bookbashuk Chapter 118 Talented, Fighting for It
Chapter 118 Talented, Fighting for It
The leaders were still immersed in amazement, whispering about Li Yang's extraordinary talent. Secretary Zhang could no longer suppress his excitement. He squeezed into the crowd, came to Deputy Minister Liu, and said excitedly: "Deputy Minister Liu, don't underestimate Li Yang's young age, but he has much more than this!"
Upon hearing this, Deputy Minister Liu immediately became interested. He raised his head, looked at Secretary Zhang with interest, and asked, "Oh? What else is so special about this young man?"
Secretary Zhang looked around at everyone present with a proud look on his face, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense, and then lowered his voice and said, "Comrade Li Yang, you have the skills of a senior technician and are an eighth-level fitter!"
"What? Level 8 fitter?" Deputy Minister Liu and other leaders were all stunned, not knowing how to react for a moment.
It should be noted that level 8 workers were extremely rare at that time, and there were only a handful of them in the entire steel rolling system. How could a young man in his twenties have reached such a level?
"Secretary Zhang, are you serious?" someone asked doubtfully. "Are you just making it up to fool us?"
Secretary Zhang waved his hands repeatedly and said seriously: "It is absolutely true! Li Yang's craftsmanship is obvious to all of our leadership team. Take the machine tool just now for example. The most critical parts processing in the repair process were all done by him!"
Hearing this, everyone was in an uproar again.
Many people frequently cast admiring glances at Li Yang. Even several respected veteran cadres could not help but look at this young technical genius with shining eyes.
"Young people are really formidable!" A leader of the Ministry of Science and Technology couldn't help but sigh, "I have been in the ministry for most of my life, and I have never seen a genius like Li Yang. This young man is really the pride of our working class!"
"That's right. We are so lucky to have such a talent in our steel mill!" Director Yang also came forward, grinning from ear to ear, and said proudly: "With so many machines in the factory, we rely on Xiao Li to transform them. Now, under his guidance, our comrades in the technical department have independently repaired a large machine tool. In a few days, all the equipment in the factory will be completely new. By then, our productivity will be able to increase by at least 30%!"
These words were like thunder from the blue sky, shocking everyone present.
What?! In just a few days, all the machines in the factory can achieve technological innovation?
And it was done by a young boy who was still wet behind the ears? Isn't this even more shocking than the achievements of the big xx back then?
"Secretary Zhang, is what you said true?" Deputy Minister Liu was also shocked and incoherent. He stared at Secretary Zhang intently, as if he wanted to find some flaws in his face.
"How could it be false?!" Secretary Zhang patted his chest and assured, "I have never boasted before! If you don't believe me, just go to the production workshop and take a look around. I guarantee that the milling machines and drilling machines there are like new ones, and their efficiency has been improved!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present no longer cared about the occasion and crowded in front of Li Yang, their eyes full of surprise and admiration.
Even the experts and scholars who followed the inspection looked at Li Yang with the eyes of someone studying a rare animal, staring intently, afraid of missing any details.
Li Yang himself appeared calm and composed, totally unaware of the sudden attention. He just smiled faintly, looking humble and confident.
"Hahaha, you are truly a great example of our working class!"
At this moment, Deputy Minister Liu of the Ministry of Industry, who had been silent until now, suddenly laughed out loud, and the loud voice echoed throughout the workshop.
He walked quickly to Li Yang, patted the young man on the shoulder affectionately, and said with great emotion: "Young man, I didn't expect you to have such amazing talent at such a young age! It's true that the younger generation pushes the older generation forward!"
Hearing Vice Minister Liu's praise, the crowd became even more excited, and the discussion became louder and louder.
"Yes, the steel mill has a bright future with talents like Xiao Li!"
"Look at this, Xiao Li can single-handedly carry out the technological innovation of our steel rolling system!"
"Should we make an exception and promote Xiao Li so that he can display his talents on a broader platform?"
However, just as everyone was discussing the issue enthusiastically, a loud voice suddenly came from behind Vice Minister Liu.
"Comrade Li Yang, since you are so good at mechanical manufacturing, why don't you come to our machinery factory to develop your career?"
Following the sound, I saw a middle-aged man in a neat cadre uniform pushing through the crowd and walking towards Li Yang.
"Lao Wang? What nonsense are you talking about? Are you trying to poach my people in front of me?" Secretary Zhang glared at him upon seeing this.
It turned out that the visitor was none other than Wang Lianchuan, the director of the machinery manufacturing plant. As a large backbone enterprise on par with the steel rolling mill, the machinery plant was also well-known.
After hearing the olive branch Wang Lianchuan extended, Secretary Zhang was stunned. He glared at Wang Lianchuan angrily and almost jumped up and cursed.
"What are you doing? You're trying to steal my people in front of your boss. How can that be acceptable?!" Secretary Zhang was so angry that his beard stood up, and he yelled at Wang Lianchuan.
Director Wang, however, was calm and didn't take it seriously at all. He said confidently: "I can recognize a talent with my discerning eyes! A talent like Li Yang would be wasted in your steel mill. You should come to our machinery manufacturing plant. I promise to give him a position as the head of the technical department so that he can realize his ambitions!"
As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar at the scene!
All of a sudden the two started quarreling like children.
But these two refused to give in to the other and kept fighting for Li Yang, determined to pull him to their territory.
"No! Xiao Li is from our steel rolling mill. You can go wherever you want in the machinery factory!" Secretary Zhang was so anxious that his eyes turned red. He grabbed Li Yang's arm, fearing that Wang Lianchuan would snatch him away.
Director Wang didn't care at all. He smiled and said, "Why? Are you scared, Old Zhang? I think we should let Li Yang choose for himself. It's obvious whether he wants to be a clerk in your steel mill or a section chief in my machinery factory!"
"Bullshit! The section chiefs of our steel rolling mill are still lining up to be selected by Li Yang! Just wait and see, in a few years, Xiao Li will be able to take your position!" Secretary Zhang was also furious and grabbed Li Yang and started to brag about him.
"Okay, then just wait and see. I want to see what kind of talents your steel mill can produce!" Wang Lianchuan was not willing to be outdone. He turned his head and stared at Li Yang, as if he would give up if Li Yang didn't obey.
Seeing the two factory leaders arguing so fiercely that they were about to have a fight in public, Deputy Minister Liu finally couldn't stand it anymore.
He suddenly took a big step forward and slapped the two of them between the palm of his hand, and shouted at the same time, "Shut up!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience fell silent.
Everyone's eyes fell on Vice Minister Liu.
Secretary Zhang and Director Wang looked even more embarrassed. They shrank their necks in embarrassment and kept their heads down in silence.
Deputy Minister Liu looked around and said with a headache: "You are so old, but you act like children! I remember when we were at war, you two would quarrel whenever you met. Now it has been more than ten years since the liberation, and you are still like this?"
The two old leaders immediately wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. Where was the jealous momentum just now?
They just looked at each other, smiled awkwardly, and had to step aside obediently, staring at each other.
But neither of them would give in to the other, and looking at their eyes, they seemed to wish to cut the other into pieces.
"Forget it, don't you all think Li Yang is a talented person? Then let him choose!" Deputy Minister Liu, who had been silent just now, made the final decision at this moment. With just one sentence, Li Yang was put in the spotlight.
He walked up to Li Yang and asked amiably, "Xiao Li, did you hear what the factory managers said just now? Why don't you consider going directly to the Ministry of Industry for development? The platform there is bigger and you can better display your talents!"
When these words were spoken, not only Secretary Zhang and Director Wang, but also the other leaders present were stunned.
Is Vice Minister Liu going to recruit people himself?!