Chapter 111: The Reward for the Automobile Invention Finally Arrives
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Xiao Weiguo called out, “Brother Dali, I’m here. What is it? What benefit are we talking about?”
Beside him, Liu Yicheng even forgot to sniffle and stretched out his ears to listen.
Sister Ling and Yi Xiaohe also turned their gazes toward them.
Li Daniu glanced at the people around them and lowered his voice. He grabbed Xiao Weiguo by the arm and pulled him outside.
Xiao Weiguo was not worried that Li Daniu might harm him, so he naturally followed.
After finding a secluded spot, Li Daniu said, “I told you before that our division chief and section chief had gone to the First Automobile Manufacturing Plant to give a report, right? When they came back, one of the plant’s leaders came to our factory as well. He said he wanted to meet you, the inventor. They should also be discussing some kind of reward.
“I only overheard a little of it. Weiguo, be prepared. I have to get back to work now.”
With that, Li Daniu hurried toward their motor pool. He was probably rushing out on a job and had taken the time to come over solely to tell Xiao Weiguo the news.
What a true friend.
In that case, there was no need to hurry off to the countryside. He could first sound out Shi Guanglin.
As Xiao Weiguo’s closest superior, Shi Guanglin would probably be the one to relay any important news. Besides, the division chief was his Seventh Uncle.
Xiao Weiguo walked to the floor where Shi Guanglin’s office was located. At the corner, he happened to run into Shi Guanglin, who had just returned.
“I was just about to come looking for you, Weiguo. Come on, come with me. We need to get to the division chief’s office right away.” Shi Guanglin was beaming as he spoke. He stepped forward, seized Xiao Weiguo by the arm, and pulled him outside.
“Brother Lin, is something wrong? Why would the division chief want to see me?” Although Xiao Weiguo had already guessed what this was about, he still wanted to confirm that it was the same matter Li Daniu had mentioned. He did not want to make a fool of himself over a misunderstanding.
Shi Guanglin looked at him with a smile. “Don’t worry. It’s good news, and it has something to do with automobiles. Why don’t you take a guess?”
Hearing that, Xiao Weiguo relaxed. The two accounts clearly referred to the same matter. He would have to start thinking about what kind of reward he wanted.
Before long, they arrived at the division chief’s office. Shi Guanglin gently knocked on the wooden door. When they heard someone call, “Come in,” the two pushed the door open and entered.
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The room was unusually lively. The division chief Xiao Weiguo knew, Shi Changzai, was sitting in his chair, smiling as he chatted with the people inside.
Xiao Weiguo did not know either of the two men he was speaking with.
“Chief, I’ve brought Weiguo,” Shi Guanglin announced.
“Come in, come in. Don’t stand on ceremony. Sit down and talk. Let me introduce you first.”
As he spoke, Shi Changzai pointed toward Xiao Weiguo. “This is Xiao Weiguo, a rising star in our Logistics Division.”
Then he turned to Weiguo. “Weiguo, this is Ma Changxing, the captain of our Transportation Brigade.
“And this gentleman is no ordinary guest. He is Engineer Wang Weihe, an honored guest from the First Automobile Manufacturing Plant.
“He came here this time mainly because he wanted to meet our young inventor in person.
“From here on, you two can talk among yourselves. But Engineer Wang, don’t you dare bully our Weiguo. I’ll be watching with these old eyes of mine. Ha ha.”
Hearing that, Wang Weihe hurriedly said, “Chief Shi, you can rest assured. I simply admire this inventor’s remarkable imagination so much that I came all the way from the Northeast. More than anything, I wanted to exchange ideas with Comrade Weiguo, so that we can help our country build better automobiles.”
At that, his voice rose with enthusiasm.
“As for the reward, everyone can rest assured that it will be substantial. We can even adjust it according to Comrade Xiao Weiguo’s wishes.”
Xiao Weiguo was delighted to hear this. He wondered what reward they had prepared for him.
Wang Weihe turned to him again. “Comrade Xiao Weiguo, your brake cooling water spray system has been proven, through repeated testing and practical use, to be an extraordinarily important invention. It can indirectly save the lives of many drivers and prevent extensive damage to vehicles. You have made an enormous contribution.
“I would like to ask how you came up with such an excellent idea. Do you have any other automobile-related ideas you could offer? At present, our country’s automobile industry is still in its infancy, and we urgently need ideas from people like Comrade Weiguo.
“Finally, regarding the reward, the factory has indeed given me considerable authority to make decisions. So I would like to ask what you have in mind. Please feel free to tell us.”
Xiao Weiguo paused and thought for a moment before saying, “The idea for the brake cooling water spray system came about through a fortunate accident. Deputy Section Chief Shi Guanglin and our motor-pool driver, Comrade Li Daniu, also helped me. They both made significant contributions.
“As for other related ideas, we can discuss them privately later, so we won’t take up the leaders’ time.”
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“Finally, regarding the reward, it is my honor to contribute to the nation’s automobile industry. As for whether there is a reward or not, that is not important to me. If possible, I hope the reward can be invested in the country’s development.”
Listening to Xiao Weiguo, everyone in the room felt at ease. Division Chief Shi Changzai was smiling from ear to ear.
Although Xiao Weiguo’s words were somewhat deliberate and obvious, what these important figures truly wanted was simply to see his attitude.
Engineer Wang Weihe nodded in satisfaction and said to Shi Changzai, “Chief Shi, you should let him go. Comrade Weiguo is a rare automobile talent, and our First Automobile Manufacturing Plant needs him. I guarantee that if he comes to us, he will receive the待遇 of a Grade-Thirteen technician, on the same level as a newly graduated university student, with a monthly salary of fifty-five yuan.”
When Xiao Weiguo heard that they wanted to transfer him to the Northeast, he was stunned. He thought anxiously, Chief Shi, you must not agree. How comfortable it was staying in the capital. Why go work in such a freezing place?
Shi Changzai pondered for a moment before saying, “Comrade Xiao Weiguo is also one of our pillar talents. Engineer Wang, let’s not bring up that matter again. Instead, tell our young friend Weiguo about the reward you brought with you. Ha ha.”
At that, Wang Weihe turned to Xiao Weiguo. “Weiguo, the leaders at the manufacturing plant discussed your reward beforehand. You would receive the待遇 of a Grade-Thirteen technician and be assigned a two-room apartment on one floor. If you went there, they would also help resolve your marriage prospects immediately.
“As for cash and material rewards, there would be one hundred yuan in cash and a sewing-machine coupon.
“So I would still like to ask your opinion. Are you willing to transfer to the First Automobile Manufacturing Plant?”
Having said that, Engineer Wang looked at Xiao Weiguo expectantly.
The pressure on Xiao Weiguo was immense.
The terms were undeniably generous, but they did not suit his actual abilities. Given the existence of his storage space, a procurement officer’s job was a perfect match for him. Besides, he had no real technical expertise related to automobile engineering and simply could not handle such work. He would also have to travel all the way to the Northeast and settle there. Overall, it was better to refuse.
“Thank you, Engineer Wang, and thank the leaders of the manufacturing plant for thinking so highly of me,” Xiao Weiguo said slowly. “I only happened to come up with one idea. I truly would not be capable of handling the work of a Grade-Thirteen technician. So, as for transferring to another workplace, I think I’ll have to decline.”
After hearing this, disappointment appeared on Engineer Wang’s face. He then said, “Very well. A gentleman does not force others to do what they do not wish to do. I still hope we’ll have plenty of opportunities to discuss things with Comrade Weiguo in the future.
“As for the reward, let’s hear what you have in mind. The organization will do its best to accommodate you.”
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