Chapter 305 – Poaching Talent

Although Factory Director Hu had introduced things in vague terms, Zhou Yimin could roughly guess what was going on.

After all, he hadn’t lived through so many years in the future for nothing. Some information that might have been cutting-edge now was already common knowledge in the future.

“That’s right. If the magnetoelectric sensor has already been successfully developed, that means the airbag can begin production.” Zhou Yimin nodded in response.

After all the effort over this period, they had finally succeeded in developing it. It looked like things might start getting less hectic now.

The technicians present were all visibly excited after hearing Zhou Yimin’s words. After all, without Zhou Yimin continuously providing them with ideas, the magnetoelectric sensor wouldn’t have been completed so quickly.

One of the researchers couldn’t hold back his excitement. “Comrade, could we take a look at this magnetoelectric sensor?”

Everyone knew how difficult it was to develop such a sensor. If it had been so easy, it wouldn’t have taken until now. If the steel factory had really pulled it off, it could have a huge impact on major projects.

Zhou Yimin didn’t refuse. Instead, he directly handed over the sensor in his hand. “Of course!”

The researcher took it and began examining it closely, even muttering to himself from time to time, “Not bad, not bad! Definitely a magnetoelectric sensor. It’s just a shame it doesn’t meet their standard.”

Upon hearing this, Engineer Ye and the others grew a little displeased. They had poured so much effort into developing this sensor, and now someone made it sound like it hadn’t even met basic requirements?

The leading man saw their expressions and quickly stepped in to explain. “Old Huang didn’t mean it that way. He wasn’t belittling the sensor.”

He was quite helpless about Old Huang’s personality. While the man was undeniably talented in scientific research, his mouth always got ahead of him. One wrong sentence could drive people crazy.

Although Engineer Ye and the others were still a little unhappy, they knew they couldn’t say anything. These people were clearly high-ranking guests that even Factory Director Hu had to treat with caution.

Old Huang, on the other hand, didn’t seem to mind at all. Instead, he asked curiously, “Who developed this magnetoelectric sensor?”

That rubbed Engineer Ye and his group the wrong way again. They had their pride too.

At that moment, Factory Director Hu quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “This magnetoelectric sensor was developed by our Comrade Yimin here, together with Master Kong and the others.”

“Team Lead Zhou deserves the most credit. Without his consistent support and guidance, the three of us alone wouldn’t have been able to make it happen,” Master Kong added honestly, not trying to hog the credit.

Old Huang was clearly very interested in Team Lead Zhou. He asked eagerly, “Which one is Team Lead Zhou?”

“That would be me,” Zhou Yimin replied.

Old Huang looked at Zhou Yimin and was surprised to see that it was the same young man who had just been explaining earlier. It was hard to tell Zhou’s real age—he looked far too young. So Old Huang decided to test him. “Team Lead Zhou, what made you want to develop this magnetoelectric sensor?”

Zhou Yimin didn’t hold back. “Because I invented an airbag, and it required a magnetoelectric sensor. Then, with everyone’s help, we managed to develop it.”

Old Huang and the others were stunned by how calmly Zhou Yimin said something so shocking. Was the threshold for developing magnetoelectric sensors that low now? People could just casually come up with one?

They had handed this very problem to a research institute, and it still hadn’t yielded results. That alone showed how difficult it was.

The team leader asked, “Team Lead Zhou, if you don’t mind me asking, the magnetoelectric sensor… well, doesn’t it require an inertial moving-coil-type electrical sensor?”

Zhou Yimin thought for a moment, then nodded. “That’s right. The inertial moving-coil-type electrical sensor has its magnetic steel and housing fixed together. The spindle passes through the center hole of the magnetic steel, and is supported on the housing by two soft, spherical spring sheets—one on top and one on the bottom.”

“One end of the spindle is fixed with a coil, and the other end is fixed with a copper damping cup. Since the inertial mass consists of the coil, damping cup, and spindle, it is referred to as a moving-coil type. This type of sensor is suitable for measuring high-frequency vibrations.”

At first, Old Huang’s expression had been dismissive, but it gradually shifted to shock. Once he recovered, he immediately pulled out his notebook and jotted down everything Zhou Yimin had just said.

Even the others around him were stunned. The problem that had plagued them for so long had just been casually explained by Zhou Yimin. If they could test it when they returned, they might be able to develop a sensor that met the standards.

The leader of the group was impressed and made an offer. “Comrade, would you be interested in joining us?”

Before Zhou Yimin could respond, Factory Director Hu cut in.

“Comrade, are you trying to poach my people?”

All the recent honors the steel factory had earned couldn’t have happened without Zhou Yimin. There was no way he’d let anyone take him—not even higher-ups.

“Comrade, I’m actually quite happy working at the steel factory. I haven’t considered changing my work environment,” Zhou Yimin said.

But Old Huang wasn’t ready to give up. Talents like this were hard to come by. “Comrade, don’t you want to help build our great nation? The country needs people like you.”

That line fired people up like a shot of adrenaline.

“Comrade, and am I not helping build the nation right now?” Zhou Yimin countered directly.

If Old Huang dared to say Zhou Yimin wasn’t contributing to national development, that would be the same as dismissing the efforts of millions of workers across the country.

Old Huang almost blurted something out, but the group leader quickly interrupted him, afraid he’d say something outrageous. “Of course you are, comrade. But if you joined us, you could make an even greater contribution.”

Factory Director Hu immediately tensed up. This kind of talk was dangerous—it could really sway a young man. He quickly responded, “Our Comrade Yimin has already made plenty of contributions to the country.”

“Yimin has invented all sorts of things. Many of them are already being prepared for nationwide rollout. Just take the airbag and the seatbelt—those alone will bring in a massive amount of foreign exchange for the country. Not to mention the rice cookers we’re exporting, which are already earning foreign exchange.”

The more Old Huang and his people listened, the more convinced they became that Zhou Yimin was an incredible talent. Their desire to recruit him only grew. But Factory Director Hu wasn’t wrong either—they were simply contributing in different ways.

Being able to earn foreign exchange for the country was no small feat. The nation’s reserves were still far too low. Even trying to buy equipment from abroad was difficult—not just because of American embargoes, but also because they simply didn’t have the money.

Factory Director Hu made a snap decision. “Comrades, if you want to learn more, let’s talk in the office. That way we won’t be disturbed.”

Old Huang and his team had no choice but to nod in agreement.

(End of Chapter)