Chapter 199 Getting to the bottom of things
That evening, Xu Qiang hosted a banquet for the six newcomers to the project at the Wuqi Restaurant.

Even He Wei, who had some conflicts with Xu Qiang, arrived on time, which surprised Xu Qiang a little.

"I called everyone here today just to have a simple meal and talk to everyone about future work." Xu Qiang said with a smile after seeing that everyone was present.

However, the people at the dinner table had different expressions. He Wei stared straight at a plate of pig's trotters in the middle of the table, while He Yonghong, who was sitting opposite him, directly picked up a bottle of wine, opened it, and poured himself a glass first.

"…The product we are developing this time is aramid bulletproof vests. This aramid is actually a high-tech material. It was developed in the United States in the 1960s and made into bulletproof vests. The Soviet Union also achieved industrial mass production a few years ago…" Xu Qiang began to introduce the detailed product description of this project to everyone.

"The food won't taste good if it's cold..." He Yonghong muttered.

"Let's eat and chat at the same time." Xu Qiang said quickly.

The next moment, He Wei reached out and grabbed a pig's trotter, while He Yonghong picked up a piece of shredded potatoes with chopsticks and drank the wine in the glass.

As for the other young technicians, they behaved more politely. After looking at each other, they picked up the chopsticks.

"Who among you understands mechanical design and drawing?" Xu Qiang asked.

"We all studied 'Mechanics and Drawing' in technical school," one of the pale-complexioned young men said to Xu Qiang.

Except He Yonghong, the rest are technical school students in the factory, and they are all "second generation factory workers".

In fact, the admission score of the technical school of Shengli Machinery Factory is not low, but if the children of the factory apply for the exam, the score will be much lower. Therefore, they are among the people with the lowest academic qualifications in the technical department of the factory. They can only do errands and meter reading in normal times. Work such as product research and development is never their turn.

It was precisely because of this that Li Cunzhu packaged these people and "sent" them to Xu Qiang's project team this time.

"Then will you design and draw the blueprints based on my ideas?" Xu Qiang asked again.

But this time, everyone remained silent.

Seeing this, Xu Qiang was slightly disappointed, but it was also expected.

Understanding technology and being proficient in research and development are actually two different things. The former requires technical proficiency, while the latter requires superb originality, which very few people can do.

But it doesn’t matter. After all, in a project team, there only needs to be a core person who has the final say, and everyone else just needs to do their job well.

"You are quite rich, you are a model worker, that's different."

At this time, seeing the waiter still serving dishes one by one, He Yonghong said with some surprise.

"Of course I can't be stingy when treating someone to a meal. Brother He, if you're happy, just eat more. If the wine is not enough, just order more. You don't have to save money for me." Xu Qiang said with a smile.

Facing He Yonghong, Xu Qiang was relatively polite. After all, in this team, everyone else was in their early twenties, and He Yonghong was the oldest, looking almost thirty.

Moreover, he was able to work in the technical department of the factory with his appearance. Either he had been engaged in technical work when he was in the army, or he had a certain academic qualification and background. In short, no matter which one it was, Xu Qiang could not treat him as a newcomer.

"Interesting." He Yonghong nodded with a smile.

"Also, let me tell you that this research and development task is time-sensitive and heavy, and you may need to work overtime every day..." Xu Qiang said.

“…”Everyone was stunned when they heard this.

State-owned enterprises these days basically strictly adhere to the eight-hour work system. Employees always start work on time and leave work on time. Overtime is rare.

There are indeed some people working overtime in the technical department right now, especially Liu Siying, the leader of Group 5. Recently, she is almost always the first to come and the last to leave every day.

But they are all members of Li Cunzhu's project team. Although they will have to work hard for a while, the rewards are also quite great. After all, Li Cunzhu can pay them overtime pay, and once the project is successful, they can also get good bonuses and honors.

But to put it bluntly, even though Xu Qiang is this year's model worker of the factory, he is just a worker after all. They cannot be given overtime pay and no extra bonuses, so naturally no one is willing to work overtime.

"I have something else to do at home, so I can't work overtime." After a moment, He Wei was the first to object.

"If you treat me to a drink, at least half a bottle a day, I can work overtime." He Yonghong said disapprovingly.

"Something's going on at home too..."

The others also spoke hesitantly.

"For those who are willing to work overtime, I will take care of dinner and make sure you have a good meal!" Xu Qiang smiled and continued, "In addition, I will pay you overtime pay. I will give you double the overtime pay stipulated by the factory! As for Master He's love of drinking, that's no problem either. I will give you a box of Si Te wine later. You can drink it slowly when you go back. How do you feel about it?"

Xu Qiang paid them overtime pay out of his own pocket, and he had his own reasons for doing so.

If this aramid research and development project wants to succeed in a short period of time, it will be very difficult for him to do it alone. After all, his time and energy are limited. He has to draw pictures, organize workers to conduct experiments, and estimate the business at the peat field. The workload is quite large. Moreover, if this project is successfully developed, it will also bring great rewards to Xu Qiang. Not only can he get rewards from the factory, but he can also use these technologies for himself in the future. Especially after mastering the production technology of aramid paper, he can definitely form a technological monopoly in China. The market prospects are very huge. After all, this kind of product can only be imported at a high price in China, and the export price in foreign countries is as high as dozens of times the cost!
So, although these people were nominally working in the factory, they were actually working for Xu Qiang.

Besides, even if they were provided with meals and overtime pay, there wouldn't be much money at all. All together, it might be less than half a day's profit at the peat field. With such a huge return on investment, Xu Qiang was naturally willing to pay out of his own pocket.

"Forehead."

Hearing Xu Qiang say this, several people present were immediately surprised.

No one expected Xu Qiang to be so generous that he would actually provide dinner and pay double overtime pay!
You know, the salary of these technicians who have just entered the factory is even lower than that of the first-line apprentices, which is less than 30 yuan per month. If they can earn dozens of yuan more in overtime pay every month, it will be quite tempting for them!

"Are you telling the truth?"

At this time, even He Yonghong put down his chopsticks and asked half-doubtfully.

"He's just bragging..." He Wei on the side muttered softly.

"Waiter!" Xu Qiang shouted outside.

The next moment, a waiter came to Xu Qiang.

"Give my class a bundle of Four Special Liquor and send it over now."

"Ok."

Seeing this scene, everyone was stunned.

They had seen generous people before, but they had never seen anyone as generous as Xu Qiang.

These days, a bottle of Si Te liquor costs 27 yuan, and a bundle of ten bottles costs a total of yuan, which is almost equivalent to a month's salary for a new apprentice in the factory!
In addition, wine these days is tied together with ropes, and some are packed in wooden boxes, but if it is a wooden box, there is a charge of five yuan for each box.

When He Yonghong saw this scene, he opened his mouth in surprise. He did not expect that Xu Qiang was serious about it, and he was a little shocked in his heart.

In a moment, the waiter placed a bundle of Si Te liquor at He Yonghong's feet.

"Xu Qiang, you..."

"As long as you help me complete this project, I will give you two more boxes." Xu Qiang said with a smile.

"What the hell do you do?"

"I'm just a worker, just like you."

"No, I mean, isn't it just working for the factory? You're spending too much..."

"That's true, but if this research and development mission is successful, I will be the biggest beneficiary, with honors and bonuses." Xu Qiang smiled and continued, "I can't take all the benefits by myself and leave you guys without even a bowl of soup, right? So I'm willing to pay this money, but there's one thing, whether this project succeeds or not, you all have to work hard. If it really succeeds, it will also be good for your future."

"That's right, you eat the meat and we drink the soup, that's the logic!" He Yonghong said with a smile, looking at Xu Qiang with a little more approval.

"Eat, eat, hurry up and pick up your chopsticks!" Xu Qiang called everyone to start eating.

After a few drinks, the atmosphere gradually became lively.

Xu Qiang also gradually understood the situation of these team members.

The four new recruits are named Yang Ruijun, Zhang Yuming, Zhao Fulou and Zhang Qing, all of whom graduated from the factory's technical school.

Zhang Qing is the senior of the other three, one year older. The remaining three majored in locksmithing and lathe operations.

Normally speaking, with their academic qualifications, they could only work in front-line workshops after graduation. However, since they were children of the factory and performed very well during their school years, they entered the technical department with the recommendation of the school.

Compared with those technicians who graduated from technical secondary schools or universities, they have a big gap in professional theory, but they have strong hands-on ability and can make tools and operate machine tools. As for drawing drawings, that is no problem. Every major in technical schools has the course "Mechanics and Drawing", and with the internship in the technical department over the past six months, they can draw drawings of some parts.

As for He Yonghong, Xu Qiang wanted to find out his background, but this guy didn't seem to want to talk about his past history. He just said that he used to work in the Air Force ground crew, doing some technology-related work. Other than that, all he talked about were trivial things at work.

There is also He Wei. Xu Qiang actually didn't want this person, but considering that his father is He Yong, the head of the Supply and Marketing Department, he kept him. Xu Qiang was too lazy to bother with this kind of person who was not very smart.

"Xu Qiang, you've been really nice today! If there's anything you can't solve in the future, just let me do it."

After the meal, He Yonghong patted Xu Qiang on the shoulder, then picked up the bundle of wine with just two fingers, and walked out of the restaurant drunk in front of everyone's surprised eyes...

(End of this chapter)