"Little brother, got held up on the road for a bit."
Liu Dahai's hearty laughter echoed from a distance as his truck, leading the pack, pulled up and stopped in front of Wang Yu. He then hopped out of the driver's seat.
"I called over a bunch of brothers who were hauling goods. Not only that, but we stopped by the loading points. Other drivers waiting for loads also got to test out our brakes.
And I must say, the braking performance is damn good! They stop quickly, with strong effect, and we haven't seen any oil leaks."
"Mm, testing the brakes took quite some time, but look at this..."
Liu Dahai grinned, pointing to the winding convoy of vehicles behind him.
"All the nearby freight drivers have come."
Wang Yu already knew, without him needing to say it.
In this era, transportation wasn't as widespread as in the future. A transport hub around a small county would have about a hundred vehicles.
This driver, Liu Dahai, really wasn't bragging.
Moreover, judging by his demeanor, he was forthright and generous, possessing significant charisma and credibility.
In the future, such a person would be a prime industry leader. He might even become a fleet owner or the general manager of a transportation company.
In short, he was a remarkable individual!
"The brothers' only request is to fix the brakes as soon as possible, the sooner the better! Price is not an issue! After all, safety comes first when you're on the road!"
Having said that, Liu Dahai asked Wang Yu,
"Little brother, do you think it's enough?"
Enough? It was more than enough!
He was more worried about whether his factory had enough raw materials and manpower.
His small factory had only a few dozen workers. Including all the section chiefs, dispatchers, and heads of departments, plus Wang Yu himself working directly, they barely numbered a hundred people.
A hundred or so vehicles was a monumental task!
At the previous price of 800 per vehicle, after deducting all costs, they would still make a profit of tens of thousands.
Setting aside the massive debt, at least the long-overdue wages for the workers would be temporarily secured!
Not just Wang Yu, but the workers and foremen behind him also had red eyes.
They might not understand the intricacies of factory operations, but they weren't foolish. With their simple understanding, they knew very well:
Having work = getting paid = eating well!
They hadn't realized their young factory manager was so capable. Tsk, he'd managed to bring in so much business!
A young man of great promise!
"Hurry up, clear out the rest room to arrange for the masters to rest. If there aren't enough places, arrange them in the offices."
Wang Yu, not blinded by joy, quickly barked out instructions.
"The canteen, where's the canteen? Finance, expedite the expenses to buy groceries and prepare a feast, arrange meals for all the masters and the brothers who are working. Remember to add more meat dishes and hearty fare!"
"Sun Grandpa at the gatehouse, go brew some tea. Take out the tea leaves left by the former factory manager from my office."
"Director Li, Master Zhao, quickly arrange for the brothers to start work. We might have to work overtime through the night."
"Inventory the parts and materials. If anything is missing, list it out. The purchasing staff will have to go to the provincial capital tonight to get them!"
Under Wang Yu's direction, everyone in the factory began working diligently.
No one complained about being hungry or tired anymore. Everyone was full of energy, enthusiastically throwing themselves into the work.
The night gradually deepened, and darkness enveloped Jiangyang County.
But the entire Jiangyang County Automobile Manufacturing Plant was brightly lit, with everyone working overtime with all their might.
The brake modification for over a hundred vehicles was not just a large business deal, but also a massive project.
"The factory hasn't been this energetic and forward-looking in a long time." Li Ming smiled with satisfaction from the side.
He hadn't smiled much since the previous factory manager had brought the plant to the brink of bankruptcy.
He was nearing retirement and truly didn't want to see the factory, to which he had dedicated his life, fall apart.
Fortunately, the newly appointed young factory manager indeed had some skills and had brought in such a huge business deal.
"It will be even better in the future!"
Wang Yu wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, his face smudged with grease.
He didn't have the skills of the experienced masters or the proficiency of the skilled workers. His half-baked abilities would only hinder efficiency, so he picked up a wrench and tightened all the nuts and bolts on the other vehicles.
The quality of domestic cars in this era was very worrying. Loose bolts on the road could easily lead to safety accidents!
This was no joke!
He helped these drivers tighten their bolts, considering it an inspection for potential safety hazards.
"Haha, then I can retire with peace of mind."
Li Ming chuckled.
"Don't say that! I'm counting on you to make the factory bigger and stronger in the future, and I'll definitely rehire you then."
He knew very well that this workshop director was also an extraordinary talent.
He was a former eighth-level craftsman!
To put it simply, theoretically, he might not be as good as himself, but in terms of practical operation, he was an absolutely god-like operator.
There were only thirteen eighth-level craftsmen in the entire Guānjiāng Province!
"An eighth-level craftsman! That's rarer than a national treasure! In the storybooks, they're described as pillars of jade and beams of gold!"
Wang Yu made a rare joke, even drawing out his voice in the style of a storyteller.
"One day, I will make our factory a pillar of the nation."
"Whatever the people need, we will build!"
"Hahaha, then this old body of mine will truly have to rely on you, young man!"
Wang Yu spoke of his ambition, or perhaps his aspiration.
Li Ming responded with a smile. Whether he believed it or not was not important.
Wang Yu believed that practice is the sole criterion for testing truth!
...
One day and one night.
The noisy roaring gradually subsided, and the cutting machines, welding machines, impact wrenches, and various other mechanical equipment slowly stopped. Everything was gradually completed.
When the last truck drove out of the factory gate,
Wang Yu stumbled and fell to the ground.
The feeling of immense relief after prolonged intense concentration and physical exertion was something truly incomprehensible to those who hadn't experienced it.
What followed was an overwhelming sense of emptiness and weakness.
"It's done?"
"It's done!"
"The drivers and some of the brothers have already left."
"They said they had to rush to make deliveries and would invite the young factory manager for a meal when they return."
"Haha, this 'invite for a meal later' might actually happen!"
A wave of laughter erupted from the crowd. Despite being exhausted after a day and a night of overtime, their eyes were fixed on Wang Yu, gleaming.
This young man, who the day before they saw as barely able to grow a beard, was the most tired of them all!
He had coordinated the overall plan, assigned tasks, and even personally wielded a wrench.
Alright, though his clumsy technique had elicited chuckles from the experienced masters.
Slumped on the ground, oblivious to the oil and metal shavings, Wang Yu smiled at the crowd, his soot-covered face revealing a row of white teeth.
"Well, I'm just a kid, my body is still a bit weak. Can't compare to all of you uncles and brothers. Please forgive me!"
"Hahahaha!" Another round of uproarious laughter followed.
"But rest assured everyone, I will always be with you!"
"Uncle Ma, how much money did we collect?"
The finance accountant, Ma Hongyuan, a refined-looking elder wearing a pair of reading glasses with one leg broken, his mouth split open like a leaky gourd, couldn't stop smiling.
"We've received nearly ninety thousand yuan. We also fixed some minor issues on those vehicles, and those drivers insisted on paying. We charged them the basic material fees as per the young factory manager's instructions."
More than ninety thousand!
In this era, it was truly a fortune!
Especially for their factory, it was like manna from heaven!
"First, let's pay the brothers three months' wages."
Wang Yu nodded with deep satisfaction, then turned to the crowd.
"Everyone, the factory's operations still require financial support in various aspects, so we can only advance three months' wages for now. But please believe me, let's get through this difficult time first."
"I will definitely make sure you all live good lives! Believe me!"
"We believe you!"
Another round of cheers erupted from the crowd, this time genuine and lasting.
"Alright, everyone disperse. You've worked hard for so long. Collect your wages and go home to your wives. Remember to buy your children some good food and new clothes."
Li Ming stepped forward, waving to the crowd.
"Can't you see the young factory manager is exhausted? Stop crowding around and making a fuss!"
The crowd laughed again, then dispersed.
"Young factory manager, here is your salary."
After everyone had collected their pay and left, Accountant Ma stepped forward and handed a stack of banknotes to Wang Yu.
"Mm, thank you, Uncle Ma."
Wang Yu nodded. After resting for a while, he felt a bit stronger.
He scrambled up from the ground, put the banknotes in his pocket, and without regard for the lack of sleep for a day and a night, Wang Yu grabbed his "Er Ba Da Gang" (a common type of bicycle) and sped towards the county hospital.
His sister's surgery couldn't be delayed!
Three months' wages, that's 500 yuan. The surgical fee should be enough.
He rushed all the way, getting covered in dust, and finally arrived at the county hospital.
As soon as he entered the inpatient area, he heard a sharp, acrimonious voice in the corridor.
"It's just a small surgery, I'll cover the cost!"
Then, his sister Wang Ling's stubborn and weak voice responded.
"No, my brother will find a way!"
"Him? He's struggling to save himself! Your factory is about to go bankrupt, and you're still counting on him?
That's just too funny! Hahaha!"
Hearing that familiar voice, Wang Yu's expression changed drastically.
He would never forget the owner of this voice, the culprit who had brought his factory to its current state!