Chapter 335: The Foreign Factory Director of Qingshan Benz Factory

Qingshan Benz Factory.

The Spring Festival had already passed, but the yangge dance troupe, the stilts team were summoned again, especially the lion dance performers, who at this moment were happily dancing to the sound of gongs and drums.

At the factory gate, a crowd had gathered.

"What's going on?"

"Probably to welcome an important guest."

As they spoke, a car horn sounded from behind.

The crowd parted, seeing a luxury sedan slowly approach; the car door opened, a young man stepped out first—everyone recognized him, isn't that the famous Qin Miao? Then a young woman got out, also recognized, it was Qin Miao's wife.

Wait, another person got out… a foreigner?

"Mr. Ge Lixi, what you are seeing now is our Eastern traditional celebration program—lion dance, stilts, yangge dance—everyone is welcoming you with great enthusiasm."

Ge Lixi nodded: "Not bad, not bad. I've long heard that Eastern culture is profound and extensive, but I've never seen it; now, seeing this lively scene here, I'm broadened. However… I came here for work, so let's… go to the meeting."

"Alright, let's move forward."

The lion dancers, stilt walkers, and yangge performers continued to perform around Ge Lixi, and amidst the crowd's welcoming procession, Ge Lixi arrived at the factory gate.

Qin Jianhua strode forward and said: "Mr. Ge Lixi, welcome to Qingshan Benz Factory. Following San Shui… cough, cough, following Comrade Qin Miao's arrangement, after you arrive you will assume the position of factory director, and I, Qin Jianhua, will assist you."

Ge Lixi was momentarily stunned.

He had already accepted the job, willing to come help in the East, but he hadn't expected that upon arriving here he would be made factory director.

This trust is weighty indeed!

"Mr. Ge Lixi, hello, I am Zhang Wanhe, the person in charge of industry for the Capital; I represent the Capital Government and welcome your arrival. Your appointment letter will be formally issued to you in the meeting room."

It's rare to see two fathers together; Qin Miao also felt somewhat moved.

"Come on, let's go to the meeting room."

In the meeting room, Zhang Wanhe formally delivered the appointment letter to Ge Lixi's hands, followed by a round of applause.

"Mr. Ge Lixi, our Eastern factories have long followed the Soviet model, being rough and ready; now, to produce Benz heavy trucks, we must adopt Western quality standards. We are lacking in this regard, and by appointing you as factory director we hope you can lead our plant to rapid growth."

"Well, I am willing to devote all my learning here! However… without investigation there is no right to speak. Next, I hope to walk around the workshop and then devise the most suitable plan."

"Great, welcome!"

"Then let's go now; holding meetings here will never let us grasp the actual situation." Ge Lixi said.

This is typical of a bureaucrat's style! Those long, smelly meetings have no nutrition! They're pure time-wasting!

Everyone had contacted Ge Lixi for less than half an hour, yet they already felt his work style; Qin Jianhua nodded approvingly—such a person can indeed lead a factory well!

Inside the workshop.

"On the production line, the key equipment is imported from Germany, while other equipment is made by ourselves." Qin Jianhua introduced, of course this cannot be done without the help of Ha Gong Da!

Ge Lixi nodded, looking at the equipment one by one, at the people working, he was very satisfied.

"Before coming to the East, I thought the factories here were all old Soviet-style workshops, messy and chaotic; now seeing everything orderly, it's quite good!"

"Mr. Ge Lixi, this factory is newly built, fully according to German standards, with a restroom every certain distance…"

Such a small matter is not worth mentioning in later times, but now it must be emphasized—knowing that in many factories people just relieve themselves anywhere, the environment is terribly dirty and chaotic…

Ge Lixi nodded, then strode big steps into the restroom.

Those accompanying him had complex expressions; Factory Director Ge Lixi does things meticulously!

"We know Westerners prefer toilets, so in the restroom we have retained a dedicated toilet position."

Flush toilets, clean and tidy, most of the pits are unpartitioned, only the toilet pits have doors left for them.

Even a small restroom can reveal a factory's quality; in this era many people couldn't understand it, and even would sabotage it—initially, the first Sino-foreign joint venture, the Capital Automobile Factory, foreign managers repaired a batch of toilets, but not long after they were all deliberately destroyed.

In their view, these are capitalist indulgence; we've squatted in pit latrines for decades—who would care about this?

Changing perceptions requires a long period, but in Qingshan Benz Factory there is no such problem, the reason is simple: the workers here are all newly recruited! High wages, good treatment, none of the old factory's slick veterans!

If we were to take over an old factory, who knows how much trouble would await us.

Ge Lixi came out of the restroom, very satisfied, and continued forward.

"Up ahead is the axle production department; this is also one of the key components we can initially manufacture." Qin Jianhua introduced from the side.

Coincidentally, a few axle housings were sent over from the sand-casting workshop; Ge Lixi greeted them, stopped them, and reached inside to feel.

"Not bad, few impurities, meets German standard… wait, this axle housing has a sand eye!"

Zhao Sibao looked over, smiled: "No problem, this sand eye, we'll just weld it shut later with the welder!"

Ge Lixi shook his head: "No, welding cannot be used on newly manufactured automobiles; according to German standard, this axle housing needs to be scrapped."

"What, scrap? Such a fine axle, why scrap it?" Zhao Sibao immediately objected: "Isn't this wasteful?"

"Of course not."

Zhao Sibao widened his eyes, looking at the speaker: "San Shui…"

"Since Factory Director Ge Lixi said it must be scrapped, then scrap it; our Qingshan Benz Factory produces world-class heavy trucks, we must strictly follow German standards!"

"But… isn't that too regrettable? Clearly a quick weld would let it be used again…"

"Once welded, it counts as repaired; Factory Director Ge said it clearly—we are to make brand-new automobiles, not secondhand ones! Master Zhao, scrap this component!"

"Alright." Zhao Sibao nodded in agreement, his gaze still filled with reluctance.

For people of this era, frugality is second nature—if a biscuit gets moldy, they scrape off the mold and keep eating; now… this obvious extravagance, Qin Miao even supports it! Some people can't wrap their heads around it.