Chapter 41

Capital suburbs, Qingshan Machinery Factory.

Clang!

The slide of a 500‑ton hydraulic press fell, the upper and lower dies meshed together, and as the crossbeam rose slowly, a shiny stainless‑steel pressure‑cooker body was completed.

Worker Zhao Sibao gripped the body with iron tongs, pulled it out, then placed a second round stainless‑steel plate inside.

Clang!

The second body was made.

The pressed cylinder body will be placed on a drilling machine to bore holes, the handle installed; on the other side, a 300‑ton hydraulic press stamps the lid, then the vent valve is welded…

Body, lid… a fine pressure cooker is produced; after stamping the body with a steel mark and putting it in a packing box, it can leave the workshop.

Originally the finished pressure cookers were to be stored in the warehouse, but now they are not needed; a row of Old Liberations is parked at the workshop gate, waiting to be loaded.

Having just gotten off the urban‑rural bus, Qin Miao looked at the nearby factory gate, at the line of vehicles, and smiled; it seemed the product was selling very well.

Using these vehicles as cover, Qin Miao avoided Old Liu watching the gate and strode inside.

The Sales Section was also packed, three deep inside and three deep outside.

"We at the Dongfeng market are ordering another five thousand pressure cookers! Qingshan brand pressure cookers are now the best‑selling in the capital! Ordinary folks would rather spend a few extra yuan to buy stainless‑steel ones! Our stockpiled aluminum‑alloy pressure cookers just won't sell; these stainless‑steel ones will be snatched off the shelves as soon as they're up!"

"We at the capital department store are ordering another three thousand!"

"Everyone, everyone, our orders are already booked through the end of the year; we can't take more!"

"Then let's order for next year!"

"It's only just National Day; next year's situation is uncertain—maybe other domestic factories will also be making stainless‑steel pressure cookers!"

"How could that be! Stainless steel is a scarce commodity; in the whole country, aside from your Qingshan Factory, no other plant can get hold of it! Hurry up and place the order—we need to agree that you will produce according to our order." "That's certain; Qingshan Machinery Factory gives no one special treatment, everyone must receive their turn honestly—this is what Factory Director Qin specifically ordered: fairness, openness, justice."

Qin Miao nodded satisfied and continued walking inward.

The factory director's office was empty—perhaps they were in a meeting?

So, Qin Miao, familiar with the way, came to the meeting room; sure enough, voices were speaking inside.

"Comrades, National Day is a day of nationwide celebration; today is also a day worth celebrating for our Qingshan Factory—Factory Director Wang is retiring effective today! Comrade Qin Jianhua will serve as director of Qingshan Machinery Factory! Now please Director Qin give us a speech!"

A round of warm applause broke out.

Qin Miao was quite pleased; originally the most qualified person to be factory director was Niu Guishan, but he's already in prison—who else would dare to oppose Qin Miao's father?

Moreover, the factory's booming success is all thanks to Qin Miao! If they dared to oppose, as soon as Qin Jianhua steps back, the factory would immediately revert to its old track—never mind anything else, they couldn't even coordinate the stainless‑steel sheet metal!

"Being factory director or not doesn't matter; seeing our factory grow and the workers smiling is enough." Qin Jianhua said: "In the future, I also hope everyone works together in unity to make the factory bigger and stronger."

"As the saying goes, a hero needs three helpers; Director Qin, you also need to pick a few people to serve as your assistants and strengthen the mid‑level leadership of Qingshan Machinery Factory—do you have any suitable candidates?"

"Well…" Qin Jianhua felt a bit embarrassed. He had been just an ordinary worker before—his work was beyond reproach—but his leadership ability had not yet been cultivated.

"The newly appointed Section Chief of your factory's Personnel Section, Zhao Guoqing, is a fine young fellow; with reforms underway, we need young people to shoulder the burden—I think he can be promoted to vice director, in charge of production and sales. Director Qin, what do you think?"

"I…"

"Not good!" Just then, a voice sounded at the doorway.

Everyone stared, looking toward the door, while the Huang leader from the Menkou District government who had just spoken turned grim: "Where did this hot‑headed youth come from? Do you know what kind of meeting this is? Get out! Section Chief Liu, drive him out!"

Section Chief Liu Nanshan of the Security Section did not move.

Huang leader's face grew uglier: "Fine, you Qingshan Factory have just broken away from the military‑industrial system, been allocated to our local government, and now you won't listen to our management, right?"

No wonder! Qin Miao finally understood what was going on.

Qingshan Machinery Factory originally belonged to the military‑industrial system, but now the state is pushing reform, the army must endure, many military factories must convert to civilian production, and this factory's staffing also has many positions transferred from the military‑industrial system to the locality.

My father became factory director with the army's support, but the army's help ends here—after all, Qingshan Factory has become a local enterprise, and its management organ is the superior district government.

Fortunately I managed to catch this meeting today!

I know what kind of person Zhao Guoqing is—when Niu Guishan was factory director, Zhao was his scheming aide, stirring up who knows what trouble; when the factory went bankrupt, workers were forced to scavenge vegetable leaves at the market, while Zhao grew filthy rich, having siphoned off who knows how much of the factory's assets!

If we let him be vice director, Qingshan Factory will still be hollowed out by this guy!

"Director Huang, he is Director Qin's son…"

"What? Qin Miao? Director Huang's heart jolted—he had heard of Qin Miao's deeds; the ruin of Niu Guishan's family was Qin Miao's doing, this person is not easy to deal with, and it's said he's still a hot commodity at Ha Gong Da."

Upon thinking this, Huang leader's face instantly broke into a smile: "Qin Miao! Welcome, welcome—come, sit, sit beside me!"

"Good!" Qin Miao, without ceremony, strode forward.

"The design plan for this pressure cooker came from Comrade Qin Miao; Qingshan Factory's growth, Qin Miao is the chief contributor. Comrade Qin Miao, on behalf of the government, I thank you for your enormous contribution to the industrial development of our Menkou District!"

"Well, I grew up in Qingshan Factory; this place raised me, and I have many uncles, aunts, and relatives who dote on me. If the factory were to fail, they'd lose their jobs, so although I'm an outsider, I will give my full support to Qingshan Factory; if anyone threatens its development, I, Qin Miao, will certainly not let them off!"

"Comrade Qin Miao, hearing what you say, doesn't everyone here wish for the factory to grow and prosper?"

"No, some people would rather seize this opportunity to line their own pockets." Qin Miao glanced at a certain person present: "Section Chief Zhao, am I right?"

Zhao Guoqing's face instantly changed: "San Shui, ah, I, your Brother Zhao, am pure and clean—I would never take advantage of the factory; that would land me in jail!"

Huang leader's smile faltered—what is Qin Miao up to? After I nominated Zhao Guoqing, he comes looking for trouble for Zhao; isn't this just slapping my own face?

Even if you're favored at school and have good ties with the army, so what? Qingshan Machinery Factory has already been allocated to our locality—the army cannot interfere in local affairs!