Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The atmosphere in the first workshop of Lou's Steel Rolling Mill was heavy at this moment.

A massive, old-fashioned rolling mill lay sprawled in the center of the workshop like a silent behemoth, surrounded by a group of technicians and experienced workers in oil-stained overalls, all looking worried. The workshop director paced anxiously, constantly wiping away sweat. Liu Feng, the acting head of the technical department, a bespectacled, thinning-haired middle-aged man, was scratching his head and muttering to himself as he stared at the blueprints.

"Liu Ke, are you sure you can do this? It's been all morning! If we don't finish the production target, our whole workshop will be in trouble!" the workshop director urged impatiently.

Liu Feng looked up, his face full of distress: "Director, it's not that I'm not trying my best! This machine is old. Judging from the sound, it seems like there's a problem with the main shaft drive gear set; it's worn out too much and has jammed. But this model of part hasn't been produced for a long time. I have to report to the department for coordination, and it won't be available for at least ten days to two weeks!"

"Ten days or half a month? The daylily will be too cold by then!" The workshop director stamped his foot.

Just then, someone shouted, "Director Lou is here!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw Lou Zhenhua walking briskly towards them with an extremely young stranger. The young man was wearing a clean and crisp Zhongshan suit, with a handsome face and outstanding temperament, standing out from the group of workers covered in oil stains.

"Director Lou!"

"Good morning, Chairman!"

Everyone greeted him, but their gazes involuntarily fell on Wang Huanbo, filled with curiosity and scrutiny. Who is this man? Why is Director Lou personally accompanying him? And why is he so young?

Lou Zhenhua walked up to the machine and asked directly, "Section Chief Liu, how's the situation? Have you reached a conclusion?"

Liu Feng quickly reported, repeating his explanation of worn gears and difficulty in finding spare parts.

Lou Zhenhua frowned and looked at Wang Huanbo: "Huanbo, what do you think..."

Wang Huanbo nodded without speaking and walked straight to the malfunctioning rolling mill. He first carefully circled the machine, examining its external structure, oil stains, and connections. Then, he leaned close to the machine's transmission box and gestured for the worker to press a switch.

"Buzz..." The motor groaned weakly, and a sickening metallic scraping sound came from inside the transmission box before falling silent again.

At that moment, Wang Huanbo's brow twitched slightly. His heightened hearing and analytical abilities, granted by his [Advanced Mechanical Mastery], allowed him to instantly pinpoint the source and characteristics of the unusual sound—it was definitely not just simple gear wear!

"Tools," Wang Huanbo said succinctly, extending his hand.

The worker next to him hesitated for a moment, but quickly handed over a large wrench and a screwdriver.

Wang Huanbo took the tools and skillfully began to disassemble the side cover of the transmission box. His movements were fluid and precise, without the awkwardness or hesitation of an ordinary technician, but rather like that of a master craftsman who had been doing this for more than ten years.

Liu Feng couldn't help but speak up: "Comrade Wang... right? Be careful, the structure here is complicated..."

Wang Huanbo seemed not to hear, and quickly removed the cover, revealing the intricate gears and drive shafts inside. A smell of hot oil mixed with metal shavings filled the air. He picked up a large flashlight and carefully shone it inside, gently moving several gears with his fingers, and then inspecting the bearings and keyways.

A moment later, he straightened up, patted the putty off his hands, and a knowing look appeared on his face.

"Comrade Wang, how is it? Is it a problem with the main shaft gear?" Liu Feng asked quickly, hoping to get Wang Huanbo's approval and prove that his judgment was correct.

Wang Huanbo shook his head, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "It's not due to wear on the main shaft gears."

"No?" Everyone was taken aback.

Liu Feng grew anxious: "How could it not be? Listen to that sound, it's clearly gears grinding..."

Wang Huanbo interrupted him, pointing to an inconspicuous corner inside the transmission box: "The problem lies here. The axial locating key of the third-stage transmission shaft is broken, causing a slight displacement of the transmission shaft. This causes the helical gear meshing with it to disengage from its normal meshing surface, resulting in uneven wear and jamming. The abnormal noise you're hearing is mainly coming from the unevenly worn gear, not from the main shaft gear."

Some of the workers didn't understand the terminology he used, but Liu Feng and several experienced workers did, their faces showing surprise and uncertainty. Axial locating key? That little thing?

"This...this can't be right, can it?" Liu Feng questioned. "How big is the positioning key? How could it break and cause such a big commotion? And you can't even see it without taking it apart!"

Wang Huanbo smiled faintly: "The characteristics of the sounds are different. The sound of worn gears is dull and continuous, while the sound of a broken key causing a gear to misalign and jam is accompanied by an instantaneous impact and periodic pauses. The sound of that brief tap just now was very distinctive."

He spoke with such certainty that it was impossible not to believe him. Lou Zhenhua immediately asked, "Then... Huanbo, can it be repaired?"

"Yes, it's possible," Wang Huanbo said confidently. "No need to replace any major parts. Just find a piece of 45# steel, machine a locating key of the same size on-site, replace it, and adjust the axial clearance of the drive shaft. That should restore normal operation. If all goes well, two hours should be enough."

"That's wonderful!" Lou Zhenhua exclaimed with delight. "Just tell me what materials or tools you need! The whole factory will cooperate!"

Wang Huanbo didn't stand on ceremony and immediately gave the required steel types, tool list, and measuring instruments. The workshop director immediately sent someone to prepare them.

Soon, the materials and tools were in place. Under everyone's incredulous gaze, Wang Huanbo personally took to the field. He first skillfully used a scraper and oilstone to clean the burrs and remaining key fragments from the keyway. Then, based on the dimensions he remembered, he personally operated the lathe and milling machine! His movements were precise and fluid, and his control of the machine tools was as natural as if they were his own arms. In his hands, an ordinary piece of steel was quickly transformed into a brand-new locating key with an extremely high degree of smoothness and perfect dimensions.

This young man's superb machining skills completely stunned all the experienced craftsmen present! Not only is his theoretical knowledge impressive, but his practical skills are also abnormally strong!

Wang Huanbo inserted the new key into the keyway, carefully adjusted the position of the drive shaft to ensure the gears were properly engaged, and then tightened the bolts. Throughout the process, he was focused and steady, like an artist completing his work.

"Alright, we can test it now." Wang Huanbo said calmly after installing the last cover plate.

The workshop director nervously pressed the start button.

"Buzz—" The motor started smoothly, and a uniform and powerful operating sound came from the transmission box. The previous ear-piercing friction sound disappeared without a trace! The rollers rotated slowly, and everything was normal!

"It's done! It's really done!" A burst of cheers and applause erupted in the workshop! The workers looked at Wang Huanbo with eyes full of admiration and disbelief. In just a short while, this young man had solved the problem that had been troubling the technical department all morning!

Liu Feng's mouth dropped open, his face flushing red and then pale. His gaze towards Wang Huanbo was filled with shame and a barely perceptible hint of jealousy. He realized that his time as acting section chief was probably over.

Lou Zhenhua patted Wang Huanbo's shoulder forcefully, too excited to speak: "Huanbo! You're amazing! So wonderful! So wonderful! You're a real lifesaver for our steel rolling mill!"

Wang Huanbo smiled modestly: "Uncle Lou, you flatter me. It's just my duty."

But at that moment, his image as a "technical genius" was already firmly established at Lou's Steel Rolling Mill! The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire mill. Everyone knew that Director Lou had hired an extraordinary young expert with unparalleled skills!

Rumors about the background of the newly arrived head of the technical department, Wang Huanbo, began to quietly circulate among the workers...