Chapter 44: System Task

Zhao Jianguo's finger was still on the recorder's button, and the switch popped up with a "Pop—" sound; he didn't blink, staring at that little metal piece in a daze. In his mind it raced—when could Director Wang's wife bring the recorder over? That old device's knob was as loose as a door hinge about to fall apart, probably wouldn't last more than two days before it completely gave out.

Just as he was calculating, a "Ding—" rang in his head, like someone tapping a copper pot with a small hammer, jolting his eyelid.

【Task Released: Help Qin Huairu Process Rural-to-Urban Conversion】

【Complete Within Seven Days】

【Reward: 50 jin of Meal Tickets, 10 Industrial Vouchers】

He froze for half a second, his mouth stretching to his ears. Hey, this time the system finally wasn't spouting nonsense, it came at just the right moment. The situation was just set, the favor still warm, and the task was already pressing.

He felt his pocket; the homemade lubricant was still there. Graphite mixed with petroleum jelly, perfect for old electronics' "stuck joints." He could use it tomorrow.

He stood up, gently pushed the recorder into the drawer, and casually pulled out a draft he had written yesterday. He blew on it, and the paper fluttered with a "Whirr—" sound. This thing can't rely on words alone; it needs written proof, only then is it real. The people at the Street Office recognize documents but not people; without complete materials, their words carry no weight.

He picked up a pen, spread out a large drafting sheet, and for the first time wrote a serious "Technical Brief." He wrestled with the title for a while: "Practical and Benefit Analysis of the Four-Step Edge-Locking Process Optimization." Below he drew a flowchart, marked timestamps, like arranging troops for battle. He also listed data from three companies—actually estimates based on the factory's daily output, good enough. The key was to let Director Wang hold it and say with confidence, "This credit is genuine."

Halfway through, footsteps came from the Courtyard Gate. Looking up, Jia Dongxu returned carrying a lunch box, his pant legs stained with metal shavings, his shoe soles still caked with coal ash. Zhao Jianguo quickly shoved the draft into the drawer, grabbed a wrench and pretended to tinker with the recorder.

"Jianguo, busy?" Jia Dongxu peered in and asked.

"Fixing the recorder!" Zhao Jianguo replied offhandedly, the voice rising and falling. He slipped the lubricant into the Toolbox and asked, "How's your edge-locking modification being received at the Steel Rolling Factory?"

Jia Dongxu's face darkened: "Don't bring it up. The team leader told me not to make a fuss, fearing others would object. I just made a quick adjustment, it's nothing."

"Nothing?" Zhao Jianguo sneered, "It saved thirty percent of labor time, could be rolled out across the whole Street Office, yielding over twenty thousand garments a year. In the past, certificates could fill the walls."

Jia Dongxu waved his hand: "I'm not after that, I've got a pile of family matters, busy enough to feel my feet not touching the ground."

"If you don't want it, your wife's household registration is stuck," Zhao Jianguo pressed, "Director Wang needs something tangible to fight for the target. Your technique is just a door‑knocking brick. If you don't hand it over, what can he say? He can't go asking for help empty‑handed."

Jia Dongxu lowered his head, rubbing his hands, his knuckles blackened as if coated with oil. He knew Qin Huairu's difficulty—rural household registration, the child following the mother also being rural, the child's schooling, grain purchase, medical care all restricted, like being trapped in a narrow alley. Yet he felt that relying on a "backdoor" to handle the registration wasn't solid.

Zhao Jianguo saw through it and simply "Pop—" slapped the draft onto the desk: "This isn't a backdoor; it's exchanging results for eligibility. You produce something, the organization approves it, the family relocates—reasonable. If you think the materials are too conspicuous, I'll submit them another day under the name 'Public Suggestion' without your name, okay?"

Jia Dongxu got anxious: "That won't do! We can't erase your credit."

"Who cares about your credit?" Zhao Jianguo laughed, "I'm helping your wife with her registration, not evaluating the advanced. You just nod; I'll handle the paperwork and the talking. You just lie back and wait for the outcome, okay?"

Jia Dongxu was amused, held back laughter for a while, then finally nodded: "Fine, I'll follow your lead. But don't make it too obscure; I'm afraid the Steel Rolling Factory will investigate, and then even jumping into the Yellow River won't clear it."

"Don't worry, it'll be neater than the factory's report," Zhao Jianguo folded the draft, slipped it into an envelope, "Deliver it to the Street Office tomorrow, and I'll also fix the recorder on the way."

Early the next morning, Director Wang's wife actually arrived, carrying the old machine, her brows knit into a knot: "It suddenly went mute last night, Old Wang said you could fix it, so I came to find you."

Zhao Jianguo took it, gave it a shake: "Loose connection, minor issue." In front of everyone he removed the back cover, replaced the magnetic head, applied lubricant, rewired, powered it on— a "Swish—" sound rang out like a person yawning after waking.

"Oh, that's great!" she laughed, "How much?"

"It's just among neighbors, why ask for money?" Zhao Jianguo waved his hand, handed over the envelope, "These materials, you can pass them to Director Wang on your way, no rush. First go Go Home and watch the opera, life's fine."

She took the envelope, glanced: "Another technical report?"

"Just a small suggestion, the Industrial Group can use it," Zhao Jianguo smiled earnestly, as if nothing mattered.

Late afternoon as work was winding down, Zhao Jianguo crouched at the door fixing a tire, the wrench just tightened, when Director Wang's communications officer arrived: "Zhao Jianguo, Director Wang has scheduled you for a meeting with the Industrial Group tomorrow at two PM."

He paused, looked up and smiled: "Alright, will be there on time."

That night he listened to the tape again, no issues. He rewrote the technical brief, neat characters, clear diagrams. At the end he added a sentence: "The plan has been pilot‑tested at three sites, recommended for inclusion in the annual promotion catalogue." — a single line turning a "personal idea" into a "collective achievement."

The next day, he put on his cleanest Blue Cloth, went to the Street Office. The conference room held seven or eight people, Director Wang sat in the middle, leafing through the brief. Seeing him enter, he lifted his eyes: "Sit."

The meeting began with production progress. After a few items, Director Wang cleared his throat: "There's another matter, the Sewing Group has a technological innovation, everyone listen."

The brief was passed around; someone flipped two pages, frowned: "The contribution is notable, but the person is from the Steel Rolling Factory, what's it got to do with us?"

"Comrade Jia Dongxu, though stationed at the Steel Rolling Factory, has had his technology piloted at three Sewing Group sites within the Street, boosting efficiency by over thirty percent," Zhao Jianguo continued, "His spouse Qin Huairu is our temporary worker, three years of perfect attendance, never made a mistake. Such a key family member, long hindered at work by household registration issues, should we make a special case? We can't just watch them flounder in the mud."

Someone shook their head: "The rural-to-urban conversion target is tight, we must follow the Rules Sign. Can't make an exception just because one person developed a technique."

"It's not an exception," Zhao Jianguo pulled out the recorder, "This is the original audio of his technical exchange at the factory, please listen."

He pressed play; Jia Dongxu's steady voice rang out, explaining the process principle. After a segment, he handed over a data sheet: "The three pilot sites averaged a 32.5% efficiency gain; full Street Office rollout predicts an annual output increase of eighteen percentage points. Our production can then leap upward."

The conference room fell silent for a few seconds.

Director Wang tapped the table: "People are solid, contributions are tangible. Qin Huairu's status regularized, family relocation approved, household registration specially granted. Any objections?"

No one uttered a sound.

"Then it's settled," Director Wang closed the notebook, "Submit the materials, next week the process proceeds."

Zhao Jianguo packed away the recorder, stood to leave. As soon as he stepped out of the building door, a "Ding—" rang from his pocket.

【Task Completed】

【Reward Credited】

He didn't pull it out to look, just lifted his gaze to the sky. The heavens were a clear, bright blue, not a single cloud. He walked briskly toward the Siheyuan, passing the well, and saw Qin Huairu hanging a bedsheet. She stood on tiptoe, hooking it, her shoulders relaxed, no longer hunching as she had in recent days. A gust of wind lifted the sheet with a "Whirr—" as it billowed, wrapping half her body like a white robe.

He stood at the well's edge, hand feeling the Industrial Vouchers in his pocket.

Qin Huairu turned, saw him, startled, then smiled: "Jianguo, why are you so late today?"

"Hmm, had a meeting."

"What kind of meeting?"

He was about to answer when a voice came from the Courtyard Gate: "Jianguo! The factory announced, they want me to go to the Technical Section to report the edge‑locking process!"