Chapter 64

"Isn't the military region planning to merge the three major military equipment repair factories under its direct management into one large repair factory? Can't these people be arranged there?" Chen Geng was a bit puzzled.

"Where can so many people be accommodated?" Cao Jun said with a bitter smile, "According to the higher-ups, the merged large repair factory will only retain 1,000 to 1,200 people. The leaders of the first and second repair factories are already worried about how to arrange their people, let alone us who are not merging in."

"Tsk..." Chen Geng felt a bit of a toothache.

The combined number of people from the first and second military equipment repair factories is about 2,000. If the merged large repair factory only needs 1,000 to 1,200 people, then 800 to 1,000 soldiers from these two units will need to be demobilized and resettled. They are already struggling to take care of their own, let alone the third repair factory. Chen Geng estimated that even if Liu Qianjin and Peng Guangming put their reputations on the line, they could only symbolically arrange for three or fifty people at most.

Cao Jun looked at Chen Geng with hope: "Can you think of a way? Not all of them, but even a hundred or two would be fine."

"Let me think, let me think..." Chen Geng frowned, pondering, "There should be a way..."

Seeing Chen Geng frowning deeply, everyone in the room subconsciously lowered their breathing.

Everyone had been worrying about this issue for a while, pulling out their hair in frustration, but pulling hair clearly didn't help solve the problem. The 300 to 400 workers waiting to be resettled were causing everyone to lose sleep and appetite, almost driving them mad.

Someone said, "What's there to worry about? If they can't be resettled, they'll just be demobilized."

It's not that simple!

Firstly, there are hard targets set by the higher-ups: military enterprises must resettle at least 60% of their own people. For the third repair factory, that's 370 people. Secondly, with the current situation of resettling returnee youth and the poor performance of many state-owned enterprises, the demobilization of over a million soldiers has already made local governments cry out in distress. How easy is it to arrange for them? Finally, from a personal standpoint, every officer wants their soldiers to have a good future.

"The military region requires us to resettle 60% of our people, which is about 370 people. I want to ask, can our factory accommodate 110 to 120 people?" After a moment's thought, Chen Geng looked up and asked.

"..." Cao Jun smiled bitterly and did not answer.

"I'm not very familiar with the structure of our factory's workers. Let me ask: how many of our workers understand technology and maintenance? How many can handle general faults independently? How many can overhaul engines and transmissions independently?"

Although he was a bit puzzled by why Chen Geng was asking this, Liu Qianjin immediately replied, "When it comes to car repairs, most of our workers can handle minor issues. About 400 can handle minor faults in engines, transmissions, fuel systems, and electrical systems. As for those who can independently overhaul engines and transmissions, there are about 150."

"So many?!" Chen Geng was greatly surprised.

He thought that 30 to 50 people who could independently overhaul engines and transmissions would be good, but he didn't expect there to be 150! This is a considerable technical force.

"Is this a lot?" Liu Qianjin clicked his tongue, scoffing at Chen Geng's surprise, "Factory One has over 500 people who can independently overhaul engines and transmissions, and Factory Two has about 400. When the military region's armored division conducts large-scale vehicle maintenance, hundreds of armored vehicles line up, and everyone goes to repair them. The scene is spectacular! Our people are nothing compared to that!"

Liu Qianjin was deeply immersed in the grandeur of hundreds of armored vehicles being repaired, feeling a deep envy and jealousy that the third repair factory could only play a minor role in such a grand scene.

Chen Geng breathed a sigh of relief. If there were fewer skilled workers, he would have been worried about how to arrange for them. But now, he had a plan: "With so many skilled workers, it's easier. I'll arrange a test. Those who pass can help at Runhua Industry."

"Can you arrange for so many people?" Liu Qianjin's eyes widened.

"We are going to train companies interested in modifying the 212 jeep soon. Since these masters can handle engines and transmissions, they can first receive relevant training here and then train others. There shouldn't be a problem, right?" Chen Geng smiled.

"Not just no problem, but no problem at all," Liu Qianjin breathed a sigh of relief, his face brightening. He knew that after Runhua Industry decided to spread the 212 jeep modification technology, over ten units had already contacted Runhua Industry to learn the technology. "Little Chen, I won't say much, but you've really helped us a lot."

"I'm also part of the third repair factory. It's my duty to help the factory," Chen Geng said.

Peng Guangming hesitated for a moment but couldn't help asking, "But, Little Chen, those units learning the technology will eventually finish. What will happen to our people when they leave?"

That's true!

Peng Guangming's words reminded everyone. The units learning how to modify the 212 jeep send skilled maintenance workers, and the learning period is only one or two months. Even if it continues for a while, it will last about six months. What will happen to our people after six months?

"You're right," Chen Geng nodded, "I have two ideas for their future. First, we need to expand our production capacity, which can absorb some people. Second, I will strive to get our shock absorber project into production within six months, which can absorb more people. Finally, I have an idea: can we leverage our workers' expertise in vehicle maintenance and open some car repair shops under the name of Runhua Industry?"

"Really? Open car repair shops?" Peng Guangming was very appreciative of Chen Geng's idea, "This is a good idea. It not only solves the resettlement problem but also expands the company. I think it's feasible."

With the reform and opening up, more and more enterprises and individuals are engaged in road transportation. As more vehicles are on the road, more vehicles need repairs. Drivers can handle minor issues, but they can't carry many spare parts, so some faults still need to be fixed at repair shops. Opening car repair shops will definitely be profitable. The only issue is: "This will require a lot of money, right?"

"It will definitely require a lot of money," Chen Geng nodded, "But fortunately, the military enterprise reform still has some time. We have time."

That's true!

Everyone had been under the pressure of the enterprise reform, their minds stiffened. Now, hearing Chen Geng's words, they realized: yes, although the reform of military enterprises is an irreversible trend, the central government has given everyone some time. We don't need to worry about other units, but for us, we have a few months to maneuver, which is enough.

Realizing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Peng Qianjin smiled, "Then there's no problem. We'll hold on for these few months, and then it's up to you, Little Chen."

Chen Geng nodded vigorously, "I'll do my best."

Qian Guoning, Qian Mo's uncle, had helped him a lot this time. He needed to thank him properly. He took two packs of cigarettes and two bottles of wine and went to the reservoir.

Qian Guoning is the deputy director of the reservoir management office. Although it's just a reservoir, it's a formal section-level unit, and Qian Guoning is a formal deputy section-level official. However, perhaps because the reservoir is not a traditional government office, or because his brother is roughly under this young man, Qian Guoning was extremely generous: "It's just a fish. Is it worth you making a special trip? I heard Qian Mo's grades have improved a lot recently, all thanks to your tutoring. I, as her uncle, haven't even said thank you. Don't be so formal in the future!"

Waving his hand, Qian Guoning said loudly, "If you want fish, just come to me. With such a large reservoir, we have plenty of fish! I can give you a 30-pound bighead carp every month, and I'll keep 20-pound ones for you."

Chen Geng didn't expect Qian Guoning to be so generous, but he liked this kind of person, so he immediately smiled, "Alright, I won't be formal. Please let me know when you have a big fish."

"It's just a word! The fish head is too oily. In the past, when we ate bighead carp at the reservoir, we would cut off the head and throw it away, eating only the body..."

Chen Geng almost wanted to curse: not eating the fish head, only the body?!

Actually, it's not the fault of the common people. Meat is still quite scarce in this era. People prefer lean meat when buying meat, and they especially like fatty pork. Bighead carp, with a large head and a small body, where the head alone makes up 40% of the weight, doesn't sell well in the market. Many people don't even look at it, thinking it has too little meat and is a bad deal. When buying fish, they wish the fish had no head and only meat.

As for eating the fish head, who likes it? Adults don't eat the fish head because they want to save the meat for their children to grow taller. Eating the fish head is just a treat for them. Chen Geng, who loves fish heads, is considered picky and wasteful.