pjbooks Chapter 164 Counterfeiting Impact, Breaking the Quality Impasse
Chapter 164 Counterfeiting Impact, Breaking the Quality Impasse
In April, the chill of winter had faded from Zhangcheng, and new green shoots were sprouting on the fields on the outskirts of the city. Inside the Chenqing Hardware Factory workshop, a scene of bustling activity unfolded. The roar of furnaces rose and fell, and technicians busied themselves around the newly improved semi-automatic casting machine. The finished plowshare parts were neatly arranged on the cooling racks, gleaming with a silvery-gray metallic luster. Lin Chen carefully measured the dimensions of the parts with calipers. Every measurement was precisely within the tolerance range. He nodded in satisfaction and handed the inspection record to Su Qing beside him.
"We received news from the supply and marketing cooperative that the first batch of 500 sets of spare parts has sold out. Director Zhang is urging us to make up the shortfall as soon as possible." Su Qing held the telegram she had just received in her hand, her face beaming with joy. "The feedback from the sales points in various townships is very good. They say that the farmers are praising the durability of our spare parts, and several elderly farmers have even come to ask if they can pre-order next year's goods."
Lin Chen took the telegram, his fingertips tracing the words "supply falls short of demand," and a sense of reassurance welled up inside him. Since reaching a sales agreement with the supply and marketing cooperative, the factory's production had never stopped. Not only had all debts been paid off, but five more skilled workers had been hired, and the newly introduced casting machine had also come in very handy. Just as he was about to start arranging for increased production, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the workshop door. Old Chen, who was in charge of deliveries, rushed in anxiously, clutching a deformed plowshare part in his hand.
"Director Lin, Accountant Su, something terrible has happened!" Old Chen wiped the sweat from his brow and slammed the parts in his hand onto the table. "I just came back from delivering goods to Qingxi Commune. On the way, I ran into a few farmers who came to me with these things, saying that our parts are of very poor quality and cracked after only a few days of use!"
Lin Chen frowned and picked up the accessory on the table to examine it closely. The accessory was almost identical in shape to the plowshare accessory from Chenqing Hardware, but it was noticeably lighter in his hand, and the casting marks on the surface were rough and the edges were burrs. He scratched the paint layer on the surface of the accessory with his fingernail, and yellowish rust was immediately revealed underneath, obviously made of inferior pig iron.
"This isn't from our factory," Lin Chen said definitively. "We use chromium-containing alloy materials, and the surface is phosphated, so it's impossible for it to rust so quickly. Besides, our parts all have unique stamped markings; look at this one, it doesn't even have a mark."
Su Qing also came over to examine it carefully, her expression gradually becoming serious: "I heard that a small hardware factory called 'Changlong' opened in the neighboring town last month. The boss used to be a foundry worker in a state-owned factory. I didn't expect them to be counterfeiting our products." She paused, then added, "Just now, the sales point in Qingxi Commune also called, saying that more than a dozen farmers brought counterfeit products and asked for refunds and exchanges, and said they would report us for fraud to the Industry and Commerce Bureau."
The technicians in the workshop, hearing the commotion, gathered around, buzzing with discussion. Old Wang, in charge of the smelting, slapped his thigh in anger: "Those despicable bastards! We painstakingly improved our process, and they just copy it and use inferior materials! Isn't this ruining our reputation?" Young technician Xiao Zhou was also anxious: "If the farmers believe their lies, how are we supposed to sell our goods? Maybe we should lower our prices and fight them!"
"Lowering prices isn't the solution." Lin Chen waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "They're using inferior pig iron, and their costs are more than half of ours. If we compete by lowering prices, we'll only lose everything. Besides, lowering prices will make farmers think our products are on the same level as counterfeit goods, making it even harder for us to survive."
"What do we do then? We can't just stand by and watch them steal our business, can we?" Old Chen was pacing anxiously. Lin Chen pondered for a moment, picked up the counterfeit products on the table, and compared them with his own genuine products. Suddenly, his eyes lit up: "They can imitate the appearance, but they can't imitate the quality. Our core advantage is wear resistance and durability, which is what farmers value most. Since they want to compete, we'll compete with them on quality and let the facts speak for themselves."
Su Qing immediately understood Lin Chen's meaning. She took out paper and pen and quickly wrote down: "I'll contact all the sales outlets now and tell them to suspend returns and exchanges, and let the farmers who have doubts come to the factory for a visit tomorrow. In addition, I'll ask Director Zhang to help me invite the heads of the agricultural machinery stations of Qingxi Commune and Liuxi Commune to come over as witnesses."
"Okay!" Lin Chen nodded, then turned to the technicians and said, "Old Wang, you work overtime today to refine a batch of standard samples for our wear resistance test. Xiao Zhou, go prepare two iron plates of the same specifications and adjust the wear resistance testing machine. The rest of you, continue production as usual. Show us your best technology and let the people who come tomorrow see our capabilities."
Everyone responded in unison, and the anxiety in the workshop was gradually replaced by fighting spirit. Lin Chen watched everyone's busy figures, then picked up the counterfeit product and examined it repeatedly, his fingertips tracing its rough surface. He knew that this was not only a contest of quality, but also a crucial battle for Chenqing Hardware to gain a foothold in the market. If they lost, the reputation they had built up would be ruined; if they won, they could completely open up the market and truly make the "Chenqing Precision Craftsmanship" brand deeply rooted in people's hearts.
As the sunset painted the sky crimson, Lin Chen and Su Qing were still in the office preparing for tomorrow's presentation. Su Qing posted a printed flowchart on the wall, detailing the tour route, key points of the process explanation, and testing procedures, with each step clearly marked. Lin Chen, meanwhile, drew a schematic diagram of the wear resistance test principle on the blackboard, along with a comparison of wear resistance data for different materials.
"I've already spoken with Director Zhang, and he'll be bringing the heads of all the sales outlets over first thing tomorrow morning. Station Chief Wang and Station Chief Li from the agricultural machinery station have also agreed to attend." Su Qing handed Lin Chen a cup of hot tea. "However, I'm a little worried. Those farmers have been burned by counterfeit products so many times, will they be unwilling to trust us?"
Lin Chen took the hot tea, the rising steam blurring his features: "Farmers are the most honest; seeing is believing. Let them see the production process with their own eyes, touch our products with their own hands, and do on-site testing. They'll naturally be able to tell the difference between genuine and fake, good and bad. By the way, bring our test reports and raw material purchase vouchers tomorrow, and also prepare a few copies of user feedback records. These are our foundation."
The next morning, the entrance to Chenqing Hardware Factory was crowded with people. More than twenty farmers stood at the front, carrying hoes, their faces showing doubt and dissatisfaction; Station Chief Wang from Qingxi Commune and Station Chief Li from Liuxi Commune stood side by side, their expressions serious; Director Zhang, accompanied by the heads of five sales outlets, held notebooks, ready to record the visit. Su Qing stood at the entrance, warmly welcoming everyone and handing out product brochures, while Lin Chen, dressed in brand-new work clothes, waited at the workshop entrance.
"Director Lin, we're not here to show our support today." A dark-skinned middle-aged farmer stepped forward from the crowd, holding up a cracked counterfeit product. "My neighbor bought some of your parts, and they cracked after only three days. That's why I didn't dare buy any more. If you don't give us an explanation today, we'll report you to the Industry and Commerce Bureau!"
"Brother, don't rush. Come with me into the workshop first." Lin Chen smiled and stepped forward, taking the counterfeit from his hand. "Don't worry, today I'll not only give you an explanation, but I'll also let you see for yourself what real Chenqing parts are." He stepped aside to make way and gestured for them to come. "Everyone, follow me. Let's start by looking at the raw materials."
The group followed Lin Chen into the raw material area, where piles of scrap gears were neatly stacked on the shelves, with the raw material composition and origin written on a blackboard next to them. Old Wang picked up a scrap gear and stepped forward to introduce it: "We use scrap gears from the state-owned machine tool factory. The chromium content reaches 1.2%, and the hardness is more than twice that of ordinary pig iron. Look, this is the goods that just arrived yesterday, and there's even a delivery note from the scrap yard." As he spoke, he took out a thick book of receipts, stamped with the scrap yard's official seal.
The farmers crowded around to examine the receipts, then picked up the scrap gears and weighed them in their hands, their doubts lessening. Lin Chen pointed to a pile of inferior pig iron beside him and said, "Take a look at this too. This is the raw material used for counterfeit products. It has excessive carbon content and many impurities, making it prone to cracking under stress. Our parts undergo four processes: smelting, forging, quenching, and polishing. Each process has strict testing, which counterfeiters simply cannot replicate."
The group followed Lin Chen to the smelting workshop. A massive furnace roared to life, its flames reflecting the focused faces of the technicians. Lin Chen picked up a long-handled ladle and scooped a spoonful of molten iron from the furnace. The orange-red molten iron churned in the ladle, emitting a dazzling light: "Look, everyone, the color of this molten iron is orange-red, which means the temperature is exactly 1500 degrees Celsius. This temperature allows chromium to fully fuse into the molten iron, increasing the wear resistance of the parts. Counterfeits, to save fuel, only reach 1200 degrees Celsius; the raw materials aren't even fully melted."
In the forging workshop, technicians were operating hydraulic presses to forge parts, each press producing a dull thud. Lin Chen picked up a freshly forged semi-finished product and explained, "Our parts undergo three forging processes to make the metal grains finer, allowing them to withstand greater pressure. Counterfeits are only forged once; the surface looks smooth, but the inside is full of air pockets." As he spoke, he gently tapped the semi-finished product with a hammer, producing a crisp sound, while the counterfeit next to it made a dull "thud" sound when tapped.
Upon entering the quenching workshop, the farmers began asking questions. The middle-aged farmer who had led the questioning earlier pointed to the components in the quenching pool and asked, "Director Lin, what's the purpose of this step? Isn't it redundant?"
"This step is the most crucial," Lin Chen explained with a smile. "After the parts are forged, they need to be quenched in cold water. This increases the surface hardness and makes the parts more wear-resistant. Our quenching temperature is controlled at 800 degrees Celsius, and the cooling time is accurate to the second. Counterfeit products are not quenched at all, and their hardness is far inferior." As he spoke, he picked up a quenched part and scratched its surface with a key. It did not leave any mark, while the counterfeit product was scratched deeply with just one stroke.
Finally, everyone arrived at the testing workshop. Xiao Zhou had already set up the abrasion resistance testing machine. Next to it were two iron plates of the same specifications, with Chen Qing's genuine parts and Changlong Factory's counterfeit parts fixed on them respectively. Lin Chen picked up the microphone and said to everyone, "Now we'll do the abrasion resistance test. The testing machine will rotate at fifty revolutions per minute, simulating the state of a plow in the field. Let's see how many friction cycles the two parts can withstand."
As Xiao Zhou pressed the start button, the testing machine began to run. The parts rubbed rapidly against the iron plate, making a "sizzling" sound and sparks flying. Station Master Wang took out his pocket watch to keep track of the time, while Station Master Li took out his notebook to record the data. The farmers held their breath, staring intently at the testing machine. The only sound in the workshop was the hum of the machine.
"Fifty times!" "One hundred times!" Someone began to count quietly. When the count reached one hundred and fifty times, the counterfeit suddenly made a crisp "crack" sound. Everyone looked closely and saw that a long crack had appeared on the edge of the counterfeit, and the friction surface had been worn into a deep groove. Chen Qing's genuine accessories, on the other hand, remained intact, with only slight wear on the friction surface.
"Stop!" Lin Chen shouted, and Xiao Zhou immediately turned off the testing machine. Lin Chen picked up the cracked counterfeit product and showed it to everyone: "Look, the counterfeit product cracked after only 150 frictions, while our genuine product won't have any problems even after 1,000 frictions." He then told Xiao Zhou to continue testing. When the count reached 1,000, he pressed the stop button. Although the friction surface of the genuine product was somewhat shiny, there were no cracks or deformations.
"Good!" A round of applause erupted from the crowd. The middle-aged farmer who had led the questioning earlier stepped forward and grasped Lin Chen's hand tightly: "Director Lin, I'm convinced! I misunderstood you earlier. Your parts are indeed high-quality. I'll order twenty sets right now and take some to everyone in our village."
Other farmers also crowded around to place orders, and the person in charge of the sales point even requested an increase in restocking on the spot. Station Chief Wang and Station Chief Li exchanged a glance, both showing expressions of approval. Station Chief Wang stepped forward and said, "Director Lin, today has truly been an eye-opener. Your production technology and product quality are even better than those of state-owned factories. From now on, our Qingxi Commune's agricultural machinery station will only buy from you!"
Just then, a commotion erupted at the workshop entrance. A middle-aged man in a suit stormed in with two young men. It was Zhao Changming, the owner of Changlong Hardware Factory. Seeing the scene in the workshop, his face turned pale, then red. Pointing at Lin Chen, he shouted, "What right do you have to slander our products? Our parts are also up to standard!"
Lin Chen looked at him calmly: "Boss Zhao, I didn't slander your product. Everyone saw the test just now. Your parts use inferior raw materials and simplified processes, making them not only not wear-resistant but also prone to breakage. Isn't this harming farmers?"
"I...our products have certificates of conformity!" Zhao Changming pulled a crumpled certificate of conformity from his bag, but Director Zhang snatched it away. Director Zhang flipped through a few pages, then sneered, "This certificate of conformity is forged, isn't it? The quality inspection stamp of state-owned factories doesn't look like this at all, and your raw material testing reports are all fake." As he spoke, he took out his phone and dialed the Industry and Commerce Bureau. "Hello, is this the Industry and Commerce Bureau? There's a hardware factory here called Changlong that's forging certificates of conformity and producing substandard products. Can you come and handle this?"
Zhao Changming's face turned deathly pale, and his legs buckled, nearly causing him to fall. Two young men quickly caught him. Looking at the angry farmers and stern-faced officials around him, he knew he was completely finished. He slumped to the ground, speechless. The officials verified the situation, immediately confiscated Changlong Factory's relevant permits, and stated they would recall all counterfeit products already sold.
After the commotion subsided, the farmers' enthusiasm for ordering surged, and they placed orders for over three hundred sets of parts in less than an hour. Su Qing beamed with joy as she held the orders. Director Zhang walked over to Lin Chen and patted him on the shoulder: "Director Lin, you've really given our supply and marketing cooperative a lot of face this time. I think we can deepen our cooperation and sell your parts to other counties in the region."
Lin Chen smiled and nodded, his gaze sweeping over the busy figures in the workshop, a wave of emotion washing over him. He suddenly recalled the cold night in the courtyard when he was reborn, the trepidation of his first time fusing scrap metal, the anxiety of the financial crisis, and now, he had finally established himself with his technology and integrity. He picked up the microphone and announced to everyone, "To thank everyone for their trust, Chenqing Hardware promises a three-year warranty on all parts. Any quality issues within three years will be replaced free of charge!"
"Bravo!" Applause erupted again, even more enthusiastic than before. Sunlight streamed through the workshop windows, illuminating the Chenqing Hardware signboard and reflecting a dazzling light. Lin Chen looked at the order form Su Qing handed him, densely packed with names—all testaments to their products' success. He knew that this battle of quality had not only won them the market but also won them hearts and minds, and that Chenqing Hardware's future was just beginning.
That evening, Chenqing Hardware Factory held a simple celebration banquet. The canteen was filled with tables and chairs, and the technicians raised their glasses in celebration, their faces beaming with pride. Old Chen, holding a wine glass, walked up to Lin Chen and downed it in one gulp: "Director Lin, working for you gives us peace of mind!" Su Qing also came over with a teacup, her eyes sparkling: "Lin Chen, we did it! Our reputation is established!"
Lin Chen stood up and raised his glass: "This is not my achievement alone, but the result of everyone's hard work. In the future, we will develop better products, build bigger factories, and spread the Chenqing Precision Machinery brand throughout the country!" Everyone responded in unison, and the sound of clinking glasses echoed in the night, foreshadowing an even brighter future for Chenqing Hardware.