Reborn in 1985, starting from a machine factory

"This...I...!"

Engineer Yang glanced at Secretary Liu, then lowered his head and picked up a screwdriver from the side.

Gantry milling machines are inherently complex, especially the guide rail positions, which are the most precise parts.

Engineer Yang wasn't sure if he could just demolish this huge thing.

However, with Secretary Liu and the factory director standing right behind him, he dared not refuse, even though he was unsure of himself.

Fortunately, he had repaired this equipment a few times before, and if it was just a matter of disassembling part of the guide rail, Engineer Yang felt he was quite confident in his ability to handle the situation.

The equipment was too old, and many screws and nuts were rusted on it. It took several people using various methods to peel them off little by little.

More than an hour passed before, and as the last screw was removed, a look of surprise appeared in Mr. Yang's eyes.

Become!

The group exchanged glances, took a deep breath, and suddenly exerted force in one direction.

The protective cover of the gantry milling machine made a strange sound, like the sound of metal rubbing together.

Sharp and harsh.

The workers in the workshop couldn't help but look over here.

Mr. Yang didn't care. The equipment's protective cover loosened amidst the noise and was then placed aside by several people.

"Slap! Slap!"

Engineer Yang clapped his hands and moved closer to the guide rail of the gantry milling machine.

Chen Mo was also looking at the equipment and guide rails.

This engineer Yang took a shortcut; at most, it's only been disassembled to one-third!

Most of the guide rails are still hidden in the undisassembled parts.

That part is the true core of the gantry milling machine, densely packed with gears, and also houses the most crucial motor.

Disassembling this part would certainly not be easy; even reading through the entire set of Soviet maintenance manuals would not be a simple task.

Even the slightest mistake could render this behemoth completely unusable.

After inspecting the guide rails, Engineer Yang looked up and said, "Reporting to the factory manager, there is no problem with the guide rails."

Chen Mo's pupils contracted slightly: How is that possible?

He took a step forward.

However, whether intentionally or unintentionally, Secretary Liu happened to block his way, preventing him from getting closer.

The factory manager was also looking at the guide rails. Without looking up, he said, "Secretary Liu, do you recognize a level? Take the level to Engineer Yang."

"The technicians these days are amazing; they can judge the condition of the guide rails just by looking at them!"

The two sentences, neither too harsh nor too mild, made Yang's heart sink.

Secretary Liu jogged over and handed the level to Engineer Yang.

Deformation of ordinary guide rails can be identified by the naked eye, but if the deformation is slight or the location of the deformation is far from the observation position, then the naked eye is completely unreliable.

The only thing we can trust is the level.

Chen Mo heard his own heartbeat, but he remained silent, staring at the level in Yang Gong's hand.

He felt very cold, perhaps because it was afternoon, and he could hardly stand up.

He unconsciously tightened his clothes.

The level fell onto the track, and Engineer Yang's face lit up with joy.

Nothing has changed; the level hasn't changed!

The track remained as stable as before.

That's it.

That's how it should be.

If you can't see it yourself, but the factory manager can, then you're really embarrassing yourself.

Mr. Yang could hardly contain his smugness as he adjusted the level indicator in his hand.

As soon as the level indicator moved, Yang's expression changed drastically, and he immediately moved closer to the guide rail.

Something has changed!

Yang's heart jumped, his movements slowed, and his face turned completely dark.

Finished!

There really are changes!

The guide rail is deformed!

There's a clear pattern: the closer to the motor, the more severe the deformation.

If you can't see it with the naked eye, then the guide rail must be stuck and deformed at the deepest part.

Oops!

How did the factory manager figure it out?

The factory manager can tell the difference, and he even knows to use a level to measure it, so this matter can't be faked.

Mr. Yang was very nervous. After a while, he slowly turned around and said, "Factory manager, the guide rail is a bit deformed."

"Repair it? Do you mean I have to repair it with the factory manager?" Before the factory manager could speak, Secretary Liu interrupted.

Foreman Yang almost slumped to the ground: "The machinery inside is extremely complex, and the Russian operating instructions are unclear. We... can't fix it."

"Can't it be fixed?" Secretary Liu raised his voice.

"The equipment is too old to be repaired. This is a core area, and only Soviet experts can repair it."

The factory manager's face twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "Secretary Liu, Engineer Yang has assigned you a task: Go and invite the Soviet experts over from Moscow!"

"Factory Manager!" Secretary Liu said.

"Find a way, I don't care what method you use, just get them here!"

After saying this, the factory manager raised an eyebrow: "It seems our technical department still needs to improve its skills!"

"I am primarily responsible for the delay in this delivery, both externally and internally. You are the primary responsible parties."

"Gentlemen, please think carefully about whether this job is right for you."

Yang and the others stood together, heads hanging low, not daring to breathe, let alone answer.

The lousy machines, the terrible technology, and the overwhelming orders left the factory manager feeling irritated. He twisted his collar, turned around, and wanted to leave the workshop as soon as possible.

Suddenly, he stopped and glanced at Chen Mo out of the corner of his eye: "Are you sick?"

Chen Mo was pale-faced. Although he was a young man in his early twenties, he looked listless standing there.

"I caught a bit of a cold!" Chen Mo answered honestly.

"Go to the infirmary!" the factory manager said. "I remember you graduated from high school, and your file says you got a perfect score on your Russian language exam?"

"I was lucky and managed to get a perfect score."

"Excellent, excellent!" The factory manager nodded. "Secretary Liu, since the equipment is broken and needs repair, what suitable arrangements are there for these capable workers?"

"Factory manager, a professional technician will be coming to repair it in a while. We're short of someone who understands Russian. How about we have Chen Mo temporarily fill in as the technician for a few days?"

"Temporarily?" the factory manager asked.

"Temporarily appointed, will be officially appointed after the matter is resolved!" Secretary Liu replied fluently.

"Then I'll take over temporarily as a technician."

"However, salaries and benefits must be paid according to the standards for cadres," the factory manager said.

"Of course!" Secretary Liu nodded. "I'll have the logistics department handle this right away."

"You can arrange it!" The factory manager turned around and walked out of the workshop.

Secretary Liu smiled and said, "Chen Mo, I'm sorry to trouble you to work as a temporary technician for now."

"How about we offer subsidies and benefits based on the technician level?"

Ready to become a cadre!

A surge of joy welled up in Chen Mo's heart and involuntarily appeared on his face: "Then I'll trouble Secretary Liu."

"No trouble at all, let's go to the infirmary quickly."

"Squad Leader Song, could you see Engineer Chen off? I won't go over there." Secretary Liu deliberately emphasized the words "Engineer Chen."

"Alright!" Squad leader Song stepped out of the line and jogged to Chen Mo's side.

"Engineer Chen, let me help you." Foreman Song grinned, revealing two rows of teeth.

Chen Mo followed Song, pinching his fingers to keep himself alert and not get too excited.

What? A perfect score in Russian?

This was clearly just a pretext, a way for the factory manager to praise himself for discovering the guide rail deformation.

I never expected that the title I thought I would hear at least several months would fall on me so quickly.

Engineer Chen!

It sounded much better than "Bilibatou," and a smile appeared on Chen Mo's lips.

What's even more encouraging is the subsidy; although it's just the title of technician, the salary is incomparable to that of a level-two worker.

The starting price is sixty-two yuan!

It went up by a third!

However, things are not that simple. The temporary technician's identity is unreliable and could cause problems at any time.

Moreover, once he joins the technical department, wouldn't that guy surnamed Yang tear him apart?

Don't rush, especially recently; you must keep a low profile.

There will be an opportunity!

After escorting Chen Mo to the infirmary, Song hurriedly left. In those days, a buttock injection was a terrifying thing that could make both adults and children turn pale.

Nobody wanted to stay in the infirmary any longer.

"Fever of 38.9 degrees Celsius, give him an injection to bring the fever down first." The doctor said, looking at the thermometer he had taken from Chen Mo's armpit.

Chen Mo glanced at the metal needle soaking in alcohol and felt a little scared.

The doctors in this clinic were all former pig butchers; one injection from them could bring tears to the eyes of even the toughest man.

"Doctor, I just need some medicine!" Chen Mo said, shrinking his neck.

"No!"

"You're a doctor, and I'm a doctor!"

"Take your pants off and lie down!"

"hiss!"