Chapter Forty-Six: Better Safe Than Sorry

The dismantled parts were taken by Liu Weidong and Song Yi to the research institute for testing. The results were expected the next day. In high spirits, Song Yi wanted to treat Liu Weidong to a drink.

“Let’s skip the drinking. I almost caused a disaster because of alcohol before, so I quit since then. Old Song, you have to trust me. We should persuade the factory leadership not to blindly expand production or hire too many workers. The oil and fat factory is very likely to be taken over by a large state-owned enterprise. When that happens, technical talent might still have a role, but the workers’ jobs could be at risk.”

Song Yi was taken aback. “Weidong, that sounds a bit alarmist. Our factory has contributed so much to the country over the years; the country won’t forget that.”

Liu Weidong gave a wry smile. “I never said the country would forget, but isn’t it true that life often faces hardships? When real difficulties arise, tough choices must be made. Didn’t the government initially call on educated youth to go to the countryside because there weren’t enough jobs?

Now it looks like everything is to be rebuilt from scratch, but economic development follows certain laws. Once the market opens, uncompetitive enterprises will immediately struggle. Without the safety net of a planned economy, how can companies survive if they can't sell their products?”

Liu Weidong’s words sent Song Yi into deep thought.

“Remember to manage what you have well, focus on product quality and technological advantages. Maybe the oil and fat factory’s path can still be prolonged.”

With that, Liu Weidong patted Song Yi on the shoulder and rode home on his bike.

The fate of the Binjiang Oil and Fat Factory was not acquisition by a large state enterprise, but bankruptcy.

In these times, everyone believed a “iron rice bowl” was truly unbreakable. Liu Weidong knew he couldn’t singlehandedly change society’s perception; all he could do was offer reminders.

After dinner at home, Liu Weidong resumed writing his book. Meanwhile, Lou Yanru was fully immersed in intensive test preparation, leaving no energy for creative work.

After school, Lou Yanru came home alone, saying Lou Yanhua had gone for piano practice and wouldn’t return for tutoring these days.

Liu Weidong never spoke to Lou Yanru about his outside affairs, especially anything related to Team Two, fearing it would affect his wife’s college entrance exams.

After dinner, Liu Weidong checked the completed exercises while Lou Yanru remained quiet, fully focused on her studies. Her performance in the humanities had indeed improved rapidly.

“Yanru, I’ll keep writing my novel these days. You focus on your studies. After your exams, I’ll get someone to tidy up our home so you can live more comfortably.”

Lou Yanru looked up at Liu Weidong. “Don’t waste money. Compared to our home in the countryside, this is already paradise. I’m not materialistic. I’ve experienced the ups and downs—from heaven to hell—and seen how love falls apart when disaster strikes. That’s why I chose to marry you.

You may have no money or education, and you’re rough around the edges, but you fight hard for your family. What is love? Is it poetry and romance, or is it the warmth of a wife and children by the hearth? I’d rather choose the latter.”

“But this past month, I realized I hardly know you. You’re becoming more and more perfect, but I fear that because I’m ordinary, the greater the gap between us, the less secure I feel. You really don’t need to worry so much about me.”

Liu Weidong sighed. “That’s my fault. I always want to make up for the past two years with you as soon as possible, but I didn’t expect it to cause you pressure. Actually, you don’t have to overthink it. Isn’t a man supposed to provide for his family? Besides, everything I do is also about fulfilling my own life’s value. I don’t find it hard.”

Liu Weidong understood his wife’s current mindset very well.

After her parents were labeled rightists and suffered persecution, she was left helpless in the countryside. Her mother was strong-willed and unkind. When she married him, she was like a wounded little dog needing security.

But in just a month, Liu Weidong had changed completely, almost unrecognizably so, awakening new anxieties in Lou Yanru’s heart...

Early the next morning, Liu Weidong went to the Metal Research Institute. As expected, the test results were as he suspected—the machine’s operation wasn’t smooth.

Back at the machinery factory, he compared the existing material data with imported steel and quickly identified the problem.

“Master Liu, we need to seek aid from the steel mill on raw materials. Once the raw material issue is resolved, the machine’s durability will be no problem.”

Master Liu hurried off with the note Liu Weidong had written to find the factory director.

Song Yi looked at Liu Weidong with a very meaningful gaze.

Though he was a worker-peasant-soldier university graduate, he was still a genuine university graduate. But compared to Liu Weidong, a grassroots expert, he felt no sense of superiority. He was curious about where Liu Weidong had learned such advanced knowledge—each point was ahead of its time.

“Comrade Song, after fixing the machine, the oil and fat factory can first purchase a small batch of castor seeds for testing. We’ll address any issues that arise. If your factory’s product project is approved, I’ll discuss setting up a branch factory with you.

Actually, lubricants are graded. Village-run enterprises can’t afford polymer separation machines, but technology lies in innovation and exploration. I believe the small refinery of Team Two will definitely become an important partner for your factory.”

Song Yi didn’t even have the strength to argue against Liu Weidong.

Not to mention Liu Weidong wanting to start a small refinery, even just getting a collective license to sell patents could bring huge profits.

At noon, Wang Jianguo called. The timber freshly felled by Yang Mu from Team Two could be delivered to the city by midday. He asked Liu Weidong to coordinate with the machinery factory. The payment would be entrusted to him for purchasing medicinal herb seedlings.

This time, Wang Jianguo didn’t come along. Instead, Sun Wang led the convoy to deliver the wood, and the quantity of logs was greater than last time. But after settling the accounts, it was just over five thousand yuan—hardly enough to buy many seedlings.

Liu Weidong pondered and decided to call Wang Jianguo.

“Uncle Jianguo, we need to be cautious. Last time, we exchanged wood for grain, but the commune got no benefit and kept causing trouble. This time, since the timber comes from collective forest land, if the commune leaders give us trouble, the seedlings we buy might go to waste.”

Wang Jianguo hesitated. “But the money isn’t enough. If we give more to the commune, how can we buy seedlings? We also need to purchase some replacement seedlings, all negotiated with the forestry station.”

Liu Weidong sighed. “If money’s tight, I’ll find a way. Every step now must be steady—no mistakes allowed. This isn’t just about money. If someone tries to politicize this matter, you’ll be in trouble.”

Liu Weidong wasn’t being overly cautious; many pioneers stumbled badly in the early days of reform.

In the end, they agreed to let Sun Wang bring back two thousand yuan, which Wang Jianguo would give to the commune. Director Ma probably wouldn’t probe further. As long as the medicinal herbs went up the mountain, Liu Weidong wouldn’t worry.

Liu Weidong calculated the remaining three thousand yuan and found it still insufficient.

The agricultural research institute had already greenlit the castor test field, sending personnel to guide and fertilizer to supply. Asking for more seedlings on credit was out of the question.

Looks like he would have to advance the money himself again.

He called Secretary Zhang, reporting the pesticides, base fertilizer, and seedling quantities needed. The total came close to ten thousand yuan. Liu Weidong sighed heavily during the call, but Secretary Zhang just laughed.

“Is funding a problem? The castor test field is a research project approved by the agricultural institute, so it receives financial support. But traditional Chinese medicine planting isn’t covered. Given your father-in-law’s and the Economic Committee’s Director Miao’s connections, I can at most allow you to prepay 60%. The agricultural institute’s funds are tight.”

Only then did Liu Weidong breathe a sigh of relief; his out-of-pocket expense wouldn’t be too much.

After withdrawing the money, Liu Weidong transferred it directly to the agricultural institute.

He didn’t need to go pick the seedlings himself; Technician Wang could handle that for him.