The train driver in the courtyard

The next day is a day of rest.

After breakfast.

Li Aiguo rode his bicycle to the scrap shop and asked Wang Da Kui to ride his tricycle to help deliver the sewing machine to Chen's Tailor Shop.

At this time, the tailor shop had just opened and Chen Xingyi was about to go to work with a canvas bag.

I saw Li Aiguo running towards me from behind a tricycle.

Chen Xingyi subconsciously dodged backwards, trying to slip away from the side.

The eldest sister-in-law felt something was wrong, so she grabbed Chen Xingyi's arm and said, "Second brother, what are you doing? Xueru's family is here, and you didn't even say hello."

Chen Xingyi said awkwardly: "Sister-in-law, I don't know why, but I'm a little afraid to see Aiguo now."

"Aiguo is your brother-in-law, why are you afraid of him?"

"You don't know that Aiguo is now in charge of locomotive improvement work. He chats and laughs with the chief engineers in our locomotive factory. I am just a small worker."

Chen Xingyi hesitated for a moment and spoke in a low voice.

"Oh, I thought it was nothing! Back then, when Aiguo interrogated me, I..."

When the sister-in-law saw Chen Xingyi's surprised expression, she remembered that she had not revealed the previous interrogation because it was too embarrassing.

She quickly changed her words and said, "Anyway, Aiguo is not the kind of person who likes to put on airs. He is our brother-in-law."

Chen Fangxuan cleaned the tailor shop and walked out.

Seeing the tricycle coming, Chen Fangxuan saw the sewing machine on the tricycle clearly and immediately frowned.

"Xue Ru, why did you bring your sewing machine here for no reason?"

Chen Xueru tied up the bicycle and said with a smile: "Dad, this is an electric sewing machine. It can sew clothes automatically without pedaling."

Hearing this, Chen Fangxuan's eyes suddenly changed when he looked at the sewing machine.

After making sure he had heard correctly, Chen Fangxuan called out to Zhang the tailor across the street: "Old Zhang, come and have a look. My son-in-law gave me a good thing, an electric sewing machine. Hey, this thing is high-tech."

Tailor Zhang and Chen Fangxuan are of similar age. They both own tailor shops and have known each other for decades.

Not only is there competition at work, but they also want to suppress each other in life.

Now that Chen Fangxuan has got something good, he naturally wants to show off to his old rival.

If it were in the past, Tailor Zhang would definitely ridicule Chen Fangxuan for acting like a child at his age, and would pick up his splash drum to envy him.

He bought the rattle from the pigeon market. It was said to be Xuantong's toy when he was a child and was extremely precious.

Tailor Zhang was not interested in joining in the fun, but the words "electric sewing machine" deeply attracted him.

The sewing machine is the tailor's gun and cannon.

A good tailor can have no clothes to wear, but must have a good sewing machine?
"What is an electric sewing machine? Is it powered? Wouldn't that electrocute people to death?" Tailor Zhang was cleaning and put down his feather duster and came over.

"You old-fashioned guy, what do you know? My son-in-law has made a lot of interesting things. How can he make mistakes? Just wait and see."

When Li Aiguo and Chen Xueru were installing an electric sewing machine, the two old tailors, who were over fifty years old, started arguing like children.

Li Aiguo was delighted when he heard this, but his hands did not slow down at all.

Because the electric sewing machine had been installed yesterday, all I had to do today was connect the power cord, so it was installed very quickly.

"I'll try."

Generally speaking, people like Chen Fangxuan who lived before the liberation are more resistant to new things.

However, Chen Fangxuan seemed to want to show off to his old friend, so he pulled Chen Xueru aside and sat in front of the chair himself.

"Did you press the red button?"

pat.

With the push of a button, the electric sewing machine starts instantly.

It was the first time for the old tailor to see his own needle moving, and he was so shocked that he couldn't close his mouth.

He couldn't help but burst out with a curse: "A little cow riding a train - awesome!"

"Old Chen, hurry up and try it to see if it works." Tailor Zhang was already impatient at this time, and kept urging him while standing beside him.

"Ahem, why are you in such a hurry? This is high technology, we need to study it thoroughly first."

Chen Fangxuan was still a little timid.

After pretending to be calm, she asked Li Aiguo for the specific operation details, then she mustered up the courage to pick up two pieces of cloth and sit in front of the sewing machine.

With the sound of needles rubbing against fabric, a coat was sewn in five minutes.

Touching the fine stitches, Chen Fangxuan exclaimed: "This thing is incredible."

Tailor Zhang couldn't help swallowing.

If that coat was sewn by hand, it would take at least a whole morning, but now it only takes five minutes.

And the sewing quality is very good.

The stitches are fine and the spacing between them is exactly the same. They are better than those made by an experienced tailor like him who has been sewing for decades.

This is not bragging. Electric sewing machines are considered mechanized production these days, and their regularity far exceeds that of hand sewing.

"Old Chen, you found a good son-in-law."

Tailor Zhang seldom gets jealous of others, but at this moment he couldn't help it any longer.

When Chen Fangxuan saw his old brother finally lower his head, he felt as happy as if he had drunk honey.

At this time, several customers came in and were curious about the electric sewing machine.

After careful inquiry, they found out that this thing runs on electricity. They immediately became interested and expressed their desire to use the electric sewing machine to make clothes for themselves.

Chen Fangxuan is an experienced tailor, and tasks like cutting don’t require any effort at all.

Now with the help of an electric sewing machine, I can help customers make three pieces of clothing in just half an hour.

The customer took the clothes, looked at them, and gave Chen Fangxuan a thumbs up.

"Tailor Chen, your craftsmanship is top-notch. Apart from other things, the stitches alone are definitely not something that an ordinary tailor can do."

Chen Fangxuan's old face turned slightly red.

He couldn't tell the customers that it was all thanks to the electric sewing machine.

With its fast speed and good sewing effect, this electric sewing machine is a tailor's magic weapon.

Tailor Zhang was jealous, so he quietly pulled Chen Fangxuan aside and whispered, "Old Chen, can you ask your son-in-law to help me rebuild an electric sewing machine? Don't worry, we won't let him help for nothing."

"We have to ask Aiguo about this first." Chen Fangxuan is not the kind of person who takes on too much responsibility.

He told Li Aiguo about Tailor Zhang's idea.

Li Aiguo smiled and said, "Uncle Zhang, I've been quite busy recently. This electric sewing machine was modified by Liang Ladi from our compound.

She has two sewing machines that need to be modified, and she will help you with them as soon as they are done."

"How long will that take?"

"Liang Ladi still has to go to the factory to work on weekdays, and it will take at least half a month." Li Aiguo said after thinking for a while.

Master Zhang felt that it had taken too long.

But he had no other choice but to agree.

As for the cost of the renovation, Li Aiguo also told Master Zhang about it.

Apart from the cost of materials, the labor cost is only three dollars.

Master Zhang is an old tailor. He has saved a lot of money over the years. Now, in addition to the dividends from the tailor shop, he can also get a salary every month. Three dollars is nothing to him.

"Aiguo, let's make it a deal!" Tailor Zhang bowed to Li Aiguo.

With an electric sewing machine, Chen Fangxuan's work efficiency has greatly improved, and he can complete a whole day's work in just half a day.

"Aiguo, you haven't been here for a long time. Come on, I got a box of good tea recently. Let's go to the back and have some tea."

Chen Fangxuan especially likes listening to Li Aiguo talk about the strange things that happened on the train.

Li Aiguo had come to visit Chen Fangxuan this morning, so he did not refuse and went into the backyard with Chen Xueru.

Master Zhang also wanted to go over and drink the good tea.

But when he thought about it carefully, Old Chen had already finished his work, and he still had seven or eight pieces of clothes waiting to be sewn.

There was no choice but for Master Zhang to return to the tailor shop with his hands behind his back.

In the past, he was always energetic when sitting in front of the sewing machine.

Now that he has seen an electric sewing machine, the sewing machine that has been with him for four or five years seems particularly simple.

"It will take another half a month to convert it into an electric sewing machine. Alas."

Master Zhang had no choice but to gently push the sewing machine pedal with his sore legs.

Suddenly a voice was heard from outside.

"Cousin, are you in the shop?"

Master Zhang heard a familiar voice, but he couldn't remember it for a moment, so he shouted outside at the top of his voice.

"In the operating room, come in."

I saw a girl with a big belly squeezed through the gap in the counter.

The fat and bloated body squeezed into the narrow operating room, and the entire operating room seemed to be in a state of panic in an instant.

"It's coming from the sea."

When Master Zhang saw Liu Haizhong, he stopped what he was doing, smiled and greeted him.

Liu Haizhong is the child of the cousin of the third cousin of the wife of the eldest son of Master Zhang’s second aunt.

The two met by chance.

Because they both liked to drink, they often visited each other.

"Come and sit down." Master Zhang asked Liu Haizhong to sit down and enthusiastically poured him a glass of high-quality drinks.

Liu Haizhong drank tea and explained why he was there.

"Cousin, there is a thing called an electric sewing machine in our capital now."

"I knew it was perfect for you."

Speaking of this, Master Zhang said somewhat depressedly: "Not only did I hear about it, I also saw it with my own eyes. Old Chen's son-in-law modified an electric sewing machine for him.

That thing is very useful, but the master named Liang Ladi seems to be a little busy, so I need to wait for a while before it is my turn. "

Liu Haizhong was having trouble explaining the electric sewing machine.

Hearing this, I was delighted.

"That's easy. Comrade Yi Zhonghai, an old man in our compound, can also modify an electric sewing machine."

"Really?" Master Zhang asked impatiently.

"Of course it's true! Liang Ladi is only a fourth-level worker, while Yi Zhonghai is a seventh-level master chef."

Lieutenant General Liu Hai patted his chest and said, "Yi Zhonghai's cooking skills are much better than Liang Ladi's."

Yi Zhonghai’s seventh-level master is a golden signboard, and Master Zhang instantly believed it a little.

When Master Zhang learned that Yi Zhonghai was always available to modify the sewing machine, he became interested and asked, "How much does it cost to modify it?"

"Didn't Li Aiguo tell you it only costs three dollars? Master Yi is a level seven master chef, so his labor fee must be slightly higher than Liang Ladi's.

And the things he made are of very high quality. The labor cost was originally ten dollars, but for my sake, you only need to pay four dollars. "

Four dollars. Master Zhang felt a little distressed.

"In the sea, Liang Ladi only charges three dollars. Isn't Master Yi a bit too shady?"

It’s not that he was reluctant to part with so much money, he just felt like he was being taken advantage of.

At this moment, Liu Haizhong could only blame Liang Ladi in his heart for being too stupid.

This is a unique craft. Why didn't you ask the residents for some labor fees?
Liu Haizhong rolled his eyes and said, "Yi Zhonghai likes to drink. If you want to get two bottles of wine, just give him three dollars."

A bottle of wine costs fifty cents, which means it's still a dollar cheaper. Master Zhang feels like he's getting a good deal.

Besides, he really couldn't wait any longer.

"Okay, it's settled, but Yi Zhonghai must be reformed for me immediately."

"Of course. I'll go back and inform him now."

Yi Zhonghai's asking price was three dollars. Now Liu Haizhong made a net profit of a bottle of wine. He was so happy that he smiled and ran out of the house.

Master Zhang looked at his back and felt a little sorry for Chen Fangxuan.

Although the two did not sign a transformation agreement.

However, oral agreements are also very binding in this day and age.

After hesitating for a moment, Master Zhang came to Chen's Tailor Shop.

"Brother Chen, I'm sorry, but a friend of my relative can modify an electric sewing machine. I don't know where he got the news, but he insisted on modifying it for me.

I wanted to refuse but couldn't save face, so I had to agree to it. "

"You're welcome. It's nothing. Don't take it to heart."

Li Aiguo had never thought of making money by modifying sewing machines, so he doesn't feel bad if he loses the order now.

But is there anyone who knows how to modify an electric sewing machine now?

Li Aiguo raised his head and asked Master Zhang: "Who is your relative?"

"Master Liu, the blacksmith in the steel mill."

"In bangs?"

"Yes, that's him."

Li Aiguo seemed to understand something and asked again: "Is his friend Yi Zhonghai?"

"Hey, how did you know?" Master Zhang was surprised.

Li Aiguo now completely understood what was going on.

Yesterday evening, Yi Zhonghai stood outside, his eyes as big as copper bells, and anyone could see that he had bad intentions.

Li Aiguo said with a smile: "Master Zhang, you and my father-in-law have been brothers for many years. I advise you not to give the job of modifying the sewing machine to Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai."

"This..." Master Zhang seemed a little embarrassed, "Haizhong is my relative, I have already promised Haizhong."

Seeing that he didn't listen to the advice, Li Aiguo didn't say much.

After Master Zhang left, Chen Xueru seemed to notice something. She pulled Li Aiguo's arm and said, "Brother Aiguo, did you do anything with the design of the electric sewing machine?"

Li Aiguo said: "Nothing was done. It's just that Yi Zhonghai thought he was a seventh-level worker and wanted to imitate and modify the sewing machine. He is too arrogant."

He invented the electric sewing machine, but Li Aiguo did not want to make money from it.

But some people are greedy for this big piece of fat meat. If they want to bite the meat without even saying hello, they will break their teeth.

Li Aiguo doesn't care about these things.

In the following days, we devoted ourselves again to the work of modifying the forward steam engine.

The equipment in Changxindian may not be the best, and the workers' skills may not be the most sophisticated, but the atmosphere within the factory is indeed the best.

Even Li Aiguo, a train driver at Qianmen Locomotive Depot, feels inferior to the workers' enthusiasm.

A forward-type steam locomotive was pulled into the workshop, and in just two days, three transformation plans were completed according to Li Aiguo's drawings.

Just when Li Aiguo and the leaders of the Changxindian Locomotive Factory were feeling excited, news came from the Ministry of Railways.

According to the notification from the foreign affairs department, the Hungarian People's Railway Ministry inspection team will arrive in Beijing in three days.

According to the original plan, the renovation would take another six days to complete.

The Changxindian Locomotive Factory reported the progress of the renovation to the ministry, hoping that the leaders could explain the situation to the inspection team.

The leader in the department only said one sentence on the phone.

“This time the Hungarian People’s Railway Department visited Beijing for inspection, which was the first time that our Eastern European brothers visited our home.

It is not only about the order of 200 locomotives, but also about our image in front of our Eastern European brothers!"

In a word, a business order was directly elevated to the level of regulating the international image.

In these days, military campaigns are the priority, and all activities must revolve around this major theme.

When Deputy Chief Engineer Zhang, who was in charge of the renovation project, realized the seriousness of the matter, he was so anxious that he almost pulled his hair out.

"I have just calculated that even if the workers work overnight, there is no way to complete the locomotive modification before the foreign guests arrive."

Engineer Dong was also worried, and said while smoking a cigarette: "Motorcycle reconstruction is not a matter of strength in numbers. If the craftsmanship is not up to standard, it will lead to quality problems in the locomotive reconstruction.

If we lose face in front of foreign guests, we will all be criticized."

The leaders of Changxindian Locomotive Factory looked at each other in bewilderment.

They originally thought they had picked up a treasure this time.

As long as the locomotive modification is completed, it will be praised and it will also prove the strength of Changxindian Locomotive Factory.

It turned out that this precious baby was a bomb.

Everyone in the meeting room looked worried.

The old smokers smoked one cigarette after another, and for a while the house was filled with smoke, just like a fairyland in the clouds.

Early in the morning, Li Aiguo came to the meeting room humming a little tune and opened the door.

My goodness, the eyes were rolling and I couldn’t see the figures clearly at all. I could vaguely see some fiery red spots.

His face changed drastically, and he shouted at the top of his voice:

"Oh no, there's a fire inside!"

The workers on the road rushed over, some of them carrying enamel basins and lunch boxes to get water from the water pipes to put out the fire.

"Don't bother, this is a misunderstanding."

Deputy Chief Engineer Zhang stood up and walked out to stop him.

"It is indeed on fire, but it is not the conference room that is on fire, it is our hearts that are on fire."

"Lao Zhang, what's wrong?" Li Aiguo asked curiously.

Vice President Zhang recounted the fact that the delegation had arrived ahead of schedule, and sighed, "The higher-ups didn't consider the actual situation at all. This is just a mess!"

"That's it?"

After Li Aiguo figured it out, he suddenly laughed out loud: "Old Zhang, how could you, an old comrade, be so confused?"

"So, you have a solution? Come on, tell us."

Vice President Zhang took Li Aiguo's arm and walked into the meeting room.

The wonderland inside the house is a deadly wonderland.

Li Aiguo felt that once he went in, he might live two years less.

So I waited for the group of people to open the window and ventilate the room, and only after the smoke in the house dissipated did I follow them in.

He sat at the table, facing the curious eyes, and said in a deep voice: "The higher-ups gave us the task, which shows their trust in us. We must complete it at all costs.

I have analyzed that the most important reason why the transformation progress is slow is that the standards for transforming locomotives are high and require senior workers to operate.

However, there are too few high-level technical workers in the Changxindian Locomotive Factory.”

Vice President Zhang frowned: "Patriotism, there are no senior workers, this is a practical problem, we can't conjure up a group of senior workers, right?"

Chief Engineer Huang of Changxindian Locomotive Factory nodded in agreement with Deputy Chief Engineer Zhang's opinion.

"Yes, it is not easy to train a senior worker. Because of our long history, our locomotive factory has only five eighth-level workers and more than ten seventh-level workers. There are many factories that even have only one or two eighth-level workers."

"This is what we want!"

Li Aiguo patted the table and said, "We have hundreds of factories in Beijing, and each factory has some level 7 and 8 master chefs. We can ask them for help."

As soon as these words were spoken, Deputy Chief Engineer Zhang and those leaders' eyes suddenly lit up.

They forgot about it.

In this era of rectification, concentrating resources to accomplish major tasks is also one of the characteristics.

Many projects that seemed difficult to complete in later generations were built by drawing on outstanding workers.

Li Aiguo had used this method before when Qianmen Locomotive Depot was renovating dump trains, so this time he was just copying it.

After deciding on the method, considering the urgency of time, the reform command center immediately took action.

After calculation, it was determined that a three-shift work system would be adopted.

In order to complete the renovation work on time, at least more than a hundred fitters, welders, electricians and other senior workers are needed.

In order to improve the quality of transformation, the lowest level of these senior workers is limited to level seven workers.

"They are here to support us, so we can't treat them unfairly.

How about this, Datong Locomotive Factory, Railway Research Institute and Changxindian Locomotive Factory will jointly transfer a batch of materials and funds to these senior masters as subsidies. "

Li Aiguo understood one thing.

For the sake of their ideals, people are not afraid of being treated like beasts of burden.

But if you work hard like a cow or a horse, you have to be given grass!
The reality was very grim. Deputy Chief Engineer Wang, Engineer Dong and Chief Engineer Huang of Changxindian Locomotive Factory all agreed on behalf of their respective units.

It was finally decided that each level 1 worker would receive a subsidy of yuan and kilograms of rice per day.

Each level seven worker receives a daily subsidy of 75 cents and five kilograms of rice.

This condition is already very generous in this day and age.

As phone calls were made one after another, senior workers in major factories in Beijing received notices.

There are daily subsidies and honors in the future, so those master chefs at level seven or eight have signed up to participate.

Inside the rolling mill.

When Liu Haizhong heard the news, he was so angry that he threw the hammer to the ground.

"I think the Changxindian Locomotive Factory did it on purpose. Why do they look down on level 6 workers? My level is no worse than those level 7 workers!"

As a seventh-level fitter, Yi Zhonghai received a notice from the factory office.

Jia Dongxu seemed very happy. He approached Yi Zhonghai and said with a smile, "Master, 75 cents a day is five kilograms of rice. This is a big profit for our family."

This is a good word in our family.

Faced with such generous conditions, Yi Zhonghai waved his hand.

"Dongxu, I have already turned this matter down."

(End of this chapter)