Chapter 6

The next day, Xu Hongmei left after finishing breakfast.

Watching his wife excitedly push her bicycle out the door, Lin Xiangrong sighed and said to his son, "Your mother has been fooled by you! How can the Health Bureau be better than our auto repair factory?"

Lin Qiangsheng shrugged and left the house.

When he arrived at the auto repair factory, Lin Qiangsheng went straight to the body shop. Some of the masters were already gathered around the new car frame, discussing together.

"What color do you think we should paint this frame?" Wang Daming asked a senior master, hugging his arms.

"Black, black is always elegant," the senior master replied with a smile.

"Hey? Qiangsheng, what color do you think we should paint it?" Wang Daming asked as he saw Lin Qiangsheng approaching.

Lin Qiangsheng smiled and said, "Any color is fine, black, white, or red, they all look good."

Wang Daming chuckled, "Red? We should give it a try and see if it looks good."

After eight o'clock, the factory manager Chang Yuanting and the workshop director Zheng Yongmin came to the body shop, calling everyone to move the car chassis and other parts over.

Everyone cheered and helped out. The chassis and parts took up a large area and were spread out in the yard.

The body shop was bustling with activity and loud voices. All the men from the factory, about fifty or sixty in total, crowded into the workshop.

"Old Zheng, do you want to say a few words?" Chang Yuanting asked Zheng Yongmin with a smile.

Zheng Yongmin said loudly, "I don't have much to say. Success or failure depends on today! I never thought that from design to finalization, and even to assembling the car parts, everything went so smoothly! I wondered why, but now I understand—it's all thanks to our new colleague, Lin Qiangsheng! Qiangsheng, come here."

Zheng Yongmin smiled and beckoned Lin Qiangsheng, who walked over with a grin. Zheng Yongmin patted Lin Qiangsheng's still slender shoulders hard.

"Qiangsheng, thanks to you, everything has gone so smoothly! With your drawings, we were able to put together a car that looks like a real one! Qiangsheng, I want to thank you on behalf of all the men in the factory!" Zheng Yongmin said loudly, patting Lin Qiangsheng's shoulders.

"Uncle Zheng, you're too kind! I didn't do much!" Lin Qiangsheng quickly declined.

"Old leader is right, Qiangsheng, you deserve everyone's gratitude! Not to mention, the car shell you designed is one of the best in the country! Come on, let's all clap for Comrade Qiangsheng!" Chang Yuanting laughed and led the applause.

"Right! Good job, Qiangsheng! Old Lin, your son is really something!..." The masters and apprentices all clapped and cheered, the apprentices shouting and clapping even harder.

"Clap, clap, clap..." Amidst the enthusiastic applause, Lin Xiangrong smiled warmly and bowed repeatedly. His heart was filled with happiness and pride because of his son.

Lin Qiangsheng chuckled and scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit embarrassed by all the attention.

"Old Zheng, shall we start assembling the car?" Chang Yuanting asked Zheng Yongmin.

Zheng Yongmin, seeing everyone had calmed down, nodded and waved his hand boldly, "Let's go!"

"Oh! Let's start assembling the car!" The masters and apprentices excitedly called out and hurried towards the car parts in the center, vying to get involved.

"Hey! Don't rush! Don't push me!" Chang Yuanting was suddenly pushed forward and shouted loudly.

Zheng Yongmin laughed heartily, looking at the lively scene and patting Lin Qiangsheng's shoulders again.

"Qiangsheng, how did you come up with this car model and the interior design? Tell me about it," Zheng Yongmin asked with a smile.

Lin Qiangsheng, seeing both masters and apprentices holding parts and eager to get started, was delighted.

After hearing Zheng Yongmin's question, he said, "Uncle Zheng, I just observed the cars that often come out of the factory. Over time, I had some ideas. Then one day, I drew them all out."

At the entrance of the auto repair factory, there was an asphalt road, and the residential area was nearby, so he often saw cars passing by. This reason should be easy to accept.

"Oh, good! I've already reported your car design to the provincial industrial bureau, and they take it very seriously! They might send a few people to visit our factory later. I'll introduce you to the leaders; you're the youngest car designer in our country!" Zheng Yongmin laughed heartily, imagining the leaders' reactions.

"Ah? So grand! And leaders are coming!" Lin Qiangsheng was taken aback; he hadn't expected things to get so big!

"Of course! Do you think they wouldn't come to see a car made by our small factory? This is another new car model in our country, besides the Hongqi and Shanghai models! Ha ha ha..." Zheng Yongmin laughed heartily, looking at Lin Qiangsheng's expression.

"Finished!" Lin Qiangsheng stared with wide eyes, looking incredulous.

"Never thought it would come to this! Suddenly ranked third!" Lin Qiangsheng's eyes widened, feeling depressed.

It took more than two hours to assemble the car, with so many people working together.

The car model Lin Qiangsheng used was the first-generation Jetta, introduced by Volkswagen in 1979.

The instruments and interior of the car were sourced from the city's instrument factory, found in the warehouse and used as they were.

As for the engine and transmission, they were from a scrapped Lada.

"Now, we just need the windshield and the paint. Once these are done, we'll be all set!" Chang Yuanting explained to the industrial bureau personnel.

The city industrial bureau didn't send any leaders, just three staff members: two young men and one older colleague.

One of the young men was taking photos of the car with a domestic Seagull camera. The other was taking notes.

The older colleague excitedly circled the car several times, examining it thoroughly inside and out.

He said with a smile, "I never thought your auto repair factory could design a car! Impressive! What design did you use? These sharp edges, is that how it's supposed to be? Can you introduce me to the designer?"

"Sure! Comrade Qu, let me introduce our car designer. He's a new colleague, ah, ha ha..." Chang Yuanting and Zheng Yongmin exchanged glances and laughed.

Qu Weizhong looked at the two comrades, puzzled, not understanding why they were laughing.

"Lin Qiangsheng, come over and meet the industrial bureau comrades," Zheng Yongmin beckoned.

Lin Qiangsheng was standing in the crowd, watching the few people. Hearing the director's call, others pushed him forward.

Under the surprised gaze of the three industrial bureau personnel, Lin Qiangsheng walked up.

"Is this...?" Qu Weizhong looked at the young man, then at Chang Yuanting and Zheng Yongmin, puzzled.

Chang Yuanting smiled, "This is our car designer, his name is Lin Qiangsheng."

"Oh?!" Qu Weizhong looked at the young man again, surprised.

Lin Qiangsheng, wearing a relatively clean work uniform and short hair, bowed slightly and said, "I am Lin Qiangsheng, hello."

"Uh, just call me Uncle Qu, no need for formalities. Is this car your design?!" Qu Weizhong, unsure how to address the young man, turned the conversation to the car.

"Yes, Uncle Qu," Lin Qiangsheng nodded.

"Hmm, how did you design this car?" Qu Weizhong, recovering from his shock, asked the young man.

Lin Qiangsheng quietly breathed a sigh of relief; he had been a bit nervous. Knowing he had copied the design, he was unsure how to respond.

The industrial bureau personnel seemed like an intellectual.

Lin Qiangsheng thought he might be asked more technical questions, but since the conversation was similar to what he had with the director, he said, "My father draws blueprints, and I look at them. Also, I observe the cars I see regularly, and over time, I had ideas in my head. One day, I just drew them out."

"Um! Good, good boy! Impressive!" Qu Weizhong nodded, smiling, impressed by the young man's simple inspiration.

"Sometimes, when we focus on a problem, we might have a sudden burst of inspiration and solve it quickly. I think you're like that, right? You think a lot, and when it matters, you show your talent!" Qu Weizhong nodded, smoothing over the conversation.

Lin Qiangsheng scratched the back of his head and chuckled.

"Your car is well-made! We will report your factory's achievements to the higher-ups. You should hurry and finish this car. What else do you need?" Qu Weizhong, seeing the car still lacked many parts, asked.

Chang Yuanting, seeing the visitors with pens ready to take notes, knew support from the bureau was imminent and said enthusiastically, "Comrade Qu, look. Our car still needs a windshield! The city's glass factories are busy and won't produce a single windshield for us. Also, our seats are missing foam padding, and we can't find a supplier. The engineering plastics for the instruments and interior, the city's chemical plants may not have the capability, and they haven't responded to our inquiries. The leather for the interior, the city's leather factory won't produce it for us, citing material shortages and supply issues..."

Chang Yuanting listed a series of problems, making the two young industrial bureau staff members sweat.

Qu Weizhong remained calm, "Alright, Xiao Meng, write these down. We'll report them to the bureau leaders when we return."

Chang Yuanting breathed a sigh of relief, and Zheng Yongmin smiled, "Thank you very much, comrades from the bureau."

Qu Weizhong smiled and nodded at Lin Qiangsheng.

With that, the conversation was basically over. The three men hurried back to the industrial bureau to report to the leaders.

Chang Yuanting sighed, watching the three men ride their bicycles away, and said, "I wonder if the bureau can help us solve these problems."

Zheng Yongmin glanced at him and said, "Trust the leaders."

Chang Yuanting smiled helplessly, and the two of them returned to their offices one after the other.

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