Reborn in the ’80s as a Group Favorite Bigshot – Chapter 43

Chapter 43: So Confident?

The people Song Lao Si found at the machinery factory led them to the logistics office.

After sitting and waiting for a while, Logistics Director Shi slowly walked in.

The person who helped make the connection this time was Director Shi’s brother-in-law. He introduced Song Chu and the other two to his brother-in-law and then left the office.

Song Chu used the same excuse of providing welfare benefits. First, she praised the important position of the machinery factory in the county, and then she threw out the bait of providing oil.

The machinery factory was one of the county’s pillar state-owned enterprises, and the workers’ welfare benefits were good. However, the supply of cooking oil was still very tight, so Director Shi was quite tempted.

“You’re going to give us oil for free every month. Isn’t that making you peasant comrades suffer a loss?” Director Shi said insincerely.

Song Chu smiled and said, “Director Shi, workers and peasants are one family. You have put in hard work for the country’s development. This is our peasant comrades’ voluntary offer of support. We don’t feel like we’re suffering a loss. On the contrary, we are proud to be able to contribute a little.”

Director Shi’s face was full of smiles. “You peasant comrades have a really high level of awareness, especially you, Little Comrade.”

“The leaders of our factory are also very concerned about you peasant comrades. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to tell me.” Of course, he didn’t believe that the oil would really be free. He wanted to find out what the other party needed before deciding whether to agree.

Song Chu said with some embarrassment, “There is one difficulty. We have to deliver oil to the textile factory, the sugar factory, and the furniture factory every month. But our village only has one ox cart, and it definitely can’t carry that much oil.”

“I was wondering if you could lend us a tractor that your factory doesn’t use much. It would make it easier for us to deliver oil to the city. When we’re done delivering oil, we’ll return it.” This was her real purpose.

That little broken ox cart in the village was inconvenient for everything.

Nowadays, tractors were in short supply in all villages and towns. The villages under their commune basically hadn’t been allocated any. If she could get one back, it would not only be practical but also demonstrate her ability.

It would also make the village and commune leaders look at her in a new light and support some of her future actions.

Director Shi was taken aback for a moment, but he quickly understood. So she wanted to use oil to rent a tractor, just phrased in a different way.

But it also hit the right spot. If she had directly said she wanted to use oil to rent a tractor, they would have been afraid of gossip from outsiders. Although it wasn’t considered speculation, it wouldn’t sound good.

But now, the peasant comrades were providing them with welfare benefits, and their factory was helping the peasant comrades solve their living difficulties. This reason was much more justifiable, and no one could say anything.

Little Comrade Song Chu was really smart.

He liked dealing with smart people. “Then you’ve really come at the right time. Our factory just retired a tractor. If you don’t mind, we can lend it to you for now.”

Song Chu said excitedly, “We don’t mind at all. We couldn’t be happier. Thank you so much, Director Shi.”

Director Shi smiled and said, “You’re too polite, Little Comrade.”

He raised his hand to look at his watch. “It’s almost time for lunch. You’ve come all this way, and it must have been tiring. Come have lunch with me at the canteen.”

The main reason why his attitude was so good was that Song Chu mentioned the other three factories. He didn’t want to fall behind.

By building a good relationship with Song Chu, he might be able to get them to deliver more oil in the future. He couldn’t let those other three factories take advantage of them.

Song Chu didn’t refuse. “How could we trouble you?”

“Haha, what trouble is it? Workers and peasants are one family. Let’s go, let’s go.” Director Shi stood up and enthusiastically led them to the canteen.

On the way, they ran into Director Zhang from the technical department of the workshop. The two had a good relationship, so they went to the canteen together.

Director Shi also introduced Song Chu and the other two to Director Zhang and briefly explained the matter of them delivering oil.

Director Zhang was naturally happy and supportive of the factory being able to distribute some oil every month.

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Song Chu seized the opportunity and took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Director Zhang.

First, they chatted casually for a few sentences and talked about the oil press in their village. Then Song Chu brought up the topic.

“There’s a very skilled zhiqing in our village who’s good with machinery. He improved the oil press. We happen to know someone at the Provincial Machinery Factory, so we’re planning to go there in a few days to have them help us process some parts and then we’ll reassemble it.”

The reason why she followed them to the canteen was to run into this Director Zhang.

Originally, Song Chu had already thought that if she didn’t run into him, she would find a way to ask Director Shi to introduce them. She didn’t expect her luck to be so good that they bumped into him as soon as they went out.

Director Zhang was stunned. “You know someone at the Provincial Machinery Factory?”

“Yes, otherwise we wouldn’t dare to go so far to ask them to help us process new parts,” Song Chu said meaningfully.

This also made Director Shi and Director Zhang look at them in a new light. The Provincial Machinery Factory was their superior unit, and they didn’t even know many people there.

Director Zhang smiled. “Will they agree? The Provincial Machinery Factory generally doesn’t take outside orders.”

Song Chu said confidently, “Knowing someone is just to get our foot in the door. The key is that what we’re making is good. They will definitely agree.”

“You’re so confident about the oil press modified by your zhiqing comrade?” Director Zhang didn’t take it seriously.

No one in their machinery factory had ever successfully modified an oil press. How could a zhiqing from the countryside possibly do it? He probably was just messing around.

Song Chu took out a few design drawings drawn by Gu Yue from her shoulder bag. “Director Zhang, you’re a professional. Take a look at the oil press modified by our comrade. What do you think?”

Director Zhang took the design drawings with some curiosity. The more he looked, the more surprised he became. It really used several advanced parts. From a theoretical perspective, after replacing the original old parts, the efficiency would be much higher.

Maybe it could really revolutionize the oil press.

After a while, he finished reading and looked up. “Your zhiqing comrade is very good. This oil press modification diagram is very valuable. I think it can be done.”

If their factory’s machines could process those few new parts, he would have taken the initiative to offer to help them process them.

“Director Zhang, you really have a good eye. If our zhiqing comrade hadn’t already contacted the Provincial Machinery Factory by phone, I would have come to ask your factory to process them.” Song Chu said with apparent regret.

Director Zhang smiled and said, “The technology at the Provincial Machinery Factory is better. You can rest assured asking them.”

Then he changed the subject. “If you want to do any more machine modifications in the future, you can come to our factory first. After all, it’s quite far to go to the provincial capital, and it’s a hassle to travel back and forth.”

Song Chu immediately followed up. “Really? Director Zhang, you’re such a good leader who cares about the people and gets things done. I want to thank you on his behalf first.”

Director Zhang was quite pleased to hear the little girl’s praise. “You’re too kind, Little Comrade.”

“Actually, he’s currently researching an incubator. At that time, we might really have to trouble Director Zhang to see if your factory can produce it.” Song Chu laid enough groundwork and finally got to the main topic.