Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 561 The Debate is Suspended
In the opening of the new article, Chen Luyang frankly admitted that Luo Tian's new questions "hit the nail on the head".

"Standards do need judges. But this is not a reason to avoid uniformity, but rather the starting point for further questioning."

He then proceeded to dissect Luo Tian's metaphors point by point:
"If repetitive inefficiency is only due to mosquito bites, then why do these bites continue year after year, repeating themselves time and time again?"
"If standardization may lead to broken bones, then I ask you: if there is no standardization, does that mean bones will never break?"

Every word was sharp, leaving the other party no way out.

What's most breathtaking is a deeper question raised by Chen Luyang in the latter half of the article:

Luo Tian's question, "Who sets the standards?" is not unfounded.

But what's even more worthy of questioning is: if we don't even dare to discuss or test the standards, then what gives us the right to talk about future institutional improvements?

The real risk isn't worrying about standardized standards being wrong, but rather having no standards at all.

In an instant, news of the argument within the Economics Department spread almost overnight.

And not only was it noisy, they even created a special supplement just for it!
Suddenly, what was originally considered a "boring student publication" became a hot topic throughout the school.

Whether they understood economics or not, whether they could comprehend it or not, everyone dug deep to find and read the two people's previous articles.

I'm not after anything else, I just want to have some fun!

School Affairs Building

When Chen Luyang, carrying her schoolbag, pushed open the door to the External Relations Department office, she was caught off guard and punched hard in the shoulder!
"Well done, Xiao Chen! You've really got it!"

Shen Fei's face flushed with excitement, and as he spoke, he couldn't help but punch Chen Luyang twice more.

"What are you doing...! Are you having an attack? Why are you hitting people right away!"

Chen Luyang was so hard he was grimacing and almost lost his balance.

"Good brother! I knew you'd be awesome!"

Shen Fei seemed to have taken some kind of drug, his whole being radiating excitement.

"I never would have guessed! You're the toughest guy in our External Relations Department!"

"I've practically worn out your department's academic journal and supplements these past few days! I really didn't expect you to dare publicly criticize Luo Tian by name!"

"That was satisfying! So satisfying!!!"

As he spoke, Shen Fei gave a thumbs-up, his excitement as if he had drunk two jin of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

Chen Luyang was taken aback: "How come you can still see our department's academic journal?"

Shen Fei laughed and said, "Don't even mention me, the whole school is reading it now! Your department's academic journal is practically flying around."

Just then, the door was pushed open, and the Minister of Arts and Literature walked in.

Upon seeing Chen Luyang, the Minister of Literature and Art immediately sent a congratulatory telegram.

These two people were usually suppressed by Luo Tian, ​​and they had been holding back their anger with nowhere to vent it. Now that someone stood up and openly confronted Luo Tian, ​​it was truly satisfying, like all the pent-up anger that had been held in for a long time was finally released, and even their breathing became a little easier.

After praising Chen Luyang,

Shen Fei sighed and waved to the head of the Literature and Art Department:

"For this International Women's Day event, our external relations department won't get involved. Your arts and culture department can take the lead on its own."

The Minister of Culture and Arts became anxious upon hearing this.

"Hey, don't you dare shake me off!"

"The school has arranged quite a program this time. In addition to the cultural performance, there will also be bulletin board displays and poetry recitations."

"The teachers have specifically requested a lively atmosphere, so your external relations department should at least have some people on staff, right?"

Shen Fei said sarcastically, "I don't have the final say on manpower. These days, don't we have to listen to Vice Minister Ma on all matters, big and small, in our External Relations Department?"

"Women hold up half the sky, so what use is my word?"

The Minister of Culture and Arts was speechless for a moment.

Chen Luyang, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but laugh and ask, "What's wrong, Minister Shen? Are you still angry with Sister Ma?"

Shen Fei rolled his eyes: "It's not that I'm angry with her, it's that she's completely ignoring me."

"He's always leading Xiao Zhongwen to the student council,"

"I think I should just quit being the minister and resign from the association."

Chen Luyang was amused by Shen Fei's gloomy and sour expression.

"Alright! It's International Women's Day, so let Sister Tieli take over."

"Women should be given a chance to shine on Women's Day."

Shen Fei rolled his eyes at him and muttered a disgruntled "Tch."

The Minister of Culture and Arts, worried that Shen Fei might really not care about anything, quickly changed the subject.
"Shen Fei, you can't abandon your brothers now!"

Shen Fei said impatiently, "Fine, fine, we're all neighbors. We can't really let your literature and art department fight this battle all by yourself."

"We, the external liaison team, still need to put in some effort."

At that moment, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) quickly began to "pass the buck and divide the work":
"I asked Xiao Zhongwen to help with the bulletin board display.

"We need to find people in the academy who can sing and dance to put on a show. Vice Minister Ma is familiar with those girls from the dance academy, so I asked her to contact them."

"As for our core business of external liaison, we'll leave the funding and supplies to Xiao Chen!"

As Shen Fei spoke, he patted Chen Luyang's shoulder forcefully.

Damn... this lazy bum!
Chen Luyang was speechless.

So Shen Fei just talks and doesn't do anything else!
Chen Luyang couldn't help but sarcastically ask, "Minister, so you're going to be the unsung hero this time?"

Shen Fei pretended not to notice and said seriously, "Yes, after all, I'm retiring next semester, so I need to give you young comrades more opportunities to perform and grow. I'll stay behind the scenes this time."

He wants to work behind the scenes, but Chen Luyang won't allow it!
"Minister, I think I'm unlikely to be able to contribute much to this event."

Shen Fei frowned: "What's wrong? Why won't it work?"

Chen Luyang spread his hands: "I have to fight Luo Tian!"

"Once I write this article, Luo Tian's article might be published tomorrow."

"If I miss the opportunity to retaliate because I'm busy with student council work, wouldn't people think I'm a coward and afraid to stand up to them?"

Instantly, Shen Fei's expression turned serious.

In this world, the only force that can unite people more than love is irritation!
Once you find someone you both dislike, even if they are your enemies, you'll instantly have to fight side by side!

Shen Fei gritted his teeth: "Fine! I'll handle the funds and supplies, you take care of Luo Tian's side!"

Chen Luyang said casually, "It's settled! This time we'll have a clear division of labor and support each other!"

The head of the Literature and Art Department spoke hesitantly: "Xiao Chen, can you out-argue Luo Tian in the academic journal? His previous articles have been recommended to the city level; he's got some skills."

Chen Luyang scoffed: "Two skills are nothing, I have five!"

"I grew up in the machinery factory compound in the surrounding area! I've never lost a battle, whether it's intellectual or physical!"

Just kidding!
His swearing skills were honed through countless fierce battles with Chen Lingling since childhood.

No matter how well Luo Tian writes or how witty he is,
How could someone possibly outwit someone who grew up fighting against tough women?
Seeing Chen Luyang's confident expression, the head of the arts and literature department, adhering to the principle of making the most of available talent and never letting any usable individual slip by, asked curiously:
"Chen, I heard you used to be a workshop foreman at a machinery factory?"

"Yeah, what's up?" "What kind of activities did your factory hold for International Women's Day in the past?"

"Our activity... was just a fun sports meet for female employees, then our factory team played basketball with the Italian female engineers, and afterwards each workshop director was responsible for giving a presentation to their workshop."

The Minister of Culture's eyes lit up instantly!

"So you did a presentation last year too?"

"I did say that! I even wrote that draft myself!"

This is great!
The Minister of Culture rubbed his hands together excitedly.

In previous years, during the International Women's Day activities, female teachers, outstanding female student representatives, and female staff members of the school would give speeches on stage. There has never been a male student giving a speech on stage!
"That's perfect!" The Minister of Arts and Literature slapped his thigh.

"Why don't you give a speech at the school's International Women's Day event this year?"

Chen Luyang readily agreed!
"Okay, as long as you agree with my topic, I'll go up on stage and speak!"

The Minister of Literature and Art and Shen Fei were both surprised that Chen Luyang agreed so readily, and asked curiously, "What's your topic?"

Chen Luyang proudly declared, "One child is best!"

The Minister of Literature and Art and Shen Fei were both taken aback, looking at each other as if they had misheard.

"……What?"

Chen Luyang repeated, puffing out her chest, "When I finished my speech, the entire workshop erupted in applause, and the female employees all praised me for knowing so much!!"

An eerie silence instantly fell over the office.

The Minister of Arts and Literature looked at Chen Luyang in bewilderment. He never expected that this guy would actually give a family planning speech at Peking University!

In the factory, this kind of topic was a political task; whoever spoke was right, and thunderous applause was a given.

At Peking University, however, this place is a breeding ground for students' active thinking and free debate.

But if a grown man stands on stage and shouts this, it will turn into a scene of ridicule and laughter in no time.

Peking University will soon become famous!

After a brief moment of awkwardness, the Minister of Culture and Arts coughed twice.

"Well, Chen, the theme of our school is still mainly about 'women not being inferior to men' and 'youth making contributions to the new era.' You can save yours for when you're at the factory!"

"That's such a pity." Chen Luyang immediately feigned a regretful expression.

……

With the publication of the supplement to the Journal of Economics, the third round of the battle has just begun!
Just when everyone was eagerly anticipating Luo Tian's retaliation...
To everyone's surprise, the journal's editorial department suddenly published a notice:

"In order to celebrate International Women's Day and the upcoming Youth Day, the journal should focus on holiday publicity and reports on academic lectures in the near future, and temporarily suspend the publication of articles with a debating tone."

The news caused an uproar among the students.

You can celebrate the holiday, and you can engage in a war of words.

These two don't affect each other at all!

Besides, with the fourth round about to begin, what would be the point of stopping now?

During class breaks and in dormitory corridors, chatter could be heard everywhere.

This war of words was thus abruptly put on hold.

But the more you're suppressed from making noise, the more exciting it feels.

Everyone is waiting for the holiday to end, for the academic journal to be unbanned, and for the two to face off in the fourth round.

……

While the entire school was discussing the verbal battle within the Economics Department,
In the mechanics department's classroom, Zhang Nan carefully corrected the last part of the drawing, then gently exhaled.

Ever since Chen Luyang explicitly proposed adding "combination marks" to the parts, Zhang Nan has been practically buried in piles of blueprints.

Although the courses and assignments at the beginning of the semester were very demanding, he still managed to squeeze out time to complete the revision of all six existing general-purpose component drawings.

Once it's approved again, the new blueprints can be sent out so the technical school students can start production.

but……

"Why exactly did Engineer Cao decide to relax the requirements by two levels in this area?"

Zhang Nan pulled out the revised drawings by Engineer Cao again, and pondered them until he was almost bald.

These days, whenever he has free time, he studies Engineer Cao's blueprints and has also read many professional books.

No matter how you investigate or deduce,

He just couldn't understand why Engineer Cao had drawn it that way on the blueprints!
He had drawn it perfectly, making it safer under pressure; but Cao Qinghang's change made it much "loose," as if he had deliberately left a gap.

This is unreasonable!
Finally, Zhang Nan couldn't hold back any longer.

After tidying up the blueprints, Zhang Nan slung her backpack over her shoulder and strode towards the Department of Mechanics office building.

After listening to Zhang Nan's confusion, Zhang Diancai looked at the blueprints and then gently tapped the section on "relaxing the two levels" with his index finger.

"What is the 'primary function' of your part in the assembly? Is it sealing, guiding, or assembly positioning?"

Zhang Nan replied, "I calculated it based on a sealed condition, so I tightened the tolerance, thinking that it wouldn't leak under high pressure."

Zhang Diancai hummed in agreement: "You treated this cooperation as the 'first line of defense,' which is why you're keeping it so tight, right?"

Zhang Nan nodded.

“That’s the problem.” Zhang Diancai raised his hand and tapped the blueprint.

"In the assembly, the part that is really responsible for sealing is the rear cup or O-ring. This part is mainly responsible for guiding and assembling positioning."

"If you treat it as a sealing surface, it's like making it do two jobs, which will backfire."

Zhang Nan asked, puzzled, "But the book explains it very clearly: as long as there is high pressure, the fit must be perfect. If we loosen the fit, won't it leak?"

Zhang Diancai shook his head: "That's typical student thinking, always calculating to the extreme. But engineering design isn't like that."

"I remember telling you in class that in structural design, you should first distinguish the functions and then decide on the dimensions."

"There are sealing components and guiding surfaces. Once the functions are clearly defined, the parts will be easier to manufacture."

"If you treat the guide as a seal, and tighten it too much, it's easy for it to seize up during assembly; when the temperature is high, thermal expansion will cause it to malfunction even more easily."

"The reason this person relaxed the restrictions here is because he knows that the actual conditions are far from the ideal state described in the book."

"To ensure the whole system is leak-proof, the key is the O-ring, not obsessing over tolerances here."

So that's how it is...!
In an instant, the knot in Zhang Nan's heart finally loosened.

Previously, he had been fixated on the logic that "high pressure = tight seal", neglecting the components in the entire system that actually bear the sealing task.

Although his drawing method theoretically can indeed guarantee no leakage under high pressure, the cost is that the tolerance is too tight, which greatly increases the difficulty of processing.

If production were carried out in that manner, not only would assembly be extremely prone to jamming, but the scrap rate would also rise sharply during mass production, rendering the entire design meaningless.

"Did you understand?" Zhang Diancai asked.

"I understand!" Zhang Nan nodded!
(End of this chapter)