Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

A few days later, the factory's loudspeaker came on, and it was the voice of factory director Li Huaide.

"Attention all workshops, immediately activate the highest-level contingency plan. The smelting workshop will select ten special steel billets, the light weapons workshop will select fifty Type 95 alloy gunstock parts, and the R&D center will be responsible for testing and labeling each piece to ensure zero defects. This is physical evidence to be delivered to the negotiation site!"

As soon as the broadcast ended, the entire Longxing factory sprang into action.

Wearing a white lab coat, Li Yu stood guard in the quality inspection area of ​​the smelting workshop, holding calipers in his hand, measuring each of the newly produced special steel billets.

The steel billet was still warm, making the calipers slightly hot, but he didn't even frown, his eyes fixed on the pattern and size of the billet.

"This one won't do; there's a 0.03-millimeter deviation at the edge."

Li Yu pushed a steel billet aside, turned to the technician and instructed, "Select again. Pick the one with the most uniform grains and the best corrosion resistance test data. On the negotiating table, even the slightest difference is unacceptable."

The technician nodded repeatedly, then jogged off to the warehouse with the test report in his hand to retrieve the goods.

Li Huaide was also busy. He led the logistics department staff, pushing moisture-proof wooden crates towards the workshop. The crates were lined with thick foam and oil paper, all of which were packaging materials specially designated by the Ministry of Industry.

"Be careful, everyone!"

Li Huaide squatted on the ground, personally adjusting the position of the foam. "These steel billets and parts are more precious than gold. If they get damaged on the road, none of us can afford the responsibility!"

In the welding workshop, Old Wang and his apprentices were working up a sweat.

They need to apply a special anti-rust coating to the steel billet and use vacuum welding to reinforce the joints of the parts.

Zhao Gang's welding torch was incredibly steady. The blue arc of electricity landed on the parts, splashing up tiny sparks. Sweat dripped from his forehead into his goggles, but he didn't even lift his hand to wipe it away.

"Master, the reinforcement process for this batch of parts is even more refined than that of the previous naval equipment, right?" Zhao Gang asked while welding.

Old Wang snorted, spreading a coating evenly on the steel billet with a brush in his hand: "Of course! This is something to be sent to the negotiating table. We have to show the British that the craftsmanship of our Longxing Factory is top-notch!"

Zhou Qiming, from the light weapons workshop, took his pickiness to the extreme.

He took a magnifying glass and examined the texture of each alloy gunstock one by one. If there was even the slightest scratch, he would immediately throw it into the rework basket.

"This is to save face for the delegation! Our rifle stocks should show the British what the precision of Chinese manufacturing is all about!"

At 10:00 a.m., the Ministry of Industry's special vehicle and military escorts arrived on time.

The team was led by a section chief from the Ministry of Industry. After getting off the car, he didn't rest and went directly into the quality inspection area with Li Yu and Li Huaide.

Seeing the neatly stacked steel billets and accessories, along with the thick inspection report next to them, the section chief nodded in satisfaction.

"Chief Engineer Li, Factory Director Li, thank you for your hard work."

The section chief picked up a steel billet, weighed it in his hand, and said, "This is our confidence at the negotiating table. Don't the British doubt our mass production capabilities? Let's put this in front of them and see what they have to say!"

Pointing to the data in the report, Li Yu said in a deep voice, "Every steel billet has undergone three pressure tests and five salt spray tests; every component has been subjected to impact and precision calibration, and can absolutely withstand any inspection."

Li Huaide added, "The packaging is up to the highest standards, moisture-proof and shockproof. The transport route has also been finalized with the military to ensure everything goes smoothly."

The military escort personnel carefully inspected the sample packaging, checked the test report and sample number, and after confirming that everything was correct, gave a standard military salute: "Rest assured, we will deliver it safely."

When the samples were being loaded onto the truck, all the workers at Longxing Factory crowded around the factory gate, craning their necks to look inside.

Once loading was complete, the military vehicle's engine emitted a deep roar.

Minister Liu Jie also arrived. He stood in front of the locomotive, looking at the truck full of steel billets and parts, and then at the workers standing in line. He raised his hand in salute.

The atmosphere in the conference room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' negotiation building seemed tense, like two needles clashing against each other.

Representatives from both sides sat on opposite sides of the long table.

On our negotiating table, besides thick stacks of documents, there were two particularly eye-catching display boxes.

Hanke, the chief negotiator for the British delegation, repeatedly glanced at the display box, his brow furrowed.

His technical advisor had been looking at the test report of the steel billet slices for a full half hour, and his expression was getting increasingly grim.

"We acknowledge that our technical data has reference value, but Hong Kong's special trade status requires a longer transition period to safeguard it."

Hank put down the documents in his hand. "What we're asking for is a ten-year transition period. That's the bottom line."

The Foreign Ministry's negotiator stated calmly, "There is no room for negotiation on the issue of sovereignty. Hong Kong must be fully returned to the embrace of the motherland; this is the prerequisite."

"As for the transition period, we can consider three years, and there are three conditions."

"First, during the transition period, Britain must withdraw all its troops stationed in Hong Kong."

"Secondly, the security of Hong Kong is the responsibility of the police force dispatched by our side, and all weapons and equipment are domestically produced."

"Third, economic cooperation should be based on equality and mutual benefit. The military materials technology of Longxing Factory can be transferred to Hong Kong's manufacturing industry first."

At this point, Minister Liu Jie of the Ministry of Industry raised his hand, signaling the staff to open the display case.

Under the light, the grain pattern of the special steel billet slices is fine and uniform, and the alloy luster of the gunstock is cold, hard and sharp.

Pointing to the slice, Liu Jie said with certainty, "This is a special steel mass-produced by Longxing Factory. Its resistance to deep-sea high pressure and salt spray corrosion is five years ahead of the international level."

"This is the alloy stock of the rifle, which reduces weight by 30% and increases strength by 20%. During the transition period, Hong Kong's manufacturing industry upgraded based on these solid technologies, not British colonial management."

The technical advisor beside Hank couldn't resist reaching out to touch the steel billet slices, but was stopped by the Chinese staff. He reluctantly withdrew his hand, leaned close to Hank's ear, and whispered a few words.

Hank's face visibly darkened.

He knew that these things from Longxing Factory were not samples from a laboratory, but solid products that could be mass-produced stably.

The British fleet in the Far East did not have such steel support.

British small arms manufacturers are still waiting for the alloy billets from Longxing Factory to save their lives.

The negotiations fell into a brief silence.

Finally, Hank sighed and leaned back in his chair: "A three-year transition period is negotiable. But the timetable for troop withdrawal needs to be detailed. The specific terms of economic cooperation also need further consultation."

"That's natural."

Our negotiator put down his teacup, his voice firm and resolute, "But the territorial integrity and the right to station troops belong exclusively to China. There is absolutely no room for negotiation on these two points."

The news of the negotiations was transmitted to Longxing Factory via encrypted telephone lines from the Ministry of Industry.

"Chief Engineer! Great news! The British have relented and agreed to a three-year transition period to withdraw their troops! Our factory's steel billets and rifle stocks have played a crucial role!"

The roaring noise in the workshop seemed to subside instantly.

Although an agreement was reached, he knew that negotiations were still ongoing and the road ahead was long.