"Would you like to go to Shanghai for the inspection this time?" Zhang Zhen said to Guo Tiemin.

"Me? What can I do? I'm just an administrator. Besides, Professor Xu's matter still needs my attention. The police are currently investigating the matter. I want to go over and take a look at the situation." Guo Tiemin said.

"Well, no matter what, Professor Xu's accident must be thoroughly investigated. It also serves as a wake-up call for us to strengthen the safety awareness of scientific researchers to avoid similar tragedies in the future." Zhang Zhen pondered for a moment, then said, "Then let Chen Zhitao go. No one in our department is more in-depth in the research of aramid paper than him, and he has always been paying attention to Comrade Xu Qiang's project. Let him be responsible for the acceptance of this project. He is the best person."

"Okay, I'll go and inform Lao Chen right away."

"By the way, there is one more thing. The State Council will hold a National Science and Technology Awards Conference at the end of this month. Xu Qiang's previous perchloric acid military battery project won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award. So regardless of whether this aramid paper project is successful or not, he has been notified to come to Beijing around the 24th of this month. At that time, the ministry will also organize a commendation meeting within our system and ask him and the members of the project team to attend." Zhang Zhen said.

"This Xu Qiang is no ordinary person. He is so young and yet he can win such a big award. He may be the youngest winner of the Science and Technology Progress Award since the founding of the People's Republic of China, right?" Guo Tiemin said with some emotion.

Guo Tiemin really admired Xu Qiang. Having worked in the First Ministry of Machine Building for more than ten years, this was the first time he had seen such a young technical worker who was so popular. Less than a year after he started working, he won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, a very prestigious scientific award.

Those who have won this award in the past are all top talents in various fields in the country. They have at least ten years or even dozens of years of scientific research experience and have a very rich record of awards.

It is undoubtedly a miracle that Xu Qiang, a newcomer with almost no qualifications, could stand out on the country's highest scientific and technological stage.

"The more he behaves like this, the more we must prevent him from becoming complacent." Zhang Zhen paused, then continued, "In fact, I have seen many young talents like him before, but basically, after having one or two bright spots, they began to become mediocre, either obsessed with power or having problems with their work style... Talent cultivation is a long-term task, especially for good seedlings with the potential to become top talents. We must spend more time on them, and the focus is on the ideological construction of the Party and the government, so that they can establish a spirit of dedication to the people..."

"I think today's young people are different from our generation." Guo Tiemin frowned and continued, "Now that the country has begun reform and opening up, local governments have also focused on the economy. More and more bad ideas from outside have come in and have begun to affect the whole social atmosphere. So no matter how we do ideological work, the effect is definitely not as effective as before."

"That's true, but we also need to keep pace with the times and effectively motivate these young technicians to work more actively. Of course, we can also put some pressure on them when necessary. In short, good seedlings must be cultivated with emphasis, and they must be encouraged and urged to grow in the wrong direction," said Zhang Zhen.

"That's right." Guo Tiemin nodded in agreement.

"In addition, if Xu Qiang's project is successful, I will have a face-to-face meeting with him and ask him to come to BJ to work and continue the follow-up research and development of aramid products. Currently, European and American countries have already launched the second generation of aramid products, and we must keep up with the development of this technology."

"What if it fails? I always feel that this project is not simple, and Xu Qiang seems unwilling to come to BJ to work. We can't tie him here, right?" Guo Tiemin said with a frown.

"It still depends on the acceptance results of this aramid paper research and development project. As long as the project is successfully accepted, I will definitely transfer him to BJ. Even if this guy proposes some excessive conditions, I can agree to him." Zhang Zhen said with a smile.

"Haha, it seems that you really favor Xu Qiang. I have never heard you say such a thing before. There are so many top experts in our department, but I have never seen anyone who dares to negotiate with you. You are paid by the state, but you still want to negotiate with the state. Does Xu Qiang have the qualifications?"

"As long as he can handle this aramid paper project, he has the qualifications!" Zhang Zhen smiled and continued, "Sometimes we can't always ask the people below us to just obey and make sacrifices. As long as we can mobilize their work enthusiasm, we can also do some feudal society's reward system based on merit. In addition to reputation, there should also be actual material rewards. Otherwise, it will be difficult for them to adapt to the development of this society in the future..."

Zhang Zhen's vision and thoughts are relatively active. Although he always sticks to his beliefs and original intentions and has strong principles in his thinking, he never sticks to the inherent thinking and forms in the way he does things. From this point of view, it is very consistent with the classic saying of the leader about black cat and white cat.

In fact, scientific researchers of this era generally live a relatively poor life. Even those top experts who have won numerous awards do not enjoy much higher salary than ordinary people. After all, in the current planned economy era, spiritual rewards are the main focus and material rewards are supplementary. This is also true for national awards.

However, with the reform and opening up, Chinese people's pursuit of material life is becoming stronger and stronger. Zhang Zhen can also feel the changes in the social atmosphere, so he will adjust his thinking and ways of doing things in time to cope with the development of society.

"Hahaha, you are really courageous. But it's a bit early to say these things now. In the end, we still have to see the acceptance results of this project. If it fails, then it will be useless to say anything. To be honest, you and Lao Chen couldn't handle this project back then. I really don't believe that Xu Qiang can complete this project in just two months!" At this time, Guo Tiemin had already stood up and said, "Then I will go to notify Lao Chen first, and then I will go to the hospital to see how Professor Xu is doing." "Well, you go, and report to me when you come back." Zhang Zhen thought for a while, and said, "Also, we need to stabilize the emotions of Lao Xu's family members. They can ask for anything, and I will definitely satisfy them if I can!"

"Okay." Guo Tiemin said, then stood up and left the office...

……

At this time, Xu Qiang finally had a short break after two months of busy work.

At present, the prototype equipment of the production line has been sealed and will soon be accepted by superiors.

Half a month ago, Xu Qiang and his two colleagues had already prepared the operating manuals for the various process technologies and equipment of the aramid paper production line, and trained several technicians and workers from Machinery Plant 1 so that they could master the entire production process and operations.

Compared with simply doing scientific research in the laboratory, the preparation work for mass production of new products is also quite time-consuming and labor-intensive. However, thanks to the active cooperation of the assisting manufacturers, Xu Qiang was able to basically complete the subsequent preparations in a short period of time.

In the past two days, Xu Qiang, who had gradually gained some free time, took Liu Siying for a stroll in the streets of Shanghai during the day, and drank and chatted with He Yonghong at night. He lived a very comfortable life.

And just this morning, Xu Qiang also met two old friends, Erhu and Yang Dong, the village chief of Xiazhuang Village.

Although Xu Qiang was in Shanghai, he still controlled the dye factory business in Jiangxi.

At the beginning of every month, Xu Qiang would remit a sum of money to Liu Jun, and then ask him to pay the workers' wages. After paying the wages, Liu Jun would send the wage form and the workers' signatures to Xu Qiang. There were never any problems in the process.

It’s just that he hasn’t seen Xu Qiang for a long time, and there are many things at the dye factory that need Xu Qiang’s approval, so Erhu came to Shanghai this time.

As for Yang Dong, he also wanted to discuss something with Xu Qiang, so the two of them took the same train and came to Shanghai together.

However, as soon as the two arrived at the gate of the School of Mechanical Engineering where Xu Qiang was, they saw a shocking scene.

At this time, the director of the Machinery Factory No. 1 happened to come in a car to pick up Xu Qiang for dinner. When they saw an old man walk out of the Shanghai car and approach Xu Qiang with an attentive look on his face, Erhu and Yang Dong were stunned with surprise.

Afterwards, the two of them followed Xu Qiang, Liu Siying and He Yonghong to the restaurant for dinner. It was not until the banquet that Erhu and Yang Dong learned that Xu Qiang was now the person in charge of a national key project, in charge of a large-scale scientific research project costing tens of millions of dollars.

Compared with Erhu, Yang Dong has a very strong official-centered mentality in his bones. After seeing Xu Qiang's current social status with his own eyes, he has more respect for him.

Originally, he wanted to talk to Xu Qiang about the expansion of the dye factory, hoping that Xu Qiang could also provide some funds for the purchase of equipment.

However, at this moment, the words that had been prepared were completely stuck in my throat. Even when I toasted Xu Qiang, my hands were shaking slightly... (End of this chapter)