amaotonovel Chapter 1327 If you cause a major incident, I'll cover for you.
Chapter 1327 If you cause a major incident, I'll cover for you.
That morning, as soon as Song Yunhui stepped into the office, he was overwhelmed by a cacophony of congratulations.
"Section Chief Song, you've been hiding it well!"
"Exactly! It's not fair to keep this promotion a secret from us old buddies!"
Song Yunhui stood frozen in place, holding the enamel mug, looking utterly bewildered: "Section Chief? What Section Chief?"
"Pretending! Still pretending?" Old Wang winked. "The new appointments have all come down. You're the new head of our technical department now!"
Song Yunhui felt a buzzing in his head, and the hot tea splashed onto the back of his hand, making him shiver.
"Comrade Song Yunhui!"
A loud shout silenced the noise in the room.
Factory Director Fei and Chief Engineer Liu appeared side by side at the entrance, their expressions solemn.
"The factory meeting has approved the promotion of Comrade Song Yunhui to head of the technical department due to his outstanding contributions to the technical renovation project in Workshop 1, particularly his significant improvement in production efficiency and substantial reduction in safety risks and energy consumption losses!"
Scattered applause broke out in the office. Director Fei glanced over and the crowd quickly clapped louder.
Song Yunhui hesitated for a moment: "Chief Engineer Liu, the technical upgrade of Workshop One last year..."
"Little Song," Director Fei took over, a warm smile spreading across his face. He took a few steps closer and affectionately patted Song Yunhui's shoulder. "The factory has high hopes for you in the technical department! Come on, let's go to the conference room and have a good chat with these two old guys about your thoughts on your future work."
The small, private meeting room in the technical department. The door clicked shut and locked from the inside.
Factory Director Fei stopped smiling, personally poured Song Yunhui a glass of water, and lightly tapped the table with his fingertips: "Little Song, I heard that Secretary Shui asked you about some technical matters. Tell us about them, and we can learn from them too."
Song Yunhui subconsciously looked at Chief Engineer Liu; it seemed that his promotion was related to this.
"...Secretary Shui learned about some cutting-edge technological developments in the chemical industry from me."
Chief Engineer Liu and Factory Director Fei exchanged a glance: Old Shui was indeed up to no good behind their backs.
"Xiao Song, right now the factory's focus is on this FRC equipment import project. You're a key member of the technical department, and now you're the department head. If you have any ideas, just speak up boldly and don't hold back!"
"Factory Director Fei, Chief Engineer Liu, if I may be so bold, the FRC equipment is already outdated!"
Song Yunhui blurted out, "FRC was indeed the mainstream technology in Europe and America in the late 1970s, but now the world's major manufacturers have begun to gradually phase it out! Because its catalyst circulation system is inefficient, its product purification precision is insufficient, and its waste gas treatment is also..."
"Enough!" Chief Engineer Liu stood up abruptly, pointing at Song Yunhui, his hands trembling with anger. "What do you know? Are cutting-edge theories in books omnipotent? You're just reinventing the wheel! FRC is the solution that best suits our factory's current personnel's technical level and financial situation! Are all those experts in the ministry who are reviewing it less important than you reading a few worthless books? You're aiming too high!"
Factory Director Fei abruptly stood up and pressed down Chief Engineer Liu, who was about to slam his fist on the table: "Old Liu! Calm down! This is a meeting to discuss things! Different opinions should be allowed!"
He turned to Song Yunhui: "Comrade Song, technical discussions are fine, but we must be down-to-earth! I understand your feelings, and striving for progress is a good thing... So, since you have different ideas, then take the trouble to put together a detailed and rigorous report on what you consider to be the more advanced solution. How about that?"
"Okay, please give me a week!"
Fei and Liu left with heavy, hurried footsteps. Once they were outside the technical department, Chief Engineer Liu could no longer contain his anger.
"...Just because you've read a few foreign books doesn't mean you're invincible! I've been working in the factory for decades. Am I less skilled than him? Am I less experienced than him? You've only worked here for a few days and you dare to question the plans set by the ministry!"
"Why are you arguing with a greenhorn like him? The most important thing right now is to prevent him from joining forces with Lao Shui. Otherwise, what will Lao Shui do to us when he gets back in power..."
Chief Engineer Liu then calmed down: "You're right, Lao Shui is an amateur. Without Song Yunhui's help, he would never have been able to overturn the plan to introduce FRC equipment."
After a moment of contemplation, Chief Engineer Liu tentatively asked, "Old Fei, do you think we could apply to the ministry to import more advanced equipment?"
Upon hearing this, Director Fei shook his head immediately: "Old Liu, this plan has been reviewed and discussed by the department countless times. The department leaders have spent so much time and energy on it. If you tell the leaders now that our plan is outdated, what will they think of me? What will they think of you? This plan cannot be changed."
Upon hearing this, Chief Engineer Liu sighed: "So, even if there were a better technical solution, we couldn't use it?"
Director Fei patted him on the shoulder to comfort him: "Old Liu, I know you want Jingzhou Chemical to use the most advanced equipment, but if we overturn this plan, it will give Lao Shui an opportunity. Lao Shui's influence in the ministry is much deeper than ours. We can't give him any chance."
Chief Engineer Liu pondered for a long time: "But what about Song Yunhui?"
Factory Director Fei also looked distressed. If Song Yunhui were a nobody without any backing, he could easily send him to the production workshop or even to another place. But Song Yunhui was backed by Haoran International... Factory Director Fei felt like a dog trying to bite a hedgehog and not knowing where to start.
Helpless, he could only pat Chief Engineer Liu on the shoulder and say, "Try to keep Song Yunhui calm. I need to go to the ministry as soon as possible to finalize the import of the FRC equipment. We can't let Lao Shui have any chance of finding a loophole."
That evening, Song Yunhui came to the General Affairs Department after get off work. Yu Shanqing greeted him warmly and quickly helped him with the application procedures when he heard that he wanted to make an overseas call.
When Qin Hao received Song Yunhui's call, after listening to him explain his confusion, he only said one sentence: "Do what you think is right. Even if you cause a huge disaster, your brother-in-law will cover for you."
Song Yunhui was deeply moved. After returning home, he began writing a report on a plan to replace the imported equipment. It took him a week to complete, and Song Yunhui submitted the report to Chief Engineer Liu. The latter outwardly praised it, but in reality, he shelved it.
This time, however, Song Yunhui was more cautious and made another copy of the report, which he then handed to Secretary Shui.
While treasuring the report, Secretary Shui instructed Song Yunhui not to make a fuss. Before National Day, Secretary Shui went to the ministry and submitted Song Yunhui's report.
After reviewing Song Yunhui's alternative proposal, the department leaders were deeply moved and requested Jingzhou Chemical to hold a debate on the old and new proposals. The department leaders would also attend. Director Fei and Chief Engineer Liu had no choice but to accept the challenge after learning that their "home base had been stolen".
One week before National Day.
Jingzhou in autumn is shrouded in a clear, azure sky, and a cool breeze has seeped into the air.
Inside the gray building's conference room, however, a distinctly different atmosphere from the peaceful one before the holiday prevailed. At the head of the oval conference table sat the vice minister in charge, flanked by directors, technical experts, and secretaries from several relevant departments within the ministry.
Factory Director Fei, Chief Engineer Liu, and several other factory leaders sat at the lower end of the table near the door. On the other side, Secretary Shui sat upright, dressed in a dark Zhongshan suit, his hair neatly combed, a stark contrast to his lazy and casual demeanor of the previous few months.
Song Yunhui sat on a lonely hardwood chair at the very end of the long table, separated from the head of the table by almost the entire length of the room.
"Let's begin." Director Lu spoke first, his voice not loud, but it immediately made the air in the conference room tense: "The theme of today's meeting, as instructed by the department leaders, is very clear—to fully demonstrate, with an attitude of being responsible for the cause, for the technology, and for the future, whether the FRC equipment import plan is indeed the best choice for Jingzhou Chemical at present!"
He raised his hand and pointed at Song Yunhui: "Next, please let Comrade Song Yunhui from the Technical Department of Jingzhou Chemical Plant give a detailed introduction to the latest alternative plan he has proposed!"
Factory Director Fei and Chief Engineer Liu exchanged a knowing glance. Factory Director Fei's lips curled slightly as he picked up his cup and took a sip of tea.
Song Yunhui stood up, his voice clear and steady:
"Distinguished leaders and experts, the main point of my report is to highlight the significant limitations of Jingzhou Chemical's introduction of FRC equipment, and the absolute advantages of its alternative solutions..."
He started by explaining the design principles of the reaction tower, clearly pointing out three key defects of the FRC equipment: excessively thick alloy material on the inner wall leading to low thermal efficiency, catalyst consumption rate higher than the existing international top level, and imperfect exhaust gas treatment module leading to environmental hazards. Each point was followed by a long list of data from the latest authoritative international journals.
"...The core design of this equipment is at the level of Europe and America in the mid-1970s. The technological gap is more than ten years. Once it is introduced, it means that the moment the equipment is installed and debugged, we will be lagging behind the international advanced level in all aspects. Moreover, its core technical architecture is closed, and its potential for subsequent upgrades is extremely limited."
Chief Engineer Liu's face turned ashen. He tried to interrupt several times, but was met with a cold glare from Director Lu, and had no choice but to swallow his words.
Director Li leaned forward slightly and pointed to the report next to Song Yunhui: "So, is there nothing wrong with the equipment you're advocating for import?"
"This PDH-based equipment," Song Yunhui said in a steady voice, "firstly, improves thermal efficiency by more than 20%; secondly, the catalyst circulation system is more advanced, reducing costs by at least 15%; and most importantly, its modular and open architecture design greatly reduces the cost and difficulty of subsequent technology upgrades—meaning we can keep pace with international technological developments!"
He spoke eloquently, listing data accurate to two decimal places. Across from him, Chief Engineer Liu's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, which were particularly glaring under the bright lights of the conference room.
He tried to refute it several times, but he only cited old data from several years ago, which was ruthlessly exposed by Song Yunhui who cited new literature in public.
Each exchange made Director Fei's face darken further. Secretary Shui, on the other hand, remained seated, occasionally nodding almost imperceptibly when Song Yunhui mentioned a crucial point.
"...The technical issues are clear now." Director Lu finally spoke, turning his gaze to Song Yunhui: "Comrade Song Yunhui, while advanced technology is important, it cannot be divorced from reality. Your proposal has obvious advantages, but its disadvantages are equally prominent! It exceeds the budget of the established FRC proposal by a full thirteen million US dollars!"
"Boom~~~"
Thirteen million US dollars! All eyes in the conference room were fixed on the overly young technical section chief sitting at the back. The air seemed to freeze under the immense financial pressure.
"...The foreign exchange allocated to Jingzhou by the ministry is exactly the amount for the FRC project. Comrade Song, technology must serve the economic base!"
"I've also thought of a backup plan for this problem!"
Song Yunhui's voice did not tremble in the slightest. He took out a beautifully bound blue contract from the file bag, stood up, walked around the edge of the long conference table, and walked step by step to the front of the head seat.
"Reporting to the leaders. During the formulation of the plan, I received strong support from Haoran International regarding the potential huge foreign exchange gap! According to this signed and legally binding framework agreement—"
"Haoran International will provide a special loan for three years, fully covering the $20 million required for the import of this PDH equipment! Jingzhou Chemical only needs to complete qualified export products worth a total of $23 million within three years, according to the orders issued by Haoran International that are in line with the equipment's production capacity, ensuring quality and quantity! This will offset the advance payment!"
An eerie silence fell over the meeting room. Only the sound of breathing could be clearly heard. Director Lu carefully examined the contract. Factory Director Fei and Chief Engineer Liu seemed frozen in place, all color draining from their faces, their pupils dilating, their mouths slightly agape, frozen in their seats.
"The difference, which is approximately three million US dollars in net equipment value, will be covered by Jingzhou Chemical Plant through foreign exchange or equivalent RMB. In summary, Jingzhou only needs to spend a few million US dollars beyond the FRC plan budget to acquire this core production equipment, which will be at the forefront of the international chemical industry for the next decade and has enormous potential for future upgrades! This ensures both the forward-looking nature of the technology and effectively balances foreign exchange consumption through export earnings, maximizing the value of the equipment!"
"……it is good!"
After a long, suffocating silence, a steady and powerful voice rang out from the top of the conference table.
The vice minister, who had remained silent until now, finally raised his head, a bright light flashing in his eyes. He stood up, his strong fingers tapping twice on the table, producing a clear, resonant sound that echoed in the momentarily frozen meeting room. His sharp gaze swept over the blank-faced Factory Director Fei and Chief Engineer Liu, finally settling on Song Yunhui:
"This plan—excellent! Very good! The idea is novel, and the methods are flexible! It transforms passive technology import into technology exchange! This is the right path for modern chemical enterprises to achieve high-quality development!"
He suddenly turned to his secretary, who stood solemnly behind him: "Secretary Dong! The minutes of today's meeting must be written down word for word, and compiled immediately! Form a special report! Distribute it to the leadership teams of all large chemical enterprises under the ministry immediately! Let everyone take a good look and learn from it! Don't keep complaining to the ministry about being poor and asking for foreign exchange. Use your brains and know how to leverage external resources! Apply what you've learned in a flexible way!"
Those present who knew Song Yunhui's background couldn't help but scoff. If Song Yunhui wasn't "that person's" brother-in-law, would Haoran International have offered such generous terms? Did they really think international trading companies were charities? (End of Chapter)