Yang Xuan nodded: "Of course, I will only try it after this technical transformation is completed."
Xiao Manchun knew that he couldn't dispel Yang Xuan's idea immediately, so he didn't say much. He was waiting for Yang Xuan to hit a snag, then he would know that this path wouldn't work at the Za Steel Factory.
But the big leader was very interested in what Yang Xuan said. He had interacted with Yang Xuan many times and had gotten to know him well, knowing that even though Yang Xuan was young, he always spoke with reason. He wouldn't have brought it up in front of so many people without some certainty.
"If you were to develop automated machine tools, how confident are you that you could pull it off?" the big leader asked.
"I wouldn't say 100% confident, but I have a 50% chance. However, I need a group of professionals to help me. I know two experts who returned from overseas and specialize in this area. They are currently teaching at a middle school, their expertise is going to waste. It's really a shame." Yang Xuan said.
The big leader became interested: "What's the situation?"
Yang Xuan briefly explained the situation of Ran's father and mother.
The big leader immediately became a bit angry: "Nonsense! We have such a shortage of talent. They finally gave up their comfortable lives abroad to return to serve their country, and they are treated like this? It's really disheartening. Yang Xuan, I support you in developing automated machinery. I will transfer these two experts to the Za Steel Factory for you."
Seeing the big leader supporting Yang Xuan's development of automated machine tools, Xiao Manchun furrowed his brows but didn't say anything more.
Factory Director Yang volunteered: "Leave it to me. I guarantee that within three days, I will transfer these two experts to our Za Steel Factory's technical department. The technical department will then establish an automated machine tool task force. Yang Xuan, you will be the leader of this group. After the technical transformation is complete, you can start developing automated machine tools."
Xiao Manchun had already left at some point. He wasn't very supportive of forming a task force, because he felt that the Za Steel Factory's research and development capabilities couldn't possibly complete the development of automated machine tools.
Because of this incident, Xiao Manchun was very unhappy with Yang Xuan.
"Yang Xuan, go to the trade union later to pick up the bicycle the factory gave you. It arrived today." Factory Director Yang said.
"Alright!" Yang Xuan smiled. In this era, a bicycle was a luxury for ordinary people.
In the entire courtyard, only Yan Bu Gui's family had a bicycle. If it weren't for this bicycle, Yan Jie Fang wouldn't have found a girlfriend so easily. Although Xu Da Mao could often ride the factory's bicycles, his family didn't own one.
Yang Xuan immediately went to the trade union, reported his name, and was allowed to sign and receive the bicycle.
He got a black Yongjiu brand cargo bicycle, with a sturdy support frame that could hold hundreds of pounds of weight.
When he returned home, He Yu Zhu saw Yang Xuan's bicycle and his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yang Xuan, is this new bicycle yours?" He Yu Zhu asked excitedly.
Yang Xuan chuckled: "It's a reward from the factory."
"Come on, let me take it for a spin." He Yu Zhu snatched the bicycle from Yang Xuan's hands and hopped on. But as soon as his feet left the ground, the handlebars started shaking violently. Several times, he almost fell off.
"Can you even ride this?" Yang Xuan asked.
"It's just a bicycle, what's so hard about it? Get on, brother, I'll take you back." He Yu Zhu said.
"Forget it. Don't send me to the river, I don't want you to save me again." Yang Xuan said.
He Yu Zhu wobbled along, attracting attention from many workers at the Za Steel Factory.
Yi Zhong Hai passed by: "Sha Zhu, whose bicycle is this?"
He Yu Zhu said: "Yang Xuan's, a reward from the factory."
Qin Huai Ru said: "Yang Xuan, I need to go back to my parents' house in a few days, can I borrow your bicycle?"
Yang Xuan shook his head: "Sorry. This is still a new bicycle, I don't lend it out casually."
Even if their relationship were normal, Yang Xuan wouldn't want to lend it to her, let alone their current strained relationship. It had been raining recently, the roads were muddy, especially the roads in the countryside, even tractors couldn't drive on them during rainy days. Yang Xuan didn't want his brand-new bicycle to become a used one.
Qin Huai Ru, after being rejected, snorted unhappily.
Liu Hai Zhong was envious: "Yang Xuan, is this a reward for your technical transformation project?"
Yang Xuan nodded: "More or less."
"See if you can transfer me to your technical transformation team. Even though I don't have Lao Yi's skills, I'm a seventh-level fitter after all. I'm no worse than your master, Zhou De Min." Liu Hai Zhong said.
Yang Xuan said: "Sorry, Second Uncle. It's not up to me who's on the technical transformation team. You need to go talk to Chief Engineer Xiao or Factory Director Yang."
He Yu Zhu rode for a while, still unable to master the driving skills, so he had to honestly return the bicycle to Yang Xuan: "I guess I won't be able to learn it today. I'll borrow your bicycle again to practice another time."
"No problem." Yang Xuan nodded.
Yang Xuan rode the bicycle with He Yu Zhu back to the courtyard.
When Deaf Grandma saw He Yu Zhu come back, she hurried over to greet him.
"Old Lady, you need something?" He Yu Zhu asked.
"It's nothing, I just heard Qin Huai Ru say you went to Teacher Ran's house with a bag of stuff the other day. How did it go? Teacher Ran is a nice person, but her family background isn't great. You need to think carefully about it." Deaf Grandma said.
"There's nothing to hesitate about. I'm very satisfied with Teacher Ran. Now I'm just worried that she doesn't like me." He Yu Zhu said.
"What's this? Are you rushing in headfirst?" Deaf Grandma laughed.
"It's not like that." He Yu Zhu shook his head.
"Alright, you're all grown up now, you can make your own decisions. You're not young anymore, if you like her, just get married quickly. I can still see your kids." Deaf Grandma said.
Deaf Grandma wasn't just looking for He Yu Zhu for this reason, she had a real reason: "Tomorrow is a day off, take me to the street to exchange some things."
Deaf Grandma didn't dare to openly say that she was going to sell her unused food coupons for money. As a five guaranteed person, she saved every month, so she had some leftover food coupons. She would take those remaining food coupons and sell them. Many families who didn't have enough food coupons would buy them on the black market.
But this was considered profiteering and speculation, if she got caught, she wouldn't have a good time.
Deaf Grandma was old after all, and she had bound feet, making it inconvenient for her to walk. So, every time she went to sell food coupons, she would have He Yu Zhu carry her.
"It just so happens the factory gave Yang Xuan a bicycle, I'll ride the bicycle and take you." He Yu Zhu said.
"Don't. Sha Zhu, you can't even ride properly, how dare you carry an old lady. If you fall, you'll send the old lady straight to heaven." Yang Xuan quickly said.
Deaf Grandma laughed: "Then wait until you learn how to ride."