Chapter 8

"Earlier, you mentioned that Old Ning, the factory manager, has a bad temper and likes to scold people," Qin Hai said.

Xiao Dongping nodded, "Yes, Old Ning likes to scold people, but he has the right to do so! Old Ning knows how to manage. When he was in charge of the Qingfeng Factory, it made a profit every year. Moreover, Old Ning was tight with money. When the county wanted to take the factory's profits, Old Ning firmly refused. All the money earned was used for welfare and building houses in the factory. Back then, the factory would give 10 pounds of meat and 10 pounds of loose liquor during the New Year, and 5 pounds of eggs for each employee during the Dragon Boat Festival. You see that fat guy, he got that way from all the food."

"..." Ning Mo was speechless, who could blame him for being fat, after all, the target area was much larger.

"What happened later?" Qin Hai asked, trying to hold back his laughter.

Xiao Dongping said, "However, once Old Ning stepped down and was replaced by the educated and knowledgeable Wei Baolin, the Qingfeng Factory started to decline day by day. They changed products seven or eight times, all of which were unsold, losing a lot of materials and equipment, and not earning a single cent. Instead, they owed the bank a huge debt. The guys from the provincial agricultural supply company used to be very polite to me, always inviting me to drink. But now, when I go there, not only do they not invite me to drink, I can't even get them to drink with me."

"Why is that?" Qin Hai asked.

Xiao Dongping said, "It's very clear, they refuse to accept our goods, so of course they don't dare to see me."

Saying this, Xiao Dongping viciously kicked the jute bag at his feet, which made a metallic clanging sound.

"What do you mean by 'refuse to accept'?" Qin Hai asked again.

Xiao Dongping said, "This jute bag contains the new rotary tiller blades we developed. When Wei Baolin went to Japan for an inspection, he saw them making this thing and said it was high-tech. He came back and ordered us to learn and produce it. Actually, the technology isn't that difficult, and our country also has rotary tillers that use blades. We delivered two batches to the provincial agricultural supply company, and at first, it was fine. Later, they said our product quality was poor and refused to accept it."

A rotary tiller is an agricultural machine pulled by a tractor, used for plowing large fields. The rotary tiller blade is the plow head of the rotary tiller, a consumable item that needs to be replaced after plowing several hundred or a thousand acres, depending on the wear. In those days, in countries like Japan with a high ratio of agricultural machinery, the annual consumption of rotary tiller blades was about 10 million. In China, with a lower level of agricultural mechanization, the market was still around 2 million blades per year.

The domestic sales price of rotary tiller blades was generally 2 to 3 yuan per piece, while the cost was only about half, making it a high-profit product. Wei Baolin, who took over as the factory manager from Ning Zhongying, discovered this product by chance and ordered the Qingfeng Factory's technical and production departments to develop and market it. However, although the product was developed, the market entry process was not smooth. After accepting two batches from the Qingfeng Factory, the provincial agricultural supply company firmly refused to accept any more, citing that the quality of the Qingfeng Factory's rotary tiller blades was substandard, with an average lifespan of only two-thirds of the domestic standard.

"The agricultural supply company says that their blades can plow 700 acres, but ours can't even reach 500 acres. The Japanese blades can plow 1200 acres. I curse Leng Yuming's ancestors, the blades he developed are so poor in quality, making me have to beg the agricultural supply company every day," Xiao Dongping said, cursing.

Miao Lei, who was standing beside him, quietly explained to Qin Hai. Leng Yuming, the technical director of the Qingfeng Factory, was a genuine university graduate from the early 1960s, quite skilled. This time, the development of the rotary tiller blades was led by Leng Yuming and the production director, Xiang Jiyong, with such results.

"I remember, Xiao Director, you said our blades have poor quality. Is it because they weren't quenched after processing?" Ning Mo guessed, showing off his knowledge. He had learned the importance of quenching from his own miserable experience, so he tried to show off to Xiao Dongping, "Xiao Director, why don't you let Qin Hai look at these blades? He knows how to quench, and his skills are very high."

Xiao Dongping said disdainfully, "Fatso, if you don't know, don't talk nonsense. Would we sell unquenched blades? Leng Yuming, no matter how bad he is, doesn't lack such basic knowledge, does he?"

Seeing that Ning Mo had directed the conversation to him, Qin Hai thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Director, if you don't mind, can I take a look at our blades? I learned some knowledge about rotary tiller blades in technical school, and maybe a fool's thousand thoughts will have one right."

Xiao Dongping, who had some education, was impressed by Qin Hai's use of a rare idiom and his modest attitude. He bent down to untie the rope on the jute bag and said to Qin Hai, "The blades are all inside. If you want to look, go ahead."

Qin Hai reached into the bag and picked up a blade, examining it carefully in the light. He then took another blade and tapped them together to listen to the metallic sound, and said, "Xiao Director, the steel used for our blades is really of poor quality."

"Really?" Xiao Dongping, with his red eyes from drinking, stared at Qin Hai and asked, "How is it poor? Tell me."

Qin Hai said, "I haven't done a test, so I can't be sure. But from the color and sound of the steel, it seems that the sulfur and phosphorus content is too high, and the material's toughness does not meet the standard requirements."

"Nice!" Xiao Dongping's face showed surprise, "Leng Yuming also told me this. He said it's not our processing that's the problem, but the steel quality from the Beixi Steel Plant is poor, so our blades can't compare with those of other domestic companies. Xiao Qin is really good, able to spot the problem at a glance. Come, come, I'll toast you. A young man like you who is so skilled in technology, we don't have even one in our Qingfeng Factory!"

With one sentence, Xiao Dongping criticized Ning Mo, Yu Haitao, and Miao Lei, but the three of them were not angry because they indeed lacked technical knowledge and were not ashamed of it.

Qin Hai clinked glasses with Xiao Dongping, drank the wine, and said, "However, Xiao Director, I think Leng Director's words are a bit biased. We can't change the material, but we can improve the process. If the process is chosen correctly, we can achieve the quality of domestic advanced enterprises with this steel."

"Are you serious?" Xiao Dongping put down his glass, his expression becoming serious, "Xiao Qin, are you saying our product can be saved?"

Qin Hai said, "It depends on whether the factory wants to save it. If they do, there are ways."

"Of course we want to save it!" Xiao Dongping said, "We have 10,000 blades stacked in the warehouse. If the agricultural supply company doesn't accept them, over 10,000 yuan in costs will be wasted. If there's a way to improve the quality of these blades to the domestic advanced level... no, just to the domestic average level, I'll force the agricultural supply company to accept them. If they dare not accept them, I'll stick the blades in their faces!"

"Such... Xiao Director, we should still be reasonable..." Qin Hai hesitantly advised, thinking that this Xiao uncle's temper was too explosive, perhaps he often suffered from domestic violence at home, leading to psychological distortion. Yes, this is a sociological topic worth studying.

"Xiao Qin, you said our product can be saved. Is it because you know these techniques, or did you see them somewhere?" Xiao Dongping seemed to be sobering up, asking Qin Hai seriously.

"Of course, I saw them in books..." Qin Hai said.

"Oh..." Xiao Dongping was somewhat disappointed.

But then Qin Hai added, "After reading, I can do it myself."

"Really?" Xiao Dongping's eyes lit up, "You can do it after reading a book?"

"Absolutely. If you don't believe me, ask them." Qin Hai pointed to Ning Mo and the others.

"No problem, you can trust what Qin Hai says, Xiao Director." Ning Mo thumped his chest loudly, more confident than Qin Hai himself.

Miao Lei knew that Xiao Dongping wouldn't believe Qin Hai based on just their words, so he gave a detailed account of how Qin Hai had quenched the farm tools. Miao Lei's father, Miao Funan, was the director of the casting workshop, so Miao Lei had some knowledge of quenching and could see that Qin Hai's skills were superior to those of the Qingfeng Factory. At least, things like a trinitro solution were not mentioned in the Qingfeng Factory, but Qin Hai could prepare it.

After listening, Xiao Dongping was silent for a long time. Miao Lei's story was detailed and didn't seem fabricated. The ability to process 65# manganese steel farm tools to the point where they could cut bricks without damage was something no one in the Qingfeng Factory could do. Moreover, Qin Hai could identify the defects in the steel of the rotary tiller blades with just a few glances, which showed that he had real skills. Perhaps his claim that he could improve the quality of the rotary tiller blades was credible.

However, this was too far-fetched. For a few small-time hooligans like Ning Mo to know such a capable person, and for this person to be a recent technical school graduate, no one would believe it. Relying on such a person to save an important product of the factory seemed a bit frivolous.

Let's observe for a while to avoid making a fool of ourselves, Xiao Dongping thought.

"Ah, I've had too much to drink, I'm dizzy." Xiao Dongping swayed as he stood up and said to everyone, "Continue drinking. Fatso, you take good care of Xiao Qin; Xiao Qin, I'm going to sleep first. I'll come back to you for advice about the blades later."

"Xiao Director is so drunk, why don't we send you back?" Qin Hai stood up and said.

"No, no, continue, continue." Xiao Dongping held back Qin Hai with both hands, firmly saying. Then he picked up the jute bag from the ground and staggered out the door.