Chapter 615: Spectators Around the Induction Cooker

He heard Lu Cheng say that this gadget, once plugged in, can be used for stir‑frying, and Zheng Guoping immediately replied, "Isn't that just the ordinary electric stove we use?"

Lu Cheng shook his head; the electric stove Zheng Guoping mentioned, unlike the fast‑heating ones we normally use, works on the same principle as an electric iron—pure resistive heating.

It generates heat by passing alternating current through a single heating wire, and its structure is so simple it could be hammered out of metal sheet.

"This is vastly different from an electric stove; you could say this gadget belongs to aerospace‑grade complex electronics."

Hearing Lu Cheng say that, Zheng Guoping and the others instantly became interested.

"Is it really that mysterious as you claim? At most it's an imported appliance, maybe a bit pricey; how could it be any more complex? Why shouldn't I believe you?"

Lu Cheng's words weren't exaggerating; in later times this gadget wouldn't be remarkable, but in this era the material technology is too backward.

"You don't believe it, huh?" Lu Cheng stood up, saw everyone shaking their heads, and said again.

"If you don't believe it, we'll just take it apart and you'll see for yourself."

A comrade hesitated to dismantle it: "Really take it apart? This thing looks like an import, surely not cheap; what if we break it completely?"

Zheng Guoping, hearing that, became displeased: "Who are you looking down on! Who is our Director Lu? A big tycoon! It's just an imported induction cooker; who cares about that amount of money?"

Lu Cheng gave a kick: "Who are you slandering here! I'm doing this so you can learn more, even paying out of my own pocket! By the way, where's Wei Shu? Why haven't we seen him?"

Zheng Guoping replied: "Oh, the internal combustion engine project just wrapped up, but you know Lao Si, that guy never stays idle; lately he's been constantly popping into the office, saying he's researching some alloy material, and now …"

Zheng Guoping glanced at the locked office: "He probably hit a snag and went to the Engineering Institute to see his teacher."

Lu Cheng nodded: "I know about the alloy material; it's a task I assigned to him. You also have a task—the induction cooker is now handed to you."

Back in the office, he took out tools, disassembled the induction cooker, and neatly arranged all the components on the table.

Zheng Guoping stood there, propping his chin, scanning back and forth, and finally his gaze landed on a transistor.

He then realized that Lu Cheng truly hadn't spoken nonsense.

Don't be fooled by this tiny appliance; the principles of its components are genuinely complex.

Someone who recognized the transistor Zheng Guoping was staring at said, "I think I've seen a photo of this in a foreign magazine; it should be a power transistor."

Zheng Guoping gave a sideways glance, signaling him to continue.

"In our technical terms, it can convert 50 Hz mains AC into a 20–30 kHz high‑frequency current, thereby generating eddy‑current heating in the pot bottom."

It seems it was only recently developed in a Western lab, just a few years ago; in any case, the parts we're seeing are all extremely expensive."

Zheng Guoping clenched his teeth; if the cost weren't high, it couldn't be sold for such a price.

Lu Cheng laughed beside him: "How about it? Isn't it different from domestic electric stoves? For example, this circuit board, coil, heat‑dissipation fan—any single component you pick is something the country doesn't have yet."

Zheng Guoping nodded: "No wonder we don't produce it domestically; it's indeed very complex. So Third, what exactly do you want us to do? You're not actually planning to manufacture this thing, are you?"

Lu Cheng pulled out a chair and sat down: "We do have that idea; currently our railway‑related department plans to set up a Directly Affiliated Factory specifically to produce this gadget."

Zheng Guoping was not optimistic at all: "I think it's unrealistic; judging from the disassembled components, the technology can't produce it, the power grid can't handle it, the populace can't afford it, and the cookware can't match."

Zheng Guoping's summary was spot‑on; even if we could produce it, given domestic consumption levels, only some officials could afford such a gadget.

Ordinary families would definitely shy away from it.

"I've considered all that you said; there's currently no plan to sell it domestically, we intend to export it to earn foreign exchange."

So that's it; Zheng Guoping understood—exporting makes it more realistic.

"Since we want to produce this induction cooker, and we lack the components domestically, we might as well import them outright, assemble, and sell."

Lu Cheng laughed in exasperation, thinking these people are only fit for R&D and clueless about business.

"What you're saying isn't nonsense; if I import the components, assemble them, then re‑export them, we'd just add shipping costs for nothing, making them pricier than foreign ones—why would anyone buy ours?"

Zheng Guoping scratched his head awkwardly: "So you mean you want us to fully understand the principles of these components and produce them ourselves?"

Lu Cheng stood up: "Exactly. Only by developing them ourselves, finding cheap and stable components, and lowering costs can we hope to break into the foreign market."

Thus, this isn't a minor task; our nation's foreign‑exchange reserves are low, and if this gadget can bring our department extra foreign exchange, you'll all earn great merit.

Zheng Guoping was unimpressed: "You just like to paint big pictures; we already broke through the internal combustion engine project, and no one's said we earned merit for that."

Lu Cheng laughed: "Don't be so hasty; I'm not the kind of person who only assigns you tasks and makes you toil."

This time I came to the Research Institute for two reasons: first, this induction cooker; second, to see Dean Gao—everyone who participated in the internal combustion engine project will get a promotion.

When Lu Cheng said that, everyone's eyes lit up.

That meant they could earn a higher monthly salary, not just for food but to afford more reference books.

When Lu Cheng mentioned rewarding everyone, Zheng Guoping grabbed a flimsy piece of paper, fanned Lu Cheng with it, and said.

"Then there's nothing more to say; we're counting on Director Lu. If you really can promote each of us, dinner's on me tonight."

Lu Cheng glanced at the disassembled parts on the table: "What about the induction cooker?"

"You don't need to worry about the induction cooker; we've already tackled that massive internal combustion engine, so a tiny induction cooker is nothing—hand it to us, we'll study it thoroughly."

Zheng Guoping, while speaking, pushed Lu Cheng outward: "It's hot in this office; don't strain yourself here. Dean Gao's room is cooler; go there and wait for good news."

Dean Gao's office wasn't far; Lu Cheng arrived at the door, pondering how to bring up the matter.

After all, promoting everyone isn't a trivial matter, but no matter how hard, Lu Cheng must bite the bullet and go forward, lest the brothers who followed him to the Research Institute be disappointed.