Chapter 58: Who Needs a Brain?

The leadership of the Capital No. 1 Steel Plant held a morning meeting, with all department heads and higher-level leaders present.

As usual, they first discussed production-related issues. Since their factory primarily focused on production tasks, and the country urgently needed steel, the burden on steel plants was significant.

“How is the production of the hand pump for wells going?” Factory Director Hu inquired.

At that time, many parts of the country were experiencing drought, creating an enormous demand for hand pumps, which were considered a “miracle tool.”

Otherwise, Zhou Yimin wouldn’t have received such a generous reward.

Some people might argue that even those working on nuclear and space projects weren’t getting such high bonuses, which seemed unfair.

But it was different. Achievements in those fields couldn’t be measured by money alone. The bonuses were secondary—the real rewards were the various forms of national recognition and support, which were far more valuable. The monetary bonuses were just a symbolic gesture.

“The production has started. With sufficient steel and other materials, daily output shouldn’t be a problem at 800 units,” reported Director Liao, who was in charge of the hand pump production.

“That’s not enough. Increase production—there are orders from above…”

Given the severity of the drought, the higher-ups had already pressed Factory Director Hu multiple times.

Director Liao immediately responded, “Then I’ll need more manpower.”

“Start by reallocating workers from other workshops,” a deputy factory director suggested.

However, Director Liao was ambitious. He made an additional request: “Besides regular workers, I want Comrade Zhou Yimin, the designer of the hand pump. Keeping someone like that in procurement is a complete waste of talent.

Procurement work—if you’ve got hands and feet, that’s enough. Who needs a brain for that?”

His remark instantly enraged Director Ding, who oversaw logistics and procurement.

Damn it!

It was bad enough that he was trying to poach someone in front of him, but did he have to insult him too? That was like spitting right in his face!

Was he saying that everyone in logistics had no brains?

Director Ding slammed the table. “Liao, what the hell do you mean? Trying to steal my people right in front of me? Bastard! Comrade Zhou Yimin is a key talent in our procurement department, and he himself is happy to stay in his current role.

Factory Director, I strongly object! We must respect his personal wishes.

Most of the meat everyone has been eating recently was procured by Comrade Zhou Yimin. You can’t enjoy the food we bring in while calling us brainless!

Besides…”

Factory Director Hu motioned with his hands for him to calm down.

This was a headache. From what he knew, even university professors had invited Zhou Yimin to further his studies. If they truly cared about Zhou Yimin’s future, they should let him go to university instead of keeping him in the steel plant.

Zhou Yimin had chosen to stay because he actually liked procurement work.

That was something to seriously consider.

Although Factory Director Hu personally agreed with Director Liao that procurement wasn’t exactly brain-intensive—as long as you weren’t disabled, you could do it—but you don’t say that out loud!

That would just offend people.

Soon, the meeting devolved into a heated argument.

In truth, Director Liao was mainly interested in Zhou Yimin because of his growing fame. He had already been featured in the newspapers and was likely to receive the “Outstanding Individual” award that year.

His actual abilities were secondary.

After all, the hand pump was already designed and didn’t need further improvements. At this point, the designer himself wasn’t essential anymore.

—

“Section Chief, who pissed you off?” Zhou Yimin arrived at the factory, handing in the last few dozen pounds of dried fish he had left.

Section Chief Wang’s face eased into a smile upon seeing him.

“Yimin—whoa, more good stuff?” He could tell it was dried fish just by the strong smell.

Zhou Yimin was his best procurement officer—no one else could compare.

But then Wang’s expression darkened again. “It’s those bastards in the production department! They said we in procurement don’t need brains. Damn it! If we didn’t bust our asses finding food supplies, they’d be eating shit right now!”

“They actually said that?” Zhou Yimin was taken aback.

Section Chief Wang nodded. “Yeah, at this morning’s meeting, Director Ding got into a shouting match with Director Liao from the workshops.

That bastard Liao even called you out by name. Damn it! Does he think he can just take our people? When has it ever been his call who works in procurement?”

How could they not be angry?

Liao had basically insulted the entire procurement team, saying they had no brains. Who could tolerate that?

Director Ding had already given orders to the cafeteria staff—next time Liao came for food, they’d “take care” of him. After all, the cafeteria was under logistics management.

Zhou Yimin clicked his tongue. The workshop folks were bold, daring to provoke the logistics department and even insulting them all at once.

Did they not want to eat anymore?

“You’re not actually thinking about moving to the workshops, are you?” Section Chief Wang suddenly fixed his gaze on Zhou Yimin.

Zhou Yimin quickly shook his head. “I’d have to be out of my mind to go there. Procurement is so much easier.”

Section Chief Wang burst into laughter.

“Exactly! You’d have to be insane to work in the workshops. That job’s exhausting!”

Any sane person would choose procurement. Logistics work even had some perks. In these times, any job that had access to food was highly coveted.

Section Chief Wang was certain—if they announced an opening in procurement, there’d be a stampede of applicants. Even people from the workshops would try to switch over.

After that, he set aside a dried fish for each member of his team, and the remaining ones were handed over to Zhou Yimin for official inventory.

Skimming off a little for themselves—this was an old tradition. It was also one of the key reasons why people loved working in procurement.

After receiving his payment, Zhou Yimin wandered around the factory before preparing to leave.

He loved the freedom of his job. Working in the workshops? That was for other people. It wasn’t for him—too tiring, and more importantly, not free. Even taking a leave required filling out a request form. How inconvenient!

—

Zhou Yimin had purchased corn seeds from his system’s store but hadn’t taken them out yet—there were too many.

When he returned to Zhoujia Village, he saw that the village elders were leading a group of people in reclaiming the riverbed, working enthusiastically.

“Yimin! Uncle Sixteen! You’re here early,” the villagers greeted.

Zhou Yimin tossed them a pack of cigarettes. “Split it among yourselves. These are corn seeds—take them to the village elder. I won’t be going over.”

He then unloaded the corn seeds from the back of his bicycle.

The young men were thrilled. “Got it! Leave it to us.”

Zhou Dafu, however, seemed distracted.

“What’s on your mind?” Zhou Yimin patted him on the shoulder.

The others laughed. “This guy wanted to find a job in the city. He went yesterday but came back with his tail between his legs. His dad even gave him a beating.”

If city jobs were so easy to find, there wouldn’t be anyone left in the countryside. Everyone would have moved to the city.

Who wouldn’t want to eat government rations?

“It wasn’t a total waste,” Zhou Dafu defended himself.

Even Zhou Yimin was curious. “Oh? What did you find out?”

“I heard the bakery has openings, but they want 200 yuan to get in. I don’t have that kind of money.”

Even his family didn’t have that much.

Zhou Yimin frowned.

200 yuan just to secure a job?

Sounds like a scam.