Chapter 14: Bicycle

【Insight System detected that the host is learning mechanical manufacturing knowledge. Activate the Insight System?】

"Activate."

【Insight System successfully activated. Current Insight Value of host detected: 7, sufficient to learn basic mechanical manufacturing knowledge.】

A torrent of information flooded into Li Mingyuan's mind; various machine tool operating procedures, process flows, and material heat treatment methods unfolded like a living film.

Mechanical principles were no longer rigid formulas and blueprints, but a three-dimensional, vivid knowledge system.

【Congratulations to the host for obtaining Proficient Level understanding of "Mechanical Manufacturing Technology"】

【Special reward obtained: Production Process Optimization Scheme has been implanted into the host's memory】

【Insight Value increased: 7→10】

Li Mingyuan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, digesting the information in his mind.

This was simply a tailor-made knowledge package, containing not only the theory of mechanical manufacturing but also practical techniques for backward conditions.

"With this knowledge, plus the design blueprints for the Type Weapon, I should be able to come up with a complete production plan," Li Mingyuan muttered to himself, taking out paper and pen to start drafting the modification plan.

A knock on the door sounded, and the voice of the technician Xiao Wang came from outside: "Chief Engineer Li, I have organized the materials."

Li Mingyuan hurriedly put the manual into the System Space, straightened his clothes, and opened the door.

Xiao Wang walked in carrying a stack of documents, "These are the production records and equipment maintenance logs for the last three months."

"Thanks, just leave them there." Li Mingyuan took the documents, flipped through them casually, and frowned, "The equipment failure rate is too high."

"Yeah, most of the machines in our factory were left over from before Liberation; it's a miracle they can even run," Xiao Wang sighed, "Some parts can't even be replaced anymore."

Li Mingyuan was thoughtful: "How about this, help me schedule a small meeting this afternoon with Chen Gong and a few Technical Backbone members."

"Alright, I'll go arrange it right away." Xiao Wang turned to leave, then suddenly remembered something, "Oh, right, Chief Engineer Li, here are your factory badge and canteen meal tickets, and also..."

He handed over a small red booklet, looking a bit embarrassed: "This is your Welfare Certificate, specially approved by the factory."

Li Mingyuan opened it to see that this booklet was stamped with the factory's official seal, stating that he could have priority in purchasing various scarce supplies, and there was even a delivery note for a "Forever" brand bicycle.

"This..." Li Mingyuan was speechless for a moment; a bicycle in this day and age was a luxury item.

"The factory issues bicycles to every Advanced engineer and leader to facilitate work," Xiao Wang explained, "You can go directly to the warehouse to pick up the bike after work."

Li Mingyuan nodded, but he was sighing in his heart.

In this era of material scarcity, a bicycle was even rarer than a luxury car in later generations.

The small meeting in the afternoon went very smoothly; Li Mingyuan proposed a preliminary plan for equipment modification and production process optimization, which was approved by most of the technical staff.

Even the usually stubborn Chen Dezhong nodded repeatedly and volunteered to lead the team to modify the lathes.

After the day's work was done, Li Mingyuan went to the factory warehouse to pick up that "Forever" brand bicycle according to the delivery note.

It was a brand-new black bicycle with 26-inch wheels, a book rack on the back seat, a crisp-sounding bell, and rubber grips on the handlebars.

This bicycle, which would be nothing out of the ordinary in the eyes of a modern person, was a high-end means of transportation that many people in this era could only dream of.

"In this era, anyone who can ride a bicycle is a person of status," Li Mingyuan muttered to himself as he rode out of the factory gate; several workers at the gate saw his new bike and couldn't help but cast envious glances.

At dusk, the gate of the Siheyuan was pushed open, and several workers who worked at the Rolling Mill returned one after another.

Liu Haizhong was acting out of character, wearing a strange smile on his face and constantly peering toward the West Courtyard.

"Master Liu, what are you looking at?" Yan Bugui was washing vegetables in the courtyard and asked curiously.

Liu Haizhong leaned in mysteriously: "Old Yan, can you guess what that newcomer Li Mingyuan in our courtyard does?"

"Isn't he just a technician at the Rolling Mill?" Yan Bugui said nonchalantly, though the cabbage in his hands stopped moving.

Liu Haizhong lowered his voice: "Technician? He's the Chief Engineer! There's only one Chief Engineer in the whole factory, and even Factory Director Lou treats him with great respect."

"What?" The vegetable in Yan Bugui's hand fell into the basin, splashing water all over him, but he didn't care, "Chief Engineer? How big of an official is that?"

"It's huge, bigger than our section chief, on the same level as the factory director, and his office is twice as big as the workshop director's," Liu Haizhong said with great excitement, "I heard he was appointed directly by the Military Industry Department to be in charge of some classified project."

Yan Bugui narrowed his eyes: "And the salary...?"

"Hehe, you don't know about this, do you?" Liu Haizhong said secretively, "I have a buddy in the finance department who secretly told me that Li Mingyuan's payslip says 186 yuan!"

"How much?" Yan Bugui cried out, "186 a month? That's impossible, right? How much does the factory director make?"

Jia Zhangshi, who was washing clothes nearby, pricked up her ears and hurriedly leaned in: "Liu Haizhong, say it again, how much money?"

"186, 186 yuan a month!" Liu Haizhong repeated, enunciating every word, "And there are special subsidies issued every quarter."

These words were like a bomb, causing an uproar in the Siheyuan.

"186? My family of three only makes 40-something together!"

"Isn't that higher than our factory director's salary? Is he bragging?!"

"No wonder they assigned him the West Courtyard; that's the best place to live in our courtyard!"

Yi Zhonghai had just entered the courtyard and heard this news; the vegetables in his hands almost fell to the ground. "Old Liu, is what you said true? Don't joke around."

"It's absolutely true!" Liu Haizhong patted his chest to guarantee it, "Otherwise, how do you think he got assigned to that small courtyard? That's a special benefit the factory gives to high-level cadres!"

The look in Yi Zhonghai's eyes changed, first to shock, then to jealousy, and finally into a strange gleam.

"Old Yi, what are you thinking about?" Long Laotai wobbled over, leaning on her cane, and asked with narrowed eyes.

Yi Zhonghai came back to his senses, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth: "Nothing, just thinking that this Li Mingyuan is truly a capable young man."

Long Laotai understood, nodded, and said: "It's time to properly 'take care' of him."

Jia Zhangshi was so angry that her chest heaved: "What's so special about that? Getting such a high salary at such a young age, there must be something wrong. Either he pulled strings or he's a bootlicker, hmph!"

Just then, Li Mingyuan pushed his bicycle into the courtyard gate, instantly becoming the focus of the entire courtyard.

Yan Bugui saw Li Mingyuan pushing the bicycle in, stood up with a start, and his eyes went wide.

"A bicycle? A new one?"

He Yuzhu ran out from the kitchen with a steamed bun in his mouth; seeing the brand-new bicycle, he was also dumbfounded.

"Wow, new uncle, you have a bicycle!"

Everyone in the academy heard the news and rushed over, surrounding Li Mingyuan and his bicycle in a tight circle.

"A Forever brand, how much must this cost?"

"At least two hundred yuan or more."

"Look at the paint, it's brand new; it must have just come out of the factory."