Master Craftsmen: Rising Since 1959

Chapter 19 Li Xiuzhi's Adoration

Chen Weiguo laughed and said, "Master, no matter where I fly, I will always be your disciple."

Guo Dajiang patted him on the shoulder: "Alright. Go and study hard. When you come back, you won't just be my apprentice, you'll be the pride of all our workers. From now on, let's see who dares to say that workers are uneducated and don't understand science. You'll shut them up with your achievements."

Chen Weiguo nodded heavily.

The teacher's wife laughed from the side, "Alright, alright, let's eat, the food's getting cold."

……

The next day at work, the factory office processed the paperwork very quickly.

Deputy Director Zhou personally guided him through the procedures.

I made arrangements with all the places where I needed to get my documents stamped, and everything went smoothly.

"This recommendation letter has been stamped. Your leave of absence and pay application, in triplicate, has also been completed. Keep this copy safe, and keep one copy each for the personnel department and the finance department. This is the letter of introduction you need to register at the school, so please keep it safe."

Deputy Director Zhou sighed, "Xiao Chen, once you get to school, you'll be the face of our Yanjing Machinery Factory. Everyone outside is watching you, so don't embarrass the factory."

Chen Weiguo took the materials and smiled, "Don't worry, Director Zhou."

As soon as the formalities were completed, Wang, the clerk from the factory office, came to see him: "Master Chen, the factory manager wants you to go to his office. The publicity department has arrived and wants to interview you."

"Publicity Department?"

Chen Weiguo remembered.

The factory manager had mentioned before that he would publish his story in the factory newspaper to inspire all the workers.

I didn't expect it to be so fast.

When he arrived at the factory director's office, Zhao Dehai was giving instructions to a young woman.

The girl had her back to the door, her hair in braids, and she was wearing a Lenin suit. She was holding a notebook and writing down Zhao Dehai's words.

When Zhao Dehai saw Chen Weiguo, he greeted him, "Little Chen, come here, let me introduce you. This is Comrade Li Xiuzhi from the Publicity Department, who has come specifically to interview you about your deeds."

The girl turned around.

Chen Weiguo was stunned... It was her? The female educated youth whose bag was stolen on the train.

Li Xiuzhi recognized him instantly and exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Chen, it's you!"

Zhao Dehai looked at the two men: "You know each other?"

Chen Weiguo laughed: "Factory Director, the day I arrived in Yanjing, I encountered a pickpocket on the train. He stole her bag. I handed him over to the train police on the spot."

Zhao Dehai laughed heartily: "What a coincidence! Perfect, interviewing someone you know makes you more relaxed. You two chat first, I have a meeting."

After saying that, he picked up his enamel mug and notebook and left. Only the two of them remained in the office.

Li Xiuzhi looked at him with admiration: "Brother Chen, you didn't tell me on the train that you were so amazing."

Chen Weiguo laughed and said, "Back then, I had just been discharged from the army and hadn't even started working at the factory yet. I couldn't just brag to a girl I'd just met about how capable I was, could I?"

Li Xiuzhi revealed two small dimples: "Now you can tell me properly, right? When Director Zhao told me he wanted to interview a new role model, I was wondering which master craftsman in the factory was so outstanding? He won an award from the ministry and was recommended to study at a university. When the list was handed to me, I saw... Chen Weiguo. At that moment, I thought, could it be you? Or just someone with the same name? I never expected it to really be you."

Chen Weiguo then told her about his experiences at the factory during this period.

Li Xiuzhi quickly jotted down notes in her notebook, her heart filled with emotion.

A 23-year-old veteran, who had only been working at the factory for a few days.

He not only became a level-six fitter and the deputy leader of the military industry group, but also won a ministerial-level award. Senior experts praised and valued him, and the factory director recommended him to study at a school.

That's amazing!

……

After the interview, Chen Weiguo returned to the workshop.

Guo Dajiang pulled him aside: "Are all the formalities completed?"

"It's all done. I'll go to school to register next Monday."

Guo Dajiang nodded, then took a cloth bag out of his pocket: "Here. Your master's wife asked me to give this to you."

When Chen Weiguo opened it, he found twenty yuan and ten jin of grain coupons inside.

"Master, how can this be? Your family isn't well-off either."

Guo Dajiang glared at him: "Why not? Your teacher's wife said you can't skimp on yourself when you're away from home. The school meals aren't very nutritious. Young people like you should be eating as much as possible. Here you go."

Chen Weiguo couldn't refuse any longer, knowing his master's temper.

"Then I thank you, Master."

"Alright, alright, stop dawdling, you're a grown man. When you get to school, just do your best and don't embarrass me."

Just as Chen Weiguo turned around to pack his things, Old Liu grabbed him again.

"Xiao Chen, when you go to school, remember one thing... We workers are not inferior to others. Those students at school, they've all finished junior high and preparatory courses, don't be afraid of them. Take that coating you made, damn it, there's no one like it in the whole world, and you made it. Don't think you're inferior to them."

Several other workers gathered around, saying, "Xiao Chen, remember this: if anyone dares to look down on you, just say the name of our Yanjing Machinery Factory. Saying Master Guo's name will also work."

Guo Dajiang coughed beside him and said, "Don't use my name to cause trouble."

Old Liu laughed heartily: "I won't cause trouble, I won't cause trouble. But I'll make you look good. I don't think I'll have that opportunity yet."

The workshop was filled with a pleasant atmosphere.

Looking at these rough-spoken veteran workers, Chen Weiguo felt a warmth in his heart.

They were worried that they would feel inferior if they went to a place full of good students.

That's why they rushed to cheer themselves up.

"Don't worry, everyone. Wherever I, Chen Weiguo, go, I won't bring shame to our workshop or our factory."

……

That evening, Chen Weiguo went to the market and bought fish, meat, cabbage, and flour.

When I got home, I cooked a whole table of dishes... braised fish, stir-fried cabbage with pork, and a pot of steamed buns.

It was even more lavish than during the Lunar New Year.

When Chen Weihong came home from school, she smelled a delicious aroma as soon as she entered the door and swallowed hard. "Brother, why did you make so many dishes today?"

Chen Weiguo laughed and said, "Your brother is going to register at school next Monday. I'll cook you a nice meal before he leaves."

Chen Weihong's smile froze for a moment.

Although she didn't want her brother to leave, she knew that attending this school would be better for his future.

She could only offer her silent support.

Chen Weiguo comforted him, "Don't worry. I'll be at school from Monday to Saturday, but I can still come back on the weekend. I'll cook you something delicious every weekend when I come back."

A smile returned to Chen Weihong's eyes.

After dinner, Chen Weiguo took stock of everything in the house.

Grain coupons, meat coupons, oil coupons, cloth coupons, coal briquette coupons, and cash.

With the bonus from a few days ago, I have over five hundred yuan in hand.

Although I went to school, the factory continued to pay my wages.

It costs seventy-six yuan per month.

He planned to leave his sister twenty yuan a month for living expenses, plus various coupons, which would be enough for her to live comfortably.

I took the rest of the money to school, just in case.

While packing, Chen Weiguo instructed his younger sister, "Keep these tickets and money safe. When you're home alone, eat and drink as you please, don't be stingy. You're growing now, so you must eat an egg every morning."

Listening to her brother's nagging, Chen Weihong smiled helplessly: "Brother, I know."

After giving his younger sister some instructions, Chen Weiguo went out to Aunt Wang's house.

"Aunt Wang, I'll be going to school next week. Wei Hong will be home alone, could you please keep an eye on her?"

Aunt Wang was sewing shoe soles at the door when she heard this, and she patted her chest and said, "Don't worry, go ahead. I watched Wei Hong grow up; she's like my own daughter. If anyone dares to bully her, I'll be the first to settle the score with them."

Chen Weiguo was relieved.

Aunt Wang keeps her word; her reputation speaks for itself.

With her assurance, I feel more at ease on my journey.

Besides, it's not like I never come back; I can come back to see my sister every weekend.

That evening, Chen Weihong clung to Chen Weiguo for a long time.

Ask him about his time in the army, how he became a maintenance soldier, how he learned his fitter skills, and what kind of people the masters in the factory were.

I was very reluctant to see him leave.

Chen Weiguo explained things carefully, picking out the fun and interesting parts, which made his sister laugh non-stop.