Chapter 31: with translation of chapter title

Until hearing the system say that Repair Skill had already been upgraded to intermediate level, Lin Shengli then said to Fan Yingying:

"Fan Yingying, thank you so much!"

"Sorry for taking up your work."

Fan Yingying gave a light smile and said, "You're too kind."

"This is my duty."

Lin Shengli: "Then we'll..."

Yi Zhonghai interrupted, saying, "Fan Yingying, thank you."

"Another day, Shengli will treat you to a meal."

Fan Yingying: "Thank you, Uncle Yi."

"No need to spend money."

"I've made time; I'll go see you."

Yi Zhonghai happily said, "Great, great, come to our house when you have time."

"Fan Yingying, remember this."

No. 95 South Drum Lane Siheyuan, the east wing of the Zhongyuan is my home.

Shengli is in the east wing of the Qian Yuan, plus there's an ear room; this house is his.

From now on, my home will also be his.

To be frank, I and my old partner have no children; we treat Shengli as our own biological son.

By the way, he is also the Deputy Section Chief of the Technical Section at Hongxing Rolling Steel Factory; he just graduated from university this year and has already obtained his engineer's qualification.

He graduated from Hafnium University, a prestigious school; while in school he also repaired machines that had been idle for years and that no one in the country could fix.

Moreover, he oversaw the establishment of a 630‑mm clamper‑type planetary rolling mill.

Now our factory director treats him like a treasure.

Fan Yingying gave Lin Shengli a thumbs‑up and said:

"I never expected Shengli to achieve such remarkable accomplishments at such a young age."

"This makes me look at him in a new light."

Lin Shengli said modestly:

"You flatter me; I'm just lucky."

"Indeed, I'm lucky."

"He is, after all, a technical backbone of the factory from the future."

"Those machines of this era are really child's play for him."

Fan Yingying praised, saying, "Shengli is still modest, which makes it even rarer."

Lin Shengli: "It's just luck, really."

"Fan Yingying, then I won't disturb you any further."

"We'll be off now."

Fan Yingying asked, "Did Uncle Yi just say you want to buy a watch?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded and said, "Exactly, exactly, exactly; for Shengli, time is money."

"He's an engineer at the factory."

"This is something our factory director personally instructed, and he even gave him money and tickets."

Fan Yingying: "The watch counter is on the second floor; go up to the second floor and turn left, and you'll see it."

"Otherwise, leave your bicycles here for now, and pick them up after you buy the watches."

Yi Zhonghai: "Okay, then thank you, Yingying."

Several minutes later, Lin Shengli and Yi Zhonghai left the watch counter.

Lin Shengli's left hand wore a Modu‑brand watch, while his right hand held a 'Three‑Five' brand 15‑day clock.

Yi Zhonghai was too enthusiastic.

Not only did he pay the money and tickets, but he also insisted on buying a clock.

This made him feel very warm.

Coming from the future, he is still quite interested in this 'Three‑Five' brand 15‑day clock.

Copper movement, wooden case, fine craftsmanship......

In his view from the future, this is an antique piece.

It is full of a sense of the era.

That's right.

The 'Three‑Five' brand 15‑day clock of this time indeed has excellent craftsmanship.

At that time, it could be said to be a clock with considerable fame.

The 1930s‑1940s of the twentieth century.

Domestic clocks were roughly made, of poorer quality, and few people inquired about them.

Compared with foreign brands, they lagged far behind.

To revive domestic goods, patriotic merchants began to conceive the idea of creating a Daxia Guo‑brand famous watch.

At that time, domestic clocks could run continuously for only seven days.

Technical personnel repeatedly tested and improved, producing a cage‑type gear and a high‑smoothness axle, extending the clock's running time to fifteen days.

To highlight this feature, they finally decided to adopt three fives as the product's trademark, naming it the 'Three‑Five' brand 15‑day clock.

This clock has a fine axle and low friction; whether hung or placed crooked or slanted, it runs accurately without error, and it is also very punctual—top‑notch quality.

Upon release it was immediately popular and quickly became a standout among Daxia's national industrial products.

Leaving the watch counter, Yi Zhonghai again pulled Lin Shengli to the clothing department and bought him several outfits.

"Yingying, we bought a watch, and also a 'Three Five' brand clock."

Returning to the bicycle counter, Yi Zhonghai pointed to the watch on Lin Shengli's wrist, then pointed to the clock in his hand.

He then raised the bag in his hand.

"Shengli also bought quite a few clothes."

"It's all him paying; this kid—I won't let me pay, saying whatever to let me keep more money for my old age."

"He also has money now; his wage is even higher than mine—I'm a Level 8 Pipe Worker at the factory, earning 99 yuan, just one yuan short of a hundred, while he's already exceeded a hundred."

"The Factory Director back then, in order to hire him, even specially promised him a bonus of three hundred yuan."

Good fellow!

Lin Shengli looked speechless.

Isn't it good that you're insisting on paying?

In my past life watching TV, how did I not notice you still have a habit of showing off?

Actually he doesn't even need to think to know that Yi Zhonghai means well—he wants Fan Yingying to know his strength and wants to match him up with Fan Yingying.

But, uncle.

The key is you haven't asked yet—Fan Yingying doesn't know whether she's married or not.

Furthermore.

Even if she doesn't marry, we still need to get along first before talking about it.

We're all high‑class transmigrants now—we can't just marry every pretty girl we see.

What if her character isn't great?

What if our personalities don't match?

Fan Yingying praised: "I didn't expect Uncle Yi to still be a Level 8 Pipe Worker—that's really impressive."

"Shengli too—young and accomplished, handsome and talented."

"And he's so filial."

"Really rare."

Yi Zhonghai wore a proud‑pout expression: "Isn't that right?"

"This kid is just filial."

"Among all virtues, filial piety comes first."

"With him being so filial, his character can be seen in a glimpse."

"Having him, I and his aunt are content for life."

Lin Shengli smiled and said:

"Uncle, you've praised me to the skies."

"I'm not that good."

"Um, Yingying, we have other things to do, so we'll leave first."

Fan Yingying nodded: "Sure, whenever I have time I'll definitely come see you."

Yi Zhonghai still wanted to say something, but Lin Shengli pulled him away.

He worried that if they didn't leave, Yi Zhonghai would come out with some "Wang Po selling melons" talk, making people laugh at them.

Pushing his bicycle, greeted by others' envious glances, Lin Shengli quickly arrived at the office Fan Yingying had mentioned.

With the invoice and money in place, the bicycle's "ID" was quickly sorted out.

These days, if a bicycle lacks a steel stamp, it's equivalent to a person having no ID.

If reported, one would surely be punished.

"Shengli, what do you think of Yingying?"

After stamping the bicycle with steel, Yi Zhonghai asked.

"Not bad, pretty and with good temperament, and personality seems fine too." Lin Shengli said while pushing his bicycle.

"Then it's settled like this?"

"Decide what?"

"You two decide."

"Uncle, what are you saying?"

"You don't think highly of her?"

"It's not a matter of liking or not liking."

"But rather, we basically don't know each other at all."

"What more understanding do you need—you've been chatting so happily."

"Nowadays everyone does it this way: meet, feel a connection, and get married."

"Me and your aunt got together the same way, and after all these years our feelings have remained good."