Chapter 2 Red Star Machinery Factory

On his way back to the dormitory to prepare his belongings, Wang Ye's mind was filled with information about the Red Star Machinery Factory.

Since the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations in 1965, the Soviet Union had been casting a covetous eye on China, amassing millions of troops along the northern border and even threatening to unleash nuclear weapons on China. They claimed they could seize Yanjing directly within three days.

Faced with such a terrifying adversary, China embarked on the ambitious Three-Line Construction project. This project was divided into the "Big Three Lines" and the "Small Three Lines." The Big Three Lines referred to the construction of national strategic rear bases, mainly in various southwestern provinces, focusing on defense industry, basic industry, transportation, telecommunications, fuel, power, and agriculture.

The Small Three Lines, on the other hand, were constructed in strategic rear areas of various provinces and cities, such as remote areas away from cities, transportation hubs, and strategic points, focusing on the construction of small and medium-sized military factories.

The purpose of the Three-Line Construction was to rely on these industrial facilities and military factories in remote areas to continuously produce various weapons, equipment, food, and supplies. This was to support China's vast strategic depth and engage in prolonged warfare for the survival and resurgence of China.

So, from 1965 to 1976, within just ten years, over two hundred small and medium-sized military factories were established. These military factories were also known as the "Small Three Lines" or "Three-Line Factories."

Then, by the end of the 1970s, the international situation began to improve, Sino-Soviet relations started to thaw, and the likelihood of war greatly decreased. Additionally, the country proposed reforms and focused on economic development. This led these small and medium-sized military factories to become burdensome. After all, without war, they had no production tasks and could only rely on government subsidies to survive, let alone achieve self-sufficiency.

In February of this year, the government convened several meetings to discuss the reform and development of the "Three-Line Factories." After multiple rounds of discussions, it was preliminarily decided to gradually transform these Three-Line Factories into civilian industries. They aimed to enter the civilian industrial sector, achieve self-sufficiency, while retaining a certain military production capacity for the occasional need during future wars.

However, implementation was easier said than done. Without additional investment, whether these factories could produce any civilian products and whether they could sell them were both issues. Moreover, there were over two hundred such factories nationwide, making self-sufficiency extremely difficult.

It was due to this situation that Sun Canghai, the dean of the mechanical and electronic engineering department, and Wang Ye were invited to attend multiple meetings to provide advice.

Finally, after several debates and discussions at a recent meeting, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Industry finally initiated a plan. They decided to select five representative Three-Line Factories as pilot projects for the military-to-civilian reform, and then promote it nationwide. The Red Star Machinery Factory was the worst among these five.

In Wang Ye's memory, the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of National Defense dispatched a joint investigation team to guide the military-to-civilian affairs in these five factories. However, only one engine factory in Sichuan and Chongqing successfully transformed, while the others failed.

"Products! Factories can only survive by producing, so products are the core."

"But what kind of products could help the Red Star Machinery Factory overcome its predicament and comply with the military-to-civilian policy?"

As he walked along, this thought lingered in Wang Ye's mind until he returned to his dormitory.

Today, the Chinese economy was just beginning to develop. Even top universities like Huqing faced relatively harsh conditions, such as crowded eight-person dormitories.

However, since the graduation defense was already completed in mid-April, there were only three people left in the dormitory, including Wang Ye.

As for Wang Ye's roommates, they all had their own plans. After all, China had just resumed the college entrance examination a few years ago. Even university students were still considered precious, let alone graduate students from Huqing.

Some stayed at the school for a Ph.D., some entered government departments, some went abroad for further studies on scholarships or through various channels, and some joined newly established multinational corporations in the country. The worst-case scenario was working in the provincial department.

Sure enough, when Wang Ye pushed open the door, he found the other two still in the room.

On the right was a guy named Li Ze, listening to a Sony Walkman with earphones while leisurely leaning back in his chair and reading a complete collection of Jin Yong's novels. In this era, a Walkman was quite a rare item, and its price was insulting to describe because it was practically unavailable. After all, something worth over a hundred dollars couldn't easily enter the domestic market. It was only possible through gifts from foreign relatives or purchases with hard-earned dollars from the black market, usually obtained through foreign business trips. However, very few people did this because, due to the scarcity of foreign exchange and low overall incomes, people's daily expenses were only three to five dollars, and even if one saved up for a whole month, it would only be a little over a hundred dollars. With this money, one could easily buy a major appliance like a refrigerator or a TV, so who would use it to buy a Walkman?

Moreover, how many people could go abroad on business for a month?

Therefore, a Walkman was a status symbol nowadays. Being able to own one meant being well-off!

"Hey, chilling with your Walkman? Didn't go home?" Wang Ye greeted Li Ze with a smile. Li Ze was from Siqicheng, and Wang Ye didn't know much about his family situation, but it was evident that he was not from an ordinary family to own a Sony Walkman.

Hearing Wang Ye's voice, Li Ze turned his head, took off his earphones, and looked over with a smile. "No, why go home? Just to listen to nagging? No thanks!"

"Oh, Ye, have you decided where to go? Staying at school? Government department? Or studying abroad?" Li Ze had been elusive for the past few days, not seen for over a week. That's why he asked when he saw Wang Ye. Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, the classmate sitting on the left in a new suit snorted and said coldly,

"Ye, listen to me, don't stay at school. The scientific research in our country, in terms of both level and funding, is crap compared to foreign countries!"

"Don't go to the government either. Those officials do nothing but drink and attend meetings!"

With a tone of self-satisfaction, he continued, "I've already signed with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. They are sponsoring me to study at the University of Tokyo in Japan. During my studies, I'll receive a monthly stipend of 150,000 yen, which is over a thousand yuan when converted using the black market rate. An ordinary worker would need to work for two and a half years to earn that!"

"After graduation, when I join the company, I'll be a senior engineer, and my salary will triple! Hahaha!"

With his laughter, Wang Ye and Li Ze exchanged glances. While he continued to persuade Wang Ye, saying, "So Ye, study abroad! You're much better than me. With a scholarship for studying abroad, why not apply to those American universities?"

"Once you finish your studies, just find a job at a multinational corporation directly, and you'll be earning shiny green dollars. Isn't that great?"

"And although you're going abroad on a scholarship, once you're overseas, can the country still bind you here? I heard that you can buy a house in the United States after working for two months. By then, you can bring your parents over, and you'll be an American! I envy you!"

In this era, with the impact of reform and opening up and the influx of foreign information, countless people were fantasizing and yearning for capitalist countries. Among all these capitalist countries, the United States and Europe were naturally the most admired, followed by Japan!

Because of this, although this classmate was proud, he was also envious. After all, he was going to Japan, while Wang Ye could go to the United States!

Originally, Wang Ye didn't plan to say anything. After all, this was the reality of the times. But hearing his final remarks, Wang Ye couldn't help himself and replied flatly,

"I'm not going. I can't stomach Western food."

"Besides, if our country is not good, then we should strive to build it up, not escape from it."

"Escaping is shameful; it's the act of a coward!"

Upon hearing this, the classmate was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "Coward? Yes, yes, I'm a coward, I'm a deserter! I do scientific research at the institute, but who listens to me? I go to government departments, but as a newcomer, who pays attention to me?"

"And look at this gentleman here," he pointed at Li Ze, "Can you ask him if he dares to tell you how he got his Walkman?"

"I want to build the country, does the country need me?"

"I kindly tell you, but you won't listen. It's truly like casting pearls before swine!"

After saying this, he angrily pushed open the door and left, leaving the dormitory in silence. A few seconds later, Wang Ye looked at Li Ze and couldn't help asking,

"Kuan Ye, how did you get your Sony Walkman?"

Unexpectedly, Li Ze, sitting there, was quite candid. He picked up the Walkman and said with a smile,

"My mom works for a foreign-related unit and has been stationed in France for a long time. She saved up her subsidies to buy this for me. What's wrong with that? Lao Liu is too extreme. Problems exist, but the weak complain about the environment while the strong change it, right, Ye?"

Finally, Li Ze sighed with emotion, and couldn't help asking again,

"By the way, Ye, where are you really going?"

As he walked toward his chair, Wang Ye casually replied,

"The Red Star Machinery Factory, as the factory director!"

At this, Li Ze, holding the Walkman, seemed to pause momentarily, then continued, seemingly astonished, "Awesome, you're a true strongman! I'll wait for your good news. When the time comes, brother will throw you a celebration!"