I painted an aircraft carrier on the courtyard house for Dongda University.

backyard.

Yi Zhonghai said to the deaf old woman, "Grandma, isn't it strange? Isn't Zhou Weiguo a college graduate? Today at the factory, Chief Engineer Song was there too, and he operated the new machine tool all day, making a steel pipe. I think Chief Engineer Song really wants Zhou Weiguo to stay at the steel rolling mill. If he came, wouldn't he become my boss?"

The deaf old woman glanced at Yi Zhonghai, looking helpless: "Little Yi, you're just thinking about Sha Zhuzi. Zhou Weiguo is living in the courtyard now, and you can't do anything about him. We've seen his temper before; he's really hard to deal with."

But have you considered this: if Zhou Weiguo becomes a leader at the steel rolling mill, will he still be living in this communal courtyard? Besides, once he's a leader, will he have time to keep an eye on Sha Zhu? As long as Sha Zhu is left unattended, it won't be long before we can turn him back into an obedient grandson, don't you think?"

Yi Zhonghai's face remained grim upon hearing this, and he thought fiercely to himself: Zhou Weiguo has caused me such a great loss, I must find a way to deal with this kid.

At the Jia family home, Jia Dongxu sat at the table, munching on a cornbread bun with a grim expression. Jia Zhangshi asked curiously, "Dongxu, what's wrong? You've been looking so down since you got back?"

Jia Dongxu's face darkened: "I just don't understand why someone like Zhou Weiguo can always steal my thunder wherever he goes? Today at the factory, he started up a machine tool that I, my master, and the engineers couldn't figure out after an hour of studying it, and even made a fancy part. He showed off in front of Chief Engineer Song, making me lose face completely."

Upon hearing Zhou Weiguo's name, Qin Huairu recalled the pinch he had given her. Her thoughts drifted, her body trembled, and she involuntarily let out a soft moan, her legs clamping tightly together. Ever since Zhou Weiguo had pinched her, his handsome face had been constantly flashing through her mind.

Madam Jia kicked Qin Huairu in the backside: "What are you doing here, meowing like a cat? Get out and do the laundry! You damn good-for-nothing, just say you want a beating!"

Watching Qin Huairu run out with her legs clamped together, Jia Zhangshi whispered to comfort Jia Dongxu, "Dongxu, don't be discouraged. Mom believes you'll surpass that childless Zhou Weiguo sooner or later. He's just a bastard with no parents; you're definitely better than him. Also, look at Qin Huairu's seductive ways. Try your best tonight and give Mom another big, healthy son."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu firmly replied, "Mom, don't worry. Zhou Weiguo has been bullying our family so much, but I will surpass him sooner or later and avenge our family."

............

The next morning, Zhou Weiguo and Sha Zhu went to the steel rolling mill together.

As soon as I arrived at the main gate, the security guards came up to me and asked, "Are you Engineer Zhou? Chief Engineer Song instructed that you should be taken to his office as soon as you arrive."

Without delay, Zhou Weiguo went straight to Chief Engineer Song's office.

After knocking and entering, Chief Engineer Song greeted him with a big smile, "Weiguo is here! Please sit down! Old Zhang told me yesterday that since you have good skills, he won't stay here anymore. He also took Xiaoying with him. Anyway, you don't need her for the time being."

If you need any help, just ask. Sending an engineer or assigning two technicians to work with you long-term is no problem. By the way, how long will this job take? Just letting you know in advance, I'm not rushing you; you know, it's a waste for the machine tools in the factory to sit idle.”

Zhou Weiguo quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Uncle Song! I can manage on my own right now, and I estimate I can finish this job in ten to fifteen days. Don't worry, I'll definitely help you if you need anything."

Back in his new workshop, Zhou Weiguo noticed that among the workers who had been following the technician yesterday, two workers who were always at the back were actually doing something around the machine tools.

Upon seeing him return, the two hurriedly ran out of the workshop.

Zhou Weiguo walked to the machine tool and found a table next to it with a kettle, an enamel mug, a small can of broken tea leaves, a notebook and a pen on it.

Looking at the tools used for work yesterday, they were cleaned up and even the floor was spotless.

A warm feeling welled up in Zhou Weiguo's heart, and he secretly admired how thoughtful Uncle Song's arrangements were.

...........................

And so, Zhou Weiguo processed parts during the day and returned home after dark every night, even eating his three meals a day at the steel rolling mill.

More than half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

What angered him was that Professor Zhang, who had dragged him into this mess, had only shown up once in the past two weeks. One day, he suddenly came over excitedly, first looking at his workpiece with a satisfied expression, then praising him a few times, and then having him sign something, saying that it was to process his salary subsidy or something, and then he ran away.

After more than half a month of hard work, the barrel, gas system, receiver assembly, bolt carrier, bolt, firing pin, firing mechanism, trigger, hammer and other components of the 81-barrel rifle have been completed.

However, Zhou Weiguo encountered a problem with the last component, the recoil spring.

The double-strand spiral spring used in the 81 lever was hand-rolled and its strength was simply insufficient. After he told Uncle Song about the situation, Uncle Song was also troubled.

Left with no other option, Uncle Song contacted Anshan Iron and Steel Group, where his old classmate worked.

There was a newly built spring production line funded by Goose over there. Zhou Weiguo drew up the blueprints overnight, and Uncle Song asked a friend who was on a business trip to send the blueprints over, hoping to make 10 recoil springs to try it out first.

With no urgent work to do, Zhou Weiguo was troubled by the pile of parts in his space. He couldn't very well take the springs off his 81-bar as a temporary fix, and even if he did, he couldn't replicate them, and then things would get complicated.

These past two days, he's been bored out of his mind, and he even copied the silencer and under-barrel grenade launcher from the Lengfeng 81 rifle.

Now he had absolutely nothing to do, and unable to stay idle, he went to Chief Engineer Song's office again.

When Chief Engineer Song saw him arrive, he smiled wryly and said, "Why are you here again? You've made three trips today! I just sent out the blueprints last night. It will take a day or two to get on the road, and production will also take time. It will take at least a week to get here and back. Rushing me won't help. Wouldn't it be better for you to go back and sit there and drink tea?"

Zhou Weiguo said helplessly, "Uncle Song, I didn't rush you! I was really bored in the workshop with nothing to do, so I wanted to come and chat with you. By the way, ever since you assigned those two people to me, I haven't had to worry about any other chores except processing parts. I've had my fill of tea these past two days."

This surprised Chief Engineer Song: "When did I assign you someone?"

Zhou Weiguo was also stunned: "Didn't you arrange for Dashan and Erniu? They helped me clean the machine tool, sweep the floor, and wipe the table every day. They even brought me food and served me tea and water. I felt so embarrassed."

Chief Engineer Song's face darkened, his expression full of doubt: "What nonsense are you spouting? Ask Old Yang, would he dare to have people openly doing these kinds of menial tasks?"

Zhou Weiguo suddenly remembered something, hurriedly greeted someone and walked out. On the way, he accidentally bumped into someone, apologized hastily, and went straight to Li Huaide's office.

He pushed open the door, took out a cigarette, and handed it to Li Huaide: "Brother Li, did you arrange those two people in my workshop?"

Li Huaide was completely bewildered: "Brother, who are you talking about? What arrangements have been made?"

Zhou Weiguo then asked, "Brother Li, did you send me a table, chairs, a kettle, or anything like that?"

Li Huaide slapped his forehead and said with a forced smile, "Look at my memory! Don't worry, I'll have someone send it over right away."