Chapter 18: So What If It Was Intentional?

Li Mingyuan said calmly, "When I was studying abroad in Polar Bear, I came into contact with some advanced equipment. Since returning to the country, I have been thinking about how to improve our production processes."

Cheng Yanhai's Shanyanghu trembled: "Continuous Rolling Mill... I never even heard of this concept when I was studying in Polar Bear! Is this your original creation?"

Li Mingyuan nodded modestly: "You could say that. It is mainly a design that incorporates our country's national conditions."

Factory Lou Changzhang was already so shocked he couldn't speak. He grabbed Chen Dezhong's arm, his voice trembling: "Old Chen, this... if this can really be made..."

Chen Dezhong was likewise shaking all over from shock: "Then our factory... no, the entire country's steel industry will be transformed!!"

Li Mingyuan continued to explain: "The core of the Continuous Rolling Mill lies in the coordination between the Transmission System and the control mechanism. I have already designed detailed working blueprints; as long as the parts are machined according to the dimensions on them, it can be assembled."

Li Shouzheng's old face was flushed with excitement: "Xiao Li, this design of yours is not only useful for military projects, it has revolutionary significance for the entire steel industry! We must report this immediately and strive for more support!"

Cheng Yanhai also nodded repeatedly: "Right, if this kind of equipment can be applied on a large scale, it could increase our country's steel production efficiency several times over! Xiao Li, you have made a great contribution to the country!"

Factory Lou Changzhang was already so excited he was incoherent: "Chief Engineer Li... you... you really are the lucky star of our factory! With this equipment, the history of our factory will be rewritten!"

Chen Dezhong was even more excited as he grabbed Li Mingyuan's hand: "Chief Engineer Li, I had some prejudices against you before; I was truly blind! Please forgive an old man's stubbornness!"

Li Mingyuan smiled modestly: "Old Chen, what are you saying? Everyone is doing this for the sake of the country's construction."

In the following meeting, Li Mingyuan explained in detail the working principle and manufacturing method of the Continuous Rolling Mill. Every step was explained clearly and lucidly, leaving the experts present enthralled.

"I have never thought of this kind of precision control method!"

"The Transmission System design is too ingenious!"

"The heat treatment process can actually be simplified like this!"

The experts praised it one after another, and even Factory Lou Changzhang, a layman, could feel the revolutionary significance of this technology.

When the meeting ended, Li Shouzheng solemnly grasped Li Mingyuan's hand: "Xiao Li, with talent like you, our country's path to industrialization will surely be faster and more stable!"

Cheng Yanhai also excitedly patted Li Mingyuan's shoulder: "I have never seen such an innovative design in my life! If you were in Polar Bear, you would have been an academician-level expert long ago!"

Li Mingyuan smiled and accepted everyone's praise, though he felt secretly happy inside.

The knowledge in the system had finally come in very useful, and the effect was even better than expected.

"Experts, tomorrow we will start working on modifying the first piece of equipment. I welcome your guidance," Li Mingyuan said.

Li Shouzheng nodded: "That is a must. We came this time specifically to assist you in completing the project with all our might. By the way, how is that firearm design of yours coming along?"

"The design drawings for the Type Weapon System are already finished. We can start trial production after the equipment is modified," Li Mingyuan answered confidently.

"Good! Then let's strike while the iron is hot and get the equipment done first!" Li Shouzheng said excitedly.

After seeing off the Expert Group, Factory Lou Changzhang was still immersed in shock. He pulled Li Mingyuan's hand and said excitedly: "Chief Engineer Li, I really didn't expect you to have such great ability! A Continuous Rolling Mill... this is an invention without precedent!"

Li Mingyuan laughed: "Factory Lou Changzhang is too kind. This is just a small idea of mine; whether it can succeed depends on actual operation."

"It will definitely succeed!" Factory Lou Changzhang was full of confidence, "With you here, there is nothing that cannot be done!"

Just as he walked out of the conference room, Li Mingyuan saw Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong standing at the end of the corridor, staring at him with gloomy expressions.

Li Mingyuan smiled slightly and strode past, leaving the two of them behind, their teeth itching with anger.

"People, you can't be too arrogant," Yi Zhonghai said in a low voice as he watched Li Mingyuan's retreating back. "No matter how capable you are, you still have to pay attention to human relationships and worldly wisdom. This kid doesn't take old workers seriously at all; he will pay the price sooner or later!"

Liu Haizhong gritted his teeth: "Don't be impatient. The tides turn; he's smug now, but let's wait and see!"

……

At eight o'clock in the evening, Li Mingyuan rode his bicycle back to the Siheyuan.

Just as he entered the courtyard gate, he felt that something was wrong.

The courtyard was strangely quiet, with only the sound of cicadas chirping hoarsely.

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Jia Dongxu were already waiting there. As soon as they saw Li Mingyuan enter the gate, Liu Haizhong rushed up as if he had run into a sworn enemy.

"Chief Engineer Li, you've returned!" Liu Haizhong's voice was sarcastic, a cold sneer hanging on the corner of his mouth.

Li Mingyuan keenly sensed something was wrong, so he simply parked his bike and stood straight to face the three of them.

"Do you gentlemen have business?"

"Business?" Yi Zhonghai walked up, his eyes sharp. "Comrade Li Mingyuan, we have a major matter to ask you about!"

Jia Dongxu stood behind the two of them; although he didn't dare to look directly at Li Mingyuan, his eyes were full of resentment.

"That assessment of yours today was clearly a deliberate attempt to make things difficult for us!" Liu Haizhong pointed at Li Mingyuan's nose. "Those strange, bizarre questions—who could possibly answer them?"

Li Mingyuan raised an eyebrow, understanding in his heart; so they had come to settle scores over this.

"If you couldn't pass, you couldn't pass. Why blame me?"

"Stop playing dumb!" Yi Zhonghai was so angry his face turned green. "We asked around; everyone else was tested on simple questions. Only the three of us—you specifically gave us hard ones!"

People who wanted to watch the excitement gradually gathered in the courtyard. Long Laotai stood in a corner leaning on her cane, squinting her eyes and not missing a single detail.

Li Mingyuan chuckled and said nonchalantly: "If you couldn't answer, it's because you lack the ability. Blame me?"

Liu Haizhong was so angry he stomped his feet: "Aren't you abusing your power for personal revenge? Just because we are neighbors, you deliberately made things difficult!"

"Difficult?" Li Mingyuan shook his head with a playful smile on his face. "I tested others on thread machining principles and tested you on the Propeller-style Striking Hammer. These are all technical questions; what is unfair about that?"

Yi Zhonghai was so angry his beard stood up: "How can that be the same? We have never seen that so-called striking hammer in our lives!"

"Oh, that is the problem right there." Li Mingyuan put his hands in his pockets, his tone relaxed. "Different positions require different talents. Some people are suited for traditional crafts, while others are more capable of accepting new things."

He scanned the three of them and said unhurriedly: "Your old traditional crafts are indeed not bad, but I am forming a new technology group. I need young people who have flexible thinking and are willing to learn."

This made sense, and the three of them were momentarily speechless.

"Then why didn't you say so earlier?" Liu Haizhong was still unwilling to give up, his voice raised by an octave.

Li Mingyuan shrugged: "The notice stated very clearly, 'comrades with strong learning ability.' Did you read it carefully?"

At this question, the three of them looked at each other, unable to say a word.