Chapter 211
After Ye Manzhi finished his speech, the conference hall suddenly fell silent and everyone turned their eyes towards the Shuguang Factory.
Give the TV station one million for free?
Is Shuguang Factory crazy?
The leaders of Radio Factory No. 2 were dumbfounded.
Strictly speaking, all assets of state-owned enterprises belong to the state and to the entire people.
Therefore, when necessary, the state can make adjustments between state-owned units.
However, most of the adjustments involve production equipment and personnel, and funds from one unit will never be transferred to another.
Several leaders of the Municipal Revolutionary Committee were also surprised by Shuguang Factory's response. After discussing it among themselves, Director Fang came forward to inquire on their behalf.
"Director Ye, allocating one million yuan to build a TV station is indeed beneficial to the development of the industry, but one million yuan is a huge sum, and it's not something that one or two leaders can just decide on a whim. Has your factory reached a collective decision on this?"
Ye Manzhi nodded and said, "Today, all members of our Shuguang Factory Revolutionary Committee are present. We just held a collective vote, and it was unanimously approved by all seven votes! After obtaining this black-and-white TV production line, we will do our utmost to support the development of Binjiang TV Station!"
The city leaders were naturally pleased with this situation. Deputy Director Zhao looked towards Radio Factory No. 2 and asked, "Does Radio Factory No. 2 have anything to add?"
The people at Radio Factory No. 2 looked at each other in bewilderment. Director Li, the top leader, muttered in disbelief, "For just one production line, Shuguang Factory is going all out!"
Most people present did not quite understand what Shuguang Factory did.
The reason why the two companies are doing everything they can to get the production line is mainly because it is free!
Of course you should try your best to get something that is given for free!
However, if we want to spend an additional million for this production line, we have to think carefully about it.
Radio Factory No. 2 produced radios and lived a very comfortable life.
We had never considered switching to television production before, so naturally there was no budget to purchase a production line.
Director Li calmed himself down and said, "The conditions proposed by Shuguang Factory are too sudden, and one million is not a small sum for any company. Based on the principle of responsibility for state property and workers, I hope the city will give us a few days to return and discuss it collectively."
His request is reasonable.
How can we make such a hasty decision when allocating millions of dollars?
After exchanging opinions with other city leaders, Director Fang agreed, "Let's adjourn the meeting for now. Comrades from both companies should go back and carefully consider this!"
…
After leaving the office building of the Municipal Revolutionary Committee, Tian Chunshan asked with some concern, "Will the Second Radio Factory also contribute one million?"
The longer things are delayed, the greater the variables.
The leaders of Radio Factory No. 2 haven't come to their senses yet and don't seem to want to pay, but after going back and weighing the pros and cons carefully, they may change their minds.
Radios are big items nowadays, and the products of Radio Factory No. 2 have no trouble selling, so it is relatively easy to come up with 1 million.
Ye Manzhi chuckled, "They can indeed come up with one million, but don't forget, they're already tied to Radio Factory One. After acquiring the TV production line, Factory Two will transfer its existing radio business to Factory One."
If Factory 2 gets the free production line and then gives its old equipment to Factory 1 for free, both parties will be happy.
However, after investing 1 million, can Factory 2 still let Factory 1 take advantage of it for free?
If Factory One is not allowed to take advantage, no one will take over Factory Two's radio business and there will be no space in the factory. How will the TV production line be located?
Wang Zaofu walked beside him, looking very much like a leader. He put his hands behind his back and said, "There's no way Factory One and Factory Two will reach an agreement. I think our 1 million is too much. 500,000 is about right."
Kang Jian countered, "500,000 yuan isn't enough to upgrade the TV signal, and it won't have much impact on the city leaders. If Factory One and Factory Two each contribute 250,000 yuan, bringing the total to 500,000 yuan, then this matter will be back to square one."
"Let's go back and wait for news from Radio Factory No. 2." Ye Manzhi invited everyone to go home.
Previously, the two factories were equally strong, and the final outcome would depend on the attitude of the city leaders.
But after Shuguang Factory put out 1 million yuan, the result no longer depended on the leader's personal preference.
The current situation is that whoever can pay more money can get this black and white TV production line!
Radio Factory No. 2 was caught off guard by the Shuguang Factory's temporary increase in investment.
After returning to the company, Deputy Director Chen said bitterly, "Shuguang Factory certainly didn't think of adding another million before. They only added it temporarily after they realized we had a greater advantage!"
"I paid special attention to the discussion at Shuguang Factory. It should have been proposed by Director Ye."
Someone muttered, "That woman surnamed Ye is too cruel! She said she'd take 1 million, and she took 1 million. Is life at Shuguang Factory over?"
"Ahem, Director Ye is a rather decisive woman," Director Li said, waving his hand. "Let's get back to the point. Do we take the one million or not?"
Ye Manzhi was not well-known before, but in recent years she has served as deputy director of two large state-owned factories. This year she was promoted to the head of Shuguang Factory and is considered a very famous female cadre in the city.
Across the city, the number of large state-owned factories headed by female comrades can be counted on one hand.
Ye Manzhi must have some skills to stand out from the crowd of gay men.
Otherwise, Deputy Director Zhao would not have allowed her son-in-law to work with her at Shuguang Factory.
"Our factory can afford one million, so why don't we give it a try!" Deputy Director Chen suggested.
"In my opinion, there's absolutely no point in continuing to fight for it. If there were a free production line, we could switch to producing televisions. But the radio business is booming these days, and radio signals can reach rural areas, which has a much larger market than televisions. Spending one million yuan to switch to producing televisions is like throwing away the big picture for the small."
"I agree with Lao Xu. We'll spend one million to replace it with a TV production line, and then give the original equipment to Radio Factory No. 1. Isn't all this hard work for Radio Factory No. 1?"
Without paying any price, the production scale can be doubled.
Why?
Director Li suggested, "How about we contact a factory and each of them contribute 500,000 yuan to bring this production line over?"
"Okay, let's ask the first factory."
However, the factory was unwilling to pay 500,000.
The 500,000 yuan spent is equivalent to the cost of purchasing the old equipment in the second factory.
After depreciation, how can second-hand equipment be worth 500,000?
250,000 is barely enough, but 500,000 is not.
*
Ye Manzhi soon heard that because of the sudden increase in investment from Shuguang Factory, an internal conflict broke out between Radio Factory No. 1 and Radio Factory No. 2.
The taut rope came loose again.
Factory One was only willing to pay 300,000, and the remaining 700,000 gap was made up by Factory Two.
But Factory 2 felt that Factory 1 was taking advantage of them.
Therefore, the plan for joint investment by both parties was shelved.
The leaders of Radio Factory No. 2 went to the Provincial Revolutionary Committee and the Municipal Revolutionary Committee several times, and it seemed that they wanted to take the upper-level route and did not want to confront Shuguang Factory head-on.
Ye Manzhi thought that the production line issue might take some time and was ready to take on the challenge.
However, a major event occurred in the city, leaving the city leaders with no time to take care of a TV production line, and soon made a decision -
This black-and-white TV production line, allocated by the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building, will be located in the Binjiang Shuguang Machinery Factory!
At the same time, Shuguang Factory will provide 1 million yuan within two years to assist Binjiang TV Station in completing its expansion work.
After receiving the notice from the city, Ye Manzhi announced the good news at the factory as soon as possible and asked the radio station to broadcast it three times in a row.
The good news about the upcoming switch to television production quickly spread throughout the factory, making all the employees excited!
Televisions are high-tech products, and there are no more than five factories in the country that can produce them!
And their Shuguang Factory will soon become one of them!
Although the production line had not yet been officially put in place, everyone's excitement and joy were beyond words. Workers set off firecrackers at the factory gate and in the family compound that day.
When people from other units noticed this, they were surprised and asked, "Why are you setting off firecrackers again? Didn't you set off firecrackers last time when the laundry service station opened?"
"Hey, there's always a happy event happening in our factory, so of course we have to set off firecrackers!" the young worker boasted cheerfully, "Our Shuguang Factory is about to start producing televisions! Do you know what a television is?"
The other party shook his head.
"Television is even more advanced than radio! Even Comrade Chairman watches TV!"
The news that Shuguang Factory spent 1 million to snatch a production line from Radio Factory No. 2 spread among sister units like wings.
It also allowed more colleagues to know Ye Manyi.
Director Ye received several congratulatory calls, among which Lei Wanyuan was the most excited.
"Director Ye, this is a fantastic job! When I left Shuguang Factory, I had regrets about the televisions. We saved money for several years by exporting goods, but the TV production line was still delayed. Seeing Shuguang Factory getting better and better, I feel relieved!"
Ye Manzhi felt a pang of sadness in her nose after hearing what he said.
The TV project was delayed again and again for various reasons. It took two factory directors to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
She also called him by his old nickname, "Director, thankfully you left me a substantial fortune, otherwise we wouldn't have the confidence to come up with one million! Hahahaha, you didn't see it. When I mentioned the one million figure at the discussion meeting, Director Li of the Second Radio Factory's eyes widened!"
Lei Wanyuan laughed out loud on the phone, "Our Shuguang Factory used to be a military factory. We need this kind of decisiveness!"
Both of them were very excited. Ye Manzhi even made an agreement with him that when the TV was officially put into production, he would invite the old factory director back to the factory to cut the ribbon!
Shuguang Factory was penniless in the beginning and had to scrimp and save to raise funds to buy a truck. Now it is about to launch a TV project, and Lao Lei also deserves half of the credit!
She hung up the phone and walked out of the office, where she ran into Wang Zaofu, who had just returned from a meeting in the city.
Deputy Director Wang has been in high spirits these days. Although the additional 1 million yuan is the key to obtaining the production line, Ye Manzhi did not deliberately downplay his contribution and affirmed his contribution to this matter in the factory.
Wang Zaofu finally emerged from the haze of being beaten by women and regained his reputation in the factory.
The three fires of the new official's new job have finally begun!
Seeing that he looked like a spirited rooster, Ye Manzhi found it funny and somewhat understanding.
Wang Zaofu is a new official, and she is also a new official.
Through this TV production line, both of them completed the target of burning three fires.
She was in a good mood, and her tone became gentler. "Director Wang, is there anything important to discuss in today's city meeting?"
"I was just about to tell you! The city has given our factory three places for workers, peasants, and soldiers to attend university. We can recommend our employees to go to university!"
Ye Manzhi asked in surprise, "Just a recommendation? No need to take the college entrance examination?"
The college entrance examination was stopped after 1966, and there were no new students in universities for several years.
I didn’t expect that they would start recruiting students again this year.
"No exams are required," Wang Zaofu said. "It's mainly based on recommendations from the masses and approval from leaders. But candidates must be politically sound, around 20 years old, and have a junior high school education or above. Once they pass the political review, they can go to university."
Ye Manzhi took his notebook and quickly browsed the recommendation requirements.
"Director Wang, I see here that it says young cadres are also included in the recommendation range. Do you want to sign up? If you want to go, the factory can give you a spot."
Wang Zaofu is 26 years old, has a junior high school education, comes from a working-class background, and of course has a good ideological and political background.
Letting him take a leave of absence to study at university for two years and then return to work after graduation would make things easier for everyone in the factory.
Moreover, if someone like him goes to study, his job will be retained and he doesn't have to worry about another troublemaker replacing him.
After hesitating for a while, Wang Zaofu shook his head and said, "Forget it. It's a rare opportunity to go to university. Let's leave these three places to the workshop workers."
He initially thought about going to college, but when he thought of Ye Manzhi, he gave up the idea.
It’s not that he had any improper thoughts about this young and beautiful leader, but mainly because Ye Manzhi was promoted too quickly.
If Ye Manzhi was transferred by his superiors again when he went to school, then he would have done nothing in Shuguang Factory in the past few years and would definitely not be able to replace Ye Manzhi.
Anyway, the purpose of going to college is to work. He has a good job now, so it doesn’t matter whether he goes to college or not.
Seeing that he refused, Ye Manzhi sighed regretfully in her heart and said, "The factory party committee is responsible for personnel work. Director Wang, you should organize the recommendation for university admission within the factory."
Wang Zaofu is not familiar with the production work in the workshop and does not know much about corporate management. If he is left idle, he might start to stir up trouble again at any time.
Giving him the task of recommending workers, peasants and soldiers to be college students would give him something to do.
…
Within a few days, the news of being recommended to go to university spread quickly in the factory.
"Can you go to university just by relying on a recommendation from your employer?" the workers asked in surprise. "No exams required?"
"No need, just good performance is enough! Let's have a meeting in the workshop this afternoon. We'll nominate two people from the workshop, and then the factory headquarters will summarize the results. Haha, our factory has been full of good news lately!" Another person pulled him aside and said, "During the meeting this afternoon, let's recommend each other!"
"OK."
The workshop launched a promotion campaign with great fanfare, but only a few days later, Kang Jian revealed to Ye Manzhi, "Director Wang's house has been crowded with people these days. Employees have been staying up late at night to visit Director Wang's house."
Ye Manzhi asked bluntly, "Did anyone give him a gift? Did Director Wang accept it?"
"There are quite a lot of people coming in. Most of them carry things in and carry things out again, but it's hard to say..."
The factory leaders all live in the same building, and everyone knows what is happening in each family.
Ye Manzhi thought that Wang Zaofu should not accept gifts so blatantly, so he would wait and see the recommendation results first.
Director Wang was quite efficient this time. He handed her the recommendation list in less than a week.
There are a total of 5 people on the list, and Shuguang Factory has 3 recommended places.
Ye Manzhi has to choose 3 people from the 5 people he has circled.
She looked carefully at the names on the list and could identify all five of them.
Two of them are indeed more active young workers in the workshop, and their technical level is relatively high among their peers.
The other three were "relatively good in ideology and politics." Among them, Chen Jiefang and Hu Deqing were almost instigated to smash the washing machine.
Let her recommend such a person to go to college?
The opportunity to study is so precious. Even if it is recommended, it should be recommended to truly outstanding comrades.
Ye Manzhi felt that there was something fishy about these three people being chosen, but she didn't find fault with them. She just frowned and asked, "Director Wang, why are all the five names on this list men? With so many young women in the factory, isn't there a single one worthy of recommendation?"
“I compiled it based on the recommendations from each workshop.”
Ye Manzhi asked doubtfully, "If each workshop recommends two people, with more than a dozen workshops, there can't be no women at all, right? Director Wang, we often say that women hold up half the sky. While we allow women to make contributions, we must also ensure that their welfare benefits are not compromised! The factory Party Committee must make a mandatory rule that at least two of the five candidates must be women! Please reconsider this list."
Wang Zaofu: “…”
After sending back the recommendation list, Ye Manzhi organized an impromptu team meeting that afternoon.
"Recently, our factory has encountered several major and happy events. The TV production line is about to be established, and we have also received three recommended positions for university students from the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers Program."
"Because of these two issues, I specifically asked the HR department to conduct a survey of the educational background and technical skills of the employees. But the results were quite surprising."
At her instruction, Director Ding of the factory office distributed several sheets of paper to each factory leader.
Ye Manzhi continued, "I remember that when we first transitioned from military to civilian use, employees with a high school education or higher and skilled workers at level 4 or higher accounted for 54% of the factory's total workforce. But this year, that number has dropped to 49%."
Huang He sighed, "It can't be helped. In the past five years, some of the senior employees with higher grades have retired, and the newly recruited young workers generally have lower education and less skilled skills."
In recent years, educated young people have been mobilized to go to the countryside every year. In order to avoid going to the countryside, some children of factory workers dropped out of high school when the factory was recruiting workers and went to work in the factory with only a junior high school education.
It is normal for this ratio to be lowered.
Ye Manzhi shook his head and said, "I think we can't let the loss of highly educated and skilled workers continue. Otherwise, in a few years, our Shuguang Factory will face a talent gap. Don't forget, Shuguang Factory's greatest advantage is its meticulous craftsmanship and military-grade quality that cannot be replaced by ordinary factories!"
"I agree with Director Ye!" Kang Jian agreed. "This issue really needs to be taken seriously by the factory. If we don't train new people in a timely manner, who will be able to take over the positions of these old workers when they retire in a few years?"
"Yes, the factory has been experiencing a lot of good news lately, but we also need to be aware of the potential risks," Ye Manzhi told the group. "Once the TV production line is in place, we'll transfer the best workers to the TV workshop. However, we haven't produced radars in five years, and most of our employees need training. Therefore, I suggest that we take this opportunity to organize a skills competition among the workers and select 100 to 150 workers to join the TV workshop. Those with particularly outstanding skills can have their salary levels re-established."
"In addition, the young workers in our factory are relatively progressive in terms of ideology and politics, so it's difficult to widen the gap. Therefore, when we recommend college students this time, we not only require them to have strong political qualities, but also that they should be in the upper middle level in terms of technical skills."
Miao Sufen agreed with both hands: "This should have been done a long time ago! Even if it is recommended by college students, everyone should be convinced!"
"Okay, Director Kang and Director Miao will be in charge of organizing this competition," Ye Manzhi said to Miao Sufen with a smile. "There must be female comrades among the recommended workers, peasants and soldiers. Director Miao should also pay close attention to them."
Wang Zaofu is really a cause for concern, so we have to let Sister Miao keep an eye on him!
*
In general, Ye Manzhi is in a very good mood recently. Once the production line is in place, Shuguang Factory can start working hard!
Every time she thought of this, she got so excited that her mind did somersaults.
After get off work, Ye Manzhi bought a cream popsicle at the cold drink store and sat in the car, enjoying the street view while eating the popsicle.
By the time she got home, the popsicle had already been destroyed by her.
The neighborhood committee director was shouting something in the courtyard with a loudspeaker. Ye Manzhi couldn't hear clearly. Seeing a group of people gathered outside the fork in the road near her home, she ran over quickly.
"Youyan, what happened?" She easily found her short daughter in the crowd.
Wu Yuzhuo's face flushed red as she emerged from the crowd. She grabbed her mother's hand and said, "Mom, I just represented our family at the neighborhood committee meeting!"
"Oh, thank you for your hard work, Xiao Wu," Ye Manzhi raised her hand to wipe the sweat off her forehead and asked, "What did you discuss in the meeting?"
"Grandma Zhao said every household needs to dig an air-raid shelter," Wu Yuzhuo said, imitating the neighborhood committee director's original words. "To prepare for war and famine for the people, everyone must have a shelter!"
"..." Ye Manzhi said in astonishment, "Where can we dig an air-raid shelter?"
"It's right under our house!" Xiao Wu took his mother's hand and went home. "Those who live in bungalows can dig under their own houses, and those who live in buildings have other arrangements."
Ye Manzhi suddenly remembered the news he had heard some time ago.
The reason why the city was so willing to hand over the TV production line to Shuguang Factory was mainly because it had a more important task.
Binjiang must respond to the call from higher authorities and build civil air defense projects.
To dig an air-raid shelter, the consumption of steel, wood, cement, sand and stone is huge, and the cost is also huge.
The Shuguang Factory was able to allocate 1 million yuan to build a TV station, which was equivalent to alleviating the city's financial pressure.
Therefore, no matter what the Second Radio Factory said, it was useless. The city finally handed over the production line to Shuguang Factory, which could provide real money.
When the mother and daughter returned home, Wu Zhengrong and Zhou Suo were drawing in the yard and had even made a blueprint.
It seems that they take the work of digging air-raid shelters very seriously.
Ye Manzhi greeted Zhou Suo and stood by to listen for a while.
Each family dug their own air-raid shelters, and in order to ensure that the shelters were strong enough, cement and steel had to be used.
However, the neighborhood committee only received ten bags of cement from the commune, and individuals had to find ways to overcome difficulties in obtaining the other materials on their own.
After Zhou left, Ye Manzhi whispered, "Are we really going to dig an air-raid shelter? Where should we dig it?"
"The tasks have been assigned, so let's respond to the call." Wu Zhengrong pointed into the yard, "Let's dig a hole outside that's big enough for the three of us. We can also use it as a cellar later."
"The number of people in Zhou's family is twice as many as ours," Ye Manzhi said with a smile, "so the workload of his family is not small."
Wu Yuzhuo's eyes were bright, and he suggested enthusiastically, "Dad, can we put the entrance to the air-raid shelter inside the house, just like in Tunnel Warfare, and then connect it to Uncle Zhou's air-raid shelter?"
This way she can go through the tunnel to find Yi Yi next door!
Faced with her excessive request, Wu Zhengrong actually agreed politely: "Sure, take out the money in your passbook to buy construction materials, and I can help you dig a tunnel to the gate of the compound."
Wu Yuzhuo subconsciously covered his pocket and remained silent.
Her passbook always had only incoming payments but no outgoing payments.
"I went to play with Yi Yi."
As if he was afraid that his father would take advantage of his savings, Wu Yuzhuo ran as fast as he could.
Ye Manzhi glanced at the yard outside and asked, "When do we start digging the air-raid shelter?"
"Let's start tonight," Wu Zhengrong went to the yard and found the shovel and hoe he used to plant vegetables. "Our project isn't big, so let's dig the hole first. I'll find a way to buy some cement tomorrow."
The family of three responded to the call from their superiors and started construction in the yard that day.
Wu Zhengrong was responsible for digging the pit, while Ye Manzhi and her daughter were responsible for transporting soil and stones.
They worked until after ten o'clock in the evening. When they got up the next day, both mother and daughter had sore backs and their arms felt as soft as noodles.
The kid can still stay at home during the summer vacation, but Ye Manyi has to struggle to go out to work.
There was a mobilization meeting at the Municipal Revolutionary Committee in the morning, which was also related to civil defense projects.
The city's civil air defense engineering command will draw personnel from various units to go to the city to support the construction of air-raid shelters, and it is estimated that 10,000 to 20,000 people will be drawn.
Shuguang Factory also received support tasks.
The factory had to send 40 workers and 1 cook to the city to dig an air-raid shelter.
In addition, a factory leader must be sent to the civil air defense project command center to follow up on the work.
Ye Manzhi returned to the factory and announced the latest news.
"Digging an air-raid shelter is a political task. The comrades sent out must be young, physically fit, and politically reliable!" Ye Manzhi was the first to raise his hand. "I'm the director of the Revolutionary Committee. I'll take the lead and sign up!"
She is a lesbian, and since she has signed up, the men in the team will definitely sign up as well!
Going to the city to dig air-raid shelters is indeed an important and arduous task. It is actually a great honor to be able to go to the command center to follow up on the work!
Everyone present, both men and women, raised their hands. Wang Zaofu looked at the others, gritted his teeth, and raised his arm as well.
Ye Manzhi praised, "Your spirit of not fearing difficulties and bravely dedicating yourself is truly encouraging. However, this time, we only need to select one comrade from the leadership team to go to the city. Let's vote. Director Ding, please help us record the votes."
Director Ding of the factory office nodded.
"Okay, let's start voting, one by one," Ye Manzhi first looked at Wang Zaofu on his left, "Comrades who support Director Wang taking on this glorious task, please raise your hands!"
Miao Sufen was the first to raise her hand.
If Wang Zaofu is sent to the city to dig an air-raid shelter, the factory will have some peace and quiet for a while.
She was a little tired of staring at the man named Wang all day long.
Kang Jian and Tian Chunshan seemed a little hesitant, and Kang Jian said, "Director Wang has nothing to complain about in this regard."
Then he raised his hand.
Then several more hands slowly raised up.
There are seven people in the Revolutionary Committee, and five of them have raised their hands.
Ye Manzhi turned to look at Wang Zaofu, raised his hand, and said affirmatively: "Director Wang is indeed politically strong."
Wang Zaofu: “…”
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