Chapter 298: Presenting the Banner of Appreciation

At this moment, Shi Xuanya’s mother could no longer just stand by.

Seeing her daughter looking a little lovestruck, she stepped forward and went straight to the point. “We’re very grateful to Comrade Zhou Yimin for rescuing my daughter from those bad people yesterday.”

“This banner represents a small token of appreciation from the three of us—my husband, myself, and my daughter.”

Zhou Yimin was stunned for a moment.

A banner?

Wasn’t this something people did in later generations?

In fact, the custom of presenting a banner of appreciation had existed since ancient times.

Soon, more and more people began to gather around. Even Factory Director Hu and the others were alerted. Receiving a banner was an honor, and in this era, it stood out all the more.

People in this time placed great value on honor—whether personal or collective.

It could even become a kind of protective charm for you.

“What are you all crowding here for? Don’t you have work to do?” Factory Director Hu began to disperse the crowd.

The workers who had come to watch the spectacle, intimidated by the director’s authority, had no choice but to leave.

Once the onlookers had scattered, Factory Director Hu inquired about what had happened. Upon learning that the two thugs had knives, he felt a jolt of alarm. If something had happened to Zhou Yimin, it would’ve been a big problem.

Factory Director Hu and the others were pleased. Having someone in the factory step up to save others was something that brought pride to the whole factory. But Hu quickly became even more concerned about Zhou Yimin’s safety.

“Yimin! If you ever run into something like that again, it’s best to find help first. Don’t go in alone—it’s too dangerous!”

“I’ll definitely be more careful next time,” Zhou Yimin nodded.

The key was showing that he could take advice.

At that moment, Shi Yong stepped forward and handed over the prepared banner to Zhou Yimin.

Zhou Yimin accepted it with some reluctance.

Seeing the banner, Factory Director Hu couldn’t help but start clapping. The other leaders, seeing the factory director applaud, quickly followed suit.

Everyone likes to lift the popular guy up!

“Old Yan, go inform the broadcasting room and have them issue a commendation about Yimin to the whole factory. Let everyone learn from him,” Director Hu instructed.

Section Chief Yan, head of the publicity department, nodded at once and hurried off.

This kind of good deed had to be well publicized!

In this society, it was common to promote the idea of “learning from so-and-so.”

Usually, these were model figures from all walks of life.

Like learning from Comrade Lei Feng, and so on.

Now that the steel factory had someone like this, Factory Director Hu wanted to make a big deal of it.

“You three comrades, come to my office and sit for a while. The broadcasting station people will come over soon to interview you,” Factory Director Hu invited.

Shi Yong feigned curiosity and asked, “Comrade, are you one of the factory leaders?”

“My surname is Hu. I’m the director of the steel factory,” he replied with a nod.

Shi Yong’s whole family worked at the factory. All three had taken a half-day leave and were in no rush to return to work, so they followed Factory Director Hu to his office.

But at that moment, Shi Xuanya pointed at Zhou Yimin and asked, “Is Comrade Zhou Yimin not coming with us?”

“I’ve got other tasks to handle, so I won’t be joining,” Zhou Yimin declined.

Right now, all he wanted to do was quickly get the airbag manufacturing underway.

Since returning to this era, he would slack off when he could, but when it was time to get things done, he wouldn’t sit back.

He didn’t want to be like some other transmigrators who completely let themselves go, acting like mere spectators of history.

Shi Xuanya looked a little disappointed—she’d thought Zhou Yimin would come along too.

“Our Comrade Yimin has important tasks at hand,” Factory Director Hu stepped in to smooth things over.

He understood Zhou Yimin’s temperament—he wasn’t fond of being in the spotlight. Besides, the task handed down by Minister Gao was indeed very urgent.

Zhou Yimin arrived at Workshop No. 1, where the workshop director was already waiting.

As soon as he saw him, he stepped up. “Team leader Zhou, how many people do you need to help?”

Factory Director Hu had come by early in the morning with instructions—no matter who Zhou Yimin asked for, everyone must fully cooperate. If anyone was found holding things up, they’d better be ready for consequences.

“Director, just three senior craftsmen for now. Master Kong must be one of them,” Zhou Yimin said bluntly.

In fact, when it came to making airbags, bringing in too many craftsmen from the steel factory would be pointless—some skills weren’t even relevant.

The workshop director didn’t hesitate. “Then Master Kong, plus Master Ye and Master Chen!”

“Master Chen and Master Ye are both level-seven craftsmen. Though they’re not quite on Master Kong’s level, this lineup is the best Workshop No. 1 can offer.”

Zhou Yimin nodded in approval. “Let’s go with your suggestion then.”

Soon, Director Liao gathered all three together and instructed, “Gentlemen, your priority now is to fully support Team leader Zhou in his work. You don’t need to worry about other workshop tasks for now.”

“I hope we’ll have a good working relationship,” Zhou Yimin said as he extended a hand.

Master Chen was the first to respond, “Team leader Zhou, just give the word. I guarantee a clean and flawless job.”

He was confident in his craftsmanship.

Zhou Yimin didn’t keep them guessing. “What we’re building this time is something called an airbag.”

He then explained its function and importance.

The airbag system is a passive safety feature used alongside seat belts, offering effective protection during a collision.

Its mechanism was both simple and complex.

During driving, the sensor system continuously sends information on speed changes to the control unit, which analyzes and judges the data.

If the detected acceleration, speed change, or other indicators exceed a preset threshold, the control unit will send an ignition signal to the gas generator—or the sensor may trigger it directly. The ignition causes an explosive reaction, producing nitrogen gas or releasing compressed nitrogen from a gas tank to fill the airbag.

When the passenger hits the airbag, the energy is absorbed through exhaust ports in the bag, cushioning the impact and protecting the occupant.

At first glance, it might seem like just a simple balloon—not all that high-tech.

However, one key component was involved: the sensor.

A sensor is a device that receives input or stimuli and reacts to it, converting a physical or chemical quantity into a corresponding output.

Sensors come in many types—some simple, some complex.

When Master Kong and the others heard that this could help the country earn foreign exchange, they were immediately fired up, as if injected with adrenaline, full of motivation.

Back in Factory Director Hu’s office, Shi Yong’s family didn’t have to wait long. Section Chief Yan soon arrived with two staff members from the broadcasting station.

They conducted an interview, asking a few questions and recording the family’s words of gratitude and some personal commendations.

Once the interview was done, it was nearly noon. Factory Director Hu originally wanted to treat Shi Yong’s family to lunch at the cafeteria, but they politely declined, so he saw them out instead.

During lunch, as workers queued for food in the cafeteria, the factory broadcast rang out, announcing the heroic deed of Zhou Yimin risking his life to save someone, and calling on everyone to learn from his example.

(End of Chapter)