Chapter 172 Highly Attached
“Finally, I want to say that although I have only been working in our factory for more than two months, I feel that our factory is a very united and warm collective. Both my colleagues and leaders have taken good care of me. Without your care and help, I would not have achieved what I have today. So here, I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to all the comrades and leaders who have helped me!”

After Xu Qiang finished speaking, he bowed deeply to the audience.

For a moment, warm applause rang out again.

Even the leaders sitting in the front row of the rostrum stood up and applauded Xu Qiang.

The look that Factory Director Liu Biao gave Xu Qiang at this moment was filled with even more approval and appreciation.

And off the stage, Xu Qiang's performance also surprised and impressed many employees.

Before, although Xu Qiang had caused a lot of discussion in the factory because of his military-to-civilian conversion activities and the military order for new product research and development, not many employees had actually seen Xu Qiang in person. After all, he had only been in the company for two months and had spent most of his time in the chemical workshop.

However, at this commendation meeting, Xu Qiang's appearance was stunning. He gave an impromptu speech on the stage and his conversation was very natural. He seemed to have the maturity and confidence of someone who had seen big scenes, which formed a sharp contrast with his young face and made many old employees in the audience secretly praise him.

In addition, Xu Qiang was dressed very eye-catching today, his hair was carefully combed, his clothes were new, and his shiny black leather shoes shone brightly under the stage lights, making the unmarried young women in the audience look at him even more passionately...

Finally, Xu Qiang walked off the stage amid warm applause and returned to his seat in the first row of the audience.

After Xu Qiang finished speaking on behalf of the award-winning model workers and military-to-civilian award-winning personnel, two more model workers came on stage and began their speeches.

This process lasted for more than an hour, during which the union chairman also explained and introduced the deeds of all the model workers.

At the end, it was back to the leader’s speech session.

This time, Luo Tao, director of the Provincial Defense Science and Technology Office, was the last speaker.

"Just now, I saw the introduction of the deeds of your factory's award-winning model workers and the speeches of the employee representatives. I felt a lot in my heart..." After taking the microphone, Luo Tao glanced at the people in the audience and said with a somewhat touching tone:
"Personally, I have deep feelings for our Shengli Machinery Factory. When Shengli Machinery Factory was first established, I was one of the first military representatives to enter the factory, mainly responsible for product quality inspection. At that time, I also witnessed and participated in the work of your factory director Liu Biao and other comrades transferred from all over the country. They braved hardships, cut through mountains and built bridges across rivers, and finally established such a large and advanced arsenal in such a remote mountain valley. It can be said that this is the most unforgettable and precious experience in my life..."

It can be seen that Luo Tao's true feelings came out when he said this. He indeed has deep feelings for this factory. It was also because of this that he personally attended the commendation meeting for model workers held by Shengli Machinery Factory despite the fatigue of traveling.

"...I have great respect for the old comrades in the factory, and I am also full of expectations for the new workers in our factory." Luo Tao paused, and then said: "Here, I want to say something to the new employees who have joined in recent years. You should not regard yourselves as defenders of the status quo. You are also pioneers. You cannot rest on your laurels. You also need to use your wisdom and hard work to create more glory."

Luo Tao's speaking level is still very high. His words moved many people present, because Luo Tao's words undoubtedly evoked many of their memories, as well as the future development of the factory.

Compared with later generations, workers these days have a much stronger sense of belonging and honor to the factory. Although they also have their own little thoughts, in general, the factory holds their hopes and future, so everyone sincerely hopes that the factory will develop better in the future.

"...More than a month ago, I heard about some things in your factory, including that Comrade Xu Qiang, who just came on stage, dared to issue a military order in front of the leaders in order to establish a product development project." When he said this, Luo Tao's expression became excited again, and he continued: "This morning, I also saw the military order with my own eyes. To be honest, I was really moved at that time..."

When Luo Tao said this, everyone at the scene looked at Xu Qiang who was sitting in the front row again. At this time, Xu Qiang still had a calm expression.

"What does it mean that a young worker dares to gamble his own future and make a pledge to develop products? It means the courage to fight to the death! It also means the determination to dedicate himself to the field! When Shengli Machinery Factory was just beginning to be built, your factory director Liu Biao also made such a pledge to the organization, but in the following ten years, I have never seen such a person again! Until the appearance of Comrade Xu Qiang..."

Luo Tao's words undoubtedly shocked everyone present.

On the one hand, people were indeed somewhat touched. On the other hand, receiving such high praise from his superiors meant that Xu Qiang would definitely have a bright future.

But in the eyes of many people, the only thing that makes people feel a little regretful is that Xu Qiang's academic qualifications are too low. He only has a junior high school diploma. With such a low academic qualification, it is destined that it will be difficult for him to be promoted, let alone transferred to work in the province.

"So I hope that in the future, there will be more comrades like Xu Qiang in our factory. Only in this way can our Shengli Machinery Factory become stronger and stronger, and the income and life of all employees will get better and better. That's all I have to say today. Thank you."

"Wow!" After Luo Tao finished speaking, warm applause immediately broke out from the audience. On the stage, all the leaders even stood up and applauded. The scene became extremely lively.

With the end of the speeches by the superior leaders, today's commendation meeting for model workers officially ended, and what followed was the artistic performance of the factory's art troupe.

While Xu Qiang was watching the performance, people kept coming up to him to shake hands and talk with him. These people included model workers who also won awards this time, as well as some leaders of various departments in the factory.

In fact, if Xu Qiang had only won the title of model worker, the leaders of these workshops and departments would not have put down their airs and approached him like this, but Luo Tao's words just now reminded them.

The political awareness of leaders is much higher than that of ordinary employees. Usually, a word or a hint from the superior leader can make a person rise to the top. What's more, this time it was in front of all the employees in the factory, and they praised Xu Qiang so much. His future is naturally self-evident.

After the performance, Wang Yongsheng and others planned to hold a celebration banquet for Xu Qiang in the evening. However, at this time, a union officer came over to inform Xu Qiang to go to the factory guesthouse at 6 pm and specially arranged for him not to eat first.

So at 6 o'clock in the evening, Xu Qiang arrived at the factory guesthouse on time.

Compared with the factory’s staff and family buildings, the Shengli Machinery Factory’s guesthouse is very beautiful. It is a newly built two-story building, the yard is full of flowers, and the roads are very clean.

Usually these military representatives and their families live here. When their superiors come to inspect, they will also stay here. There are special service staff, including chefs and cleaners. It is even more upscale than some hotels in the city.

Many factory workers may have worked there for more than ten years without ever entering the guesthouse. In their eyes, this place is more or less mysterious.

"Comrade Xu Qiang, this way."

Seeing Xu Qiang coming to the door of the guesthouse, a staff member immediately came over with a smile.

After passing through a corridor, Xu Qiang was taken into the innermost restaurant.

"Oh, Xu Qiang is here, come and sit down!"

Seeing Xu Qiang enter the restaurant, Factory Director Liu Biao immediately greeted him.

In the restaurant at this time, besides him, there were several other model workers in the factory, as well as several major leaders of the factory, all of whom had already taken their seats.

"These are the backbones of our factory. They have made great contributions to the factory in the past year." Factory Director Liu Biao's face was flushed. He said to Luo Tao who was sitting next to him: "Director Luo, let me toast you first. Thank you for coming all the way to our factory to attend this commendation meeting. On behalf of all the employees of the factory, I would like to thank you for your long-term care for our factory."

As Liu Biao spoke, he raised the wine glass in his hand.

"Old Liu, we are all on our own. There's no need for these polite words." Luo Tao picked up his glass and clinked it with Liu Biao's. He smiled and said, "When we first built the factory, we both slept in an adobe house. It was winter and the wind was strong in the valley. Our house was leaking air and we were freezing. You even gave me your military coat. When I think of those things back then, I feel a little sour..."

"That's all in the past. I was in good health back then, and it was my duty to take care of you." Liu Biao said, and drank the wine in the glass.

"Thinking about it now, our group of people were really amazing. They built such a large factory under such circumstances." Luo Tao turned his gaze to Xu Qiang and said, "But the young people nowadays are not simple either, especially this young comrade named Xu Qiang. When I first heard about his deeds, I felt that he was a bit like you, Old Liu. He signed the military order without hesitation, without any ambiguity..."

"I can't compare to Director Liu. I'm far behind." Upon hearing this, Xu Qiang quickly waved his hands and said.

At this point, everyone present understood why Luo Tao looked at Xu Qiang differently.

From this point of view, Xu Qiang's original military order did add a lot of color to his deeds. Otherwise, the two products he developed alone would not be enough for Luo Tao to be so "kind" to him...

(End of this chapter)