Everyone knows that the clay red bricks currently produced in China are traditional high-temperature "fired bricks," but their production process has significant drawbacks.
The production of red bricks requires a large amount of clay, thus consuming considerable land resources. If this continues, it will damage the local ecological environment.
Furthermore, the firing of red bricks not only consumes a vast amount of coal resources but also causes severe air pollution. Additionally, traditional red bricks, while having high hardness, have poor seismic resistance. In the event of an earthquake, they can cause severe harm to people, leading to significant casualties.
Therefore, Chen Lan plans to produce a new type of environmentally friendly building brick, fired shale brick, in addition to the existing clay brick production. These can be used together to build houses and factories in a more environmentally friendly manner, reducing pollution in the surrounding county.
Fired shale brick is a new type of environmentally friendly hollow brick, representing a process of waste reuse. It uses shale and gangue, which are currently waste materials, as raw materials, and through modern new technologies and high-temperature firing, it creates a practical and environmentally friendly hollow brick.
Gangue, on the other hand, is waste material from coal mining and coal washing. After being crushed by a pulverizer, it becomes raw material for producing hollow bricks, which can reduce pollution and save costs.
Hollow bricks produced using this material as raw material are not only of high quality but also have a uniform color. Their characteristics include: high strength, good thermal insulation, sound insulation, excellent compressive and wear resistance, and super frost resistance.
Most importantly, it can also be used as a raw material for making concrete. Cement made with this material as raw material is not only lighter than ordinary concrete but also has good fire resistance, strong crack resistance, and higher seismic resistance than ordinary cement.
Crucially, the construction methods for cement and hollow bricks produced using this material as raw material are exactly the same as those for traditional clay red bricks, and the construction tools used are also the same.
Its only drawback is that it is slightly more expensive than ordinary clay red bricks. However, with Chen Lan's current fully mechanized production, labor costs have been significantly reduced, eliminating the issue of high prices.
Therefore, the most urgent task now is the procurement, installation, and commissioning of the new brick-making machines.
The procurement of machines is relatively easy. With the omnipotent system, Chen Lan can handle it in minutes. The key is the installation and debugging of the machines, which will be left to Xiang Xi, Xiao Shuan, and a few others.
Then, they will patiently wait for the arrival of the Xiang Dong brothers and Er Hu.
The first thing the couple received was an urgent telegram sent by their eldest son-in-law, Tan Weidang, to their home in the capital. The telegram stated that they would arrive at the capital train station the day after tomorrow in the early morning and asked the couple to pick them up by car.
Knowing that Tan Weidang was bringing people from the valley, the couple immediately drove to the county investment promotion office again, finding Deputy Director Sun. They asked him to help contact the coal mine to purchase gangue and the quarry to purchase shale and road construction materials on behalf of the county government.
This is because coal yards and mines are currently state-owned units. It would be better for the county government to mediate.
Deputy Director Sun asked curiously, "Comrade Tan, what are you preparing to do with the gangue and shale?"
Xu Mingxuan smiled and explained, "My wife and I plan to buy a new hollow brick production line to reduce the excessive reliance on clay."
At the same time, the couple also promised Deputy Director Sun that in return for the county government's assistance, they were willing to help repair the road in front of the county government building for free.
Hearing this condition, how could Director Sun refuse? He stood up excitedly, bowed, and said, "Please wait for me for a moment, I'll be right back."
Before Deputy Director Sun finished speaking, he rushed out the door.
County Mayor Zhang and County Party Secretary Liu soon arrived with Deputy Director Sun.
After shaking hands and sitting down, County Mayor Zhang inquired about the matter. Once it was confirmed that the couple truly intended to repair the road, County Mayor Zhang glanced at Secretary Liu.
Chen Lan understood from their exchanged glances that there must be something going on. Since Chen Lan had no time for their riddles, she asked, "County Mayor Zhang, Secretary Liu, please feel free to raise any questions. If my husband and I can handle them, we will certainly do our best!"
Upon hearing Chen Lan say this, Secretary Liu looked at Xu Mingxuan, who immediately replied, "That's right, leaders. If you have anything, please say it quickly. We will absolutely not refuse if we can do it!"
It was as if the two had been waiting for the couple's words. Secretary Liu then said, "Comrade Tan, could you two just invest and let the county transportation bureau handle the road construction?"
Xu Mingxuan glanced at Chen Lan. Chen Lan smiled and said, "We would be delighted. We are currently short-handed, and it would be best if their professional team could handle it!"
With that, Chen Lan looked at the two leaders and continued, "However, we need to be clear about the terms upfront. During the entire road construction process, they must all listen to our construction team leader! Because in addition to funding the purchase of raw materials and paying the workers' wages, we will also provide the county transportation bureau with the most advanced machinery and equipment for free. We will arrange for personnel to guide the actual operation of all machinery and equipment on-site to ensure the speed and quality of project completion."
With such a good deal, how could the two county leaders refuse? Without a word, they both readily agreed!
Next, they would naturally discuss the details of cooperation with the director of the county transportation bureau.
With the leadership of the county government taking the lead, the progress of the matter was incredibly smooth! Many things became much easier to handle.
On the morning of the third day, the couple left home without eating breakfast. Each driving an old Dongfeng, they went to the capital train station to pick up their guests.
The arrival of the main force from the valley was like adding wings to a tiger. Chen Lan first assigned Zheng Sanpao and Chen Erlin to liathe county government's arranged personnel for the raw materials for hollow brick production.
After the two drove away, Chen Lan purchased tents for nighttime use and awnings for business from the system. She arranged for Xu Mingxuan to lead people in setting up temporary tents and a temporary kitchen. Sun Xiaomei and a few other wives were responsible for the temporary kitchen.
Zhao Tie and his wife Liu Man'er, and Chen Daxing and his wife Chen Dasao, split into two groups. They were responsible for leading people to cooperate with the county transportation bureau to build a road from the county seat of Gu'an to their new village in the valley.
Yes, that's right. Xu Mingxuan named the new village "Shangu Xin Cun" (Valley New Village).