boyutpedia Chapter 18 Paying to Go to School
Chapter 18 Paying to Go to School
Chen Weiguo snapped out of his daze: "Thank you, Elder Zhou."
However, he immediately thought of a new problem: "Professor Zhou, when publishing a paper, do we need references and theoretical derivations? My method... doesn't seem to have any references at the moment."
Zhou Wenyuan said earnestly, "You don't need any references. Your algorithm itself is original. As long as the design itself is feasible, it should be published so that more people working with cutting tools can see this direction. That in itself is of great value. After you finish writing the paper, you can bring it to me for review, and I'll give you some suggestions."
After saying that, he suggested, "Xiao Chen, you have skills and ideas now. But you lack one thing: the ability to turn these things into a theoretical system. You should study engineering mathematics and mechanics of materials. With this theoretical foundation, I believe you can go much further in the future."
Chen Weiguo nodded earnestly: "Don't worry, Elder Zhou, I will definitely learn well."
Zhou Wenyuan chatted with him for a while longer before leaving with several samples.
Zhao Dehai and Chen Weiguo saw him off at the factory gate.
Zhao Dehai remarked with emotion, "Do you know who this Mr. Zhou is? He works in the ministry, and ordinary people can't just ask him to come. For him to personally come to the factory today just to see you, and even proactively recommend your article, is truly remarkable."
Chen Weiguo felt grateful and said with a smile, "He is truly a respectable senior."
Zhao Dehai nodded: "Yes. I showed him your drawings, and at first he didn't believe that an ordinary 23-year-old worker could design something like this. That's why he came to see for himself if you were really capable. Now, I think he truly believes it."
After a pause, Zhao Dehai suddenly suggested, "Old Zhou is right. You don't lack fitter skills or design experience. But you haven't pursued further education. I can arrange for you to attend a vocational school to systematically learn mechanical knowledge. What do you think?"
Chen Weiguo's heart skipped a beat.
This is a good thing!
There's a limit to the path of an ordinary worker; at best, you can only reach the level of an eighth-grade fitter.
However, if you go to school for further studies, become a technician after graduation, and then gradually take the engineer exam, you can truly influence the technical strength of a factory.
In the future, you can become the head of the technical department, or even the manager of a branch factory.
These days, many factory leaders rise through the ranks from technical positions.
It offers much broader prospects than simply being a worker.
Chen Weiguo didn't dislike the level eight fitter.
However, the path of an engineer offers him far more possibilities.
……
Zhao Dehai is known for his decisive and efficient actions.
The next day, he called Chen Weiguo into his office: "I have an old comrade-in-arms who is the vice principal of Yanjing Industrial Vocational School. I'll write you a letter of recommendation, and you should report to him next week. It'll be a full-time study program, and you'll still get paid during that time. The program lasts two years, and after you graduate, the factory will give you a technician position. What do you think?"
A surge of emotion welled up in Chen Weiguo's heart.
I will take time off from work to study, and my salary will continue to be paid.
These days, it's harder than climbing to heaven for an ordinary worker to take time off work to study.
Not only are there few openings, but most factories simply won't let people go. If you leave, who will do the work?
Not to mention that they still pay your salary. They give you a few dozen yuan a month just so you can sit in the classroom and listen to lectures?
Such treatment is rare even among the more than two thousand employees at the entire Yanjing Machinery Factory.
Factory Director Zhao truly sees himself as a potential technical talent.
Chen Weiguo nodded earnestly: "Factory Director, I'm willing to go."
For him, going to vocational school wasn't necessarily about learning any new knowledge.
What's missing from the system?
But he must have a background in education.
If he continues to invent and create, and has a degree, others will see it as his true ability and won't suspect anything is amiss.
For him, a degree was truly a stepping stone.
Zhao Dehai laughed: "Alright, I knew you wouldn't refuse. Study hard when you get there, and don't embarrass our factory."
"Please rest assured, Factory Director. I, Chen Weiguo, have never disgraced the mechanical team in the army, nor will I disgrace our Yanjing Machinery Factory at the school."
"Okay." Zhao Dehai nodded in satisfaction, his eyes full of anticipation.
……
When he got home, Chen Weiguo told his sister about it.
Chen Weihong was taken aback: "Brother, weren't you doing well at the factory? Why do you suddenly want to go to school?"
Chen Weiguo laughed and said, "Of course, it's so that I can go further and higher in the future. Think about it, your brother is a level six fitter now, and his skills are pretty good. But what about the future? Level eight is the ceiling, that's the limit. But it's different for technicians. Technicians can take the engineer exam, become managers, and maybe even become factory directors in the future. Your brother can not only do the work now, but also do design. Several inventions in the factory were done by me. These things can't be supported by skills alone; they need theoretical support. My theoretical foundation is weak, so I have to study. Once I've learned it thoroughly, I can do more inventions and creations in the future..."
Chen Weihong's eyes grew brighter and brighter as she looked at him with admiration: "Brother, you're amazing!"
Then she asked, "If you go to school, will you still get paid?"
"Send it as is."
"Really?"
Chen Weihong jumped up immediately. "Brother, you're getting paid to go to school! Our teacher said that only the best workers can be recommended for further education, and it's paid! You've only been working at the factory for a short time, and you've already been recommended?!"
Chen Weiguo smiled and ruffled her hair: "Since your brother is so outstanding, you have to work even harder and not fall behind. When we both graduate, the Chen family will have two great intellectuals."
Chen Weihong nodded vigorously, full of energy.
……
Chen Weiguo did not cook at home that evening.
He took Chen Weihong to his master Guo Dajiang's house.
After greeting his teacher's wife upon entering, he put on an apron and went into the kitchen on his own initiative.
As soon as the cooking fumes started, the aroma wafted into the living room.
The master's wife kept praising, "Xiao Chen's cooking skills are truly superb! Old Guo, smell it, it smells even better than what the head chef at the state-run restaurant makes!"
Before long, the dishes were served.
A braised fish, a plate of cabbage stewed with tofu, and a plate of scrambled eggs.
What would be an ordinary meal in later generations is considered a rare delicacy in this era.
Guo Dajiang took a bite of the fish and nodded in satisfaction: "Hmm, it's cooked just right."
Chen Weiguo clinked glasses with his master and talked about his plans to study at Yanjing Industrial Vocational School.
Guo Dajiang was stunned: "The factory manager wants you to go to school?"
"Yes. The factory manager said it's a waste of my brains to just be a fitter. He told me to solidify my theoretical foundation so I can come back as a technician and specialize in technical work."
Guo Dajiang was genuinely happy: "Great! Do you know what my biggest regret in this life is?"
Chen Weiguo shook his head.
"I've been a fitter for over thirty years, and my skills aren't bad. But if you ask me to do design or draw blueprints, that's a real challenge. I can read blueprints, but I can't design them. Why? Because I haven't had much formal education. I don't understand functions, calculations, or stress distribution. I know how to do the work, but I can't explain why I do it that way. That's my weakness."
He picked up his glass and took a swig.
"The day I took you on as my apprentice, I knew you were different from others. Others learn a craft from me by simply copying what I teach. But you're different; you always ask 'why.' I knew then that this kid was going to soar. Sure enough, not long after, the factory manager personally recommended you to go to school."