Chapter 49 of 100
Chapter 49: Lending a Hand to Brother Enterprises: Part 1
12 min read3,122 words
Zhang Xiangyang's eyes were filled with enthusiasm: "Apart from what you mentioned, what other benefits does this thing have?"
Growing up in a repair shop, he might not understand the technology, but having spent his childhood squatting in the workshop watching his father tighten screws, he had developed a deep-seated curiosity about technology. The idea that something similar to a No. 12 rebar could be used as a spring piqued Zhang Xiangyang's great interest.
"The benefit is that compared to coil springs, torsion bar springs are much cheaper and have a simpler structure... It's just a rod, hard to make it complicated... And by adjusting the installation angle of the fixed end of the torsion bar spring, it's easy to adjust the vehicle height..."
Zhang Xiangyang interrupted Chen Geng, excitedly asking, "This thing can also adjust the vehicle chassis height?"
He immediately realized that this feature was crucial for military vehicles and off-road vehicles. Military vehicles required a much higher ground clearance to ensure off-road performance and passability compared to civilian vehicles. Although most of the current 212 Jeeps were civilian, with this feature, they could start doing business with the military in the future.
"Yes," Chen Geng said irritably, "Don't interrupt! Another benefit is that torsion bar springs don't have friction during operation and are more stable, so they are favored in many mechanical products where space is a concern..."
In fact, from an overall effect, torsion bar springs were more suitable for use with equal-length double A-arm suspensions and single/double longitudinal arm suspensions. However, equal-length double A-arm suspensions required stamping equipment to produce steel A-arms and knuckles. The Third Military Equipment Repair Factory could handle the processing of linkages, but it lacked a 5000-ton press, which was essential for stamping steel parts. Considering the interchangeability of parts, they had no choice but to modify the existing four-link suspension by removing the coil springs and installing torsion bar springs.
As for the drawbacks of torsion bar springs, such as the higher material requirements and the fact that low-cost torsion bar springs performed worse in shock absorption compared to coil springs, there was no need to tell Zhang Xiangyang about these issues.
What a great thing.
Zhang Xiangyang couldn't stop smiling. Although he had no prior knowledge of torsion bar springs, hearing that even the Type 63 armored vehicle and the Type 59 tank used them instead of coil springs, he could imagine their performance. Most importantly, China could produce these torsion bar springs on its own, immediately solving the previous problem of finding coil springs. As for the hydraulic shock absorbers, Zhang Xiangyang thought they could use the original ones from the 212 Jeep. The only issue was...
"Right, what about the tires? How do we solve the tire problem?"
"I plan to go to Hangzhou soon," Chen Geng said, "Mr. Kindler mentioned that the Hangzhou Rubber Factory in Hangzhou City, Jiangbei Province, is preparing to supply tires for the Volkswagen Santana."
"Hangzhou Rubber Factory? I've never heard of it. Can they produce tires?"
"They produce the Zhongyang tires."
"Oh, I see. I always thought Zhongyang tires were produced by the Zhongyang Tire Factory, but it turns out they are from the Hangzhou Rubber Factory... So, how do you plan to solve the spring issue?" Zhang Xiangyang immediately understood. He didn't know the Hangzhou Rubber Factory, but he was very familiar with Zhongyang tires. The tires on the hand carts at the Third Military Equipment Repair Factory were Zhongyang tires, which had won a national gold medal. Zhang Xiangyang thought that if they could produce hand cart tires, producing car tires shouldn't be too difficult.
"Go to the military district, find out which factory produces the Type 63 armored vehicle, and then get the contact information for the torsion bar spring manufacturer..."
...
In the following days, Chen Geng buried himself in his office.
The diagram he had previously drawn was just to confirm the feasibility of the modification. However, modifying the chassis structure was a serious matter. Even a one-millimeter change required careful calculation to ensure there were no safety hazards; otherwise, it would be a joke with someone's life.
But Chen Geng never expected that the first visitor after completing his calculations would be Lin Shuyao.
Seeing Lin Shuyao, Chen Geng subconsciously frowned. The memory of being almost tricked to death by her at the military district was still fresh: This girl was not just a thorny rose but a mad dog, wasn't she?
Warily eyeing Lin Shuyao, Chen Geng felt it was better to keep his distance: "Comrade Lin Shuyao, what important instructions do you have for me?"
As for the middle-aged officer standing beside Lin Shuyao, who seemed somewhat nervous, Chen Geng ignored him completely.
Lin Shuyao had imagined 100 different reactions from Chen Geng, but she never expected him to look at her as if she were a thief. She immediately became unhappy: "What's wrong with you? What kind of attitude is this? Do I owe you money or break your window?"
"You still have the nerve to say that?" Lin Shuyao might as well have kept quiet. Just mentioning this made Chen Geng's teeth grind in frustration: "Do you know that ever since I met you, every time I go to the military district, your colleagues look at me as if they want to beat me up? What have you been saying about me behind my back?"
Lin Shuyao's face turned red without warning, and she spat out angrily, "How can you talk like that? It's clearly your shifty eyes that make you look untrustworthy, and you're blaming me?"
Chen Geng looked up at the sky, speechless: He might not be so impressive as to shock the central government, but he certainly didn't have shifty eyes. Indeed, there was no point in arguing with such a woman.
The middle-aged officer, who had been silent, looked at Chen Geng and then at Lin Shuyao, trying hard not to laugh.
"Fine, I don't want to argue with you," Chen Geng turned to the middle-aged officer who had come with Lin Shuyao. It was embarrassing for a man to argue with a woman, and he didn't want to waste time on this annoying girl. He extended his hand and said warmly, "Comrade, hello. I am Chen Geng, the manager of China Resources Industrial Development Co., Ltd. May I ask who you are?"
"Manager Chen, hello. I am from the Jiangnan Military District Vehicle Repair Factory, and my name is Song Junwei," the middle-aged officer extended his hand with a smile, seemingly very excited, "I've heard a lot about Manager Chen. It's a great honor to meet you today."
"Factory Director Song is the head of the Jiangnan Military District Vehicle Repair Factory," Lin Shuyao introduced, behaving like a normal girl for once.
"Do you know me, Factory Director Song?" Chen Geng pointed to himself, puzzled.
"Yes, of course I do," Song Junwei nodded repeatedly, "The only high achiever from Huqing University in our East China Military District, who gave up a good job in the capital..."
"Factory Director Song, you're too kind. I was just young and impulsive, and I've been called foolish many times for this," Chen Geng knew what the other person was going to say. It wasn't that he had the ability to predict the future, but he had heard this kind of talk so many times in the past month that he interrupted Song Junwei, smiling bitterly, "Factory Director Song, what brings you here... Is there something you need?"
Isn't that obvious? They had never met before, and he had come specially with the famous Lin Shuyao. He certainly wasn't here to give him money or introduce him to a match.
Song Junwei carefully said with a smile, "There is something I need your help with, Manager Chen."
"Please, if I can help, I will do my best," Chen Geng said straightforwardly. They were all part of the East China Military District, and they were like brothers in arms. As long as it wasn't too difficult, he would lend a hand. Times were tough for everyone.
Perhaps not expecting Chen Geng to be so easy to talk to, Song Junwei visibly relaxed, "Manager Chen is indeed straightforward... Do you know about the reform of military-affiliated enterprises?"
"Yes, I know. I just finished studying the documents," Chen Geng nodded, his mind racing: Could it be...
"It's like this," Song Junwei rubbed his hands, seeming a bit hesitant, "I don't know if Manager Lin can... can..."
"Are you talking about the 212 Jeep modification technology of China Resources Industrial?" Chen Geng suddenly asked.
The Third Military Equipment Repair Factory was a military vehicle repair enterprise, and the Jiangnan Military District Vehicle Repair Factory was also a provincial military district vehicle repair enterprise. Like the Third Military Equipment Repair Factory, it faced the challenge of transitioning from a regular military unit to a military-affiliated enterprise. The 212 Jeep modification project of China Resources Industrial was a living example. What else could Song Junwei's factory rely on to survive?
Finding a way to make a living on their own was a daunting task for the leaders of enterprises accustomed to state-planned arrangements.
Song Junwei looked at Chen Geng pitifully, his voice tinged with pleading, "Manager Chen, for the sake of our military comrades..."
But Chen Geng refused without hesitation, "No."
Song Junwei's face fell in disappointment.
Although he had mentally prepared for rejection, when Chen Geng refused so straightforwardly, Song Junwei felt a sharp pain: This guy really didn't leave any room or face for him.
Lin Shuyao screamed, "Chen, what do you mean? I misjudged you."
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