Chapter 83: then translation of chapter title

First Heavy Machinery, reception room.

"Professor Yuan, please wait a moment; our factory's leaders are in a meeting at the design department and can't come over right away. They'll definitely come as soon as the meeting ends." Xiao Wang, who was in charge of reception, explained while pouring tea for everyone.

"No problem, we're not in a hurry either. If we don't have time today, we can talk tomorrow." Professor Yuan said with a beaming smile.

After receiving the news from the Capital that the contract had been formally signed, the vertical metal extruder had just finished its design, and Professor Yuan, on a whim, decided to come to First Heavy Machinery to place an order.

Thinking about it now, it was a bit rash, and I didn't even send a telegram ahead to notify them. As First Heavy Machinery is a leading enterprise in the nation's industry, it's naturally very busy.

Looking at the pitch-black sky outside, Qin Miao wanted to say, "Let's just go eat." The cafeteria at First Heavy Machinery should have decent food, and many cities nowadays have Qiqihar barbecue.

Just then, a hearty laugh came from outside: "Comrades from Ha Gong Da, welcome, welcome! Sorry about that, we were just in a meeting… Hmm, this young comrade must be Qin Miao, right?"

Qin Miao was quite curious: "You know me?"

"Of course. As a freshman at Ha Gong Da, you've undertaken many research projects there and even went abroad to bring back an order worth a hundred million dollars. This has long been known domestically, and everyone says Qin Miao is the God of Wealth—wherever you go, you must be provided for."

Looking at the middle-aged man before him, Qin Miao seemed to realize: This isn't about soliciting an order; it's likely that my actions in the Capital's foreign exchange department have become known. No matter where I go or which leader I meet, they all know I'm not someone to be trifled with, right?

"Everyone, this is our Deputy Factory Director Zhao, who is in charge of receiving new tasks at the factory." Xiao Wang beside him quickly introduced.

"Hello, Director Zhao!"

Gurgle…

Qin Miao's stomach had already started growling uncontrollably.

"Comrades, you've come a long way; you must be hungry. Let's go to the cafeteria, eat first, then we'll talk!" Zhao Dong waved his hand broadly.

"Sure, we'll give you meal tickets…"

"No need. Since you've come, you're our guests at First Heavy Machinery. When guests visit, it's the host's duty to prepare food—how could we let guests pay? Come on!"

Cafeteria, private room.

Sliced meat, fried drumsticks, sauerkraut stewed meat, stir-fried mushrooms with meat… a full table was quickly served.

Beidacang, the local liquor of Qicheng; in the eyes of locals, this wine can stand shoulder to shoulder with Maotai.

Glug glug…

This cup… isn't a cheap few-cent cup for baijiu; its size is about like a modern disposable paper cup, holding roughly three taels of liquor!

Qin Miao saw Zhao Dong fill a cup and was about to hand it to him, so he quickly shook his head: "No, Director Zhao, I can't drink alcohol…"

"It's already October, the weather is bitterly cold, and the heating hasn't started yet. Have a cup to warm up. We'll discuss work tomorrow; today's task is just to eat and drink well."

Soon, everyone had a cup.

Director Zhao raised his cup: "The Northeastern spirit, wine fragrant, heroic vigor, cups never cease—I, Old Zhao, first drink as a toast!"

Glug glug…

Do Northeasterners all drink straight from the bottle?

Qin Miao covered his stomach: "I'm going to the restroom."

Or rather, I'll sneak off to pee, then come back after they've had their fill.

Qin Miao strode out of the private room; outside was the hall where ordinary workers were eating.

"Alas, the demand for thick-walled pipes this time is huge; the only option is to import, but our old factory director just won't agree…"

"The Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant is our first domestically built nuclear plant; the old factory director is doing it to save face, which is understandable, but… for the boiler steel pipes, besides importing, we really have no other option…"

In the 1950s–60s, domestic thermal power plant units were all under ten megawatts, and most of the piping used ordinary seamless pipes; the low-alloy steel pipes used in superheaters and reheaters needed to be imported from the Soviet Union.

By the mid-1970s, as boiler technology advanced, the high-pressure boiler steel pipes used could only be imported from Germany.

Entering the 1980s, with the advent of subcritical units, large-diameter seamless steel pipes still relied entirely on imports.

Now, when building nuclear power plants, whatever needs to be imported still must be imported, even though we talk about self-reliance…

"After today's meeting, the old factory director's mood isn't great…"

Qin Miao's eyes lit up instantly; this timing is just perfect!

The Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant began construction in 1985, but its R&D actually started in 1980, and First Heavy Machinery's nuclear power industry also began with Qinshan.

Now, in their R&D, they've run into the problem of large-diameter thick-walled steel pipes; importing would consume a lot of foreign exchange, and given the significance of a nuclear plant, using foreign goods is inappropriate.

So…

Thus, Qin Miao turned and headed back.

"Huh, you're back so fast—did you go find some corner to relieve yourself?" Factory Director Zhao saw Qin Miao return and immediately joked with a smile.

"Yeah, I even lifted a leg."

Zhao Dong stared for a moment: "You kid, you're really easy to get along with."

"I can tell good from bad." Qin Miao said: "By the way, let's not just eat; Professor Yuan, please explain our project to Director Zhao."

"San Shui, why don't you introduce it? After all, the idea was yours."

Qin Miao spoke: "Alright, our Ha Gong Da Mechanical Engineering Department has designed a special machine whose purpose is to make thick-walled pipes—fast and with little waste…"

Thick-walled pipe!

Zhao Dong's eyes widened instantly, his cup suspended in midair.

"How do you make it?"

"We call this machine the vertical metal extruder; just put a red-hot steel ingot inside, and in less than a minute it extrudes into a steel pipe—whatever diameter you want, whatever thickness you want…"

Making thick-walled pipes can be this simple!

Zhao Dong swallowed: "Such a machine must require tremendous pressure, right?"

Kneading steel like dough back and forth—that's something an ordinary machine can't do!

"36,000 tons."

"Smack!" Zhao Dong's cup fell to the ground.

In 1967, First Heavy Machinery built a 30,000-ton forging press for the Southwest Aluminum Processing Plant; it went into production in 1973, and after that, First Heavy Machinery never built another forging press over 30,000 tons!

As for the 65,000-ton forging press needed for the Yunshen (Yun-10)… it's probably nine out of ten going to be scrapped.

Now, Ha Gong Da actually wants to make a 36,000‑tonne vertical metal extrusion press! With this thing, thick‑walled pipes—wouldn't it be that you can have as much as you want?

The Old Factory Director's heart ailment could also be resolved, ah!

"Quick, open the drawings and have a look!"