Master Craftsmen: Rising Since 1959

Chapter 25 The Feast at Hongmen

After finishing his theory, Chen Weiguo approached Professor Zheng.

Professor Zheng examined the stack of manuscripts repeatedly, growing more and more excited with each reading. Finally, he stood up and paced back and forth in his office several times, muttering to himself repeatedly:

"If this technology is widely adopted, all the tool selection and sharpening parameters of all machinery factories across the country can be optimized using this model. We won't need experienced craftsmen to experiment generation after generation anymore; we can just use a set of formulas."

Chen Weiguo listened from the side, and was naturally pleased, but he still said a few words of modesty, "This is not my achievement alone. Professor, your experimental data is the foundation."

Professor Zheng waved his hand and said with emotion, "It's true that I collected the data, but it was your deductive framework that connected these scattered pieces of data into a coherent whole. You can't deny that credit."

If this paper were published, it would definitely cause a much bigger sensation than your previous paper on waveform blades. Waveform blades, in the end, were just a breakthrough at one point, while this dynamic optimization model is a comprehensive construction of an entire surface; the scale is completely different.

……

After finishing his busy work, Chen Weiguo rode his old bicycle home to see his younger sister on the weekend.

He had barely stepped inside his house and hadn't even had a chance to sit down when someone came to the alley entrance, saying that Deputy Factory Director Liu wanted him to come over and talk to him about something.

His relationship with Deputy Factory Director Liu was more or less like that of enemies, so what good could come of suddenly calling him over?

Chen Weiguo was starting to have doubts.

But since the deputy factory director had spoken, it wouldn't be appropriate to refuse, so after thinking about it, he went along.

We arrived at Deputy Factory Director Liu's house.

As soon as I entered, I saw Liu Lu sitting at the dining table, dressed much more neatly than she was at school, clearly having dressed up specially.

There were four dishes on the table, including fish and meat. These days, having such a table at home is quite impressive.

Deputy Factory Director Liu had a friendly smile on his face, invited him to sit down, and even poured him a glass of wine himself.

As the saying goes, "If someone is being overly solicitous, they're either up to no good or have ulterior motives." The fact that this father and son called me over is definitely not a good thing.

Chen Weiguo remained on edge, handling the situation with extreme caution.

Sure enough, before they'd even taken two sips of wine, Deputy Factory Director Liu started steer the conversation toward the main topic.

He first praised him, saying, "Xiao Chen, you've done a great job at the factory. Director Zhao values ​​you, and the department has also commended you. There aren't many young people as promising as you."

Then, changing the subject, she said, "You know Liu Lu from our family. You two met at school, and she has a good impression of you. We, the old folks, also think you're a good young man. If you're willing, our two families can get to know each other better."

Chen Weiguo glanced at Liu Lu.

Liu Lu was glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, a slight smile on her lips, as if she was waiting for him to say yes.

This father and son set a trap, waiting for me to fall into it...

Chen Weiguo took a deep breath: "Director Liu, I appreciate your and Teacher Liu's kindness, but I really have no plans to date right now. My studies at school are demanding, and Professor Zheng is also asking me to work on a research project. I simply don't have the energy for it."

Deputy Factory Director Liu's smile froze for a moment, but being a seasoned official, he quickly recovered.

"It's good for young people to be busy with their careers, but it won't stop them from starting a family. Besides, if you get together with my Liu Lu, you'll be one of our own in the factory. I can help you with your technical matters. You could become the deputy head of the technical department, or even the head of the technical department in the future."

"Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is the best," Chen Weiguo stood up and said, "Director Liu, I understand what you mean, but this really won't work. Teacher Liu and I are not a good match. You can't force a relationship. I won't eat this meal. My sister is waiting for me to come home and cook."

After saying that, he turned and left. Behind him, Liu Lu's voice came: "Dad, look, look! I told you he didn't know what was good for him, but you didn't believe me. You, a deputy factory director, can't even handle this little thing."

Deputy Factory Director Liu's face was now completely dark. He hadn't expected that a greenhorn who had only been in the factory for a few days would dare to leave right in front of him, without even giving him a way out.

He took a swig of his drink and slammed the glass down on the table: "Fine, this kid won't learn his lesson until he's faced with the death penalty."

……

After leaving Deputy Factory Director Liu's house, Chen Weiguo felt extremely uncomfortable.

This father and son, one of them cried to his dad when he couldn't get a girlfriend at school, and the other used his position as a section chief as bait to try and get himself tied to their family's boat. What kind of people are they...?

However, this matter cannot be left unresolved. He knows Deputy Factory Director Liu well; if you don't take his challenge, he will definitely find another way to make up for it.

Instead of waiting for others to make the first move, it's better to bring things to the forefront yourself.

Chen Weiguo turned a corner and went directly to Zhao Dehai's house.

Zhao Dehai was chopping firewood in the yard when he saw him and was quite surprised: "Xiao Chen, why aren't you home with your sister this weekend? Why are you here instead?"

Chen Weiguo didn't beat around the bush and recounted everything that had happened during this period from beginning to end.

He couldn't accept Liu Lu's advances at school, nor could he accept the deputy factory director's offer of a section chief position in exchange for marrying Liu Lu. He had refused all of this. In addition, his sister had mentioned that someone was asking about him in the alley, and the personnel department had brought up confidentiality procedures.

Every single matter was thoroughly investigated and resolved.

The moment Zhao Dehai slammed his wood-chopping axe into the wooden stump, his expression turned grim.

He was a man who had been on the battlefield and seen blood, and he hated those who played dirty tricks behind people's backs the most.

Is everything you've said true?

"If you tell even one lie, you'll fire me from the factory immediately."

……

The next morning, Zhao Dehai went to Deputy Factory Director Liu's office.

Zhao Dehai questioned, "Hey Liu, don't think I don't know what you're up to. That young man won't date your daughter, so you threaten him with personnel and confidentiality procedures? Is this all the grit you, a deputy factory director, have?"

Deputy Factory Director Liu tried to argue: "I'm doing this for the good of the factory. How did a level six worker develop such a core technology as the wave blade? Shouldn't that be investigated? I have reasonable suspicions, and increasing the scrutiny of young technical backbones is also written in the procedures."

Zhao Dehai snorted, "Don't give me that. I don't care how you act tough in front of others, but I personally recommended Chen Weiguo to study at the school. If you dare to do anything underhanded behind my back again, I'll report you directly to the Ministry of Machinery Industry and expose all your disgusting deeds. Let's see if I dare to do it."

Deputy Factory Director Liu still refused to back down verbally. After Zhao Dehai slammed the door and left, he sat alone in his office for a long time, his face twitching with anger.

Zhao Dehai gave Deputy Factory Director Liu a dressing down, but the matter at the school wasn't over yet.

When Chen Weiguo arrived at the school on Monday to register, a teacher from the department called him to the office.

"Chen Weiguo, because we are reviewing your political background check materials, according to the school's regulations, we suggest that you temporarily refrain from participating in the formal authorship and publication of Professor Zheng's research project during the review period. In addition, your training course evaluation grades during this period will also be temporarily treated as 'pending' until the review results are released, at which point we will decide whether to include them in your academic credits."