Siheyuan: Steel Mill Engineer

Chapter 137 Car
The workers had no idea what it was.

But all these workshop directors knew, although they didn't say it openly, they had already received the news that the engineering department was building cars recently.

This is exciting news. Apart from Jiefang trucks and Hongqi cars, China does not have any cars designed by itself, and even the imitations are very few.

If a steel mill can produce cars, no matter whether it will become a branch of the steel mill in the future, the steel mill will definitely have endless orders to fulfill.

Everyone from Factory Director Yang to the workshop director understood this, and the automobile factory would most likely not be able to be saved.

This is because such a unit will definitely be taken to the ministry, and even the Ministry of Metallurgy will not be able to keep the project.

"How is it? Everyone has run a lap, how do you feel?" Yang Zhenyu asked after watching the last person come down from the frame.

"It's a bit cold." The girl who came down last said with a shiver.

"Ha ha……"

"Of course it's cold. Ours is just a frame, without a roof or an outer shell. It would be strange if it wasn't cold." Yang Zhenyu also said with a smile.

"However, this coldness is only temporary. We will install various configurations later, and the car will definitely not be cold after it is completed. Now everyone, tell me how it feels after a ride, and is there anything that needs improvement?" Yang Zhenyu said.

"I think the brakes need to be adjusted. They don't feel good and are not as good as Engineer Yang had planned."

"The steering wheel is not good either. It's a bit heavy and requires a lot of effort to adjust."

"The power steering system is too stiff, and the wheelbase doesn't feel perfect."

"I think the vibration is quite large and can be adjusted."

As the technicians were talking, Yu Caiying was recording all these things. She would sort them out when she returned and then carry out further upgrades and modifications.

At the end of the afternoon, each group received the records related to them, and then studied and adjusted the problems within their respective groups.

These technical personnel are now so motivated that even if they are not asked to work overtime, they are reluctant to leave work.

This is their first step in truly contributing to the country since graduation.

If this project is successful, they will be people who truly contribute to the country, so these people are extremely excited.

Especially now that the project is almost completed.

As long as the first prototype comes out, it will be half successful. The remaining mass production issues need to be solved with the help of superiors.

Throughout the twelfth lunar month, people in the engineering department were busy hammering and banging in the workshop, and the amount of materials consumed even surprised the people who delivered the materials.

As for the factory, they don’t care at all. No matter how much the consumption is, it doesn’t matter.

This project is supported from above, and the entire project's consumption is coordinated by the State Planning Commission. The factory does not need to provide any materials at all. At most, the factory's workers and machines will be used.

"We're getting ready for the test run. Who's going first?" Yang Zhenyu shouted to the people in the engineering department.

"I'll do it!" a girl shouted first.

"Okay, Comrade Yu Min, please be careful." Yang Zhenyu nodded.

Anyway, starting from the framework, this is not the first time these people have tried it, so Yang Zhenyu has nothing to worry about.

Start the engine, start the car, drive out slowly, and then drive slowly in the factory.

It’s not that we don’t want to go fast, but we can’t go fast in the factory.

"It's done, it's done."

The crowd was very excited. This was the first test drive after the prototype was assembled. Although the driving distance was not far, it was still a success.

"Don't get excited. We've only opened a short distance, don't get excited yet." Yang Zhenyu raised his hand to calm the crowd.

As the technicians got on the cars one by one for the test runs, the factory leaders were finally alarmed. They didn't know that today was the day for the engineering department to test run the prototype cars.

"How is it? How is it? Is it done?" Director Yang asked excitedly.

"At the moment, short-distance jogging should not be a problem. As for long-distance high-speed running, we still need to conduct off-site testing, so it's hard to say for now." Yang Zhenyu nodded and said.

"It's done? Really?" Director Yang said with his eyes wide open.

"Well, I plan to go out for a test drive in the afternoon to see how it performs over long distances." Yang Zhenyu said.

Before, the empty car had already run in the workshop.

They ran for a whole day and a night once, but after all, they had not set out on the road, so Yang Zhenyu was still a little worried and needed to verify it himself.

"Okay, I'll go with you this afternoon." Director Yang said after hesitating for a moment.

"Okay, anyone who wants to go can go, and we can all witness it together." Yang Zhenyu nodded.

There was no reason to refuse and we had to agree because this was definitely a big deal for the steel mill.

"Director, I think we should organize the cadres in the factory and go together." Xiang Xuemin, the new secretary of the steel rolling mill, said to the secretary.

Secretary Xiang was transferred from the army and had previously served as a political commissar. He is absolutely top-notch in terms of ideological awareness and ability. It can be said that it is a waste of his talent for him to come to the steel mill.

"Okay, let the factory office do a count later. It's voluntary and anyone who is willing to go can go." Director Yang nodded and said.

"The prototype car has been made, and the factory director needs to hurry up to implement the mass production. I think as long as we report it, the superiors will definitely come to inspect the car. If there are no problems, we will discuss the mass production issue later." Yang Zhenyu said.

"Well, I'll keep an eye on it. I've already reported this matter to the department more than once, but..." Director Yang didn't finish his words, but his meaning was very clear.

"It's okay. It's still early. There's no rush. Maybe there will be a turn for the better later." Yang Zhenyu said with a smile.

In those days, jeeps were considered a type of military supplies and were given priority in being allocated to various troops for use as command vehicles, so Yang Zhenyu understood this very well.

Yang Zhenyu had no objection. His goal was to contribute to the motherland anyway. As long as the product was developed, it would not be his problem as to who would manufacture it.

However, Yang Zhenyu knew that Director Yang and his colleagues must be anxious. It would be strange if they were not jealous of such a good project.

"Let me try." Secretary Xiang was a man of great resolution and decisiveness. Seeing the technicians test driving the car, he felt envious.

"Xiaocheng, go to the co-pilot seat and help." Yang Zhenyu said to a technician.

"Okay." Xie Xiaocheng immediately got into the passenger seat happily.

"Young comrade, your car is very comfortable." Secretary Xiang started the car while experiencing the seats and interior.

"Hehe, according to Engineer Yang, cars are meant to serve humans. Since they are meant to serve us humans, why not make ourselves more comfortable?" Xie Xiaocheng said with a smile.

"Yes, it is indeed more comfortable. I have ridden in other cars before, and the seats were very hard and the cars were drafty. Our car is not drafty, and the seats are not bad. And the gear position is also very comfortable, not bad, not bad." Secretary Xiang said happily.

"You will know once you try it. It drives differently. Although I have never driven other cars, our Engineer Yang said it is more comfortable than other cars, and that's for sure," said Xie Xiaocheng.

Then Xie Xiaocheng began to guide the students to familiarize themselves with the various functions of the car.

This opened Secretary Xiang's eyes. Compared with this one, the previous cars were simply not suitable for human beings to ride in.

(End of this chapter)