Chapter 12: Reporting to the Rolling Mill

"I heard you and Jia Zhangshi had some misunderstanding?" Yi Zhonghai asked tentatively.

Li Mingyuan gave a cold laugh, "A misunderstanding? She trespassed into a private residence and even tried to snatch my things; you call this a misunderstanding?"

Yi Zhonghai was taken aback. It was just as he had guessed; Jia Zhangshi had concealed the truth.

"What did she tell you?" Li Mingyuan looked straight into Yi Zhonghai's eyes.

Yi Zhonghai felt somewhat uncomfortable, "She said you... pointed a knife at her..."

"So what if I did?" Li Mingyuan admitted frankly, "She trespassed into my home and wanted to snatch the meat in my pot. If I didn't use a knife, was I supposed to use a broom?"

Yi Zhonghai had not expected Li Mingyuan to be so direct and was momentarily speechless.

"Master Yi," Li Mingyuan's voice was calm and firm, "I know you are the 'patriarch' of the courtyard, but that does not mean you can interfere in my private affairs. What I buy and what I eat does not need to be reported to anyone. Whoever dares to break into my home, I have the right to expel, even if I have to use a kitchen knife."

Yi Zhonghai looked into Li Mingyuan's eyes and suddenly felt a chill.

How could this be a young man who had just graduated from school? This gaze was clearly that of a veteran who had experienced great storms.

"Comrade Li, I understand your position," Yi Zhonghai softened his tone, "but we are neighbors after all, and harmony brings wealth. Although Jia Zhangshi has a hasty temper, she is not a bad person. You scaring her with a knife was indeed a bit much..."

"A bit much?" Li Mingyuan interrupted him, "Then according to Master Yi's meaning, what should I have done? Let her snatch my things away?"

Yi Zhonghai was stumped by the question. After a moment of silence, he said, "How about this: if there are any conflicts in the future, you can come to me for mediation. Don't resort to knives or guns; it hurts the harmony."

Li Mingyuan gave a cold smile, "Master Yi, you have one thing wrong. I don't need mediation, nor do I care about harmony. I just want peace and quiet. Tell Jia Zhangshi, don't come to provoke me again, otherwise..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but that gaze had already conveyed enough of a threat.

Yi Zhonghai felt a shiver in his heart; this young man was not easy to deal with! He hurriedly put on a smiling face, "Comrade Li, you speak too seriously. I will pass the message to Jia Zhangshi and tell her not to disturb you again."

Li Mingyuan nodded, "Then thank you, Master Yi." Having said that, he closed the door without waiting for Yi Zhonghai to say anything more.

Yi Zhonghai stood outside the door, the smile on his face gradually disappearing, replaced by a trace of worry.

"This Li Mingyuan is not easy to handle..." he muttered to himself, "It seems I have to change my approach."

Yi Zhonghai returned home and sat in his chair, pondering for a long time. This Li Mingyuan was not a character to be easily manipulated; Jia Zhangshi had kicked an iron plate this time.

"First, appease Jia Zhangshi, let her vent her anger, and don't go provoking Li Mingyuan again." Yi Zhonghai calculated, "Then observe slowly and find an opportunity to approach Li Mingyuan again. Such a capable young man must have many secrets..."

Afterwards, Yi Zhonghai went to Jia Zhangshi's house.

"How is it, Old Yi? Did you teach that brat a lesson?" Jia Zhangshi asked eagerly as soon as she saw Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai sighed, "Sister Zhang, to tell you the truth, this Li Mingyuan is not someone to be trifled with."

"What do you mean?" Jia Zhangshi's expression changed.

"He is a technical expert sent by the higher-ups with a deep background." Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice, "I asked the comrades at the Street Office; this person is directly responsible to the Military Industry Department. It is best if we don't provoke him."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi's arrogance immediately dropped by three points, "This... what can be done? Are we just going to let it go like this?"

"Endure for a moment and the wind will be calm and the waves will be still," Yi Zhonghai advised, "It won't be too late to find an opportunity when he makes a mistake one day."

Although Jia Zhangshi was unwilling, she knew that if she couldn't afford to offend him, she had to stay out of his way, so she nodded sullenly, "Fine, let it go this time. But this West Courtyard..."

"Don't even think about it," Yi Zhonghai interrupted her, "That was arranged by the higher-ups; no one can change it. You should think about Dongxu's marriage instead; don't keep obsessing over the West Courtyard."

Jia Zhangshi gritted her teeth and reluctantly agreed.

The next morning, Li Mingyuan got up early.

He put on that simple Zhongshan suit, straightened his collar in front of the mirror, his face full of anticipation. Today was the day to officially report to the Rolling Mill.

"System, check current attributes."

【Host: Li Mingyuan

Insight Value: 7

Skills Mastered:

Basic Machinery Principles (Proficient)

Basic Firearms Design and Manufacturing (Proficient)

Type Gun Family Full Technology (Special Reward)

Culinary Arts (Proficient)】

"The Insight Value is only 7 points; it's still not enough." Li Mingyuan frowned.

When he went out, he found He Yuzhu already waiting for him in the courtyard.

"New Uncle, I heard you are going to work at the Rolling Mill today. My dad and Uncle Liu are both there; let me take you!" He Yuzhu said with a fawning expression.

Li Mingyuan smiled: "No need, I can go by myself."

Just as he was about to leave, Jia Zhangshi rushed out from the Central Courtyard, but upon seeing Li Mingyuan, she immediately turned her head and snorted.

Li Mingyuan didn't care at all and strode out of the Siheyuan with his head held high.

The Rolling Mill was not far from the Siheyuan, just over ten minutes' walk.

"So this is the Hongxing Rolling Mill?" Li Mingyuan looked at the big red slogan in front of the gate, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

"Hello, may I ask what you are here for?" The guard stopped him.

"I am the new Technical Chief Engineer, Li Mingyuan."

Upon hearing this name, the guard's eyes widened: "You are Chief Engineer Li? The Factory Director told me to wait for you here!"

He hurriedly made a phone call: "Lou Changzhang, Chief Engineer Li has arrived!"

In less than two minutes, the factory gate became lively.

A middle-aged man in his forties, accompanied by a dozen people who looked like cadres, walked out quickly to greet him, his face full of smiles.

"Chief Engineer Li, I've heard so much about you! I am the Factory Director, Lou Bancheng." The middle-aged man reached out enthusiastically.

Seeing this middle-aged man, Li Mingyuan understood; this was likely Lou Xiaoe's father.

However, he had not expected the Factory Director to come and greet him personally, so he hurriedly reached out to shake his hand: "Hello, Lou Changzhang, please take care of me."

"Chief Engineer Li is too polite. The higher-ups have instructed us to fully cooperate with your work." Lou Changzhang patted him on the shoulder, "Come, I'll take you to the workshop for a tour. Today, we have specifically gathered all the Technical Backbone of the factory to wait for you!"

Li Mingyuan followed Factory Director Lou into the factory area, and the workers passing by all stopped to look at this young man with curiosity.

"Is this our new Chief Engineer Li Mingyuan? He's an expert at such a young age?"

"I heard he returned from studying abroad in Polar Bear, which is a powerhouse in mechanical manufacturing."

"He's a recipient of a Second Class Merit, sent specially by the Military Industry Department!"

The sounds of discussion rose and fell.

In the Main Workshop, more than twenty engineers and technicians had already been waiting for a long time.

Among them, an old man with graying hair was clearly the leader; the others surrounded him, whispering to each other from time to time.

"Everyone, this is our new Chief Engineer, Comrade Li Mingyuan!" Factory Director Lou introduced loudly, "Chief Engineer Li was sent directly by the Military Industry Department to guide our work; everyone must cooperate fully!"

The crowd applauded, but their expressions were all different. There was surprise, curiosity, as well as disdain and skepticism.

Li Mingyuan looked around; the equipment in this workshop was indeed rudimentary, mostly old machines from the thirties and forties, and some were even imported goods from before.

"Chief Engineer Li, this is our factory's veteran expert, Comrade Chen Dezhong, who has been engaged in mechanical manufacturing for over thirty years." Factory Director Lou introduced the white-haired old man.

Chen Dezhong frowned as he sized up Li Mingyuan, scanning him up and down several times, and did not reach out his hand.

"Factory Director Lou, are you sure this is the Chief Engineer sent by the higher-ups?" Chen Dezhong sneered, "He looks like he's not much older than my grandson."

The workshop went quiet instantly.

Factory Director Lou's expression was somewhat ugly: "Old Chen, although Chief Engineer Li is young, he is highly learned, and the Military Industry Department speaks highly of him..."

"Learned?" Chen Dezhong interrupted, "Then I would like to test this 'expert'."

He pointed to a grinding machine in the workshop: "Chief Engineer Li, tell us what the problem is with this machine? We've been repairing it for a month and haven't fixed it."

The engineers looked at each other; this was a difficult problem, and even they hadn't solved it.

Li Mingyuan walked up to the grinding machine, looked at it for only three seconds, reached out and pressed a certain corner, then tightened two bolts, and finally connected the power.

"Give it a try."

A worker operated it hesitantly, and the grinding machine actually ran steadily without any abnormal noise.

"This is an HK-60 Type Grinding Machine produced by Hans ten years ago; there is an error in the installation of the main shaft bearing, plus the positioning pin of the gearbox is worn out." Li Mingyuan said in a flat tone, "An average person wouldn't be able to discover it, because the design blueprints don't mark the tolerance for this positioning pin at all."

The workshop was in an uproar.