will still be in black and white, right?"
Others echoed: "Yeah, if the TV station can't keep up, everything else will be in vain."
Director Li raised his hand and pressed down, "Everyone, stop arguing and speak one by one! Since the central government has already promoted the development of color televisions, the construction of television stations must also proceed simultaneously."
After he finished speaking, there was another round of discussion and conversation in the meeting room.
Ye Manzhi, Kang Jian and Pan Kunlun were all a little excited and couldn't help but clench their fists.
They have been hesitant to launch the TV project because the construction of TV stations has not kept up. If the TV programs can be richer, they will definitely find a way to switch to the production of TVs!
Director Sun continued, "According to the requirements of our superiors, a nationwide campaign to develop color televisions will soon be organized in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chengdu! Our province was a latecomer to television technology, but Tianjin produced its first black-and-white TV twelve years ago and has begun developing color TVs this year."
"Our province is preparing to organize elite troops to support the Tianjin War Zone and participate in the collective research! We will soon draw personnel from various units. We hope that each unit will consider the overall situation and fully support this major research campaign..."
The three scientific research institutions will definitely respond positively to this major campaign.
Ye Manzhi originally thought that the companies would still hesitate for a while. After all, the expenses of participating in the campaign were borne by each unit, and the province would not pay for it.
However, the directors of several radio factories sitting near them all raised their hands and signed up enthusiastically!
Ye Manzhi: “…”
Is everyone so selfless?
Or is it that all the factories are quite wealthy and can afford to set up color TV production lines?
An enterprise is not a scientific research unit. If the factory does not have a television business, there is actually no need to participate in this major battle.
Kang Jian tilted his head and asked, "Director, are we going to sign up?"
Ye Manzhi was hesitant for a moment.
She counted carefully and found that eight out of the thirteen companies had already signed up.
She was a little confused and couldn't understand why these companies were so active.
Could it be that Chengdu wants to start producing televisions?
She thought about it and decided that the travel expenses for two or three people would only be two or three hundred yuan, so she might as well support the development of color televisions.
Having made up her mind, she raised her hand to sign up.
As the meeting was drawing to a close, she whispered to Pan Kunlun, "Director Pan, you're quite familiar with the people in other units. Could you help me find out why those companies are so actively participating in the color TV research campaign?"
This kind of work usually involves recruiting personnel from scientific research institutions and companies with television businesses.
There is no enterprise in the province that can produce televisions, so why are those factories getting involved?
Director Pan did not refuse. As soon as the meeting was over, he went to find the deputy director of Binjiang Radio Factory No. 1 and asked him about the situation in a roundabout way.
Ye Manzhi had just signed up to participate in the color TV research and development campaign. Deputy Director Liu thought that Shuguang Factory was also a company that received the news in advance, so he had no scruples and talked to Director Pan for a few words.
Director Pan responded calmly. When he reunited with Ye Manzhi, he said with a hint of surprise, "From what the Radio Factory has said, it seems the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building is planning to launch 21 television production lines nationwide. Our province can also strive to secure one! Enterprises participating in this major color TV research and development campaign will be given priority by the province!"
Ye Manzhi and Kang Jian asked in unison, "The production line is free, right?"
"That's right. The Fourth Ministry of Machine Building wouldn't charge money from enterprises."
Hearing this, Ye Manzhi's heart started pounding, she was even more excited than the first time she kissed Wu Zhengrong!
A production line for black and white televisions would cost two to three million.
Then wouldn’t the production line for color TVs be even more expensive?
You have about three to five million, right?
OMG!
Three to five million for free!
No wonder those companies are so eager to sign up for the campaign. If they don’t show any initiative at this time, how can they have the nerve to compete with the province for this production line worth three to five million yuan in the future?
You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. Fortunately, she didn't mind the travel expenses and just signed up at the meeting!
The three of them were excited by the news and quickly took a taxi back to the factory.
Ye Manzhi gathered people to discuss how to get this color TV production line.
However, as soon as she explained the situation, Wang Zaofu was the first to object: "I think Shuguang Factory should not produce color TVs!"
Everyone: “…”
Who asked you!
Ye Manzhi said good-naturedly, "Well, today we're here to brainstorm and express our opinions. If Director Wang disagrees, then please state the reasons why you disagree."
"The TV is overpriced, flashy, and serves the bourgeoisie, a hedonistic product," Wang Zaofu said righteously. "Our Shuguang Factory absolutely cannot produce such a product!"
“…”
Everyone was speechless after hearing his reason, and the silence in the air was somewhat awkward.
The price of this thing is indeed high, and watching TV is indeed a bit entertaining. If it is really labeled as bourgeois hedonism, the factory really cannot continue to launch the TV business.
The silence in the conference room lasted for a long time. Ye Manzhi couldn't allow anything to shake the morale of the troops, so she chuckled and asked, "Does Director Wang have a radio at home?"
"There is one."
"Actually, television and radio have similar functions, and the programs broadcast by television and radio stations are almost the same: news, music, and model operas. The only difference is that televisions have images, and we can watch the programs on the screen. This shouldn't be considered hedonism, right?"
Wang Zaofu objected, "But a TV set costs four or five hundred yuan, which could buy four or five radios. Who, except the bourgeoisie, would use something like that to listen to the news?"
Tian Chunshan muttered, "I really haven't seen anyone buy a TV at home. This kind of equipment is usually purchased by the work unit. The Provincial Revolutionary Committee and the Municipal Revolutionary Committee both have TVs."
If television serves the bourgeoisie, then the leaders of the Revolutionary Committee should not watch it.
Wang Zaofu choked and couldn't find any words to refute.
Huang He seemed to think it wasn't enough and continued, "The first television set produced by the Tianjin Radio Factory was presented to Comrade Chairman and the Central Committee. Beijing Television has a wide variety of programs, and Comrade Chairman also wants to watch them."
"..." Wang Zaofu insisted, "That was more than ten years ago. Anyway, I have reservations about adding TV business."
Ye Manzhi said seriously, "Participating in the color TV research and development campaign is a task assigned by the Central Committee, and the Provincial Revolutionary Committee is responsible for its specific implementation. This is a political task as well as an economic task, and it's not something that any unit can just say they don't want to participate and not participate. Director Wang may reserve his opinion, but producing televisions for the people of the whole country is a glorious and arduous task. Our Shuguang Factory has always responded to calls and risen to challenges. We must do our best to obtain this production line..."
She sang a few high-pitched lines and then announced the end of the meeting.
You can't discuss anything useful with someone like Wang Zaofu. Instead of wasting time with him, it's better to hold a private meeting with relevant personnel to communicate.
At lunch time, she sat at a table with the original staff of Shuguang Factory, analyzing the possibility of getting the free production line.
Tian Chunshan put down his chopsticks and did the math for her.
"We haven't even seen the light of a color TV yet, and even the color TV standard hasn't been finalized. We're starting from scratch. From research and development to actual production, if everything goes well, it will take at least two to three years. After that, we have to install production equipment, debug equipment, and conduct trial production. After going through all the steps, if we can mass-produce color TVs in five years, it would be considered fast."
After hearing what he said, Huang He slammed the table and said, "I feel like something is wrong. It's just like what Old Tian said! The province is like dangling a carrot in front of us companies, letting us companies scramble for it. First, we have to put in the manpower and effort to develop color TVs. As for which company will be handed over the production line after the development is completed, that's not certain!"
Who can say for sure what will happen four or five years from now?
Even if the leader is willing to give them a guarantee, they dare not believe it!
"By then, seven or eight companies will be competing for this production line. We're still a bit behind the radio factory in the telecommunications business, so the chances of us getting the line are very small," Tian Chunshan said calmly. "Let's not just wait in vain. If television programs can really return to normal, we can start by setting up a black-and-white TV production line. Director Pan has already achieved some results."
Kang Jian agreed, "It's still faster to make black and white TVs. We've made some money from exporting these past few years, so if we can't make up for it, we can borrow some from other companies. We can start this year and maybe start production next year."
Ye Manzhi sighed, not knowing how to enjoy the food: "I just can't accept it!"
Give up a production line worth five million and spend another three million to purchase another one.
In her opinion, this is equivalent to a total loss of eight million!
How many gas guns and electric fans would Shuguang Factory have to sell to earn back the eight million?
"Let's not make a decision lightly. Think about it!"
Director Ye was so disturbed by the free color TV production line that he couldn't rest well for several days.
If this hadn't happened, she would have willingly spent three million on the equipment.
Now, she doesn't want to spend the money anymore.
After racking her brains for a while, she had a vague idea in her mind.
She went to talk privately with Director Pan several times, and then she pondered the issue alone for several days.
Then, she chose a sunny morning and ran to the production command center of the Provincial Revolutionary Committee and found Director Sun, who was in charge of the color TV research and development campaign.
Director Sun has received several corporate leaders in the past few days. When he saw Ye Manzhi, he guessed her purpose.
"Director Ye, don't worry about the color TV production line. The province will make overall arrangements based on the actual situation."
Ye Manzhi asked with a smile: "Director, you've had quite a few companies come to you recently to buy equipment, right?"
"Well, you're all well-informed, but it's too early now. The province also needs to apply to the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building. Don't be impatient, just wait a little longer!"
Ye Manzhi clapped his hands and said, "Look, the competition in our province is so fierce, and the competition over at the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building must be even more intense! Which province or city wouldn't want to get a piece of the pie from the 21 color TV production lines?"
Director Sun patiently advised, "That's right. Wait a little longer!"
"Director, our company can wait, but the province can't! The 21 production lines aren't evenly distributed among the provinces. The higher-ups haven't guaranteed every province will get one, so there's still a lot of uncertainty. Color TVs haven't been developed yet, and it might be four or five years before they go into production."
Ye Manzhi suggested, "Director, do you think this will work? The television industry in our province started relatively late, and we don't even have a manufacturer that can produce black and white TVs. If we jump directly from black and white to color TVs, wouldn't that be too much of a leap? Can we first apply to the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building for a black and white TV production line? We can get what we can get first and put the money in our pockets!"
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