The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 852 - 851: Heavenly Secrets Must Not Be Revealed

After hearing what the R&D staff had to say, Xia Wushuang couldn’t help but mutter in disappointment, "How could this machinery be more delicate than manual labor? The temporary workers our factory hired for mooncake production usually work over twelve hours a day."

Shen Mingzhu took over the conversation, "Once this batch of assembly lines is set up, workers will no longer need to work long hours; they could leave on time after an eight-hour day."

"This batch? President Shen, just how many of these production lines are you planning to install?"

Shen Mingzhu did not answer directly but looked toward the head of the laboratory next to her, "At this stage, how many production lines can we set up?"

The other replied, "We can temporarily set up five complete production lines, more will take about a month."

"How long would it take to install five production lines?"

"Transportation plus installation and debugging, at least three days, I guess."

Shen Mingzhu nodded, "Then let’s start with installing five. I’m waiting to use them, please hurry up the arrangements on your end."

"No problem."

By then, it was already half-past ten.

Having finished the work discussion, Shen Mingzhu and Xia Wushuang, along with two engineers from the lab, went to the restaurant Meng Xiaoyang had booked to have dinner and discuss further details about setting up the production lines.

After dinner, Meng Xiaoyang drove the two engineers home.

Shen Mingzhu and Xia Wushuang stayed in a nearby hotel.

"With five production lines, the daily output is six thousand seven hundred fifty boxes, and in forty days that becomes two hundred seventy thousand boxes. With workers putting in overtime, producing three hundred fifty thousand boxes of mooncakes before Mid-Autumn Festival isn’t impossible."

In the hotel elevator, Xia Wushuang counted on her fingers while discussing the plan with Shen Mingzhu.

Shen Mingzhu smiled and shook her head, "You’re being too idealistic. The production lines can’t immediately start producing once they’re assembled; we still need to train the workers in operating them. At best, we can reach a production timeline of thirty-five days."

"Ah, does that mean we won’t be able to complete the order?"

When Shen Mingzhu smiled without answering, Xia Wushuang got excited again, "President Shen, do you already have a plan?"

Shen Mingzhu teased, "Some secrets are not to be revealed."

...

"What’s this new equipment for? There hasn’t been any new product development in the factory recently, has there?"

Watching workers busily unload various machinery and kits from trucks into the emptied workshop, the entire staff curiously gathered around to watch.

"I heard these are added for the new mooncake production line. From now on, making mooncakes won’t require hiring manual workers; it’s all automated."

"I hear one production line can produce at least thirteen thousand five hundred mooncakes a day, and it only needs two operators to monitor it. Just think of the savings on labor costs!"

"Hisss, then what about those working on mooncakes? Won’t they be laid off?"

The staff were astonished at the production capacity of the new line.

The food factory hired temporary mooncake workers in groups of twenty, working twelve hours a day to produce three thousand mooncakes.

Producing thirteen thousand five hundred mooncakes would require ninety people, yet such a fully automated production line only needed two workers.

The difference was just too huge.

...

"Director Du, the food factory just brought in a bunch of new production equipment today, something about a fully automated mooncake production line that eliminates the need for temporary workers."

Mai Qiu promptly made a call to inform Du Juan.

Du Juan and the venture team led by Shen Chaobei had arrived in Ao City last night.

While touring Fu Wang’s headquarters factory led by a reception delegate of Fu Wang, Du Juan took the call from Mai Qiu.

After she briefly addressed Mai Qiu’s report, Du Juan returned to Shen Chaobei’s side.

"What’s wrong?"

Sensing her troubled demeanor, Shen Chaobei couldn’t help showing concern.

Looking at the orderly production line operations, Du Juan felt a complex mix of emotions.

Just half an hour earlier, she had been astounded and thought the trip worthwhile by witnessing Fu Wang’s advanced and standardized production lines. She was full of confidence, planning to bring these sophisticated production technologies back home to dazzle the industry.

Unexpectedly, Shen Mingzhu had already taken the initiative.

"I just realized I misunderstood Mingzhu."

Hearing her say this, Shen Chaobei grew nervous, "What’s wrong with little sister?"

Du Juan shared Shen Mingzhu’s venture into fully automated production lines with him, "I had always thought her ideas were outdated, rigidly sticking to conventions, unwilling to adapt. Turns out, I didn’t understand her. She’s moved ahead while we weren’t looking."

Shen Chaobei held her hand, "Do you regret leaving the food factory?"

"Of course not."

Du Juan’s eyes gleamed with a competitive spirit, "Since Mingzhu is ahead of us now, we just have to catch up with her. Just because we’re temporarily behind doesn’t mean we always will be. I have a lot of confidence in Fu Wang."

Shen Chaobei stared blankly.

His wife, both familiar yet somehow alien, brought him a complicated sense of understanding.

"Juan, you’re becoming more and more like little sister."

Du Juan was silent for a moment before speaking, "I do hope I can become another her."

...

At 9 AM, Shen Mingzhu led the management team to gather in the newly established mooncake production workshop.

Five production lines had already been completely installed and debugged, and fifteen trained and qualified operators were ready to begin.

The workshop’s entrance and windows were crowded with workers curious to watch.

Today was the official start of production for the mooncake line.

With Shen Mingzhu’s command, the fifteen operators went to their respective positions.

As the production line started and materials were fed in, five hundred pale yellow mooncake bases gradually appeared on the conveyor belt, were uniformly pressed into molds, and then sent to the oven to begin the first round of baking.

The entire process was fully mechanized, where operators merely needed to stand in front of the production lines and monitor.

This scene opened the eyes of not only the managers accompanying Shen Mingzhu but also amazed the workers watching from outside the workshop.

When they had first heard that the factory was installing automated production lines and that future production wouldn’t require manual labor, everyone was skeptical.

Machines don’t have brains; can they be as flexible as humans, performing any task assigned?

But seeing is believing.

Witnessing these massive, complicated, stainless steel structures rapidly produce five hundred mooncake bases in such a short amount of time completely upended their understanding.

Machines truly can replace human labor, and they do it quickly and beautifully.

As the first batch of mooncakes finished their initial baking, came out of the oven, and were moved to the cooling racks, the managers couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

"Hisss, these look really good."

"The production quality is even better than manual labor; of this entire box of mooncakes, hardly any are burnt."

Shen Mingzhu explained, "The oven for this batch of production lines uses constant temperature control. Not only is the temperature in the oven balanced, but it’s also precise down to the decimal point, practically eliminating the scenario where mooncakes are ruined due to uneven heating that happens with traditional ovens."