Chapter 73

"Xiao Ming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother. △↗"

The person speaking, Hu Wenhai, was familiar; he was the former workshop director of the first workshop, Chen Dafu. Yes, this person was a direct subordinate of Hu Jiefang, the one who had once blocked Hu Wenhai from operating the machine.

However, the tide had turned. Back when they were building the jet model, he could still stop Hu Wenhai. But in just half a year, Hu Wenhai had become his superior's superior.

But as a direct subordinate of Hu Jiefang, he naturally had to follow the old Hu family's lead. He was among the first to swear allegiance to the new company and came to the second workshop to move the equipment.

However, he also knew the rule that a new emperor brings new ministers. His leader was Hu Jiefang, but the current leader of the new company was Hu Wenhai. Although Hu Hu was just a young worker before, he was now a direct subordinate of Hu Wenhai. They were comrades-in-arms, but Hu Hu could be considered a "follower," and his status was different. Therefore, he had no complaints about following Hu Hu's orders.

"Yue?" Hu Wenhai frowned slightly and walked into the workshop. Sure enough, as soon as he entered the second workshop, he saw Hu Hu confronting Yi Yue.

"What do you want to do? Look at what you've done to the second workshop!" Yi Yue still had some official airs. When he gave orders, he indeed had more authority than Hu Hu, who was still a young worker.

Hu Hu glared at him, while the workers around him were at a loss. Hu Hu, with his neck stiff, shouted, "This is General Manager Hu's order. The workshop will receive an American production line next. Can you afford the responsibility if we delay?"

"What American production line? I don't know anything about it. Even if there is a new production line, there's no need to dismantle the second workshop. Why should Hu Wenhai's purchase require the second workshop to make space? He can build a new factory. He has the money, doesn't he?"

"I don't care. I only know that I must follow General Manager Hu's orders. Please step aside, Deputy Director Yi!"

"I won't. This is an unreasonable order. I can't let Hu Wenhai, a little brat, ruin the 501 Factory!"

"What's going on!" Hu Wenhai walked over with a deep frown, seeing that after more than two hours, the work here had barely started, which made him angry.

"General Manager Hu, Deputy Director Yi—"

Before Hu Hu could explain, Hu Wenhai waved his hand, interrupting him, "You don't need to say anything. I heard everything. I'll remember this!"

Seeing Hu Wenhai's displeased expression, Hu Hu couldn't help but shrink back, feeling that Hu Wenhai's presence was completely different from when they played together...

"Yue, what are you doing here?" Hu Wenhai looked Yi Yue up and down as if he were just a neighbor borrowing soy sauce.

Yi Yue snorted and shouted, "Hu Wenhai, do you know what the second workshop is? Many old comrades worked hard to build it. You're destroying it like this. You're a sinner of the 501 Factory!"

Hearing Yi Yue's accusation, many of the former second workshop workers felt a sense of empathy, and their eyes showed a hint of agreement.

"Ha, Yi Yue, what does it have to do with you if I dismantle the second workshop?"

"You! I'm the deputy director of the 501 Factory!" Yi Yue, in his forties, had planned to use his seniority to embarrass Hu Wenhai, but he didn't expect Hu Wenhai to start cursing right away.

Dismantling the second workshop was a great opportunity Hu Wenhai had been looking for. How did Hu Wenhai rise to power? By putting a group of retired elders on a pedestal and using them to elevate himself.

Since Hu Wenhai could play the sentiment card, Yi Yue could do the same.

However, Yi Yue probably hadn't heard of a modern tactic: when you talk about sentiment, I talk about the law; when you talk about the law, I talk about sentiment.

"You what?" Hu Wenhai sneered at Yi Yue's tricks and said sternly, "Yi Yue, don't make me remind you. The only asset of the 501 Factory now is that two-story building at the gate. If you want to show off your authority, go there. But you're standing on the premises of the new company!"

Hu Wenhai didn't want to waste time on him and shouted to the workers around, "Is there anyone from the security department? Get this intruder out!"

"What?" Hu Wenhai saw a few security officers looking at Yi Yue, unsure of what to do. "Don't forget, I'm the one who will pay your salaries to support your families!"

That statement was more effective than any lecture. The security officers quickly and efficiently dragged Yi Yue out of the second workshop.

"Hu Wenhai, you dare! You, mmm—"

Hu Wenhai exhaled, puzzled by his bad luck in encountering such a bureaucratic fool. This kind of person who doesn't last more than three episodes in a TV drama—oh, right, this one didn't even last five episodes.

Quickly putting this annoying matter behind him, Hu Wenhai called Hu Hu over and warned him, "This is the first time, and I hope it's the last. Hu, we're relatives and good friends. Don't let people say you got here through nepotism. You decide, and don't disappoint me."

Hu Hu, despite the cold weather, broke out in a cold sweat, nodding repeatedly. "Don't worry, Brother Hai. I'll make up for today's progress!"

"Alright, tell that to your colleagues who will be working overtime with you."

Hu Wenhai patted Hu Hu's shoulder. Although Hu Hu was taller and older, no one in the room found the scene awkward.

Hu Wenhai led Yu Shiyi on a tour of the second workshop. As they came out of the noisy workshop, he saw a man in a white coat running over.

"General Manager Hu!"

Hu Wenhai recognized the person. It was Deng Renliang, a "research dog" brought by Bai Shi from the Optoelectronics Institute, a rare graduate from Daguang University who was assigned to the Optoelectronics Institute last year.

However, the Optoelectronics Institute was in a dire state. Even Bai Shi, a senior researcher, was almost starving. What attraction could there be for a recent graduate? Seeing Bai Shi's success with the red dot sight, he eagerly followed him out of the Optoelectronics Institute.

"Deng, what's up?" Hu Wenhai stopped and saw Deng Renliang panting as he ran over. "Take it easy. What's the matter?"

"The American equipment, it's been delivered to the lab."

"Oh?" Hu Wenhai's eyes lit up, and his anger dissipated. He ran a few steps forward, then remembered to turn back. "Daming, show Dr. Yu around the factory. I'll come back later to welcome Dr. Yu. Dr. Yu, I'm sorry, but I have something to attend to and can't accompany you for now."

"No problem, Mr. Hu. Your work is important." Dr. Yu nodded calmly, showing no sign of being affected.

"Deng, let's go." Hu Wenhai, excited, started running. Only at this moment did others remember that he was actually just a seventeen-year-old.

Hu Wenhai set up the optoelectronics lab in the original 501 Factory's technology department. After the old workers mocked the department at a staff meeting, few of the old staff had the face to stay. The large shared office was now empty and had been repurposed as the optoelectronics lab.

After clearing out the desks and file cabinets, the lab was surprisingly spacious. The current staff was pitifully few.

Bai Shi's recruitment from the Optoelectronics Institute had just begun, and many were still hesitant. In the lab, there were only Bai Shi, Deng Renliang, and Bai Rong—essentially a small boss and two "research dogs."

In the center of the spacious lab, there was a row of two-tiered cubic boxes, each about a meter high. Counting them, there were thirty-two boxes in total.

When Hu Wenhai ran in, Bai Shi and Bai Rong were holding the delivery list, unsure where to start.

"Hey, look at me!" Hu Wenhai realized his mistake and quickly grabbed the unfortunate Deng Renliang. "Deng, could you please go to the second workshop and ask Hu Hu to send four meticulous workers to help?"

"Ah?" Deng Renliang, thinking of having to run another errand, felt a bit miserable. But in the lab, one was his boss, the other was his boss's boss, and Bai Rong, though also a "research dog," was a woman and related to Bai Shi—how could he not run?

"Let me see." Hu Wenhai unceremoniously took the delivery list from Bai Shi and started ticking items off with a pencil. "Bai Director, take note. When the workers come, direct them to take out the items I need first. The yttrium aluminum garnet crystal from box 8, the 2W pump laser diode from box 12, the Pockels electro-optic Q-switch from box 21, the corner cube prism from box 22, and one Galilean and one Keplerian telescope from box 30."

"Alright, let's get moving. I can't wait to play with the new toys!"