Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

After the familiar dizziness subsided, Wang Huanbo's feet once again landed on the solid terrazzo floor of the west wing of the courtyard house. Outside the window, the sun shone brightly and peacefully in Beijing in 1954, a stark contrast to the bloody night in Foshan just moments before. The familiar smell of coal smoke and the aroma of lunch wafting from Sha Zhu's house filled the air, making him feel as if he were in another world.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for completing all main and hidden quests in the "Once Upon a Time in China" world. Overall rating: S+!]

[Task rewards are being calculated...]

[Rewards: 1. Special weapon "Demon Blade Thousand Blades" (bound to a master, can be summoned at will, incomparably sharp and indestructible). 2. Technical blueprint package: complete process for automotive and aerospace-grade steel, complete technology for a 20000-ton hydraulic press, and complete technical blueprints for the Trabant P50 East German-made Trabant sedan and its subsequent Trabant 1.1 model four-stroke engine (derived from the Volkswagen EA111). 3. Skill points x3. 4. System space expanded to 50000 cubic meters.]

[The reward has been issued. Please check your account.]

The system notification in his mind was like heavenly music. With a thought, Wang Huanbo conjured a strange longsword in his hand—its design ancient and simple, its blade seemingly composed of countless fragments, gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light. It felt weightless, yet somehow connected to his soul, moving as if it were his own arm. It was the Demon Blade Thousand Blades! He played with it for a moment, then satisfied, he put it back into his body (system bound, stored by thought). Next, his consciousness sank into the system space, where he indeed saw several large scrolls of technical blueprints gleaming with metallic luster, and a small mountain of special alloy ingots in the corner (sample materials provided by the system). The space had also expanded several times, appearing much more spacious.

"Excellent!" Wang Huanbo was overjoyed. These technologies were precisely the cornerstones most urgently needed for the start of industrial development in the new China! Especially the three-axis CNC machine tool (previously awarded), automobile technology, and hydraulic press! He immediately had a bold plan: to create CNC machine tools and mass-produced cars of Chinese origin before the fifth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (1955) as a gift!

He glanced at the calendar; there was still plenty of time. But the first problem to solve was the core of CNC machine tools—the vacuum tube. These were practically impossible to produce domestically, relying entirely on imports, which were strictly embargoed. Fortunately, he had already made preparations.

He immediately spread out a sheet of paper and wrote a long letter using a code (a business coded message agreed upon with his family). In the letter, he first inquired about his parents, siblings, and relatives in Hong Kong, briefly explaining that he was doing well and had made "significant progress" at his research institute in China (a fictitious institution). Next, he detailed the types, specifications, and quantities of vacuum tubes needed, claiming they were for "advanced radio research," and requested his family to procure them through their business channels in the United States and Hong Kong, and to transport them to Hong Kong as quickly and discreetly as possible. At the same time, he hinted to his family to increase their purchases and stockpiles of grain, cooking oil, and canned goods in Southeast Asia (especially Thailand and Vietnam), and to establish a large transit warehouse in Hong Kong for "unexpected needs" (alluding to potential future difficulties). He believed that with the Wang family's current influence in their overseas business empire, accomplishing these things would not be difficult.

After the letter was sent through a reliable channel, Wang Huanbo began his next move. He needed a plausible explanation for the "source of the technology." He meticulously crafted a "paper" entitled "Preliminary Concept and Feasibility Report on Key Technologies of 'Three-Axis Linkage CNC Milling Machine'," in which he cleverly combined his doctoral background at MIT, his practical experience in a steel rolling mill, and his "research" of foreign technical literature to propose a theoretical framework for CNC machine tools and "boldly speculate" on the implementation paths of key technologies such as servo systems and digital control. The report was written in a clear and concise manner, possessing both theoretical depth and seemingly conforming to the current trajectory of technological development, enough to deceive even the most gullible.

Having prepared all this, Wang Huanbo, carrying the report and several alloy samples with unusual compositions provided by the system, went to find Yang Weimin, the director of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, and Secretary Wang.

"…Director Yang, Secretary Wang, these are some preliminary thoughts I've come up with, combining what I've learned abroad with the actual situation in our factory." Wang Huanbo humbly handed over the report. "I believe that to achieve a true leap forward in industry, good materials alone are not enough; we must have 'mother machines' capable of precisely processing these materials! CNC machine tools are the future! If we can be the first to develop them, it will be of great significance!"

Both Director Yang and Secretary Wang were technical cadres by training. After carefully reviewing the report, they were speechless with astonishment! The thinking was too advanced! The logic was rigorous, the arguments were clear, and especially the performance data of the alloy samples (Wang Huanbo revealed a little bit of it), which showed them endless possibilities!

"Comrade Huanbo! What...what's wrong with your brain?!" Factory Director Yang slammed his fist on the table excitedly. "If this can really be done, it will be a tremendous achievement! But...this vacuum tube..."

"Factory director, Party secretary, I'm already trying to resolve the electron tube issue through some overseas connections," Wang Huanbo revealed at the opportune moment. "We should have some progress soon. We need to first establish a task force to get the mechanical structure and transmission system working!"

"Good! Excellent!" Secretary Wang made the final decision. "Immediately submit a report to the ministry! Establish a 'Special Machine Tool R&D Task Force'! Comrade Huanbo, you are in full charge! Provide manpower and materials as needed! The factory will give your full support!"

The news caused a sensation in the steel rolling mill and the entire industrial system! Chief Engineer Wang was about to do something big again! And it was something as futuristic as "CNC machine tools"! Although most people didn't understand it, they were all full of anticipation because of their absolute trust in Wang Huanbo's abilities.

A task force was quickly formed, bringing together the factory's top mechanical and electrical engineers and technicians. Wang Huanbo personally led the team, gradually "inspiring" the members by cleverly breaking down and simplifying the mechanical parts of the system drawings. The workshop was brightly lit, filled with the sounds of hammering, debate, and cheers. Leveraging his advanced mechanical expertise and the energy boost from his super serum, Wang Huanbo practically lived and worked in the workshop day and night, sharing meals with the workers and solving one technical problem after another. His precise fitter and welder skills once again amazed the veteran craftsmen.

Meanwhile, Wang Huanbo also secretly began sketching the "Red Star" brand car. Based on the chassis and basic structure of the Satellite P50, he replaced the two-stroke engine with the more advanced and reliable EA111-derived 1.1L four-stroke engine, lengthened the short two-door body to 4 meters, and changed it to a more practical four-door sedan (C501) and hatchback (C502) layout. The appearance was also slightly modified to conform to the aesthetics of the 50s, making it appear more stable and dignified. As for the body material, he planned to replace the original plastic with steel first, and then consider stamping technology after the hydraulic press technology was in place. He kept these design drawings a secret for the time being, as a surprise for the next step.

Time flew by in a flurry of activity. Finally, the family's reply and the first batch of vacuum tubes arrived in Wang Huanbo's hands through clandestine channels. With the vacuum tube problem solved, the development of CNC machine tools entered its final sprint! A revolution in Chinese industry was about to quietly begin in this ordinary steel rolling mill.